New Dark Ages! What else can you expect from this incompetent administration? - Getting ready for a wave of coal-plant shutdowns

Getting ready for a wave of coal-plant shutdowns - Ezra Klein - The Washington Post

Over the next 18 months, the Environmental Protection Agency will finalize a flurry of new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mercury, smog, ozone, greenhouse gases, water intake, coal ash—it’s all getting regulated. And, not surprisingly, some lawmakers are grumbling.

Industry groups such the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, and the American Legislative Exchange Council have dubbed the coming rules “EPA’s Regulatory Train Wreck.” The regulations, they say, will cost utilities up to $129 billion and force them to retire one-fifth of coal capacity. Given that coal provides 45 percent of the country’s power, that means higher electric bills, more blackouts and fewer jobs. The doomsday scenario has alarmed Republicans in the House, who have been scrambling to block the measures. Environmental groups retort that the rules will bring sizeable public health benefits, and that industry groups have been exaggerating the costs of environmental regulations since they were first created.

[Read on at link.]

Who said this: "I believe together we can reform the way the world is managed. We can restore the tranquillity of the world"

Sounded like Obama on on his first Blame America World Tour.

Stinky will have to sit at a separate table.

AFP: Ahmadinejad joins China, Russia leaders at summit

By Aleks Tapinsh (AFP) 6/15/11

ASTANA — Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday joined the Chinese and Russian leaders in a rare encounter at a summit in Kazakhstan, where he launched a new attack on the "slavers and colonisers" of the West.

Host Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security group regarded as a NATO rival founded in 2001, to take a more active role in ensuring regional security.

But most attention was focused on Ahmadinejad, who was absent from last year's SCO meeting in Tashkent after the UN Security Council agreed sanctions against Iran and was making a rare appearance at a big international meeting.

In a characteristically firebrand speech peppered with rhetorical questions, he launched a new call for a wholesale shake-up of the world order, which he said was "managed and run by slavers and colonizers of the past."

"I believe together we can reform the way the world is managed. We can restore the tranquillity of the world," he said.

Turning to his audience of ex-Soviet and Asian leaders he asked: "Have any of us used an atomic bomb against the defenceless citizens of any other country?"

[Read on at link.]

OBAMA'S SECOND MUSIC PARTY OF WEEK... Forget Memorial Day and D-Day

DrudgeReportArchives.com © 2010

D-Day, 66 years later

Remembering D-Day – Preserving the Bulwark of Democracy and Honoring American Exceptionalism

2010 JUNE 6

Notably absent from major leftist news media, including the NewYork Times, is any reference to the 66th Anniversary of D-Day.

Last year, the Times gave President Obama a full-page spread entitled “Obama Hails D-Day Heroes at Normandy after he refused to visit Normandy last spring and risk offsetting the “balance” of the G20 Summit during his first overseas trip.

This year, nothing. Not even from conservative FOX News.

What gives?

Has America taken on the “no nation above any other” worldview of the Obama Administration and relegated World War II and the Holocaust to the dusty bookshelves of history, to be redefined by revisionists and the leftist media in the years to come?

In an era of increasing anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism, where jihad is officially condoned as “legitimate,” we need to be persistent about remembering the sacrifices of World War II and the “man-caused disaster” traditionally known as the Holocaust.

We need to always remember D-Day, lest we become like Helen Thomas, a revisionist who removed the quote “Without an informed people, there can be no democracy…” from her website last night that originally sat beneath her apology for her anti-Semitic rant:

Ignoring D-Day is tantamount to keeping the people uninformed while snuffing out the light of true democracy and replacing it with socialism and tyranny.

It is through knowing our history that successive generations of Americans can embrace their duty to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States — the world’s true bulwark of democracy.

Obama doesn't want to recognize anything exceptional about the Services of our country, lest celebrate the honor of their fallen brave.

He just wants to celebrate.

