Comments morganmghee has made

It's All Relative

Bush defends Record '05 profits for Exxon, Exxon reported record profits of $10.71 billion for the fourth quarter and $36.13 billion for the year -- the largest of any U.S. company. Average crude oil prices over all of 2005 were $49.18, which was a 37-percent increase relative to the 2004 average of $35.99. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/257887_bush02.html ... http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/perfpro/news_m/q405.pdf

Exxon raked in record profits in '06 even though the price of a barrel of oil ended 2006 at $61.05 http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/earnings/2007-02- ... http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/perfpro/news_i/fni_q406.pdf

Exxon shatters profit records 2007 while crude prices hover between $85-$95 climbing from $50 in mid-January to over $90 in mid-October http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/01/news/companies/exxon_earn ... http://www.dallasfed.org/research/energy/en0704.cfm
On Dear media, posted 12 months ago 2 Responses

A letter of your own

Why not add your own letter to the stack.  I advocate asking the Dem's to stand firm, no new drilling areas, use 'em or lose 'em current leases, tougher oversight and restrictions on commodity speculation, flip subsidies and incentives from oil to alternative energy production. To me it is the only plan to end the cycle of oil violence, create new jobs and clean up the air, land and water. Whatever your stance, take a moment to pen a letter, or leave a voice mail message. http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtmlOn Party leaders in the House exchange heated notes about energy policy posted 1 year, 2 months ago 5 Responses

Excepting gasoiline

worried me, so I went looking for info and found:

The proposed tax -- unveiled at a boisterous Liberal rally in Ottawa -- will hit electricity and home heating fuel but exempt gasoline at the pumps, which Dion said was already taxed.

According to background documents, consumers will feel some impact, but the Liberals say extra fuel costs will be balanced off by income tax breaks and benefit increases. The average heating costs for homes that use oil are expected to rise by $203 per year. Homes using natural gas could see an average annual increase of $266.

The Liberals say a family of four with an annual income of $60,000 will save more than $1,300 from their tax cuts. The savings will be largely offset by higher energy costs, and the Liberals say the bulk of their plan will be paid for by large industrial emitters.

Dion said the tax would be revenue neutral, with the auditor general reporting annually to be certain.

The plan "will put every single penny back into the hands of Canadians," he said.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080 ...On Environment and energy hot topics in Canadian election posted 1 year, 2 months ago 2 Responses

Not really

Both articles are published under 'News' at their respective papers, and the subject of both articles is Sen. Mccain's energy history and recent statements. I think your issue may be with the papers themselves, but the voting record and major speech statements are available to the public for viewing online.On Mainstream media realizes that McCain's energy rhetoric and record don't match up posted 1 year, 5 months ago 3 Responses

Upshot

I think I'm confused by your comment Erik, could you explain it to me slowly?On Senate Republican tries to tack renewable tax extensions onto housing bil posted 1 year, 5 months ago 4 Responses

Wake Up

In classic terms, fascism is defined by five characteristics of governance: nationalist aggression; fusing of the state with corporate interests; single party rule; the suppression of civil liberties; and pervasive propaganda. All of these inhered in the Italian, German, and Japanese governments of the 1930s and '40s. All of them would have to be present before the label "fascism" could legitimately be applied to a modern regime.

Nationalist aggression was a hallmark of Hitler's rule. He occupied Austria, the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, in each case declaring (falsely) that Germany's very existence was threatened by dark forces in those countries. Mussolini attacked Ethiopia and reasserted Italian control over Libya. Japan attacked Korea, Manchuria, China, Formosa (Taiwan), and much of southeast Asia.

In all three countries, the leaders used nationalist aggression to whip their people into militaristic frenzies and to intimidate opposition movements. At the Nuremberg war trials, Herman Goering, head of the German Air Force, gave one of the most lucid explanations of how this process worked:

"Naturally, the common people don't want war. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

The second classic characteristic of fascism is the fusing of the state with large corporations. It was the major industrialists who backed Mussolini's campaign to purge Italy of labor unions and leftists. In Germany, it was the Prussian aristocrats and corporate interests who funded Hitler's National Socialist party on his promise that he would eliminate liberal opposition. In Japan, it was the Zaibatsus - the industrial conglomerates - that underwrote the rise of the militarist state.

