Gov. Bobby Jindal's call out of volcanic monitoring programs as wasteful governmental spending during the Republican Response to President Obama's address last night is either cynically provincial, dangerously uninformed, or extremely partisan.  I suspect a combination of all three.

The value of volcanic monitoring, in terms of saved lives and property, was clearly demonstrated during the June 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.  According to a 1997 US Geological Survey Report:

The monitoring of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 and the successful forecasting of its cataclysmic June 15 eruption prevented property losses of at least $250 million (this figure is intentionally conservative and should be considered a minimum value). No monetary value has been placed on the more than 5,000 lives saved, although other cost-benefit analyses have used values from $100,000 to $1 million per life.

The estimated cost of the monitoring program was $1.5 million. 

I should note that the USGS is part of the Department of the Interior, an Executive Branch Agency that was under the administrative control of the first Bush administration in June 1991.

The potential argument that volcanic monitoring has no relevance when it comes to saving American lives and property is baseless.  In the case of the 1991 Pinatubo eruption outside of Manila, the warnings provided allowed for the safe evacuation of 15,000 servicemen and women (and families) from nearby Clark Air Force Base.

Closer to home, the USGS is closely monitoring of the active Redoubt volcano in Alaska, which they predict will erupt within the next days or weeks.  The scale of the monitoring program at Redoubt was significantly increased in the aftermath of the volcano's last major eruption in 1989-90 (again, during the first Bush administration).  This previous eruption caused economic losses estimated at more than $160 million, and sent a cloud of ash into the sky that caused engine failures aboard a Boeing 747-200 with 231 passengers on board, flying north of Anchorage (aircraft engines tolerate volcanic ash about as well as they tolerate birds).  Ash alerts issued by the USGS since that last eruption have been subsequently used to shut down or redirect air traffic into and out of the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage.

The potential loss of American lives and property is far greater when Cascade Range volcanoes are considered in the Pacific Northwest...hundreds of thousands of people live within the shadow of these currently dormant volcanoes. 

The ability to predict not only the timing of a volcanic eruption, but the magnitude of each eruption is nowhere near perfect.  Continued funding of USGS efforts to not only monitor active volcanic risks, but to evaluate and refine predictive eruption models is critical for anyone who is interesting in reducing the risk of loss of life and property.  It is not unlike ongoing governmental efforts to understand hurricanes, and to accurately predict where they will hit land, and how hard.

Would the Governor of Louisiana have called-out of volcanic monitoring as wasteful governmental spending if New Orleans were closer to Mount St. Helens than the Gulf of Mexico? And does Governor Palin similarly think that spending governmental money to develop better hurricane tracking models would be just as wasteful?

As the details begin to emerge, I'm starting to spot devils.

A Treasury Dept. fact sheet on the proposal states:

"Treasury will have full discretion over the management of the assets as well as the exercise of any rights received in connection with the purchase of the assets,"

And how will Treasury manage a $700 billion portfolio of bad debt?

The proposal doesn't detail how Treasury would manage the assets, but does give Mr. Paulson the authority to hire private financial institutions to conduct the program...

So, let me get this straight.  Wall St. got us into this mess, but Wall St. could be hired to manage the program that bails them out?

And what's to keep the Treasury Secretary from steering lucrative asset management contracts towards Dick Cheney's buddies on a no-bid basis?  Nothing.

The plan offered to Congress also gives the Treasury legal immunity from any lawsuits. "Decisions by the secretary pursuant to the authority are non-reviewable … and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency,"

Now isn't that special? 

If Haliburton doesn't already own a subsidiary "private finacial institution," they will by the end of the week.

Bet the McCain camp wishes that they'd waited a week before they submitted their written answers to questions  posed on science and technology policy.

How do you protect America's position as a world leader in innovation? 

Learn how to do the Google?  Nope.

I am committed to streamlining burdensome regulations and effectively protecting American intellectual property in the United States and around the globe.

Oops. But wait, there's more. 

I am uniquely qualified to lead our nation during this technological revolution. 

