Drake's bid for Angelina Jolie's Iraq input draws foe's fire

The company reported Friday that it beat its own record for the highest profits ever recorded by any company, with net income rising 3 percent to $40.6 billion, thanks to surging oil prices. The company’s sales, more than $404 billion, exceeded the gross domestic product of 120 countries.

Exxon Mobil earned more than $1,287 of profit for every second of 2007.

5$ now, grows into a LOT more money years down the rd, unless Hitler, err Hilliary takes it away.

Unfortunately, thats what people running for office do all the time. All those campaign promises? Where does that money come from? Oh, take it from big business.. That's smart, they raise their prices and take it from us, either way, we the people lose!

The SMART thing to do, is 1, if Thelma wants to list to Jolie, let her. If she wants to present her views as a citizen to congress, let her. Congress should hold no extra weight to what Jolie says, because quite frankly, she's not special, but she IS a citizen.

I am educated, and what I comprehend that $5 is worth more than $5 five years from now. Stay on point and stop advocating robbing Peter to pay Paul.

It's a typo, should have been strickly, but you already knew that. The uneducated Thelma Drake doesn't make typo's because she has a staff writing for her.

To 'troll', 'paulb', and others--you're introducing a different subject thread; stick to the subject here. As for 'logical'--I think you're observations (along with 'gina') are good ones. I don't deny that Ms Jolie is a useful, independent voice, and that her perspective does have value. I'm not even disturbed that Ms Drake would discuss such issues with her. I'm disturbed by the fact that Thelma Drake would seek to create a larger venue for her (Jolie's)opinions, and in so doing, imbue them with a sense of legitimacy, professionalism, and credibility which, in fact, I don't believe they have. In addition, (as you have seen from my previous opinion pieces) I am extremely disturbed by the UN's broader agenda regarding the Millennium Development Goal project, and by Barack Obama's Global Poverty Act, both of which are a giant step toward global governance and international taxes on Americans. A great deal of what underwrites Ms Jolie's UN efforts is attached to these projects. Beware, folks...

Exxons profits go to their shareholders, such as the teachers retirement accounts. Take away Exxon's profits and all your doing is taking away someone's retirement fund... Of course, the uneducated cannot com·pre·hend that.

How about having mortgage companies paying interest on our escrow accounts here in Virginia? I pay my mortgage and give the bank free money to hold on to? Tell me what's wrong with that picture..

george61555 thinks Thelma is uneducated???? What exactly is "stirckly" george???

Too many people judge Angelina Jolie by her wild youth, which she has trouble living down. She is no longer that person, which should be evident to anyone who has read of her many unreimbursed trips to the most dangerous places in the world in an effort to shine a light on the horrors going on there so perhaps we can put an end to it. She has stated that her movie making is no longer her job, but a way to make money for her true passion of helping the less fortunate and displaced refugees of this world. She has said that "this is not the real world" referring to the glitz of Hollywood. She doesn't even want to live or raise her children in that phony city.
She has educated herself in the UNHCR requirements enough to be awarded the honor of representing them around the world, and I don't think that was due to her looks, which now only seem to hold her back. She has found her calling in life and has gone after it with a vengence. I'm sure she would not speak in front of Congress, if asked, without knowing her subject matter. The fact that she is not classically trained in politics is absolutely a POSITIVE for her as she has no other agenda. Give her a chance.

As a politician the uneducated Thelma Drake is totally irrelevant. Her votes are stirckly party line, and you can't expect anymore from someone who was bought and paid for by Bush & Cheney. If you were aware of Drakes voting record, she wouldn't get a hand full of votes. Just like Bush Drakes approval rating is probably no more than 31%. People are sick of her party line votes, her support for Exxon profits and big business, and less about anything else except being a puppet for Bush. Who will be telling Drake what to say, when and how to say it when Bush is out of the White House----Jolie?

Angelina collects children like some people collect pets. It's a hobby with her. She doesn't have the slightest inkling what it means to be a mother. Maybe Drake could have her speak on behalf of SPCA issues. I can't believe Drake could get reelected after such an idiot idea.

While I'm in agreement that she probably isn't an expert in this matter, she has been there, & apparently her opinion will be asked in the capacity of a Good Will Ambassador, not as an expert. I mean why is she attacked simply for doing what she thinks is right? Most of her critics have never been to Iraq, & that feat she has accomplished. She has eyes, & probably can't help that they are sexy ones. Every thing about this woman to me seems straightforward & true, expect possibly the representation of her breast size in Tomb Raider. That may have been exaggerated. Oh yeah, and the tattoo, the one covering up the Billy Bob Thorton tattoo. That does seem a little fishy, but, maybe Brad doesn't want to see that when..well you know..lol

Since when does someone have to have a college degree to be an humanitarian? That is the snobbiest thing I've ever heard!
How completely insulting. Someone should tell the followers of Jesus to think twice about their choices since he didn't graduate from Yale. (?)