As each of these fascist governments ramped up for war, large corporations reaped fabulous profits as monopoly suppliers of energy, weapons, construction services, chemicals, and industrial machinery. In the German case, they benefited as well from the use of slave labor in factories, mines, and concentration camps in Germany and throughout Eastern Europe.

The third classic characteristic of fascism is single party rule. At its core, fascism is profoundly anti-democratic. In none of the fascist countries were competing parties tolerated. In Italy, the fascists deployed "blackshirts" - bands of thugs - to intimidate and in some cases murder opposition figures. In Japan, militarist fervor allowed only loyalty to the Emperor.

Germany adopted the model of Italy, employing "brownshirts" to harass and threaten opposition parties. Almost immediately after Hitler's assumption of power in 1933, the German parliament building, the Reichstag, was burned in a fire later attributed to the Nazis. Hitler used the event to outlaw all competing parties and consolidate political power in himself.

The fourth classic indicator of fascism is the suppression of civil liberties. Immediately upon being appointed Chancellor, Hitler began a systematic campaign of dismantling protections of the individual that were part of the Weimar Constitution. Freedom of speech, press, and assembly were aggressively suppressed.

Citizens could be arrested without charge, held without bail, transferred to remote prisons without notification of relatives, and executed on the flimsiest of pretexts. Spying on the people by the government became rampant. By August 1934, Hitler had effectively seized all power, leaving the national legislature as a mere rubber stamp and an echo chamber for his increasingly deranged rantings.

The final characteristic that marks the existence of fascism is pervasive propaganda. It was in Mein Kampf, written in 1925, that Hitler first propounded the Big Lie as a technique for controlling the thoughts of the masses: lie; lie big; and lie often. Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will" became the canonical film embodying the practice of pervasive state-driven propaganda.
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0905-22.htm

Freakin out yet?On Groups make joint announcement in Cleveland posted 1 year, 5 months ago 30 Responses

Censorship in Media? Books VS MSM?

Yeah, it's way too far a stretch....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9E-5KivgwO4

http://youtube.com/watch?v=t3kI8LNTqNo

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lqZxnehm4FI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UUY9ahSCMG0On Groups make joint announcement in Cleveland posted 1 year, 5 months ago 30 Responses

Sunshine from Sarcasm

Hey Jabailo!  What a good idea you had there.  Carbon producers hook up with groups like Sierra and friends of the earth to offset some of their emissions! Projects and work hours could be translated into points or some such thing.  Great thinking.On Groups make joint announcement in Cleveland posted 1 year, 5 months ago 30 Responses

I'm not the only one

right?  The reports from EIA and others that say drilling now won't effect oil or gas prices now.  Did anyone notice that Mccain quoted 21 billion barrels in his speech, and the next day Bush quoted 18 billion barrels in his speech?  That hopefully, by the time the oil does hit the market (10-15 years) the price should have dropped considerably due to alternative energy use and conservation, making the cost of drilling it now and selling it then unprofitable unless they sell futures and pass the bad luck to someone else? Wonder if the insane rise of oil/gas prices, spurring insane oil company profits, and ethanol/weather related global food crisis, and the massive last minute ditch effort to re-open protected areas for oil drilling happening at what most presume is the end of the oil friendly republican white house era is a coincidence?
I am just not convinced this isn't a huge 'gotcha! by the admin as they head out the door. All in all, it feels to me like the entire run has been one 'Let's see if they'll buy it!' routine after another with this the final cherry on top.On How greens and Democrats can win the energy debate posted 1 year, 5 months ago 19 Responses

Gosh

All's I was gonna say was, remember that joke about the man that lived near a rising river, and the people offering to help... seems lame after all that down there...On Rebuilding in the wake of 'extreme weather' posted 1 year, 5 months ago 2 Responses

Oh Yippie

We get to revert to 1970's technology!  Hey, was that new 70's show his idea??On McCain touts gas-tax holiday as well as 'long-term solutions' posted 1 year, 5 months ago 45 Responses