Because for five and a half years he didn't have access to technology?  No, but close:

While in the Navy, I depended upon the technologies and information provided by our nation’s scientists and engineers with (sic) during each mission. 

And finally, just for fun, McCain tops it all off by reminding us that he really did invent the Blackberry:

Under my guiding hand, Congress developed a wireless spectrum policy that spurred the rapid rise of mobile phones and Wi-Fi technology that enables Americans to surf the web while sitting at a coffee shop, airport lounge, or public park.

All that within the response to a single question.  There are thirteen more. Happy hunting.

Anyone afraid that “First Dude” Todd Palin  will face legal troubles for refusing to honor the Troopergate-related subpoena?

Don’t be.  The Governor has his back covered.

As reported Thursday in the Anchorage Daily News, Todd Palin could be held in contempt for ignoring the subpoena, and face a fine up to $500 and up to six months in jail.  But the Legislature has to be in session to bring contempt charges, and it isn’t scheduled to convene until January.

Of course, the Alaska State Legislature could be convened in special session, but only if the governor issues an “Executive Proclamation.” Like this one, from June 2008.

So will Sarah Palin consider it in “the public interest” to convene a special session of the Legislature prior to November 4 so that they can consider contempt charges?

Sure...when lipstick-wearing pigs fly wolf-hunting planes.

Need a brief respite from ugly presidential politics? Then follow this link and read how Senator Wide Stance's lawyers tried to get his guilty plea withdrawn in arguments made this morning before the Minnesota State Board of Appeals.

Craig was caught last June by Sgt. Dave Karsnia in a sting operation at the airport. Karsnia was in a stall and said Craig peered in for more than two minutes from three feet away - so close the officer could see his blue eyes. When the next stall opened, Craig went in and then tapped his foot and waved his hand under the stall - behavior indicative of an interest in a sexual encounter, the complaint said.

But Martin said Craig was responding to Karsnia’s hand swiping and the senator’s behavior “was invited conduct.”

Geez. I thought he'd said that he was just trying to innocently retrieve an errant roll of toilet paper?  Now, it's entrapment.

Next thing you know, they'll say that the police officer's eyes were warm and inviting as Craig peeped through the door crack.

A MoJo  blog posting that is linked on the TPM front-page needs to be read and trumpeted.

Gov. Sarah Palin is withholding 1100 e-mails from a State Open Records Act Request filed this summer, claiming that they are exempt "because they were covered by the "executive" or "deliberative process" privileges that protect communications between Palin and her aides about policy matters." 

Funny thing, though...in a table provided by the Governor's office,  some of these "protected" e-mails were sent to "First Dude" Todd Palin.  On the first page alone, Todd was "cc'ed" on 6 of 11 e-mails.

The reasons behind for the open file request, and motives for withholding the e-mails are important, but the talking point that can be hammered is this:

Give the governor the benefit of the doubt.  If these 1100 e-mails really are discussing confidential policy matters protected under executive privilege, then why were many of them being sent to the Governor's spouse, who doesn't hold a position in Alaska state government?

The flip side is obvious...if they really aren't covered by privilege, then what is the Governor hiding, why is she violating state law, and how can this be considered change you can believe in?

Sexist disclaimer:  I will berate Senator Obama in the same manner if any of his U.S. Senate "official business" e-mails were sent to his wife.

Unfortunately, it was Todd Palin answering questions, not his wife.

While she was off campaigning, Todd stuck around the Twin Cities for a couple of extra days so that he could attend the "Hay Days Grass Drags" just north of St. Paul.

You did know that Todd is a champion "snow machine" racer, right?  Well, when Minnesotans can't wait for October's first snow, they do weird things like race snowmobiles over grass.  I don't own a sled, but this is supposedly the biggest annual event of this type in the world.

Alaska's "First Dude" was there signing autographs at a table with three other racers sponsored by Arctic Cat.  Dressed in a long-sleeve logo t-shirt, he really did look like he was having a good time with his fans.

The McCain campaign minder that was dressed in a suit and tie...he didn't look like he was having very much fun at all.

Will post video if and when the locals post it on their sites.

(Reposted when server error ate the text)

Took an early lunch and walked down to the RNC for some free entertainment. I wasn’t disappointed.

