March 2011 Archives

Jimmy Carter delivered this televised speech on April 18, 1977. Still relevant? I think so.   Tonight I want to have an unpleasant talk with you about a problem unprecedented in our history. With the exception of preventing war, this is the greatest challenge our country will face during our lifetimes. The energy crisis has not yet overwhelmed us, but it will if we do not act quickly. It is a problem we will not...

Tonight, I was part of another investigative report by Rachel Maddow about the flurry of drilling permits being issued by the BOEMRE and the fundamental design flaws in existing subsea blowout preventers.  The first segment is Rachel's new report; the second is an interview with me.  Have a look:Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy...

I remember this moment like it was yesterday. I was teaching a Geography class and we were discussing current events when one of my troublemakers uttered, "why don't we put alligators in the Rio Grande?" I tried to defuse the discussion as best I could, but most of the class laughed in agreement. Sometimes, people say things that are so outlandish, but they make you pause. Maybe this wasn't a good example now that I...

Roger Waters wrote this tune back in 1987 (sans question mark) in what was a brief respite in a career of pessimistic/jaded lyrics. In the span of a few decades of learning politcs from my father's knee (he taught Government and History in college and high school), getting a degree in political science, and paying attention since then, I have begun to take the same view as Waters seems to in his lyrics. I want...

I received this letter via e-mail today and thought the Daily Hurricane readers would be interested in reading it.  Dr. David Anthony, lame duck superintendent of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, sent this to parents of students in his district and helps debunk a lot of right-wing deceptive talking points about the cost of education our students.  It's refreshing, is it not? Please read (emphasis his):"In effect, to follow, not to force the public inclination; to give a...

Dear Mr. President, In light of the newly-stated Obama Doctrine of pre-emptive intervention to prevent what could turn into humanitarian crises anywhere in the world, and that "kinetic military action" (aka war) may be required at any time and place of your choosing, and for reasons as vague and undefinable as when American values are threatened, please feel free to take that action wherever and whenever possible.  But. I don't want to hear one more...

You've probably seen the articles about what's going on with public education these days. There's the "it's the Republicans fault" cry to counter the "it's the Democrats fault", but I'll take the unpopular stance and say it's OUR fault, fellow voters ... or non-voters if that's the case. Let's review some history. The voters of Texas approved an amendment to the Texas Constitution in November 1991 authorizing lottery sales in Texas. Lottery funds were and...

Above is Houston-area Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.Rep. Jackson Lee is known for her knack for finding the camera.Rep. Jackson Lee also has a consistently liberal voting record. So we will give her that fact. The picture shows Rep. Jackson Lee at the Muslim-bashing House hearings held earlier this month by Republican Rep. Peter King. She is holding a copy of our United States Constitution.Mr. King represents folks on Long Island. He chairs the so-called Homeland Security committee of...

The BP well blowout last April exposed one of the biggest weaknesses of drilling in the deepwater: the inability of the oil and gas industry to contain a well blowout once it occurred.  The industry was overly confident in advanced drilling and well control technology, and never contemplated that a well could blowout, burn down the rig, sink it, and then flow uncontrolled into the ocean environment for days, weeks, months as we so painfully...

Tonight, Rachel Maddow stayed after the story in which I played a small part last night...that subsea blowout preventers (BOPs) cannot reliably contain deepwater blowouts.  Apparently, the Department of Interior is unhappy with her coverage of this story, but I believe she is correct in shining a bright light on this issue.  Currently, the US government is issuing deepwater drilling permits to operators that contract with drilling rigs that are using the very same BOPs...