Richard Simmons Hints at Running for Office

Richard Simmons, TV exercise star and flamboyant pseudo-celebrity, addressed congress on childhood obesity and advocated for school exercise programs. Even stranger than Simmons lecturing congress, he apparently has some aspiration of running for political office:

In a half-serious, half-jocular tone, Simmons described his approach to the hearing, saying, “I want to have the respect of a congressman, I want to talk like a congressman, and maybe, someday, I’ll be a congressman.” (CNN)

Here is just a taste of what’s to come:

When was the last time your representative told you that? I thought so.

Bush Has Gas Trouble

I have noticed this week that gas prices have fallen considerably.  I’m in Oregon for a while and I saw a station today selling at $3.96 here–last month in Oakland I paid over $4.70 a gallon.  I’ve been wondering two things: who do I thank for the relief and second, when will the break from high prices end?

Senator McCain has graciously offered an answer to the first question.  Apparently it was the President’s push for off-shore drilling that lowered the price of oil.  Mr. McCain fails to note that the national average upon Bush’s inauguration was $1.36 per gallon.  I’m not saying that Bush is entirely to blame for the price hike, but any break at the pump should not translate to praise for the President.  It’s still troubling that $4 a gallon is seen as a good price.

As for the second question, I don’t know when the prices will return to the spectacular highs we’ve seen this summer.  But if McCain is correct (a BIG if) and the idea of offshore drilling influenced the market to lower oil prices, it will surely be short-lived.  The allure of offshore drilling is understandably hard to resist, especially in election season, but as the Boston Globe reports it will not be a quick fix.  Once that realization occurs, I think the soaring prices will resume and maybe even break $5 this summer as some projections say.

At Least Some Good Came from Jesse Jackson’s Comment

Cable News Anchors Choking on Jesse Jackson’s “Nuts”

Leaders Scarf Down Massive Meal to Show Concern for Food Crisis

Another one of those headlines that fits better in The Onion, sadly it’s true.

This isn’t at all surprising just some cruel irony.  World leaders enjoyed an 18-course meal as they met to discuss world hunger.

RNC Attacks Obama

The RNC is beginning the expected onslaught of anti-Obama ads, and if Obama hopes to win in November his retort better be just as strong. Here’s a new video from the RNC attacking Obama on energy:

This is an area that I think Obama is really vulnerable in, not because McCain is all that impressive on energy policy but because he risks important moderates.  McCain’s “Maverick” status is pretty questionable nowadays but his stance on energy reinforces the idea that John McCain is different than other Republicans, specifically it separates him from the current president.  Obama has to react quickly before McCain attracts fringe voters sick of gas prices approaching $5.