Did The GOP's War On Science Make Trump Inevitable For Them?

I readily admit that I don't know what transpired when then-Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy decided who to put on the House Science and Technology Committee. But when names of rabid, crackpot science deniers like Mo Brooks (R-AL), Steve Knight (R-CA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Randy Weber (R-TX), Bill Posey (R-FL)--the Obama-must-provide-his-birth-certificate guy who authored H.R. 5801, a bill to privatize asteroids for the mining companies-- Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Ralph Abraham (R-LA) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA) show up on the list of committee members, there's no getting around that there were people giggling sardonically how the whole concept of a science committee is just a farce.

Long gone are the days when New York's respected Sherwood Boehlert, a Republican environmental realist, ran the show at that committee. Boehlert used his position to combat acid rain, to urge his party to wake up to the realities of Climate Change and to increase CAFE standards for fuel consumption in autos and trucks. Now, instead of Boehlert, the chair is a notorious hyper-partisan science denier from Texas named Lamar Smith, who uses crucial science-related issues to push far right agenda items. Instead of dealing with the Zika virus crisis, for example, he decided to scapegoat immigrants. And the Science Committee isn't going to get any saner with Paul Ryan as Speaker. The newest committee appointee-- his-- is the lunatic fringe teabagger who replaced Boehner as the Representative from Ohio's Butler County, Warren Davidson, who seems to think Science is part of the insidious liberal agenda against his beloved creed: Greed and Avarice.

Astronomer Phil Plait has a different take on the GOP war against Science-- it's what prepared their hollowed out party for Trump and Trumpism. The GOP has recognized critical thinking as an existential enemy for quote some time-- and now they're stuck with Trump. "We are awash in that miasma," he wrote about climate change deniers, anti-vaxxers, supporters of abstinence-only education and young-Earth creationists, "where people can say almost anything, no matter how ridiculous, and not be confronted, not be challenged. Many of these purveyors of poppycock wind up surrounding themselves with throngs of people willing and eager to suspend their disbelief and support the foolishness. Cults certainly can form in such an atmosphere … and when the person spouting the nonsense is a politician, that’s when things get very sticky indeed. And now here we are, with Donald Trump the nearly inevitable champion of the Republican Party."

This is no coincidence. An interesting if infuriating article in New Republic very clearly lays out how the GOP has spent decades paving the road for Trump by attacking the science that goes against their prejudicial ideology. I strongly urge you to read it, but one section jumped out at me in particular:

There’s another factor at work here: The anti-intellectualism that has been a mainstay of the conservative movement for decades also makes its members easy marks. After all, if you are taught to believe that the reigning scientific consensuses on evolution and climate change are lies, then you will lack the elementary logical skills that will set your alarm bells ringing when you hear a flim-flam artist like Trump. The Republican “war on science” is also a war on the intellectual habits needed to detect lies.

Yes, precisely. This is exactly what I have been saying for years now. When we erode away at people’s ability to reason their way through a situation, then unreason will rule. And not just abut scientific topics, but any topics. We see nonsense passed off as fact all the time by politicians, including attacks by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, on theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, claims by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that there’s been a pause in global warming, the GOP attacks on Planned Parenthood, and more. People will still believe what these politicians say, long, long after the claims have been shown to be completely false.

...The GOP isn’t to blame for Trump existing-- we can lay that at his own feet-- but the path he’s taking was certainly smoothed by them.

The fact is, this is the candidate the Republicans have sown, and so shall they reap. My hope is that the majority of the electorate will see through the nonsense, the distortions, the lies, and use their critical thinking skills on Nov. 8. Reality doesn’t give a damn about our beliefs, and so we must instead give a damn about reality.

One of the first House committee chairs to back Trump's bid for the presidency was Lamar Smith, who represents a district that is less militantly right-wing than much of Republican Texas. The 21st district includes northeast San Antonio and nearby neighborhoods like Fort Sam Houston, Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Castle Hills and Hollywood Park and a corridor through New Braunfels and San Marcos up to downtown Austin right to the border of the University of Texas as well as the Texas Hill Country off to the west, including Fredericksburg, Boerne. Bandera, and Kerrville. If the Democrats are ever going to really make a play to start taking back Texas, TX-21 is ground zero, but that won't come while visionless hacks like Pelosi and Hoyer are still calling the shots at the DCCC.

Progressive Democrat Tom Wakely won his primary against a conservative Democrat. The DCCC response was to refuse to take his phone calls or work with him to win back the district. Typical of how Pelosi and Hoyer abuse the committee charged with winning back Congress. Wakely, who supported Bernie for president and is running on his platform is a perfect opponent for the clueless and out-of-touch Lamar Smith. "It seems par for the course for Republicans," he told us, "to do the opposite of what's reasonable or logical. Who better to head the House Science committee than a man who's firmly opposed to objective data? Who better to be the champion of science in our House than a man who thinks NOAA scientists are part of some liberal cabal out to trick the people of this planet? Lamar Smith was one of the first congressional leaders to endorse Trump while plenty of Republicans found zero political gains in siding with the presumptive nominee. If there's hardly a reason for members of Smith's own party to endorse their candidate for president than what could possibly be the reason for this alliance?

"With my opponent, I feel there's a bit of a difference. We definitely haven't heard anything of a Lamar Smith cabinet offer. Personally, it's hard to see it any other way than an alliance of policy and personality. And while it's certainly possible Congressman Smith is simply placing party for before country, his rhetoric and actions don't fall far from the Trump tree. Smith wants to build a wall around himself to block out the facts on immigration. He's not that far from agreeing with The Donald that climate change is a Chinese hoax. Trump's words and Lamar's votes both demean women. Sure he's been in Congress for nearly 30 years, and he definitely helped pave the way for a nominee like Trump, but in my opinion they're two peas in a frightening pod."

See that thermometer on the right? If you click on it, you can contribute to Tom Wakely's grassroots campaign and help him accomplish what the DCCC refuses to do-- start the process of winning vulnerable red seats in Texas. We owe it to our friends in Austin!

UPDATE: About Those Asteroids Mentioned Above

Since 1990 mining companies have contributed $55,630,070 to congressional candidates, $44,587,120 of that to Republicans, of course. Science Committee chair Lamar Smith was so happy to see a "bipartisan" variation of Posey's bill-- by mining company shill Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and reactionary New Dem Derek Kilmer (WA)-- that he boasted that "The natural resources of our Solar System have great potential to facilitate and support our human endeavors, both in outer space and on Earth. Commercial space companies in the United States are making significant investments to develop technical capabilities that will allow us to explore and use outer space resources. This bill enables this new industry and provides guidance for future entrepreneurs." He forgot to add-- "and to hell with the American taxpayers who have spent millions on space exploration and technologies." Posey was wagging his tail too: "Asteroids and other objects in space are excellent potential sources of rare minerals and other resources that can be used to manufacture a wide range of products here on Earth and to support future space exploration missions. Americans willing to invest in space mining operations need legal certainty that they can keep the fruits of their labor, and this bill provides that certainty." And, apparently, the fruits of the rest of our labor as well.

Patrick Murphy Forgot What Putting Florida First Means

When Florida Republican Bill Posey introduces legislation, it's usually bad news for everyone concerned. After all, Posey is a very conservative Republican. His ProgressivePunch lifetime crucial vote score is 9.55 and he was extremely conservative in the Florida state House and when he was a member of the Florida state Senate. The bill he's best known for having authored is H.R. 1503-- a crazy birther bill-- which would require presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original with certificates. And Wednesday night was no different. Posey proposed an amendment to the Transportation Bill to kill off some crucial Florida infrastructure-- All Aboard Florida, train service from Miami to Orlando. It was defeated 163-260 with every Florida Democrat but one voting against it. The only Florida Democrat-- in fact the only Democrat from any state-- to vote with the GOP majority, as he so often does-- was reactionary New Dem, Patrick Murphy. Here wreath Florida votes:

• Gus Bilirakis (R)- yes
• Corrine Brown (D)- NO
• Vern Buchanan (R)- NO
• Kathy Castor (D)- NO
• Curt Clawson (R)- yes
• Ander Crenshaw (R)- NO
• Carlos Curbelo (R)- NO
• Ron DeSantis (R)- yes
• Mario Diaz-Balart (R)- NO
• Lois Frankel (D)- NO
• Gwen Graham (D)- NO
• Alan Grayson (D)- NO
• Alcee Hastings (D)- NO
• David Jolly (R)- NO
• John Mica (R)- NO
• Jeff Miller (R)- yes
• Patrick Murphy (D)- yes
• Richard Nugent (R)- yes
• Bill Posey (R)- yes
• Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R)- NO
• Dennis Ross (R)- NO
• Tom Rooney (R)- yes
• Dan Webster (R)- yes
• Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)- NO
• Frederika Wilson (D)- NO
• Ted Yoho (R)- yes

So every Florida Democrat-- except Murphy-- voted against Posey's plan to kill All Aboard Florida, as did 8 Republicans. In March Murphy claimed he was running for the open Florida Senate seat as a "consensus builder," claiming, disingenuously, that "people are tired of the gridlock… They’re tired of the partisanship." So here's the chance to work in a bipartisan way for the good of Florida's citizens and Murphy immediately runs for cover under John Boehner's skirt. He claims to be "an independent voice" but keeps demonstrating over and over that he's a shill for the reactionary GOP agenda.

