Nuclear power regaining favor amid recession, climate concerns
BY JUDY PASTERNAK
Investigative Reporting Workshop
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration may soon guarantee as much as $18.5 billion in loans to build nuclear reactors to generate electricity, and Congress is considering whether to add billions more to support an expansion of nuclear power.
These actions come after an extensive, decade-long campaign in which companies and unions related to the industry have spent more than $600 million on lobbying and nearly $63 million on campaign contributions, according to an analysis by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University.
Nuclear power has proven - PROVEN - time and time again it simply cannot be economcially viable without being firmly attached to the Taxpayer's wallet.
Why "Conservatives" support this taxpayer rip-off only proves, once again: "GOP stands for GreedOverPrinciples."
I checked in with my brother, a graduate of the University of Florida (Go, Gators!!!) and an appraiser with many years of experience in that state's real estate market. His reaction?
"Yeah, 'right.'"
Ladies and Gentlemen, Florida is in a bust (it's beyond 'bear') market. Go google "florida population decline" and see the hits you get - I did. My brother merely confirmed what I already knew; that the Freeloader "Freedom" Foundation Minnesota was merely tryin' to sell some more of that ol' RightWingSnakeOil, referred to as VooDoo Economics by Bush The Elder (before Uncle Ronnie took him to the woodshed).
If folk are fleeing the frozen tundra due to excessive taxation (and that's a BIG "IF"), the fact is they're fleeing Florida 'cause The Republican Recession put that state's economy in the cr@pper.
Well, this state's economy, too.
OK, The Republican Recession put the whole (cheney)in' country's economy in the cr@pper. And those GOPers dam near melted the world's economy, too. Essentially, all those years of GOPers in the driver's seat ruined everything. But, that's a tangent. Back to the Freeloader "Freedom" Foundation Minnesota's "report."
Last night, while sitting in as Guest Host at AM 950 Radio, I ripped that "report" - because it is indeed bogus - and had Jeff Van Wychen from MN2020.org call in to give his thoughts about the Freeloader "Freedom" Foundation Minnesota's "report."
Here's how: get the DFL to stipulate every (cheney)in' vote Parry'd take will be the EXACT same vote as the GOPer Minority Leader's, and save on the per diem it'd take for Parry to travel back and forth to St. Paul.
After all, everyone knows what's gonna happen this session: "Vote 'NO!' Wardlow Parry."
For the past few years, I've been saying "GOP Now Stands For 'Greed Over Principles'."
Rep. Ed Markey, D-MA says differently. Let's look!!!
Markey: You know the G.O.P. used to stand for Grand Old Party. Now it stands for grandstand, oppose and pretend. They grandstand with phony claims about non-existent death panels. They oppose any real reform and with this substitute they pretend to offer a solution while really doing nothing. G.O.P.--grandstand, oppose and pretend and make no mistake about it the Republican substitute is not real reform. It does nothing to curb skyrocketing healthcare costs. It does nothing to provide real insurance coverage to millions who are now uninsured. It does nothing to stop the unfair practices of insurance companies. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Republican do-nothing substitute.
Specifically, who might have Rep Markey been referring to, as a Grandstander, Opposer and Pretender"? Let's look!!!
The following YouTube demonstrates why Senator Franken introduced that amendment, that thirty - THIRTY - Republicans opposed. Let's look:
The above YouTube and the thirty - THIRTY - Republican Senators that voted against Senator Franken's admendment demonstrates, once again, that GOP now stands for GreedOverPrinciples.
The Associated Press is reporting the jury has reached a verdict in one count in the Jack Abramoff related trial of former Abramoff lobbying associate Kevin Ring. Ring "served" as Chief of Staff for former Rep. John Doolittle and as a Senate Judiciary subcommittee aide to Sen. John Ashcroft. Both Doolittle and Ashcroft are GOPers, as in GreedOverPrinciples types.
Here, in a short segment, Bill Moyers explains in general terms what the Abramoff Scandal is all about, and why - IMNSHO - GOP today stands for GreedOverPrinciples. Let's look!!!
The title of the post, back on February 15th of this year, was: RNC's Michael Steele: "You have absolutely no reason - none - to trust our words or our actions at this point."
