Ohio is one of a number of states that have been governed by a Republican "trifecta" for years. The GOP has held the governorship and both houses of the legislature. They have come to feel completely entitled to do whatever they want, regardless of the will of the voters.
I think this helps explain why Jon Husted is bewildered by the backlash to his beloved data centers. And why he thought that introducing a pathetic bill to "suggest" that data centers "consider" some (strictly voluntary) regulations might be enough to mollify Ohioans. He has no real understanding of the real concerns of his state's voters.
The BIG ISSUE in Ohio is corruption. Husted should have been charged in the First Energy case. He also can be connected to the EPSTEIN coverup via political contributions.
The local media is horrible. Should be picketed, boycotted for failing to report on Trump's insanity. Republican corruption.
"Data centers may not be the top issue in Ohio or nationally, but they have come to serve as a stand-in for a host of issues — affordability, the outsized power of high-tech companies, soaring energy issues, Trump’s utter cluelessness, Republicans’ inability to cross their cult leader on issues that matter to constituents, and the looming divide between the rich and everyone else. "
LOVE that Ms. Rubin puts "Trump's cluelessness" in the middle of a long list of trespasses that the megalomaniac's (or maybe that should be "MAGAlomaniac") government has imposed upon our once-great country.
Can't wait for a time in which the fascist felon's name is barely mentioned at all, or only in the context of "disgraced former president".
The Democrats may be getting outspent on political ads, but that simpleton Trump has evened the score and then some. Everywhere he speaks, he says something counter to a coherent political message and so insane (LA and San Diego expendable in a war with Iran?!) that Democrats have free ads provided by the grifter in chief himself. Keep traveling Donnie! And as Jen stated, you can’t keep your trap shut, so keep tossing your ill-informed, demented ideas against the wall. They won’t stick, but collectively they’re going to lead to your political neutering when the Democrats take back over Congress.
Well said. The LA/SanDiego pronouncement was language that should never have come out of a president's mouth. The man is demented. The White House mouth (Steven Cheung) is now whingeing that we're taking it out of context. That won't stick to the wall either. We know what we heard. Trump is a walking, talking billboard for Democrats.
After nearly two years of feeling frustrated and fearful of the direction of our country, statements like this “The result may be a stunning shift in Ohio from red to blue in just two years. And if that is where Ohio is heading, a state Trump won by 11 points in 2024, then we are heading for a historic blue wave.” give me cause for hope. The American voting public has been slow to wake up to the reality but, once awake, is likely to exact retribution in the form of new public servants.
Unfortunately, the majority of Americans care little or pay attention when things happen to other people; e.g., illegal deportations, ICE murders, floods and fires, being collateral damage in a war, but affect their pocketbooks and, as Johnny Carson would say when playing TV pitchman Art Fern, "Boy, do we care!"
Unfortunately the data center issue isn’t an all around slam dunk for Democrats, as it should be.
In Wisconsin, the abjectly awful GOP candidate Tom Tiffany is pummeling Dem candidate David Crowley on this, who has said he wanted Wisconsin to “become an AI and a data hub, not only for the entire country, but for the entire globe”, a deeply tone deaf position in a state that hates data centers. (Francesca Hong supported a moratorium).
Hakeem Jeffries, in his typical middling, noncommittal style, has said “that a moratorium is “not a position that I’ve articulated at this moment” “, and won’t support anything other than tepid regulations.
Recent surveys have shown the GOP and Dems neck and neck regarding AI generally. The Democratic Party has a lot of work to do here.
Charles Schumer has also supported increased data center construction, saying only they should “pay their fair share” and only offering weak and vague regulations.
His daughter now works for OpenAI.
Democrats from Josh Shapiro to JB Pritzker to Gretchen Whitmer all supported data center construction until very recently. As is so often the case, the progressive wing of the party was ahead of the curve on this.
Data centers are going to be the new aircraft carriers on the ground -- very large targets, and they have less protection. Carriers are sent out with a strike force for defense. There is no "golden dome" over data centers; they will be at risk and residents in the area around them will be collateral targets.
As usual, Shakespeare said it first and best, in Hamlet: "...For 'tis the sport to have the enginer
Hoist with his own petard;...." This is what the Republican party asked for when they nominated Trump a third time, even though by then he had multiple felony convictions and a civil judgement for abuse.
Yes, data centers stand in for a host of issues that Americans are mad about, and in particular the lack of accountability by the tech bros for all of the problems they've caused us and the misuse of our personal data. And not only the tech bros, but the oligarchy in general. We want their money out of our politics, and we want them to pay a lot more in taxes. And they aren't going to go along with those things without a fight.
