Candidates need to be ready to blow away the arguments
By Steve Milloy
If you’re thinking of becoming a Republican presidential candidate – and who isn’t these days – you can plan on being pressed on the climate issue. In the wake of last week’s new report from a panel of the National Research Council (NRC) reiterating its old talking points on climate, The Washington Post editorialized that all (read “Republican”) candidates for political office should be quizzed about whether they agree with the “scientific consensus of America’s premier scientific advisory group.”
Although this threat is intended to intimidate Republicans who tend toward queasiness when confronted with environmental issues, the attack is easy to parry and then even to counterattack – that’s why Al Gore and his enviros duck debating so-called “climate skeptics.”
First, let’s dismiss a couple of faulty premises of The Post’s editorial.
While it is true that the NRC operates under the umbrella of the National Academy of Sciences, the NRC panel that authored the report has nothing to do with the prestigious individual scientists who make up the National Academy of Sciences membership. NRC panels are highly politicized and often stacked, and no climate skeptics were included in the panel that wrote last week’s report.
Next, science doesn’t work on a consensus basis. We don’t accept that the Earth revolves around the Sun because most scientists or a group of scientists have agreed to say so. Science is driven by data, not groupthink.
In actuality, the NRC report is more an exercise in political science than climate science.
Read the rest of this op-ed at the Washington Times.
Steve Milloy is the author of Green Hell.
Hope T-Paw has changed his ways on climate change. We shall see and mine as well as other voters are awaiting.
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog
“Subsidies are cash payments from government to the private sector. Money is taken from the 51% of Americans who still pay income taxes – and transferred by legislators and bureaucrats to companies and activities that “deserve†or “require†these wealth transfers, because the recipients perform an important service and/or could not remain in business unless subsidized with other people’s money (OPM).
The petroleum industry does not receive “subsidies†to produce oil and natural gas. It doesn’t even get “special tax breaks†or outright tax credits. What are falsely described in these terms are actually tax deductions for costs incurred by companies in the process of exploring, drilling, producing and refining the oil and natural gas that energize this nation’s economy and living standards.
These tax deductions are equivalent or similar to deductions claimed by every US business, large and small, for things like facilities depreciation, equipment, utilities, payroll, and research and development. They are intended to ensure that businesses, like individuals, recover their costs and get taxed only on their net incomes. For oil companies those deductions include:
* Geological and geophysical costs, for exploration to assess prospects prior to drilling;
* Intangible drilling costs – equipment, labor, fuel and supplies associated with drilling expensive wells;
* Expensing “tertiary injectants,†water and chemicals injected into older wells to keep them producing;
* Domestic manufacturer’s deductions of up to 6% of income earned from extracting oil and gas (farmers, manufacturers and other producers can deduct up to 9% of earned income);
* Percentage depletion allowance, allowing for gradual recovery of up-front investments in a petroleum (or iron, gold, limestone, et cetera) deposit that is gradually extracted and depleted. The allowance is no longer (since 1975) available to “integrated†companies that produce, refine and market oil.”
one fact that you have missed. ALL cost is passed on to the consumer. LET ME BE CLEAR ALL COST IS PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER. Taxes are a form of costs and thy are passed on to the consumer. if taxed it will not only be the rich that pay it because ALL COST is passed on. For every product.
Oh thank you God, now I can sleep at nite knowing the oil companies are not the tax-dodging greedy pigs they appear to be. They deserve all the help and breaks us middle class/working class can give, on top of the prices at the gas pumps. Poor things…
Yeah, those greedy pigs! They just step out of their front door, knock on the ground with a secret knock, stick a straw in it and out comes the oil! Then it magically flies through the air to a refinery where a fairy sprinkles pixie dust on it and transforms it into gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other petrolium by-products! From there it’s emailed, via the internet, to the gas stations, and stored in magic bubbles of imagination, where a monkey turns a transfer pump from the magic bubble to your vehicle. And all the while they just pocket all the profits, and don’t spend a dime on exploration, extraction, transportation, storage, or refining it. What evil greedy bas**rds indeed!
But ethenol subsidies/tax breaks are ok? That is a contradiction.
No- I don’t agree with that either. Not only that, those other industries aren’t posting record profits either… so much for logic and reason from the Right… What that means is we working class taxpayers are being forced to give money to an industry (big oil) that not only doesn’t need it, but is already benefitting from tax loop holes that regular schmucks like us could never dream of. Big oil needs more champions and sycophants like we all need another hole in our heads. But hey go for it, it’s a free country. You are free to make fools of yourselves.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/1168.html
“(1) Do oil companies currently pay too little in taxes compared to profits?
(2) What was the effect of the last windfall profits tax enacted in 1980?
The answer to the first question is that over the past 25 years, oil companies directly paid or remitted more than $2.2 trillion in taxes, after adjusting for inflation, to federal and state governments—including excise taxes, royalty payments and state and federal corporate income taxes. That amounts to more than three times what they earned in profits during the same period, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and U.S. Department of Energy.
