When the federal government can alter contractual obligations to profit political allies and our supreme court chooses not to address the issue our once proud republic has been degraded to a tyrannical state. The Chrysler bond holders who should have been first in line to be paid in the bankruptcy were told to take a seat at the back of the bus by the obama administration who favors the UAW. Why would anyone buy corporate bonds from this day forward? How will corporations obtain the capital needed to start, repair or expand facilities without paying exorbitant interest rates? We will feel the repercussions of this event for years to come. Our recession will deepen. Unemployment will rise. The rule of law will die a slow political death.

Comment on Docket No.: CERCLA-04-2009-3766

Please comment on the administrative order between TVA and EPA regarding the coal fly ash disaster that occurred at the TVA Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant on December 22, 2008.

Here is a link to the order: Link...

Send comments to:
Leo Francendese at francendese.leo@epa.gov and/or Craig Zeller at zeller.craig@epa.gov

You can also submit comments through the EPA website at: Link...

Mail or fax comments to:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
1-800-241-1754 (phone)
(404) 562-8174 (fax)

Below is a sample letter that could be submitted to the EPA. Include all or some of these comments.

*******

SUBJECT: Comments on EPA/TVA administrative order (Docket No. CERCLA-04-2009-3766)

Dear Leo Francendese,
I write to express my concerns about the recent administrative order (Docket No. CERCLA-04-2009-3766). I am particularly concerned that:

1) That the order has not been widely publicized so that the general public is aware of the matter

2) That significant and appropriate public involvement is missing from the language and structure of the Order

3) That this administrative order deviates significantly from CERCLA; it is unclear to me what role CERCLA serves in structuring clean up efforts

4) I am concerned with how the boundaries of the disaster and ownership of land are defined in the Order. I am very concerned that the Order does not address the problem of work trucks tracking sludge all over the roads and roadsides as they exit the work site. This is a critical and timely issue for the local community.

5) I am concerned that the health impacts of the disaster are not sufficiently addressed

6) I am concerned that the Administrative Order does not specify how monitoring will be conducted

Furthermore, I request that:

1) The time period for public comment be extended beyond June 19th

2) That the EPA schedule a public hearing for the Administrative Order and work plans so that public concerns can be addressed

I would appreciate a response to my comments, at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
XX

*******

Comment on anything else you can think of!
Have questions about the order or comment process? Contact United Mountain Defense at umdvolunteerhouse@yahoo.com or by phone at 865 689-2778

Socrates had something to say about that:

"When the debate is over, slander becomes the tool of the loser."

RB

What a matched pair - Patton and Cawood!
Link...

Update: RCN slideshow Scroll down to find it. (thanks for the update, WC)

Backers of the bill want Tennessee to opt out of the federal cap-and-trade program "for limiting greenhouse gas emissions." The Knoxville News-Sentinel has the AP story: Link...

-- OneTahiti

The TN League of Women Voters has a handy page on their web site with lots of current legislative information and talking points. See: Link...

The Knoxville News-Sentinel has the story: Link...

Today's meeting has been canceled.

We did it before but it looks static now. Is this still active? Just checking. :) Link...

In Harriman are we voting for 4 council seats? Or 3 and a seperate election for the unexpired term?

Dozens arrested after Duke protest
By Bruce Henderson
bhenderson@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Monday, Apr. 20, 2009

Police arrested more than 40 protesters today at Duke Energy's Charlotte headquarters following a rally and march against Duke's coal policies.