11:02am Passed a group of blanket-wrapped protestors who are squatting along the curb. It’s mid-50’s…perfectly normal Fall day in Minnesota. Thought about chiding them for being unprepared, but then again Chris Matthews had a blanket wrapped around his legs during the broadcast last night.

11:05am Practiced my sound bite comment on the Palin speech, just in case I get roped into a “man on the street” interview.

11:15am Grabbed some lunch and hit the rope line in front of the MSNBC stage in Rice Park. Chuck Todd was live, and Orin Hatch was waiting to be interviewed.

11:20am As a intern hands out “Countdown” and “Morning Joe” fans (useless, given the cool weather), a female RNC delegate next to me whines about Joe Scarborough being the only guy on MSNBC that she likes. I comment that Joe is the only one I don’t like, and the battle is joined. I tried to knock down the “Palin got more votes than Biden” lie that she parroted, but she didn’t want to listen to the truth, and shushed me because her hero was about to speak.

11:25am Orin Hatch says nothing memorable. He is, however, wearing a black soft cast on his right arm, just like Cindy sported a few weeks back. New Republican fashion statement?

11:29am As he leaves the stage, Senator Hatch gives a left-handed fist bump to a production assistant! Where’s my camcorder when I need it?

11:35am Got into an amicable discussion with another Republican, who laughs and shakes his head when he’s forced to agree with my assertion that Governor Palin is not just a talented speaker, but the biggest celebrity of the convention.

11:45am Chuck moves to the back of the stage to interview Governor Pawlenty. Tim exudes “Minnesota nice” as a make-up person hovers over him.

11:50am Chuck makes an uncharacteristic on-air gaffe when he discusses earmarks and McCain’s chances to carry Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. He states that Minnesota gets back more federal dollars than we pay in. Pawlenty gently tries to correct the mistake, but Todd pushes on. Tim then says something about federal aid and wastewater treatment plants that I didn’t catch. Wasn’t a wastewater treatment plant one of Wasilla’s successful earmarks?

11:55am Coverage is swinging back to Brian Williams in New York, so I walk around back to scope out the delegates as they pass through the hard fence line. Governor Pawlenty is there, having taken time to be interviewed by an obviously nervous high-school student reporter and camera crew. Did I mention that Tim really is a nice guy?

12:00pm Without much else going on in the park, I head back to work, making sure to make non-threatening eye-contact with the 147 police officers that I pass along the way.

Joe Lieberman played coy, but didn't dispute the notion that he was John McCain's first choice for VP in a MSNBC Morning Joe interview Tuesday.

Joe Scarborough framed the question this way: McCain wanted to go with Joe, but his closest advisors "sat him down" and told him that he couldn't go with a pro-choice quasi-Dem, for fear of completely alienating the Republican base. Scarborough then said that he had heard that Lieberman himself had warned off McCain.  Joementum dismissed the latter, but did confirm that he had been short-listed, and "in the green room" waiting for McCain's decision.

I see a few issues here.  First, this is butt-covering damage control.  With all of the issues now pinned on Palin, McCain is trying to skirt the vetting issue by saying that it's not his fault...he had to scramble because the fundies wouldn't let him have his first choice. 

But more importantly, this (if true) reads like a huge "F-U" by McCain out towards the conservatives.  He wanted Joe L., but "they" wouldn't let him have his way.  So his response?  "You want red-meat wingnut? I'll give you a red-meat wingnut!"

Stay with me here...this could explain the vetting.  McCain could have known about Troopergate and the rest, and petulantly dismissed them...doesn't matter if she's a flawed candidate...she's idealogically "pure." 

It's an irrational, self-destructive reaction, but McCain does have anger management issues, right?  Who thinks coherently when they're in a rage?

And finally, there's the whole "I've found a partner and soul mate" issue.  What kind of soul mate is somebody's second choice? 

FoxNews Sunday's "exclusive" interview with Sen. McCain is a goldmine of quotes, both amusing and substantive.  No video link yet, but...

Yes, in talking about his VP choice, he actually said, "I'm so glad that I found a soul mate and partner." 

