They Have the Look of Winners

The often uncertain strategy of picking a vice president is currently being developed in the Barack Obama camp. Who to pick and with what plan? One of my friends has made a case for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Living in the neighboring state (one also dominated by registered Republicans), we do hear bits and pieces about our governor to the south. First the amazement that a progressive Democrat (from all appearances) can win in the Thomas Frank ("What's the Matter with Kansas?") state. Most recently we hear that the good governor has helped to put the kibosh on a coal plant for global warming reasons. Needless to say, that put a few energy-industrial complex panties in a bind.

After reading the Wikipedia entry that has her taking out two Republicans in a row down in Kansas (53-45 in 2002 and 58-41 in 2008), I'm starting to think that this combination could be a very good thing.

But would it make a 50% plus of the electoral college combo?

After all, the first experiment with a woman VP didn't work out so well. Loading up too much change at once might just work against you. What appears to be a pre-emptive strike by the local Catholic archbishop has already occurred. (Gotta wonder why he didn't announce this years earlier. Probably mere coincidence.)

Then again, it could go the other way.

They might have that competent youthful dynamic that helped Clinton-Gore verses the long-in-the-tooth "experienced" Bush, Sr. and the boyishly handsome VP, Dan Quayle, odd couple. "I can't believe a guy that handsome wouldn't have some impact", said John McCain about Quayle. Perhaps the age and policy matched set of Obama-Sebelius could be the right mix for the latest GOP geezer too.

Sebelius might amplify that Obama charisma while healing all of the Clinton women wounds in one fell swoop. If Sebelius could pull in her state (John Edwards couldn't do the same for John Kerry), it looks all good to me. Come to think of it, Obama has his own Kansas family connections. They certainly wouldn't have a campaign funding problem. The current record smashing campaign cash gusher Obama has tapped into would go non-linear.

Maybe the times they are a changin'. I certainly hope so. Better late than never.

They certainly have "the look" on stage.

They Have the Look of Winners

The often uncertain strategy of picking a vice president is currently being developed in the Barack Obama camp. Who to pick and with what plan? One of my friends has made a case for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Living in the neighboring state (one also dominated by registered Republicans), we do hear bits and pieces about our governor to the south. First the amazement that a progressive Democrat (from all appearances) can win in the Thomas Frank ("What's the Matter with Kansas?") state. Most recently we hear that the good governor has helped to put the kibosh on a coal plant for global warming reasons. Needless to say, that put a few energy-industrial complex panties in a bind.

After reading the Wikipedia entry that has her taking out two Republicans in a row down in Kansas (53-45 in 2002 and 58-41 in 2008), I'm starting to think that this combination could be a very good thing.

But would it make a 50% plus of the electoral college combo?

After all, the first experiment with a woman VP didn't work out so well. Loading up too much change at once might just work against you. What appears to be a pre-emptive strike by the local Catholic archbishop has already occurred. (Gotta wonder why he didn't announce this years earlier. Probably mere coincidence.)

Then again, it could go the other way.

They might have that competent youthful dynamic that helped Clinton-Gore verses the long-in-the-tooth "experienced" Bush, Sr. and the boyishly handsome VP, Dan Quayle, odd couple. "I can't believe a guy that handsome wouldn't have some impact", said John McCain about Quayle. Perhaps the age and policy matched set of Obama-Sebelius could be the right mix for the latest GOP geezer too.

Sebelius might amplify that Obama charisma while healing all of the Clinton women wounds in one fell swoop. If Sebelius could pull in her state (John Edwards couldn't do the same for John Kerry), it looks all good to me. Come to think of it, Obama has his own Kansas family connections. They certainly wouldn't have a campaign funding problem. The current record smashing campaign cash gusher Obama has tapped into would go non-linear.

Maybe the times they are a changin'. I certainly hope so. Better late than never.

They certainly have "the look" on stage.

From the "I Told You So" File

So much for the global warming quick response team theory. Of course this kind of price increase would never happen again over the course of a ten year construction project. The admission of a pro-nuclear bias is also noteworthy.