Anything that exposes the GOP Politicians’ collective Greed and damages them in the vote is just fine with me. If the entire country goes blue, I’m here for it.
Our moron senator Tommy Tuberville goes right along with the orange felon. Tuberville has no integrity whatsoever. He has been bought out by data center moguls to the tune of $25K. I hope our electorate has more sense than to vote for this hideous piece of work. Most Republicans are totally out of touch when it comes to the needs of their constituents. I hope a blue tsunami comes cresting very soon.
Let's keep banging the drum on this issue, because it so well illustrates the callous and extractive agenda of the Billionaire Class as a whole and the rapacious AI industry in most recently. Extraction has been a means used by the petrochemical and mining industries for, well, hundreds of years in many cases. You might want to look abroad at what's happened in colonial as well as current times. Big companies come in, extract the goodies (oil, minerals, gas), degrade the environment, deplete the natural environment of water and soil, cause significant and widespread health issues (cancer, black lung) in the local population while they're extracting goods (in AI this includes the intellectual property of everyone) and polluting the evironment, then pull up stakes and leave the damage behind. Another word for extraction might well be rape---yet another good example of the mindset of those who think that the only thing that matters is getting richer. These men have NO conscience and NO care for us or the earth we all live on. The jury is in and they've been found guilty wherever they've gone.
Data Centers are a bad deal all the way around. They create a heat island for miles around and can create a mini heat dome. One number I saw was an 18 degree increase... we regularly are above 95 degrees on a summer day - I don't want to contemplate what 113 degrees would do to us. We are already pumping too much ground water to irrigate crops because of 4 years+ of drought. Using that water to cool a data center once and then dumping it in a river to end up in the oceans is remarkably stupid. I live out in the country for peace and quiet... you can go on line and listen to how much noise one produces. And maybe one actually employs about 25 people.
Stephen, I'd wondered how long it would take for the heat island effect that these things have to surface.
As a daily user of the services they provide, I want them to exist, but they certainly should not be in anyone's back yard. Their design and location cry out for intelligent regulation which would address impact on ground water, noise level at property line dependent on proximity to residences, impact on local utility economics to existing customers, receipt of public funding and if so on what basis? Certainly not new job provision.
From a daily cost of operation, a northern Virginia location may look good to their builders, but locations in less populated western states might not be that much more expensive and might have the advantage of reduced permitting delays.
There is also possibilty (don't count on this one) that innovation in their component design and the algorithms that they employ will reduce their size. It als seems possible that there is considerable reduncancy in the entire array of these things such that consolidation might reduce their numbers.
Regulate we must, and I think at least the enabling legistlation must be at the national level hopefull written by a better balanced congress.
Every tree cut down, every pasture's grass bulldozed and, yes, a "heat sink". I've been ranting about losing trees to these giant boxes for months. Trees help modulate temps; are good for birds and wildlife and human beings. I never hear how those ugly barns will harm wildlife but they will. Yes, certainly the technology will likely reduce the size needed and in the meantime we've scarred our outdoors all over this country.
Republican candidates in toss of states claim they do not support Trump‘s policies. However, they have actively supported his policies or remained silent in the face of his most egregious acts. If reelected they will do so again.
The result may be a stunning shift in Ohio from red to blue in just two years. And if that is where Ohio is heading, a state Trump won by 11 points in 2024, then we are heading for a historic blue wave.
From your keyboard to The Lord's eyes! But Ohio is Ohio, and no matter what the polls say, if I wanted to place a bet or Acton and/or Brown, I'd still want odds.
As an Independent living in VA, I will say many Independent's feel, like me, a "Blue Wave" is only as good as the long-term benefit. Will the Dems squander this golden opportunity (as they have in the past), or will they begin to enact real policies that benefit all Americans for years, if not generations, to come. It truly is time for both political party's to start putting America first, not their own self-interest.
Thank you. I have and will continue to do so. It is not difficult to reach out to your elected officials, as has been posted often in these forums. I encourage everyone to do so.
Now that the Blue Wave looks all but inevitable, they'll be looking for other ways to subvert elections. Statisticians for years have been warning about funny stuff in outstate districts where fascistic loyalists abound, and have been worming their way into county/district election administration. They've tested it in swing states in the past on a small scale. It's time to pay attention.
Ohio is one of a number of states that have been governed by a Republican "trifecta" for years. The GOP has held the governorship and both houses of the legislature. They have come to feel completely entitled to do whatever they want, regardless of the will of the voters.
I think this helps explain why Jon Husted is bewildered by the backlash to his beloved data centers. And why he thought that introducing a pathetic bill to "suggest" that data centers "consider" some (strictly voluntary) regulations might be enough to mollify Ohioans. He has no real understanding of the real concerns of his state's voters.
