Jason Burnett, Bush Official Who Just Resigned, To Aid Obama

Until last month, Jason Burnett was a high-ranking political appointee at the Environmental Protection Agency. But "after concluding there was no more progress to be made on greenhouse gases under the Bush administration," he resigned.

The AP reported recently:

[Burnett] helped developed the EPA's response to last year's Supreme Court ruling that the agency had the authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

But work on the issue was put on hold in December after Congress passed legislation enacting tougher automobile mileage requirements. Johnson has acknowledged that the next administration probably will have to decide whether carbon dioxide endangers public health as a greenhouse gas. The EPA is expected soon to issue a draft finding for public comment.

"I think that most people who have studied the Clean Air Act recognize the challenges posed by the Supreme Court case, but the nation is best served by confronting those challenges, not trying to delay the inevitable," Burnett said in an interview.

Now Burnett is trying a new path to reducing the threat of global warming: aiding Barack Obama.

After submitting his resignation last month, he donated $3,600 to Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign. That came on top of a $1,000 contribution he made to Obama before rejoining the EPA last year.

A Stanford-trained economist and a Democrat, Burnett, 31, said in an interview that he was moving back to Northern California to campaign for Obama and Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel).

He said he was counting on them to support stepped-up efforts to curb greenhouse gases.

"Climate change endangers health and welfare," Burnett said. "The EPA is required to use existing law to reduce greenhouse gases. The sooner we begin addressing it in earnest, the better off we'll be."

Comments

[tbone99]

Great , let me guess , he'll be adding on Gates for defense, Petreaus for iraq and Cheny for energy consulting.

Whoever said meet the new boss , same as the old boss couldn't have said it better.

[SMAGGIE]

+ iamvalid: Lady, i suppose you are a lady, if you read one of my posts and it is capitalized, PLEASE NOTE, I have very bad eyesight and I can read what I write much easier. Does that satisfy you??

[HopeandChange]

Now the Clinton's and Bush have operatives inside the Obama camp. They're going to sink this guy.

[dora rice]

THIS SLEEZEBALL LEFT ONE SLEEZEBALL TO SERVE ANOTHER. WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

[paganmist]

Do you know something I don't know?

Not sure why you're calling the guy who's trying to curb greenhouse gases a sleazeball, that's all. But if you have some news about him you'd like to share, please do.

[jeffreydj]

A question that occurs to me is: were Obama to incorporate some of the McCain campaign's footage, such as this one, to demonstrate the witlessness of his opponent and his operation, does he fall afoul of copyright? Given that Chris Matthews and kindred McCain lapdogs will doubtlessly rerun the McCain spot, free of charge, a myriad of times, and that for this helpful amplification no McCain campaign lawyer will come a-calling, can the Obama camp not claim public domain status for this gibberish?

That Obama could replay some of this advert, then ask the US populace, "would you prefer a wizened geezer that spews such junk, or would you rather vote in a president whose mind is still prehensile" (or words to that effect) is sensible, but is it actionable?

[jeanrenoir]

Saving the planet is yet another reason why this is the most important American election since 1932 and 1860 (and 2000). If Obama can actually win, and not be killed by the Mossad, easily making it look like either a "redneck" or Al Qaeda did it, we actually have the chance to do a 180 and save our country and the world. If either McCain or a post-assassination Hillary is elected instead and does the bidding of Israel and the neocons for four more years, we and the world have had it.

[iamvalid]

Well, I suppose we are all entitled to our opinions and I believe that forums, such as this very one serves only to enhance our rights of free speech. I do find it peculiar that some of the posters have to scream and shout by typing in all upper case.

It has been said repeatedly, yes repeatedly that typing in all upper case is considered poor internet etiquette. Do you actually believe that people will consider your comment more relevant or factual simply because you type it all in upper case. Not at all. You will just be looked upon as another poster with so limited internet experience, that this is your only recourse to attract attention.

Perhaps if you would endeavor to present a factual point of view that others can share in and either agree with or pass on as corn flakes. Do us all a favor. Lose the caps.

[dadw5boys]

Messiah????

