by RJ Eskow
There's a lot to admire about the President's consensus-seeking style, however frustrating it can be to activists. But his press conference yesterday, and the management problems that led up to it, show the limits of that style in times of crisis. Hopefully the oil tragedy - let's not call it a "spill" when it's more like a sustained explosion - will help the Administration understand something that seems to elude them at times: You can't negotiate with disaster or compromise with danger. The President's tendency to see and sometimes embrace both sides of an issue was in full view yesterday. One example: "You never heard me say 'drill, baby, drill'," he said about offshore drilling. True enough - but he did say "drill," most famously a few short weeks before the BP disaster. "I don't agree with the notion that we shouldn't do (any drilling)," he said. "It turns out, by the way, that oil rigs today generally don't cause spills. They are technologically very advanced."
continued at Daily Kos....
Friday, May 28, 2010
Senator Sanders Takes Action On The Oil Spill!
by slinkerwink
This is why Senator Sanders is one of our best progressive leaders in Congress. He's decided to take action by introducing legislation that bans offshore drilling: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation that goes far beyond temporary bans on additional offshore drilling permits. The Vermont Independent-Socialist is calling for the reinstatement of bans that expired in 2008, which would fully prohibit permits for "exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas" on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as sections of the Gulf. In short, the bill would have the effect of essentially forcing the country to go cold turkey on offshore oil consumption. "[Obama] wants a moratorium for six months. We want a permanent ban," Sanders said, in a call announcing his legislation. "I think the president is probably seriously regretting the fact that he lifted the moratorium... he is right to re-impose the moratorium as a time out." And for those who worry about the effect this would have on "oil junkies," here's a provision Senator Sanders has added to the bill that would help with oil addiction:
continued at Daily Kos....
This is why Senator Sanders is one of our best progressive leaders in Congress. He's decided to take action by introducing legislation that bans offshore drilling: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation that goes far beyond temporary bans on additional offshore drilling permits. The Vermont Independent-Socialist is calling for the reinstatement of bans that expired in 2008, which would fully prohibit permits for "exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas" on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as sections of the Gulf. In short, the bill would have the effect of essentially forcing the country to go cold turkey on offshore oil consumption. "[Obama] wants a moratorium for six months. We want a permanent ban," Sanders said, in a call announcing his legislation. "I think the president is probably seriously regretting the fact that he lifted the moratorium... he is right to re-impose the moratorium as a time out." And for those who worry about the effect this would have on "oil junkies," here's a provision Senator Sanders has added to the bill that would help with oil addiction:
continued at Daily Kos....
What's next for coal ash?
by Sue Sturgis
Disaster has pushed Washington to call for new standards for handling waste from coal-fired power plants. It's invited citizens to weigh in, but will their voices carry above lobbyists fighting tough regulations?
continued at Daily Kos....
Disaster has pushed Washington to call for new standards for handling waste from coal-fired power plants. It's invited citizens to weigh in, but will their voices carry above lobbyists fighting tough regulations?
continued at Daily Kos....
Scientists on the trail of some New Plumes of Unknown Origin
by jamess
Here we go again. Those Scientists are back out there, taking samples, plotting data, and Kicking Uncertainty's Butt! Underwater Oil Plume Discovered Near Mobile Bay By Bobbie O'Brien -- May 27, 2010 TAMPA -- New tests show what appears to be a massive, second underwater plume in previously untested waters northeast of the leaking BP wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine scientists have discovered a new, wide area of "dissolved hydrocarbons" in that Gulf. It is six miles wide and goes as deep as 3,300 feet. More tests are being run, but researchers from the University of South Florida suspect the plume may be from chemical dispersants used to break up the gushing oil leak a mile below the surface. They suspect the gunk to be Disperants, But HOW can you be sure -- you can't even see it! Because for most of America, those Underwater Plumes won't really exist, until they SEE them on the Evening News!
continued at Daily Kos....
Here we go again. Those Scientists are back out there, taking samples, plotting data, and Kicking Uncertainty's Butt! Underwater Oil Plume Discovered Near Mobile Bay By Bobbie O'Brien -- May 27, 2010 TAMPA -- New tests show what appears to be a massive, second underwater plume in previously untested waters northeast of the leaking BP wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine scientists have discovered a new, wide area of "dissolved hydrocarbons" in that Gulf. It is six miles wide and goes as deep as 3,300 feet. More tests are being run, but researchers from the University of South Florida suspect the plume may be from chemical dispersants used to break up the gushing oil leak a mile below the surface. They suspect the gunk to be Disperants, But HOW can you be sure -- you can't even see it! Because for most of America, those Underwater Plumes won't really exist, until they SEE them on the Evening News!
continued at Daily Kos....
