White House Whistle-Blower Reveals Bush Admin's Environmental Foibles

Jason K. Burnett, Washington's environmental whistle-blower du jour, is an example of a once rare, now almost common, phenomenon: a political appointee willing to tell much of what he knows of the inner workings of the formerly opaque Bush administration.

Mr. Burnett's full pitcher of tales about the administration's inner turmoil over air pollution regulation in general and climate change in particular has been poured deliberately, glass by glass, for a thirsty partisan crowd. More will be offered Tuesday when he appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Mr. Burnett's increasingly public dealings with Democratic committee chairmen in Congress have brought unwelcome attention to the administration's deliberations on climate change policy. In particular, Mr. Burnett has suggested that the Environmental Protection Agency's views have been overridden by others in the administration doing industry's bidding.

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For More On This Issue . . .
::White House Nixed California's Tougher Air Quality Standards
::Cheney Wanted To Delete Major Parts Of Environmental Testimony
Smog Rule Tightened; 345 Counties Fail

And Opinion From Huffington Post's Bloggers . . .
::Steve Young: The Secret Email Dick Cheney Doesn't Want You To See - CDC Testimony
::Mitchell Bard: Remember Global Warming? That's Okay, Most People Apparently Don't, Either
::Bruce Kluger & David Slavin: Dick Cheney, An Environmental Hazard

Comments

[BGAuto]

A fundamental change in our driving habits is now required.

The Automobile Industry is going to be in the same position as the Airline Industry in the next few months. Unless we get away from gas combustion vehicles, including Hybrids, the automobile industry (as we know it) will die.We need to make drastic moves. America needs to move to ELECTRIC. The vehicles are not as fast, not always as fun to drive, but the move will save Americans money (Billions) and help bring change to our automotive companies. Let's "Be Green"!!!!!!!!!!!! BG Automotive Group Ltd. has a car that will travel 80-100 miles per charge for $15,995. Finally a car that most Americans can afford. Did you know that 80% of all drivers, drive less than 50 miles per day? This new car will cost an equivalent of $0.20-0.25 cents/gallon (depending on electricity rates in your area). Why send $700 Billion per year to OPEC (now buying up U.S. companies) when we can use this money for our schools, health care, social security for all Americans, etc, etc, etc. We can make the difference if WE change.

[akryan]

these cars might be slow and uncomfortable now but they're only first generation. as they become more common they'll improve in every aspect.

[mouselion]

Electric cars are (and will be) only as green as their source of electricity. Power plants will continue to be a major problem -- politically and environmentally. Although still in the gestation stage, the true green approach for private commuters will be the air car. This technology will have a near-zero demand on power plants while the electric car will only increase demand. Increased demand will create political and economic pressure to build gas, coal and nuke-powered plants, whereas the air car will not. Most people poo-poo the air car: but don't! Remember that was the response to the electric car. Give it a chance -- support the idea. Be open-minded: this is the best way.

http://www.theaircar.com/acf/air-cars/air-cars.html

[OldKnute]

Well it is simple.

Just label all those you oppose using the Media.

Lemmie think.

Environmentalists want to destroy America.
Green is bad for the economy.
Liberals are attacking our values.
The enemy is within, gays and those who support them.
War is the only answer.
Invading other countries is needed and good for our freedoms.
Lying is OK, as long as it is for the good of America.
Poor people make crime.
If you are not with us, you are against us.
Control is everything, change, without control would bankrupt America.
Business needs a free hand, no regulations, free markets and no restraints on credit.
We can build our way out of depressions and recessions, to stifle open development is evil.
Constitutionalists are a bunch of weenies. Just getting in the way.
The answer to the oil crises is to DRILL, DRILL, DRILL.
We need the minerals and resources in the forests and wilderness areas to survive.
Redevelopment is the answer to urban blight. Tear down those old houses and buildings and move the people away. If they won’t move, take their homes using debt.

Did I miss any?????

Yes,,,,we have seen these things enacted.

OMG!!!

They did it too,, while we were arguing over Iraq!

The war of distraction.

Dear God,, please forgive us.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[noneIn2008]

Amazing that Bush solved global warming, it stopped after he became President. We have not warmed during the Bush years. The amazing power of the President.

[Mercedes]

This is just the tip of the the Iceberg.

Those of you who voted for Bush to take over our country will soon find out what else he's done. Do you think he gives a damn about pollution? Air quality? Alternative energy?

He's done so much damage we don't know about; one of the best ways to find out what he's done to us is to listen to the whistleblowers.

I pity you who voted for him when you realize that he only cared about the "have and have mores" and the rest of you were just being used for his amusement...

[iheardthisbefore]

It seems that no matter how much or how big the stories of wrong doing, corruption and
general malfeasance in office that come from direct testimony from Bush Administration
appointees, the Congress and their Committees and their members refuse to act to
bring these people to justice.

The Congress appears to either NOT WANT to enforce our Constitution and Laws or they
are AFRAID TO ACT for reasons unknown.

"We the People" WANT THE LAW OF THE LAND TO PREVAIL AGAINST THESE
CRIMINALS AND WARMONGER IMPERIALISTS.

The President, the Vice President and all of their appointees ARE NOT ABOVE THE
LAW....even though, it would appear, they THINK they are.

[instagladiator]

Precisely. And I honestly feel that there are some in congress would "want" to act but because of those unknown reasons (i.e. opposite of white - water) threatening to visit your home & family would be enough to keep you quiet.

As for being above the law, that, I'm afraid, is just what it is. The higher ups in this administration will walk away free & clear, period.

Fantasy: To get to the truth we would have to find an independent 300lb Bubba and let him spend a few hours with each of these warmongers, alone in a guarded room. THEN, we would get the truth. Not until.

[elbzee]

I think a few waterboarding sessions are called for. Good thing it's not torture!!! Cuz America does not torture. But those sonsabitches sure need it!!!!

[KillTheMessenger]

What's the news?

[MyTake]

What needs to be told by a whistle blower on energy matters?

Bush stood up in a State of the Union address early in his first term and said that a child born today will be driving a car in 20 years that is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and he even put a billion dollars into DOE to cultivate hydrogen fuel cell projects.

Well, just 5 years later, Honda has a hydrogen fuel cell car production ready. But it was prematurely let out of the bag. The Bush/Cheney tandem aided the dramatic rise in oil profits because the oil cartel had only a 20 year window to rip massive wealth out of America by using grossly inflated and massively manipulated stock market price gouging.

It is time for the allied press to come clean and start teaching America about pollution free hydrogen fuel cells and that you can make your own hydrogen right in your garage.