Tweet
Michele Bachmann - Caricature by DonkeyHotey
Representative Michele Bachmann kicked off her presidential campaign last night, and it didn’t take her long to take an extreme position: Bachmann, a Tea Party favorite, called for the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency and labeled it “a job-killing federal agency.” This fringe position shows how willing she is to ignore the facts.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been protecting public health and the environment since its inception forty years ago under President Nixon. By providing realistic safeguards for our health, it helps us be more productive and suffer less illness. That means a stronger economy with fewer days of work lost. That’s real money. For example, the Clean Air Act has prevented an estimated 160,000 deaths in 2010 alone, and the benefits reach approximately $2 trillion in 2020.
The public understands the importance of the EPA’s work: More than 77% of Americans — including 61% of Republicans – say “Congress should let the EPA do its job.”
According to the American Lung Association, Bachmann’s home county has a ozone grade of “C”, and there are more than 4,200 children suffering from asthma, and more than 7,400 people suffering from chronic bronchitis. These are people hurt by the pollutants that the EPA is working to reduce, and it’s still got more work to do.
It bears noting that one of the country’s most polluting power plants is in her district, and it it has been linked to air pollution, water pollution, and illness. This air pollution affects local communities, and USA Today has useful data on the local schools’ poor air quality.
Contrary to what Rep. Bachmann suggests, putting proper pollution controls in place saves lives and creates jobs.
When I see a politician making decisions that are bad for their constituents, I always go to look at their donors. Turns out that Rep. Bachmann has received donations from the PACs of Xcel Energy (which owns that dirty power plant), Koch Industries, and Exxon Mobil.
It’s unfortunate that Rep. Bachmann’s presidential campaign is off to such a wrong-headed start. I hope she’s able to re-examine her position and start making better decisions in the days ahead.
13 Comments
Bachmann has no chance.
My dog has a better chance. As does a trained monkey. Or even an untrained one. A piece of fruit has a better chance.
Why? I’m glad you asked.
Google Bachmann quotes:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/republicans/a/michele-bachmann-quotes.htm
“”Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn’t even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.” -Rep. Michelle Bachmann, April, 2009″
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-10-craziest-michele-bachmann-quotes
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-ultimate-collection-of-stupid-michele-bachmann
“But we also know that the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States.”
”Not all cultures are equal.”
“Unelected bureaucracies will decide what we can and cant get in future health insurance policy. Thats why theyre called death panels.”
”If we took away the minimum wage — if conceivably it was gone — we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level.”
And,
http://www.thebachmannrecord.com/thebachmannrecod.html
““This really is the number one issue for our country right now, how are we going to deal with this threat of radical Islam.”—Senator Michele Bachmann, Northern Alliance Radio Network, September 9, 2006.”
“On what will happen if her same-sex marriage ban amendment fails to pass in 2004: “It isn’t that some gay will get some rights. It’s that everyone else in our state will lose rights. For instance, parents will lose the right to protect and direct the upbringing of their children. Because our K-12 public school system, of which ninety per cent of all youth are in the public school system, they will be required to learn that homosexuality is normal, equal and perhaps you should try it. And that will occur immediately, that all schools will begin teaching homosexuality.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, appearing as guest on radio program “Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 6, 2004.
On the gay community and same-sex marriage: “This is a very serious matter, because it is our children who are the prize for this community, they are specifically targeting our children.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, appearing as guest on radio program “Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 20, 2004.
If her same-sex marriage ban amendment does not pass in 2004: “The sex curriculum will be essentially by taught by the local gay community.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, appearing as guest on radio program “Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 20, 2004.
“And what a bizarre time we’re in, Jan, when a judge will say to little children that you can’t say the pledge of allegiance, but you must learn that homosexuality is normal and you should try it.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, appearing as guest on radio program “Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 6, 2004.
“And so people have to make this call now. They have to go to mn.voter.com, they need to contact in particular their Senator, and they need to demand that the people be allowed to vote on this in November (of 2004). Because otherwise, our children will be forced to learn that homosexuality is normal and natural and that perhaps they should try it, and that’ll be very soon in our public schools all across the state, beginning in kindergarten.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, appearing as guest on radio program “Prophetic Views Behind The News”, hosted by Jan Markell, KKMS 980-AM, March 6, 2004.”
““If you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it’s bondage. It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, speaking at EdWatch National Education Conference, November 6, 2004.”
““You have a teacher talking about his gayness. (The elementary school student) goes home then and says “Mom! What’s gayness? We had a teacher talking about this today.” The mother says “Well, that’s when a man likes other men, and they don’t like girls.” The boy’s eight. He’s thinking, “Hmm. I don’t like girls. I like boys. Maybe I’m gay.” And you think, “Oh, that’s, that’s way out there. The kid isn’t gonna think that.” Are you kidding? That happens all the time. You don’t think that this is intentional, the message that’s being given to these kids? That’s child abuse.” — Senator Michele Bachmann, speaking at EdWatch National Education Conference, November 6, 2004.”
