# Scott Pruitt **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 3, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360 "2018-06-03T15:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/41 "2018-06-05T14:35:06Z")
I’m afraid a lot of conservatives will accept all that and more, and point out that the progressive Democrats support “perversion and transgenders.” On one hand, the Democrats can’t defend political ethics and norms to the public when they’re now the party of spitting at the conservative ethics and norms that people who believe in a morality live by in their daily lives. On the other hand, the very idea of “conservative” has been hijacked by child molesting churchmen and laissez-faire capitalists. _We’ve managed to build a country that has no moral norms to agree on anymore._ ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/42 "2018-06-06T12:30:05Z")
How is this piece of shit not in prison? > **[Scott Pruitt Sought ‘Business Opportunity’ With Chick-fil-A While Leading...](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/climate/pruitt-epa-chick-fil-a.html)** > > Internal emails show the E.P.A. administrator had an employee pursue a meeting with Chick-fil-A’s chief executive to discuss a “business opportunity” for his wife. > [@](#): > > Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, gave a political aide the task of helping him seek a “business opportunity” for his wife with the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A. > [@](#): > > § 2635.702 Use of public office for private gain. > An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity, including nonprofit organizations of which the employee is an officer or member, and persons with whom the employee has or seeks employment or business relations. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/43 "2018-06-06T15:41:53Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > How is this piece of shit not in prison? > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/climate/pruitt-epa-chick-fil-a.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/climate/pruitt-epa-chick-fil-a.html) Iokiardi! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/44 "2018-06-06T17:43:24Z")
A federal judge has order Pruitt to produce the scientific evidence behind his claim that carbon dioxide is not known to be a major factor in climate change. He must comply by July 2. > **[Judge orders EPA to disclose any science backing up Pruitt’s climate claims](https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/06/judge-orders-epa-to-disclose-any-science-backing-up-pruitts-climate-claims/)** > > EPA will have to comply with an information request by July. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/45 "2018-06-06T17:48:02Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > A federal judge has order Pruitt to produce the scientific evidence behind his claim that carbon dioxide is not known to be a major factor in climate change. He must comply by July 2. > [Judge orders EPA to disclose any science backing up Pruitt’s climate claims | Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/06/judge-orders-epa-to-disclose-any-science-backing-up-pruitts-climate-claims/) From the article: > [@](#): > > On Tuesday, a US District Court Judge for the District of Columbia [issued a memo](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/epa.pdf) (PDF) saying that the EPA must comply with PEER’s request by July 2, offering any EPA \*documents that helped Pruitt come to the conclusion \*that he shared on CNBC last year. _(emphasis added)_ What, they’re making him provide copies of the lobbyists’ cancelled check stubs? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/46 "2018-06-06T17:50:54Z")
My guess is the EPA just ignores that order. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/47 "2018-06-06T17:54:04Z")
Then the judge’ll lock up the EPA for contempt! Then who will protect our drinking water? What do you mean “there’d be no change in the current enforcement practice”? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/48 "2018-06-06T18:21:57Z")
Pruitt had a top aide talk to Chick-Fil-a about getting a franchise for his wife. > **[Pruitt had top EPA aide contact Chick-fil-A CEO about franchise for his wife](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/pruitt-had-top-epa-aide-contact-chick-fil-ceo-about-n880301)** > > The EPA administrator had a top aide reach out to Chick-fil-A's CEO in an effort to help her open a restaurant, The Washington Post reported. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/49 "2018-06-06T18:34:38Z")
[Turek beat you there](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21003750&postcount=42), Rick. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/50 "2018-06-06T20:32:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > A federal judge has order Pruitt to produce the scientific evidence behind his claim that carbon dioxide is not known to be a major factor in climate change. He must comply by July 2. > [Judge orders EPA to disclose any science backing up Pruitt’s climate claims | Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/06/judge-orders-epa-to-disclose-any-science-backing-up-pruitts-climate-claims/) Pruitt said this: … [Pruitt] appeared on CNBC and said that carbon dioxide was not known to be a major factor in climate change. “I would not agree that it’s a primary contributor to the global warming that we see,” Pruitt said The IPCC said this: Atmospheric concentrations of GHGs are at levels that are unprecedented in at least 800,000 years. Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have all shown large increases since 1750 (40%, 150% and 20%, respectively) (Figure 1.3). CO2 concentrations are increasing at the fastest observed decadal rate of change (2.0 ± 0.1 ppm/yr) for 2002– 2011. The total anthropogenic radiative forcing over 1750–2011 is calculated to be a warming effect of 2.3 [1.1 to 3.3] W/m2 (Figure 1.4), and it has increased more rapidly since 1970 than during prior decades. **Carbon dioxide is the largest single contributor to radiative forcing over 1750–2011 and its trend since 1970.** _– IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report, Section 1.2.1_ The difference is, as anyone who’s seen the IPCC reports knows, that each chapter of the science reports is backed by literally hundreds of citations to peer-reviewed papers in reputable journals. So the question to Pruitt’s EPA is, “where are you getting this shit?”. The judge rejected the EPA’s claim that the FOIA request was “impermissible” and “burdensome”. Given the extent to which Pruitt’s lunatic claim contradicts the science, “where are you getting this shit?” seems like an entirely reasonable question. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/51 "2018-06-06T21:06:06Z")
