Big time payoffs from big time jerkoffs (4.00 / 1)

The Bush 43 administration will go down as the most blatantly corrupt in the history of our nation. Whenever the choice is between serving the best interests of the people of the United States or rewarding big corporate donors the Bushies are 100% predictable... 100% of the time. Waxman is documenting the facts for public and for future lawsuits and ultimately for the history books.

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by: T Maysle @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 01:07:21 AM UTC

Waxman's What You Call "Ahead of the Curve" (4.00 / 1)

He had his staff prepare a report on the Bush Administration subverting the scientific advisory process back in 2003.  I'm not sure when he requested it, but it came out like about a month after Valerie Plame was outed.

Meanwhile, about the EPA action itself, from the AP story you linked to:

"The Bush administration is moving forward with a clear national solution - not a confusing patchwork of state rules - to reduce America's climate footprint from vehicles," EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said in a statement.

This is just transparently absurd to anyone with the least bit of knowledge, since California has had special status since the very beginning of the Clean Air Act, and it has always been the case that other states who wanted stricter standards could follow California's lead.

In short, it is only confusing to people who just fell off the turnip truck.  And the only reason the EPA would lie like this is that they know they can get away with it, because the reporters are either too ignorant, too dumb, or too indoctrinated in dogma of he said/she said to tell the public what a load of crap this is.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 01:19:48 AM UTC

I honestly can't tell (0.00 / 0)

if this is snark. The first two sentences are sorta badass. The last one isn't really.

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by: illissius @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 01:25:21 AM UTC

the last sentence is the MOST badass because he's (4.00 / 2)

sayign what he's gonna DO about it.

For some reason, it seems that Obama has some pathological and deep-seated psychological need for Republicans to like him.  Seriously.  It's weird.

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by: avenged savant @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 01:50:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Less Sizzle, More Steak (0.00 / 0)

Instead of mistake.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 02:14:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Waxman is very messable with (4.00 / 1)

  The White House has blown off how many subpoenas by now?

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

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by: Master Jack @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 02:01:44 AM UTC

The Difference Is (0.00 / 0)

unlike other folks, Waxman doesn't give up, just because they stonewall.

Doesn't give up.

Doesn't shut up.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 02:16:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

True... (0.00 / 0)

  My one legitimate complaint about Waxman is that he's yet to give Sibel Edmonds the fair hearing she deserves, but has found time to waste on the baseball steroid "scandal".

  But yes, overall he's one of the best we've got.

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

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by: Master Jack @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 02:19:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Class of 74 (0.00 / 0)

IIRC, Waxman is one of the 49 Democrats (net gain) who came in as the Watergate Babies in reaction to public disgust with Nixon.  He not only has 'seen it all" but was first elected to specifically combat the kind of garbage that Bush II reinstated some 30 years later.

It's deja vu all over again, friends.

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by: David Kowalski @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 13:28:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Waxman Was Elected With 64% (4.00 / 1)

That makes him "a strongman," so he can safely be ignored.

If he'd been elected with 48 or 49%, he'd have a mandate, and would have to be treated like a king.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 14:23:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Waxman seems to work in a vacuum (0.00 / 0)

Someone said that he is documenting for history and future lawsuits.

Maybe that's it.  He seems to have no support from Pelosi or others in the leadership.

If these Dems continue.. it will only be for history because Nancy and co. will give everyone immunity.

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by: inHI @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 07:10:19 AM UTC

I Think You're Badly Mistaken (0.00 / 0)

Pelosi is NOT Hoyer and she is NOT Emanuel.  They come from very different places.

She doesn't have iron-fisted control of the caucus.  Given her past history, and her alliances, there is every reason to believe she is strongly supportive of Waxman, but there are limits to what she can do.

Do I think she over-estimates those limits?  Yes, absolutely. Without a doubt.  But what Waxman is doing has many possible lines of consequence, depending on how other things play out.  Give Pelosi another 20 or 30 seats, give us a stronger grassroots/netroots structure for bringing outside progressive pressure to bear, and give us a Democrat in the White House, and things could look dramatically different in 2009.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 08:14:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]