Dick Goes In, Joe Stays Dry

by: BranfordBoy

Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 17:10:38 PM EST

What they got instead was a made-for-TV propaganda availability designed to let our elected officials posture in front of various types of cameras as champions of the people and the environment by railing against the Broadwater LNG platform in Long Island Sound, a project which every last one of them knows is a done deal.

Why a done deal? Simple. Congress has given FERC dictatorial power to decide on the project. The Bush/Cheney Energy bill reinforced FERC's power. Bush appoints the FERC board. Q.E.D.

Just as important, the lobbyists and corporate special interests who fill our politicians' campaign coffers and (dare I suggest it?) perform other acts of kindness that are less visible know it too. Of course, like so many other turds smelling up the living room of our political process, no one is allowed to mention this, least of all the press. Heaven forfend!

"We have agreed to disagree with Senator Lieberman," she said gingerly about the Energy bill. "There's a new wind blowing in Washington and we hope to encourage Senator Lieberman to challenge FERC. We are happy that Joe Lieberman is opposing Broadwater."

And oppose it he did, in brief remarks before he led the countdown that sent some 75 hardy souls (including Attorney General Dick Blumentahl, State Senator Ed Meyer, and Branford Second Selectman Dick Sullivan for a polar bear romp in the Sound. Like any good politician, he didn't miss the opportunity to remind the assembled throng of various pieces of legislation he has supported that will allow people better access to the Sound beaches, where they will have a great view of the industrial monstrosity his votes on the Senate floor have made a virtual sure bet.

Later CT Bob interviewed him and asked why he had voted for Bush/Cheney. Joe trotted out his usual about how every bill has good and bad bits and that he felt the good outweighed the bad in this case. [Note to Harry Reid: Introduce a bill that contains everything Joe has wished for and add a small clause removing our troops fro Iraq. He'll have to vote for it!]

I was pleased to hear him say that he is introducing legislation to undo some of the bits of Bush/Cheney with which he takes issue. Bob should have video soon.

I might note also that, the election behind him and absent any organized protests (Joe just hates that), Lieberman handled himself beautifully. Say this for the guy, he's a pro. The hair-do alone must have taken hours and cost a pretty penny.

Later, I spoke to my own personal "Deep Throat for Connecticut Politics" who said there are only two things that will stop Broadwater. One is to change the law to give the states the rights they used to have to decide what goes on in their own back yard.

While still at the event, I asked Leah Lopez Schmaltz, Legislative Director for Save The Sound, about this very point. Has Save The Sound asked Lieberman to introduce legislation of that sort?

"Joe Lieberman is interested in looking at how to approach the FERC jurisdiction issue," was her polite evasion.

I also had a chance to grasp Rosa DeLauro's hand and ask her point blank, "Will you be the first to introduce legislation to strip FERC of its dictatorial powers?"

Poor Rosa. She had such a hard time stammering out a non-reply that I felt sorry for her.

I got the strong impression that everyone who was there today knows in their heart of hearts that this is a lost cause. Save The Sound is hoping against hope, I guess, that by making nice with the Connecticut delegation and the AG that maybe one of them will do that undefinable mysterious something that will make this all go away.

As for our elected officials, I am less inclined to be charitable, despite the fact that I genuinely like and admire some of them. It seemed to me that they are so used to getting away with this sort of political dumb show that they have no ready response when someone calls them on their b.s. and points out that they are not doing the only thing that might actually work.

Oh yes, I mentioned earlier that I was told there are two things that might stop the LNG disaster. The other is that there is "a reliable rumor" out there that Broadwater will choose not to pursue this particular initiative (it has 46 projects on the drawing boards, apparently) if New York decides to put its weight behind the anti-Broadwater effort.

Governor Pataki was an enthusiastic supporter of the project. Governor-elect Spitzer will most likely come out against it.

It's our last best hope.

In the meantime, and not withstanding the deep admiration I have for all those who pour their time, energy, and souls into the Save The Sound effort, all the rest is wasted motion.