I wonder what would happen if Pruitt claimed a RFRA right to his opinion (or “views”) and thus the actions he takes as head of the EPA cannot be challenged since his religious belief doesn’t allow him to act otherwise; how would the courts rule? I mean, they’d have to rule against, right? Otherwise all the EPA employees could just say that their religion forbade them from implementing his policies. FFS everything would come to a standstill in America if employees could do that. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/52 "2018-06-07T00:30:05Z")
“Chickn-Fil-A is a FRANCHISE OF FAITH…” > **[Scott Pruitt Gives Nonsensical Explanation For Chick-Fil-A Controversy](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scott-pruitt-epa-chick-fil-a_n_5b1833cfe4b0599bc6dfeeb1)** > > The EPA chief chalked criticism up to “significant change” happening across the administration. Well-known punchline (variant): “I’m the chicken friar, and he’s the chip monk.” Ha ha, only kidding. Pruitt’s sort of people think Catholics waltz with Satan and swill whiskey as they kiss the Pope’s buttocks. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/53 "2018-06-07T13:02:54Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > “Chickn-Fil-A is a FRANCHISE OF FAITH…” > > [Scott Pruitt Gives Nonsensical Explanation For Chick-Fil-A Controversy | HuffPost Latest News](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scott-pruitt-epa-chick-fil-a_us_5b1833cfe4b0599bc6dfeeb1) > > Well-known punchline (variant): “I’m the chicken friar, and he’s the chip monk.” > > . …except that Chick-Fil-A doesn’t have what you’d call “chips”. They got those new-fangled Waffle Fries. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/54 "2018-06-07T13:16:09Z")
Scott Pruitt’s cocksuckery never ceases to amaze me. It’s bad enough that he’s a Jupiter-sized shitbag who shamelessly flaunts his corruption in everyone’s face, but even worse, he makes his assistants take the fall. What a stand up cunt, this guy is. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/55 "2018-06-07T14:20:56Z")
It’s always [That Guy](http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/391148-white-house-asked-pruitt-not-to-eat-lunch-at-west-wing-mess-hall-so), ain’t it? > [@](#): > > Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt used the White House mess hall so often that Cabinet members were warned not to treat the exclusive restaurant as their personal dining hall. > > Politico reported Thursday that Pruitt’s frequent use of the restaurant prompted the warning during a Cabinet meeting last year, adding that there were only a few tables available in the Navy-run restaurant open to White House officials and Cabinet members… ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/56 "2018-06-07T15:17:35Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > It’s always [That Guy](http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/391148-white-house-asked-pruitt-not-to-eat-lunch-at-west-wing-mess-hall-so), ain’t it? > [@](#): > > Calendars also showed that Pruitt frequently invited guests to dine with him, enjoying specialty dishes such as skirt steaks and a dessert known as the “Chocolate Freedom,” which was also known to be a favorite of Obama administration officials. I’m surprised trump hasn’t shitcanned him just for eating a dessert that was popular in the Obama administration. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/57 "2018-06-07T18:17:30Z")
Pruitt walks several blocks to the White House Mess (or maybe takes his SUV, with sirens and lights) because of the discount chow. And brings his Oklahoma lobbyist friends with him. > **[Scott Pruitt Doesn't Need You Guys. All He Needs Is This $43,000 Phone Booth...](https://www.wonkette.com/scott-pruitt-doesnt-need-you-guys-all-he-needs-is-this-43000-phone-booth-and-chocolate-freedom)** > > Poor Scott Pruitt doesn't have any more friends. And now he's running short of lackeys. For a guy who really puts his back and shoulders into grifting, it’s surprising how little money he has. Personal money, I mean, not expense-account money. I’m also really impressed that such a hardworking fellow can squeeze these long lunches into his day. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/58 "2018-06-07T19:18:25Z")
[Scott Pruitt’s senior counsel, Sarah Greenwalt, has resigned.](https://apnews.com/9080c4a2eaea453b8d33231d6948ecdf/EPA-chief-confirms-another-departure:-his-senior-counsel) > [@](#): > > In a statement announcing Greenwalt’s resignation, Pruitt called her a “tremendous leader” within the agency. Greenwalt did not return an email from The Associated Press to her work account seeking comment. A separate statement released by the EPA had Greenwalt praising Pruitt’s “visionary leadership and tenacity.” > [@](#): > > Greenwalt, who also served as counsel to Pruitt in his previous position as Oklahoma’s attorney general, was in the news most recently when Pruitt rescinded a hefty raise for her after public criticism of his use of a little-known clause in the Safe Drinking Water Act to come up with the money. Best part of the article is this" > [@](#): > > The counsel, Sarah Greenwalt, is due to appear for questioning this month by a panel of House Oversight committee staffers investigating allegations of ethics violations against Pruitt. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/59 "2018-06-07T20:50:20Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > how would the courts rule? They should apply the [Sherbert test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbert_v._Verner) that RFRA reimplemented in law after a SCOTUS decision\* sharply curtailed it. Religious beliefs aren’t a magic get out of all laws free card under RFRA. The government still can stomp on religious free exercise as long as it meets the requirements to do so. It’s just a harder standard to meet than without RFRA. - On a humorous note, Scalia wrote the opinion for the majority in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/60 "2018-06-07T21:01:55Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > They should apply the [Sherbert test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbert_v._Verner) that RFRA reimplemented in law after a SCOTUS decision\* sharply curtailed it. Religious beliefs aren’t a magic get out of all laws free card under RFRA. The government still can stomp on religious free exercise as long as it meets the requirements to do so. It’s just a harder standard to meet than without RFRA. > > - On a humorous note, Scalia wrote the opinion for the majority in that case. Right; but who’s to say that the head of the EPA’s vision for the EPA is wrong, especially when he says his god wants him to do what he’s doing? The government would have to find the least restrictive way to allow things to proceed, but he’s the guy who’s in charge of the process. If he says the only acceptable way is for him to do what he wants, how could the court say otherwise? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360.md?page=4)