Left In Alabama - Recent Comments

What exactly are you basing your belief on that Davis has a shot at being

Redeye — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:11:55 GMT

successful at winning the democratic primary? Just because he's a "great candidate" doesn't mean he will be a great governor.

Artur Davis is going to be about as platable to Sally Mae and Joe Bob Alabamian as the step child at the family reunion. When it comes down to voting for Artur Davis (even if he is a DINO) and a republican they will vote republican. So he might as well change his mind and vote for health care reform.

Dear David Marker,

Redeye — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:58:19 GMT

Would you please reconsider and run for Governor instead?

Well...

archangelsk — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:53:24 GMT

I think the best course of action will be to vote on the downticket races, and abstain from voting on this particular one. Whoever gets elected is going to get my vote in Nov., but I am certainly not going to go out of my way to campaign for or advocate for either.

Both candidates are weak, the GOP doesn't offer a whole lot. I am starting to come around and believe that Davis has a shot at being successful statewide, based not on the belief that he's a great candidate, based rather than he's going to be the best candidate, out of the Dems, who will be able to water down and bastardize their platform and the core beliefs of the Democratic Party in a way that will be most palatable to Sally Mae and Joe Bob Alabamian.

Things I left out because this isn't a technical blog

daddycat — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:41:16 GMT

Include breeders and thorium.

Oh yeah...

archangelsk — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:37:02 GMT

Cellulosic Ethanol would be great...and what crop makes one of the best feedstocks for the fuel, requires little to no fertilizer and would grow like a weed? HEMP! Imagine, the Black Belt could be the next Saudi Arabia with all the hemp that could be grown for Cellulosic Ethanol processes. Imagine all the new industry that could be created by allowing farmers and industry to create goods from hemp, processors, manufacturers. I hear there are some automakers which have been experimenting with hemp as an answer to petroleum based synthetic fibers, imagine how our burgeoning hemp industry could help our automakers and suppliers in state!

Big Nuke

daddycat — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:35:11 GMT

I was going to make this a diary, but I'll throw it in here.

After my earlier comment, Countrycat and I were chatting about power. She was totally unaware of the term Peak-Uranium. It's true, just like Peak-Oil, there is Peak-Uranium. I first became aware of the estimated reserves in a 1976 edition of 'Marks Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers', probably twenty-five years ago. Yes, even back in the dark ages of the 70s we knew that there were limited uranium resources. Of course we compound the problem if we use the resource in the manner that we do, only consuming five percent of the fuel and calling it all spent. Add to this the obvious move towards electric vehicles due to Peak-Oil and the environment; and an educated person (like David Maker) can make a pretty accurate prediction - we gotta do something different.
Politicians who just say that they are pro-nuclear power are either white-washing it for the short term political gain or ignorant of the limited nature of the resource. If we continue as we are we can use those new plants for 30-50 years before - we gotta do something different again. Of course, that's about the life of the plants themselves, so it's a one generation save. If nuclear from uranium is to be part of the energy strategy for more than that one generation we must extract more energy from the raw fuel. Reprocessing (done in other countries, but outlawed?? in the United States), secondary reactions and new less profitable sources will become necessary to satisfy our energy hunger. Sounds familiar, doesn't it.

I don't necessarily trust Big Nuke

herding old cats — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:19:38 GMT

But the physics seem to be that the best way to deal with the long-lived spent fuel problem is to reprocess the stuff and use it in fast reactors.

Dr. Maker certainly knows what he's talking about, but he really has a hard time talking to more than a few people at a time. So do I, that's why I won't be running for office any time soon.

That's kind of odd...

archangelsk — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:14:32 GMT

Rep. Hilliard is a very affable person, I'm surprised that he said nothing at all to you. I haven't gotten the chance to meet his wife, but everything I hear about her is very positive. Based on what I know, I think the Rep. was likely doing exactly as you supposed.

