NC OFFICIALDOM WON'T PASS WIND
We live in one of the windiest places on God's green earth. The potential for producing cheap electricity from that wind source, without polluting any air or water and without using up non-sustainable sources of energy, is virtually limitless.
Yet people fear wind energy. You'd think wind turbines were asphalt plants, from the way antis packed a hearing before the NC Utilities Commission in Ashe County recently.
Now the staff of the Commission has come out with a very negative staff report against a turbine "farm" near Creston, and the AG Roy Cooper is threatening to get involved. Cooper's hostility to wind energy goes back years. The Utilities Commission's befuddled fear of wind power seems mere minutes old (and awfully convenient for Duke Power). Together, AG and Utilities Commission appear poised to strangle this baby in its cradle.
That's just so 20th century of them.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
'NOTHING CONCENTRATES THE MIND LIKE A HANGING'
Rebecca Heppel, who found herself suddenly unemployed when her former boss, 11th District Rep. Charles Taylor, lost to Heath Shuler last November, and who now works for U.S. Sen. Dick Burr (tobacco uber alles), on why Republicans lost so decisively in western NC counties:
"We Republicans have the power." Hmmm. We're a bit miffed that Heppel would steal Howard Dean's mantra, though we're otherwise entertained by the defensiveness in that boast.
Rebecca Heppel, who found herself suddenly unemployed when her former boss, 11th District Rep. Charles Taylor, lost to Heath Shuler last November, and who now works for U.S. Sen. Dick Burr (tobacco uber alles), on why Republicans lost so decisively in western NC counties:
"Why is it we took such a beating in November? We simply got beat at our own game. The Democrats started early and set goals and achieved them. But we Republicans have the power in Western North Carolina, and folks in Raleigh like to forget that we exist."But look out, suckas, 'cause Heppel and other fellow travelers have organized a new PAC, West Wins (get it?), and they mean to influence elections in 2008, especially in the 11th, the 10th, and the 5th congressional districts.
"We Republicans have the power." Hmmm. We're a bit miffed that Heppel would steal Howard Dean's mantra, though we're otherwise entertained by the defensiveness in that boast.
STICKY FINGERS
Madam Virginia Foxx and wet-behind-the-ears Patrick McHenry have joined 16 other Congressional Republicans in calling on the Department of Justice to force Sandy Berger, Bill Clinton's national security advisor, to take a polygraph test in the case of purloined papers from the National Archives.
One would think that the Madam's reputation anent the subject of shoplifting would have kept her far away from this particular crusade.
My momma always said, "Beware of a person who can't be embarrassed."
Oops. Here's a link for the story, which no state paper that we've consulted has covered.
Madam Virginia Foxx and wet-behind-the-ears Patrick McHenry have joined 16 other Congressional Republicans in calling on the Department of Justice to force Sandy Berger, Bill Clinton's national security advisor, to take a polygraph test in the case of purloined papers from the National Archives.
One would think that the Madam's reputation anent the subject of shoplifting would have kept her far away from this particular crusade.
My momma always said, "Beware of a person who can't be embarrassed."
Oops. Here's a link for the story, which no state paper that we've consulted has covered.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
CONSERVATIVE MALAISE
Quote of the day (from The Politico):
Quote of the day (from The Politico):
"I really feel strongly that if the [Republican presidential] slate is what we have now, then we're not going to win in 2008," [said] Erick Erickson, the founder of the influential blog, RedState. Erickson, who recently posted an entry about the GOP contenders titled "They All Suck," said in an interview that he's "not sure if there is a Republican out there who can win" the general election next year.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
ATTENTION 16-YEAR-OLDS: YOUR BUTT MAY GET CAUGHT IN THIS CRACK
It's going to take a couple of years, evidently, because the Bush administration isn't ABOUT to admit the increasingly deep doo-doo they've waded into with this insane preemptive war, but this article for the McClatchy Newspapers highlights the dawning reality that aggressive warfare is going to eventually demand a military draft. We'll simply need more young American flesh to extricate ourselves from Bush's Folly. And to protect ourselves from all the new jihadists that El Presidente has created.
The presidency that will keep on giving!
It's going to take a couple of years, evidently, because the Bush administration isn't ABOUT to admit the increasingly deep doo-doo they've waded into with this insane preemptive war, but this article for the McClatchy Newspapers highlights the dawning reality that aggressive warfare is going to eventually demand a military draft. We'll simply need more young American flesh to extricate ourselves from Bush's Folly. And to protect ourselves from all the new jihadists that El Presidente has created.
The presidency that will keep on giving!
THE FRIDAY NIGHT DOCUMENT DUMP & THE SUNDAY MORNING CANDIDATE THUMP
It's been the Bush administration that perfected the late Friday "document dump," to get embarrassing material out into the mainstream press just as everybody's leaving work for the weekend. Fewer people notice, and it seems to work.
Congrats to new NC House Speaker Joe Hackney for dumping the Jim Black-commissioned $80,000 "history" (all 23 badly written and inexpertly typed pages of it) this past Friday. He did exactly the right thing. It's a Jim Black problem and not a Joe Hackney problem, and since North Carolina taxpayers paid for the thing, they ought to get a look at it. It made the front pages of Saturday's N&O and will quickly -- and deservedly -- die a quick death as yet another example of why we're glad we have a new speaker of the NC House.