These figures do not include local property taxes, state sales and severance taxes and on-shore royalty payments.
The answer to the second question, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), is that the 1980s windfall profits tax depressed the domestic production and extraction industry and furthered our dependence on foreign sources of oil.”
“The past year has clearly been a good year for oil companies. However, these large profits should be viewed in proper perspective, given the staggering amount of tax the industry currently pays and remits to governments at the federal, state, and local levels. As the experience of the past quarter-century has shown, governments have actually “profited†more from the oil industry than the industry has earned for its shareholders.”
http://co2insanity.com/2011/05/12/global-warming-fraud-creates-third-world-food-crisis/
“Honest scientific inquiry serves the single purpose of advancing human knowledge and understanding free of any bias or ulterior motivation and it is clear that promoting “human caused global warming†a full nine years after the world had already started cooling serves no such lofty purpose.”
“Hansen made unfounded and highly alarmist claims based on his computer forecasts. He predicted doomsday scenarios that panicked Congress and that wave of fear stampeded the world into believing in a non-existent crisis. Global temperatures have never rocketed as Hansen forecast. In fact all five global temperature datasets show zero net global warming over the past decade in spite of record increases in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels (climate scientists have now grudgingly conceded no statistically significant rise in temperatures has occurred since 1998 from their doomsaying). But once the stampede was launched it caused a rush to biofuels that stripped millions of crop acreage from the world’s food basket.”
I got a little peek into the Rightwing Bible as written by that wonderful prophet Rush Limpbag… here’s a tidbit:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the rich. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the white collar criminals, and collect working class tax dollars to bail out corporate thieves if they face negative returns, to turn the other cheek to those who have stolen billions, to proclaim the favorable dominance of the GOP. Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in America, praise the Lord.”
“Blessed are you who are rich, for yours is the kingdom of Republicanism. Blessed are you who are greedy pigs now, for you shall never be made to suffer but be classified too big to fail so taxpayers are forced to bail your fat arses out. Blessed are you who laugh now at the expense of the underprivileged, for you shall laugh later when cashing in foreclosed properties from the same.â€
“Did not God choose the rich of this world to be fake in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love money?â€
“Accumulate possessions and don’t pay your fair share of taxes. Lay up for yourselves treasures on earth in secret Swiss accounts or off-shore shelters so you can go to heaven with that sense of accomplishment. Seek ye first the Kingdom of Wealth, and all these things shall be added unto thee.”
I really don’t know if Rush ever uttered thoes words. I would not doubt it. Having said that I can see the satire in it. If any one anywhere in the world believes that he “Preaches” hording your wealth they they are the most gullable of people. I don’t have to defend Rush he is quite capable of doing that himself… I just want to know where you Cut that from Robbie Boy. I like going to the sites that brainwash you for entertainment. Unfoutunatly they harm masses of undereducated drones who dont even understand the simple concept that text without context = ignorance….
Neil on the other hand you have shown another side in your last post. Drones elect drones. The whole left wing movement is full of sheep. The first one goes off the cliff and the rest follow.
http://tpjmagazine.us/20110515adams
“The Republican Holy Bible By Loren Adams, 15 May 2011”
JAK: No, El Rushbo never said that, not even as a satirical bit. I posted above the source for this garbage. If you go there bring a barf bag!
You do realize, don’t you, that many moderates and most Progressives think the exact same thing about you extremists….i.e. ignorant sheep/lemmings…?
Interesting comments. Love your comments Neil and Sir knot. Keep it up. RB cannot answer, nor will he with clarity.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MEMORIAL_DAY_SNOW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-05-27-04-51-12
May 27, 4:51 AM EDT
“DENVER (AP) — Ski resorts are bustling with activity. A key highway into Yellowstone is closed because parts of the road have seen more than 25 feet of snow. And campgrounds are feverishly removing snow from campsites to clear the way for visitors.
Welcome to Memorial Day weekend in much of the West.
The traditional kickoff of the summer season will have a decidedly wintry feel in the Rocky Mountains, as well as California’s Sierra Nevada, because of a lingering record snowfall.”
How much more clear can I be? Oh well. It is insane to continue such contact with the extremely inane. Good luck with your pet projects and attacks on democracy and liberty… not.
It’s Memorial weekend remember? Say a prayer or is that not political correct?
Play the victim… again. The Right has really mastered that dubious skill.
It’s Memorial Day upcoming. Won’t comment on trivial nonsensical posts.
uhh, but you just did….
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/kyoto-deal-loses-four-big-nations-20110528-1f9dk.html#ixzz1NhVWBzZ0
“Japan and Canada told the G8 they would not join a second round of carbon cuts under the Kyoto Protocol at United Nations talks this year and the US reiterated it would remain outside the treaty, European diplomats have said.”
“The US, the second-largest carbon emitter, signed the protocol in 1997 but in 2001 the then president, George W. Bush, said he would not put it to the Senate for ratification.”
