Author Archives: floegel

Oh No, Not Again

3/18/2010 – 2:37 pm

One of the unpalatable things about being an environmentalist (there are others) is that no victory ever stays won. An ancient tree cut down stays cut; a species driven to extinction is gone for good. The tree saved, however, has been saved for a day only. A species preserved is preserved for now and the […]

Posted in Commentary, Oceans | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Proof / Not Proof

3/11/2010 – 11:02 am

Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) was raving on the floor of the House yesterday. “We’re talking about Eric Massa 24/7 on the TV. We’re talking about war and peace, $3 billion dollars, a thousand lives and no press? No press?” Mr. Massa is the recently resigned congressman from New York who may or may not have […]

Posted in Commentary, Global Warming | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Phorced to be Phony

3/4/2010 – 10:41 am

“You don’t blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you’re trying to save in college.’’ It’s not me saying that, it was Barack Obama, last month. Good advice, but as is often the case when you’re president, it landed him in hot water, so two weeks ago he went out of his way to […]

Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

When the People Lead…

2/25/2010 – 1:46 pm

Vermont’s a small state with a so-called “citizen legislature.” Our legislators don’t have staffs and offices, they have desks in the House or Senate chamber. The committee rooms are small, sometimes people testifying have to wait in the hall until it’s their turn to speak; there’s just not enough room inside. Our legislators all have […]

Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary, Energy, Nuclear Energy | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

The Strange Case of Amy Bishop

2/18/2010 – 8:22 am

Amy Bishop, the University of Alabama professor who is alleged to have killed three and wounded three at a departmental staff meeting last week, presents a strange case. It’s strange her husband told reporters he didn’t know she had a gun – until he remembered he’d accompanied her to a shooting range several times in […]

Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Quid Pro Coal

2/11/2010 – 10:28 am

You’re hearing more and more voices on the left (including this one), saying Barack Obama can’t get behind initiatives and really make things happen. Health care reform and banking regulations are two frequently cited examples. It’s not universally true. There are times when this administration moves with surprising speed and efficiency. Just last week, President […]

Posted in Commentary, Electoral Politics, Energy, Global Warming | Comments (0)

Homer Simpson Wasn’t Available

2/5/2010 – 2:54 pm

In the deep winter of New England, the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant is leaking radioactive tritium into the groundwater. This is bad timing for Yankee’s owner, Entergy of Louisiana, because the Vermont legislature is currently considering Entergy’s request to extend the 38-year-old plant’s license to operate for another 20 years. (Vermont is the only […]

Posted in Commentary, Energy, Nuclear Energy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)