And this is just a taste. As I said, my dog …
Poorly written diaries by some staffer at a veal pen org…and the writer will never read the comments because it’s hit and run…this is crazy annoying. Whats even more annoying is that is makes the rec list. Or maybe some rec’d it so that more people could mock it. That would be awesome.
Either way, why should we be so scared of Bachmann? We’re getting her agenda anyway with Barry the Corporatist.
Or maybe NRDC thinks we should give a shit about opposing a Republican because their president is a $400,000+/year “earning” fucking elite Yalie who also happens to be one of the pliant cronies that Obama appointed to the Deepwater Horizon commission. You know, that commission he could mention in speeches to pretend he was doing something while jacking BP off backstage and hiding all the evidence of what they did from us. Or at least try to keep from us, in between handies.
You know this org has TWELVE fucking people on it’s payroll that make six figures?! Money well spent I’m sure, attacking Republicans for publicly campaigning on the things their guy does in secret.
Why are you bothering with this BS? We’re smarter than this.
Tax Reporting for NRDC: http://www.nrdc.org/about/NRDC_990_2009.pdf
Frances Beinecke Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Beinecke
Bachmann would be great!!! Better than Romney/Pawlenty. She’s a real crazy assclown and that’s what we need right now as are other alternative appears to be the cowardly corporatist and Pete Peterson’s BFF, Barry Obama. Some think he’s kinda dumb and gullible (Hartmann), I think he knows the score and is trying to show himself to be a good little toady. We may never know, but I do know we can’t have another four years of the Oligarch’s servant. Better the Wolf at the door than the Trojan within.
Here, here!
The NRDC is a farce, now. Bunch of corporate ass kissers
who sit still as massive environmental crimes are committed under Obama’s watch.
They’ve lost all credibility.
Discusting hypocrites.
I really don’t think the country needs to be subjected to a narrow-minded zealot such as Bachmann.
I hope she gets the nomination , she truly represents the GOP base.
Barring the appearance of a third party candidate with a legit chance to win, or a primary challenger unseating Pinocchio, I’m voting for whoever the R’s nominate. No LOTE votes for me. Fuck Obama. Fuck the Dems.
Yes, how does something like this get recommended?!!!! “I hope she’s able to re-examine her position and start making better decisions in the days ahead.” Please…this woman is a fricking fascist.
“We’re smarter than this”
Not all of you.
“Not all cultures are equal.”
She’s really taking a lot of heat for this one, and I can see why. After all, she’s not kissing the ass of “diversity” and “moral equivalence” where a culture practicing female genital mutilation deserves equal respect.
Tell us, tambershall, yes or no: do you really believe that “all cultures are equal”?
I always enjoy studying caricatures. They say as much about the artist as the subject.
Today’s rendition of Bachmann is excellent, and it’s a better result than the one on Paul Ryan several days ago.
As I mentioned. I refused to watch the media circus they call a “debate” or to listen to the media pundits spend another hour after the fact dissecting the inane comments. Still because the airwaves are flooded with this nonsense, I did catch part of a video of Bachmann commenting on how one of her first action in regard to taxes would be to reduce the high 35% corporate income tax, among the highest in the world. It was then I realized why it was a good idea for me not to watch their show–my blood pressure. This one comment from Bachman must have sent to moon.
This is yet another example of the half truths that politicians promote. Yes, the USA has a 35% corporate income tax and it is true that it is among the highest in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg
HOWEVER, the other side of that truth that the rich neglect to mention is that while the USA has among the highest corporate tax in the world, we also have the worst collection rate.
http://cdiamico.blogspot.com/2011/04/us-corporate-tax-rate-is-it-really-too.html
Other countries actually collect according to their tax rates. In the USA the rich buy other rich politicians who create tax loopholes to get around the law.
Consider that GE, in spite of making billions of dollars in profit for the years 2009 and 2010, paid ZERO income tax. They even got a rebate back! The same can be said for ExxonMobil. As for Goldman Sachs, they paid 1% tax on their income earned in 2009 (compared to ordinary Americans who pay on average 25% of their income in fed taxes).
===== http://www.fashionclothe.com ====
Air jordan(1-24)shoes $30
Handbags(Coach l v f e n d i d&g) $30
Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $15
Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30
Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,A r m a i n i) $15
New era cap $12
Bikini (Ed hardy,polo) $20
===== http://www.fashionclothe.com ====
===== http://www.fashionclothe.com ====
fgj