# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/81 "2018-07-05T20:10:30Z")
I hope the investigations continue and land him in prison… preferably at the state level where there are no Trump pardons to be handed out. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/82 "2018-07-05T20:13:50Z")
Bye-bye, asshole. I hope you die in jail. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/83 "2018-07-05T20:25:16Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > About fucking time: > > [Scott Pruitt Resigns](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-resigns/index.html) Technically, Trmup just said he accepted Pruitt’s resignation. I doubt Pruitt found out before the tweet that he had resigned. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/84 "2018-07-05T20:30:19Z")
He’s being replaced by a coal lobbyist. > **[Now that Scott Pruitt is out, this coal lobbyist will take his place](https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2018/04/scott-pruitt-out-from-the-epa-this-coal-lobbyist-will-take-his-place/)** > > It's like "having a tobacco lobbyist heading up the American Lung Association." ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/85 "2018-07-05T20:42:03Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > He’s being replaced by a coal lobbyist. > [Now That Scott Pruitt Is Out, This Coal Lobbyist Will Take His Place – Mother Jones](https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2018/04/scott-pruitt-out-from-the-epa-this-coal-lobbyist-will-take-his-place/) This is what always surprised me about Pruitt hanging on so long. The stories I read attributed it to his ability to dismantle the Obama era regulations. But that’s really not that hard - get a list of regulations created and revoke them. Now it is hard to do legally, with required documentation and waiting periods and what not (all things Pruitt was willing to ignore), but the general procedure is not that hard. I’m certain that almost any else that Trump would appoint would be able to do the same thing and be less corrupt (the ‘less corrupt’ part being the easy bit, of course). ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/86 "2018-07-05T21:19:47Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > From your cite: > > This is encouraging. If we are ever to recover from the Trump Administration’s relentless attacks on the rule of law, protection for whistle-blowers is a crucial element of the process. Documenting abuses, as with these 14 (!!!) investigations, is a necessary step. > > _Dis_couraging, of course, is that with 14 investigations, Pruitt is still sitting on his throne. How proud Trump’s voters must be of what they’ve wrought. > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > About fucking time: > > [Scott Pruitt Resigns](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-resigns/index.html) What shouldn’t be forgotten ever, going forward, is that even with all that scandal and corruption; Trump still said that Pruitt was doing a heck of a job when accepting his resignation… Also that when confirming someone like Pruitt one should also remember that he was voted in by almost all the republicans and 2 democrats that are prone to buy bridges in Brooklyn. So, we need to demand better or to vote many blind guys or rascals out. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/87 "2018-07-05T21:20:25Z")
[Good news, everyone!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8IVI0sZ6F8) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/88 "2018-07-05T22:30:02Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > This is what always surprised me about Pruitt hanging on so long. > > The stories I read attributed it to his ability to dismantle the Obama era regulations. But that’s really not that hard - get a list of regulations created and revoke them. > > Now it is hard to do legally, with required documentation and waiting periods and what not (all things Pruitt was willing to ignore), but the general procedure is not that hard. I’m certain that almost any else that Trump would appoint would be able to do the same thing and be less corrupt (the ‘less corrupt’ part being the easy bit, of course). You’re right about all this. The reason Pruitt lasted so long is that someone on Trump’s team came up with the idea of firing Sessions and putting Pruitt in his place–which existing federal policy (the Vacancy Reform Act) allows WITHOUT Senate confirmation for 210 days. During those days he could substantially undermine the Mueller investigation. So this means they’ve given up on that idea, apparently. Or will try it with some other Cabinet member. They just couldn’t trust ol’ Scott, maybe. > [@](#): > > If Trump wants to use the Vacancies Act maneuver, he could pick any Senate-confirmed figure in his administration. But Pruitt is in some ways the ideal candidate. He’s a lawyer, deeply loyal to Trump, and, most importantly, is not hung up on following ethical rules or norms. [Scott Pruitt Hasn’t Been Fired Because He Can Fire Mueller](http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/trump-scott-pruitt-scandals-attorney-general-can-fire-mueller.html) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/89 "2018-07-06T04:18:52Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Good news, everyone!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8IVI0sZ6F8) It is good news if the cocksucking at the EPA ends, or at least declines observably. I doubt that there is a lot of optimism for that. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/90 "2018-07-06T16:55:23Z")
Okay, okay; settle down. Hopefully the immediate euphoria that followed Mr. Pruitt’s resignation has at least begun to subside and we can all start to let [the cold, cold reality of things weight us down again](https://apnews.com/af9e0d93e0304ff688c0a57dd397d7d1/Pruitt's-political-future-uncertain-back-home-in-Oklahoma).First up is this notion: > [@](#): > > Scott Pruitt’s tenure as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency ended with his resignation, but political experts in his home state of Oklahoma say he could continue his career in public office. > > The path could lead him back to Washington. > [@](#): > > But even with the bad publicity, Pruitt, 50, has widely been considered a potential candidate for either governor or U.S. Senate. With Oklahoma’s gubernatorial field set for 2018, some have eyed Pruitt as a possible candidate to replace 83-year-old U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe if he decides not to run again in 2020. > > Ethical charges aside, many Republicans in oil- and gas-dependent Oklahoma are focused more on what they consider his accomplishments at the EPA, said Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Pam Pollard. How important is it to Pam Pollard that Pruitt dismantled regulations? (bolding mine) > [@](#): > > As attorney general, Pruitt filed more than a dozen lawsuits against the agency President Donald Trump would later pick him to lead. In Washington, he worked relentlessly to dismantle Obama-era environmental regulations that aimed to reduce toxic pollution and planet-warming carbon emissions. > > Pollard said that was the right strategy. **Under Pruitt’s leadership, she said, the EPA now is focused on the mission it is supposed to have — one that is friendlier to industry**. > > “ **We’re proud of him for that** ,” Pollard said. “I think Oklahomans still love him, support him and trust him. We’ll give him the opportunity to tell his side of the story.” I did not know that the EPA was created to help businesses. In fact, I would have thought it was created for the opposite purpose since businesses tend to do what they want unless someone or something stops them, but hey, who lets facts get in the way of saying what they want to say, amirite? I don’t live in Oklahoma so it’s difficult for me to gauge the level of support Oklahomans might have for Mr. Pruitt, but there’s some indication that it might be less than overwhelming. > [@](#): > > Keith Gaddie, a professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma, disagreed. He said Pruitt could overcome criticism from environmental groups and unflattering stories in the media, but not the lengthy list of political scandals that includes asking EPA staff to pick up dry cleaning and trying to obtain a used Trump hotel mattress for his apartment. > > “His policy actions as administrator don’t cost him in this state. It’s everything else,” Gaddie said. “There are often second acts in politics, but it’s very hard to come back from 18 months as the principal target of every late night comedian’s jokes.” We’ll see, eh. I have very little confidence in decision making prowess of The Average American Voter at the moment, so we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360/91 "2018-07-06T18:26:33Z")
I was hit by a wave of ennui when I saw how long this article is: [The Problems with Scott Pruitt — POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/interactives/2018/scott-pruitt-epa-ethics-spending/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-pruitt/815360.md?page=4)