Thats Special

Just about as special as DOD contracting out contractor oversight.  http://www.truthout.org/article/dod-contracts-out-contrac ...On DOD slows condemning research into its polluting behavior posted 1 year, 5 months ago 1 Response

Uhm

By focusing on cleaning up our own house, the mess has been sent overseas. (taking jobs with it) Since China doesn't exist in a bubble, rather is included a thing called the 'global climate system', we have to follow up.  
And I think if you'll read the comments and even the article, you will see we are focused on the 'American Funded' fossil fuel burning industrial revolution that has pumped it up to the largest Co2 producer in the world from 3rd just within the past year or less.  On China ... posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses

One for the Books

This may be the greatest story I've ever read here on Grist.  I didn't get nearly the fun out of my 'message force multiplier' type re-posting of truthout's re-posting 'The Monstrous Monsanto Universe' and video, but it did garner one of the highest hits to date.  On PR firm Edleman launches charm offensive for the GMO giant posted 1 year, 5 months ago 11 Responses

Whoops

I meant jdcasey.On China ... posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses

BAHAHAHAHA

I just caught that last paragraph....I'm still laughing....NOW he's worried about legal issues??!!On White House says it will veto Lieberman-Warner climate bill posted 1 year, 6 months ago 6 Responses

That's just great

Those 30 hours will end up stretching out for weeks and maybe months, a little like expecting a football game to end at an hour 30.  Add this; http://www.truthout.org/article/bush-administration-order ... to that and we may never see climate legislation.On Senate decides to advance to debate on climate legislation posted 1 year, 6 months ago 4 Responses

I'm Just a Girl

I've no idea how this sort of figure would be derived, much less how this one was.  But the figure is referred to here http://nucnews.net/nucnews/2000nn/0001nn/000116nn.htm here http://www.nirs.org/factsheets/plutoniumfuelfabrication.h ... here http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/nuclear/safety-an ... and lots of other places when I went a lookin. I mentioned it as I'd just heard Dennis Hayes mention it on a show called NOW on PBS.
"It's difficult to think of something as being a green option if it has a potential to have a catastrophic impact on the environment of the world and living people."  
Dennis Hayes, co-founder Earthday

Have an indisputable organization perform soil and water tests all over France and report back to me, while we're at it include a comprehensive independent cancer rate study too.On McCain touts gas-tax holiday as well as 'long-term solutions' posted 1 year, 7 months ago 45 Responses

Ha!

Even the FOX guy was tryin to shut him up...

Has anyone provided this nukemonger with the measly savings totals his silly plan would bring?  Do you even think it occurred to him that encouraging people to drive their old inefficient cars further is a pretty bad idea?  Jeez, I could just keep going and going and going...On McCain touts gas-tax holiday as well as 'long-term solutions' posted 1 year, 7 months ago 45 Responses

Not Really

Perspective
"It's amazing how huge swaths of landscape can get transformed from boreal forest to toxic ponds without a great deal of international media"

Not really, considering the current status of media today.  I don't even watch MSM anymore, in the same amount of time I can click on local headlines that are pertinent to me, and all of the other actual headlines from around the world without the sponsor nervous corporate media owners censoring it.  Grist helps out with that, thanks Grist!On Tar sands are hardly 'environmentally responsible' posted 1 year, 7 months ago 5 Responses

The Only Plan

That will work is the one that has a company pay for the effects of it's products.  They are a little difficult to figure out, but not impossible. We are new to looking at products and services in this manner, as corn ethanol has taught us, but if we can look beneath the surface of a distant planet I think we can work this out.  It may not be pleasant for companies right now and it may have an effect on the economy but our goods and services needs aren't going to go away so the business that can fastest get itself into shape, be it new or old, will be the winner. The wealth is not going to disappear, it will just shift around a bit. The companies lobbying against this, I suspect they are too set in their ways to change, too confident to believe they their efforts to stop it won't work, and too afraid to lose the wealth.  A corporation that refuses to change with the times is not doing it's shareholders any service at all, isn't that the mandate?On Meeting of major economies ends with little progress posted 1 year, 7 months ago 3 Responses

Sigh

Talking Heads in my head all night...On Thoughts on Bush's latest speech on climate change posted 1 year, 7 months ago 10 Responses

Yeah!