OBAMA OFF TO THE THEATER

Sent: Sun Jun 06 18:06:32 2010

Subject: pool report #1

Reception in the East Room prior to performance at Ford's Theatre

Print pool only was ushered into the East Room about 5:20 p.m. where many elegant ladies in long dresses and men in tuxedos were standing sipping drinks and eating small finger food. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood came over to say hello to the pool but the president and first lady were announced before there was any real conversation. A few faces spotted in the crowd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. John Dingell and his wife.

The president and first lady walked in and gave brief remarks to the crowd, but pooler was unable to actually see them because everyone was standing. We're headed over to Ford's Theatre shortly and should be able to see then what FLOTUS is wearing.

Remarks: The president welcomed everyone to the White House. He thanked the performers for taking time out of their busy schedules, as well as cabinet officials and members of Congress, including Sen. Reid.

Tonight is about celebrating the great work of Ford's Theatre and what it has done to preserve the legacy of presidents and highlight the importance of the arts and education in our lives and the life of our nation. "In many ways it's impossible to separate the history of America from the history of its music and its spoken word. Soldiers have sung as they've marched to war and raised their voices again while laying the burden to rest."

Lyrics on a page and voices on a stage have helped make us across generations and across cultures, backgrounds, and faiths. Great leaders including Lincoln himself have drawn inspiration and courage from the arts. "And on a personal note, they helped each of us express the joys and hardships of life while bringing us closer to each other."

This is especially true during moments of trial. The president said there have been a lot of trials over the past year and a half. Now, there are brothers and sisters in the Gulf Coast who are going through an incredibly difficult time in the face of a disaster unlike any we've seen of late. "I want to emphasize again that we're going to do everything we can in the weeks and months and years ahead to make this right," and everyone here feels the same way.

But tonight, we will celebrate not only music, song, and performances, but also the incredible legacy of Ford's Theatre and some award recipients who have done some much to help others in this country and around the world.

Pool was ushered out about 5:26 p.m.

According to the Ford's Theatre website, the event tonight is described as follows:

Ford's Theatre Society will host its annual gala on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). The evening's performance, titled "America Celebrates July 4th at Ford's Theatre," will be taped for broadcast on the ABC Television Network to air July 2, 2010 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). Modern Family cast member Ty Burrell hosts a star-studded program with appearances by Kelly Clarkson, Renee Fleming, George Lopez, Lionel Richie, Robin Roberts, Dick Van Dyke, Laura Michelle Kelly and Gavin Lee from the Broadway Company of "Mary Poppins," the Soldiers' Chorus of the United States Army Field Band, and cast members from the Ford's Theatre production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

Sent: Sun Jun 06 19:28:59 2010

Subject: pool report #2

Motorcade rolled at 6:56 p.m. and arrived without incident at Ford's Theatre at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Pool was led past a large white tent in the street and a red carpet leading to the front door. We are holding in the lobby of the theatre with two large-screen television sets showing the live performance within.

The president and first lady were announced and walked to their seats at front row center. FLOTUS is wearing a stunning silver strapless dress with a large crystal necklace with what looks like two small fabric bows on either side. Designer unknown to pooler.

The programme for tonight's performance was just handed out:

Ty Burrell, welcome

Kelly Clarkson, "Everybody Got Their Something" and "Way Over Yonder"

George Lopez

From the Ford's Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors

Christopher Kale Jones and Jenna Coker-Jones, "Suddenly, Seymour"

Soldiers' Chorus of the United States Army Field Band

"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "America the Beautiful" Robin Roberts, family life in the White House

Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Medley"

Lionel Richie, "Three Times a Lady" and "All Night Long" with the Joyce Garrett Celebration Singers

INTERMISSION

Presentation of the Lincoln Medals

Renee Fleming, "Soul Meets Body" and "In Your Eyes"

Cast members from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Broadway musical Mary Poppins

Laura Kelly and Gavin Lee, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

From the Broadway musical Memphis Montego Glover, "Colored Woman"

General Colin Powell, a special tribute Renee Fleming, Soldiers' Chorus of the United States Army Field Band, Bill Conti and the Spirit of America Orchestra with the Entire Company "Battle Hymn of the Republic"