DISQUS

There is no such thing as "clean coal".

- More than 104,000 American miners have died in coal mines since 1900.

- 12,000 miners have died from black lung in the past 20 years.

- Dangerous pollutants, including mercury, filter into our air and water. Mercury can interfere with the development of infant brains and neurological systems resulting in learning disabilities, ADD, lower IQ and mental retardation

- 24,000 people a year die prematurely because of pollution from coal-fired power plants. 38,000 heart attacks, 12,000 hospital admissions and anadditional 550,000 asthma attacks result from power plant pollution every year.

- Millions of acres across three dozen states have been dynamited and churned to dust by coal strip mining.

- Around 1 million acres of hardwood forests, a thousand miles of waterways and more than 470 mountains have been decimated in the southeastern mountain ranges in the last 20 years.

- coal production destroys local economies and reduces local employement.

- the coal industry wants about 1 billion in taxpayer subsidies.

You cant get any more Orwellian than "clean coal".

Weird.

White is really, really reaching here. Heinrich's work to protect the culture, water, air and economic opportunities of New Mexico somehow makes him a "slick lobbyist"? That is one weak and desperate grasp. White should acknowledge the work Heinrich did for this state for little or no pay.

Would have been nice to see that White cared for NM as much as Heinrich. Oh well, he'll just name-call instead.

Weird.

White is really, really reaching here. Heinrich's work to protect the culture, water, air and economic opportunities of New Mexico somehow makes him a "slick lobbyist"? That is one weak and desperate grasp. White should acknowledge the work Heinrich did for this state for little or no pay.

Would have been nice to see that White cared for NM as much as Heinrich. Oh well, he'll just name-call instead.

OH....and then there is this from the Wall St. Journal:

"At a rally today, Sen. McCain again asserted that Sen. Obama has requested nearly a billion in earmarks. In fact, the Illinois senator requested $311 million last year, according to the Associated Press, and none this year. In comparison, Gov. Palin has requested $750 million in her two years as governor -- which the AP says is the largest per-capita request in the nation."

And...

The New Republic calls Palin a liar on her claims regarding the bridge to nowhere.."a naked lie"

How are you so proud of these kinds of things?

OH....and then there is this from the Wall St. Journal:

"At a rally today, Sen. McCain again asserted that Sen. Obama has requested nearly a billion in earmarks. In fact, the Illinois senator requested $311 million last year, according to the Associated Press, and none this year. In comparison, Gov. Palin has requested $750 million in her two years as governor -- which the AP says is the largest per-capita request in the nation."

And...

The New Republic calls Palin a liar on her claims regarding the bridge to nowhere.."a naked lie"

How are you so proud of these kinds of things?

Oh soooo excited and so proud of....

From the Washington Post:

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife. "

Funny what people like you can be proud of.

Oh soooo excited and so proud of....

From the Washington Post:

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife. "

Funny what people like you can be proud of.

Louis Kolker is right. So is Isaac. And the neighborhood associations.

This new form-based code is a great plan. Just what ABQ needs. That said, a healthy, inclusive planning process must also be part of that code. Neighborhoods need to be respected but they cant run roughshod over the needs of the entire city and the city cannot simply tell them what to do. There needs to be a process so that the needs of the city and the neighborhoods are met.

Excellent article, BTW.

Louis Kolker is right. So is Isaac. And the neighborhood associations.

This new form-based code is a great plan. Just what ABQ needs. That said, a healthy, inclusive planning process must also be part of that code. Neighborhoods need to be respected but they cant run roughshod over the needs of the entire city and the city cannot simply tell them what to do. There needs to be a process so that the needs of the city and the neighborhoods are met.

Excellent article, BTW.

It's so funny and ironic how Republicans gleefully overlook thier candidates criminal past (McCain and the Keating Five), thier lobbyists, the fact that, in Palin's case, she left her little town 20 million in debt.

Be happy. You are just a sheep following those who have no interest in your well-being.

It's so funny and ironic how Republicans gleefully overlook thier candidates criminal past (McCain and the Keating Five), thier lobbyists, the fact that, in Palin's case, she left her little town 20 million in debt.

Be happy. You are just a sheep following those who have no interest in your well-being.

What a crock from Steve Bell.

