Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank writes today about how very lonely it must be, to be one of the only dinosaurs left in the US Senate who actually believes climate change is some kind of hoax or socialist conspiracy to take over the world.
I am referring of course to Senator James Inhofe (R-OK).
Milbank writes:
"It must be very lonely being the last flat-earther.
Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, committed climate-change denier, found himself in just such a position Tuesday morning as the Senate environment committee, on which he is the ranking Republican, took up legislation on global warming. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was in talks with Democrats over a compromise bill -- the traitor!"
Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
This post is the second of a two part series. Read the first installment, Unreported Emissions From Natural Gas Blow Up BC's Climate Action Plan.
Methane leaks from British Columbia's natural gas industry are likely at least 7 times greater than official numbers increasing the entire provinces' carbon footprint by nearly 25%. That's like putting 3 million more vehicles on BC's roads.
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He could probably find
He could probably find company here with some of the Conservative dinosaurs; such as Calgary MP Rob Anders who worked for Inhofe as a professional heckler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Anders
http://buckdogpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/04/when-tory-mp-rob-anders-was-paid.html
probably not the last
Inhofe is probably not the last flat-earther in Congress. He's the only one still directly and publicly dismissing the science, but he's far from the only Republican (and perhaps a few Democrats as well) who will vote against meaningful climate legislation. The other opponents have moved on to economic arguments, but in some cases those arguments are probably nothing more than a mask for denier sympathies.
Much has been made of Lindsay Graham's recent endrosement of climate legislation, but there are other senators out there (Barrasso, Coburn, Cornyn, DeMint, Enzi -- and I'm only up to "E") who have have seen no statements from saying the endore the scientific consensus on climate change.
I thought I had a non
I thought I had a non objectionable type comment here earlier - oh well, could be losing my mind I suppose.
lets try something less objectionable:
Inhofe may be the last vocal "flat earther" in government, he may be laughed at in all the right places like creationists are, but it has to be admitted that he resembles a large number of the American people ... and the politicians who say all the right things about global warming tend to keep it pretty low on their priority list. They know enough to avoid being big time banner carriers for global warming. It's not what butters their bread.
Correction
"Senator James Inhofe (R-OK)" is incorrect.
It should have read: "Senator James Inhofe (R-Oil & Gas)"
Representing oil and gas and committing various crimes
Representing oil and gas? - maybe that should be added to the list of congressional crimes. If Inhofe is corrupt, he's got lots of company.
These guys are not going to solve your climate concerns guys, they've got other things going on.
the following is taken from the link below
http://www.ontheissues.org/AskMe/spousal_abuse.htm
After researching public records, newspaper articles, civil court transcripts, and criminal records, Capitol Hill Blue discovered that:
* 29 members of Congress have been accused of spousal abuse.
* 7 have been arrested for fraud.
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks.
* 117 have bankrupted at least two businesses.
* 3 have been arrested for assault.
* 71 have credit reports so bad they can't qualify for a
credit card.
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges.
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting.
* 21 are current defendants in lawsuits.
* And in 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving, but released after they claimed Congressional immunity.