Boxer demands Mukasey force EPA to withdraw ‘blatantly illegal’ memo ignoring carbon emissions.
Boxer demands Mukasey force EPA to withdraw ‘blatantly illegal’ memo ignoring carbon emissions.
Last week, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson — citing “sound policy considerations — wrote a memo declaring “that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant to be regulated when approving power plants.” On Monday, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, wrote Attorney General Mike Mukasey a letter demanding that he ensure that Johnson withdraw “his blatantly illegal memo“:
I am writing to request that as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, you intervene immediately with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson to ensure that he withdraws his blatantly illegal memo. [...]
The Johnson document presents as arguments against including carbon dioxide emissions in a Clean Air Act permit the same kind of transparent excuses for inaction on global warming pollution that both the Supreme Court and the Environmental Appeals Board flatly rejected in their respective opinions.
Boxer points out that the memo “flies in the face” of the Supreme Court’s 2007 decision. As conservative legal scholar Jonathan Adler acknowledged, “Under that decision, the EPA is effectively obligated to begin the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.”
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Boxer expects Mukasey to do his job? Ha!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:45 amShe’s demanding now. Later, she’ll respectfully request. And then, finally, she’ll “look forward not backward” and forget about it entirely after he ignores her at each step.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:53 amMukasey? She’s asking Mukasey to listen, let alone TAKE ORDERS from Senators? Representatives? Boxer?
Don’t you know there’s a war on?
December 24th, 2008 at 10:53 amHey, Boxer, you forgot to add lots of exclamation points in your letter. Now you will just have to write another…..
Yeah, another letter, that always gets bushbots moving in the right direction… yeah, right.
**bangs head on desk***
December 24th, 2008 at 10:57 amA snarling little chihuahua under the table doesn’t scare anyone.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:13 amThe most we can hope for is that Mukasey gets a paper cut on his butt from the sternly worded letter and then develops toxic shock syndrome while scratching his butt with said finger.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:16 amPaper cut on his finger I mean.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:17 amShe’s demanding now. Later, she’ll respectfully request. And then, finally, she’ll “look forward not backward” and forget about it entirely after he ignores her at each step.
She’d better do all that in a big hurry, as Mukasey’s only got about four weeks left of playing Mob Lawyer for Bush’s political crime syndicate.
After that, Boxer will have to be careful what she demands, because someone might actually follow through and do it.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:20 amJohnson is going to get a lump of coal from Santa this year. Problem is, he’ll like it!
December 24th, 2008 at 11:26 amAnd why would the Bush Administration care if something was illegal? He has been doing illegal things for quite some time now thanks to the complicit Democrats who refused to impeach him.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:35 amGlad to see most that have jumped on this thread understand that this looks like more meaningless posturing.
We will see, we will see…..
December 24th, 2008 at 11:50 amIllegal… interesting point. For agencies that refuse to do their jobs, maybe we should just chuck ‘em in da hoosegow.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:55 amAnother Joe Says:
Glad to see most that have jumped on this thread understand that this looks like more meaningless posturing.
For the last 8 years, its been letters, letters, everywhere and nary an Impeachment Table in sight.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am( Thanks a whole lot for nothing Nancy Pelosi )
Barbara, the problem as I see it: You lack credibility.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:11 pmThis huge character deficit which you are unable to grasp began long before you “took impeachment off the table”
You are an amoral polital whore that works both sides of the street. Your stripes change when the wind blows.
Does the congress need its own militarized police force to start enforcing its oversight obligations? I’d like to see law breakers like Stephen Johnson swept up by a swat team.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pmRequest?
December 24th, 2008 at 12:16 pmWTF?!?!?
Demand, you gutless, feckless, useless, worthless whore!
carbon dioxide is not a pollutant
I was learned that people inhale oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide while plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhales oxygen.
What is the problem? Too many people and not enough plants?
December 24th, 2008 at 12:24 pmAs someone who has been a committed liberal for 50 years, I have to say that many of you people make it hard and embarassing to be a liberal. Nothing liberals do can turn me away from liberalism, but referring to Senator Barbara Boxer, a Democrat with one of the most stridently liberal voting records in congress as a “worthless whore,” a snarling little dog under the table, or lacking in credibility is simply disgraceful. Sorry everyone, but these posts look like something I’d see from a moron on Free Republic. I’m willing to allow that some of these comments are from weazily whiny conservative trolls who have nothing but disregard for any liberal like Boxer, but “vinylspear” for example is simply over the top.
Vinylspear, you have no idea what you’re talking about. You evidently have no idea how the legislative branch works and you seem to have no clue as to who Boxer is and what is her voting record. Do you people understand how our government works? Do you have any inkling of the complexity of our legislative branch and how things get done? Many of you seem to think Democrats should have modeled Republicans in the legislature and brought impeachment hearings that had absolutely no chance of conviction in the Senate as political theater. I don’t want Dems to act like republicans. If they have a chance at conviction, then have at it. If not, it’s just political theater. Don’t you people get that??!! Wise up! You’re supposed to be liberals. You’re supposed to be informed – not a bunch of fricking knee-jerk reactionaries like moron conservatives. Come on, people!
December 24th, 2008 at 12:27 pmGame of Life Says:
carbon dioxide is not a pollutant
I was learned that people inhale oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide while plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhales oxygen.
What is the problem?
I think I see the problem.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pmGame of Life Says:
What is the problem? Too many people and not enough plants?
December 24th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Things are way, WAY out of balance. That’s the problem.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:33 pmWell said, 49erDem. Barbara Boxer is one of the best. I’ve admired her for years.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pmJOe: “Glad to see most that have jumped on this thread understand that this looks like more meaningless posturing.”
Once again, do you people understand how the Senate works? All I think this thread demonstrates is that they don’t teach Civics in high school anymore.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pmThank you, Zooey. I needed that. I can’t imagine why anyone who calls themself a liberal would refer to Barbara Boxer the way some above have. Unbelievable.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:36 pmAh, the plants still need the oxygen if they are going to generate any cellular energy to sustain their life activities…
December 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm49erDem
My take is that the responses are not reactionary – the tp community has voiced loudly for some time their exhaustion at the constant letter writing with virtually no step 2 in the accountability process. It’s lather-rinse-repeat because some dems are afraid to take on the big boys though the voters gave them that mandate.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pmI do agree, 49erDem, however, that a female rep. should not be called a “whore.”
December 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pmThank you, McWars. Happy holidays to everyone here including vinylspear and token liberal. May the new year and new greater democratic majorities result in actions that make us all happy.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pmMysteriousTraveller Says:
The most we can hope for is that Mukasey gets a paper cut on his butt from the sternly worded letter and then develops toxic shock syndrome while scratching his butt with said finger.
Paper cut on his finger I mean.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:16 am
_____________
I’d think a paper cut on his butt is entirely within the realm of possibility, considering that Mukasey is just going to wipe his ass with Boxer’s letter.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pmMcWars Says:
I do agree, 49erDem, however, that a female rep. should not be called a “whore.”
December 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
_________
Totally. The term applies equally well to the male members of Congress.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:59 pm49erDem Says:
Once again, do you people understand how the Senate works?
The way the Senate ( and the House ) work ( or doesn’t ) now? Or how it is supposed to work?
How many subpoenas have been issued by both houses of Congress have been issued and ignored by the Bush Administration?
How many times has Congress used its authority to send the Sargent of Arms to arrest them and jail them in the cell in the basement, as the Supreme Court upheld that it is within their authority to do if the Attorney General is not doing his job?
How many Senators, Boxer included, have screamed about Reid or Pelosi not allowing Congress to do its Constitutionally mandated duty?
