Thanks to the Germans for the type of leadership the world needs!

The kind of leadership the world needs, not the "clean coal and nuclear is safe now" corporate line that Obama is taking. The Germans hit the streets - 100,000 of them in protest of their nuclear industry, they get the credit for this really. The politicians tend to follow - where are our protesters?

From Democracy Now:

Germany Announces Plans To Close Nuclear Plants Amid Massive Protests

Germany has announced plans to close its 17 nuclear power plants by 2022. Chancellor Angela Merkel described the move as a revolution in energy supply.

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel: "Step by step, we will abandon nuclear energy by the end of 2022. This path is a big challenge for Germany, but it also means huge opportunities for future generations. We believe that our country can become a front runner for the creation of renewable energy and as the first large industrial nation, we can create such a change towards highly efficient and renewable energies, with all its opportunities for export, developments and technology which create jobs."

The safety of Germany’s nuclear plants has come under increased scrutiny in the wake of Japan’s ongoing nuclear crisis. Angela Merkel announced the nuclear phase-out two days after an estimated 100,000 anti-nuclear protesters gathered in 20 German cities.

The (Republican) Circus is coming to town

So I have been too busy to comment much on politics, although with the lunatics in charge of they asylum (The House of Representatives) I have plenty to say.

But the fun is just beginning as the circus is coming to town - gearing up for the 2012 Presidential elections. I am not ready for another election, but as painful as it is going to be, it will hopefully provide for some laughs. (I laugh to avoid crying)

Certainly the best clown for the circus is Donald Trump. Not too likely to win the nomination but he is getting a lot of media attention. This is a man who, despite all the evidence and facts that have been presented to prove Obama was actually born in Hawaii (even Fox news has admitted as such), Trump was still questioning the fact (as have other Republican politicians). Obama last week had the long form of the birth certificate released and he said in response to Trump that there is not time for such distractions and we need to focus on the problems America faces.

In response to the release - Trump said he was "proud" to have pushed the birther issue. Imagine, someone who is proud to ignore facts for political gain wanting to be president, oh, I forgot, he is a Republican, that is what they do.

So now that the birth issue is settled, what was the issue Trump moved to next? Now he is questioning Obama's grades in school.

I did hear Trump comment on one real issue - regulation. He states the republican position painfully well. He said that the high gas prices was due to Obama and the regulations he put in place after the BP Gulf oil spill. Trump said government regulations should be gotten rid of. He said - 'sure, we will have oil spills, but we will clean them up and move on, no big deal.'

This stance is of course ridiculous if you are concerned about the economy. How many small businesses - fishermen, hotels, restaurants, tour guides, etc, went out of business due to the spill? What is the long term effect on America's largest economic fishery? Not to mention the death of animals and the death of the workers on the rig. Of course new regulations is not what we need as much as enforcement of current ones. The other reason the republican stance on this is is foolish is that Obama actually did not go overboard in regulating the oil industry, quite the opposite, in every instance the Republicans complain about too much regulation (financial, oil, nuclear), Obama has actually given in to industry far more than he has protected the people. Their premise that Obama is overreaching with government regulation is just false.

It is going to be an interesting election year if nothing else.

Peace...