Plan B Forum

Three pieces of good news today.

1) Climate change report published which contradicts WH and 45 position. Not sure why they allowed it to be published. I have not had the chance to read it yet but I am encouraged (i.e., pleased to see it published) by Key Finding 1:

The likely range of the human contribution to the global mean temperature increase over the period 1951–2010 is 1.1° to 1.4°F (0.6° to 0.8°C), and the central estimate of the observed warming of 1.2°F (0.65°C) lies within this range (high confidence). This translates to a likely human contribution of 93%–123% of the observed 1951–2010 change. It is extremely likely that more than half of the global mean temperature increase since 1951 was caused by human influence on climate (high confidence). The likely contributions of natural forcing and internal variability to global temperature change over that period are minor (high confidence).

2) Lamar Smith, Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee is retiring. Good riddance. But we still have James Imhofe.

3) Trump's absurd pick for Chief Scientist at Ag, Sam Clovis, has taken his name from further consideration because he is bound up in the Papadopoulos Russia thing.

I'm not ringing church bells in glee, but it seems like a good couple of days.

I do like the Wonkette headline about Clovis:

Trump USDA Idiot Sam Clovis Pulling Out To Spend More Time With Robert Mueller
Read more at https://wonkette.com/625224/trump-usda- ... 2ktKfBi.99

In the Mueller thread, I posted Patrick Leahy's statement about Clovis. It is clear to me Clovis dropped out because at a minimum Leahy was going to ask him multiple questions about the Russia issues during his confirmation hearing, when he would be under oath. I think it's pretty clear Clovis is pretty high up on the list of those who will be indicted next, or make a plea. The last thing he needs is conflicting sworn testimony. Any prayer of a deal or a defense would die quickly. As former long time chair of the AG committee, Leahy plays an important role here.

Leahy is also pushing back on Sessions, trying to get him back in front of the Judiciary committee to answer questions about his prior testimony, again under oath. It won't happen, but it is amusing imagining the pretzel knots Sessions must be tying himself into right now.

I think it's pretty clear Clovis is pretty high up on the list of those who will be indicted next, or make a plea.

I bet he has a lovely singing voice.


yrs,
rubato

I can't figure out how that climate report was released, apparently unchanged?


yrs,
rubato