Wolf Scott-Cohen's Blog

Deautherize the war!

Wolf Scott-Cohen — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:31:51 EDT

Help Governor Bill Richardson end the war in Iraq by sigining a petition urging Congress to deautherize the war of the War Powers Act of 1973.

Help bring our troops home!

Go here and spread the word.

Link

NH Debate poll

Wolf Scott-Cohen — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:02:43 EDT

Everybody go and vote in this poll and let Richardson show in the poll.

Here's the link: Link

Link

Then at the links to the side of the story summary “Democrats Highlight Differences on Iraq” (the fourth story under “Top Stories”) you will see a link that says “Survey: Who Won?” Click that.

Bill Richardson's plan for Iraq

Wolf Scott-Cohen — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:46:37 EDT

The Iraq War is costing Americans $8 billion each month. By implementing my plan to de-authorize the war and withdraw ALL troops by the end of the year, we can start redirecting these funds toward what matters most for Americans: improving education, expanding access to quality health care, and addressing the REAL security threats like the Taliban, nuclear proliferation, and global warming. My seven-point ‘New Realism Plan for Iraq’ describes in detail what is required:
Troops Out in 2007

We should get our troops out of Iraq this year. Our continued presence there only enables the Iraqi factions to delay making the hard political choices they need to make to end the civil war.
No Residual Forces Left Behind

We must remove ALL of our troops. There should be no residual US forces left in Iraq. Most Iraqis, and most others in the region, believe that we are there for their oil, and this perception is exploited by Al Qaeda, other insurgents, and anti-American Shia groups. By announcing that we intend to remove all troops, we would deprive them of this propaganda tool.
Congressional De-Authorization of War

President Bush has demonstrated neither competence nor honesty nor a sense of reality in his conduct of this war.

Congress must continue to use the power of the purse without cutting funds for troops on the ground, but we should also go one step further. Congress should assert its constitutional authority and pass a resolution de-authorizing the war under the War Powers Act. Congress can then set a military pull-out date and appropriate funds accordingly for the re-deployment of troops.
Promote Iraqi Reconciliation

We should promote an Iraqi Reconciliation Conference to bring the factions together to seek compromises and to begin confidence-building measures, including the end of militia violence. Our redeployment will give us more leverage than we have now, caught in the crossfire, to get the Iraqis to reconcile.
Work With All Neighbors and Allies

We should convene a regional conference to secure the cooperation of all of Iraq's neighbors -- including Syria and Iran -- in promoting peace and stability. Among the key objectives of such a conference should be guarantees of non-interference, as well as the creation of a multilateral force of UN peacekeepers, should the Iraqis request one. The US should support such a force, but it should be composed of non-US, primarily Muslim troops.
Global Cooperation in Reconstruction

We should convene a donor conference to fund Iraq's reconstruction. The United States needs to show the world that we intend to return to our tradition of being a trusted leader, not a unilateralist loner. The process of disengagement is an opportunity for us to show that we have turned the corner, and that we intend to rebuild our alliances, respect international law, and work with the international community.
Redeploy to Address Real Threats

We must redeploy some of our troops to stop the resurgence of the Taliban and to fight the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9-11. While all American troops in Iraq must be removed, we need to maintain a military presence in the region, including in Kuwait and in the Persian Gulf. We must have the regional capacity to use air power, special forces and other means to strike Al Qaeda anywhere. We do not need American troops in Iraq to perform this essential task.

We also must bring our National Guard home where they are needed for homeland security, and we must focus our energy and resources on real threats, such as nuclear proliferation, Al Qaeda, public health, and global warming.

Bill Richardson on Health Care

Wolf Scott-Cohen — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:26:10 EDT

Here's Bill Richardson's stance on health care:

Affordable and secure health insurance for every American should be our national goal. A system that denies people health care because they can't afford it flies in the face of America's core values of opportunity and security. Americans are demanding action and it is past time to live up to their expectations of what our country can, and must, accomplish.

THE RICHARDSON APPROACH:

1. Open up existing sources of affordable, portable coverage to more Americans:

* Working families and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan.
* Americans 55 and older will be able to purchase coverage through Medicare. Seniors and persons with disabilities will also receive all of their care through Medicare, rather than multiple, uncoordinated, inadequate programs, as they do now.
* Lower-income Americans will obtain affordable coverage through expanded Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance (SCHIP) programs.
* Veterans will get access to the high-quality care they deserve, when they need it, without bureaucratic hassles.

