Say it ain't so, Joe: Biden's inclusion of Nat Gas in energy platform under fire

Submitted by scharrison on

Dipping his toes into tainted waters:

The hair-trigger criticism of Biden's climate plan, which has yet to be released, underscores the tension emerging between the left and centrist wings of the Democratic Party over the climate issue.

The report, from Reuters, said Biden will seek to rejoin the Paris climate accord and reinstall emissions-reducing regulations that President Trump is trying to throw out. But Biden would also, according to the report, be “supportive of nuclear energy and fossil fuel options like natural gas and carbon capture technology" in an effort to buffer negative impact on working-class folks.

Dog save us from politicians who don't pay attention to what's going on around them. Natural gas doesn't just appear magically, it's fracked out of the ground, contaminating millions of gallons of drinking water in the process. And during the transportation of gas from the well site to the power plant, fugitive emissions of methane contribute greatly to the atmospheric greenhouse effect. As far as carbon capture is concerned, that might as well be a unicorn itself. The amount of money it would take to develop the technology, not just for capture but also for sequestration, would be much better spent on genuine renewables. Also, I'm not sure Biden understands how this message will be digested:

Monday News: Justice, delayed

Submitted by BlueNC on

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MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ABUSING MINOR IN THE 1980'S: A woman who chose years ago not to pursue prosecution of the North Carolina man who sexually abused her says she supports the plea agreement that gave the abuser a one-year prison term. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that 63-year-old Arnold Ray Lasseter pleaded guilty on May 6 to six counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He received the one-year active sentence and a six-year suspended sentence. He must register as a sex offender for 30 years. Assistant District Attorney Pansy Glanton says the woman told Forsyth County authorities in September 2016 that Lasseter sexually assaulted her in the 1980s. Her father reported the abuse at the time, but the victim decided not to pursue prosecution. She changed her mind after years of counseling.
https://www.wral.com/nc-woman-pursues-prosecution-of-sexual-abuser-decades-later/18380395/

Sunday News: From the Editorial pages

Submitted by BlueNC on

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NC EDUCATION "TRANSPARENCY" DASHBOARD MISLEADS, IS FATALLY FLAWED: Johnson uses statewide “average” public school teacher pay (a troublesome number to begin with and we’ll get to that) and then compares it to “median” household income and wages. The figures are then repeated in similarly misleading fashion for every county in the state. So, Johnson wants us to compare 2018-2019 “average” teacher pay of $53,975 with the “median” 2017 household income of $50,320. But, as North Carolina 6th graders are taught, that’s all wrong. The proper comparison would be either between the “average” teacher pay and “average” household income or “median” teacher pay and “median” household income. Here’s the truth. Instead of teacher pay running ahead of household income, it is REALLY running way behind. Johnson’s rosy picture of teacher pay wilts – with a $15,548 deficit (average household income is $70,523).
https://www.wral.com/editorial-n-c-education-transparency-dashboard-misleads-is-fatally-flawed/18367...

Saturday News: Out of control

Submitted by BlueNC on

RALEIGH OFFICERS SAY K-9 ATTACK WAS NOT CALLED FOR: Three Raleigh police officers said Friday that they didn't view a delirious man in the street last year as a threat before a Wake County deputy showed up and unleashed a police dog on the man to take him down. Deputy Cameron Broadwell, who commanded the K-9 to go after Kyron Hinton during the April 3, 2018, encounter, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, assault inflicting serious injury and willfully failing to discharge duties in connection with the incident. Broadwell is accused of hitting Hinton in the head several times, while former Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Blake is also accused of striking Hinton and of ordering former Trooper Tabithia Davis to hit Hinton with her flashlight. Blake and Davis were fired last June and face charges of felony assault and willfully failing to discharge duties.
https://www.wral.com/raleigh-officers-man-didnt-pose-threat-before-wake-deputy-unleashed-k-9/18378623/

Burr vs. Trump Jr: Subpoena ignites a firestorm in the GOP

Submitted by scharrison on

Russiagate may be far from over:

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s decision to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. has ignited an internal Republican firefight over the fate of the committee’s Russia probe, as the panel’s GOP chairman showed no signs of backing down despite fierce criticism from many of his colleagues that it was time to move on.

Much of the backlash against the decision by Chairman Richard Burr (N.C.) to subpoena President Trump’s eldest son came from GOP senators who are up for reelection next year and from those closely aligned with the president. The outrage was partially fueled by Trump Jr. and his own allies.

Much like his father, Trump Jr is simply not clever enough to understand the pros and cons. He could put this issue to bed pretty quickly by showing up and giving a few hours of testimony, but (just like dad) he's too arrogant to do that. And the end result is more focus on the Russia meeting, not less. Say what you will about Richard Burr, he's wholly invested in the reputation of the Intel Committee, and he's not going to leave any questions unanswered. Here's some whining from the peanut gallery:

Friday News: She's back!

Submitted by BlueNC on

JANET COWELL HAS HER EYE ON THOM TILLIS' U.S. SENATE SEAT: Multiple sources tell WRAL News they expect former State Treasurer Janet Cowell to jump into the Democratic primary for the 2020 U.S. Senate race. Should she win, she would likely challenge Sen. Thom Tillis in the fall. Cowell won two statewide elections for treasurer, serving from 2009 until she stepped down in 2016. Before that, she served on the Raleigh City Council and in the state Senate. Cowell is expected to make a final decision in the coming days.
https://www.wral.com/cowell-considering-senate-run/18376851/

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