Congressman Darrell Issa, chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and a no show in his home district (the ) for the entire campaign season, has been steadfast in his harsh positions and actions regarding climate change, global warming, and our changing environment.
Check out this quote pulled from Darrell Issa’s website:
“One of the difficulties in examining the issue of the climate change and greenhouse gases is that there is a wide range of scientific opinion on this issue and the science community does not agree to the extent of the problem or the critical threshold of when this problem is truly catastrophic.”
I wonder if Mr. Issa is going to blame the science community for not giving him the actual dates in advance of the catastrophe that was Hurricane Sandy. I wonder what the citizens along the coast of New York and New Jersey think about Mr. Issa’s make-believe view that there is ‘wide range of scientific opinion’ of ‘the extent of the problem’.
I briefly spoke to Darrell Issa’s legislative aide last week on Halloween at a US Postal Workers against Mr. Issa’s position to privatize the postal service. The rally was at Issa’s district office in Vista (and his personal business office). I paraphrased this website quote to him in the context of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation and what seems like a myopic political position. He said something like “….the problem is very complex, it is bigger than just the USA, and that ‘is’ the problem…”.
OK, I get it. Why should America bite-the-bullet and even consider doing something hard like attacking climate change in a big way, or hardening our at-risk coast lines (read: spending taxpayer dollars, possibly adding more regulations to limit emissions). Why? Because America leads, that is why! And usually where America goes the world follows!
Another quote from the same Darrell Issa website:
“Now is the time to encourage the development of zero-emission clean energy generation, such as nuclear, hydro-electricity, wind, solar, all of which can meet our energy needs now and replace older and dirtier fossil fuel generation.”
Actions speak louder than words, and in this case Congressman Issa’s positions, actions, votes and his own words show he lacks any credibility when it comes to doing what is right by our nation and its citizens.
Mr. Issa famously used his committee—three investigations of wasted government resources and tax payer dollars—to try and discredit the science behind climate change with his misguided attacks on free thinking scientists at the United Kingdom’s University of East Anglia Climate Change Research unit, the so called ‘Climategate’ controversy. He was rebuffed when the truth and facts became known. The science behind climate change is incontrovertible, it is without debate, accept it or get out of the way.
Mr. Issa used his Committee—11 investigations of wasted government resources and tax payer dollars—to repeatedly accuse Department of Energy employees of engaging in illegal criminal conduct, disregarding the law and basing decisions on partisan politics and corruption. All claims that have been proven untrue. (But these statements are all very good descriptions of Darrell Issa’s own personal, professional and political life, past and present (The New Yorker, Jan 24, 2011, “Don’t Look Back”; and The New York Times, Aug, 14, 2011, “A Businessman in Congress Helps His District and Himself”).
His attacks were so distasteful to the DOE that Rep Elijah Cummings, ranking member on the House Oversight Committee issued a formal letter to the chairman telling “…Issa to refrain from making unsubstantiated allegations against Department of Energy employees and to correct the record for multiple claims that have proved inaccurate…”.
Mr. Issa used his committee to challenge the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to set rules limiting greenhouse gas emission from autos and light trucks when recent negotiated agreements between the White House and automotive manufacturers of cars and light trucks dared to set new national fleet average miles per gallon numbers: by 2016 = 35.5 MPG, by 2025 = 54.5 MPG (and a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gas/CO2 emissions). I don’t see the problem here, does anyone?
Mr. Issa voted against Cap and Trade, and he has been unrelenting in his criticism of the White House regarding the failure of the solar panel maker Solyndra during the stimulus program.
His positions and his behavior are an ongoing embarrassment to many in his ‘new’ district; I for one look forward to the day he is removed, or removes himself, from office.
Dr. David S. Golman
Encinitas, CA
Citizen in the 49th Congressional District
Most species are not capable of adaptation the way humans are. We see species decline due to changes in climate. Humans will not survive the ongoing loss of other species. We can only adapt for so long. The planet will adjust. The adjustments it makes will take place. If it becomes too warm, it may take a 95% die-off of humans for the planet to recover. At some point soon, we may tell the planet we're sorry, or ask it for more time. You understand, of course, the planet can't speak, but in its own way it has been telling us for a while now that things are changing, not for the better. We won't be able to claim we weren't given adequate warning. We cannot afford climate change deniers in Congress, even if they wear nice suits. Human activity, use of fossil fuels, are not the sole reasons for the earth's temperature rising, but the correlation since the beginning of industrialization between temperature rise and fossil fuel use is undeniable.
Jay Berman - Why don't you tell us where you heard about Agenda 21. Most people have never heard of it. We both know the answer, don't we. Issa is one of the worst Reps in Congress. He is a criminal and corrupt. He is a true enemy of America. Global climate change is real and man caused. You want an explanation about the size of fire stations why not ask Mark Muir. Nothing to do with Agenda 21. If you are looking forward to having a real President in office then stay tuned for the return of President Obama, a real President. Tell us what qualifies you to be an expert on weather? Oh, that's right, you watch The Weather Channel. But you don't have the sense to come in out of the rain. What small business do you own and what has Obama done that prevented you from thriving and hiring? I have a small business and the recession started for me in December of 2007. That was before Obama became President. Now, it's almost five years later and my business is way down but it's not because of anything that Obama has done it because the obstructionist Republican Party of NO has put all of their energy into destroying our President instead of trying to help improve the economy.
Issa is a man whose priorities are certainly not the voters in his district. He even said it in an interview with the Rancho Santa Fe Review back in March. When asked if the redistricting and change in constituency might affect how he would vote on issues, he said "I don’t see where the district is going to make any difference at all." I would expect a congressman to visit his district, meet his new constituents and talk with them about their situations and needs. Not Mr. Issa.
If you could get your head out of Glenn Beck's backside and breathe something other than the rightiwng nut blogosphere, you might be ashamed .but probably not, as you are a self admitted worshipper oif the felon Issa, of your tendentious statements. How did that "President" Romney work out for ya..nut job? By the way....I owned a small business.........and the problem is not "gubmint"..it's the nature of small business. Cyclical recessions, fast changing technology and a society unmoored from out recent past because conservative offshore production and jobs to increase THEIR profits. So spare us the wingnut bs. Sheesh. Jeesus I dspise rethuglicans and their al quaeda, the know nothing conservatives.