Mitch McConnell wouldn't set rules for removal trial - Pence or Roberts would

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Tuesday October 01, 2019 · 1:40 PM PDT

2019/10/01 · 13:40

I took a look at the Senate rules for “Rules for Impeachment Trials” at Cornell.edu. It seems that the Presiding Officer has tremendous discretion in a trial — power to determine what’s relevant, compel witnesses, etc.. Some diarists have worried that McConnell will use his power to gum up the works. However, McConnell isn’t the Presiding Officer of the Senate. That would be …. Mike Pence, the Vice President. Get your popcorn ready.

Even better, during Clinton’s impeachment, Chief Justice Rehnquist was Presiding Officer of the Senate, according to WikiPedia. So it sounds like John Roberts would be the one making all the rules on a trial, if the House voted to impeach.

Karma is a …..

Is my interpretation correct? Would Chief Justice Roberts become the “Presiding Officer” like Rehnquist, and take over from McConnell? If that is the case, Trump may regret some old tweets …

Norway's "Oil Fund" divests from coal w/poll

AdirondackForeverWild

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Sunday May 31, 2015 · 7:19 AM PDT

2015/05/31 · 07:19

The carbon divestment campaign - known also as the "Fossil Free" or "Keep it in the ground" movement - scored a victory this week. Norway's sovereign wealth fund is going to sell off holdings in companies that get at least 30 percent of their revenue from coal. The fund had previously divested from pure coal companies.

From The Guardian

Norway’s $900bn sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, should cut its exposure to the global coal industry and sell stakes in firms that focus on the sector, a key parliamentary committee said on Wednesday.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the motivation for this move is both ethical and financial:

Svein Flaatten of the governing Conservative party said “investments in coal companies can have both a climate risk and a future financial risk.”

The "governing Conservative party"? Maybe something got lost in translation there. :-)

This is a positive development, but it raises some head-scratching questions. Please follow me below the fold for a bit of further discussion and a poll.

Poll

5 votes Show Results

Which Alanis Morrissette Lyric fits best?

5 votes Vote Now!

Which Alanis Morrissette Lyric fits best?

A death row pardon two minutes too late

3 votes

It's a free ride when you've already paid

2 votes

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

0 votes

My perspective on the 2014 Elections

AdirondackForeverWild

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Wednesday November 05, 2014 · 9:55 AM PST

2014/11/05 · 09:55

I am displeased that the GOP had a decent showing last night. But I don't agree with the narrative that it was an epic rout. Relative to other midterm elections, this seems relatively mild, and doesn't change the balance of power as much as it may appear.

My big takeaway is that trying to distance yourself from your party's leadership isn't going to work, and will only annoy your base (see Kentucky Senate race) and depress turnout.

We still are positioned well for the future, and we should focus on motivating the base.

My understanding is that the Democrats lost 14 House seats and seven in the Senate. The table below the fold gives some context on past midterms.

AdirondackForeverWild

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Tuesday October 28, 2014 · 2:28 PM PDT

2014/10/28 · 14:28

According to a poll released yesterday by 7 News-Siena College, Republican Elise Stefanik appears poised to take the NY-21 House of Representatives seat. This seat is currently held by Democrat Bill Owens.

The news on the Governor's race may spell trouble for Andrew Cuomo's national hopes; more below the fold.

AdirondackForeverWild for Kosowatt

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Tuesday October 21, 2014 · 12:45 PM PDT

2014/10/21 · 12:45

no image description available — My very own picture of former POTUS Bill Clinton

My very own picture of former POTUS Bill Clinton

I have always enjoyed working for an energy efficiency utility, but this perk really took it to a new level. On October 1, President Bill Clinton himself gave the keynote address at the 2014 World Energy Engineering Conference in Washington, DC, and I was in attendance.

This was, needless to say, the highlight of the conference. Every panel I went to after that referred to his speech - "as Bill Clinton said yesterday" and such. Follow me below the fold for an overview.

AdirondackForeverWild

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Friday July 25, 2014 · 3:15 PM PDT

2014/07/25 · 15:15

On January 14, 2014, U.S. House Representative Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh) announced his decision not to seek re-election. This was unfortunate, because this district was traditionally Republican, and it appeared to be a safe seat.

Mr. Owens was first elected in 2009 - a race that garnered national attention, as it was a special election to replace John McHugh (R-Watertown). It was a huge victory for the Democrats, as Mr. Owens subsequently became a key vote in the passage of the ACA.

