What Guantanamo, Yucca have in common: NIMBY issues

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Archive of Sun politics stories

Politics: The Early Line

Washington — President Barack Obama with the stroke of a pen last week began the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, but he opened a new debate: where to put the 245 detainees?

Since then, Republicans have been having fun chiding Democrats with suggestions.

Perhaps the bad guys should be sent to Alcatraz, off the coast of liberal San Francisco?

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of the few Republicans who wanted Gitmo closed, predicted the intensity of the debate ahead.

“You think Yucca Mountain is a NIMBY (not in my back yard) problem?” McCain said to interviewer Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. “Wait till you see this one.”

McCain should know. He campaigned for the presidency in Nevada on a platform of support for the nuclear waste dump 90 miles from Las Vegas, something most Nevadans oppose. He lost the state.

A spokesman for Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley, who has vowed to lie down on rail tracks to stop nuke waste from being hauled to the state, suggests the senator doesn’t understand how serious Nevadans take their opposition to Yucca.

“He thinks it’s funny that the people of Nevada don’t want the state turned into a waste dump?” Berkley spokesman David Cherry said. “The people of Nevada don’t think it’s funny. That’s why people in Nevada have always been upset at people like John McCain who are dismissive of their concerns.”

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By Future2012

1/27/09 at 9:17 a.m.

Suggest removal

"Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley, who has vowed to lie down on rail tracks to stop nuke waste from being hauled to the state, suggests the senator doesn't understand how serious Nevadans take their opposition to Yucca."

Like Oscar, Shelley is purely a drama queen.

Most Nevadans armed with the know of the scientific facts of Yucca Mountain are willing to allow the LA to be reviewed by the NRC.

Nuclear power s important to America.

McCain is right to say that Yucca is a political NIMBY issue of some Nevada state officeholders.
By rbbxyz

1/27/09 at 10:03 a.m.

Suggest removal

Maybe the citizens of the State need to see if the elected representatives are really representing the people. Put the YES or NO question concerning Yucca Mountain on the ballot and get the popular vote.

Would the citizens like an additional 3000 + good paying jobs in the state bringing another source of money to the State of Nevada, OR do they enjoy the 9.1% unemployment?

Put the issue on the ballot for the next election. Provide both sides equal time to present the facts, not the misinformation that generally comes from the politicians and let the Citizens of the State of Nevada make the real determination.
By joey9

1/27/09 at 10:35 a.m.

Suggest removal

If it was on the ballot, the vote would be NO
Put it in your state if you think it is a great idea.
Mccain wouldn't want it.
By getalife

1/27/09 at 10:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

It would be a no because all of the people pushing junk science on us would have people thinking the sky would melt if Yucca were allowed.

Please Shelley, just play in the freeway with razorblades, stop the drama.

Go Yucca, Go.

joey9, join shelly, maybe you can help her dodge traffic.
By Impeach_Harry_Reid

1/28/09 at 7:49 a.m.

Suggest removal

rbbxyz has NAILED IT!!!!

Put Yucca on the ballot and PROPERLY inform the people; then let Nevadans decide!

We need the money, we need the jobs, we need to do this for the good of the country's energy independence!

Just say NO to Dirty Harry in 2010 !!!!!