"Oh, look! More flying pigs!"

Costs May Slow Nuclear Upswing - Chicago Tribune via Houston Chronicle - 09 May 08

"[E]nthusiasm for a nuclear future was muted at an industry conference last week in Chicago, as executives acknowledged that financial, regulatory and waste-storage hurdles have raised uncertainties about costs. Other factors increasing the expense of construction include high demand for nuclear plants among emerging countries, limited supplies of reactor parts and increased prices for iron, steel and concrete.

As a result, the estimated price of a nuclear reactor has more than doubled to upwards of $9 billion in less than a year, according to industry estimates.

'I am emotionally biased but economically objective about this,' said John Rowe, chief executive of Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the country's largest nuclear operator. 'Realistic expectations about the 'renaissance' of nuclear power suggest that it will unfold slowly over time.'"

From the "I Told You So" File

So much for the global warming quick response team theory. Of course this kind of price increase would never happen again over the course of a ten year construction project. The admission of a pro-nuclear bias is also noteworthy.

"Oh, look! More flying pigs!"

Costs May Slow Nuclear Upswing - Chicago Tribune via Houston Chronicle - 09 May 08

"[E]nthusiasm for a nuclear future was muted at an industry conference last week in Chicago, as executives acknowledged that financial, regulatory and waste-storage hurdles have raised uncertainties about costs. Other factors increasing the expense of construction include high demand for nuclear plants among emerging countries, limited supplies of reactor parts and increased prices for iron, steel and concrete.

As a result, the estimated price of a nuclear reactor has more than doubled to upwards of $9 billion in less than a year, according to industry estimates.

'I am emotionally biased but economically objective about this,' said John Rowe, chief executive of Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the country's largest nuclear operator. 'Realistic expectations about the 'renaissance' of nuclear power suggest that it will unfold slowly over time.'"

Norway - More Wind Than Oil

You might call this a different kind of sea change. Puny windmill pig-dogs! Only 14,000 terawatt-hours?

Floating Turbines May Join Norway's Offshore Rigs - Reuters - 29 Apr 08

"Norway's government is contemplating licensing 'blocks' for offshore wind generation, and Norwegian oil company StatoilHydro aims to start work next year on a floating turbine project near the site of the first North Sea oil discovery 40 years ago."

Oil Powered Norway Gradually Turns into the Wind - Lanka Business Online - 11 May 08

Bellona's Brunvoll meanwhile described the government's investments so far as 'farcical,' pointing out that Norway, with its 2,500 kilometre-long coastline, held the theoretical potential to generate 14,000 terawatt hours (TWH) of wind energy a year. 'Of course, we don't want to fill our entire coast with wind turbines but even a fraction of that would be good,' she said.

In comparison, Norway, the world's fifth largest oil and third largest gas exporter, only produces some 2,300 TWH annually from its petroleum industry, she said. "

Norway - More Wind Than Oil

You might call this a different kind of sea change. Puny windmill pig-dogs! Only 14,000 terawatt-hours?

Floating Turbines May Join Norway's Offshore Rigs - Reuters - 29 Apr 08

"Norway's government is contemplating licensing 'blocks' for offshore wind generation, and Norwegian oil company StatoilHydro aims to start work next year on a floating turbine project near the site of the first North Sea oil discovery 40 years ago."

Oil Powered Norway Gradually Turns into the Wind - Lanka Business Online - 11 May 08

Bellona's Brunvoll meanwhile described the government's investments so far as 'farcical,' pointing out that Norway, with its 2,500 kilometre-long coastline, held the theoretical potential to generate 14,000 terawatt hours (TWH) of wind energy a year. 'Of course, we don't want to fill our entire coast with wind turbines but even a fraction of that would be good,' she said.

In comparison, Norway, the world's fifth largest oil and third largest gas exporter, only produces some 2,300 TWH annually from its petroleum industry, she said. "