2. Help families pay for coverage:

* An advance refundable tax credit based on income will help families obtain coverage through the FEHBP or Medicare.
* All employers will be required to do their fair share to contribute to a healthy and covered work force.
* All Americans will be required to obtain coverage once these reforms are in place.

3. Provide relief from high health costs by:

* Passing a Medical Borrower's Fairness Act to provide immediate relief to families forced to borrow to pay for medical expenses.
* Streamlining health care administration through common forms, common reporting requirements, and widespread use of health IT.
* Investing in prevention by addressing the root causes of chronic diseases.
* Improving quality of care through payment systems that reward performance

Bill Richardson on energy

Wolf Scott-Cohen — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:23:19 EDT

Here' s Governor Bill Richardson's stance on energy:

We must "Act Boldly and Act Now" in order to make America a Clean Energy Nation like I made New Mexico a Clean Energy State. Consider this a call to action, for Congress, the energy industry, and the public. I am calling for a New American Revolution -- an energy and climate revolution.
Cut Oil Demand: 50% by 2020

That means reducing oil imports from around 65% to 10-15%. We can do this in part by getting the 100 mile per gallon (mpg) car into the marketplace. We must work to double the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, or CAFE, to 50 mpg by 2020. And we will set a life-cycle low-carbon fuel standard that reduces the carbon impact of our liquid fuels by 30% by 2020.
Create New Efficiencies And Energy Sources in the Electrical Sector: 50% by 2040

I am calling for a national renewable portfolio standard of 30% by 2020 that will rise to 50% by 2040. This is aggressive, but necessary as we start using more electricity for automobiles. I will push for an energy productivity law requiring a 20% improvement in energy productivity by 2020. We could save customers $21 billion a year by 2020.
Dramatically Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 90% by 2050

20% by 2020, 80% by 2040 -- ten years faster than scientists say is necessary because we must lead the world, and we can't afford the possibility of backsliding and inaction. We will start with a market-based cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions to create incentives for the electric and industrial sectors to make significant reductions in their carbon emissions. Economists say the world can protect itself from drastic climate change at a cost of 1-3% of our economic activity. We can afford to protect the climate. Given the risks of catastrophic climate change, we can't afford not to do it.
Lead By Example and Restore America as the World's Leader

We must return to the international negotiating table and support mandatory world-wide limits on global warming pollution. We will work closely with fast-growing nations. I will cooperate with the European Union, the World Bank, and other allies to help finance the incremental cost of "doing it right." I will create a North American Energy Council with Mexico and Canada, which supply about 20% of our oil, and make sure our relations with these neighbors are firm and friendly. As we reduce our demand for foreign oil, we should work with the Persian Gulf nations, and our partners at the UN, to create a multilateral system for protecting the Persian Gulf so that within ten years, the U.S. presence there could be sharply and safely reduced.
Get It All Done Without Breaking the Bank

We will raise some revenue, from the sales of carbon permits, for example. Further, I will get out the "green scissors" to cut back on wrongly-placed tax subsidies. Over time, this program will yield huge productivity increases in our economy, as well as significant budget savings and revenues. We will create more than ten times as much value in the American economy by reducing our oil imports as we spend to make this program happen.
Invite the Oil Companies to Become Energy Companies

I know people love to hate the oil companies. They have been raking in huge profits. But I want to invite them to become energy companies, and invest in our thriving new energy economy. They are invited to the table, but they aren't going to run the table the way they have for the last six years.
The Bottom Line

Americans need energy to get to work, we need heat and electricity in our homes, schools and workplaces. We are hurt by unpredictable energy price cycles, and by our nation's energy policy failures. The way out of the cycle is to create competition, to support energy productivity, new technologies and alternative fuels. And everyone -- every American -- must make an effort to make us energy independent and combat global warming. Our national security and our planet depend on it. It's about creating a new energy economy here in the United States, and doing it quickly, with broad, bold strokes. It's the way to a bright, strong, prosperous future for the United States -- and for the world. I called for an energy revolution -- and now, today, I call on you to join it.

Richardson for President

Wolf Scott-Cohen — Thu, 03 May 2007 16:14:14 EDT

I want to know what if anything people here think of Bill Richardson as a presidential candidate.