The Subversion of the EPA
December 11, 2008 3:00 PM Subscribe
Smoke and Mirrors: The Subversion of the EPA. "This four-part series details how the Bush administration weakened the EPA. It installed a pliant agency chief, Stephen L. Johnson. Under him, the EPA created pro-industry regulations later thrown out by the courts. It promoted a flawed voluntary program to fight climate change. It bypassed air pollution recommendations from its own scientists to satisfy the White House." [Via Reality Base]
Obama to pick NJ DEP commissioner Lisa Jackson to head EPA
posted by homunculus at 3:17 PM on December 11, 2008
posted by homunculus at 3:17 PM on December 11, 2008
If you're a U.S. conservative, it's one thing to dismantle and subvert FDR's legacy, but if you're tearing up stuff Nixon brought in...*shakes head*
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:56 PM on December 11, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:56 PM on December 11, 2008 [3 favorites]
They were still better off than they were in the 80s, when this pencil-necked geek was in charge.
posted by anazgnos at 3:57 PM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by anazgnos at 3:57 PM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
if you're tearing up stuff Nixon brought in...
The Republicans haven't torn up the EPA, it is too useful. Instead, they appointed industry insiders in leadership roles, and put all the staff to work to impede and reverse environmental protection improvements, working with Bush appointees in the DoJ to help gum up the legal system with time-consuming and expensive lawsuits. We still don't know what back-room dealings happened between Cheney and energy industry lobbyists back in early 2001. The scale of right-wing sewage that Obama will need to clean up is immense.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:57 PM on December 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
The Republicans haven't torn up the EPA, it is too useful. Instead, they appointed industry insiders in leadership roles, and put all the staff to work to impede and reverse environmental protection improvements, working with Bush appointees in the DoJ to help gum up the legal system with time-consuming and expensive lawsuits. We still don't know what back-room dealings happened between Cheney and energy industry lobbyists back in early 2001. The scale of right-wing sewage that Obama will need to clean up is immense.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:57 PM on December 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
We still don't know what back-room dealings happened between Cheney and energy industry lobbyists back in early 2001.
Jesus, I completely forgot about that in amongst the 9,999 other scandals. That could be a particularly juicy turd to investigate - I'm guessing executive privilege is not an option to maintain the cover up when the new administration takes office. Maybe Cheney will choose January 19th to migrate to a new host body.
posted by fleetmouse at 5:44 PM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Jesus, I completely forgot about that in amongst the 9,999 other scandals. That could be a particularly juicy turd to investigate - I'm guessing executive privilege is not an option to maintain the cover up when the new administration takes office. Maybe Cheney will choose January 19th to migrate to a new host body.
posted by fleetmouse at 5:44 PM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I guess they must have some pods they are going to live in after the human population dies off and the ecosystem takes a 1,000 years or so to come back into balance. Fucking assholes.
posted by Mr_Zero at 6:16 PM on December 11, 2008
posted by Mr_Zero at 6:16 PM on December 11, 2008
This is nothing but pandering to the base by manufacturing the end-times.
posted by Foam Pants at 6:30 PM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Foam Pants at 6:30 PM on December 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
When Stephen Johnson testified before congress (House Oversight Cmte., political interference and California ozone standards (May 2008 (3h13min))) it was apparent (to me) he was covering up.
He went to work at the EPA. Good faith. Good intentions.
Cheney (or underlings with direction) leaned on Johnson and met resistance of play dough.
Explanation for forgoing peer findings and revising per pressure ... the jittery fucker repeatedly requested decider responsibility.
Don't question the decision or process leading to it, just accept that I made it.
Really all a sad attempt to quell probing into the embarrassment / shame he feels for having relinquished all principle of profession ... or any fucking profession of principle (for that matter).
posted by phoque at 6:32 PM on December 11, 2008
He went to work at the EPA. Good faith. Good intentions.
Cheney (or underlings with direction) leaned on Johnson and met resistance of play dough.
Explanation for forgoing peer findings and revising per pressure ... the jittery fucker repeatedly requested decider responsibility.
Don't question the decision or process leading to it, just accept that I made it.
Really all a sad attempt to quell probing into the embarrassment / shame he feels for having relinquished all principle of profession ... or any fucking profession of principle (for that matter).
posted by phoque at 6:32 PM on December 11, 2008
great stuff, but the navigation is total shiite
Hear, hear. I was all ready to settle in and read this whole thing, but then I couldn't get past the intro page. Some web designer had big ideas and no editor to rein him in. Buh bye! Back to the Esquire articles.
posted by intermod at 7:11 PM on December 11, 2008
Hear, hear. I was all ready to settle in and read this whole thing, but then I couldn't get past the intro page. Some web designer had big ideas and no editor to rein him in. Buh bye! Back to the Esquire articles.
posted by intermod at 7:11 PM on December 11, 2008
I was all ready to settle in and read this whole thing, but then I couldn't get past the intro page.
The four stories underneath the intro are the four parts of the series. You could just click on one of those.
posted by homunculus at 9:15 PM on December 11, 2008
The four stories underneath the intro are the four parts of the series. You could just click on one of those.
posted by homunculus at 9:15 PM on December 11, 2008
Bush administration takes independent scientific reviews out of Endangered Species Act
posted by homunculus at 9:31 PM on December 11, 2008
posted by homunculus at 9:31 PM on December 11, 2008
It doesn't matter. Jack Bauer ignores the rules anyway.
posted by srboisvert at 3:51 AM on December 12, 2008
posted by srboisvert at 3:51 AM on December 12, 2008
The Union of Concerned Scientists' letter to the next administration about protecting scientific integrity of government agencies.
posted by salvia at 10:29 AM on December 12, 2008
posted by salvia at 10:29 AM on December 12, 2008
So...the unalloyed success that was the Bush Administration, could actually have had a slight flaw?
posted by Smedleyman at 2:18 PM on December 12, 2008
posted by Smedleyman at 2:18 PM on December 12, 2008
E.P.A. Ruling Could Speed Up Approval of Coal Plants
Boxer asks DOJ to force EPA withdrawal of 'blatantly illegal' emissions memo
posted by homunculus at 9:35 PM on December 24, 2008
Boxer asks DOJ to force EPA withdrawal of 'blatantly illegal' emissions memo
posted by homunculus at 9:35 PM on December 24, 2008
Sixth Circuit rejects EPA interpretation of Clean Water Act
posted by homunculus at 10:52 PM on January 8, 2009
posted by homunculus at 10:52 PM on January 8, 2009
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