May 20, 2010
Surely you jest!
Arctic Drilling Proposal Advanced Amid Concern. Oh, be good to us Shell/Exxon/BP. Be good to us. Here is the opening of the NY Times story accompanying that headline: "A proposal to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean as early as this summer received initial permits" from our protector, Minerals Management Service office in Alaska.
OK. I bet Shell is ready with a foolproof plan to stop a disaster comparable to BP's in the Gulf. But wouldn't you know some weak-kneed opponents like McKibben have argued that an oil spill (there's that word again, as if one had spilled/spilt a glass of milk) would be virtually impossible to contain given the region's remoteness, its severe weather and ice and limited on-shore support.
I'll bet Shell has moved to protect employees and outside experts who might find this idea to drill in the Arctic Ocean insane. Oops! Not so fast: All of those interviewed by the Times, including some who found jobs elsewhere in government (sit before reading, place your head between your knees and listen to your breathing) spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of facing repercussions at work. Oh poop! Here we go again. C'mon--would Shell punish nay-sayers? C'mon!
The article goes on. "Lack of clear guidance in the environmental review process was exacerbated by high turnover among scientists at the agency, many of whom said that they left because they had been pressured to rewrite their work." (Head still between knees?) One former minerals scientist said, "My impression--they had predetermined decisions."
But relax. Shell told that tough old Secretary of the Interior, Salazar, our very own "Brownie," they would implement a swift and aggressive effort both to prevent a spill and contain one. So there you have it. Relax! And drill baby drill.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour says relax, the spill in the Gulf ain't so bad: "We don't wash our face in it but it doesn't stop us from jumping off the boat to ski." OK, Haley! "Jump boy jump!"
Off to the Arctic Ocean armed with the knowledge gained by BP in the Gulf. I feel better.
Jensen--again! On the front sheet of its opinions, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has a place for "Complete Title" I would name today's opinion for Scott Jensen"the gift that never stops giving."
The Court ruled for Jensen huzzah! He won.His dream come true. He will be tried in Waukesha County for his misdeeds. Convicted by a Dane County Jury, he argued that the "hometown venue" available to legislators accused of electoral crimes will be tried in their home county--unlike you and me--unless the accused opts out and agrees to face a jury in Dane County. "Words like "violation of the public trust" ring out once more." Jensen is charged with a felony...misconduct in public office." This ain't a parking ticket!
And Fred Kessler's attempt to challenge the special favor said at the time "the political class in Wisconsin has a home-court advantage." But maybe it doesn't work that way--if it does, we are in deep doo-doo-doo.
A bonus--we will get an answer to a tough one: Will Justice Prosser testify for his friend Scott Jensen?
Forgot Jensen had been convicted? Most people forgot but Jensen reminds all of us. Thanks Scott.
post a letter about this blog »
Why is industry so hellbent on the fossil fuel craze and why are the ignorant blathering "Drill, baby, drill"?
Money.
Consumers.
Money.
We blame the oil industry for raping the planet so we can fuel our factories, gas guzzlers, mowers, jetskis, weed eaters, planes and other toys. If there were no demand, there'd be no need to drill. If there were no money in selling product, the industry would quickly give it up.
Every time there's a spill, we can easily blame the oil companies. We can also blame ourselves for creating the demand which spurs on those who are more than willing to plunder the planet.
When will we consumers awaken to our responsibilities? It's no longer the other guy's problem. The planet's health is a problem that belongs to each one of us.
There is no money to be made in saving planet earth. There is, however, billions to be made destroying it.
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton | May 20, 2010
The numbers and degree of the crimes associated with or highlighted by this disaster, whether statutory or moral or coming from the industry, BP, slack MMS enforcement or non collection of royalties is indicative of who rules and how degraded our government has become.
At this point in the disaster it is mind boggling that BP is permitted to make the decision to pour unknown tons of highly toxic dispersements into the Gulf. There are plenty of reports to suggest that the use of the dispersements is for the purpose of keeping the oil off the surface so that it won't hit the beaches and marsh lands causing public outrage that will remove the industry from its throne. The government is complicit in a decision that it is preferable to poison the oceans rather than dirty the beaches and damage the wet lands. Is this a scientific decision based on the choosing of the lesser evil or is it made in the interest of the industry? Because BP is still running the show and independant scientists and engineers are not involved, my assumption and fears are that this administration basically maintains the same relationship with the industry as the last one.
-dd | Hudson, Wi | May 20, 2010
People can grouse about this BP thing all they want but nobody is doing anything! It is something like day 31 and BP is still trying to "capture" the oil instead of putting all the efforts into sealing it off. Obumbler has not told them to knock off with the fun and games and now we seem on the brink of an international incident with the pollution. The Obamapologists can whine all they want but this IS Obumbler's Katrina.
In the meantime BP has the lowest gas prices in town and everybody is running in there fueling up and getting gas for their toys and mowers etc.
Bloggers etc. can gripe all they want but I haven't seen or heard about one protest from any kind of group at all on this BP business. I won't buy from them but it seems like just about every body else is. If that is the reaction to ecocide like this then we are lost.
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | Egg Harbor,WI. | May 21, 2010
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003