WooHoo!On Manhattan congestion-pricing plan kicks the bucket posted 1 year, 7 months ago 7 Responses

We ARE doing something

The current plan allows for FREE travel in a special lane with 2 or more people in the vehicle. Meaning carpooling, meaning less cars, less gas less carbon.  The proposed plan allows rich people to drive alone in these lanes for cash. I fail to see how this plan does ANYTHING to curtail emissions? When I drive by the carpool lots near me, they are FULL. The carpool lanes where I live are converted shoulders in poor condition. If money needs to be spent it should be on expanding the carpool lot network and improving/adding to the lane network. This applies to the other comment as well.On New York's new governor supports congestion pricing posted 1 year, 8 months ago 4 Responses

Not all about Mileage

I think it has more to do with the efficiency of the thing, not just the mileage.  A lot has been achieved since your car was put together in 1988. I followed the link to find out how much you would be paying, they didn't have an exact match as you might imagine, I suppose they don't have a big vintage asian car market. Anyhoo, by using a combination of the model and your stated mileage of about 24 they say your co2 number is 284 and according to the chart you would be paying.

Pre-2001 with engine over 3,000cc £25 per day
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsa ...

Now imagine it's tripled.  Pretty effective, but only as long as the proceeds go towards pulic transport right away, otherwise most of them won't be able to afford to drive into town and the existing public transit will be smashed full!

But that's short term, long term is high demand for low c02 cars. Manufacturers don't even have to look outside the box for this one... Get On It!On Porsche launches legal challenge to London's congestion fee increase posted 1 year, 8 months ago 3 Responses

Thanks for the Add!

I've blogged publicly and complained privately about the lack of information on third party candidates, ANYWHERE, not just on the web. Thank you for posting and updating this page, and if you have a spare intern I'm sure any of the other people running would love to answer your questions so that you may pass them on to us.

My tribute to you at http://morganmghee.blogspot.com/2008/03/to-gristorg-and-g ...On A look at Ralph Nader's environmental platform and record posted 1 year, 8 months ago 3 Responses

Really?

$650,000 Fine Urged for Indian Point Owner
By MATTHEW L. WALD
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a fine of 10 times the normal size against the owner of the Indian Point reactors because it missed a deadline to install new emergency warning sirens with backup power supplies.
(NYT Jan252008)

Citing Past Troubles at Indian Point, State Urges Panel to Deny License Extension
By J SULLIVAN and M. L. WALD;
State officials claim that the nuclear reactors in Westchester County are vulnerable to a terrorist attack and that the surrounding area could not be evacuated if an accident occurred.
(NYT Dec42007)

September 5, 2006

Nuclear Power Plant Security Officers in Texas Reprimanded for Trying to Provide Security.
Lax Security Puts the Public at Risk WASHINGTON, September 5--A new study released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) details a massive breakdown of security at the South Texas Project nuclear power plant near Houston, Texas. According to the report, vehicles enter protected areas of the reactor unsearched, surveillance cameras don't work, and the cleaning staff has easy access to firearms. Security officers at the nuclear plant have alerted supervisors to these problems only to have their concerns ignored and the supervisors retaliate against them.
(Union of Concerned Scientists)

K East Basin goes dry, eliminates top risk to river -- Publishd: Friday March 21 2008
Hanford's leak-prone K East Basin is dry for the first time since production of plutonium began at the reactor during the Cold War. "That's an achievement," said Larry Gadbois, environmental scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates the K Basins. Less than two months ago the basin, which is 400 yards from the Columbia River, held 1 million gallons of radioactive water. Although more cleanup work remains to be done at the K Basins, including treating radioactive sludge for disposal and cleaning up contaminated soil beneath the basins, removal of the water eliminates a major risk to the river. "The driving force - the water pressure - has been eliminated," said Dave Brockman, manager of the Department of Energy's Hanford Richland Operations Office. Not only was the water contaminated, but more leaks would have driven contamination already in the soil toward the ground water moving toward the river. Work began more than six years ago to remove 1,100 tons of irradiated nuclear
(hanfordnews.com)

LOS ANGELES, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The Cooper Nuclear Station in Nebraska run by Entergy Nuclear will undergo extra scrutiny from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission after commission staff found a violation regarding a backup diesel generator, the NRC said on Monday.
(Aug212007)

Some good has eventually come of the accident at chernobyl, scientists are studying the grossly mutated conifer trees that are growing there now.

