The Republican Party’s War Against the Environment

Next in the target sights: the EPA
Wingnuts • Views: 24,927

We’ve been noticing this disturbing development on the right wing for quite a while, and today the New York Times has a piece on the Republican Party’s deranged attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency.

Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota wants to padlock the E.P.A.’s doors, as does former Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas wants to impose an immediate moratorium on environmental regulation.

Representative Ron Paul of Texas wants environmental disputes settled by the states or the courts. Herman Cain, a businessman, wants to put many environmental regulations in the hands of an independent commission that includes oil and gas executives. Jon M. Huntsman Jr., the former Utah governor, thinks most new environmental regulations should be shelved until the economy improves.

Only Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has a kind word for the E.P.A., and that is qualified by his opposition to proposed regulation of carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming.

Related
The Right Wing War Against the Environmental Protection Agency

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49 comments
1 Interesting Times  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:29:29am

But, but, but, it’s all a part of their plan for fiscal responsibility!!11!

The United States has already tied its yearly record for billion-dollar weather disasters and the cumulative tab from floods, tornadoes and heat waves has hit $35 billion, the National Weather Service said on Wednesday.

And it’s only August, with the bulk of the hurricane season still ahead.

Clearly, this means we should defund the EPA and weather satellites and divert said funds to moar prayer rallies.

2 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:29:47am

The Republican Party. Working harder every day to make America more like China.

3 Lidane  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:30:01am

Somewhere out there, Richard Nixon is spinning in his grave.

4 elizajane  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:30:06am

During the Iowa debate, Huntsman referred to the EPA’s “regulatory reign of terror.” Everybody seemed to just give that a pass, but personally, that’s when he lost me. Even more so than the 1:10 debt deal hands-up, that comment was pandering of the most despicable sort.

“Reign of terror???” Where are the grown-ups in this party?

5 Jack Burton  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:30:24am

re: #2 Gus 802

The Republican Party. Working harder every day to make America more like China.

Except I think China’s government takes AGW a bit more serious than we do.

6 HappyWarrior  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:31:20am

Where art thou Nixon.

7 Lidane  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:31:34am

re: #4 elizajane

Where are the grown-ups in this party?

Dead or marginalized as RINOs. That’s where.

The current GOP is determined to run headlong into Know-Nothings territory, and they’re proud of that. It’s crazy.

8 Shiplord Kirel  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:31:49am

A while back I was listening to a tea bagger wax nostalgic about the good old days: “The air was clean, the water was clean, not so much traffic or noise……not like today” This guy is about my age, early 60s. He was talking about the 1950s and 60s when pollution was much worse in many respects than today and the natural world was being despoiled with practically no effective opposition. The Golden Age myth is a constant of human perception (or mis-perception) but when we combine it with historical illiteracy and a large industry devoted to mis-information about the past, it becomes a serious problem.

9 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:32:51am

re: #5 ArchangelMichael

Except I think China’s government takes AGW a bit more serious than we do.

I thought about that. In that case here’s my revised version:

The Republican Party. Working harder every day to make America more like worse than China.

10 Shiplord Kirel  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:33:00am

What does it take to make Nixon look like a hippie? Today’s GOP, that’s all.

11 HappyWarrior  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:33:31am

I think this is why Romney won’t get the nom. The Republican base does not want someone who accepts science it seems as their nominee. I feel kinda bad since this is Roosevelt’s party but then again they’ve done it to themselves.

12 tnguitarist  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:33:32am

We sure could use a Coburn thread right about now.

13 Lidane  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:34:44am

re: #10 Shiplord Kirel

What does it take to make Nixon look like a hippie? Today’s GOP, that’s all.



That’s what’s hilarious to me. Everything these guys rail against— the EPA, OSHA, being off the gold standard, etc. — was done by Nixon.

When Nixon becomes a dirty, filthy pinko commie hippie, you know your party has gone off the rails.

14 iossarian  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:34:45am

re: #4 elizajane


“Reign of terror???” Where are the grown-ups in this party?

There are none.

When you think of the Republicans in terms of 4-year-old behavior, it suddenly all makes sense.

15 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:36:04am

Two words: Common sense.

