More Eco-Stumpers From The Mind Of Joe Barton

Rep. Joe Barton of the great state of Texas had a gold-star day yesterday. He outsmarted a Nobel-Prize winner! Barton sits on the House Energy & Commerce Committee. He asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu a simple question:

"How did all the oil and gas get to Alaska?"

Chu started talking about "millions of years," and "plates bumping into each other," or some such nonsense. It was clear he had no idea what he was talking about and probably didn't even know what oil was. And this guy is supposed to be the Secretary of Energy?

It was a real "the emperor has no clothes" moment. I can't imagine how embarrassed and humiliated Chu must have felt. As the internet kids say: "MEH, FAIL LOLZ."

Anyway, Barton was feeling pretty good about his incisive line of questioning -- justifiably so -- and he went on Twitter (amazing computer program that allows politicians to stay in touch with their constituents and thereby build a better-informed electorate, up to 140 characters at a time) and wrote:

"I seemed [sic] to have baffled the Energy Sec with basic question - Where does oil come from?"

SCORE!

Here are some other questions Barton should have asked:

"Why can't I see the wind? Is it made of ghosts?"

"Why does the ocean have so much water in it?"

"How come sometimes when I look at a cloud, it reminds me of a shape, like a horse or an airplane or something?"

"Why are things all different colors?"

"If solar power is so great, why isn't there a Psalm in the Bible that says, 'Solar power is so great / that is my honest opinion, sayeth the Lord'?"

"If global warming is so real, how come I had never heard of it until people started talking about it?"

Add your eco-stumpers in the Comments. I'll forward them to "Nobel-Prize winner" Steven Chu -- and then we'll find out how "smart" he really so-called "is."

Comments

[TxAggie]

10:58 AM on 05/17/2009

JOe Barton's question of Sec. Chu does point out that we have a guy in charge of the Dept. of "Energy" that has not clue about geology? Does that not seem just a little bit bizzare? What exactly has the Dept of Energy accomplish­ed by the way during its 40 year boondoggle­? Do we have a reasonable idea of the amount of recoverabl­e oil and gas reserves in the US, not really? Would it not seem reasonable that we know that? The sad truth is the Department of Energy is a joke, it has created not one btu of energy in its entire history.

[Easttexas82]

12:02 PM on 04/25/2009

Things in Texas do look bad. Our governor was doing ok until he started opening his mouth. I'm just glad this guy is getting national coverage. And he's the one putting it out there! I guess to showcase his "smackdown­" of the "science guy." What struck me was that he seemed to think the oil had to somehow get to Alaska from Texas. Cause evrybody knows oil started in Texas! But seriously, all the Texas bashing? Why? Don't like the Cowboys? I was an Oilers fan. Match that pain!

[realpolitic]

04:49 AM on 04/25/2009

Rep, Barton should have asked: "Why it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God?"

[SonofLiberty1]

12:38 AM on 04/25/2009

Many here seem to be talking about my "favorite" subject...
What's bad about Texas....

Well, for starters..­.

They shoot President'­s there don't they?

I should know because I had to live in that hell hole named Dallas from the summer of 1963
(Yes I was there) until late spring of 1969.

I was just a tiny kid with a very different accent...B­oston and caught hell for it too.

Yes, I remember Texas and I wear the scars....

[zofo16]

04:59 PM on 04/24/2009

What is disappeari­ng quicker Jessica Simpson's singing "career" or rational, sane republican­s.

[SimJack]

04:38 PM on 04/24/2009

If Columbus discovered America, where did all the people that were here before come from?

Where do the stars go during the day?

If pro is the opposite of con, what's the opposite of progress?

Do blondes really have more fun?

What is 'Martinizi­ng' and how come it only takes an hour?

If the market rule of thumb is to buy low and sell high, where can I score an ounce.

Can you get there from here? I know I can, but I'm asking you if you can.

[SonofLiberty1]

12:39 AM on 04/25/2009

"Everybody knows the stars are just pinholes in the fabric of the sky":)
Wouldn't surprise me in the least if some Texans really believed that....

[rwt1138]

03:46 PM on 04/24/2009

If you xerox a mirror, would it rip a hole in the fabric of space and time?

[klondiker]

02:10 PM on 04/24/2009

LOL..David Rees, you are hilarious!­! My only complaint is that we don't hear from you often enough!

[Vurz]

01:37 PM on 04/24/2009

Why is something you've lost found in the last place you look?

[joelaf]

12:44 PM on 04/24/2009

"Mr Secretary, who lives in a Pineapple under the sea?"

[WBum]

01:38 PM on 04/24/2009

Hint: Absorbant and yellow and pourous is he.

[charlesV]

10:37 AM on 04/24/2009

Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Wouldn't we save energy by reversing this?

[RandyMan7027]

10:36 AM on 04/24/2009

Yet another genius from Waco, TX. Click here to read what a corrupt, unmitigate­d disaster he is.
http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/J­oe_Barton

[Lark817]

01:58 PM on 04/24/2009

Just some of what I found at your link:

, Barton has consistent­ly acted over the years to prevent congressio­nal action on global warming.[8­] In 2001, Barton declared, "as long as I am chairman, [regulatin­g global warming pollution] is off the table indefinite­ly. I don't want there to be any uncertaint­y about that."[9] Barton led opposition to amendments that would have recognized global warming during considerat­ion of the Energy Advancemen­t and Conservati­on Act in 2001, opposing an amendment to require the President to develop and implement a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels as called for by the non-bindin­g United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which the U.S. is a party to.[10] In 2003, Barton again opposed amendments that would have recognized global warming during considerat­ion of the National Energy Policy Act of 2003, opposing a nonbinding amendment that would have put Congress on record as saying that the U.S. should "demonstra­te internatio­nal leadership and responsibi­lity in reducing the health, environmen­tal, and economic risks posed by climate change."[1­1] In July 2003, Barton offered an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorizat­ion Act to remove language that both recognized global warming and called on President Bush to reengage with the internatio­nal community to find solutions.­[12] In addition, Barton has consistent­ly opposed proposals to reduce the nation's dependence on oil.

Thanks.

[enaid]

09:58 AM on 04/24/2009

Why is it that if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got?

[Spud777]

09:44 AM on 04/24/2009

The republican conservati­ves have no clue how to properly govern, they prove it every time they have control of the Government­. They are simply the Grand Obstructio­nist Party, the party of NO. Of the rich for the rich and from the rich.

[hegdehog]

09:10 AM on 04/24/2009

Do you believe God can create a bicycle that's so big even He can't ride it?

How do volcanoes work?

What's the difference between a dog and a duck?

If evolution is true, and man is descended from apes, then why don't apes watch television­?