As a PhD research physicist for over 40 years now, I have been discouraged by the rejection of nuclear power by the United States for the last couple decades.  We have even thrown away the design and construction expertise we once had to lead the world.  I should not be surprised to read this, but I am.

Glenn Williams US Spent Nuclear Fuel – Hello India? 3/30/2010 1:03 PM EDT Were you wondering what the federal government plans to do with nuclear waste now they closed Yucca Mountain? A hint is found from the US State Department, March 29, 2010 in a release entitled “U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation – Reprocessing Arrangement.” Here is what it says, “The United States and India have taken an important step toward implementing civil nuclear cooperation by completing negotiations on “arrangements and procedures” for reprocessing U.S.-origin spent nuclear fuel. These arrangements, negotiated pursuant to Article 6(iii) of the historic Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, will enable Indian reprocessing of U.S.-obligated nuclear material under IAEA safeguards. Completion of these arrangements will facilitate participation by U.S. firms in India’s rapidly expanding civil nuclear energy sector.” From subscription site http://www.thestreet.com/p/dps/cc/columnistconversation1.html Just one more demonstration we must watch what they do to judge the meaning of what they say.

The primary is only one week away.  Mark Kirk has a strong lead is is being pushed by the media and the establishment (and the Illinois combine).  Hughes has shown he can raise money, over $500k so far.  No one else besides Kirk has even $50k.  Hughes just released a survey showing his support up to 22%, although Kirk is still 42%.  Everyone else below 5% http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/01/with-eight-days-left-until.html  If conservatives continue to split their support among several contenders, it won’t matter which is the best.  Kirk will win.  If most conservative support Hughes, he might beat Kirk.  it is that simple.  FAIL with your honor intact or support your second or third choice and beat Kirk.  I just gave Hughes a second $50.  Does anyone want to bet me that their candidate, other than Hughes or Kirk, will get even half as many votes as Hughes.  Loser sends a contribution to any candidate of Erick Erickson’s choice, anywhere in the country.  Politics is the art of the possible.

This is my first post, so please forgive my errors.  I was asked to run for my local school board nearly 12 years ago.  I won and have been paying attention to education ever since.  Living near Chicago, I quickly heard many favorable comments about Paul Vallas, Chicago’s public schools chief.  He instituted many real reforms, started to increase student achievement, and didn’t allow graft or payrolling on his budget.  The teachers union got Daley to dump him because he wanted to get rid of bad teachers and wanted to institute accountability.  He ran in the Democratic primary for governor against Blago.  I vaguely recall that Burris added his name to the mix also, possibly as a stalking horse for Blago.  My memory could be wrong about that.  Blago only won by 25,000 votes.  Vallas went to Philadelphia to head their school board and then went to New Orleans to rebuild their schools.  He now appears to be ready to return to Illinois and run as a Republican for President of the Cook County Board.  I think this is great news for both Illinois and the Illinois Republican party.  See 

http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/1412159,CST-NWS-Carol04.article

and 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-la-vallas-countyboar,0,6627444.story