Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening

[riversedge]

Source: The Hill.com


Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening

Greg Nash

By Laura Barron-Lopez - 01/13/15 03:26 PM EST

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he will allow the Senate to vote on an amendment asking if they agree that climate change is impacting the planet.

At his weekly press briefing, McConnell said "nobody is blocking any amendments" to legislation that would approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

The GOP leader had promised to allow an open amendment process on the Keystone bill.

But a measure proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had raised questions about whether he would stick to that commitment............

?itok=8OQDnswx

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/229381-mcconnell-to-allow-climate-change-amendment-on-keystone-bill

---

Democrats want the vote for the record. We shall see

[Demeter]

1. This is stupid! There's no democracy and no popularity contest in science!

And when people do try to insert such meaningless tripe into a reality-based study of the universe, they fail and are the object of humor and folly for generations.

[Jackpine Radical]

23. I'm gonna petition Congress to pass two laws,

the first setting pi equal to exactly 3 in order to simplify math for everyone

and the second to reduce the gravitational constant by 20%, which will cause a great savings in transportation costs beginning immediately upon becoming law.


Maybe they could outlaw the Ebola virus while they're at it.

[scarletwoman]

27. So does your second law mean we'll all weigh 20% less?

Oh man! Bring it on!

[Jackpine Radical]

31. Yes, of course it means that.

That was actually the secret motive behind my proposal. It's getting to the point where it's either that or diet.

[scarletwoman]

34. Diet, schmiet. Change the laws of physics and eat whatever the hell you want.

It's totally a WIN!!!

Also, I would like my dog to live in people years instead of dog years. That way he'll be around as long as I am.

[BrotherIvan]

63. I love the way you think

I vote you rewrite the world.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

79. Let's reduce gravity by 35%

But only give out the lead shoes to people with an IQ above 100.

[randys1]

101. Does this mean I can defy gravity and fly, finally?

be right back

[scarletwoman]

106. Hold my beer and watch this...

[Stryder]

58. We could jump higher

But we'd still have the say mass... same ass... I mean the same mass.
(Though I reckon that same ass thing would be true enough too.)

[FiveGoodMen]

35. Without additional language, though, it won't make us any thinner

[scarletwoman]

37. Details. All we'll need to do is change clothing sizes.

Size XL will become size 8-Petite. Problem solved!

[Turbineguy]

78. I would be satisfied with a 5.1282% drop.

Mustn't be piggy.

[Bandit]

36. Are you sure there even is such a thing as Gravity? It IS only a Theory after all.

[Bagsgroove]

51. Exactly!

I think we all stick to the Earth with velcro, which I would remind you liberal types was developed by the free market!

[daleo]

67. I thought God used invisible strings for that

[Doc Holliday]

88. Any undergrad could tell you...

There is no gravity-- the world sucks.

[Jackpine Radical]

57. That very question has ben weighing on my mind.

It seems to hold a strange attraction for me.

I want to ponder it some more, but I'm busy through summer. Maybe I'll have a free fall.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

80. So you base jump too? I thought you were older than that. Brave dude!

[snort]

39. Could you make it more?

Say fifty percent? I've always wanted to try rock climbing.

[Volaris]

56. Rock climbing not too difficult actually..

Depending on where you live, there's maybe an indoor facility near you?
It's more about technique than about strength anyway=)

[paleotn]

45. That first one will probably get people killed....

....just saying.

[Jackpine Radical]

59. That makes it perfect Republican legislation.

You think the OTHER shit they're about to do won't kill people?

[Enthusiast]

46. Oh, ye of little faith. We can pray away the Ebola virus.

Or ask God to use Ebola to smite our enemies.

[eggplant]

47. The first one has precedent. Unfortunately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pi_Bill

[griloco]

49. i dunno....if they outlaw ebola....

only outlaws will have ebola

[DrBulldog]

50. Pi was set equal to 3 in Indiana long ago ...

and stayed that way until they finally figured out why their bridges and buildings were falling down ...

[Buenaventura]

98. Indiana never actually passed the legislation ...

they couldn't figure out how many votes they needed.

[Volaris]

53. I think you should include Dividing by Zero in your request.

[Scuba]

68. How about reducing the boiling point of water to, say, 150 degrees F? Think of the energy savings!

[NCjack]

99. The value of pi is the integer 3. The Bible says so (1 Kings 7:23). RW Repugs

should have no problem adding that as an amendment, and further requiring all calculations done for the pipeline construction and operation to use pi = 3. Legislating pi = 3 takes care of some pesky problems: (a) scientists and engineers don't have the good sense and guts to set it's value to 3 for everyone's convenience, and (b) the embarrassment of science & engineering's pi's first 144 digits summing to 666 (mark of the Beast).