And, being an Ohio citizen, I am anxiously awaiting the verdict of the people on November 3rd.
The BIG ISSUE in Ohio is corruption. Husted should have been charged in the First Energy case. He also can be connected to the EPSTEIN coverup via political contributions.
The local media is horrible. Should be picketed, boycotted for failing to report on Trump's insanity. Republican corruption.
"Data centers may not be the top issue in Ohio or nationally, but they have come to serve as a stand-in for a host of issues — affordability, the outsized power of high-tech companies, soaring energy issues, Trump’s utter cluelessness, Republicans’ inability to cross their cult leader on issues that matter to constituents, and the looming divide between the rich and everyone else. "
LOVE that Ms. Rubin puts "Trump's cluelessness" in the middle of a long list of trespasses that the megalomaniac's (or maybe that should be "MAGAlomaniac") government has imposed upon our once-great country.
Can't wait for a time in which the fascist felon's name is barely mentioned at all, or only in the context of "disgraced former president".
The Democrats may be getting outspent on political ads, but that simpleton Trump has evened the score and then some. Everywhere he speaks, he says something counter to a coherent political message and so insane (LA and San Diego expendable in a war with Iran?!) that Democrats have free ads provided by the grifter in chief himself. Keep traveling Donnie! And as Jen stated, you can’t keep your trap shut, so keep tossing your ill-informed, demented ideas against the wall. They won’t stick, but collectively they’re going to lead to your political neutering when the Democrats take back over Congress.
The best neutralizer of rethuglican advertising is the Idiot in Chief himself.
“Rethuglican”—love it!
Trump’s brain and mouth are out of control. He is the best ad for a Democratic takeover of both Houses. "Go Don, Go!!!"
Well said. The LA/SanDiego pronouncement was language that should never have come out of a president's mouth. The man is demented. The White House mouth (Steven Cheung) is now whingeing that we're taking it out of context. That won't stick to the wall either. We know what we heard. Trump is a walking, talking billboard for Democrats.
After nearly two years of feeling frustrated and fearful of the direction of our country, statements like this “The result may be a stunning shift in Ohio from red to blue in just two years. And if that is where Ohio is heading, a state Trump won by 11 points in 2024, then we are heading for a historic blue wave.” give me cause for hope. The American voting public has been slow to wake up to the reality but, once awake, is likely to exact retribution in the form of new public servants.
Unfortunately, the majority of Americans care little or pay attention when things happen to other people; e.g., illegal deportations, ICE murders, floods and fires, being collateral damage in a war, but affect their pocketbooks and, as Johnny Carson would say when playing TV pitchman Art Fern, "Boy, do we care!"
It’s always about the money.
Unfortunately the data center issue isn’t an all around slam dunk for Democrats, as it should be.
In Wisconsin, the abjectly awful GOP candidate Tom Tiffany is pummeling Dem candidate David Crowley on this, who has said he wanted Wisconsin to “become an AI and a data hub, not only for the entire country, but for the entire globe”, a deeply tone deaf position in a state that hates data centers. (Francesca Hong supported a moratorium).
Hakeem Jeffries, in his typical middling, noncommittal style, has said “that a moratorium is “not a position that I’ve articulated at this moment” “, and won’t support anything other than tepid regulations.
Recent surveys have shown the GOP and Dems neck and neck regarding AI generally. The Democratic Party has a lot of work to do here.
Charles Schumer has also supported increased data center construction, saying only they should “pay their fair share” and only offering weak and vague regulations.
His daughter now works for OpenAI.
Democrats from Josh Shapiro to JB Pritzker to Gretchen Whitmer all supported data center construction until very recently. As is so often the case, the progressive wing of the party was ahead of the curve on this.
So...you support Republicans? You oppose Shapiro?
Yes, that’s exactly what I said, thanks for the brilliant commentary.
Data centers are going to be the new aircraft carriers on the ground -- very large targets, and they have less protection. Carriers are sent out with a strike force for defense. There is no "golden dome" over data centers; they will be at risk and residents in the area around them will be collateral targets.
There’s all true, but of course these data centers are even worse. The environmental damage from these beasts is still being understated.
As usual, Shakespeare said it first and best, in Hamlet: "...For 'tis the sport to have the enginer
Hoist with his own petard;...." This is what the Republican party asked for when they nominated Trump a third time, even though by then he had multiple felony convictions and a civil judgement for abuse.
Yes, data centers stand in for a host of issues that Americans are mad about, and in particular the lack of accountability by the tech bros for all of the problems they've caused us and the misuse of our personal data. And not only the tech bros, but the oligarchy in general. We want their money out of our politics, and we want them to pay a lot more in taxes. And they aren't going to go along with those things without a fight.
