# WH refuses to open EPA's e-mail re greenhouse gases **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 27, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427 "2008-06-27T12:56:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/21 "2008-06-28T15:18:51Z")
This administration is acting like a gradeschool girl. “Sally, Georgie isn’t reading your notes!” Sally sends Georgie another note: “Do you like global warming? If so, check this box.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/22 "2008-06-28T16:55:13Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Be kinda like busting Jeffrey Dahmer for health code violations. [/QUOTE] A fair description of the Watergate Hearings. Whatever works, dude. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/23 "2008-06-29T03:00:23Z")
That is astonishingly childish behavior from the Leadership of the Free World[sup]TM[/sup]. I guess the EPA will have to send the e-mail with a subject line like “Nude Anna Kournikova pix!” to get 'em to open the report. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/24 "2008-06-29T03:27:07Z")
I assume that there are some legal consequences to opening this e-mail. Does anybody know if this is the case? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/25 "2008-06-29T03:38:07Z")
::fingers in ears:: LA LA LA LA LA!!! I CAN’T HEAR YOUUUUUUUUU!!! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/26 "2008-06-29T03:44:48Z")
I think the EPA should hold its breath until it turns blue and/or the White House opens the damned e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/27 "2008-06-29T03:48:05Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] They know they can get away with this because the only possible consequence will be a sternly-worded letter from a Congessional committee, requesting their appearance at an oversight hearing. [/QUOTE] But they’re almost ideologically…congruent, in a mind-numbingly stupid way. Bush-Rove’s aw-shucks populism has always been that gummint is _evil_. Us average hard-workin’ folks would be just fine if the guldurned gummint and all those politicians would get out of our lives. Right out, man, right the _hell_ out. For 8 years George W. Bush, horny-handed son of the earth and a former president, stuck to what he knew should replace gummint: God and faith-based initiatives. Only a blamed fool would pay the least attention to something that shouldn’t exist in the first damned place. The E.P.-fuckin’-A. was founded by socialists anyway, or maybe even FDR. It’s just plain wrong. If you know, for-sure KNOW, Satan is calling, _would you answer the phone_? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/28 "2008-06-29T04:12:15Z")
[QUOTE=TVeblen] ..If you know, for-sure KNOW, Satan is calling, _would you answer the phone_? [/QUOTE] Well, yeah, pretty much have to…its complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/29 "2008-06-29T04:53:55Z")
> [@](#): > > A fair description of the Watergate Hearings. Whatever works, dude. I disagree. The big issue in Watergate was an elected official using the powers of his office to influence his own re-election. That’s a big step down the path to dictatorship. It’s worse than anything Clinton or Bush ever tried. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/30 "2008-06-29T05:34:37Z")
Perhaps there’s a thought out reason to this whole thing. Aside from Bush himself, he has some pretty smart people around him, now that Rumsfeld is out of his ear. And if you can get behind the idea that Dick Cheney isn’t some reincarnation of Darth Vader puppetmaster with GWB as his marionette. Maybe there’s ramifications to this energy policy that if enacted, will make our gasoline prices worse? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/31 "2008-06-29T11:21:42Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Maybe there’s ramifications to this energy policy that if enacted, will make our gasoline prices worse? [/QUOTE] How? Reducing production while increasing demand doesn’t sound like it’d jive with the whole reducing greenhouse emissions groove. What could be in this report that if enacted would lead to an increase in gasoline prices beyond what is happening now? If there were such things, why not just come out and talk about the negatives of the plan instead of simply ignoring the e-mail and waiting for it to go away? If there are intelligent people with the president’s ear, why are they handling this e-mail in such a boneheaded fashion? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/32 "2008-06-29T12:11:25Z")
Because they don’t care. They don’t have to. The EPA can’t take any action that will matter in the next few months, nothing they can’t tie up in court somehow, or just ignore. What’s one more massive scandal when they’ve got at least six on the news every day, who’s going to pay attention to this? See anybody paying any attention outside of us? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/33 "2008-06-29T12:25:22Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Because they don’t care. They don’t have to. The EPA can’t take any action that will matter in the next few months, nothing they can’t tie up in court somehow, or just ignore. What’s one more massive scandal when they’ve got at least six on the news every day, who’s going to pay attention to this? See anybody paying any attention outside of us? [/QUOTE] I’m not even sure what “paying attention” means anymore. Sure, you and I are paying attention. So? What can we DO about it? Go to the White House and knock on the front door and ask them nicely to open their emails? Bring a well-armed militia? Do you know where to pick one of those up these days? I don’t think Costco stocks them… I think sometimes we confuse ignorance and apathy for a feeling of powerlessness. Are you familiar with the song “Waiting on the World to Change”? Great little ditty, nice regaeish beat, sounds reminiscent of the protest songs of the sixties…except it’s all about how powerless we feel. We know “they” have the money and the power and the press, and we’re just sitting here, waiting on the world to change so we have our shot at running things. > [@](#): > > ``` > Now we see everything that's going wrong > With the world and those who lead it > We just feel like we don't have the means > To rise above and beat it > > ``` > > \ > > ``` > It's not that we don't care, > We just know that the fight ain't fair > > One day our generation > Is gonna rule the population > So we keep on waiting > Waiting on the world to change > > ``` Frakking depressing song, man…but really true for my peer group. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/34 "2008-06-29T12:57:36Z")
[QUOTE=TVeblen] Bush-Rove’s aw-shucks populism has always been that gummint is _evil_. [/QUOTE] “And we’re trying damn hard to prove it to everybody, goldurnit!” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/35 "2008-06-29T14:02:42Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Maybe there’s ramifications to this energy policy that if enacted, will make our gasoline prices worse? [/QUOTE] Reread the article. It’s not about energy policy, it’s about pollution policy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/36 "2008-06-29T14:04:30Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] See anybody paying any attention outside of us? [/QUOTE] John Stewart and his viewers. But it was a one-show bit. Outrage fatigue, y’know. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/37 "2008-06-29T14:31:41Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Reread the article. It’s not about energy policy, it’s about pollution policy. [/QUOTE] Yeah I know, but reducing emissions can invariably lead to energy cost increases. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/38 "2008-06-29T14:57:58Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Yeah I know, but reducing emissions can invariably lead to energy cost increases. [/QUOTE] Reducing emissions requires 1) better emissions-control technology in automobiles and coal-fired power plants, and/or 2) reduced burning of fuels, as by substitution of mass-transit alternatives, more energy-efficient home technologies, more energy-efficient hybrid vehicles, etc. How would any of that increase gasoline prices at the pump? Seems to me it would have the reverse effect. Demand drops, price drops. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/39 "2008-06-29T15:00:12Z")
[QUOTE=TVeblen] But they’re almost ideologically…congruent, in a mind-numbingly stupid way. Bush-Rove’s aw-shucks populism has always been that gummint is _evil_. Us average hard-workin’ folks would be just fine if the guldurned gummint and all those politicians would get out of our lives. Right out, man, right the _hell_ out. For 8 years George W. Bush, horny-handed son of the earth and a former president, stuck to what he knew should replace gummint: God and faith-based initiatives. [/QUOTE] All that might have worked out better if he were not also obsessed with being a “war president.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427/40 "2008-06-29T16:24:19Z")
Perhaps, but I doubt it. That presumes that he is distracted, that he might be better at such environmental issues if he were not. But the Bushiviks are resolute in their presumption that all this ecology stuff is just ideological horseshit from the “anti-business” left and the DFH. So, even if there were no war(s), he wouldn’t be any more open to our views, nor any more likely to respond. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wh-refuses-to-open-epas-e-mail-re-greenhouse-gases/454427.md?page=3)