Cheney leaving as he arrived?

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

Photo credit: Regelio V. Solis / Associated Press

Comments

[iH8uAll]

And this surprises anyone because??? They are complete war-profiteers. Their behavior is shocking because under the "war on terror" we were blind to it, desensitized, however you want to put it. Now that people are waking up and becoming outraged, we have renewed "partisan" propaganda.

What IS surprising is that Boxer seems to be on the side of the argument that reprimands the administration. She's colluded with them for too long I guess?

Bush and his adminsitration have already walked all over CA environmental laws, on the coast, on the border. And they are ready to drill drill drill of the pretty coastline too. Fortunately Schwarzenegger had a backbone to tell them "not drilling here". As for the other environmental rape that has been taking place, again, I ask you, are you really surprised?

[Ken Barber]

Funny how it never made the news when the office of the Vice President was censoring and de-funding scientists who didn't go along with Mr. Gore's beliefs on global warming.

But let Cheney do something that is mild by comparison and it's a World Crisis.

This is why I don't read the Mainstream Press any more. I can't believe anything they say.

[joedogjoe]

Good for VP Cheney? Samuel, you are an idiot. This office has evoked executive privilege more than any other administration in the history of this nation. This is more cover-up by a corrupt administration. But don't let facts get in the way of your opinion.

I'm not sure how being a fly fisherman or a hunter speaks to an interest in protecting the earth's atmosphere. Are you saying because he likes drive to the woods and kill animals, he's cares for the world?

I can't see how you can think global warming is a huge lie when international science supports it. No North Pole ice cap this year? South Pole disintegrating at an alarming rate? It's sad that something so tragic has been politicized by the religious right and neo-cons.

[Kevoh]

Does anyone else remember back in the 70's when were were heading into the next ice age and that by the year 2000 the state of Michigan was going to be covered by a sheet of ice? I remember that crap. Its the same thing but in reverse, now were all going to be too hot. The earth has never remained constant nor will it ever. Mankind will not be able to change a thing when it comes to the earth. Instead of battling global warming or cooling (wahtever the politcal flavor of the week is) that is supposed to occur years and years down the road why dont we work tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and a host of other natural disasters that are destroying the earth NOW? I know why....because we cant alter nature, just like we cant alter global warming or cooling since all of this is a NATURAL (hence we call it Nature) So think of it like the serenity prayer... God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. I pray that wisdom finally gets to the "Global Warming " crowd.

[D]

Jjake, You are an idiot. I bet your from Texas right? If you think the democrats won't win this election you are just in denial. I am seriously embarrassed by people like you, giving this country the image it has on the world stage. Yes lets just drill for oil, until it runs out right? Lets build more nuclear plants, and endanger more people. The energy policy of making sure this "great country that was built on capitalism, blah blah, I'm patriotic" is around for your kids kids stinks hu? I think there should be a vote to cast out people like you, you selfish prick. This administration will be taught to our children as the WORST presidency in the history of this country. And people like you helped make it that way.

[Forbes]

jjake: Good luck with that! Call me a seer, but I see the Republican party going down with its burning House (and Senate) in what may be the biggest political defeat in my lifetime. And good thing. Look at all the things going wrong since Bush took office: growing unemployment, a weak dollar overseas, record oil prices, loss of international prestige, two failed wars in the Middle East, record home foreclosures, record number of illegal migrant workers, declining educational achievement among our youth, a growing gap between rich and poor, high-paying jobs going overseas, manufacturing work going overseas, record-high medical costs, highest number of Americans uninsured, declining stock market, record high deficits. And the list goes on and on ... If you are proud of this record, you are an idiot too mired in ideology to see the reality in front of your face. Make funny names all you want, it is the Democrats who will be laughing come fall.

[DC]

I don't understand you nuts that defend the administrations actions by saying global warming is a not real. The Bush administration itself has stated that global warming is true. They just decided they don't feel like doing anything about and said go screw yourself Americans. And as far as questioning whether the scientific solutions make sense, i don't understand how you can assume you and your corrupt representatives know more than 99.9% of the WORLD's trained scientists. What is your scientific background that supports your retarted claims?

[Sean]

This is *the* most corrupt Administration in all of U.S. history, *the* most anti-environment, *the* most anti-labor, *the* most anti-civil rights, *the* most closed and secretive, and *the* most anti-American. From day one, it's all been about lying, stealing, cheating, deception, and fraud. Anyone blind to these realities is, well, blind ... and dumb. Want more of this? Vote McCain. He's sadly in step with this current Administration.

[Jim]

Cheney is perhaps the most cowardly figure in modern politics. He learned to hide while in Nixon's administration. The Bush years are a direct continuation of Nixon's idea that the President is essentially a King. Millions will cheer when he's dead.

[Flintstone]

Finally, someone has the guts to stand up, speak the truth, and counter all of Gore's nonsense. Love live Cheney! Keep up the good work Dick!

[Mister Spak]

"Lea Anne McBride, was ready with a response: "We won't discuss internal deliberations.""

Waterboard them until they discuss it.

[Richard from AZ]

"Global Warming" is not such a big deal here in the winter!