It was painful to watch indeed

herding old cats — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:13:03 GMT

He's a good guy that probably doesn't belong in a political campaign. I voted for him too.

I have run into a variety of scientists in my working life, and the ones I have met fall into about four categories:

1. There are the scientists who create experiments and instrumentation to observe what's going on in the universe.

2. There are scientists who are the scientific ambassadors to the rest of the world. They sell programs and get funding for group 1 to build, launch and otherwise execute their stuff. They are selling not only to the powers that be, but to the society at large (think Carl Sagan). Scientific program managers also fall into this category - they are still scientists, even when they don't get to do as much science as they want to do.

3. There are the scientists who reduce the data from group 1 & 2's data, and find the patterns, and publish the results. Now, there is definitely overlap, and group 1 and 2 absolutely figure out the data from their stuff and publish it - but it is a different kind of role, and sometimes a different set of people.

4. There are scientists who take the data and the patterns, and figure out where it fits in the grand scheme and what it means. Once again, there is overlap, but there is certainly a group that is thinking "what does this all mean?". They are really busy with calculations and deep thoughts and relating specifics to the big picture.

I think David Maker falls into group 4. There are probably more groups, I can only describe the ones that I have encountered.

i'm a smoot supporter

gradyw — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:44:55 GMT

but I do really like Hilliard as a person. he's very personable and a good guy.

Sewell does not ever seem interested in meeting folks and talking to them. out of all six candidates she seems the worst at retail politics.

What does Terri Sewell have in common with Condi Rice?

Redeye — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:44:54 GMT

They are both smart, accomplished, not the best public speaker, successful African American woman with little or no substance.

Terri's shoe fundraiser reminded me of Condi buying shoes in New York in the after math of Katrina.

Just moments ago at the Ferragamo on 5th Avenue, Condoleeza Rice was seen spending several thousands of dollars on some nice, new shoes (we’ve confirmed this, so her new heels will surely get coverage from the WaPo’s Robin Givhan). A fellow shopper, unable to fathom the absurdity of Rice’s timing, went up to the Secretary and reportedly shouted, “How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!” Never one to have her fashion choices questioned, Rice had security PHYSICALLY REMOVE the woman.

Saying Terri Sewell should be elected to represent the 7th district because she is a smart, successful, accomplished woman with tons of money is like Sarah Palin saying because she can see Russia from her house she has foriegn policy experience.

I beginning to think those who support Terri want a candidate with little or no substance to represent the residents of the 7th district just because she is an African American female capable of raising tons of money.

I hear a lot of vague ideas (?) from Sewell, but what's her plan?

Creative, innovative and smart.

Gayla — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:16:03 GMT

This is the kind of public servant we need!

Countrycat, you are THE reporter on this story.

melmel — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:11:33 GMT

This totally makes sense to tap these funds. Why not give it a try?

I'm glad Earl Hilliard was friendly to you

Kathy — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:10:23 GMT

I sat right next to him at the Downtown Dems lunch, and he never said a word to me. Didn't introduce himself, nothing. His wife was very nice, though, and I figured he was mentally rehearsing his speech.

I know a moderately talented actor....

piggieheart — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:27:18 GMT

who will play the Devil for free.

It is getting really close to the end of this road.

piggieheart — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:20:07 GMT

Artur Davis has a very short time to get his head on straight and fall in line on this bill. I often speak about folks who vote against their own informed self-interest, and that is exactly what Davis is about to do. While a no vote might garner him a few votes in a general election for governor, it won't help him get to the general, nor will it help his career in the future as a Democratic politician.

add me to the list

countrycat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:58:51 GMT

Parker Griffith (AL-Lying Son of a Bitch) creeped me out from the beginning. Maker was the only alternative.

And, I had to respect someone who moved so far outside his comfort zone to run for Congress. He was painful to watch on the campaign trail and in the debates, but he went out and did it anyway.