Well, it's come down to this. Everybody who knows me is aware that I have been patient, nice, and even cordial. Guess what? That doesn't work. I was in Clinton last night and today watching my granddaughter. When I got home I received the news that a couple with a new baby has been told by TVA that they have to move from their rental property by the end of the month. This is just another attempt by TVA to bully those that have no way out.
So my focus now is on our elected officials. Yeah, sit there and worry about what TVA might dole out to you, and what you would do with it. But, please. Don't waste your prescious time showing your outrage to what TVA is doing to the people in need; the ones you are SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.
Why isn't our County Executive calling Tom Kolgore and demanding he keep his promise to take care of the ones who need it? Why isn't every County Executive calling? In my opinion, they are all scared. They are afraid of TVA. They are afraid they won't get their "fair share". So, I will call it like I see it. They are a bunch of cowards.
I was asked to do an interview with Newsweek on the political side of this disaster. They are interested in what our elected officials are doing. So, tomorrow I will be telling them the truth; NOTHING.
The people of this county need and deserve better than what we are getting. If trying to bully a couple with a new born baby doesn't show that TVA executives are heartless, then I don't know what does. Oh yes. There are those who will be offended by this post,those who think that TVA is so wonderful. Well, you have not met the people I have. You have not seen the hopelessness in their eyes. You haven't heard them beg for help.
So, to all of the committees; go ahead and sit there hoping and wondering when and if TVA is going to give you your share. Go ahead and ignore those you swore to represent. Smile at the cameras and keep telling us you are doing what you can. But you'll have to excuse me for not believing you. Why? Because you should be mad as hell right now. And you should be demanding that all mighty TVA keep promises. Healing should start with you doing YOUR best. But, maybe you already have done YOUR best.

I just noticed that it is now easier to contribute to the Kingston campaign of Randy Martens. His website, RandyMartens.com (Link...), added a Paypal donate button.

From Brad Parish:

The Roane County Democratic Party will hold a County Convention for Reorganization on Saturday, March 28th 2009, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Kingston Community Center.

We will elect the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson(s), Secretary, Treasurer and the Executive Committee for Roane County and discuss the agenda for 2009. This meeting will involve open discussion and opportunities for county residents to express ideas and thoughts about the future.

All Democratic residents who are eligible voters of Roane County are urged to attend. Please join us for an exciting and important event!

We would love to have new folks that are interested in the Democratic Party, as well as our long time friends become involved.

Brad Parish of the Roane County Democratic Party asked me to pass along this announcement:

The Roane County Democratic Party will hold a County Convention for Reorganization on Saturday, March 28th 2009, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Kingston Community Center.

I recently returned to my hometown of Harriman to find its turned upside down in the last couple of years. Since I have been on this site, I have read about the local police whinning about their stress levels. Also, I have read the statement that no "normal civilian" could handle being a policeman. It is evident that the cop who said that has never served in combat in the military. I am a two-time military combat vet. I read a post about a LEO living their home to work an 8 hour shift for $15 or so an hour and not knowing if he will come home. What would this officer think if he had to leave his country, try to sleep in a tent, fear every human in the area because the threat of being killed by GOD only know who. I wish I made $15 an hour because I was making a $1.16 an hour. When you cops get off duty, you go home, kiss your wife and kids, go out to eat, go to a movie, and get to enjoy life. A soldier doesn't get to go home, he doesn't get to kiss his wife and kids, has to eat MREs, and sure as hell don't get to watch a movie. We have to worry about our lives and the lives of our commrades 24 hours a day. I'd be willing to say that a soldier sees a lot more stressful situations than a cop. To my calculations an LEO works aprox. 2080 hours a year. A soldier in combat works aprox. 8760 hours a year now you do the math. In closing before you cops seek sympathy, try looking in the dictionary between "shit" and "syphalis".

Here's a PDF-format valentine from CodePink to print out and snail mail or fax to President Obama to encourage an end to war: Link....

The address information is included in the file.

Keep tabs on the President's record on keeping his campaign promises.

Check out the Obameter at PolitiFact-Check from the St Petersburg Times Link...

According to the Times, PolitiFact-Check has compiled about 500 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress on their Obameter. Promises are rated on their status as No Action, In the Works or Stalled. Once action is completed, they rate them Promise Kept, Compromise or Promise Broken.

I have no idea which way the wind blows at the St. Petersburg times (left or right), but it should be fun to keep an eye on the Obameter.