The second paragraph there made me stop and scratch my head. “(Clinton admin) signed the protocol in 1997 but in 2001 the then president, George W. Bush, said he would not put it to the Senate for ratification.”???? I think I may have stumbled across a rewriting of history! At first I thought it was just this story I read that says this, but I did some searching on the history of the Kyoto protocol, and found numerous accounts of Bush being the one who would not send it to the Senate for ratification, and it was never ratified.
At first I wondered if I was remembering it wrong, but then I found an account of it as I remembered it to be.
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Kyoto_Protocol_and_the_United_States
“The United States signed the Protocol on November 12, 1998. However, the Clinton Administration did not submit the Protocol to the Senate for advice and consent, acknowledging that one condition outlined by S.Res. 98, passed in mid-1997 — meaningful participation by developing countries in binding commitments limiting greenhouse gases — had not been met.”
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess112_1997-1998/bills/1132.htm
“TO MEMORIALIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES NOT TO SIGN THE KYOTO PROTOCOL OR TO SUBMIT THE SAME FOR RATIFICATION TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE UNLESS THE PROTOCOL IS AMENDED OR OTHERWISE REVISED, CONSISTENT WITH UNITED STATES SENATE RESOLUTION 98, TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC SCHEDULED COMMITMENTS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WITHIN THE SAME COMPLIANCE PERIOD OR PERIODS AS REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, AND TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO REJECT ANY PROPOSED PROTOCOL OR OTHER AMENDMENT TO THE 1992 UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE (FCCC) THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH UNITED STATES SENATE RESOLUTION 98 OR THAT DOES NOT COMPLY FULLY WITH THAT RESOLUTION.”
And will continue.
So you contradict yourself…? Equal opportunity contradictor.
It’s Memorial Day, do you not honor the friends that fought for your freedom to post on this site? I guess I’m wrong.
Yes, you are wrong…again.
I guess I am. Sorry that you do not memorialize the one’s that fought to keep your freedom to say what you just said. Sad actually.
They don’t fight to keep anyone’s freedom except the freedom of the MIC and elite wealthy to remain so.
Here’s some words from a real man of wisdom- not some lies and/or propaganda: From the speech JFK was to deliver the day he was assassinated: “…America’s leadership must be guided by the lights of learning and reason — or else those who confuse rhetoric with reality and the plausible with the possible will gain the popular ascendancy with their seemingly swift and simple solutions to every world problem.”
Your comments about our soldiers that gave their lives for all of us repulses me and I don’t give a damn if I’m deleted!
I’m sorry if the truth hurts your sensibilities. That happens to all of us from time to time. The truth ain’t always pretty that’s for sure. But being an adult is all about facing it and dealing with it. Or not.
You are no JFK and that is being nice. He, John F. Kennedy was a soldier that was unfortunately murdered and he was honored as well on “Memorial Day.” You have a problem with that don’t you. Question: When did you stop hating JFK?
WTF?
JFK, “The real man of wisdom” was a soldier. Yes, WTF? “What the facts” state.
A soldier in WWII, yes. I take examples like him separately because of his status and personality. Apples and oranges…. you cannot compare them. What is it about this type of basic logic you don’t get? I know… you just don’t.
JFK escallated the Vietnam chaos. Were you aware of that? Not that it really matters any longer. Time has past and my dead friends from Nam are still honored by millions for their sacrific.
Bye Robbie Boy. You bore me.
Wrong- after initially assigning more advisors into Vietnam. JFK had plans to get the US out of there. Then his brains were blown out by the MIC/CIA/and Mafia. Then one of Johnson’s first moves as Prez was to reverse JFK’s plans and HE escalated that war. You are so boringly wrong…again. You live in a delusion, a world that doesn’t really exist.
Dasvidania.
Is that Russian for “I was wrong again and I admit it”?
Baiting someone is called “Chumming” something for which you would have no knowledge. Ask Soros, he knows. If not, your mentor will instruct you.
I thought you figured out Soros is my mentor… what’s up with your facilation and confusion? Or is it Saul Alinsky? Al Gore?
Their agenda is all the same.
What agenda is that again? Enviro-fascism? Socialism? Communism? Pollution-free democracy? Winner-take-all Capitalism?
When did you quit beating your dog?
What?! Paul didn’t answer a simple question??!!! Wow, I’m so shocked.
I’m awaiting your answer.
Oh… good one. Boy you really turned the tables on me…. wow, amazing.
Well?
The inanity is relentless. Wearing me down… As usual this Righty trait wins by senseless default. A pyhrric victory, but you will revel in it, of course. The Right doesn’t care how it wins, as long as it wins and everyone else loses, irregardless of diminished dignity, honor, integrity, for all. How archaic. Prehistoric even.
Love compliments.
more denial…?? lame attempt at sarcasm? It’s ok- you will be left to wallow in your own little echo chamber with no sanity to be subjected to. Soon.
Show me. I’m impatiently waiting.
Be impatient all you want. See if I care.
You must, you responded like Pavlov’s dog.
Projection…
Man, you love that word. Nice word accually. Always a response to dodge direct questions.