Anything that exposes the GOP Politicians’ collective Greed and damages them in the vote is just fine with me. If the entire country goes blue, I’m here for it.
"Collective greed" - best one-word description of the current GOP/trump I've ever read!
Our moron senator Tommy Tuberville goes right along with the orange felon. Tuberville has no integrity whatsoever. He has been bought out by data center moguls to the tune of $25K. I hope our electorate has more sense than to vote for this hideous piece of work. Most Republicans are totally out of touch when it comes to the needs of their constituents. I hope a blue tsunami comes cresting very soon.
Let's keep banging the drum on this issue, because it so well illustrates the callous and extractive agenda of the Billionaire Class as a whole and the rapacious AI industry in most recently. Extraction has been a means used by the petrochemical and mining industries for, well, hundreds of years in many cases. You might want to look abroad at what's happened in colonial as well as current times. Big companies come in, extract the goodies (oil, minerals, gas), degrade the environment, deplete the natural environment of water and soil, cause significant and widespread health issues (cancer, black lung) in the local population while they're extracting goods (in AI this includes the intellectual property of everyone) and polluting the evironment, then pull up stakes and leave the damage behind. Another word for extraction might well be rape---yet another good example of the mindset of those who think that the only thing that matters is getting richer. These men have NO conscience and NO care for us or the earth we all live on. The jury is in and they've been found guilty wherever they've gone.
“Donald Trump cannot be persuaded to keep his trap shut.”
Because: there’s no one driving that train. And….he loves the sound of his own voice….even if no one else does.
Data Centers are a bad deal all the way around. They create a heat island for miles around and can create a mini heat dome. One number I saw was an 18 degree increase... we regularly are above 95 degrees on a summer day - I don't want to contemplate what 113 degrees would do to us. We are already pumping too much ground water to irrigate crops because of 4 years+ of drought. Using that water to cool a data center once and then dumping it in a river to end up in the oceans is remarkably stupid. I live out in the country for peace and quiet... you can go on line and listen to how much noise one produces. And maybe one actually employs about 25 people.
There’s on in my area, been there awhile. Is a million sq ft, employees 50. Just astounding to me. Creating jobs? Only for construction.
Stephen, I'd wondered how long it would take for the heat island effect that these things have to surface.
As a daily user of the services they provide, I want them to exist, but they certainly should not be in anyone's back yard. Their design and location cry out for intelligent regulation which would address impact on ground water, noise level at property line dependent on proximity to residences, impact on local utility economics to existing customers, receipt of public funding and if so on what basis? Certainly not new job provision.
From a daily cost of operation, a northern Virginia location may look good to their builders, but locations in less populated western states might not be that much more expensive and might have the advantage of reduced permitting delays.
There is also possibilty (don't count on this one) that innovation in their component design and the algorithms that they employ will reduce their size. It als seems possible that there is considerable reduncancy in the entire array of these things such that consolidation might reduce their numbers.
Regulate we must, and I think at least the enabling legistlation must be at the national level hopefull written by a better balanced congress.
Every tree cut down, every pasture's grass bulldozed and, yes, a "heat sink". I've been ranting about losing trees to these giant boxes for months. Trees help modulate temps; are good for birds and wildlife and human beings. I never hear how those ugly barns will harm wildlife but they will. Yes, certainly the technology will likely reduce the size needed and in the meantime we've scarred our outdoors all over this country.
Republican candidates in toss of states claim they do not support Trump‘s policies. However, they have actively supported his policies or remained silent in the face of his most egregious acts. If reelected they will do so again.
The result may be a stunning shift in Ohio from red to blue in just two years. And if that is where Ohio is heading, a state Trump won by 11 points in 2024, then we are heading for a historic blue wave.
From your keyboard to The Lord's eyes! But Ohio is Ohio, and no matter what the polls say, if I wanted to place a bet or Acton and/or Brown, I'd still want odds.
As an Independent living in VA, I will say many Independent's feel, like me, a "Blue Wave" is only as good as the long-term benefit. Will the Dems squander this golden opportunity (as they have in the past), or will they begin to enact real policies that benefit all Americans for years, if not generations, to come. It truly is time for both political party's to start putting America first, not their own self-interest.
Make your voice heard to your electeds.
Thank you. I have and will continue to do so. It is not difficult to reach out to your elected officials, as has been posted often in these forums. I encourage everyone to do so.
Now that the Blue Wave looks all but inevitable, they'll be looking for other ways to subvert elections. Statisticians for years have been warning about funny stuff in outstate districts where fascistic loyalists abound, and have been worming their way into county/district election administration. They've tested it in swing states in the past on a small scale. It's time to pay attention.