No government regulation is a really bad idea. There are numerous world-wide examples of what happens when nobody tells corporations “No.”

My husband lived for two years in Spain. He told me that some of the US chemical companies had moved over there to escape regulation. The air was dirty and you couldn’t hang clothes outside to dry. For pity’s sake, look at China.

Government regulations can also be stupid. When we moved into this house (years ago), the shower heads had been set to only turn half-way to hot. Lukewarm showers. We contacted the builder and they apologized for not giving us the standard page they gave everyone. You see, that was the county regulation. We could change it, and they had a page they gave everyone explaining how to change it, but they couldn’t. I had to personally take apart the shower knobs and re-set the buttons so that we could have warm/hot showers.

16 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:36:43am

re: #8 Shiplord Kirel

A while back I was listening to a tea bagger wax nostalgic about the good old days: “The air was clean, the water was clean, not so much traffic or noise…not like today” This guy is about my age, early 60s. He was talking about the 1950s and 60s when pollution was much worse in many respects than today and the natural world was being despoiled with practically no effective opposition. The Golden Age myth is a constant of human perception (or mis-perception) but when we combine it with historical illiteracy and a large industry devoted to mis-information about the past, it becomes a serious problem.

Yeah. Back in “the good old days” when Pittsburgh would be as dark as night in the middle of the afternoon because of the smog. Rivers would catch fire elsewhere around this nation. Fish kills were a common occurrence.

17 Kragar  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:37:05am

Why worry about the environment when there are commies out there?

Bachmann: The American People Are Concerned About “The Rise Of The Soviet Union”

what people recognize is that there’s a fear that the United States is in an unstoppable decline. They see the rise of China, the rise of India, the rise of the Soviet Union and our loss militarily going forward. And especially with this very bad debt ceiling bill, what we have done is given a favor to President Obama and the first thing he’ll whack is five hundred billion out of the military defense at a time when we’re fighting three wars.

Yes, the way to stop the rise of an entity that disappeared 20 years ago is to gut education, ruin the environment, oppose human rights, and fight multiple wars around the world.

18 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:37:22am

re: #2 Gus 802

The Republican Party. Working harder every day to make America more like China.

Needs more iconic GOP photos and images ‘shopped to look like maoist propaganda to get the point across viscerally.

19 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:37:47am

re: #6 HappyWarrior

Where art thou Nixon.

It’s like the Futurama election episode. The GOP has a bunch of wacko clones running. We need Nixon’s head on a nice shiny robot body in order to bring sanity to the process…

20 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:37:57am

Getting rid of the EPA would work wonders for tourism in North and South Carolina. Especially Florida. Nothing like a couple of good oil spills off the coasts of Florida to boost tourism.

//

21 HappyWarrior  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:38:31am

re: #17 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Why worry about the environment when there are commies out there?

Bachmann: The American People Are Concerned About “The Rise Of The Soviet Union”

Yes, the way to stop the rise of an entity that disappeared 20 years ago is to gut education, ruin the environment, oppose human rights, and fight multiple wars around the world.

I’m worried about this new prohibition law too Michele and that Harding fella in the WHI is an idiot.

22 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:38:57am

re: #18 000G

Needs more iconic GOP photos and images ‘shopped to look like maoist propaganda to get the point across viscerally.

Like this?

Image: 4931648900_4986b53711.jpg

23 Charleston Chew  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:39:06am

How do Republicans not get that they have to live on this planet, too? I’m not exactly a tree-hugger, but I understand the wisdom of “don’t shit where you eat”.

They act as if the environment has a first class and coach section. Maybe Republicans are so used to this divide in all other areas of their lives they assume that in the future they just buy some “rich people air”:

Youtube Video
24 Jack Burton  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:39:35am

re: #17 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Why worry about the environment when there are commies out there?

Bachmann: The American People Are Concerned About “The Rise Of The Soviet Union”

Yes, the way to stop the rise of an entity that disappeared 20 years ago is to gut education, ruin the environment, oppose human rights, and fight multiple wars around the world.

Rise of the Soviet Union…. Hello McFly, it’s the 2010s not the 1910s.

25 zora  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:39:38am

Protesters quiz Perry sharply in N.H.


