Outsiders on the Inside

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued unidentified buyers of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC securities over what the agency called “highly profitable and suspicious purchases” before PepsiCo Inc. announced it would buy a 66 percent stake in the Russian dairy and juice producer.

“Unknown purchasers” bought 400,000 American depositary receipts in the Russian company from Nov. 29 to Dec.1, when there was no public information available concerning the contemplated acquisition, the agency said today in a complaint in federal court in New York.

Dogmarking Earmarks

Three months ago, had anyone asked about the Tea Party, the only response would have been laughter. Now, it may be fear. Even though several of their policies make some amount of sense, the amount of power that this party is gaining in the political world is becoming as nonsensical as some of their policies. Here, Republican leader McConnell, previous opposition to the Tea Party, has turned over a new leaf in a strange allegiance with the growing Tea Party.
The New York Times reports:

WASHINGTON — In leading his colleagues in a vote on Tuesday to ban the lawmaker-directed spending items known as earmarks, Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader and consummate Congressional appropriator, averted a divisive clash within his caucus over the question of joining the new House Republican majority in enacting an earmark “moratorium” for the next Congress.

Given how zealously Mr. McConnell has defended the constitutional prerogative of Congress to control the federal purse, his turnabout was also the surest sign yet that the rightward pressure of Tea Party groups, and an antispending sentiment among voters, have begun to influence the way Washington does business.

While banning earmarks makes sense, even if the proposal is Tea Party related, the affect that these 'Beckonians' are having on the countries politics is quite terrifying. The fact that they are having any affect is reason in itself to have fear. They are getting opposition to side with them and it appears as though their control is gaining momentum.

Jerry Brown's Obama Condition

 Toyota's climb back to the top looks like a few short steps compared to what California is going to have to do. Even with a recent bill passed to close up a $19 billion dollar shortfall, California managed to fall into deeper budgetary crisis. Much like Bush's gift to Obama, Schwarzenegger will be passing California on to Brown in less than 'spick and spack' fiscal condition. The New York Times reports:

Five weeks after the Legislature passed a budget that promised to close a $19 billion budget shortfall, California has sunk back into yet another fiscal crisis, this time facing a $26 billion gap that is posing a major new challenge for the incoming governor,Jerry Brown, and seems almost certain to force deep cuts in a state already reeling from three years of financial turmoil.

The departing governor,Arnold Schwarzenegger, has called a special session of the Legislature for Dec. 6 to begin dealing with one part of the problem: a projected $6 billion shortfall in the $126 billion budget passed in October, a record 100 days late. Mr. Schwarzenegger’s aides said the governor, a Republican who has fought repeatedly with Democrats in pushing through deep spending cuts, would propose another round of reductions to get the state through the end of this fiscal year in June.

 While Schwarzenegger's administration is packing and telling everyone they've done their best, Brown must propose a new budget in January for 2011. California's estimated budget shortfall for next year is an estimated $38 billion including the shortfalls of the propositions Californians voted in this November. Brown's pledge not to raise taxes without voters' approval may be a hard pledge to follow through with in the next several years.

Mental Health Break: Loco for Loko

Kites Are The New Prius

 Are we solving the energy crisis sooner than we predicted? While many have been looking into solar energy, others have been looking at a renewable resource here one Earth: wind. Windmills are no new idea, but kites are a whole other story. MSNBC shares;

“The jet streams are like a river of free, clean, and concentrated energy flowing above us, waiting to be tapped into,” says Cristina Archer, a California State University, Chico, assistant professor of environmental sciences who has written research papers on the topic.

That promise has inspired a throng of entrepreneurs and inventors who are now trying to transform what was once stuff of science fiction into real energy businesses. The goal is the same: build mega-watt systems that can wean the world off fossil fuels and grab a slice of the $63 billion global wind energy market. The U.S. Department of Energy expects that wind will provide 20 percent of the nation’s energy by 2030 – up from just 1.8 percent today.

This is possibly THE solution to what Thomas Friedman referred to as 'Code Green' in his Hot, Flat, and Crowded. This would create revenue, jobs and international market in terms of U.S. participation beyond our dreams. The fact that this could arrive in just a few years sweetens the deal. The U.S. must jump at this chance before other countries catch up.

Murkowski Gets a Boost!

 While Lisa Murkowski has been running anxiously around the state, teaching people how to write her name, the Supreme Court has been helping her. They have made it possible for voters to view a list of legible write-ins, but with a few minor setbacks. Center Daily Times reports;

But the Supreme Court decision allows voters at early voting sites to see the lists if they say they need help and want to be shown a list of write-in candidates. The decision could aid Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s write-in U.S. Senate bid; her campaign had fought to keep the lists at polling places. 

“This stay will ensure that Alaskans can continue to get the assistance they’re entitled to under law,” said campaign manager Kevin Sweeney in a statement. 

The Supreme Court did say the lists must not disclose the party affiliation of the write-in candidates. And the ballots of those voters who ask for the list must be segregated from the ballots of other voters, pending any additional appeals.

 Will this help the underdog favorite? This is yet to be seen. Although this new service may not be the most user friendly, hopefully voters and Murkowski supporters step up to the plate and do their part.

Murkowski Gives Miller the Old 'One, Two'

Not surprisingly, candidate for Alaskan Senate, Lisa Murkowski, has handed Palin's favorite, Joe Miller, more than he can handle. While the befudlingly beloved ex VP candidate has mad a choice not unlike many of her other choices, unwise and rash, for some reason people have been picking up steam behind her as they usually do, to the demise of the rest of us 'non-Tea Party elitists'. Joe Miller, seemingly unqualified with a muddied past, was recently winner of the Alaskan Primary. Thankfully, opposition Murkowski has decided to go around the state teaching people how to write her in. While she is not yet winning, her ratings are quickly rising. As is seen in this video provided by MSNBC , she appears better versed and practiced than Joe Miller.