masterblaster72

Good reading -- I'll try to go through it soon as this stuff interests me. And yes I do see a problem with the approach that the EPA is taking there. It would basically allow the energy companies to dump the "unmatched/unknown to the public" dangerous chemicals in waterways with impunity. That's why the Halliburton loophole needs to be done away with, and quickly. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I can appreciate your experienced viewpoint on the subject -- very interesting stories. You're the third poster I've seen in SC who works in the energy business that has repeated a common theme of safety first. I'm glad we can agree on that. However, one thing the "industry-first" folks do often is sink the discourse with words like "environ-nuts" and "tree huggers." I think the discussion is about something VERY fundamental like clean air and clean water. It is not about shutting down energy companies because I'm on the take from Al Gore; it's about how can we ensure clean air and clean water if fracking is to continue, and how to ensure accountability when air and water supplies are destroyed. To me, clean water and air are far more important than a few jobs and energy companies' will to profit -- full stop. If that makes me a tree-hugger in the eyes of people who work in the energy industry, then I'm cool with that. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Good on SA for not allowing their air and water to be destroyed. This is an international problem. Germany is close to banning fracking altogether as France already has done, in light of incidents like this Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

It was an independent study done with no funding from either side. It found that the isotopes in the methane in the water table were isotopes found in the shale, not the isotopes found in methane closer to the surface. How that gas ended up in the groundwater has not yet been determined. That particular study did not find that fracking fluids appeared in the groundwater. Companies drill that close to a water supply often -- that's how the groundwater became polluted in Dimock, PA. The half-assed cement jobs that rwieder refers to are often to blame for such incidents. See above. It's pretty easy to figure out -- no matter how many legal or word games the energy companies' attorneys try to play. The water wasn't polluted with methane and benzene in Colorado, Wyoming or Pennsylvania before fracking began. It was there afterwards. In Louisiana too. The stories are not made up -- they are stories of real experiences by real people. Watch Split Estate or Burning Water for additional perspectives. The fact that gas companies have made record profits in recent years doesn't change the fact that many gas companies have destroyed well water supplies and have repeatedly attempted to wash their hands of it. That's what the controversy is about; it's far less about a green energy agenda. Energy companies need to be held accountable when they destroy peoples' air and water, period. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

An independent university study found last year that the fracked methane from those deep layers has polluted well water. http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/09/news/economy/natural_gas_fracking_duke/index.htm That's a favorite argument of those who defend fracking. It doesn't change the fact that horizontal drilling is a new technology. "enviro-goons" have little money at stake in this fight. Energy companies, on the other hand, do. Their lie machines are cranking. Here's an example. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1009530098/fracknation/posts/181944 There are streams in Colorado that have hundreds of times the benzene levels that legal limits allow. Benzene doesn't occur naturally. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Yeah, those people whose water lights on fire are just in it for the $. There was no pollution of well water in Dimock either -- it's all a big publicity stunt. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

RIP...thanks for the great music. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

If only most of the posters here realized this, then some real discussion could begin. Instead, it's the same old shit day in and day out here -- right vs. left, lib vs conservative, dem vs rep nonsense. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

It was. Part of the Patriot Act was unfortunately upheld 6-3. it was the part that penalized providing "material support" to terrorists. I think it was in the summer of 2010. Interesting -- thanks. Will read further about it. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I'm not sure if the health care issue is constitutional, but what I would like to know is why this is being tried at the highest level while the Patriot Act never was. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

zOMG that's horrifying!!!! !!! ! Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I consider myself liberal and I'm not Muslim. Nor do I remotely believe in Islam. Additionally, I know a lot of liberals because I live in a very liberal part of the country. Moreover, most of the liberals I know are freaked by burqas and al-Quaeda. So how many Muslim-following liberals do you think there really are? Are there a lot of them in your part of the country? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Well good on you sir, for taking part in the democratic process in this election year. I would love to hear your reasons for preventing Obama from a second term. Not only that -- I am very open to hearing why any of the republican candidates that have a chance at the nomination offer far better prospects for the next four years than the incumbent does. Civil discussion, and all that. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I didn't say it's not a couple of college kids trying to make a buck. They're probably a couple of "conservative" republican kids trying to make a buck. Okay -- so long as republicans keep making bigger fools of themselves just by being themselves -- I will. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

One of my favorite "conservative" points of argument. Let's give you the role of the media and see how you portray this sterling, finest, worthy-of-the-presidency group of the best the republican party has to offer for the presidency (and no we're not talking Ron Paul here -- only candidates that both the liberal and conservative media are giving any attention to). This will be fun. Looking forward to hearing the crickets chirp. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

True, it's stilly to generalize that conservatives would be the types to push poll lies about illegitimate black children to play on voters' bigotry to win a presidential nomination...that they would mock a purple heart won in battle while supporting a candidate who didn't show up to defend Alabama from the Vietnamese...who call women supporting the right to choose "sluts"...who say that America wouldn't have had all kinds of problems had Strom Thurmond been president...who willfully believe lies without question (Muslim/born in Kenya, Saddam/Al-Quaeda/Iraq war). Rather, I should give conservatives the benefit of the doubt and not associate them with such types that would push these "Don't Re-Nig" stickers, since conservatives give the benefit of the doubt to liberals so often and perpetuate such a civil and honest discussion. But to get to the point of your question, I figure those pushing these stickers are "conservative" because they are anti-Obama. More often than not, the anti-Obama types label themselves as conservative. No proof, but it's one of those things where if it quacks like a duck, etc. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Conservatives don't do much to dispel the KKK notion when they're marketing materials like this. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

How would you choose to define stage 6? Don I responded earlier and the reply vanished. !!??? Trying again as follows: Stage 6 Obama Derangement Syndrome This stage is mostly reserved for birthers and patriots. People who have developed ODS-6 are offended by Barack Obama's very political existence. So is it patriotic to hang the flag upside down when the people of the US voted the guy that the "patriots" didn't prefer? Funny how "patriots" think they have license to do such things (think purple heart band-aids) that could just as easily be considered treasonous from a symbolic point of view. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Pat Boone is a fine example of stage 6 ODS. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/09/pat-boones-not-convinced-still-a-birther/ Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Did you read past that? What do you think of for-profit prison corporations? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Wow. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Cool news source there -- rss'd. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Why should they? The whole world knows the Liberal Guilt over the invasion will once again require the U.S. to expend our resources without recourse. Do you liberal-bashing republicans even think before you write shit? Drunk post? You know it's true. That your post is a gratuitous, empty liberal-bashing dig with no teeth -- sure. Unless you're talking about the song by Milli Vanilli, which is completely off topic. Please don't derail this otherwise oh so meaningful SC discussion, thanks. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Why should they? The whole world knows the Liberal Guilt over the invasion will once again require the U.S. to expend our resources without recourse. Do you liberal-bashing republicans even think before you write shit? Drunk post? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Nice one -- as much as many ignorant Americans say otherwise (and that is not meant as disrespect to Vietnam veterans), Ho Chi Minh was actually one of the great leaders in recent times: among other things, he was one of the few leaders since George Washington to send a colonial power packing. Ho Chi Minh offered his hand in friendship to the USA early on, and we arrogantly shoved it back in his face. History shows it was not to our advantage. For the open-minded, the documentary on his life here. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.