If Jolie is such an insignificant mindless force who couldn't possible contribute anything why are you so upset about the situation? Perhaps you are worred Drake is on to something here. If you were right, wouldn't it be great to see that play out and prove your point?

Oops, sorry, I forgot the Democratic Liberals are the only ones that have rights to anything "Hollywood". How dare Ms. Drake try to butt in on your territory!

Is Mr. Nye saying that he wants to be a congressman, yet doesn't want to hear from someone who has knowledge about the current political issues? Thats Nice... It looks like he is just starting a negative campaign bid for office, and is being propped up by the negative reporting of the Pilot.

Congresswoman Thelma Drake has always been accessable and responsive to the citizens she serves. She cares about their wants, needs, and opinions. That's why she has my vote before the campaign ever starts.

I've had it with all these entertainers being given free run on their uneducated political views. Jolie has no relative education or experience to stick her nose into either political or humanitarian issues. As far as being a "mother" goes, face it, she is no more a mother than Hillary Clinton or Princes Diane was. The nanny is the one raising their kids. For them the kids are only there for photo opps. You may not like hearing it, but it's true. Jolie and the other parakeets (so called because they are just taught how to repeat words as entertainment) have neither the training, experience or education to have a voice in political issues. I am fortunate enough to work with our men and women in uniform. If you want to know how things are in Iraq, talk with them. Many have told me, in detail, of the improvements being made there. Maybe Jolie and the other parakeets should go there and do what they ARE trained to do. ENTERTAIN! The tired troops could use a bit of entertainment to get their minds off the job for a couple of hours. How many of the mouthy entertainers do we see going on USO tours? If Drake is so star struck maybe she shouldn't be in politics. TERM-LIMITS! VOTE-EM-OUT!

Actually Jolie has been a UN ambassador since 2001; she has plenty of "street cred" when it comes to advising on children and humanitarian affairs. In regards to Iraq, I refer you to a quote she made after her visit there, where she met with Army Gen. David Petraeus:

"As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq. They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.

It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022702217_pf.html

For the record, I'm a Democrat....

November is not far away Thelma. If you want to play movie star go to Hollywood. If you want to work do it in washington! Sure Jolie has plenty of money and time to play the "good humor girl", but, that's were it ends. Let her attend college and get an education (PHD) before allowing her to address this kind of issue. What a laugh!!! Next you will have "Brad Pit" advising the president because he played in a war movie once. Get real Thelma.

Here come the Democrats and negative campaigning. I wonder why their latest guy, Nye, thinks these attacks will fly. He can cry and voters will sigh, and but what you can't deny is NYE stands for Not Yet Electable.

I know...dry.

I have nothing but praise for Ms. Jolie and what she is doing elsewhere. I do not want Ms. Jolie advising Thelma Drake (or anyone) about a violent and bloody war raging in Iraq. Our soldiers are fighting and dying there and Thelma Drake is supposed to be our "expert" not some extreme left wing liberal from Hollywood. C'mon, Thelma.....are you that stupid? If you are, there's someone else awaiting your highly paid and perq'd job. Are you listening?

Angelina Jolie has made a second career out of helping children and other under priviledged around the world. That is why Drake is seeking her opinion. I don't hear the defeatists moaning about the other 99.9% of Hollywood that have their lips forever glued to the backsides of Democrat politicians. As for Drake's hopeful opponent, whatever her name was, who complained about this, next week she'll be accusing Thelma of highlighting her hair roots blonde.

To Don in VaBeach--your comment is 'spot on'! I couldn't have said it better myself. For additional comments about Ms Jolie, and about Thelma Drakes obsequious patronizing, see the comments following the original news article. Looks like we're not the ONLY ones who find all this to be little more than a Hollywood photo-op. In her 'role' as a UN ambassador, Ms Jolie is little more than a lackey, a mouthpiece for the UN's broader agenda against the U.S. I would suggest everyone google Jeffrey D. Sachs, a Columbia Univ. economist. In 05 he presented the UN with a report criticizing the U.S. in global anti-poverty aid. Specifically, he urged that the U.S. be forced to commit to a system of international taxes, and that the UN have authority to impose those taxes on Americans. Barack Obama has bought in to this pernicious idea with his sponsorship of the Global Poverty Act (S.2433), a dangerous and bad bill by any name. Before we fawn over Ms Jolie and her 'insights', it would be wise to review who underwrites her.

This is just plain silly. I once visited Amsterdam, but that doesn't make me an expert on legalized prostitution. It sounds like we may have a representative looking for some publicity and face time with a Hollywood celebrity. It's not just her.....witness the idiots on Capitol Hill wasting time with the problem of "juicing" in baseball. It's none of their damned business, and a waste of taxpayer money.

I'd rather see our representatives spending more time on the serious and immediate problems that we are facing, that could drive us right off the cliff, and into another serious recession.