In break with Trump, EPA pick says climate change isn't hoax

Scott Pruitt is an embarrassment to the majority of Oklahomans. Please don't let him become a national embarrassment, too.

nswer in detail about his beliefs about climate change, Pruitt responded that his personal opinion was “immaterial” to how he would enforce environmental laws

In other words he'll wait for Trump, who has said climate change is a hoax perpetrated by China, and the congress members bought and owned by big oil and big coal to tell him what he believes and what he should do to ensure environmental regulations are ignored.

Pruitt's long been a big energy tool who's been paid well by them to look out for their interests. Leopards and spots. He's not going to change. Like the other Trump nominees being questioned, he'll say anything to appease the few Senators not already controlled by big energy.

Is he going to do Trump's bidding and try to fire federal employees who are NOT climate change deniers?

Make America return to the 1950's! (In fairness, American music and art were great back then.) But then think about 1950's pollution levels brought back to the present with the US and Russia working together to keep burning even more petroleum. Muscle cars and SUVs forever!

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In his current post, Pruitt joined a multistate lawsuit opposing the Obama administration’s plan to limit planet-warming carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Pruitt also sued over the EPA’s recent expansion of water bodies regulated under the Clean Water Act. It has been opposed by industries that would be forced to clean up polluted wastewater.

I'm sorry, but this and the fact that he had doubts about climate change up until 2016 disqualifies him for the position. He sued the EPA for doing it's job, and now he's going to head it?

If you voted for Trump because you thought he would end Washington corruption, it's OK. Everyone makes mistakes. I hope you're paying attention now though because you've been deceived.

Trump has pledged to bring back tens of thousands of lost coal mining jobs once inaugurated

Tens of thousands of coal jobs will not be coming back. Politicians have been telling this lie for decades as the number of people working in coal has decreased. It's cruel to watch as these poor guys get dressed up in their gear and paraded around.

though he has not yet detailed how

He will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it....though he has not yet detailed how. He will create a healthcare plan that will cost less and cover more....though he has not yet detailed how. He will destroy ISIS....though he has not yet detailed how. He will remove illegal immigrants....though he has not yet detailed how.

I believe the only plan he has talked about is the 35% tariff on imports. Which is obviously a dumb, unworkable plan. So he has that going for him.

Secretary nominee Pruitt will bring sanity to the extremist EPA. Can't wait for him to start taking the bureaucratic jack boots off the necks of Americans by these ideological control freaks. The see the environment as a religion and brook no opposition.

In a 2016 opinion article, Pruitt suggested that the debate over global warming “is far from settled” and he claimed that “scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind.”

Science, especially in a field with so many unknowns as climatology, is not settled. There are disagreement on climate change but the McCarthyism that pervades the field is stifling free inquiry. Judith Curry, climate scientist at Georgia Tech, is the latest in a long line of harassed and blackballed scientists who have refused to be silenced.

None of these frail, old corrupt Washington elites will be around long enough to see the effects of global warming so it shouldn't be allowed to appoint these morons in the first place as there is no accountability

None of these frail, old corrupt Washington elites will be around long enough to see the effects of global warming so it shouldn't be allowed to appoint these morons in the first place as there is no accountability

I predict the arch-Leftists will live to see they were wrong just like the Malthusian's and the 'peak oil' experts. They always come up with some reason to micromanage peoples lives and infringe on their individual rights. Is the climate changing? Yes, of course it is. But it always has. Scientists cannot quantify with any reliable degree of certainty how much humans contribute to climate variation. They cannot even say what the ideal temperature is. Who's to say a higher temperature isn't more beneficial for the environment and for the evolution of plant and animal life.

But since the modern EPA is not a real, cabinet-level department, and was created by presidential executive order, Trump can do just about anything he wants with it, even abolish it, without permission or approval. And even if these were required, Trump's party controls both houses of congress. Worse yet, the democrat party changed the filibuster rules, which means that Trump will be able to appoint anyone he pleases to lead any agency or department (except supreme court justices), and the democrat party is powerless to do anything to prevent it.

The democrat party made this bed, and now they have to sleep in it.

It's the environment. It's all our beds and we're all sleeping in it.

To all you anti-EPA people, the agency is probably the reason why America's air quality is not like China's. This isn't even in the realm of future predictions or science fiction, you literally can't see 20 feet in front of you in some places in China.

When you let energy companies decide the fate of the environment, they always make the same choice. Whatever is better for profits. Regulations and cleaning up after themselves hurt their bottom line. The fact that Pruitt is a shill for the energy industry isn't even hidden from public view.

Stop with all the leftie-hate and wake up.

To all you anti-EPA people, the agency is probably the reason why America's air quality is not like China's

I'm pretty sure the air quality is a result of congressional action, not the EPA. The EPA has a place, but when you read about them arresting rainwater collectors it's gotten out of hand.

