A Good Way for a President to Spend Time

[Guest]

While the TOTV firestorm of criticism of the President has subsided a bit, maybe we should take a minute to give him a little credit for his choice of the "next big challenge"; attempting to locate and arrange long term security for the potentially dangerous nuclear material scattered around the earth, as well to reinforce existing international agreements and new understandings for the future. Too few of us think long and hard about the unspeakable disaster which would result if just one of these devices were detonated. It's almost unthinkable, but such a cataclysm would probably make 9/11 look like a minor incident, especially in the likeliest scenario, if it were part of a strategically targeted terrorist plot.

Nuclear security and proliferation is so unlike domestic issues. It doesn't seem to have that direct effect on our pocketbook, and there is a conspicuous absence of lobbyists and other special interests spending millions to assault us with their version of the terrible truth.

I have no illusions that the current crop of world leaders will be able to establish all the controls and agreements necessary to resolve the issues related to nuclear weapons. But I have hope that some progress will be made, that nuclear devices will less accessible to terrorists and governments which have already indicated they would use them indiscriminately. I applaud the President for emphasizing the issue and working hard to reduce the threat to mankind.

[Guest]

to comment either way. What we have here is a guy who never stops talking or campaigning. Has he done anything yet to deserve kudo's? I don't think so. Only triple the national debt in one year.

[Guest]

Could end up being a good thing, but I would MUCH MUCH prefer him to be working on the Iran and North Korea issues.

He may be in the background...certainly hope so....time will tell but that is the issue !

[Guest]

Hopefully , having him concentrate with those issues will slow down his disastrous economy solutions, like a stimulus that did not create one single net private sector job.

[Guest]

...maybe we should take a minute to give him a little credit for his choice of the "next big challenge"; attempting to locate and arrange long term security for the potentially dangerous nuclear material scattered around the earth, as well to reinforce existing international agreements and new understandings for the future....

Agreed.

If I were the chief-in-charge, I think I'd tell Harry Reid, "Harry old boy, you've got a well-built, secure site right there in your home state ready to accept all the spent nuclear fuel as well as nuclear weapons, right there deep under Yucca Mountain, in Nevada, but a long way from where any of your residents actually live.

I'd say, "Harry, it's not as if your residents don't know anything about nuclear stuff. The Nevada Test Site, right next to Yucca Mountain, was home to 904 atomic bomb tests between 1945 and 1992. Yucca Mountain and the facility that has already been constructed there remains the only legal site in the United States for development as a deep geologic nuclear repository."

I think I'd say, "Y'know Harry, putting nuclear waste and even weapons there is the law of the land. The Yucca Mountain Development Act was passed by the Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002 making development of Yucca Mountain federal law. Until Congress amends or changes the law, the Secretary of Energy is charged with pursuing development of Yucca Mountain as the nation's only nuclear geologic repository. And after all, Harry, you took the money it took to build the facility, why now don't you want it to be used? You can certainly understand the risks to the country of having nuclear fuel rods scattered all over the country for terrorists to steal, can't you?"

"I don't know how you think you can continue to fight the law of the land, Harry. You and I are both lawyers, aren't we? And that facility could provide a whole lot of jobs for Nevada, to employ some of those unemployed casino workers you keep complaining about."

Anyhow, if I were the chief-in-charge, that's what I'd say.

[Guest]

to comment either way. What we have here is a guy who never stops talking or campaigning. Has he done anything yet to deserve kudo's? I don't think so. Only triple the national debt in one year.

You've long since made up your mind. So even though you say it's too early I can understand why you don't need to wait around for any facts.

[Guest]

Agreed.

If I were the chief-in-charge, I think I'd tell Harry Reid, "Harry old boy, you've got a well-built, secure site right there in your home state ready to accept all the spent nuclear fuel as well as nuclear weapons, right there deep under Yucca Mountain, in Nevada, but a long way from where any of your residents actually live.

I'd say, "Harry, it's not as if your residents don't know anything about nuclear stuff. The Nevada Test Site, right next to Yucca Mountain, was home to 904 atomic bomb tests between 1945 and 1992. Yucca Mountain and the facility that has already been constructed there remains the only legal site in the United States for development as a deep geologic nuclear repository."

I think I'd say, "Y'know Harry, putting nuclear waste and even weapons there is the law of the land. The Yucca Mountain Development Act was passed by the Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002 making development of Yucca Mountain federal law. Until Congress amends or changes the law, the Secretary of Energy is charged with pursuing development of Yucca Mountain as the nation's only nuclear geologic repository. And after all, Harry, you took the money it took to build the facility, why now don't you want it to be used? You can certainly understand the risks to the country of having nuclear fuel rods scattered all over the country for terrorists to steal, can't you?"

"I don't know how you think you can continue to fight the law of the land, Harry. You and I are both lawyers, aren't we? And that facility could provide a whole lot of jobs for Nevada, to employ some of those unemployed casino workers you keep complaining about."

Anyhow, if I were the chief-in-charge, that's what I'd say.

And as long as you're chatting with Harry, remind him that the news might actually be worse than that. During the current negotiations, some envoys might just whisper in our ear that they'd be willing to turn over some of these nuclear devices to us 'for safe keeping' - and at bargain basement prices.
Geez, what should we do? Leave those things out there or finally bring them under complete control?
"Harry, we're gonna need a bigger basement!
What do you mean this is too controversial? Got a better idea?"

[Guest]

Yeah, that is an excellent idea......go chat with Harry Reid.

[Guest]

You've long since made up your mind. So even though you say it's too early I can understand why you don't need to wait around for any facts.

Some people need facts, of course infatuated people just need words and a teleprompter.

[Guest]

...to say nothing of the idea that storing the stuff in Yucca Flats keeps it someplace safe while we find another use for it (like powering new generation nuclear reactors)