Did Japanese reactors hold up "Reasonably Well" or Horribly

by: Jason Salzman

Thu Jan 19, 2012 at 09:25:19 AM MST

So they could have been flattened, yes. But did they really hold up reasonably well?

It's widely agreed now that the disaster caused a meltdown in three Fukushima reactors. Over ten thousand people were evacuated, and the fate of dozens of plant workers who experienced serious radiation exposure is unknown but of serious concern (at least three died). Elevated levels of radiation have been found in rice, beef, milk, spinach, and tea. Leaks of radioactive material to the ocean and land still threaten fish and wildlife. The reactors remain vulnerable to earthquakes, and cleanup is estimated to take 40 years.

In his Jan. 12 KVNF interview, Tipton wasn't asked how bad the Fukushima disaster needed to be in order for the reactors to move, in his view, from the "held-up-reasonably-well" category to the "collapsed-horribly-badly" category.

I called Tipton's office to find out, but I didn't get a call back.

Tipton made his comments about the world's second-worst nuclear accident in a discussion of a proposed uranium mill for western Colorado. Tipton supports the mill.

He argued that nuclear power shouldn't be held back due to the "big fear factor" caused by the Japanese disaster, which, he said, could be avoided if proper attention were paid to geography and safety.

"You know, as you go over into Europe, France is an example, there's an abundance of nuclear power plants that are providing reliable energy," Tipton told the KVNF audience. "The big fear factor, which we all understand, was after the tsunami in Japan. Those plants, for the most part, given multiple tragedies, earthquakes and Tsunami coming in, held up reasonably well. We can't afford to have any sort of uranium leak, obviously. But we can design those plants with due consideration to where they're going to be put, in terms of the geography that's there, and to be able to provide reliable energy. I signed the letter in the State Legislature being supportive of the development of the [uranium] mill. When you get on the west end of Montrose County, these are good jobs. And again, we're taking advantage of new technology, new protective measures, that are able to be put in place to be able to do it in a proper fashion to be able protect all of our varied interests. So it's something I will be supportive of."

Conservative radio show parts ways with Tipton

by: Jason Salzman

Fri Nov 04, 2011 at 05:57:25 AM MST

Tipton isn't standing in Hermacinki's studio any longer.

"I sent him an email," Hermacinski's co-host Rob Douglas told listeners on the same day. "I said, come on the show. We're going to hold open any time slot you want. I don't care who's on air; we'll bump them, put you on so you can explain to the people of Colorado and this nation why we sent you to Washington, why you are spending more than Nancy Pelosi."

"We have not heard back from Congressman Tipton or any member of his staff, his chief of staff, his press secretary, his scheduler, and Scott Tipton himself," Douglas told his listeners. "I have his personal email address. I've emailed them all, not a peep back."

It's all Republicans' Fault

by: Zappatero

Sun Jun 05, 2011 at 13:49:30 PM MST

Nancy Pelosi speaks the simple truth about our Do-Nothing Republican Congress:

Schieffer: The fact is, the Congress has been in session since January and it's done basically nothing.

PELOSI: Well you can talk to Mr. Boehner about that.

SCHEIFFER: So it's all their fault. It's not your fault?

PELOSI: They set the agenda. We have said every day that they're there another day goes by and there's no jobs agenda or jobs bill that has come to the floor. But again, it's about how we can work together to go forward. These issues are bigger than politics, they're bigger than elections. They're about the country that we will live in. And what we will see as we go forward is one vision of America that's encompassed in the Republican budget plan that abolishes Medicare, that makes college unaffordable for nearly ten million young people in our country, that takes us deeper into debt and does not create jobs, or you can talk about an agenda that talks about making it in America, investing in American education, innovation and that's what campaigns are about.

Doug Lamborn's contribution to a jobs agenda? Cut NPR. Never mind the miniscule amount of money that goes to public broadcasting. Talk about oil company subsidies and Lamborn says we should cut NREL instead. For a dim bulb he sure knows which side his bread is greased on.

Mike Coffman's contribution? Not enough "In god we trust" for him.

And on and on with the trite and tivial. Republicans say government doesn't work and are doing everything possible to make it true.

They don't care if you or I are working, productive or contributing to society. They have one goal right now: get that Black Man out of the White House. That is Republicans' Job 1. They couldn't care less who has a job as their tactics to achieve that bald-faced goal are turned into policy.

Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman vote to continue Tax Breaks for giant Oil companies

by: Zappatero

Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 07:11:30 AM MST

Coffman (CO)
Gardner
Lamborn
Tipton

What did these geniuses, who say they are trying to balance America's budget, 'Nay'?

No major Integrated Oil Company shall be eligible for any tax benefit or relief under the following provisions of such Code to the extent attributable to such tax period.

So they don't want to remove any of the existing tax benefits these oil companies currently receive. There are some who argue that due to extreme market conditions (which always seem to help their bottom line) oil companies should be taxed at "windfall" levels. Though it will never happen that's the policy I'd put in place.

It's doubtful much local or state press has reported the details of this vote; it's too far "in the weeds" they'd say. So these 4 goofs who are representing us will probably never have to answer that question, but it would be nice if someone checked with Coloradans about their views on taxing some of America's and Colorado's most profitable oil companies, and for $3.50 a gallon we should at least get the time of day from the profiteers and their enablers representing us in Washington, DC - most especially those from Colorado.