“How old do you think the Earth is?” asked a little boy innocently as his mother hovered behind him outside the cafe. He asked Perry what he thought about the theory of evolution.

“It’s a theory that’s out there, and it’s got some gaps in it,” Perry said.

“Ask him why he doesn’t believe in science,” the mother prompted.

…

“I’m not a fan of cap and trade,” Perry said, adding that he advocates “letting the private sector make those decisions.”

“I said, ‘We left Wall Street to the private sector, and look what happened,’ ” Fuller Clark said later. She said she was disappointed by what she called Perry’s “contradictions.”

…

Asked again about global warming and evolution as Perry approached the counter to sample a pastry, he responded, “We teach the straight up facts in Texas.”

“What are the facts?” the person persisted.

“You’ll have to go out and pick those up in classrooms,” Perry said as he moved away to shake more hands.

[Link: www.boston.com…]

26 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:40:15am

re: #21 HappyWarrior

I’m worried about this new prohibition law too Michele and that Harding fella in the WHI is an idiot.

Americans tremble in fear of the next anarchist bombing.

//

27 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:40:28am

re: #16 Gus 802

Yeah. Back in “the good old days” when Pittsburgh would be as dark as night in the middle of the afternoon because of the smog. Rivers would catch fire elsewhere around this nation. Fish kills were a common occurrence.

And a nice inversion layer on the valley would hold the pollution in and kill a bunch of people.

28 Kragar  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:40:43am

re: #21 HappyWarrior

I’m worried about this new prohibition law too Michele and that Harding fella in the WHI is an idiot.

Her new campaign slogan: “REMEMBER THE MAINE!”

29 HappyWarrior  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:40:53am

re: #26 Gus 802

Americans tremble in fear of the next anarchist bombing.

//

Did you hear that the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees? Oh, boy.

30 Lidane  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:40:55am

re: #17 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Why worry about the environment when there are commies out there?

Bachmann: The American People Are Concerned About “The Rise Of The Soviet Union”

I’m convinced that the end of the Cold War destroyed whatever ideas the Republican party might have had, and that the rapid changes of the last 20 years have only accelerated that problem.

They literally don’t know how to function without the commies to rail against, and change scares them.

31 Charleston Chew  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:41:30am

re: #3 Lidane

Somewhere out there, Richard Nixon is spinning in his grave.

Ghost of Nixon: “If those fools don’t do something about global warming, it’ll get hotter than hell, and trust me, I know how hot that it.”

32 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:42:52am

re: #29 HappyWarrior

Did you hear that the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees? Oh, boy.

Hey, my daughter got all the way through what was supposed to be advanced US history without every hearing the names Saccho and Vanzetti.

I was kind of upset.

33 wrenchwench  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:43:02am
The AP has reported that at least 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Gulf are not routinely inspected when plugged or subsequently monitored for leaks.

Sure, we can do better than that! How about 47,000? Coming right up!

34 Shiplord Kirel  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:43:11am

re: #21 HappyWarrior

I’m worried about this new prohibition law too Michele and that Harding fella in the WHI is an idiot.

Michelle doesn’t like Harding either, too strong on civil rights.

35 Charleston Chew  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:44:03am

re: #16 Gus 802

Yeah. Back in “the good old days” when Pittsburgh would be as dark as night in the middle of the afternoon because of the smog. Rivers would catch fire elsewhere around this nation. Fish kills were a common occurrence.

Youtube Video
36 HappyWarrior  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:44:28am

re: #34 Shiplord Kirel

Michelle doesn’t like Harding either, too strong on civil rights.

Yeah to his credit I believe he was the first president to support a federal anti-lynching law and I can just hear her or her political allies crying about “federal interference.”

37 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:44:52am

re: #22 Gus 802

Like this?

Image: 4931648900_4986b53711.jpg

Yeah. Just replace red and gold with red, white and blue. Exchange “communism” and “socialism” with “capitalism”. Exchange “one-child-policy” with “many-children-or-else-policy”. “Cultural Revolution” with “Tea Party Revolution”, etc. Should write itself.

38 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:44:52am

re: #33 wrenchwench

Sure, we can do better than that! How about 47,000? Coming right up!