OMG!

mooncat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:43:33 GMT

Dr. Maker should SOOO not hire you as communications director. That slogan would have folks running for the hills!

But you made me laugh ...

Meet your Maker!

Doggone — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:35:33 GMT

Dr. Maker should learn to correctly spell the name of the President of the United States.

Hey! He can hold rallies around the state using the slogan, "Now you can meet your Maker!"

I voted for him too.

daddycat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:31:44 GMT

He may not be articulate, he may be dressed like a nerd (close to my heart). He may come off as a "Hobo". But he knows what he's talking about. That's something we are sorely missing in our government - common sense.

Yes Virginia, put 30 each 100 Watt Solar panels on 330,000 houses and you've got a GigaWatt (at least when the sun shines). And guess what else, you don't have to wait 10 years for the first Watt, and you don't have to deal with all the Big-Nuke leftovers.

I still like Big-Nuke over Big-Coal, but that's not my first choice. I also like a Real Deep Hole with a Real Big Weight and a motor-generator for energy storage.

the problem is

countrycat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:03:13 GMT

you confuse disagreement with "personal attacks."

Learn to fact check before you rant if you want to be defended because I personally don't defend any poorly-sourced or totally unsourced claptrap. From anyone. Period.

To paraphrase Michael Feldman... anyone who doesn't like it can get their own blog.

Apologies

archangelsk — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:58:10 GMT

mc, for the line about her residency, and that you don't agree with it. All I am going to say is that I have heard otherwise, despite what her staffers may have said. I understand that its one of those minutia of detail kind of things, but it is kinda grating that there are folks "representing" us who arent even residents of their own districts. How can you effectively represent a district if you don't live there? Seems kinda common sense to me.

I'm also sorry that you feel that the union line is old. At no point has anyone from her campaign, or herself for that matter, come out publically, whether by press release or interview on LiA or elsewhere to say, "My Bad", or even explain it. It wasn't just a one time thing as you said, there were, or are, a couple of mail and walking pieces that are don't have a union bug on them. I'm sure people hate hearing about this, but where I came from, people get upset about things like that, real upset, like sink your campaign and make sure you can't run for office upset. As a progressive, as a current, (temporarily) and former employee of a international union, that was something I learned on Day One.

My opposition to Sewell has nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman, an intelligent woman, or the fact that she is an successful, intelligent, African American woman. More power to her, I do not begrudge anyone for their success.

I am opposed to Sewell based on what I have experienced first hand yes, the primary of these being her rude, stand-offish attitude, which stands in stark contrast to the other two front running candidates, Sheila Smoot and Earl Hilliard Jr., who were quite personable and friendly. My opposition is also based on the anecdotal accounts from people who deal/have dealt with her in the past. Isn't this how people make preferences? Personal experiences and the influence of others?

Grayson's statement about Sarah Palin

HighStreet — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:48:16 GMT

I loved Rep. Grayson's statement - laughed all the way through it.

I'd also like to point out...

Svengali — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:39:57 GMT

...that Givens' claim that our healthcare system isn't broken because almost everyone who needs medical care gets it whether they can afford it or not is complete hogwash! I'd like him to personally tell the families of the nearly 45,000 Americans who DIE each year due to a lack of insurance and healthcare that our system only needs a few "tweaks"...

I've heard that too

countrycat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:24:44 GMT

But I've also heard numerous tales that the giant football stadiums and scholarships and multi-million dollar salaries of coaches "don't cost the schools a thing" because the booster clubs and programs pay for it all.

So just how much darn money do these programs bring in anyway?

I tend to disbelieve the tale that they "fund other programs" because all I heard from professors my first year at Auburn in the early eighties was that the library expansion had been put on hold to pay for a football stadium expansion.

And let's not forget just how much Auburn in particular pays to fly its staff and trustrees around the country on private jets. Forgive me if the poor-mouthing about legislative funding cuts rings a bit hollow....