Now that he has retired, the seat is up for grabs.

AdirondackForeverWild for Kosowatt

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Tuesday July 22, 2014 · 10:19 AM PDT

2014/07/22 · 10:19

Over the past 40 years, energy efficiency has been associated with progressive politics. That is unfortunate, because the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency are tangible - it isn't a cultural or philosophical belief that making better use of natural resources raises people's standard of living.

That is why I was so encouraged when the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released a report recognizing the efforts of Mississippi's leadership in advancing energy efficiency in the Southeast.

I was further encouraged to find that Gov. Phil Bryant (R) had made this a focus of his administration.

I think that it is worth a look at the language Gov. Bryant is using, and why it sells in a deep red state.

AdirondackForeverWild

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Friday July 18, 2014 · 11:23 AM PDT

2014/07/18 · 11:23

There was a development today in the curious case of Mary Anne Grady Flores, a central New York grandmother charged with violating an order of protection.

The basics of the original charge against Grady Flores were spelled out in this article on Syracuse.com, originally posted on July 11.

DeWitt, N.Y. -- A grandmother of three was sentenced to one year at the Onondaga County jail Thursday in DeWitt Town Court after she was found guilty of violating an order of protection while protesting at Hancock Air Base.

Today's development, as per The Ithaca Voice, is that she was released from jail pending appeal.

Ithaca, N.Y. — The Ithaca woman sentenced to a year in jail for her involvement in an anti-drones protest has been released as her appeal is considered, according to her attorney.
Mary Anne Grady Flores, 58, was charged with second-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection to stay clear of the mission support group commander at the 174th Attack Wing of the New York Air National Guard.

I had been unaware of this story until it showed up on my Facebook page. I am AdirondackForeverWild after all, so I am plugged in to happenings in Upstate NY :-). My initial thought was that she was harassing this "group commander" at his house or something. Not so.

My curiosity was further piqued when I learned of Grady Flores' family history. Her father was John Grady, a leader of the Camden 28 of anti-Vietnam War fame.

Follow me below the fold for the details.

UPDATE: I redacted the word "Grandma" from the title and replaced it with activist after community feedback.

AdirondackForeverWild

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Thursday July 17, 2014 · 9:36 AM PDT

2014/07/17 · 09:36

So I just received a news release from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), revealing the results of their 2014 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard. They have referred to this year's version as the "World Cup" of Energy Efficiency.

Follow me below the fold for a quick summary. Spoiler alert: Germany beat the U.S.

AdirondackForeverWild

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Thursday October 04, 2012 · 6:59 AM PDT

2012/10/04 · 06:59

The President's performance last night reminded me of Ronald Reagan's performance in his first debate against Walter Mondale. It has led me to wonder if the incumbent president is at an inherent disadvantage in the first debates.

It should also be noted that Reagan came back with a vengance in the second debate and went on to a landslide victory.

AdirondackForeverWild

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Thursday September 27, 2012 · 7:10 AM PDT

2012/09/27 · 07:10

I have been lurking on this site for many years, always thinking that I should sign up but never following through. What put me over the edge was this statement from Mitt Romney in his acceptance speech:

First, by 2020, North America will be energy independent by taking full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables.

If such an attitude was taken in 1970, our standard of living would be nowhere near where it is today. For Mitt to completley ignore the most cost-effective way to meet our energy needs is telling. Read More

Paul Ryan is not this year's Sarah Palin

AdirondackForeverWild

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Saturday September 08, 2012 · 1:13 PM PDT

2012/09/08 · 13:13

He is this generation's Dan Quayle.

Follow me beyond the orange squiggle of justice, and I will elaborate.

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Mitch McConnell wouldn't set rules for removal trial - Pence or Roberts would

Norway's "Oil Fund" divests from coal w/poll

My perspective on the 2014 Elections

NY-21 House Poll: Seat will likely flip to R; Cuomo could lose district

I saw President Bill Clinton speak at an Energy Conference

NY-21 House Race - Moderate Republican endorses Tea Party candidate. Karl Rove is pleased.

Mississippi Moves Forward on Energy Efficiency

Drone Protesting Activist Released Pending Appeal

Germany wins an even more important World Cup

Reagan lost the first debate in '84

Energy Efficiency is the cornerstone of a progressive economy

Paul Ryan is not this year's Sarah Palin