Originally Posted by Jason Marcel

The climate crisis is real, and all free loving nations in the world absolutely agree that it ought to be addressed better, but in America there is a special breed of free-loving ignoramuses who both deny that it's a problem and stick to their creationism beliefs. No other industrialized nation has that special pocket of ignorant folks who just believe everything that FOX news and the like say about it, and their minds are decidedly closed about it.

It's curious to me that many of these same people claim to be in the "moral values" brigade, although you can't be serious about your faith of your values if you don't appreciate and want to be a good steward of God's land.

In the final analysis, whether you believe pollution is harming the world or not, you do have a moral obligation to the scripture to be a good keeper of God's land. It's the only place we have to call home, and to spend time sniping at the truth or denying the truth means your going against God's will.

Bush has begun to see some of his evangelical support erode and the climate crisis is part of that problem. Who knew that so many evangelicals were environmentalists?

Other nations are doing such a better job than us in North America at advancing renewable technologies like wind and solar. In Europe now, some countries are getting up to 20% of their power from wind turbines. Denmark is at a whopping 26%. And wind turbines and solar panels already exist and can be implemented immediately.

Imagine the savings Americans would see if the got to a point where 25 to 30% of their energy was totally clean and renewable. We'd see gas prices fall, home heating and cooling rates would significantly drop.

It's time to rise above the ignorance now, more than ever.

Originally Posted by Traveler

The CDC and NASA fall under the jurisdiction of the executive branch, it is down to the Executive as to what is made public and what is to be classified, withheld etc. Its totally his prerogative along with the President whom both have the executive authority to classify and declassify information.

Originally Posted by Birdzeye

I think it's entirely appropriate to criticize the administration when they exercise their "prerogative" to withold scientific information on climate issues - for apparently political, not scientific, reasons.

Originally Posted by Traveler

Their prerogative to do it, for whatever reason they chose.

Originally Posted by ViolaLee

The debate can go on and on. But Cheney's suppressing science isn't helping the global warming deniers side of the debate is it?

Originally Posted by Luap

I'm not as familiar with the histoy of these efforts as you are, but you want to assume Burnett is telling the truth and I believe such an assumption is, well, just an assumption. If the context of the alleged actions by the CEQ, OVP, and White House is right, then it definitely lends more weight to Burnett's accusations.

I've never really been interested in the White House's environmental agenda, so I don't know much about it. The story about Philip Cooney is interesting, though.

Originally Posted by EricOKC

Many of us have known VL for a while - under a different name. Suffice it to say her opinions on America are WELL documented.

She's a founding member of the "Blame America First" club.

Originally Posted by Traveler

No that is not what this topic is about Stripey, read Samantha's explanation of what the thread is meant to be about, in her wishes anyway.

In the early days of the Bush presidency, Vice President Dick Cheney came under attack for drafting a national energy policy in secret. Now, as the Bush presidency winds down, Cheney is again coming under attack for his behind-the-scenes efforts to play down the threats of global warming in order to thwart regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who chairs the Senate Environment Committee, leveled the attack today, accusing the vice president and other administration officials of "recklessly" seeking to censor testimony about the dangers of global warming and working behind the scenes to block new regulation. "This cover-up is being directed from the White House and the office of the vice president," she said. Joining her at a Capitol Hill news conference was a former high-ranking Environmental Protection Agency official, Jason Burnett, who said he had been told by the vice president’s office -– he declined to give a name -– to change testimony highlighting the threat of greenhouse gas emissions. He said that he also sent the White House an e-mail finding that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat but shortly thereafter, "I was asked to send a follow-up note saying that the e-mail had been sent in error." Boxer said she believes that the testimony from Burnett, whom she plans to bring before her committee later this month, will help California and other states overcome Bush administration opposition to implementing their own vehicle emission standards. Burnett acknowledged that he has contributed to Democratic candidates but said, "Following the law and responding to the Supreme Court is not a partisan issue." The court ruled last year that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, were subject to federal regulation. Cheney's spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, was ready with a response: "We won't discuss internal deliberations." The issues Boxer raised reflected only the most recent escalation in a fight between congressional Democrats and the White House over a number of the administration's actions relating to the environment. Recently, the White House invoked executive privilege in refusing to turn over documents to a congressional committee investigating EPA's decision to deny California permission to implement its own vehicle emission standards. -- Richard Simon