Where did you get the idea that Federal leases are free money? They are won by the highest bidder at biannual lease sales. Some winning bids have reached 1 billion dollars with no guarantee that any hydrocarbons were present. The winner must also pay royalties (16.6667%) if the lease is producing and rental payments if it is not. Further, an oil company cannot hold onto a lease forever if it is not producing. The leases have terms. If the lease isn't producing after 5 years, then the lease expires and you can bid on it at the next auction. "Oil companies use inactive leases as collateral." Only if they have proven reserves on them and that are capable of being produced in commercial quantities. It appears that you do not know...

"If tax cuts actually boosted revenues and the economy we wouldnt be in this mess. Bush got his cuts." Tax Revenues Went Up After Bush Tax Cuts. FY 2001 Non-military spending: U.S.D. 2.959 trillion Military: U.S.D. 307.80 billion Revenue: U.S.D. 3.2667 trillion Total spending: U.S.D. 3.4 trillion Deficit: U.S.D. 133.29 billion National debt: U.S.D. 5.807463 trillion FY 2002 Non-military spending: U.S.D. 3.3713 trillion Military: U.S.D. 328.7 billion Revenue: U.S.D. 3.541 trillion Total spending: U.S.D. 3.7 trillion Deficit: U.S.D. 159 billion National debt: U.S.D. 6.405707 trillion FY 2003 Non-military spending: U.S.D. 3.4951 trillion Military: U.S.D. 404.9 billion Revenue: U.S.D. 3.526 trillion Total spending: U.S.D. 3.9...

Um, I know lots of strict constitutionalists, who happen to be Republican, that disagreed with SCOTUS in Hein. You should read the case.

Merry Christmas! Catch you on the waves!

Please see the lists of hospitals within 5.6 miles of St. Joseph's. This was not a case where the mother had to have an abortion this second or she would die.

Hall County Commissioner Ashley Bell is defecting to the Republican Party. Gov.-elect Nathan Deal will announce the switch at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues breakfast this morning, in front of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and the members of the Hall County legislative delegation. "I always thought of myself as a conservative," Bell said. "After I got elected, I realized I was more conservative than I thought, when actually having to make tough decisions about what to do with people's tax dollars and being a steward of public trust." Bell said he feels the Democratic Party has become more liberal in recent years, making the Republican Party a better match for his ideals. "It's a large party and I definitely fit...

Go to another hospital. You were unable to get FOCA through Congress. You will not be able to overturn the Church Amendment. You will almost certainly fail before the Supreme Court. Dr Berwick and Obama cannot do executively what they are prohibited from doing under Federal law. Justice Blackmum, who wrote Roe v. Wade, supported the Church Amendment. You are just hysterical. Go take a Midol and drink some herbal tea.

Gee, I didn't know the bath house industry was such big business!

No, YOU people are only interested in ONE thing and that is to force the majority of this country to kowtow down to your demands. There are, at least, 10 general and surgical hospitals within 10 miles of St. Joseph's. The hospital cannot use the name Catholic.

There are other hospitals within the immediate vicinity of the hospital. Look, what you want is for the church to sign off on abortion and the rest of your agenda. It will not. You can either have a Catholic hospital that is protected by the Church Amendment or you can have a hospital unaffiliated to the Catholic church performing abortions. What you cannot have is a Catholic hospital performing abortions where the big man has already ruled on the subject. There is NOTHING to stop the sisters continuing with their hospital although they may be excommunicated. That is their choice. The church has a choice. Be PRO-choice for a change!