Personally I would not call Boxer any of the names some have called her, and yes she does have a very good voting record, but she is part of the problem if she is not actively trying to get rid of the Senate majority leader who is not interested in doing his job.
I am sick of the Democrats in the House and Senate sitting with their thumbs up their collective butts while the country falls apart around their ears.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pmHopefully they can be more effective in Jan, but with the current leadership staying in their seats ( Pelosi and Reid ) I hope that my hope is not in vain.
49erDem Says:
Thank you, McWars. Happy holidays to everyone here including vinylspear and token liberal. May the new year and new greater democratic majorities result in actions that make us all happy.
Thanks for your kindness, 49. 2009 will not be 2001-2008, and that is a great relief to the progressive community.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:08 pmMukasey was put in the job to stall and cover up the crimes the White House did for 8 years. Right now old man Mukasey is busy looking for a loop hole in the US Pardon Law. He is also looking for a way to get his son out of the SEC fraud matter. Yes Mukasey’s son is part of the crime team and made millions by fraud but his Daddy is the AG. Mukasey could care less about Boxer or Leahy, he knows how to stall. Mukasey got paid big money to play and he’s worth every dollar.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pmThe SCOTUS is more environmentally friendly in their decisions than the EPA’s head? That’s f-ed up.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pmI am an air quality engineer and I deal with Clean Air Act regulations day in and day out. To me it makes a lot of sense to address global warming issues by reducing greenhouse gas emissions…. but the federal new source review program is totally NOT the system to use to accomplish this. This time EPA is getting it right.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:45 pmwaterdog Says:
I am an air quality engineer and I deal with Clean Air Act regulations day in and day out. To me it makes a lot of sense to address global warming issues by reducing greenhouse gas emissions…. but the federal new source review program is totally NOT the system to use to accomplish this.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
__________
Why not? Shouldn’t carbon output be taken into consideration in the environmental impact assessment of a new power plant?
December 24th, 2008 at 2:04 pmwaterdog Says:
This time EPA is getting it right.
Since when is breaking the law of the land and violating an order from the Supreme Court right?
December 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmFunny to read so many people villify a liberal for trying to do something right.
I’m with you 49er Dem. I thought I had arrived at red state by accident when I started reading through this thread.
You guys all call Boxer part of the problem, yet, here she is trying to do something right and where is your support…….no wonder the republicans can take over so easily…………..
I’ve noticed that post counts are down here. I know I have quit coming as often. The democrat bashing here is emotional and usually totally unfair.(this is a perfect example).
Merry Christmas everyone and try to maintain a little balance in your judgments.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmvinylspear Says:
Barbara, the problem as I see it: You lack credibility.
This huge character deficit which you are unable to grasp began long before you “took impeachment off the table”
You are an amoral polital whore that works both sides of the street. Your stripes change when the wind blows.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
You do understand that Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi are two different people, right?
December 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pmFred Says:
You guys all call Boxer part of the problem, yet, here she is trying to do something right and where is your support…….no wonder the republicans can take over so easily…………..
Critiquing the Democrats when they do something wrong is not the same as supporting Republicans. I know you have trouble with that concept Fred. We are not locksteppers like the Republicans are.
And no I am not saying Boxer is wrong to write the letter, her voting record is one I agree with too.
There have been so many letters written and ignored that it is way past time for Congress to start sending the Sargent of Arms to put the crooks in the Bush Administration in that basement cell until they comply with the law.
Writing another letter is ineffective, it does not work. The Bush thugs will only understand when they are cuffed and led to that jail cell.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pmWayne Says:
Since when is breaking the law of the land and violating an order from the Supreme Court right?
December 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Dred Scott?
December 24th, 2008 at 2:24 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
Wayne Says:
Since when is breaking the law of the land and violating an order from the Supreme Court right?
December 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Dred Scott?
Yep, the Supreme Court was very wrong on that one.
I would also point out Bush vs Gore as a wrong decision and more contemporary.
