IBD has a
piece noting that plenty of Senators support bills to
check EPA’s ‘global warming’ Power Grab, a vote on doing which is
expected next week.
Not enough agree on one bill, however, to defeat a
Democrat filibuster, even if the magic number of 60 in support
of blocking EPA has been reached. Which remains a matter of some
dispute, in part because certain Republican Senators are
saying they support Sen. Inhofe’s bill…but not enough to publicly
say so. In other words, these are the first guys to break when the
inevitable ads start running about children not being able to
breathe because of…carbon…dioxide. Or something.
I’m sure these Members had their reasons for seeking elective
office.
But it gets worse over on the other side of the aisle. The above
situation, translated, also reflects that the Dems have split
up their votes to avoid actually checking EPA’s Power Grab while
still saying “hey, I voted to stop them.” Knowingly in a way that
averted actually stopping them.
The principal vehicle offering the opportunity for this cynical
recklessness is a phony two-year delay…offered in the name of
ending uncertainty of the looming EPA regulatory train
wreck of ‘global warming’ rules (which would have the same impact
on the climate it would have on children breathing, incidentally).
Ah, yes, which brief timeout until past the 2012 elections does
what, again, to reduce uncertainty caused by the rules? How much
capital will be committed, or steel will go in the ground were this
to pass? Passage presumably being the object of introducing it,
Sen. Rockefeller? None.
It’s just about providing political cover. Shame. You’re willing
to do this to the economy and your fellow citizens but for
something you don’t have the principle to stand up and defend?
Pretty gutless.
Here’s the real cherry. See if you can spot what’s missing in
the calculus of our ever-responsible Majority Leader (Thanks,
Nevada!):
“Reid has to balance the need for coal-state Democrats to
distance themselves from the EPA with the need to not embarrass the
administration.”
Of course, there are a few other things he could
consider. But this account seems pretty accurate, from my
observation of the proceedings in recent months.
There’s yer “change”. Not for the better.
Floyd Looney | 3.24.11 @ 5:21PM
It should be illegal for the government to fund groups running political ads. Like the one the American Lung Association is running.
As a matter of fact the federal government should not be funding anything but federal government, period.
Sam| 3.24.11 @ 10:12PM
This is Cloward-Piven change you can believe in.
BD57| 3.24.11 @ 11:56PM
Yes, we must avoid embarrassing the Administration .....
Carbonicus| 3.25.11 @ 7:11PM
CH - as usual, spot on, with wit and cynicism to boot.
Not to worry in the long run. The "endangerment finding" and the "tailoring rule" will not survive court testing on the merits/law, in the absence of judicial activism (always a possibility).
But in the meantime, you're right. Politicians don't have the testicular fortitude to do what is right/necessary/in the best interest of the voters, and taking the 2 year breather does nothing for heavy industry, it only leaves the same uncertainty unresolved.
Big, big picture? Think Copernicus and Galileo. Let's just hope they don't wreck the future of our great nation before we get there....