Daily Kos

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  •  More coming out this morning (4.00 / 11)

    WaPo editorial: Toxic Soup

    More ENS: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Failure, Resource Disaster Declared

    Deserte News (Utah): New Orleans' Toxic Tide

    We all expect that there's nasty stuff in the water, but little has come out of what has actually spilled into it. We shouldn't way for the city to be drained to worry about it HARD.

    •  Interesting that was in the Deseret News (none / 0)

      That's is the almost entirely Mormon focused newspaper in Utah. If the VERY conservative paper is carrying the AP article, things don't look good for those trying to suppress the info.

      Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices. Voltaire 1694-1778

      by SallyCat on Sat Sep 10, 2005 at 05:22:51 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Bush losing the Mormons (4.00 / 4)

        If memory serves, that's not the first critical piece that the Deseret news has run. I have word back from SLC that Bush's mishandling of intel, and his purging of the CIA, have enraged a lot of Mormons, who are disproportionately represented in the Company.

        It's a long shot, but Utah might be in play next election.

        No laws but Liberty. No king but Conscience.

        by oldjohnbrown on Sat Sep 10, 2005 at 08:19:19 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Having lived in the NW (4.00 / 2)

          I have deep respect for Mormons. Their theology may be almost as fantastical as Scientology's, but their common sense is grounded in a beautiful landscape, and the typical American Mormon today is about as lapsed as the typical Catholic -- that is, respects the religion, but doesn't really follow the dictates. They are good people to drink with.

          That said, they've put up some horrendously right-wing politicians -- but mostly of the Western, "leave us alone" sort. And look at the current mayor of their capital, organizing a rally against Bush.

          Nor do they have any delusion that people following their creed "founded America." In fact, they have pretty specific family memories of the "good Christians" giving them a treatment generally reserved for witches and Satanists. We could do well to court them.

          •  In my experience, (none / 0)

            the Mormons out west, where they have bigger and stronger communities that enforce proper Mormon behavior and thought, tend to pretty doctrinaire.  Not people you'd even think of asking to drink with.
            •  But: (none / 0)

              We could go for the Harry Reid types. There is a Mormon in my community; he is really big on giving out ideas to improve the community.
              •  Yes! Go for them! (4.00 / 2)

                I've also heard tell of politically moderate Mormons in places like Canada.  Oh, wait, irrelevant example.  But Reid is a good example, and I know a few myself (around here they tend to be, not surprisingly, women . . .).
                •  Clearing a few things up... (none / 0)

                  Mormons are not republicans.  Mormons are not part of the Christian Right.  The LDS faith does not endorse any political party.  The church stays completely out of the members political choices.  Orin Hatch does not represent the Mormon faith.  Hatch's politics are strictly his own.  There are plenty of left leaning Mormons, especially outside of Utah.

                  Go Reid!

                  •  All true, but (none / 0)

                    fundie Christians and Mormons tend to have the same enemies, which is probably what's kept them tending to vote in the same block and for the same party for so long.

                    Same goes for the Zionists and the fundie Christians.  Wouldn't confuse the one group with the other either.  

                    •  Big difference... (none / 0)

                      The LDS religion doesn't lobby, nor do they give funds to any political party.  They have no common enemies as the fundie Christian groups.  Abortion for instance is viewed as immoral, but not a centerpiece on which to ignore all other issues of the day.  

                      Mormons believe in seperation of church and state, something the Christian right detest.

    •  USCG Press Release 9-9-05 (none / 1)

      From the USCG Site:

      HURRICANE KATRINA POLLUTION RESPONSE EFFORTS
       <snip>

      The Murphy Oil Corporation, near Chalmette, estimated 16,000 barrels of oil have been discharged, with the vast majority contained within the existing secondary containment unit located on refinery property. Oil recovery operations are currently on going. During the hurricane, an unknown quantity of oil escaped the secondary containment and affected the surrounding neighborhoods. <snip>

      As of Friday, 1,645 barrels were recovered using twelve vacuum trucks and ten drum skimmers. There are plans for 24-hour operations with two high-volume pumps.

      Shell Pipeline Company LP has confirmed that damage from Hurricane Katrina resulted in two crude oil spills from company-owned assets in southern Louisiana. In the first incident, crude oil was found leaking from an above-ground storage tank and into a tank dike and surrounding area at the company tank farm in Pilottown. The incident was caused by apparent wind damage. Of the approximately 10,000 barrels estimated to have been leaked in Pilottown, more than 6,200 barrels have been recovered to date. About 2,800 feet of absorbent boom has been deployed and 2,000 feet of eight-inch hard boom has been deployed. Workers also placed 600 feet of 10-inch hard boom in the affected area. No further pollution is expected as the water/oil mixture within the secondary containment unit has been pumped to a level below the break in the containment unit.

      In the second incident, crude oil was found leaking from a 20-inch pipeline in Nairn. Damage to the pipeline resulted from a breach in a hurricane protection levee. The release was estimated at 250 barrels. There is no further potential for loss of oil as the pipeline has been secured. Pollution response equipment and responders are on scene and are cleaning up the remaining spilled oil.

      Bass Enterprises reported approximately 81,000 barrels of oil from two storage tanks were discharged into the secondary containment system surrounding the tanks. Preliminary tests indicate substantially all of the oil is contained within the secondary containment levee and approximately 7,500 barrels are still in the tanks. Pollution response equipment and responders are on scene and are transferring the oil in the containment system to a barge and have deployed boom to contain a visible sheen on the river. No sheen is visible beyond the booms.

      The Chevron Empire Facility reported 23,000 barrels of oil were discharged into the containment and are being pumped out. The majority of the oil is contained at the facility. Pollution response equipment and responders are on scene.

      The Chevron Pipeline Company reported an estimated 200 barrels of oil was discharged into West Bay, near Venice, La. Approximately 100 barrels of oil has already evaporated, and approximately 100 barrels of oily water mixture has been recovered.

      Venice Energy Services Company reported an unknown amount of oil discharged in Tante Phine Pass near Venice, La. The oil is contained within the facility's secondary containment. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Coast Guard are working together to oversee recovery operations. Pollution response equipment and responders are on scene.

      The Coast Guard will continue to coordinate the pollution response efforts.

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