Trump is not interested in "energy dominance." He is interested in energy corporation dominance. As every other advanced country is moving away from 19th century coal, the original fuel of the industrial revolution, whether embracing natural gas, nuclear power, or more modern renewable energy, only the United States, under Trump and his coal & other fossil fuel buddies, is trying to go back 150 years in history and embrace the antiquated use of coal for power. For his next trick, he will probably find the buggy whip & blacksmith lobbies springing up with big contributions if he will only eliminate automobiles & turn us back to horses & carriages.
3
I am losing track, New York Times. Scandals and inquiries--they float by in a malodorous blur. Crook after crook--how's one to keep 'em all straight?
Mr. Zinke. Rode into work on a HORSE. Hiyo, Silver! Who was that masked man?
And Mr. Pruitt. Who refused to ride coach because, as The Economist put it--"people would be mean to him.'
Sakes, how I laughed over THAT one. But then--I looked up Mr. Zinke--the Lone Ranger of the Trump administration--and I laughed myself sick over THAT one.
On it goes. And now--Mr. Bernhardt.
Your choice of adjective, New York Times, was--telling. "Impressive" you said. And I get it--I get it.
Moral turpitude is a desideratum in the Trump administration. How many sub poena's did you rack up? Hey--anyone get INDICTED today? No? Well, for crying out loud, why NOT? Getting SLACK, are we? Subsiding into ruts of an unimaginative LEGALITY?
Oh New York Times--so help me, how SICK I am of these people. How sick I am of the GOP--now more than ever an avatar of ruthless, unrestrained capitalism.
How sick I am of our President--the scowling puppeteer pulling on strings as this or that crook, this or that flagrant incompetent, dances about. Blathering on--feeding nostrums to an ever more incredulous public.
Another investigation, eh?
Well--let's see what THIS one turns up.
Nothing nice, I'm sure.
And, by the way, I AM sure.
Anyone here NOT sure?
Anyone?
15
Trump doesn't like swamps because he thrives much better in a hazardous waste site replete with raw sewage.
1
Picking an industry insider to hold a Cabinet post is emblematic of what’s wrong with our government. Congress allows corporate lobbyists to “help” write legislation. The FDA and other government agencies allow companies to self-regulate. And on and on and on.
We must get big money out of politics and return to a vote-counting process that is transparent and secure so the public can be certain that election results reflect the will of the people.
Election integrity expert Jonathan Simon says the process of counting votes is no different than the “man behind the curtain.” If we gave our ballots to a man wearing a magician's costume and a pin for his preferred candidate, he then goes behind the curtain to tally the votes, he comes out and says I’ve counted the ballots, shredded them and announces the winner would you trust the result?
Election Theft in the 21st Century with Jonathan Simon https://tinyurl.com/ydz3jcvj
NYT Magazine: The Crisis of Election Security https://tinyurl.com/yczwsupq
“The ballot box is the foundation of any democracy. It’s not too grand to say that if there’s a failure in the ballot box, then democracy fails. And in the United States, it’s safe to say, though few may utter it publicly, that the ballot box has failed many times and is poised to fail again.”
German Court Rules E-Voting Unconstitutional https://tinyurl.com/za778ju
Europe Rejects Digital Voting Machines https://tinyurl.com/yczjwo64
#PublicFundingOfElections
#HandCountedBallotsNow!
4
@RLS - Corrupt politicians have always known the same truth:
"As long as I count the votes, what are you going to do about it?" - Boss Tweed of NY's Tammany Hall.
"The voters decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
5
VeryGoodBrain attracts Sleaze like flies to a fresh cowpie.
In sardonic amusement, Mr. Bernhardt being compared favorably to the other "grifters" of the cabinet, is damning by faint praise. Amazing how standards have sunk. It sickens me to see such absence of respect for high government office and seems to be offered up to "loyalists" who look to line their pockets. Mr. Bernhardt's tendencies to rape one of the most valuable resources as the land and the very nature that had existed seems more damaging than extracting monetary advantages from the power of a cabinet office.