THE REPUBLICANS THROW THIS WORD AROUND LACED WITH HATE!!!!!!!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR RIGHT WING RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT????

TO MANY SEXUAL FREAKS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY????

[protagonia]

dadw5boys,

The Republicans don't believe in anything but themselves, and that is why they are now coming apart. They're an entire group made up of selfish people. The party cannot withstand the in-fighting to be on top and is now collapsing before our eyes.

I believe that in the future, children will be taught that the shallow, mean and ignorant people in this nation almost brought her down, but then they turned on each other because that's what evil does. A little fail-safe device put into man.

When brother is turned on brother, the stupid brotherwho started it implodes on himself.

[philobama]

John Kerry and his wife write on the inside jacket of their book that environmentalism has been pushed aside for two decades. That takes us back to Bush 1. Al Gore in his book Assault on Reason comments on the nonexistent federal enforcement which Clinton openly initiated in the mid 1990s. Once again the G-8 notes the U.S. is last. Burnett's timing is priceless. Where was he when he got the job? He was a shill, because those are the only folks Bush hired?

He might call Governor Patrick, Obama's cochair. Patrick ran as a populist and then upon being elected openly mocked liberals at a Marty Meehan town meeting on climate change. Patrick kept two senior Romney officials who themselves protect any number of other Repuclican appointees, including an Andy Card auto lobbyist at $95K/yr. Sixteen years of Republicans is just a beginning for Patrick. His EOEEA secretary claims 20 years of environmental and energy experience when maybe he has 12 if one counts generously. But he was a key player in Kyoto as he also ran for representative.. The Clinton Bush destruction of public service and those who truly cared about public interest law has occured in many areas, none any more striking than environmental law. Patrick will tell you with a straight face that he has made great strikes when we haven't even begun to save this planet.

[hey0there]

be sure he is thoroughly vetted, he might just be a double agent.

[XME]

I think Burnett is catching on...if you want things done, especially in the EPA, you'd better work for a Democratic president, and if you want to work for you, you'd better do everything you can to get one elected!

[battleborn1]

Sorry but the Dems earn absolutely no points on the environment. Stop taking someones word for it and examine the reality of the last Democrat, the mythological Buget Balancing, Surplus producing John Muir equal imagined by people I just hardly understand more than the friggin Neo's. All equally deluded to a head shaking consistancy. Almost the total of his environmental "legacy" was constructed in his very last days in office. For 8 years he did virtually nothing. Nothing but payoff all his polluting buddies with the fat check books. Even Reagan and even more so Bush One tightend up on milage figures for cars, making the Fat Dem the first Pres in 25 years to do NOTHING about it. He ignored existing law and since the Justice Dept. doesn't do that anymore a private lawsuit compelling him to do his job and enforce the law about that crappy arscenic in the water and still he refused, until just weeks before he had to devote full time building a "legacy" and looting the place. In his first years in office Bush did nothing more than continue Clintons policys, so stop with this garbage. Ariana!? You out there? I want to hear about ALL the candidates on the ballot for President! Pretty please. And call a doctor for all these folks, something's wrong with their memories or even their contact with reality.

[Spooled]

Thats quite abit of "Change" Obama is facilitating. Stacking his cabinet with former Clinton and Bush officials..

Its so hilarious how Americans keep getting bamboozled by this infrastructure. Yeah I know, I know. We gotta vote for Obama.

Don't blame me later when he makes Bush look like a 3 year old on a playground. Boy are we in for an absolute thrashing. Don't worry, Obama's got my vote. Almost as if we have no other choice.. LOL!

We are so screwed! If it wasn't for this FISA situation, I may have voted for him with my eyes completely closed. Whats cool about it now is, I can at a bare minimum start to mentally prepare myself for the prison camps and furnace.

Don't worry, Obama has my vote. Not to worry!

[disgustedbarmitzvot]

"Thats quite abit of "Change" Obama is facilitating. Stacking his cabinet with former Clinton and Bush officials.. "

Are you smoking some kind of lawn grass? THis guy hasn't been hired onto a stack of anything, as a matter of fact, he's GIVING MONEY TO OBAMA, not receiving any, as in "employee". So maybe you should relax the knee jerk a little. Take a pill for restless leg syndrome.

