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12 Jul 2011 20:53

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Politics: Lights out: GOP push to repeal light-bulb law forces pun usage

  • 2007 In a bipartisan bill supported by president George W. Bush, a bill raising the standards for energy-efficient light bulbs passes with little trouble. The law is popular with consumers, who see buying more energy-efficient bulbs as a way to save a bunch fo money.
  • 2011 For some reason, Republicans (particularly Joe Barton) have turned own the law, which will take effect next year, and tried to force a repeal. The repeal failed. It’s worth noting that Barton gets a lot of campaign contributions from the energy industry. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Mar 2011 14:56

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Politics: GOP-led committee may scuttle California’s emissions standards

  • cause The big shift from a Democratic House to a Republican one doesn’t simply mean a vote-count edge; it also means Republicans gain control of the various House committees and subcommittees. For example: the Energy and Commerce Committee, helmed by Rep. Fred Upton.
  • effect The aforementioned committee approved a bill for the House’s consideration that would bar the EPA from enforcing automobile emissions standards in California. Said Rep. Joe Barton: “We should not put the U.S. economy in a straight jacket because of a theory that hasn’t been proven.” source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Jun 2010 21:20

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Politics: Average day: Sarah Palin and Rahm Emanuel are fighting

  • RahmEmanuel= as shallow / narrowminded / political / irresponsible as they come,to falsely claim Barton’s BP comment is ‘GOP philosophy’ Rahm,u lie.
  • A tweet from @SarahPalinUSA • Criticizing Rahm Emanuel for making a big issue of the Joe Barton thang. The tweet references another Republican Joe – Joe Wilson – who famously shouted “You Lie” at Obama during a speech about health care last year. White House spokesman Bill Burton pointed out that other Republicans agreed with Barton (true) and continued, “We’re satisfied that we’re doing everything we can to take care of the folks in the Gulf region, and if she doesn’t want to own Congressman Barton’s comments, that doesn’t surprise me.” In other news, whatever Sarah Palin says becomes news. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Jun 2010 21:03

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Politics: Duh: The DNC takes on Joe Barton’s apology in new attack ad

  • You know, it’s a pretty petty ad. It’s a story big enough that most people know the ebb and flow of the situation. (And there’s no mention of the apology for the apology.) But in all honesty, if the Democratic National Committee hadn’t done something with this, it would’ve been disappointing. It’s almost like a “get out of crisis free” card. Except not really. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Jun 2010 20:12

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Politics: Joe Barton stepped in it so badly that the oil just won’t come off

  • apology Joe Barton apologized to BP for having to pay money to people the oil spill greatly damaged.
  • redo Barton, feeling pressure, apologized for the “misconstruction” of his stupid, stupid comments.
  • recant Barton, who wasn’t seen as sincere enough, apologized AGAIN – this time, taking it back. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Jun 2010 11:00

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Politics: Joe Barton has good reason for giving BP apologies today

  • $1.4 million in donations from the oil and gas industry source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Jun 2010 10:56

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Politics: Dear Joe Barton: It’s not a shakedown if it’s BP’s fault

  • I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown in this case a $20 billion dollar shakedown.
  • Rep. Joe Barton • Saying the kind of thing that will not win him many fans amongst people offended by the oil spill. BP’s CEO, Tony Hayward, who went into the Congressional hearing today expecting a public flogging, instead got that starting out. Unbelievable. Save the apologies for a company that isn’t responsible for destroying the gulf, Joe. That money’s going to help people whose lives were destroyed, remember. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

02 May 2009 11:26

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Sports, U.S.: The Bowl Championship Series is serious politics. Seriously.

  • BCS or BS? Yesterday, representatives for NCAA college football went to congress to argue their reasons for keeping the Bowl Championship Series the bizarre non-playoff-based entity it currently is. BCS coordinator John Swofford claims that changing the format to a playoff would threaten to kill the bowls as well as their sponsorships and TV revenue. source
  • BCS or BS? Yesterday, representatives for NCAA college football went to congress to argue their reasons for keeping the Bowl Championship Series the bizarre non-playoff-based entity it currently is. BCS coordinator John Swofford claims that changing the format to a playoff would threaten to kill the bowls as well as their sponsorships and TV revenue.
  • Barton’s bill Rep. Joe Barton of Texas apparently has had enough, specifically, as he’s introduced a bill which would prevent the NCAA from labeling something a national championship if it wasn’t the result of a playoff. Because this is clearly the biggest problem facing our country right now. (On a side note, Obama favors a playoff.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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