We are not NEARLY ready to responsibly operate and maintain these facilities safely, much less handle and dispose of the waste materials.  And can you imagine if those airplanes had headed for Indian Point Nuclear plant instead of the towers?On McCain's crooked talk on nuclear power posted 1 year, 8 months ago 5 Responses

More Harm Than....Ever?

Leaving this man in office for the remainder of his term would, unbelievably, do more harm than much of his term in office.  The EPA is refusing to do it's job, funding via HR5351 is being nothing less than attacked.... I think the "Change" we are clamoring for needs to start a little sooner than inauguration day, Really.On Renewable energy subterfuge posted 1 year, 9 months ago 8 Responses

Ticket

I've always been more than a little disappointed that the top two contenders aren't placed on the ticket, what a waste of what is obviously the best of the voters choice.  If the parties wonder why we are disinterested and disillusioned, this is one of the reasons.  We expect them to place the two best for the job up there, not that they will manipulate the choices by popularity simply to ensure a win.  And when I consider that a person would let their ego play a role in declining 2nd chair, well... Just how would that conversation go.. "Yes, little Mary, Grand(m-p)a was THIS close to living at the white house, fighting for our family and our country's values, but I just couldn't bring myself to act as 'VICE' president."  I expect more character from people at this level, and would even go so far as to say if you don't have the ability to play and work well and efficiently with others, you are NOT the person for the job in any case.On Primaries thread posted 1 year, 9 months ago 22 Responses

Easy enough

Without having read the argument, if it is as stated above, it should be easy enough to refute.  California is as large or larger than most countries, which makes a strong counter to the argument that any change within CA will not greatly effect the overall air quality.  In addition to that the geography specific to California lends itself to the argument.  With it's full length edged by the pacific ocean and it's interior a series of valleys, canyons, gorges and small mountains it is quite verifiable even by the untrained observer that local pollutants greatly effect local air quality.  I'd bet that CA is willing to stipulate the action may only bring it's air quality into the greater regional average and would be happy for the improvement.  I also bet they would be able to show that it's own improved air quality would probably increase the chance that nearby states would also want to offer their residents this cleaner air and would soon pass their own stricter standards resulting in an improvment of even the greater regional average air quality. Shoot, if the states inland from CA wanted to do nothing else to reduce their own air pollutants they could back California's effort, considering the prevailing winds from the pacific ocean.

Since I'm no rocket scientist I am sure this is the same conclusion the oil companies came to, and is probably the reason for the rejection in the first place.  Huh...On The EPA's phony explanation of its rejection of California posted 1 year, 9 months ago 6 Responses

Fix the right part

Don't fix the part that works.  The system is set up to ensure everyone has a voice.  The way things have turned out we are all restricted to 2 very old, shady parties that care more about themselves than what they are supposed to be doing.  I've said it before and will say it again, if a 3rd party candidate can raise enough awareness and support to threaten another candidate, that candidate ought to take those 3rd party's issues seriously and incorporate them into their own platform. It's called representation.On Notable quotable posted 1 year, 9 months ago 20 Responses

What I shudder at is the audacity

"Everyone talks about pricing carbon. We're talking about several hundred billion dollars in compliance costs," said Connaughton.

Oh, you mean about as much as the war with Iraq has cost us?  Or about enough to buy 400 days worth of crude oil for the entire US? Or enough... One Day = $720 Million

I'd rather walk out of the mall with Carbon Compliance than a War with Iraq for several hundred billion dollars.On According to Bush adviser, Bush actually serious about mandatory climate controls posted 1 year, 9 months ago 6 Responses