(Can't fail to mention, either, that the N&O appears to have rewarded Hackney for that opening candor: This morning's N&O contains the headline, "New speaker works hard, shoots straight," which is obvious good will from a newspaper that can do NC politicos real damage.)
For just one example, the N&O also chose today to front-page a snide suggestion that presidential candidate John Edwards has no right earthly to be an advocate for the poor while living in a $6 million house in Chapel Hill. The nerve of some rich people to think beyond their own wealth!
It's been the Bush administration that perfected the late Friday "document dump," to get embarrassing material out into the mainstream press just as everybody's leaving work for the weekend. Fewer people notice, and it seems to work.
Congrats to new NC House Speaker Joe Hackney for dumping the Jim Black-commissioned $80,000 "history" (all 23 badly written and inexpertly typed pages of it) this past Friday. He did exactly the right thing. It's a Jim Black problem and not a Joe Hackney problem, and since North Carolina taxpayers paid for the thing, they ought to get a look at it. It made the front pages of Saturday's N&O and will quickly -- and deservedly -- die a quick death as yet another example of why we're glad we have a new speaker of the NC House.
(Can't fail to mention, either, that the N&O appears to have rewarded Hackney for that opening candor: This morning's N&O contains the headline, "New speaker works hard, shoots straight," which is obvious good will from a newspaper that can do NC politicos real damage.)
For just one example, the N&O also chose today to front-page a snide suggestion that presidential candidate John Edwards has no right earthly to be an advocate for the poor while living in a $6 million house in Chapel Hill. The nerve of some rich people to think beyond their own wealth!
Friday, January 26, 2007
McHENRY & FOXX BOTH TAKE MONEY FROM BEER WHOLESALERS
Another attack on wet-behind-the-ears Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) on the NC Conservative, for taking big bucks from the National Beer Wholesalers' Assn. The author failed to notice, however, that the very darling of NC conservatives, Virginia Foxx, also takes money from the same outfit.
The author's larger point is that McHenry is doing the bidding of big business contributors across the board and NOT representing the best interests of the NC-10.
Jeez, you'd think someone at that site would notice the hypocrisy of attacking McHenry while leaving Foxx on her exact same pedestal. But we all know the problem with McHenry for these guys is NOT his corporate shilling but something else altogether.
Another attack on wet-behind-the-ears Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) on the NC Conservative, for taking big bucks from the National Beer Wholesalers' Assn. The author failed to notice, however, that the very darling of NC conservatives, Virginia Foxx, also takes money from the same outfit.
The author's larger point is that McHenry is doing the bidding of big business contributors across the board and NOT representing the best interests of the NC-10.
Jeez, you'd think someone at that site would notice the hypocrisy of attacking McHenry while leaving Foxx on her exact same pedestal. But we all know the problem with McHenry for these guys is NOT his corporate shilling but something else altogether.
QUEER FEAR BREAKS OUT IN STATE SENATE AGAIN
Pam Spaulding has a remarkably level-headed response today at NCBlue to Senate Bill 13, filed yesterday in Raleigh to write discrimination into the state constitution regarding -- yes -- the grave threat to the commonweal that gay unions pose. All the sponsors are not only listed but also pictured, if you need a face to go with bigotry. Most of the active avatars of prejudice in the NC Senate are there, including Robert Pittenger, who fellow conservative Sue Myrick recently broke with, and Fred Smith, who wants to be governor.
The lone Democrat in this congregation has his own 'splaining to do.
Pam Spaulding has a remarkably level-headed response today at NCBlue to Senate Bill 13, filed yesterday in Raleigh to write discrimination into the state constitution regarding -- yes -- the grave threat to the commonweal that gay unions pose. All the sponsors are not only listed but also pictured, if you need a face to go with bigotry. Most of the active avatars of prejudice in the NC Senate are there, including Robert Pittenger, who fellow conservative Sue Myrick recently broke with, and Fred Smith, who wants to be governor.
The lone Democrat in this congregation has his own 'splaining to do.
GOING UPSIDE THE HEAD OF SMOKERS
Quite by accident, apparently (and in more ways than one), medical researchers have discovered that a knock on the noggin above the ear can cure addictions to tobacco. I'm very interested in this research and envision 'STOP SMOKING NOW' clinics in which addicts line up before a team of white-suited technicians holding wooden meat tenderizers.
Course, getting conked on the haid in precisely that same locale can also induce sudden death, so there may be some necessary cost-benefit analysis to be performed here. But still. I'm just sayin'.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if a little craving could be subsided by a little wake-up knock?
Be just our luck, though, if we suddenly also wiped out certain creative urges, the writing of music, the painting of great masterpieces, the cleaning of closets at 2 a.m., and other valuable signs of human genius.
Quite by accident, apparently (and in more ways than one), medical researchers have discovered that a knock on the noggin above the ear can cure addictions to tobacco. I'm very interested in this research and envision 'STOP SMOKING NOW' clinics in which addicts line up before a team of white-suited technicians holding wooden meat tenderizers.
Course, getting conked on the haid in precisely that same locale can also induce sudden death, so there may be some necessary cost-benefit analysis to be performed here. But still. I'm just sayin'.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if a little craving could be subsided by a little wake-up knock?
Be just our luck, though, if we suddenly also wiped out certain creative urges, the writing of music, the painting of great masterpieces, the cleaning of closets at 2 a.m., and other valuable signs of human genius.
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