[Jackpine Radical]

104. This will also make it easier for the home schoolers, no doubt.

Much easier to teach your young lout scholar how to do those calculations without the nasty decimals.

[bvf]

105. I recall reading something a long time ago

about a local government that actually passed a law making pi equal to 3.2 de jure.

I mean, simple rounding was apparently beyond their grasp.

[handmade34]

40. not stupid...

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/climate-science-amendment?inline=file

[CreekDog]

73. Wait, I'm confused, because recently you argued that, "...Climate is not the crisis that..."

"...they want you to believe it is."

So, now you believe that climate change is occurring?

[drynberg]

108. Disagree, stand and be counted. Flush out the deniers. Nothing about popularity, just facts.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. You don't *vote* on scientific facts!

WTF? Let's just have Congress vote to repeal gravity because it makes stuff too heavy to carry around? What pernicious bullshit is this?

[3catwoman3]

3. Great.

They are trying to codify the stoopid.

Down the dumb tubes we go.

[Enthusiast]

44. codify the stoopid

I love it!

[immoderate]

4. I hope they vote to nullify global warming.

Why didn't the Democrats think of that?

--imm

[jimlup]

5. This vote as a direct measurement of their stupidity quotient

The list of yeah's will also serve as a useful teaching tool as the years go by.

[harun]

6. Politics is not about the truth.

[jwirr]

7. They think they can make a law that makes it not so? These idiots really are out of it.

[handmade34]

41. the proposed amendment...

Sanders is no idiot


http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/climate-science-amendment?inline=file

[jwirr]

71. So this is his amendment? The title of the post did not make it clear. I am working right now so

cannot read the full thing.

[Journeyman]

8. Next up: Gravity. Think what Cruz will save on NASA's budget if we vote gravity out of existence...

[mindwalker_i]

20. I'm down with that!

Somebody at work keeps turning the gravity up, so the gravity bill is going to be something this month. My real problem is that gravity is depressing - it really gets me down.

[unionthug777]

32. gravity

it's the law !!!

[IDemo]

38. They will just declare that Earth no longer sucks.

[Xilantro]

9. wow

[BrotherIvan]

10. Great, now I'm going to be even more embarrassed to admit I'm from the US

How many of these fuckers will show the world how fucking far up their asses their heads have burrowed?

[riversedge]

11. Probably all of the Repugs!

[BrotherIvan]

12. There has to be some Republican followers that don't believe this crazy talk

I think they are digging a bottomless pit for themselves. The Republicans I have ever had the displeasure to meet mostly vote Republican because they don't want to pay taxes (nor give black & brown people any social services). They're just selfish pricks, not crazy fundies. I just can't believe they love money so much they will go along with this bullshit. It's shameful.

[riversedge]

52. 72 Percent of Republican Senators Are Climate Deniers

see this post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251392248



I do not know the % of the general population or dems vs Republicans believe.

[BrotherIvan]

62. Scary

It would be interesting, but likely incredibly depressing to see how many regular people don't know the truth. But I guess since only 29% believe in evolution, we probably know. We are so fucked.

I guess they think Miami is just a little extra marshy just coz.

[Iliyah]

15. A lot of people around the world already think

the US congress is nuts and a danger. Unfortunately they are correct.

[BrotherIvan]

16. I know, I hear it from my relatives all the time

They are always asking about our krazy kristians and mass shootings. They think we are all insane, fat and illiterate. And that's rather mild.

[progressoid]

13. I can tell you how that will turn out.

72 Percent of Republican Senators Are Climate Deniers

If you just look at the Senate, the numbers are even more disturbing. Thirty-nine GOP Senators reject the science on climate change—that's 72 percent of the Senate Republican caucus.

The list includes veteran lawmakers like James Inhofe (Okla.), who is the incoming chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and has written a book titled, The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future. And it includes new senators like Steve Daines (Mont.), who thinks climate change might be caused by solar cycles. (For a great interactive map showing exactly how many climate deniers represent your state in Congress, click here.)

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/01/republican-climate-denial-caucus

[GeorgeGist]

14. For those who choose not to read ...

But a measure proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had raised questions about whether he would stick to that commitment.

The Sanders measure asks whether lawmakers agree with the overwhelming consensus of scientists who say climate change is impacting the planet and is worsened by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

[BrotherIvan]

17. Thanks for reiterating this

Bernie always walks the walk.

