In the Pipeline: 4/15/13

You know it’s bad when… Columbia Journalism Review (4/12/13) reports: “Journalists and the GOP called for more transparency at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week, as Gina McCarthy, the Obama administration’s pick to succeed Lisa Jackson as head of the agency, entered congressional confirmation hearings… The day before McCarthy, who now heads the EPA’s air pollution division, faced off with the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works, a group of Republicans on the committee and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) released separate statements, with different motivations, accusing the agency of secrecy and calling for more openness.”

This must have been painful for Seth to write. Which is, of course, part of the fun. Energy Guardian (4/12/13) reports: “Last year’s huge drought was a freak of nature that wasn’t caused by man-made global warming, a new federal science study finds.”

The playbook for green energy cronyism: A wink and a nod, legalized theft, twisted economics, and a splash of PR-infused rhetoric to keep everyone happy until the roof caves in. WSJ(4/11/13) reports: “Turn over any green-energy rock, and wiggling underneath will be the usual creepy mix of political favoritism and taxpayer-funded handouts. Add to this the Clintons, Mississippi and a murky visa program, and you’ve got a particularly ripe political embarrassment for Terry McAuliffe… Everyone remember The Macker? Best Friend of Bill. Chairman of Hillary’s 2008 presidential campaign. Famed money-tree shaker. Former Democratic Party chief. Failed 2009 contender for the Virginia governorship but now back as the party’s nominee for that position in this fall’s election. Oh—and in Mr. McAuliffe’s words—‘a Virginia businessman’ intent on ‘creating jobs.’”

The candle of the wicked shall be put out: “Quotations of the day on ethanol. What’s to like? Absolutely nothing, unless you’re a rent-seeking corn farmer”. AEI (4/12/13) reports: “1. Ken Green (2008): ‘Contrary to popular belief, ethanol fuel will do little or nothing to increase our energy security or stabilize fuel prices. Instead, it will increase greenhouse gas emissions, local air pollutant emissions, fresh water scarcity, water pollution (both riparian and oceanic), land and ecosystem consumption, and food prices.’”

It can look desperate when you come on this strong. You’ve got to play a little hard-to-get. E&ENews (4/12/13) reports: “Organizing for America yesterday deployed one of the most hackneyed pleas in social media in hopes of shaming House GOP leaders into holding hearings on climate change policy… ‘RT if you agree: It’s time to stop the denial on climate change,’ President Obama’s nonprofit advocacy organization wrote on its Twitter account, urging the nearly 30 million followers of @BarackObama to repeat the message.”

This is the kind of change we can believe in: