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On Saturday, I wrote a post for Oxdown Gazette, wondering who had placed a hold on two important science appointments in the Obama administration. Sunday I received emails suggesting the culprit putting holds on the nomination of Dr. John Holdren as Obama’s science advisor, and on Dr. Jane Lubchenco to head the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
Calls early this afternoon to one of the Senators on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation in Washington D.C. (and to another source in DC) confirmed that the holds have been requested by Sen. Vitter. Nobody felt at liberty to tell me why the holds have been placed, but my last source stated, "We want these nominations to proceed as soon as possible."
Sen. Vitter was the only Senator to make a fuss during the February 12 nomination hearings. Here’s how Mike Dunford from the Panda’s Thumb described part of Vitter’s questioning of Holdren:
Vitter asked Dr. Holdren about a statement that Dr. Holdren made back in 1986, where Dr. Holdren said that global warming could cause the deaths of 1 billion people by 2020. The key word in that sentence is "could." Just in case you are as unfamiliar with the English language as Mr. Horner’s source appears to be, allow me to point out that "could" is not in fact a synonym for "will".
Dr. Holdren responded by saying that he thought that was unlikely to happen. For the comprehension impaired, which apparently includes both Mr. Horner and his hearing room confidant, that means that he doesn’t actually think that’s going to happen.
Vitter interrupted him, saying, "do you think it could happen?" Dr. Holdren said that he though it could happen. Vitter interrupted him again, saying, "so you would stick to that statement?" Dr. Holdren replied that he didn’t think it was likely. Vitter repeated his question again, and Dr. Holdren agreed that it could. Vitter clarified by asking, "one billion by 2020?" and Dr. Holdren responded by saying, "It could."
At the end of his questioning, immediately after being chastized by the chair for already being well over his allotted time, Mr. Vitter returned to the topic, asking yet again if Dr. Holdren thought that 1 billion deaths was still a possibility. Dr. Holdren agreed that it is in fact possible.
Anyway, we now have somebody to watch. Vitter’s February questions to Holdren about billions of people dying have been picked up by some in the wingnutosphere. As if they don’t have more than enough fantasy world stuff to deal with already.
hat tip to Siun for help on getting information on Sen. Vitter
11 Comments
So it WAS Diaper Dave after all, eh? I apologize to Bob Menendez.
Gee, it was the guy from Louisiana. Go figure.
I’ve started a Digg entry. I seem to be digging a lot today…
Just another republican caught having his pants down at the wrong time and got away with it and is still there to cause us all more problems. The party of morals only has morals for the other guy not themselves. That this guy is still there and has the guts to question anyone else on any thing is beyond the pale. It’s a bitter deal that we still vitter and my bet is he still twitters with the girls every chance he can while he fritters with the nominations of the president. Only in America.
Rec’d and dugg – great work ET!
Diaper Dave…thanks for the laugh, and for the distraction from the thought of DD being fingered…
Mike Dunford at the Questionable Authority is reporting that Sen. Vitter’s office is denying to Josh Marshall’s people that he’s screwing with the scientists. I’ve got three sources now, though, so I’m standing by this report.
Gee, Dr. Holdren at the Feb 12 hearings could have told Vitter that 1986 was a long time ago, scientifically speaking, and we know much more now. Back in 1986, he could have said, Vitter was still in diapers. (Wait a beat)…and he still is! Really lame, but it’s so sad that this know nothing doofus can block excellent appointments.
VJBinCT,
I watched the Feb 12th hearing on the Senate webstream. Holdren looked mildly taken aback when Vitter began his nutty foray. He didn’t push back, though. He sort of looked like he wanted to get past the Vitter hurdle without breaking out laughing.
Great headline and terrific reporting, ET!
Let’s Digg this one up, OxPups!
Vitter and Jindal surely do make Rhodes Scholars look bad.
Update – Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. PDT: I’m still standing by Vitter as either the person who has placed the hold, or one of the people who have placed it.
TPM DC’s Elana Schor and The Questionable Authority’s Mike Dunford are both backing off Vitter as a possible perp. Both seem to feel that a denial by the Senator should close the matter. Heh…
Meanwhile, Schor is ruling out Inhofe and Barrasso.
That makes the list of Senators denying they either know who has placed the hold, or have placed it, to include:
Menendez, Vitter, Inhofe and Barrasso — with Rockefeller saying “multiple” people are responsible for the holds. Sheeesh!