Gulf Oil Rig Victims Anger Should be Shared by All
by RDemocrat
Crossposted from Hillbilly Report. In testimony about the Gulf Oil rig disaster on Thursday some victims got to air their anger on the Congressional record. Some have lost loved ones that can never be replaced, and others were encouraged to sign away their rights as victims. This did not even include the millions who will lose their livelihoods. Their rage should be felt by us all.
continued at Daily Kos....
Crossposted from Hillbilly Report. In testimony about the Gulf Oil rig disaster on Thursday some victims got to air their anger on the Congressional record. Some have lost loved ones that can never be replaced, and others were encouraged to sign away their rights as victims. This did not even include the millions who will lose their livelihoods. Their rage should be felt by us all.
continued at Daily Kos....
Great News: Indonesia Ends Its Deforestation
by LaughingPlanet
We have been getting hammered with too much bad news these days. It is time to celebrate something huge and wonderful. Indonesia Agrees to Curb Commercial Deforestation By AUBREY BELFORD Published: May 27, 2010 The deal, signed Wednesday at a climate conference in Oslo, is open to other countries and would tie the $1 billion in funding to "verified emissions reductions" as part of the United Nations-backed effort known as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD. Under the plan, rich countries help pay for the preservation of forests in developing countries.
continued at Daily Kos....
We have been getting hammered with too much bad news these days. It is time to celebrate something huge and wonderful. Indonesia Agrees to Curb Commercial Deforestation By AUBREY BELFORD Published: May 27, 2010 The deal, signed Wednesday at a climate conference in Oslo, is open to other countries and would tie the $1 billion in funding to "verified emissions reductions" as part of the United Nations-backed effort known as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD. Under the plan, rich countries help pay for the preservation of forests in developing countries.
continued at Daily Kos....
Mr. President, Let Us In
by Crashing Vor
Dear Mr. President: First, thank you for returning to Louisiana today to inspect the effects of the ongoing oil catastrophe and for your strong words of support to the people of the Gulf Coast. Thanks as well for your efforts to speed resources to combat this mess. Your pledge to reform the corrupt Minerals Management Service is extremely welcome. This message is not to excoriate you for failing to do things you cannot or blame you for the failings of others. It is a simple request: lower the barriers to the coast so that those who want to help can do so.
continued at Daily Kos....
Dear Mr. President: First, thank you for returning to Louisiana today to inspect the effects of the ongoing oil catastrophe and for your strong words of support to the people of the Gulf Coast. Thanks as well for your efforts to speed resources to combat this mess. Your pledge to reform the corrupt Minerals Management Service is extremely welcome. This message is not to excoriate you for failing to do things you cannot or blame you for the failings of others. It is a simple request: lower the barriers to the coast so that those who want to help can do so.
continued at Daily Kos....
No Words. Only Tears & Heartbreaking Images
by ridemybike
Today, during a House subcommittee meeting on the BP oil spill, Representative Charlie Melancon, a Democrat from Louisiana representing much of the coastal area being directly affected by the spill, broke down in tears while delivering his remarks. He started to quiver, and was unable to finish. He asked that his remarks be submitted for the record, and walked out of the hearing. His tears belong to all of us.
continued at Daily Kos....
Today, during a House subcommittee meeting on the BP oil spill, Representative Charlie Melancon, a Democrat from Louisiana representing much of the coastal area being directly affected by the spill, broke down in tears while delivering his remarks. He started to quiver, and was unable to finish. He asked that his remarks be submitted for the record, and walked out of the hearing. His tears belong to all of us.
continued at Daily Kos....
BP Top Kill Diary # 7 as of 10 pm MDT appx
by Miep
Hope i'm doing this right. This should be a subset of teh Mother Ship the Second. Don't rec this, rec the Mothership diary so that we keep this solidly on the rec list with ONE pointer only. So this is where you go to continue to comment and look at the link and read the news and tell us when people are lying and otherwise be helpful and really, really appreciated.
continued at Daily Kos....
Hope i'm doing this right. This should be a subset of teh Mother Ship the Second. Don't rec this, rec the Mothership diary so that we keep this solidly on the rec list with ONE pointer only. So this is where you go to continue to comment and look at the link and read the news and tell us when people are lying and otherwise be helpful and really, really appreciated.
continued at Daily Kos....
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