[joedogjoe]

Case in point: "So think of it like the serenity prayer... God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. I pray that wisdom finally gets to the "Global Warming " crowd."

Jesus says destroy the earth!

[bbob]

right on jjake! let's stick with the current administration, screw those dems.

capitalist fundamentalism mixed with fascism works great!

[Energizer]

Dick started out in 2000 by holding energy planning meetings in secret and blocked all attempts to allow public access to any info. Now we have the results of his planning. $4.00 gasoline. Dependence on the middle-east, no planning for future technolgies to replace oil. America could be the leader but in alternate tech by now but Japan is the leader in hybrids and China in solar energy. Denmark and Holland lead in wind. And America just has no idea of what to do except beg the Saudis to send more oil...a resource they don't want to admit they have no more of for fear of encouraging alternate energy development.

[Gary]

From the tone (and obvious intellegence level) of the above comments there is only one last thing to do. "Eat, Drink, and be Merry for tomorrow we all broil with global warming or choke on green house gases.

[Barry Weintraub]

You can argue that climate change is not happening or is not going to happen. But any debate should be based upon scientific evidence. There is nothing in the Constitution that permits the White House to deliberately twist the truth and prevent people from talking. The American people are entitled to the direct dissemination of scientific information. There are different names for the alternative ...

[George Bish]

'Dick' Cheney is the biggest crook in government today - and that's giving him a whole bunch more credit than he deserves. He also has the most appropriate nickname of anyone on this planet.

[airplane]

they have it right inS.F. DO THEY NOT HAVE A PUBLIC TOILET THAT FEEDS THE SEWAGE PLANT TO NAME AFTER DICK

[anonymous]

There is climate change going on. The earth is warming, so is the ocean. There is no hard scientific basis for the cause, however. Carbon since the industrial revolution has not been proven to be the cause (except in computer models that rely on the data we input). Think about all the sewage and garbage and chemicals we are dumping into the ocean! The earth is not a billiard ball. It is a living thing, and it changes. We are seriously harming the very ecosystems we rely on for food and water. THAT is a fact.

[publius]

I think that the fat around this idiot's head is affecting his thinking. It certainly isn't doing much for his looks. He's one UGLY person.

[me again]

For those of you who worship the internal combustion engine, what can I say? You have been duped into devoting your life to something that is boring, dangerous and un-necessary. Like cigarettes as a vehicle for added nicotine, the billions of little engines are, for the most part, merely a vehicle for burning oil. Look arounf you. How many do you own? What usesless function are they performing badly? And, in case you're not paying the right kind of attention, burning fuel inefficiently and as fast as possible. They call this the economy. You are supporting the burn. hmmm...

For this of you who are paying attention, remember that the conservatives expect a little grumbling, but are on target as far as they're concerned. Do more than grumble. Stop supporting them in everyway you can think of. It isn't about global warming, foreign oil, and war for profit. It is about you allowing these things to happen.

Not me baby, I've been aware of and fighting these issues in my own little way all my life. Join me, take out the garbage, you know who they are.

[Andrew]

Wow Smith, way to trivialize science, economics, statistics, and half the nation's politicians. Calling someone 'stupid' is sure helping your argument isn't it? Second, using bloated statements like "everyone knows it" fails to prove anything. If "everyone knew it", why is this being debated anyway? That's typical conservative siege mentality.

Second, you make the argument with statistics, but that's your single uncited source. Come up by whom? Possibly some scientists that you bash later? Furthermore, even if the impact is 10% of 2% you mention (unlikely) how do you know what that even means? 10 and 2 may seem like small numbers on a counting-number system, but the impacts can be profound. A global rise in a single degree Celcius is enough to melt ice caps, raise sea levels, and significantly affect world weather patterns (forest fires, flooding, hurricanes, etc.). This, nobody disputes. Furthermore, the concept that man-made carbon sources have contributed to majority of the recent global warming is supported by more than thirty scientific academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries (Royal Society, 2005/ 2007 international summits). Moreover, why do you want to risk being wrong? If you're right and global warming is not as huge as we predicted, we'd still be fine if money is spent. If you're wrong and global warming does continue unchecked... Then heavens help all of us in this world.

And your 40 billion vs. 16 million comment is truly a waste of money. Should we also spend equivalent amounts of money that went into studying evolution into seeing if Creationism works? How about into disproving gravity? Just because there's an unlikely counter-alternative does not mean government is obligated to spill money into it. Forget Russia. This isn't the cold war. Besides, it's immature to cry "oh, they're not doing it so we shouldn't!" We're America and we're supposed to lead this world.

[MB]

jjake - time for a reality check. You pro-business, trickle-down capitalists have dominated all three branches of government for the last 7 years and it has given us $4.50 a gallon gas, the credit melt-down, the one-trillion dollar Iraq boondoggle, and the lowest voter confidence ever measured. You guys wanted complete control and got it and now we are all suffering for it. You are right about the voters taking it back - you just had the teams reversed.

[L_C]

Interesting how headlines like this one almost always require a comment board.

Reading the headline, the story and the comments all tie into a blind lack of objectivity driven by a lack of pluralism - what has America come to? We are Americans. We are better than this. We've been better than this. Think about it.