[riversedge]

54. The thing many R's do not believe is that is man made climate change. They will

admit that the climate is changing--seas raising ect but not that it is human made. Glad to see Bernie inserted the important element.

[Iliyah]

18. Already know that Sen Sanders submitted the amendment

Still, GOP congress is nuts and a danger, this will show it alongwith other amendments that will be introduced in the future.

[C Moon]

19. The GOP is about to make themselves look very ignorant/or selfish in history.

[RationalMan]

21. I don't care what the Senate thinks about climate change....

after all we have had more than one GOPer state publicly they are not climate scientists. But now they want to vote on the matter.

It doesn't matter how they vote. Facts are facts. The planet is undergoing climate change that doesn't bode well for most living creatures.

In their book this would be akin to voting on whether God created the earth.

[handmade34]

42. the amendment...

not a bad idea to get it on the record...


http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/climate-science-amendment?inline=file

[riversedge]

74. lots of Repugs will vote No because they do not believe humans

are causing the climate change.

[greyl]

75. That's fantastic!

Thanks for linking to it.

[randys1]

103. Indeed, while 90% or more of teaparty will only vote FOR those who DENY climate change

we might actually get a few of them that have functioning brains to wake the fuck up.

Personally I am of the belief that it is too late, the damage will occur, it will be severe, and there is nothing we can do to stop it and very little we can do to limit it.

Having said that, I still live my life as if it is changeable, as in the way I interact with the environment, because you never know.

[trof]

22. Gee, I hope they vote against hurricane induced tidal and wave surges

Us coast dwellers would sure appreciate that.

[kentauros]

76. That should save them from one of those late-season,

extra-tropical storms that shows up on the Capitol steps one of these days...

[vlyons]

24. well I want the speed of light slowed way way down

If we voted to make photons travel way way slower, they would stay around in the room much much longer and cut my electricity bill way way down

[Blanks]

25. They did vote to extend daylight savings time...

If they can change what time the sun comes up, by god they can do anything.

[Brigid]

26. I don't think climate change is up for a vote.

[sulphurdunn]

28. After this vote it will be obvious

who runs the asylum.

[JohnnyRingo]

29. Hahahaha! Who would know better?

Well,maybe nearly every climate scientist.

Having said that, it's good to get people on the record being dead wrong and swapping lobby money for the planet's chance of survival. if there's a recount of history one day, these environmental criminals will be harshly criticized as world class morans.

[cheapdate]

30. The SUSPENSE is killing me!

Finally, we'll learn the truth about the science from our GOP senate.

[lobodons]

33. This will be the story of the next 2 years

The Republicans will be getting all their positions on the record with official votes for all their whackadoodle ideas and policies.

[Enthusiast]

43. I'm glad these senate climate scientists are going to decide.

[nakocal]

48. The Earth is flat

And next week the senate will vote on whether or not the Earth is flat.

[ybbor]

55. I believe McConnell's actual response was...

Ahhhh yup, we're gonna vote on it, ahh yup.

🐢🐢🐢🐢

[matt819]

60. Some other potential votes

Senate to vote on whether the sun rises in the east.

Senate to vote on whether the sun revolves around the earth, or vice versa.

Senate to vote on whether the earth is flat.

It's over. America is finished.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

61. Republicans are so committed to being the opposition they would claim water isn't wet.

[workinclasszero]

64. Gee the rethug teabagger congress/flat earth luddites who that think the earth is 6000 years old max

and people were riding around on dinosaurs a couple thousand years ago.

Wonder how they will vote?

[olddad56]

65. so if they don't vote for climate change, it won't happen?

I vote for mandatory psychotherapy for anyone voting that climate change isn't happening.

[daleo]

66. Maybe they can vote on the value of pi

I hear some legislature did that once.

On edit. Ok, someone mentioned pi. But they could still outlaw irrational numbers or something.

[blkmusclmachine]

69. I predict the Republican hacks will vote however Exxon/Mobil tells them to vote. So, I expect 90%

climate denialism from the Republicans. The interesting part will be to see how many DEMS join in. I expect the Keystone DEMS to similarly reject climate science & reason in favor of a big payoff from Big Oil.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

70. I want them to vote against the Sun turning into a red giant in 5 billion years and consuming the

Earth. I don't want my planet to melt away forever.

[Reter]

72. There are four possible answers, so it's not really a yes or no question

The answers can be any of the following:

1) Yes, Climate Change is real

2) It's real, but humans don't have anything to do with it

3) No, Climate Change is not happening

4) I have no idea

[Nihil]

82. Not to the actual amendment from Sanders.

It is linked upthread and should be read fully before heading off at a tangent (not just aimed at you Reter BTW).

