How difficult would it have been for BushCo to have triggered the blackout

[ElementaryPenguin]

I don't know. Hopefully some DUer with a little energy expertise does know. Does this not give the Chimpy an excuse to start pushing for a "solution" like deregulation (banking on the public not understanding that deregulation is actually a huge part of the problem), at the same time, reinforcing the usual BFEE "fear factor," at a time when everything - Iraq, shitty economy (even the polls - only 36% approve of Chimp's handling of the economy), seems to be headed in a decidedly unfavorable way for the BFEE/PNAC Mob??

One big surge somewhere - does that sound like something beyond the capability of the BFEE soldiers? If not - how can we possibly rule it out - particularly since so many experts seem to be completely stumped at this point.

[Brian Sweat]

1. Probably not very difficult at all.

All you need is one person with a good working knowledge of the grid. If you know when and where to strick, it would not take much to cause this kind of cascading effect. One circuit led to the NY blackout in 1977.

On the other hand, if they had planned this, you would think they would have done a better job. They should have had Shub ready to save the day. Instead, he was as drunk as a skunk and unable to communicate.

[ElementaryPenguin]

6. Well, Chimpy's demeanor wasn't exactly impressive on 9-11 either.

As far thinking they'd do a better job planning - what has ChimpCo ever thoughtfully and skillfully planned out (other than 9-11 - which loads of us have long ago busted them on)??

[arcane1]

2. they've done it before, so why not?

I was willing to not even consider repubian sabotage, but the way the Chimp kept sayig "rolling blackout" last night, it really made me want to get out the tinfoil. Is he just still fantasizing about Enron's raping of our treasury? Or was he saying more than he should've said...?


still waiting for them to try to connect this to Cali in som way, to deflate any Davis accusations towards Bush and his Enron Pirate Pals

[ElementaryPenguin]

4. The Mad Chimp is really a horrible liar!! Always with the Freudian slips!

LOL with the "rolling blackout" thing!

[JustJoe]

3. They wouldnt have done it right after

catching some muckymuck terrorist AND
they would have kept him sober for his
post-outage statement.

[papau]

5. 9 seconds-from surge signal to grid down - all based on surge signal

Indeed multiple surge signals - from a smooth running power plant in the midwest.

Can we say test of system? Proof of concept?

And first comment from Energy Under Sec - this proves need for dereg.

And the surge protector company stock going up 5 hours before!

Tinfoil hats are fun! :-)

But meanwhile sit back because we will never know. The most likely is old bad sensors in the system the grid uses to protect itself - but I can see Terrorists (or CIA) testing.

:-)

Ultimate solution is power plants near users, and decrease use of grid for massive transfers of power from one region to another (although I like the specs on the 500,000 volt lines!)

[ElementaryPenguin]

7. thanks, P. I WAS suggesting terrorists. Bush Crime Family - biggest,

Most successful terrorist group in history!

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Luckily, I live in a small city

that ownes and operates our own power plants, which supplies us will most of our own power. A grid going down would only affect us temporarily, if at all.

[Eloriel]

10. Here's what I'm thinking

With that "rolling blackouts" on his lips again and again, maybe that's what they had in mind, and it got a little out of hand. Is that possible, technically?

Eloriel

[DagmarK]

9. After many meetings in Cheney's office later.....and ONE PHONE CALL!

Pretty simple -- esp when Cheney refuses to hand over documents for review.

[Beetwasher]

11. I'm of the opinion that this is a VERY bad thing for the admin.

And therefore, while I believe they're capable of anything, I don't think they made it happen on purpose. Don't get me wrong, they are directly responsible, but not in that particular way. I just hope he gets slammed mercilessly. This was after all, the energy administration. Energy policy was their #1 priority upon seizure of the gov't. They even had a super-duper top-secret meeting about on taxpayer dollars. Since that meeting, we've had the Cali energy crisis and pillage, Enron bankruptcy, a war for oil and now the largest BO in history. I could be wrong, but I can't see how they'll spin this positively. That's not to say they won't try, because they will. They will push for more de-regulation, claiming we didn't have enough, more drilling and more nuclear power and of course a very expensive grid upgrade to be handled by one of their friends w/ taxpayer dollars.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

12. Easy - the same method used to bring down the space shuttle

I'm pretty sure contrails had something to do with it.

Had to be something like that, because every event that happens is controlled by Bush.

I hope Bush will let me win some money at the track tomorrow.

[Wickster]

13. In an ideal world -

deregulation would be a wonderful thing. Ideally (or at least the line is), We (the consumers) would be able to buy power from anywhere in the hemisphere - in other words we could buy from the cheapest producer even if that producer was 3 states away or even in a different time zone and "lower" our costs. However, what really happens is that costs increase. Utilities, unable to make a profit because too many customers are leaving to go with "Cut Rate Power Co.," would lay off more workers. "Cut Rate Power Co." would only have plant personnel and because the rates they offer are so low, would only pay the personnel minimally. Besides, these plant people would be hundreds if not thousands of miles away and have no "vested interest" in ensuring that power flowed to their community.

When ice storms, hurricanes, or some other natural disaster disrupted power in an area - there would be no one to fix it. The local utility won't have the employees and the municipality would have no responsiblity. Much like we have to fix our own phone lines "inside" the house (unless you buy the insurance), we would have to contract with a separate company to get the power back up in the neighborhood. Deregulation would be a disaster. The power companies know this. The Government knows this. But we the people have to be convinced that we really don't want deregulation. What I really want is safe, reliable, low cost utilities - even if it takes windmills to do it!

[TomNickell]

14. Now why would they do that????

O' come on!

A big inconvenience to millions of people, a whack to the economic recovery and no Democrat or terrorist to blame it on?

I imagine it wouldn't be very hard to do. Much harder to be sure you didn't get caught.

But for what purpose?

Jeez!

[dansolo]

15. I don't believe Bush was responsible

If he was, they wouldn't have had him waiting over four hours to address the nation, and it wouldn't have occurred while he was at a fundraiser during his vacation. They would have had everything in place.

[PATRICK]

16. Even if not....

"Rolling blackout" and "rolling blame" shows what the script would be for exploiting the event MIHOP or not. Their behavior is as when 911 happens and they "START" planning the attack on iraq.

If Chimpy was snoozing in Church and you nudged him he would spring up and shout "Show me the money!" They reveal all in a crisis and we call it strange? Their characters are inflexibly twisted.