And that was BEFORE the crazy "birther" stuff, and a whole bunch of other bogus stuff slung by the GOPers nationally. Well, and locally too, by FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike. So, since some things never change, here that post is again - Michael Steele telling the world there is no reason - NONE - to trust what the GOP has to say.
Yep - that's the RNC's Michael Steele talking; talking to Glenn Beck. Beck was saying conservatives can't trust today's GreedOverPrinciples party; I submit NO ONE can trust today's GreedOverPrinciples party. Let's watch, and then - below the fold - I'll elaborate:
That's "IP" as in "Internet Protocol" - and here's why it's important: on June 4th, at 6:32 pm, the following message was posted on GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb's personal blog:
J Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Aside from her tax issue which will be huge, Brod will have to answer for her personal behavior if she runs. She's - ahem - played the field. A lot.(MinnesotaDemocratsExposed)
At the time, I didn't think a lot of it; it seems to be there's some exceedingly vile stuff posted over at GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb's personal blog. However, blogger Brian Falldin of Change We Must Fight For began noticing a pattern; a pattern on right-wing blogs of posts smearing Laura Brod.
Right-wing blogger Andy Aplikowski tried to take the high road and wrote about this smear campaign in a post that was almost immediately deleted. Among other things, Andy alleges "...a Republican staffer in the capital..." is involved in this smear campaign. Andy explained why he deleted that post here; it's important to note that Andy did NOT retract his allegations. In a nutshell, Andy found that exposing problems in the GreedOverPrinciples party isn't a lot of fun, if you're a rightwinger.
Brian Falldin sent some questions to GOP Gubenatorial Candidate Marty Seifert, who was identified by name in Andy's deleted post. The Q 'n A is here.
Here's what I found interesting, in Marty Seifert's response:
I would ask anyone in question that allegedly has done this to open up to a lie detector test, open up cell and computer records and come clean.
Well, that should be a real easy one for GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb. All he has to do is go back to June 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm in his personal blog's records, and find out who "J" is - by using the IP Address "J" used to post.
... a must-read. And that guy State GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb thinks is a must-read, recently called Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya a communist. A communist!!!
In a way, it's quite of reminiscent of an elected GOPer - Michele Bachmann - questioning the patriotism of duly elected US Senators and Congressmen.
And it's part of a pattern; today's GOP has a habit of trashing those they disagree with. Especially Colonel Repya; last year republiCon Ron essentially called Colonel Repya an enemy of the party for having the audacity - AUDACITY! - to suggest the party might have a few paperwork problems.
Since it's been established that the established GOP Party Leadership doesn't much like The Good Colonel, and it's been established the State GOP Deputy Chair thinks the CD-04 Deputy Chair is a must-read, and since it's well-established the CD-04 Deputy Chair thinks The Good Colonel is a commie, doesn't that beg the question: does State GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb think that that Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya is a commie, too??!?
Well I thought so, so I asked! Here's exactly what I asked, in an e-mailed entitled "A Question For Deputy Chair Brodkorb:
Dear Deputy Chair (Elect) Brodkorb,
I'm looking into CD-4 Deputy Chair Nathan Hansen's recent comments in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and I have a question for State Deputy Chair (Elect) Brodkorb:
Mr. Deputy Chair (Elect) Brodkorb, do you agree with CD-4 Deputy Chair Hansen's assertion that LTC (Retired) Joe Repya is a communist?
A "Yes" or "No" answer will suffice; an explanation would be appreciated.
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Tommy Johnson
Blogger
State GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb declined to respond for the record.
With elected office holders like Michele Bachmann and Laura Brod, and elected party officers like Nathan Hansen, State GOP Deputy Chair Michal Brodkorb likely will be ducking a lot of questions.
It's been a tough day for the GOPers. Fortunately for Kurt Zellers, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford - who turned down Federal Stimulus - got caught gettin' some international stimulus:
Chris Cillizza
washingtonpost.com Political Blogger
Wednesday, June 24, 2009; 3:30 PM
Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) admitted in a press conference in Washington today that he had an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina and that he will resign his position as president of the Republican Governors Assocation. (Washington Post)
Yep - a "Family Values" republiCon, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, wasn't "hiking the Appalachian Trail" as aides first claimed; he was down in Argentina - "catching up on foreign affairs".