[DevilAdvocate]

Obama has stated all along that he will work with the left, rigth and middle. Why are the Dems now surpirsed that he's bringing Reps. into the fold? Is this because os FISA? One issue is showing you that everything he has stated isn't so? Come on folks don't fall for the Reps. playbook yet again... vote for Obama and let's end this seven year hell!

[caldarone]

the bottom line this election and the futur of our goverment is NEVER GOING TO BE FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT.. so you libral far left wing nuts need to get with the program. The independent voters are going to decide this election. Stop your whinning and crying, the bloggershpere not going to write US POLICY.. Just like the right wing nuts are mad and sour faced with McCain, you left wing bats sound just as silly... GROW THE F UP.

[4real]

operation chaos continues.

[caldarone]

It is CHANGE you Idiot because Obama will be giving the instructions and a new direction, who do you want him to hire some inexperience "Horse Trainer" like Michael Brown put him over FEMA. You see where that got us. It does not matter where these guys previoiusly worked, its about there exprience and vision for the future , it clearly shows that Jason Burnett aggrees with Obama vision got off the wrong track to get onto the right track that is OBAMA..

[dadw5boys]

Don't forget the ICE CREAM SALESMAN who was to setup the Iraqi Banking and Stock Exchange. You know the one who has no degree in Business out side of making change for a dollar!!!!!!!!!

[realiybased2]

In addition, not only did Bush keep Dems and Repubs divided, the went either further to dividing the rich and poor by completely eliminating the "middle class".

[realiybased2]

You are all pathetic...when some dems and repubs decide to work together, you want to keep them divided. That;s been the problem for 7 years and Bush kept everthing divided including division between rich and poor and completeyl

[jackjack]

exactly. His whole thing has been wiping out this red/blue divide but when he starts doing it folks complain? The answer to the hell we are in is NOT to swing the pendulum all the way LEFT. Thats what got us BUSH in the first place. We cant talk about ANYTHING getting done if he doesnt get in the WH so stop whining and lets get him IN first. Good grief..stay focused.

[JJeff88]

The key is not to swing left, right or center but to jump off the spectrum altogether.

Focus on what will or will not work rather than if it's liberal conservative or any other kind of "'ive."

For example, supporting or not supporting the FISA fillibuster was not a "right, left or center" issue but rather a "pragmatism vs. idealism" matter involving the trading-off of revenge against the telecoms in order to get meaningful legislation protecting civil liberties past both houses.

As soon as we (as a nation) get sucked into a left vs. right dispute, we're toast every time.

[goldenshaman]

Why should we welcome criminals into our fold?

[paganmist]

Not all of them are criminals.

This guy, so far as I can tell, isn't a criminal. Does anyone have news to show otherwise?

[caldarone]

your so right about this division that the FAR LEFT and the FAR RIGHT wants to keep going.. Look this division NEVER WORKED.. WE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.. I commend Obama for doing so not backing down to appease you idiots.

[misspris]

And I introduce to you "Bush the 3rd." No cleaning necessary- just move right in. This must be the heaven your "Messiah" was speaking of so eloquently that you couldn't and wouldn't read between the lines. Drink up- Have some more!

[ibsteve2u]

lollll...the fact of the matter is you either kill everybody you disagree with (the approach Bush took in Iraq, don't you think?) - you work with them.

Your ire at Obama's victory does not mean that you can convince the rest of us to dispense with Democracy.

[dadw5boys]

Republicans are trying to push their Messiah off on us. Keep all the RELIGIOUS FREAKS over there with Haggey and the FOCUS ON DESTROYING THE AMERICAN FAMILY we don't want it.

Too many Republicans with their WIDE STANCE.

[paganmist]

Oh, don't even try it. GW the 3rd?

I don't know how you can even stand breathing, much less making a post like this. People like are desperate for any small thing so you can freak out over it, because you just don't want BH0 to be President.

Maybe you need to take a hard look at yourself and ask why you are really so critical about him. Because hiring an environmentalist/economist who just so happened to work for the Bush administration just isn't something to be critical of. Reasonable people know that.

You really aren't that rational, are you?