Burlington Free Press calls out O'Brien's partisanship

That's one ... (3.00 / 1)

That's one time the Free Press has actually applied logic to the actions of a Republican state appointee. Good for them. If we pat them on the head and give them a doggie treat, you think they'll do it again?

One quibble, Jack:

the whole world is now seeing [emphasis added]

Hyperbole, surely. Maybe a significant portion of the news consumers of the Northern half of the state - at best.

NanuqFC
In a Time of Universal Deceit, TELLING the TRUTH Is a Revolutionary Act. ~ George Orwell  

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by: NanuqFC @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 11:42:31 AM UTC

Okay, fair point (0.00 / 0)

We'll see if this crosses over to other "respectable" observers.

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by: Jack McCullough @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 11:52:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good. At last (4.00 / 1)

 Quibble,quibble.Their editorial gift for understatement is amazing to say the least.

"Dubie has been generally supportive of Vermont Yankee's continued operation..."

http://www.burlingtonfreepress...

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by: BP @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 11:48:29 AM UTC

Blind squirrel (3.00 / 1)

Good on the Burlington McPaper.  Even Gannett can find a nut...

Become a fan of our grassroots campaign on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/todd4v...

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by: ntoddpax @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 13:31:56 PM UTC

It's about time (4.00 / 1)

Anyone notice how this guy goes out on a limb to "protect the public" from Burlington Telecom, and then goes out on another limb to put us all at risk from a crumbling VY? Being non-partisan has got to be the No. 1 prerequisite for this job, and although the BFP is late to this game, it's nice to see it finally in print.

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by: Warren1960 @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 16:28:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Folks here (4.00 / 2)

clearly do not understand the severity and the potential danger to the public of having anyone other than Comcast, or Fairpoint pipe data into our homes!

Think of the children - what if the pipeline that BT has worked so hard to install started leaking Al Jazeera, Democracy NOW, and NPR into our air and water! Right out there in front of our schools and homes!

Aging Nuke Plant on a freshwater source that flows past millions of people that leaks, crumbles, and off gasses radioactive material = OK to let the 'experts' work it out and to continue to trust an out of state corporation that has repeatedly misrepresented and lied to the state of VT.

Compost heap that 'disturbs' potentially archeologically sensitive ground by running earth moving equipment ON TOP of the soils to move piles of decaying organic food waste around, and had some issues with potentially leaking ORGANIC decaying food matter into a waterway that passes north of a small city in VT (and that water is already carrying (deity of your choice here) knows what from upstream farming and IBM = Shut it down, move it! Lawsuits! No!

City owned telecom that provides better service and 'products' to locals who actually can have some control over the information systems used to pipe data into and out of our homes and businesses but went through some poor financial management = Shut it down!

It never has, and never will, make sense.  

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by: bmike @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 20:03:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Let's just remember this editorial (4.00 / 3)

the next time they agree with Dubie, that we should "let the Public Service Board make the decision regarding Yankee."

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by: Sue Prent @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 14:10:58 PM UTC

Wagers ... (4.00 / 1)

on who the Freeps will endorse in the gubernatorial race?  

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by: Hugo @ Thu Oct 21, 2010 at 15:11:45 PM UTC

Wealtrhy Friends (0.00 / 0)

Jack

I want to thank you for giving my wife and I a good laugh at the breakfast table yesterday over your reference to all my wealthy friends as we are surrounded by our project house with nowhere near the financial means to do it all especially with a baby on the way..Sorry to burst the bubble of the common stereotype of a Republican but we are a family of quite modest means.  I was the youngest of five and my dad was a car salesman so there many lean years in my childhood.

You can disagree with my positions or views, that's what it's all about, but you should refrain from casting me in some sort of stereotype.  My stance on energy policy and VY in particular is based on my informed understanding of the electric grid, electric prices and economic theory.  I believe very strongly that losing this plant will be very bad for the grid and the VT economy, especially the greater Brattleboro area.  I spent 8 years in economic development in the Rutland area, I have worked with people who lost their jobs after a plant closes and it is truly sad.

So I do not have any close wealthy friends, nor do I do the bidding of any.  I have no affection or loyalty to Entergy, they just happen to own this facility that is so integral to the state.  I defend the idea that the facility should continue to operate, and in my role as a consumer advocate I have seen Senator Shumlin and many others distort the record and many people are taking what they say to be the whole story and that is unfortunate.

If the consensus is that VY should close, that people are simply not comfortable with nuclear power, so be it.  But that decision should be done with eyes wide open knowing that replacing it will not be easy and there will be significant energy and economic ramifications.

As good ol Willem Lang says, I gotta get back to work, many projects, so little time.

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by: david obrien @ Sat Oct 23, 2010 at 14:41:55 PM UTC

You're making an odd assumption here (4.00 / 2)

If the consensus is that VY should close, that people are simply not comfortable with nuclear power, so be it.

I'm not sure whether or not I'm comfortable with nuclear power-- I fully support research intended to make it safer and more reliable.  I am specifically opposed to the continued operation of a plant that has outlived its expected lifespan and whose owners have misrepresented (whether deliberate or otherwise) the quality of the plant, its safety and its risks.

To make the assumption that those of us who feel that VY has outlived its usefulness are, across the board, simply anti-nuke, is misleading.