Still waiting for an answer as to why some of the radiation detection systems were shut off after Fukushima.

I'm pretty sure the air quality is a result of congressional action, not the EPA.

Congressional actions that an energy industry shill like Pruitt would be against.

The EPA has a place, but when you read about them arresting rainwater collectors it's gotten out of hand.

I assure you, Pruitt isn't suing the EPA over rainwater collectors.

I'm sorry, but this and the fact that he had doubts about climate change up until 2016 disqualifies him for the position. He sued the EPA for doing it's job, and now he's going to head it?

Guess what? He's still going to be confirmed, so get used to it.

If you voted for Trump because you thought he would end Washington corruption, it's OK. Everyone makes mistakes. I hope you're paying attention now though because you've been deceived.

Yeah, liberals are so impatient, you guys think draining the swamp takes a month, Dems couldn't get the Obama website off the ground and all of the kinks out for more than a year. Have patience my children. I'm glad he's taking his time and can do it professionally and methodically and Trump has a very long memory, all the Dems and some in the GOP that keep acting like little spoiled brats are in for a very rude awakening.

Yeah, liberals are so impatient, you guys think draining the swamp takes a month

I realize it takes time, but this and his other cabinet picks are the exact opposite of draining the swamp.

Ask yourself why is it a swamp? Because the influence of corporate money makes corporate interests take precedence over those of ordinary Americans.

Who does Trump appoint for his cabinet? Corporate heads.

Ask yourself why is it a swamp? Because the influence of corporate money makes corporate interests take precedence over those of ordinary Americans.

Who does Trump appoint for his cabinet? Corporate heads.

I get it, but I in order to drain the swamp, you need to employ people that are experienced and that have the know how in dealing with these issues, you can't drain any swamp if you hire some newly graduated millennial that doesn't what they are doing. I think the left to chill out a bit and take a wait see approach before screaming Defcon 9.

I get it, but I in order to drain the swamp, you need to employ people that are experienced and that have the know how in dealing with these issues,

Gonna be kinda hard for Trump to "drain the swamp," when he doesn't really want to drain the swamp. He's actually right; "Hokey" as hell.

you can't drain any swamp if you hire some newly graduated millennial that doesn't what they are doing.

I don't think anyone said anything about newly graduated millennials. Nice strawman. Its not like any of the geezers Trump nominated have a clue either. Did you watch Devos' hearing? Clueless old lady.

I think the left to chill out a bit and take a wait see approach before screaming Defcon 9.

Yeah, because that's what the Right did to Obama. Get used to it.

The bad thing about the EPA is that it is like other government agencies, and is more concerned with it's funding than it's performance. The EPA has done good in many things, but bad in many others. It has often reached judgments on issues based on ideology rather than facts or science, and once reaching these judgements, has to alter the facts to support it's stance.

To quote an interesting article on the subject of EPA regulation:

In 1993, the EPA announced that second-hand smoke was “responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults,” and that it ” impairs the respiratory health of hundreds of thousands of people.” In a 1994 pamphlet the EPA said that the eleven studies it based its decision on were not by themselves conclusive, and that they collectively assigned second-hand smoke a risk factor of 1.19. (For reference, a risk factor below 3.0 is too small for action by the EPA. or for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine, for example.)

Furthermore, since there was no statistical association at the 95% confidence limits, the EPA lowered the limit to 90%. They then classified second-hand smoke as a Group-A Carcinogen.

This was openly fraudulent science, but it formed the basis for bans on smoking in restaurants, offices, and airports. California banned public smoking in 1995. Soon, no claim was too extreme. By 1998, the Christian Science Monitor was saying that “Second-hand smoke is the nation’s third-leading preventable cause of death.” The American Cancer Society announced that 53,000 people died each year of second-hand smoke. The evidence for this claim is nonexistent.

In 1998, a Federal judge held that the EPA had acted improperly, had “committed to a conclusion before research had begun”, and had “disregarded information and made findings on selective information.”

The reaction of Carol Browner, head of the EPA was: “We stand by our science; there’s wide agreement. The American people certainly recognize that exposure to second hand smoke brings a whole host of health problems.”

Meanwhile, ever-larger studies failed to confirm any association. A large, seven-country WHO study in 1998 found no association. Nor have well-controlled subsequent studies, to my knowledge. Yet we now read, for example, that second-hand smoke is a cause of breast cancer. At this point you can say pretty much anything you want about second-hand smoke.

Personally, I hate cigarette smoking, and wish that smoking was illegal in all public places. But I wouldn't lie or fabricate science to justify my actions, I would just say that cigarette smoke smells like dog crap, and is offensive to most most people.

Gonna be kinda hard for Trump to "drain the swamp," when he doesn't really want to drain the swamp. He's actually right; "Hokey" as hell.

With all due respect p, but how would you know what his intentions are?

I don't think anyone said anything about newly graduated millennials. Nice strawman. Its not like any of the geezers Trump nominated have a clue either.

