You'll Take Our Nuclear Waste and Like It

Mike Padgett gets a li'l ballsy:

He also indicated a preference to keep nuclear power at the forefront of our ongoing plans—and not a little distaste for Nevada Senator Harry Reid's efforts to keep radioactive by-products from being deposited under Yucca Mountain. "This issue is bigger than Harry Reid; it's the nation. If it takes the (elimination) of a man of my own party [from the Senate]," he flatly declared, "then we don't have a choice."

He later clarified with Kleinheider to say, "I respectfully disagree with Leader Harry Reid on this, but that is a far cry from calling for his head."

Frankly, I think Padgett is dead on. We need Nuclear power, and we need to put it somewhere...we could drill in ANWR and pump the nuclear waste back in as we take the oil out; or we could put the nuclear waste in facilities already built into Yucca Mountain. Nevada was apparently more than happy to get the jobs and money associated with building the facilities, but as soon as they were to be put to use, they backed off...sorry, no "take backs" Nevada.

Nuclear power is going to be a necessary component to any energy plan that involves getting ourselves of the foreign oil spicket. Glad to see Padgett is willing to say what needs to be said. If Republicans were looking for a Democratic "Bridge to Nowhere," the Yucca Mountain facilities would certainly be it.