I'm sure that Cindy is happy for them.

McCain also offered a laundry list of issues where he differed from the Bush White House and one of the areas of disagreement was that he didn't believe in torture.  Chris Wallace caught that one quickly, and asked for a qualification, asking something like, "You aren't saying that the White House supports torture, do you?"  McCain winced a bit, then stumbled through an answer that can be boiled down to, "Yes."  He stated that he believed that water boarding is torture, and that water boarding has taken place. 

Here's something I haven't seen in a while...

Politico published a well-written article titled Scholars Question Palin's Credentials.  In it, they quote four different presidential historians, who all basically agree that Palin is the least qualified VP candidate in modern history.

McCain camp's reaction?  Force Politico to publish an "update" that reads:

After reading this article, the McCain campaign issued the following statement: "The authors quote four scholars attacking Gov. Palin's fitness for the office of Vice President. Among them, David Kennedy is a maxed out Obama donor, Joel Goldstein is also an Obama donor, and Doris Kearns Goodwin has donated exclusively to Democrats this cycle. Finally, Matthew Dallek is a former speech writer for Dick Gephardt. This is not a story about scholars questioning Governor Palin's credentials so much as partisan Democrats who would find a reason to disqualify or discount any nominee put forward by Senator McCain."

How unbelievable.  First that they feel the need to push back this hard (okay, maybe I can understand that), but put the shoe on the other foot....what if the Obama camp insisted that every time AP takes a turn on the tire swing that a disclaimer be added citing Fournier's desire to work for the McCain camp? 

Bunch of jilted whiners.     

AP's Ron Fournier's latest "analysis" is full bore swing.  The lede...

DENVER - For one evening, their political world was perfect. Or so it seemed.

Anyone looking for a quick (if pointless) protest?  Yahoo! lets readers rate stories.  Scroll down through the blather and click "one star" on the "your recommendation" side of the rating scale. Oh, and note that they allow you to vote more than once.

As part of his final audition for VP, Mitt Romney has inserted a foot orally on the housing issue:

Speaking to reporters at a lunch sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, Romney said that while McCain deserved his houses because of the "hard work" of himself and his family, "Barack Obama got a special deal from a convicted felon."

"I think it was a strange thing for Barack Obama to seize upon," Romney said. "If homes is going to be the topic of discussion that Barack Obama is going to end up on the short end of that one."

The Boston Globe was quick to point out the lies on the Obama/Rezco side of that quote, but failed to do any fact checking on just what kind of "hard work" McCain did to deserve any or all of his 7 to 10 homes.

Would being Cindy's "kept man" be all that strenuous a job?

Two other AP writers are taking their turn on the tire swing :  

Biden's career provides grist for McCain's mill

In August 2007, three men who later became entangled in a Mississippi bribery scheme raised money for Sen. Joe Biden's run for president. A month later, two of the three were overheard in a phone call recorded by the FBI discussing federal legislation and a prospective meeting with Biden's brother, Jim.

It's unclear whether any meeting ever occurred or whether legislation was ever discussed, so the episode may mean little — except as an example of the potential political vulnerabilities that Barack Obama's running mate brings to the Democratic ticket.

Noun-verb-Keating 5.
Noun-verb-Keating 5.
Noun-verb-Keating 5.

Fox reports that McCain spoke before 50,000 bikers at their 68th gathering at Sturgis, S.D. Playing to the crowd and showing yet again how much he loves and respects his wife...

McCain also joked that he urged Cindy to participate in a campground beauty pageant that was taking place during his speech.

“I was looking at the Sturgis schedule and noticed that you have a beauty pageant and so I encouraged Cindy to compete. I told her, with a little luck, she could be the only woman ever to serve as both the First Lady and Miss Buffalo Chip,” he said to cheers.

The HuffRept notes that the "Miss Buffalo Chip" contest frequently involves topless (and occasionally bottomless) participants. There's also a youtube video of last year's contest that's borderline safe for work and way over the line in terms of trashiness. View (and vote for McCain) at your own risk.

He was a Tailhooker, right?