Well, they have more money, power and prestige than you and me put together, so I would tend to think with their age and experience, they know a heck of a lot more than you or I. Speaking of old geezers, Hillary maybe should've had a few in her camp than all these after 1984 kids, maybe she would've won....and Robbie Mook thought he was such a genius. LOL

Did you watch Devos' hearing? Clueless old lady.

I'm not Hillary Clinton.

bass4funk: "I get it, but I in order to drain the swamp, you need to employ people that are experienced and that have the know how in dealing with these issues, you can't drain any swamp if you hire some newly graduated millennial that doesn't what they are doing."

Classic! When Obama hired people, and Hillary talked about whom she would appoint, based on experience you cried, cried, and cried even more about "draining the swamp" and getting rid of "old Washington" etc. Now suddenly you call it 'common sense'.

Trump isn't draining the swamp, he's asked his followers to take a collective dump in it then covered it in saran wrap and turned on the heat lamps.

Trump's hiring people who have already been proven to pass legislature to increase the value of their investments, then those companies in turn have given donations to further senate runs. It is the exact OPPOSITE of draining the swamp; it's expanding its size.

People will say anything to get a job!

With all due respect p, but how would you know what his intentions are?

How do I know?

Because he said so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AaMtf338JI

Does that mean he won't clear up Washington? Maybe he will. but I doubt it. Look at his history, look at his nominees. Do you think he is an honorable man? I certainly don't. Don has a myriad history, the two constants are self-enrichment and hubris. And that is all.

Well, they have more money, power and prestige than you and me put together, so I would tend to think with their age and experience, they know a heck of a lot more than you or I.

So wehat? Does money mean "good?" Is a rich man suddenly good? The success, or prestige, or even knowledge of nominees is irrelevant to the discussion at hand; will these folks clean up Washington?

So Bass, do you think things will now be different?

Powerful rich bankers know what the hell they're doing

That's why we had the Great Collapse of 2008 and the government bailout

People will say anything to get a job!

Exactly. And will say anything to pass a policy - such as Obamacare - in order to pull the wool over other peoples eyes. They will say things like, 'If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor', or 'If you like your insurance you can keep your insurance', or 'your health care costs will go down by $2,500'.

Trump's nominees should use the same tactics and "Gruber" in their nomination hearings. Just say whatever it takes to get through the hearings and then go on about your business. It worked during Obama's 8 years. He talked moderate and governed from the far Left. Why shouldn't Trump use the same tactic? If like Obama's time in office, the ends justify the means, then do what you have to do.

That's reality folks - that's how the farce is played on the Left. The Right would be stupid not to do the same thing. Conservatives have been playing by the rules with the Left and the mainstream media for way too long and are getting their heads handed to them time after time. Time to wise up and do what Democrats do.

"climate change is real"

Of course it's real! We can't stop Mother Nature. But we can take steps to deal with it.

Super: "He will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it...."

Not only that, he's going to build a wall around Australia and New Zealand is going to pay for it! Tee hee!

Classic! When Obama hired people, and Hillary talked about whom she would appoint, based on experience you cried, cried, and cried even more about "draining the swamp" and getting rid of "old Washington" etc. Now suddenly you call it 'common sense'.

That's right. Trump wasn't using his foundation as a secret slush fund and Trump wasn't making deals with shady dictators with human rights records posing and campaigning that he is the champion for the poor in 3rd world countries and he wasn't funneling money to his pockets and taking advantage of people living in extreme poverty.

Trump isn't draining the swamp, he's asked his followers to take a collective dump in it then covered it in saran wrap and turned on the heat lamps.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. liberals and their paranoia....good lord....

Trump's hiring people who have already been proven to pass legislature to increase the value of their investments, then those companies in turn have given donations to further senate runs.

And that's not a bad thing, Democrats would do the same thing, that's what politicians do.

It is the exact OPPOSITE of draining the swamp; it's expanding its size.

If you think so, but you make butter with a toothpick.

That's right. Trump wasn't using his foundation as a secret slush fund and Trump wasn't making deals with shady dictators with human rights records posing and campaigning that he is the champion for the poor in 3rd world countries and he wasn't funneling money to his pockets and taking advantage of people living in extreme poverty.

Yeah, he was only bribing using it as a slush fund to pay off state investigators. Big difference.. After all, why would you use your own foundation as a slush fund when you've got a dicator's best friend like Paul Manafort on the payrolls!

Yeah, he was only bribing using it as a slush fund to pay off state investigators. Big difference..

Nice try, Trump didn't go around preaching that he built a foundation to take care of people in poverty or war torn countries or countries hit by natural disaster like Haiti where uttering the name Clinton could get you a machete smacked right in the head.

After all, why would you use your own foundation as a slush fund when you've got a dicator's best friend like Paul Manafort on the payrolls!

And you know this as fact based on.....