[NancyDL]

77. There's so much pressure on Republicans to toe the party line...

... that even the most intelligent will attempt to fall in line with the oil companies. They seem to think that whether or not Mankind is negatively affecting the climate is a matter of opinion. Seriously. I don't argue with them. It's pointless because it just serves to solidify their stance.

I live in Canada where climate deniers are few and far between. Our conservative PM has done his best to muzzle the scientists, but he has done it under the pretext of cutting costs.

In the US, it seems to me that a lot of folk believe that scientific findings are "opinions" to be voted on and because of this their politicians get away with things like passing laws forbidding scientists from sharing their findings. I'm hoping Americans wake up before it's too late. These people and their policies are dangerous not only to Americans but to the world.

[Nitram]

81. Following that, the Senate will vote on whether gravity is a thing.

[DFW]

83. The Republicans can also vote that fish should breathe air without gills

Or that the sun should rise in the west, or that horses should speak only English.

And they probably will. It's not as if they had anything useful in mind.

[Pacifist Patriot]

84. Yeah! Another edition of "Is this reality or is this The Onion"...

brought to you by the moronic GOP.

[handmade34]

90. offered by Bernie Sanders

and not moronic

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/climate-science-amendment?inline=file

[Pacifist Patriot]

91. I was referring to...

the headline sounding like an Onion article and the idea that politicians would even need to go on record. If the GOP didn't have climate change deniers, Sanders wouldn't be offering this.

[ananda]

85. ROFL

This really struck my absurd button!
Words fail.

[ffr]

86. Along with those other votes, can they vote on Winter

Because I don't think that's real anymore. Why is there this Winter season on the calendar when all we get is Fall to Spring? Just do away with it and make it three seasons, so we no longer get our hopes up.

[Douglas Carpenter]

87. perhaps we can eliminate death that way - hurricanes, earthquakes and major fires too

[IcyPeas]

89. Colbert Report: I'm Not a Scientist, but.....

Spot On

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/colbert-republicans-climate-change_n_6122130.html

[tclambert]

92. Finally some experts will settle this issue and we can move on.

Too bad scientists never found a way to let us know their thinking on this issue. Then we wouldn't have had to waste the Senate's time on such a trivial matter. Once the Senate vote confirms climate change is a hoax, we can all relax and never worry about it again. I, for one, am relieved.

[marions ghost]

93. Ha ha

yeah let's take a head count of those who are stupid enough to go on record as climate change deniers.

I'll be real interested in how this vote turns out...

funny if it weren't so sad...

Sanders

[riversedge]

94. Sanders has the mojo!!

[Moonwalk]

95. Well, gosh, I hope they vote that it's not happening....

...'Cause I really don't want it to be happening. Just one question: why didn't anyone tell me we could vote on this stuff? Can we change the laws of gravity next? I'd love to be able to fly.

[demosincebirth]

96. What dumb fucks --what makes them think they are qualified. Well, on second thought,

I really believe they think, they are qualified.

[defacto7]

97. Sometime in the vast future

a kid will open up a US History textbook, look at the contents and it will read:

...
...
Chapter 18 - WWII
Chapter 19 - The Marshall Plan - Rebuilding
Chapter 20 - The Cold War
Chapter 21 - The Nuclear Age
Chapter 22 - The Fight For Civil Rights
Chapter 23 - The Space Age
Chapter 24 - The Fall
Chapter 25 - The Dark Ages
Chapter 26 - The Medieval Period
Chapter 27 - The Renaissance
...
...

[riversedge]

107. EEKs!!

[RoccoR5955]

100. WTF is wrong with these people.

You cannot declare that something in the environment has no effect by voting on it.
It's like praying for rain. Useless!
Well I guess it's par for the course for these myth believer, Koch sucking bass turds!

[Ferd Berfel]

102. Title s/b: Republicans to vote on whether Reality is Real

But I'm not really kidding; A Reminder:

REALITY-BASED Community

Those of us in the REALITY-BASED Community cannot afford to forget THIS:

“….The aide said that guys like me were ‘‘in what we call the reality-based community,” which he defined as people who ”believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.” I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ”That’s not the way the world really works anymore,” he continued. ”We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.” (and then THEY "act" AGAIN!)

Without a Doubt – By RON SUSKIND – - October 17, 2004- pg 6
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05EFD8113BF934A25753C1A9629C8B63&pagewanted=1