The last time I remember every Democrat voting one way and one Democrat voting alone it was Barbara Lee voting against the attack on Afghanistan, when she was the only Member from either party willing to take a principled stand against war. Murphy, on the other hand, just did what he usually does-- voted with the Republican majority. 162 Republicans voted for Posey's destructive amendment-- 163 if you count Murphy as a Republican... against a major transportation project for his own state!

The Palm Beach Post covered it as a major story in the Murphy vs Grayson Senate drama.

On Tuesday night, Murphy was the only Democrat in the House to vote for two amendments by Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, aimed at blocking funding for the train. One Posey amendment failed on a 260-173 vote and another failed on a 275-148 vote.

Grayson joined the rest of the Democratic caucus-- including Palm Beach County Reps. Lois Frankel, Ted Deutch and Alcee Hastings-- in opposing the Posey amendments.

Grayson sent out a press release saying he “rallied with Congresswoman Corrine Brown (FL-5) and nearly every other House Democrat Tuesday night” to oppose the “anti-transportation” amendments.

Grayson’s release also singles out Murphy as “the lone Democrat to side with Posey and the majority of Republicans who voted to hamper private financing for All Aboard Florida.”

Said Grayson: “All Aboard Florida will improve the lives of thousands of Floridians … Mr. Posey’s amendments will limit investment in projects like All Aboard Florida, and put us even farther behind the rest of the world when it comes to high-speed rail. We have an opportunity to improve the environment, get cars off the roads, and help the economies of both Miami and Orlando with this project. It makes zero sense to do anything that slows it down.”

Murphy, on Facebook, posted: “My colleague Rep. Bill Posey offered several amendments to the Transportation spending bill this week to prohibit funding for All Aboard Florida. I’m very disappointed to see that the House did not approve his amendments, but we’ll continue to work together to stop All Aboard Florida.”

Eric Johnson, some flunky who works for Murphy, seemed panic-stricken about Murphy's vote and the reaction from Florida Democrats. He whined to the media that it was "disappointing to see a member attack another member from his official office." Grayson, when questioned about why he singled out Murphy for voting against Florida infrastructure said, "I can’t remember the last time one Democrat out of 183 voted against an infrastructure improvement, especially one for his own state. People have a right to know how their representatives are voting on issues that have this much impact on their lives." Johnson has been telling intimates that Murphy is petrified to debate Grayson and that they can use Grayson being mean to Patrick over All Aboard Florida as an excuse for ducking the debates.

Do You Ever Wonder Why Washington Is So Unspeakably Corrupt?

How much of a right-wing crackpot is Florida incumbent Bill Posey? Well... his ProgressivePunch score is slightly less progressive than Paul Broun's, Congress' most prominent John Birch Society member. And yet... even a right-wing kook like Posey can come up with a great-- and crucial-- idea. Yesterday Zaid Jilani reported that Posey introduced legislation to ban Members of Congress from lobbying for five years after they leave. Great idea!

A couple weeks ago I met with a 16-year DC congressional staffer who rose to the position of chief of staff for one of the highest ranking Democrats on Capitol Hill. She told me two things that sent me reeling: 1- Congress (meaning not just Members but the whole infrastructure of staffers) is now more corrupt than it's ever been; and 2- the Democrats aren't one iota less corrupt than the Republicans. As Jack Abramoff demonstrated-- and has been strutting around and crowing about since getting out of prison-- the staffers are all for sale. (I know a few who aren't but they're a rare breed.) Zaid's take on the corruption, though, focuses on the Members themselves, the ones we elect-- and the ones who would be threatened by Posey's legislation.

One of the ways that Big Money works to take control of the country’s political system is by enlisting former legislators to become lobbyists. These lobbyists, having passed through the “revolving door,” have wide access to their former colleagues in addition to the financial resources that lobbying firms command.

While there are some laws regulating how and when former Members of Congress can become lobbyists, some legislators-- most famously, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD)-- have skirted these laws by engaging in influence peddling without officially registered as lobbyists. Former Members of Congress regularly exploit this Daschle Loophole.

Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), who was elected to Congress in 2009, was troubled by his colleagues leaving office and then working on behalf of special interests. In an interview with Republic Report, his press secretary George Cecala explained that the congressman read Peter Schweitzer’s book Throw Them All Out, which documents congressional insider trading and other similar shocking behavior by Members of Congress. He then asked all of his staff to read the book as well.

Last week, Posey introduced  the “Stop the Revolving Door in Washington Act,” a new version of a bill he first introduced in 2009. The bill would ban all lobbying by former Members of Congress for five years and all lobbying by former congressional employees for two years. Perhaps most interestingly, Cecala explained to Republic Report that the bill would actually ban any contact between these former government employees and current employees of Congress that is intended to influence them on behalf of any person. This would effectively close the Daschle Loophole because it would not only ban these individuals from federally registered lobbying but even informal lobbying as well.

Posey’s bill is a bold step towards reducing the stranglehold of special interests on Congress. The congressman wanted to ensure that Members of Congress’s careers “will be about service, rather than service to influence peddling,” Cecala told us. The ultimate goal, said Cecala, is to “return us to a citizens’ legislature.”

There's absolutely no chance that the current Congress will pass this bill and it's hard to imagine that a corrupt shill like Eric Cantor would ever allow it to even be brought up. Just before Zaid went published his piece, Republic Report ran a related post by Suzanne Merkelson about the Beltway revolving door that has so corrupted our political system. "What happens," she asks, "when you leave your job on the Hill?"

You’re welcomed with open arms on K Street. At least, that was the case for nearly 400 former House staffers who left Congress to register as lobbyists from 2009 to 2011, according to a new Sunlight Foundation study. Sunlight’s Leo Drutman writes:

More than two in five former House staffers who registered as lobbyists went to one of Washington’s many lobbying firms. One in five went to lobby for a for-profit corporation, and another one in five went to lobby for a business or trade association. In other words, corporate America is capturing the lion’s share of former Hill staffers’ expertise. A large number also represent state and local governments and universities in their work for lobbying firms.

This graph illustrates the overwhelming pull K Street has on staffers departing the Hill:

Comedy Tonight: Is birther Rep. Bill Posey really one of those "foofy" French people?

This is only one of the scientific tests that Jesus' General had performed to establish Bill Posey's birth father. Onsite, in addition to this Amato-Belle-Spalding Cyanic Diffusion Analysis, there are a Boehner Combover Test and a Frist Remote Visual Biometric Study. All of the results appear fairly conclusive.

I had to restrain myself from stopping the presses for this item when I saw it this morning. It's not just the brilliant detective work that unmasks birther imbecile and psychotic shithead Rep. Bill Posey as the secret bastard son of the late president of France Francois Mitterand. It is, above all, the dazzling anthropological insight, available only to thinkers of Gen. JC Christian's special insight, that:

"They're kind of a foofy people, the French."

I urge you to read this and then see if you aren't impelled to write your congressman demanding passage of a law requiring Representative Posey to produce his birth certificate (and prove that it's not a forgery, which I can already tell it is). -- Ken

Is Rep. Bill Posey the Bastard Son of a Socialist Ex-President of France?

Rep. Bill Posey

U.S. House of Representatives



Dear Rep Posey,



I'm a big supporter of your work to use the birth certificate issue to remind everyone that Obama's father had sexual relations with a white woman. Indeed, I thought I'd try to lend you a hand with it earlier today. My thinking was that I could use you as an example to demonstrate how easy it is to prove a person's citizenship. Unfortunately, my research lead me to the conclusion that you also may not be a citizen.



I can find no records for you prior to your move to Florida in 1956. It's like you did not exist. A search for your rather curious surname--what kind of a name is Posey, anyway; it sounds like a flower not a man--revealed that it is an English name, originating in Oxfordshire.



That made me wonder. Why would there be people named after flowers in Oxfordshire? It'd make more sense that was a French name. They're kind of a foofy people, the French. Could it be, I wondered, that you are actually French and are trying to hide that fact by working in league with genealogists to falsify the location of the Posey ancestral home?



So I started poking around French web sites. Eventually, I came across a photo of Francois Mitterrand, the socialist ex-president of France, and your resemblance to him is striking!

After running a battery of tests (see attached graphics), I'm fairly certain he is your father. That leads me to believe that you, sir, are a citizen of France rather than the United States.



I demand to see your birth certificate.



Heterosexually yours,



Gen. JC Christian, patriot