I will note one other false argument on your part: you attempt to ridicule Jack by pretending he claimed you had wealthy friends.  He did no such thing.  He talked about your loyalties to the Douglas administration and its wealthy friends.  Jack did not make any claim about your personal life on any level, and to pretend he did is counterfactual.

I welcome your participation in this discussion, but would appreciate it if you would speak to the truth of the matter, rather invent false claims with which to argue.    

Musician, Web Designer, Photographer

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by: JulieWaters @ Sat Oct 23, 2010 at 14:55:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for replying, Dave. (0.00 / 0)

Obviously Julie's right--it's not your personal friends I was talking about, but the wealthy friends of the Douglas/Dubie administration.

Still, you're correct that personal friendship isn't the issue. It's not the wealthy friends of the administration that are the issue, it's the wealthy backers and allies, friendly or not.

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by: Jack McCullough @ Sat Oct 23, 2010 at 16:33:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I stick with my point (0.00 / 0)

Jack you said the following in your initial post "the whole world is now seeing that Dave O'Brien's loyalties are to the Douglas/Dubie administration and their wealthy friends, and not with the people of Vermont."

Let me make it clear my position supporting VY is as Commissioner supported by a team of longstanding PSD professsionals.  Not because of some sort of "loyalties to Douglas/Dubie administration and their wealthy friends".  I would also suggest you revisit your assumptions about republican automatically = wealthy.  That is a over used stereotype that may stoke populist passions but it is not accurate.  There are wealthy supporters of both parties.  That smoke should be set aside and instead the discussion should be on the fundamental beliefs that make up the two sides.  

My point about my own financial status is to make that point.  I wonder  how you somehow seem to assume that I am driven to appease some faceless wealthy masters?

For me it is all about what is the best path for the state, especially for struggling working families like mine to have opportunity. Please dispense with the need to try to set aside my views with some stereotype and a snarky comment about my credibility.

Sorry but I do take offense when you state at the outset that I came in with little credibility.  Maybe for you and the people you talk to but not a whole cross section of people that the Governor talked to.  More importantly that was almost 8 yrs ago and I have in my opinion a command of the discipline.  If you would like to sit down and show me what it is I don't understand I would welcome that.

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by: david obrien @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 13:40:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I haven't seen evidence that you are objective (4.00 / 2)

you seem to manage to find ways to cling to a point of view about Vermont Yankee which is untenable, regardless of the circumstances or the situation.  I find it difficult to believe that you are looking at the evidence and coming to a conclusion as much as you are promoting a specific point of view and finding evidence to support it with single minded tenacity.  

Your specific comment to the effect that any major concerns about VY must be election year politics is an example of the dismissive tone you've used which suggests strongly that you are unwilling to engage this issue in a serious fashion.  

So sure, take it personally, and get offended when people criticize your job.  Fine.  Whatever.  

It's still your job and even though you are appointed by the Governor, you are still accountable to the people of Vermont.  When you blithely dismiss our concerns as being for political purposes, it does lead thinking people to question your credibility and with good reason.  

Musician, Web Designer, Photographer

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by: JulieWaters @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 14:05:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The full, factual record matters (0.00 / 0)

Julie,

Firstly I am looking at a far more extensive set of information on VY than the general public.  What is reported in the media is a mere fraction of the record, it is a drive by treatment.  I would say that if people were to base their ultimate opinion on VY based on what is reported in the media well apprehension would be natural.  So keep in mind I have much more info and technical input from a team of experienced energy professionals (all democrats and quite liberal), but why is it so hard to accept that someone can a different opinion?

I do not believe that concerns about VY are only about election politics.  I have not stated that the only reason for concerns about VY is election politics.  I am saying election politics is a time of fever and what I see as outrageous statements.  My comment about election day was because once that point is past we can go back to a calm reasoned conversation whereever that takes us.  I do not ever mean to dismiss your or anyone else' concerns with that statement.  I am sorry if you got that impression.

My issue is largely with Senator Shumlin saying outrageous things about the tritium release characterizing it as the greatest environmental disaster in modern VT history.  That is simply ludicrous.  Worse it is inflammatory and disrespectful of the public to use such scare tactics.

The science of the tritium release is entirely the opposite.  The Health Dept has not once found any indication of a threat to the public health and safety.  Are their motives also somehow corrupted by greed and therefore not informed by sound science and the ethics of the medical field?

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by: david obrien @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 17:52:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tritium is only part of the problem (4.00 / 2)

Cooling tower collapse.

Lying about underground pipes.

Or, if you don't think they were lying about the pipes: Underground pipes that the company that owns and runs the plant didn't even know about. (How is that any better?)

Tritium leaks.

Tritium leaks into the aquifer.

Radioactive steam leaks.

Sitting on the report of radioactive steam leaks for almost a month.

Broken promises on the decommissioning fund.

What's next? How long do we wait before one of their "minor" problems turns into a major disaster for Vermonters?  

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by: Jack McCullough @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 21:28:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This is very convenient (4.00 / 1)

So keep in mind I have much more info and technical input from a team of experienced energy professionals (all democrats and quite liberal), but why is it so hard to accept that someone can a different opinion?

It must be nice to have all that info that those of us outside the inner sanctum lack.  How odd that an administration that highly favors Vermont Yankee would conceal information that might help it makes it place.

Musician, Web Designer, Photographer

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by: JulieWaters @ Sun Oct 24, 2010 at 21:56:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]