McCain's Nuclear Waste

[bananas]

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-nuclear-waste.html

McCain's Nuclear Waste

Washington Dispatch: How the Arizona senator doomed his own global warming legislation with billions in nuclear subsidies.

By David Corn

March 4, 2008

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[phantom power]

1. McCain didn't realize people fear radiation more than they fear climate change.

[bananas]

2. He didn't realize it would destroy his reputation as a fiscal conservative

"Part of McCain's motivation was political. According to Wicke, he and his aides figured that these subsidies could attract several pro-nuclear Republicans, and they had their eyes on Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senator Liddy Dole of North Carolina. Wicke was concerned at the time that the nuclear subsidies would cost the measure support and that a bill loaded with money for the nuclear energy industry would contradict McCain's high-profile opposition to subsidies—which was partly responsible for his reputation as a fiscal conservative and a maverick. In June 2003, McCain had joined 47 other senators to vote for an amendment stripping an energy bill of up to $16 billion in subsidies for the nuclear power industry. (The amendment lost by a two-vote margin.)"

[phantom power]

3. They're joking, right?

Republican hypocrisy with respect to fiscal conservatism has caused exactly zero damage to their party. In fact, it seems to help them, probably since their constituents hate government spending, except of course when it's spent locally.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Not true

One of the most dedicated Republicans I know predicted the 2006 defeats, and told me, "They deserve it. They've forgotten what it means to be Republican."