Shocker! Senator Warner battling to replace Inhofe as top Republican on Environment Committee

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Party Shift May Make Warming a Hill Priority
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 18, 2006; Page A06

Dramatic changes in congressional oversight of environmental issues may pump new life into efforts to fight global warming, activist groups and lawmakers said yesterday.

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) announced his intention to become the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, now headed by Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), who has said that global warming is a hoax. Warner has called for action against climate change, and his ascension to a leadership post would accelerate significant changes already underway.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) -- a liberal who has called global warming a dire threat -- is in line to chair the committee in the next Congress as a result of last week's elections, which will give Democrats the Senate majority. Environmentalists have been hailing her impending replacement of Inhofe as chairman. Warner's takeover of the ranking minority member's slot, they said yesterday, would raise even greater hopes for advancing their agenda....

First, however, GOP senators must decide whether Warner's seniority on the committee grants him the right to be the ranking Republican. Inhofe issued a statement saying that he thinks Warner "has misunderstood the rules" and that "I intend to retain my leadership position in the 110th Congress, returning as the Ranking Member" of the environment committee.

Warner responded in a statement: "I carefully reviewed the rules in consultation with the Secretary of the Majority, who assures me that my seniority on the Committee forms a clear basis, under longstanding precedent" for claiming the top Republican spot. Warner will surrender the Armed Services Committee chairmanship and assert his party leadership claim on the environmental panel....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111701770.html

[longship]

1. What do you bet that Warner will take pro-environment stance?

I'd bet anything on it. Otherwise, why would he be running against that kook, Inhofe?

Anybody give me odds on it?

on edit: Recommended.

[Ignacio Upton]

10. I think he would be more reasonable than Inhofe

But I don't think that he would be as reasonable as the Democrats on the committee.

[RoyGBiv]

2. Brief question ...

Why do Democratic reps seem to need two modifiers, i.e "Boxer (D-Calif) - a liberal" while Republicans only need one, just the party identification?

[DeepModem Mom]

4. That is a good question. nt

[kiahzero]

7. Because moderate Republicans are a rare breed?

Whereas there are many moderate Dems.

[RoyGBiv]

14. Mhmmm...

And who determines the dividing line?

Party affiliation should be all that is necessary in stories like these.

[Uncle Joe]

25. Because the "Liberal Media" is not. n/t

[Hand]

3. Excellent!

Whatever way Warner leans, the impending slugfest should be highly entertaining. :popcorn:

[NJ Democrats]

5. Why would he give of Ranking member of the Armed Services

for the Environment Committee?

[JudyM]

8. Isn't his jr senator from VA (Webb) getting on Armed Svcs? Maybe

he's ceding that to Webb. Or maybe he's just terribly concerned about the environment and wants to forge bipartisan progress on it with Boxer...?

[txindy]

9. Probably because Inhofe has caused so much damage there.

And he'll continue to do so unless replaced. I guess Warner's seen the light when it comes to the importance of finding ways to counter global warming. I think this is a good thing.

[Spangle]

12. Smart move for the GOP

They can no longer play the 'hoax' game. Laws WILL come out of this committee. Laws that will effect big donor corps. Since they can't ignore this issue like they have been doing for the last 12 years, they have to at least act like they are playing along. Try to make this at least look 'bipartisn'.

The democrats have every reason to ignore the 'hoaxer' that is in there now. Just has he has ignored them. Any laws that come out seeming good, the new guy will get some 'credit' for it. Bonus points for future runs maybe??

Republicans have been looking like idiots for a while now. More people are talking about global warming and talking about it as it's a FACT. If they want to regain DC, they have to change the 'idiot' image. This is one of the areas they need to show changes. And they know it.

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Word!

I couldn't have said it better. :thumbsup:

[BootinUp]

21. my take exactly. n/t

[Robbien]

27. Warner is jumping in because the GOP wants to tone down any bills

Boxer puts forth. If Inhofe was there, all he would do is object to any bill but bill are going to now pass. With Warner there, he would work with Dems and make sure all hits to corporate profit were toned down before the bill passes.

The GOP sees the writing on the wall and knows environmental bills are going to be passed. Inhofe will just fight the passage of the bills, but Warner won't fight the bills because he will have watered down the bills effectiveness.

[RoyGBiv]

15. Possibly ...

Possibly because even a lot of Republicans, especially the emerging sort that is distancing themselves from its most radical wing, realize Inhofe and those like him are total fools.

[Strelnikov_]

16. He's Not. He Is Retaining His Post On Armed Services n/t

[never cry wolf]

26. Apparently there is a term limit on chairmanships

I heard that yesterday. I don't know if it's a senate or a repubic party thing.

[JudyM]

6. This is encouraging. Warner's hardly a moderate, but he does some good things.

And he is respected.

[ShaneGR]

11. This is good...

If we can pass some real environmental legislation over the next two years it can have lasting impact.

[Strelnikov_]

17. Guess Crazy Is No Longer In Style

In an interview with Fox and Friends this morning, outgoing Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works James Inhofe (R-OK) argued that the current wave of unprecedented warming is due to “natural changes.” “God’s still up there,” Inhofe said, and to the extent there is warming going on, it is “due to the sun.” He added, “George Soros, the Hollywood elitists, the far left environmentalists on the committee that I chair — all of them want us to believe the science is settled and it’s not.”

[DeepModem Mom]

24. I really like your subject line! "Crazy is no longer in style"! nt

[fujiyama]

18. Perhaps Warner is closer to retirement

and wants some sort of legacy, actually accomplishing something during his time in the senate. He figures global warming may be one of those areas.

To his credit, he's one of the few GOP senators, even though very conservative, that may be still considered somewhat of a statesman. He did refuse to endorse Ollie North, but he did endorse Allen, so I guess it's a wash.

Inhofe is just plain insane. He flat out refuses to believe all scientific evidence of climate change. Oklahoma really has one of the worst senate delegations in the union - him and Coburn - what a pair!

[filer]

19. Inhofe is a mental midget.

But he's up for re-election in '08 and we have a very popular Democratic governor who has just been re-elected by a sizable margin. If Oklahoma Dems can convince Brad Henry to run against him, and if the DNC will send some support this way, I believe we can send that fool to the south forty.

[BootinUp]

20. wow. Why did he wait so long

to kick dufus inhofe to the curb? Seems to be an effort to improve the Republicon image as Inhofe had to be one of their biggest dufuses.

[DeepModem Mom]

22. a.m. kick

[DeepModem Mom]

23. Sorry -- another kick for the Coast.