File this under the “I’m Not Surprised” category. Drilling corporations have spent years and millions of dollars trying to prevent anyone from finding out what the constituents of the fluids they were pumping into the ground to force natural gas and oil up. Now, thanks to an investigation by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s year-long investigation, part of the answer has come to light.
I will borrow a phrase from all the anti-American voices who came out from the shadows during the Bush Regime: “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear from us looking into your business.” Hiding behind claims of proprietary business information is just about as cowardly as these corporations can get.
The congressional investigation found that oil and gas service companies have injected over 32 million gallons of diesel fuel or hydraulic fracturing fluids containing diesel fuel in wells in 19 states between 2005 and 2009. In addition, the investigation finds that no oil and gas service companies have sought – and no state and federal regulators have issued – permits for diesel fuel use in hydraulic fracturing, which appears to be a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
We all know who was “running” the country during these years. And don’t think I’ll hold back any condemnation if I find out the Obama administration continued these disgusting practices. I’m not surprised that dirty energy corporations didn’t seek approval for their likely illegal actions – they think they’re above American law. I also won’t be surprised if they’re never held accountable either – they have worked hard to buy off our elected officials.
Check out Keith Olbermann’s 9/11 TM Special Comment. Yes, Senator McCain, if you know right now how to capture Osama bin Laden, you should go tell some responsible party that incredible information. Otherwise, you are aiding and abetting bin Laden. You are either assisting terrorists or you are using the events of seven years ago to get elected President. That. Is. Sick.
Well, well, well. As quite a few Americans have figured out (but not nearly enough, obviously), the “drill, drill, drill” mantra from the Republicans is based on … lies. Hoping to score cheap politial points this election season, Republicans have maintained a non-stop drill everywhere (but their back yard) campaign, lying to the American public that Democrats are doing nothing to bring down prices at the pump, natural gas prices, etc. Public lands off the coast of America have to be opened up for leasing by fuel corporations immediately, we’ve been told. In a bold move of hypocrisy, the U.S. Department of Energy issued and affirmed an order to export 98.1 billion cubic feet of Alaskan natural gas to Japan and other Pacific Rim countries. That much natural gas could be used instead by 1.4 million Americans in the span of one entire year. So you tell me where Republican interests lie: with Americans suffering from high fuel prices or with foreign countries. Because selling that natural gas overseas keeps domestic prices propped up. Thank goodness a Democrat is calling Republicans on their b.s.
If Republicans were proud of their party and proud of the ideology that generates their policies, would they be trying to hide a Senate race at the bottom of the ticket (against the law, btw) or would they be trying to remove their candidates’ party affiliation from the ballot? I don’t think so. They’ll talk mad game to the media, then run around like cowards trying to fool people into voting for their candidates. So sad.
The Colorado Governor’s Energy Office announced that it was selected to receive a $397,700 grant from the DoE. The GEO will use the grant to develop technical, financial and policy framworks to construct an additional 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity into the state’s grid. 1,000MW of energy can power over 300,000 homes.
If we’re winning the “War on terror,” why hasn’t the color-coded terror alert level changed from Yellow to Green or Blue in 2,382 days? Another good BiPM question.
John McCain voted against legislation that stopped the practice of charging rape victims for sexual assault exams. Ironically, the legislation, known as the Violence Against Women Act, was pushed through Congress by Sen. Joe Biden, who is this year’s Democratic Vice Presidential nominee. Let that sink in for a minute. The Republican nominee for President voted to keep charging rape victims for their assault tests. That vote took place in 1994. And before anybody brings up the silly argument that that was then and this is now, Sen. McCain voted against funding the program … last year. McCain’s views on this demonstrate that he is too much of an extremist to be our President. Need more proof? His choice for Vice-President kept charging rape victims for the exams while mayor in Wasilla, Alaska. Her extremist view point on the subject matches his and was illegal at the time to boot.