Which is good for Zellers; that diverts attention away from his history of campaign finance screwups. Well, and the video Dusty Trice found and posted today - the video of Zeller trashing former Governor Arne Carlson just last May. Let's look!
Why? Because, as a "moderate Republican" - republiCons don't much like him. In today's GreedOverPrinciples party, there simply isn't room for "moderate Republicans." In fact, the Small Tent Party refers to those like Specter, a "moderate Republican", disaffectionately and undearingly as "RINO."
And that's simply the nature of today's GreedOverPrinciples party; anyone remember how, locally, they treated the so-called "Override Six"?
Arlen Specter simply didn't care much for Boy Blunder And The Plunderers; here's a quick YouTube of Senator Specter in disbelief at the answers from 'Berto Gonzo and the insane legal reasoning prevalent in that misAdministration:
With Arlen Specter switching sides, the self-destruction and implosion of the GOP continues.
Although a welcome pick up for Senate Democrats, people need to remember - it's not Arlen Specter, a moderate Republican, that's changed; it's simply the continuation of The Small Tent Party getting smaller.
Yep - that's the RNC's Michael Steele talking; talking to Glenn Beck. Beck was saying conservatives can't trust today's GreedOverPrinciples party; I submit NO ONE can trust today's GreedOverPrinciples party. Let's watch, and then - below the fold - I'll elaborate:
Well, it seems that John Kline is outraged - OUTRAGED! - that a candidate is taking footage of Marines in uniform, and using said Marines in an ad. And he's outraged. Here's what Blogger Michael Broadkorb is reporting Congressman Kline said, over on M.D.E.:
I am outraged that Ashwin Madia would exploit uniformed Marines to advance his political ambitions. ... He should immediately pull down the ad and issue an apology to the drill team and the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps." (M.D.E.)
Well, one would think, by Congressman Kline's outrage, that he, himself, would never have used the military, or military veterans, to further HIS "political ambitions", wouldn't one? Or, if he HAD used the military, or military veterans, to further HIS "political ambitions", Congressman Kline would have apologized, right?
Yeah, "right."
Let's take a look at a John Kline incident, from just two years ago.
On August 12th, 2006, John Kline attended an event with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), in St. Paul. Randy Pleva, National President of the PVA, sent Congressman Kline a letter on August 28th, thanking Kline for showing up.
Now, it's important to remember, that the PVA is a 501(c)3 not for profit.
So, what did Congressman Kline do, with that letter, from a not for profit Veterans Organization?
If you guessed Congressman Kline shamelessly used that letter to further Kline's political career, you would be correct.
Here's the entire verbage from the SECOND letter the PVA sent to Congressman Kline, dated 31 October 2006:
Dear Congressman Kline,
I write to you regarding a recent campaign flyer distributed by the Kline for Congress campaign (copy attached) that implies my endorsement, as President of Paralyzed Veterans of America, of your reelection. As a 501(c)3 not for profit organization we are precluded by law from endorsing or opposing any candidate for office. Not only was this language taken out of context and used without our knowledge, the fact is that this may put or organization's good standing in jeopardy.
The language contained in the flyer comes from a letter (attached I sent you August 28, 2006 thanking you for your attendance at a fund raising event conducted by PVA's Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund. I find the selective editing for use in the flyer disingenuous at best.
I would appreciate that you and the campaign cease using this implied endorsement.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Randy L. Pleva, Sr.
National President
cc: Federal Election Commission, Office of General Counsel
Here's the first letter, that John Kline disingenously took out of context:
Here's the second letter, that the PVA essentially said "cease and desist":
Now, fastforward to yesterday, and remember Kline demanding someone else issue an apology. Ask yourself this: do you think John Kline ever apologized to the PVA, for shamelessly and disengenuously using Paralyzed American Veterans to shamelessly advance Kline's career?
If you think Kline did NOT apologize, you would be correct; I know - because I called Randy Pleva, National President, and asked.
John Kline - as usual - is acting like the shameless and disengenuous hypocrite that has caused "GOP" to now stand for GreedOverPrinciples.