But, do you think the SCOTUS is wrong on the Clean Air Act? Or do you side with Johnson? =)
December 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pmThe anti-locksteppers mime is counter productive in cases like this. Why use in this case?
You said yourself that you agree with her voting record, why take this opportunity to marginalize her efforts. Do you want her to give up? You can’t drum up a little support for doing the right thing and encourage her to not give up the fight?
I’m not a lockstepper either but I’m all for supporting people who are trying to make things right. I see that as being the case with Barbara Boxer on this issue.
There are some here who I suspect are here to undermine progressive interaction in the blogosphere and the best way to do that is to mount an attractive attack against poorly performing democrats…..it seems to be working.
We have a new opportunity to move real progressives forward and weed out the opportunists.
Lets just keep moving in that direction and stop with the instant gratification emotion that implies that if they don’t do exactly what you want, when you want it that they are the enemy.
Wayne, I know you are a real progressive and I respect your opinions. I agree with them, all, as far as I can remember. I’m not trying to pick a fight with you, I just want to point out that we can’t let our anger control our actions. I know from personal experience that you will make bad decisions sometimes under those circumstances.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:39 pmZooey Says:
You do understand that Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi are two different people, right?
I suspect some people may be confusing Boxer with the real corporate whore Feinstein.
Boxer is really one of the good guys (or gal rather )
December 24th, 2008 at 2:39 pmWhat is this one, her 4th ’strongly worded’ letter? The 5th?
She’s one of two people representing a State which, were it a nation, would have the 4h or 5th largest economy in the WORLD. 40 Million people? The Calif Nat. Guard is bigger then the entire armies of most of the United Nations combined.
She is one person I’d suggest who was in the enviable position of demanding that the Attorney General do his job…howsoever (coincidentally) late in the scenario the demand comes…
December 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pmFred Says:
Wayne, I know you are a real progressive and I respect your opinions. I agree with them, all, as far as I can remember. I’m not trying to pick a fight with you, I just want to point out that we can’t let our anger control our actions. I know from personal experience that you will make bad decisions sometimes under those circumstances.
I will admit I do have a temper and may have said something I later regretted at times, but I usually have a good sense of right and wrong. I strongly disagreed with Obama caving on the FISA, teco immunity, for example. But I did receive an email from Obama and one from his campaign director when I wrote the Obama campaign, though I still disagreed with them on that one thing. I still supported his campaign.
I thought i was wrong once, but it turned out I was mistaken. ( thats a joke )
December 24th, 2008 at 2:48 pmtokin librul Says:
What is this one, her 4th ’strongly worded’ letter? The 5th?
She’s one of two people representing a State which, were it a nation, would have the 4h or 5th largest economy in the WORLD. 40 Million people? The Calif Nat. Guard is bigger then the entire armies of most of the United Nations combined.
She is one person I’d suggest who was in the enviable position of demanding that the Attorney General do his job…howsoever (coincidentally) late in the scenario the demand comes…
Boxer by herself cannot do more than write a letter, tokin. My beef is with the Democratic leadership in Congress which has not let the members do the right thing and throw the Bushbots in that basement cell. Though it might be a bit crowded in that old cell if all that needed to be in there were put there at the same time.
Maybe you do need to retake civic classes…
December 24th, 2008 at 2:59 pmBoxer is one of our better senators and probably should be in a greater leadership position. Still not enough is being done to curb Carbon Dioxide emissions. The lame duck administration and its appointees are wasting valuable time to score brownie points with their corporate masters. They seem more than willing to cut their noses off to spite their own faces. Bastards.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pmGame of Life, too much of an element can kill. Nitrogen, for instance, makes plants leafy and green. Tons of nitrogen run-off from fertilizers streaming into the ocean creates huge dead zones.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pmWhat do you expect from the Criminal Bush and the RepubliCon Contract on America!
December 24th, 2008 at 6:29 pm