Michael Kane has sent the following links and comments:

http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/12/03/edf-constellation-update-markets-equity-cx_vr_1203markets13.html

Buffet likely to take huge stake in CONSTELLATION ENERGY. Reference Ruppert's THE END of the GRID, Constellation energy and Mayo Shattuck.

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/010306_end_grid.shtml

Shattuck supports MIDAMERICAN (Buffet) investment in Constallation:

His letter to employees showing that support is here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/11/24/daily29.html

Also reference THE MILITARY IS PREPARING FOR THE END OF THE GRID for more of the dot-connecting on what TPTB see the future of American energy looking like here:
http://www.gnn.tv/A03485

Where Constellation isn’t in power, others (like Warren Buffett, whose own 9/11 connections remain mysterious) will be.

As the New York Times reported on December 19th:

The transaction extends a heady year for deals in the power industry, following Duke Energy’s acquisition of the Cinergy Corporation for $9 billion; Berkshire Hathaway’s [controlled by Buffett] purchase of PacifiCorp for $5.1 billion; and NRG Energy’s acquisition of Texas Genco last month for $5.8 billion. Energy companies have been using growing amounts of cash and higher share prices to seize on a pivotal moment for assets that just a year or two ago were too risky to touch.

The year ahead may bring even more deals, following the relaxation of laws restricting utility ownership.


Michael C. Ruppert responded:

It's not just that Buffett is after Constellation. He wants their nuke plants. That further confirms a trend I have been sussing out. There will never be any such thing as clean coal with carbon sequestration. Oil from shale is a hopeless boondoggle. As the gap widens between demand and supply Buffett correctly sees that nuke plants, already in operation, are going to become cash cows. I seriously doubt if even a few new nuke plants will ever get built. Too expensive. Too much lag time. Too many essential regulatory hurdles.

And this further confirms the absolutely brilliant comment made recently by "Mary". "Does any of this look like an exit strategy to you?" Of course it doesn't. Within the elites only a few see the whole picture and I think Buffett is one. Those who get it are playing competitively against those who don't. Shattuck was the consummate insider. (See Rubicon and FTW on insider trading). I stand by an observation I made years ago, however. I have yet to meet a billionaire who has my best interests at heart.


Jenna Orkin adds:

This isn't analogous to the "final solution" in which one smoking-gun meeting determined the fate of millions. It's unlikely that behind the closed doors of Davos or at some undisclosed location in the Cayman Islands (except it seems that there's nothing on the Cayman Islands but happy honeymooners and post office boxes doubling as corporate headquarters,) the Elites came up with an Ultimate Exit Strategy.

Rather, the insiders' insiders, the innermost of the Matryoshka dolls, read the tea leaves and plan accordingly. This is not a team effort but a game in which there are individual winners (as well as God knows how many losers, including all the spectators.) Everyone's playing close to the vest. They reveal their plans on a need-to-know basis or rather, since we're in an every-man-for-himself scenario, on the basis of those whom it behooves them to inform.


Michael Kane responded:

Post Peak ANY power source with any sort of reliability will be precious. And these gigantic private power entities already have the laws in place to sell to the highest bidder, pricing people off of the grid.

The recession and depression will delay this process by pricing people off of the grid slowly. If there were to ever be an abrupt spike in prices where 10, 20, 30 40 percent of the consumers were priced off the grid at one time, that would be the definitve introduction of the fast crash. The elite prefer the slow-burn as they can manage it to their benefit with more ease. The fast crash leaves too much chaos at play (though could be unavoidable); the mere symbolism of the Obama administration helps curtail the stirrings of rebellion and maintain the slow-burn scenario for as long as possible, (a point Indira Singh recently made to me.)


Mike Ruppert responded:

All very true, Mike. But the elites are not in complete control and their control is diminishing. I have seen NOTHING that might convince me that they have a handle on all of this. They are not maintining the"slow burn" scenario now. All they're doing is trying to slow the fast crash down... like digging in your heels as a 1400 lb horse drags you around the corral. Everything they are doing that we can see is ad hoc, a reaction, like Lucy and Ethel in the choclate factory.


Jenna Orkin adds:

Lucy and Ethel at the Chocolate Factory


FOR DAVE CROSSLAND

The sexual harassment case in Oregon did not proceed in November and has been continued to March. I am very pleased with this. Starting in late August and September, local Oregon officials with the Oregon Sate Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) tried to slam-dunk a default settlement by mailing notices to me and my attorney at bad addresses and then waiting until we failed to file some obscure forms which we didn't know about. They knew exactly how to find me and my lawyer. Through a series of telephonic hearings, correspondence and motions we demonstrated that the intent of the locals was to deny me due process and the fair hearing I have sought from day one. Oregon has no case. Medford, and most of Southern Oregon, is conservative Republican, Sarah Palin country. Locals pols there have connection to national pols through fundraising and other connections. The intent of this, as I re-emerged from "retirement", and especially as I was writing my new book, was to intimidate me back into silence. It failed. I (we) are so ready for March! I will finally be able to vindicate myself clearly in a public venue. Contrary to what Dave thought, no, there is no reason why I expect any of this to continue or increase. It is all tied to the outgoing Bush/Cheney regime and they're on the way out. This was their last shot at me. It was the Bush/Cheney gang that threw everything but the kitchen sink at me for eight years. We have great local counsel and enough evidence to totally discredit the young woman who tried to set me up from the start. Having failed to get a summary judgment with very flawed documents and investigation, Oregon's BOLI is now in an "Oh shit" position. So is the complainant.

The first question before the admin law judge's eyes was, "Why in the heck is that state of Oregon trying suddenly to pursue a case that has lain fallow for more than two years?" BOLI has demonstrated enormous prejudice and bias and that's already in the record.

Don't worry, after March I will be trumpeting the outcome of this hearing; then filing some suits of my own. I am known as being a very patient man when it comes to getting my personal justice. I could not be happier about my position in this than I am now. So, don't worry about it. We have other things to fret about.

MCR