Don’t worry. The free-market will prevent any potential catastrophe. If not then they’ll be sued! No wait. The Republicans also want to limit law suits. What free market? The Republicans want to get rid of regulating agencies and limit the ability for people to sue. It’s a double whammy.

39 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:46:37am

re: #38 Gus 802

They’re the Party of Lincoln!

…government of the people corporation, by the people corporation, and for the people corporation.
//

40 Charleston Chew  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:46:54am

re: #36 HappyWarrior

Yeah to his credit I believe he was the first president to support a federal anti-lynching law and I can just hear her or her political allies crying about “federal interference.”

Regulation killed all the good lynching jobs.

41 Charleston Chew  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:47:24am

re: #39 oaktree

They’re the Party of Lincoln!

…government of the people corporation, by the people corporation, and for the people corporation.
//

Sounds like the party of Romney.

42 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:47:43am

re: #35 Charleston Chew

[Video]

Scary shit. I remember as a kid driving with the family up and down North Jersey back in the 1960s. The differences between what I saw then (in the 60s) compared to the late 1970s were quite stark. The vast improvement in the air and water quality was noticeable even while driving down the NJ Turnpike at 60 MPH.

43 sagehen  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:48:26am

re: #8 Shiplord Kirel

A while back I was listening to a tea bagger wax nostalgic about the good old days: “The air was clean, the water was clean, not so much traffic or noise…not like today” This guy is about my age, early 60s. He was talking about the 1950s and 60s when pollution was much worse in many respects than today and the natural world was being despoiled with practically no effective opposition. The Golden Age myth is a constant of human perception (or mis-perception) but when we combine it with historical illiteracy and a large industry devoted to mis-information about the past, it becomes a serious problem.

I grew up in LA’s inland suburbs in the 60’s.

I remember smog days when schools had to cancel P.E., the hospital had to open an oxygen room where asthmatics and the elderly could come hang out all day, and the mountains (5-10 miles north, rising almost straight up) were invisible through the haze.

44 Jack Burton  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:48:47am

re: #34 Shiplord Kirel

Michelle doesn’t like Harding either, too strong on civil rights.

She probably doesn’t like him because of the number one threat on this threatdown (skip to 3:33).

45 Gus  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:51:02am

Hunters, i.e. gun owners and sportsmen, should really like this Republican idea too. You know. Nothing’s as good for wildlife habitat like polluted air, soil, rivers and streams. Sports fishermen should fall behind getting rid of the EPA as well. Think of all the unlimited amount of fish you’ll be able to catch without having the EPA on your back.

//

46 Bulworth  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:54:15am

“Only Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has a kind word for the E.P.A., and that is qualified by his opposition to proposed regulation of carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming.”

Oh dear. This plus RomneyObamaCare in Massachusetts? The teabags are going to have to really contort themselves to go all out for Romney if he’s the nominee.

On the other hand, if they nominate Romney and he loses, then we can settle in for at least one full year of GOP whining about “If only we had elected a real conservative….”

47 Martinsmithy  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 11:15:22am

The “mainstream of the Republican party has hated environmental protection since the days of Ronadl Reagan. This isn’t news.

48 dragonfire1981  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 12:21:12pm

re: #47 Martinsmithy

The “mainstream of the Republican party has hated environmental protection since the days of Ronadl Reagan. This isn’t news.

I might be wrong, but I don’t remember Republicans repeatedly threaten to dismantle the EPA during GWB’s time.

49 Achilles Tang  Thu, Aug 18, 2011 12:34:06pm

re: #8 Shiplord Kirel

A while back I was listening to a tea bagger wax nostalgic about the good old days: “The air was clean, the water was clean, not so much traffic or noise…not like today” This guy is about my age, early 60s. He was talking about the 1950s and 60s when pollution was much worse in many respects than today and the natural world was being despoiled with practically no effective opposition. The Golden Age myth is a constant of human perception (or mis-perception) but when we combine it with historical illiteracy and a large industry devoted to mis-information about the past, it becomes a serious problem.

I can remember the 50’s too, and for me it was like your TB was reminiscing, however I was not in a large city or urban area and the big difference then was that there were half as many people on the planet as today. There were still places where one could get away from pollution and noise (no jets in the air either), and the fishing was great.


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