President Obama has elected a coal proponent to head the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM).  Simply put, this is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

After months of internal debate, Obama passed over prominent mining reform candidates to select Joseph G. Pizarchik, a Pennsylvania mining regulator.  Pizarchik has taken a pro-industry line on acid mine drainage and has become a leading advocate for disposal of toxic industrial coal ash in coal mine sites.  He claims this is a “beneficial use” of the same coal combustion waste involved in the disastrous TVA spill in December that devastated 300 acres.

During his August 6th confirmation hearing, Pizarchik astonishingly claimed ignorance about mountain-top removal or what changes the Obama administration might propose, since that mining technique is not widely used in his state.  That would be like the cybersecurity czar claiming ignorance of the Internet.

Obama’s choice signifies yet another broken campaign promise: to end environmentally destructive coal mining practices such as mountain-top removal.  According to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), placating the coal industry has become the central plank of the administration’s environmental agenda.

“It is appointments like this that are causing many to become disillusioned with the Obama presidency,” said PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch.  He noted the Obama administration has approved tens of permits for mountain-top mining.  “Putting forward a nominee who claims ignorance on a central issue so that his true position cannot be discerned is the sort of cynical politics I thought President Obama vowed to change.”

Story at Common Dreams

We have some bad financial news, and some really bad news to report.

Total Deficit or Surplus (Percentage of GDP):

The bad news is that a mid-year review from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) estimates that the 2009 U.S. federal deficit will be $1.58 trillion, which is $262 billion less than predicted earlier in the year.  The Obama administration says this is because it is providing less financial aid than expected to Wall Street.

Unfortunately, the really bad news is the 10-year deficit projection rose to $9 trillion, while the Congressional Budget Office estimated the 10-year deficit at $7.1 trillion.  The $9 trillion figure represents three-quarters the size of the entire national economy.  Either way, our country is plunging deep into debt.

The discrepancy between the two estimates demonstrates how difficult it is to predict something the size and complexity of the U.S. economy.  What’s really scary is that the margin-of-error of these estimates is at least $2 trillion.

"Whatever their cause, the administration is very concerned about these out-year deficits, and getting those deficits under control is a top priority of the administration," said budget director Peter Orszag.

The OMB report warned that rising health care costs and entitlement programs will continue to strain the federal budget and add to our $11.7 trillion national debt.  This could hamper overall economic growth in a self-reinforcing downward spiral.  The CBO said the long-term picture poses a “threat to the economy.”

President Obama has some great ideas for change.  Here’s one to add to his list that’s surely to shock everyone in Washington:  BALANCE OUR BUDGET!

Story at FoxNews

The Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield has several displays of patriotic art.  The Hall of Presidents is lined with portraits of the presidents of the United States.  This leads into The Freedom Rotunda, where a grand mosaic portrays scenes from American history.

Below is the newest entry to the Hall of Presidents, a plaque of President Barack Obama:

The online community of “birthers” is going crazy after discovering a Kenyan birth certificate for President Barack Obama.  Birthers believed this certificate proved that Obama was born in Kenya and not Hawaii, and therefore is not eligible to be President of the United States.

You can see the claim of authenticity here and some debunking here.  All this fuss in spite of right-wing FoxNews declaring that Obama’s Hawaiian birth certificate is legitimate. 

It appears that even Congress has accepted Obama’s American birthplace.  The U.S. House on Monday unanimously approved a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii becoming the 50th state.  A clause was included that reads: “Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.”

Hawaiian state law prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to anyone who does not have a tangible interest.  However, Obama’s birth certificate along with birth notices from the two Honolulu newspapers were brought forward even before he took office.

If you would like to join in on the fun, you can print out and create your own fake Kenyan birth certificate.

More Crazy News

President Barack Obama turned 48 today.  He led the White House press corps in singing “Happy Birthday” to veteran reporter Helen Thomas, who turned 89 today.