Wave Maker

The same day that the Boston Herald's gossip columnists were touting the new book slamming the anti-Cape Wind folks, Govenor Patrick was engaged in a wide ranging interview with the editorial board of the Cae Cod Times. During that interview, he made what I would have thought to be a significant statement. Leading the Cape Cod Times' May 26th story following the meeting was the following:

HYANNIS — Gov. Deval Patrick's administration is exploring sites for offshore wind turbines beyond Cape Wind's, a move the governor hopes will make Massachusetts a leader in renewable energy.

During a wide-ranging interview with the Cape Cod Times editorial board, Patrick said the state is one of the best places for deep-water wind turbines and his administration wants to exploit that advantage.

The state may locate and permit sites before a developer comes in with a plan, Patrick said. New Jersey, Rhode Island and Delaware are doing similar pre-permitting.

The CCT article was picked up by the AP, and the Boston Herald ran it on Friday as well.

The Boston Globe, however, ran nothing Friday and only a bit piece on it in the Saturday New England in Brief section.

There's a standard in the news making and reporting business. News makers release bad news on Fridays, preferably of a major holiday weekend. Media outlets that do not want stories read publish them on Saturdays.

It would seem to me that Patrick's statement is a significant public policy announcement that goes well beyond his previous remarks in general support of alternative energy including wind, and his support for the Cape Wind project specifically. Now he is saying that he would invite other private sector wind energy developers to build more windmills off the coast of Massachusetts.

Why would Patrick choose to make this statement to the Cape Cod Times on the Thursday before one of the biggest holidays of the year?

Why would the Boston Globe all but ignore the story entirely? It opposes Cape Wind, but was trumpeting a competing proposal intended for the treacherous waters of Buzzards Bay.

Jumping to the top of my summer reading list is Cape Wind: Money, Celebrity, Class, Politics and the Battle for Our Energy Future on Nantucket Sound, by Providence Journal editor Robert Whitcomb and Wendy Williams. Never heard about this book? That doesn't surprise me -- the Boston Globe fails to mention a word of its publication. In fact, I learned of the book just this morning courtesy of the Herald's gossip columnists, Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa.

According to one reviewer, this is a "book on politics that reads like a whodunit," and tells the story of the behind-the-scenes efforts of extraordinarily rich people to thwart the Cape Wind project.

The cabal of uber-privileged who live in the Wianno Avenue - Hyannisport - Nantucket axis really take it on the chin here, and who doesn't like to read about rich people being hypocrites.

Some special quotes, courtesy of Fee and Raposa:

The portrait of the opponents is not kind. Bunny Mellon calls one windmill supporter “a traitor to your class.” Jamie McCourt, co-owner of the L.A. Dodgers, tells a Cape Wind attorney, “I bleeping hate you.” “John Adams” author - and Vineyard resident - David McCullough rants and raves while ex-CBS newsman Walter Cronkite - who made an infomercial for the Alliance before reversing his opinion and deciding he no longer wanted to oppose the project - is portrayed as “a pitiful old man.” As for RFK Jr., Whitcomb calls him “a troubled person.”

“His reaction is so irrational and incoherent, there’s not much to say,” he said.

But I think this remark from Ted Kennedy sums up the opposition:

“The sight of them bothers me,” Sen. Kennedy is quoted as telling retired utility exec - and wind farm supporter - Jim Leidell.

When told that most of the time the turbines - which would generating enough energy to power Cape Cod during peak usage times - would be either invisible or barely visible from the Kennedy Compound, Ted reportedly replied, “But don’t you realize, that’s where I sail.”

That's where I sail.

Man, what can you say to people who adore this man as the savior of the downtrodden?

This Immigration Bill is the perfect example of why people don't want to watch laws or sausage being made. I can read and write the English language as my own, I am a lawyer and former legislator, and I have no idea what it says.

"Compromise" legislation is always like this. Those that benefit the most are typically the lawyers who practice in the field.