Senator Domenici's initial proposal was shot down by local community members because it was stupid. NMWA had nothing to do with that. Domenici and Bell think that they are all powerful and when locals rejected that proposal (in part because Domenici tried to ram it down the throat of the community without any communication) they were bitter and hurt and decided to take it out on the community. Bell and his boss are big babies. They have forgotten that they are elected officials and not dictators.

And of course they need a scapegoat.

Senator Bingaman also deserves a massive amount of blame for what is going on in Dona Ana. Instead of standing up to the 17 ranchers and Sen Domenici on this one and instead of standing WITH the overwhelming majority of (including all the elected bodies, sportsment, developers and business community members)he fiddle-faddled along until momentum was lost and Domenici and Pearce had a chance to confuse things. If Senator Bingaman would get a spine, we could get some of this land protection stuff done. Maybe Udall will be Bingaman's spine. Lord knows he's scared witless of Domenici.

I would love to see a Domenici wilderness. I'd love to see a Bingaman wilderness. What a sorry state of affairs.

What a crock from Steve Bell.

Senator Domenici's initial proposal was shot down by local community members because it was stupid. NMWA had nothing to do with that. Domenici and Bell think that they are all powerful and when locals rejected that proposal (in part because Domenici tried to ram it down the throat of the community without any communication) they were bitter and hurt and decided to take it out on the community. Bell and his boss are big babies. They have forgotten that they are elected officials and not dictators.

And of course they need a scapegoat.

Senator Bingaman also deserves a massive amount of blame for what is going on in Dona Ana. Instead of standing up to the 17 ranchers and Sen Domenici on this one and instead of standing WITH the overwhelming majority of (including all the elected bodies, sportsment, developers and business community members)he fiddle-faddled along until momentum was lost and Domenici and Pearce had a chance to confuse things. If Senator Bingaman would get a spine, we could get some of this land protection stuff done. Maybe Udall will be Bingaman's spine. Lord knows he's scared witless of Domenici.

I would love to see a Domenici wilderness. I'd love to see a Bingaman wilderness. What a sorry state of affairs.

Pearce is absolutely nuts.

Its too bad our Senators did not have the guts to move on this very popular legislation years ago. If they had, Pearce's insanity would not be an issue today. When your ducks are in a row, waiting can only hurt. Shame on our Senators.

Yet another reason to hurry up and get Tom Udall in the Senate. He will, at least, ACT!

Pearce is absolutely nuts.

Its too bad our Senators did not have the guts to move on this very popular legislation years ago. If they had, Pearce's insanity would not be an issue today. When your ducks are in a row, waiting can only hurt. Shame on our Senators.

Yet another reason to hurry up and get Tom Udall in the Senate. He will, at least, ACT!

It is quite unfortunate that the Senator's staff is seeking a scapegoat for their inability to follow through on this great project. Let me be clear that this NCA is very important and that by far the majority of people in Taos County support the project. Simply put, it is a good idea. That said, pushing the legislation forward without the clear support or, at the very least, understanding from people on the ground was not wise and support for the legislation would not be there if it wasnt for the excellent work of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and The Wilderness Society. The Senator's staff pushed NMWA to go to the media with this in April 2007. At the time, NMWA did not feel that the ground work had been done to our satisfaction and we advised against introduction of the legislation. The Senator's staff however pushed us into it and we, unwisely in retrospect, made the choice to do as the Senator's staff demanded - with the excpected unfortunate results.

I hope that the Senator's staff can stop trying to find a scapegoat and can instead take the advice of NMWA and move forward in tandem with the people on the ground.

It is quite unfortunate that the Senator's staff is seeking a scapegoat for their inability to follow through on this great project. Let me be clear that this NCA is very important and that by far the majority of people in Taos County support the project. Simply put, it is a good idea. That said, pushing the legislation forward without the clear support or, at the very least, understanding from people on the ground was not wise and support for the legislation would not be there if it wasnt for the excellent work of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and The Wilderness Society. The Senator's staff pushed NMWA to go to the media with this in April 2007. At the time, NMWA did not feel that the ground work had been done to our satisfaction and we advised against introduction of the legislation. The Senator's staff however pushed us into it and we, unwisely in retrospect, made the choice to do as the Senator's staff demanded - with the excpected unfortunate results.

I hope that the Senator's staff can stop trying to find a scapegoat and can instead take the advice of NMWA and move forward in tandem with the people on the ground.