And it should afford much opportunity for discussion.

Also, see the Truth-O-Meter and Flip-O-Meter. No matter who you support, this site is great fun!

…Unless you work in the White House.

Here's a light-hearted little tid-bit.

During the campaign, Obama told Americans to make sacrifices for the environment by lowering our energy usage. Obama said we should "lead by example".

"We can't drive our SUV's and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times," Obama told us.

"That's not leadership!" he said.

Nevertheless, what is good for the goose is NOT good for the gander. President Obama is keeping the heat up in the Oval Office.

According to the New York Times White House Chief of Staff David Axelrod said of the new heat levels in the Oval Office, "You could grow orchids in there."

President Obama wants us to set an example for the rest of world by turning our heat down, but takes off his own jacket before turning his heat up....

Now that's leadership with a capital H (as in Hypocrisy)

At least Jimmy Carter slipped into a sweater and turned down his heat with the rest of us. ;->

Senate boosts wilderness protection across US By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer

Sun Jan 11, 3:55 pm ET

WASHINGTON - In a rare Sunday session, the Senate advanced legislation that would set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as wilderness. Majority Democrats assembled more than enough votes to overcome GOP stalling tactics in an early showdown for the new Congress.

... how about all levels of government and petroleum usage?

1) We reduce usage of gasoline and diesel because of prices and numerous other factors (but mainly because it hurts so much to buy it).

To give you some perspective, here's a link from one of Kentucky's top newspapers about why the TVA ash pond break is bigger than just Roane County.

Link...

... That Tennessee Democrats aren't like some Illinois Democrats?!

Seems the Democratic Governor of Illinois has got himself on the wrong side of the FBI and the USA for Chicagoland. Seems he wanted to try to "sell" the seat vacated by the President-Elect.

Nobody is unaffected by healthcare issues. We have read, in some other commentary on this forum, about what the new Obama-led, Democrat-controlled government may or may not do with regard to healthcare. Are we becoming neo-socialists? Will we get the mess that the UK has, where people wait until their cancer is incurable to get a definitive diagnosis and staging? Is the government the answer to all mankind's needs?

The team at change.com has come up with a formidable instrument for vetting anybody that wants to be hired and appointed by the new administration. I was going to attach the file so you could read it, but it is bigger (3MB) than the limit set by this forum for file uploading. Suffice it to say it is a lengthy document.

Hmmm. Interesting when you look at how many counties went for McCain and how many went for Obama. The VAST majority of counties in the entire country went for McCain. The difference is in the population centers. As Artie Johnson would say... "V-e-r-r-r-y Interesting..."
Link...

Although Obama appears too moderate and corporatist for my liking, I proudly voted for him and I look forward to joining with what I hope will be millions of citizens in pushing him to steer the beast of government in a direction that helps us make it through the current economic crisis; constructively disengage from 2 wars and begin reinvesting in America; repudiate torture; restore the sanctity of our Constitutional liberties; take the reins of government from Big Pharma, Big Oil & Coal, Mega-Agribusiness, Mega-Finance (they had their turn and made a huge mess; it's us little peoples' turn now); and begin repairing the damage to our economy, civil liberties, courts, health, and environment that have been inflicted on us in the 21st century.

It will also take the united voice of the American people to demand that our government break up every monopoly that's "too big to fail." It is unchecked MONOPOLISM, the true enemy of free-market capitalism, that has brought our economy almost to its knees. Time to stand up in a big way for small and micro business, time to put people to work rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, time to create tax incentives that encourage the strengthening and renewed growth of the working and middle classes, time to shake off the lie that monopolism is the same thing as capitalism.

Has anyone seen this piece from The Nation about McCain and missing POWs?
Link...

... but regardless of the originator, it bears thoughtful consideration in any political election time.

.. of some of this political garbage... both parties are making so many deplorable ads...

This quote by George Orwell puts it right neatly:

"Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language", 1946
English essayist, novelist, & satirist (1903 - 1950)

RB