May 22, 2015

We knew it was coming: that inevitable, science-hating, pandering that must be part of the platform of any GOP candidate with a chance at the nomination. Jeb Bush, in a New Hampshire town hall meeting on Wednesday, showed his disdain for 'arrogant' folks who happen to value the findings of reputable scientists.

After a citizen asks on day one, how will climate change shape Jeb's foreign policy, he replies:

"First of all the climate is changing. Um, I don't think the science is clear of what percentage is man-made and what percentage is natural. I just don't-- it's convoluted and for the people to say the science is decided on this is just really arrogant to be honest with you. It's intellectual arrogance that now you can't have a conversation even... (regarding other countries) A small part in terms of prioritization we need to encourage the (nations) states that have had an increase in carbon emissions, WE'RE not one of them! We've had a decrease, a pretty significant decrease and it will continue on, not because of Barack Obama, but because of the energy revolution, because of free-enterprise, because of private property rights because of American innovation has created a combination of two existing technologies: hydraulic fracking and horizontal drilling has created an explosion of lower carbon energy that is being used to replace higher carbon energy. (emphasis mine)

Jeb said that the President is trying to destroy "all the good news that is coming out of the oil patch." Was he referring to the good news off the coast of Santa Barbara at Refugio Beach? Don't worry, Jeb has help from CNN who is telling us that it's not as bad as they say, the Crude flowed 'well below' capacity in ruptured pipe. Ironically, the negligent energy company name is rather patriotic: Plains All American Pipeline. Oil-soaked birds of a feather, like Jeb and oil companies, will always pollute together (if we let them).

With an eerily familiar word salad-delivery, Jeb labeled current efforts to curtail our carbon footprint basically meaningless, and all we need to do is keep costs down by increasing fossil-fuel based production.

"The president's approach is, effectively, reduce economic activity to lower our carbon footprint, because that's not what he says, of course, but that's the net result of his policies. And higher costs for particularly for low income people, now he'll probably say well we need another subsidy to overcome that, and that's how we go. You know, we make it, we increase the cost for people then we say it's not fair they have to pay that, rather than say, let's find the lowest cost energy sources, to be able to allow people to get the best deal they're got, their utility bills, well, New Hampshire's a little difficult, but in other places, utility bills have gone down because of use of natural gas, and gas at the pump has gone down because of the same phenomena, and it's A WIN!... I don't think we should ignore it, either. I think, one thing, I think, just generally I think, as conservatives, we should embrace innovation, embrace technology, embrace science; it's the source of a lot more solutions than any government-imposed idea."

First of all, what was his point? Was his point that fracking will lower gas prices at the pump, and the earthquakes and flammable tap water are really no biggie? No, he wants us to believe that government-imposed entities (taxpayer funded), such as NASA, are no match for the innovation of the private sector. Except we all know NASA was able to accomplish more than all the private sector corporations combined. Republicans want us to believe that government NEVER works because in their hands, it doesn't. But this is false.

In terms of innovation, the private sector is not suited to long term projects. This is because corporations are based on quarterly reporting. If a project takes 20 years to complete, or even just to show some progress, that project is less likely to receive continual funding.

To illustrate this point Virgin Galactic wouldn’t exist if not for help from NASA. In 2007 Virgin and NASA signed a memorandum of understanding with each other. This memorandum set forth that NASA and Virgin Galactic would work together, with Virgin Galactic gaining invaluable resources in the process. Without the help of NASA’s cumulative research on hypersonic vehicle concept maturation, computational fluid dynamics, and simulation support Virgin Galactic might not exist. So before we decide that space is best left in the hands of the private sector let us remember they are standing on NASA’s shoulders.

Iraq was not the only thing he's flip-flopped on.

First, Jeb Bush said he was “not a scientist” when it comes to climate change. Now, he says the scientists are not to be believed.

I guess this person, who respects the collective opinion of all but two scientists on climate change, will just have to keep on being "arrogant."

Can you help us out?

For nearly 20 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.

Discussion

We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Please refer to our Terms of Service for information on our posting policy.
Mastodon