5
foxes in the henhouse. this is the most corrupt and incompetent white house in history....and there have been others.....and this at a time when issues of climate change demand immediate and strong action. let us hope we make it to 2020 without disaster and the Dems don't shoot themselves in the foot with infighting, ANYONE is better than this clown.
6
Pigs at troughs
2
Isn't the entire Administration an "inside job"? The coyote has been in the hen house since day one.
4
So much for cleaning out the swamp. NYT, keep doing your job. Bravo!
4
It is amazing how little publicans and a few democrats care about our country and people.
1
"...when an agency is led by people skeptical of if not actively hostile to its mission. "
It's worth recalling that these governmental agencies were established by duly elected representatives from BOTH parties, as were the missions the agencies were supposed to fulfill. Agency heads who explicitly sabotage their agency's mission are in violation of their oath of office, as is the president who appoints them. A president who fails to ensure that US laws are "faithfully executed" fails to fulfill his PRIMARY constitutional function.
Agency heads and presidents who fail to fulfill their primary functions should be impeached. Forthwith.
5
Yet another example of Congress failing to do due diligence in deciding whether to confirm a nominee. People like this should never have made it out of committee, let alone full Senate vote. The number of nominated positions must be drastically reduced. Our departments and agencies, built to protect the people of this country from the depredations of greed, should be run by people who care about the mission and experience doing so.
29
@Gusting
The only ones to blame here are "we the people".
The GOP has been leading the departments of the Executive branch in a pro-big corporations and anti-America way for years and years already.
That means that each time we give them control of the Senate again (either by voting for them, or staying home rather than voting), they'll obviously continue to do the same thing.
Vote them out and the problem is gone.
No longer giving the leadership of the departments to people appointed by politicians is not the solution, as that leadership will always have to take a lot of purely political decisions.
The only way, in a democracy, to obtain an Executive branch of government working for us rather than against us, is to make sure that those who vote them in (= the Senate) is controlled by people who think like us.
In a democracy, you only have a government for the people if it's a government by the people.
3
Another of Trump's "best people" turns out to be one of his worst. My only question: how was this environmental destroyer approved by Congress to become the Interior Secretary? What happened to vetting? Is it now standard practice for Congress to rubber-stamp anyone Trump chooses and simply rely on the ethics watchdog of that particular department to do the vetting afterward?
19
@Christy
He wasn't voted in by Congress as a whole, but by the GOP Senate, remember?
And the GOP has been openly appointing people like this for decades already, when it comes to the environment, EPA etc.
So nil novi sub sole here ...
9
@Christy
Perhaps you are too young to remember James Watt and Anne Gorsuch (yes, that Gorsuch). Appointing industry lapdogs and people who just can't stand public ownership of anything that could be producing private profit is standard operating procedure for Republican presidents and the GOP senators who confirm their nominees.
3
Bernhardt can have all the sound-proof booths and Chik-Fil-a franchises he wants as far as I'm concerned. But he needs to keep his oil-soaked mitts off my public lands.
3
As a former DOI agency employee, appointment of industry thugs is not uncommon. Sadly, the preponderance are appointed by GOP administrations.
7
Where does the Trump Administration find these people? I couldn't come up with as many criminals if I tried.
2
These are the kinds of ever unpunished criminal activities that inspired people to erect guillotines in a frenzy.
Thank god for the massive tools of social controls modern governments now dispose of to actively protect such behaviors.
As part of his May 2017 Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Bernhardt submitted a written statement to senators saying, “I have not engaged in regulated lobbying on behalf of Westlands Water District after November 18th, 2016.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/04/climate/david-bernhardt-interior-lobbying.html?module=inline
Well that was a lie. But, Committee Chairperson Lisa Murkowski mocked the evidence showing that the lobbiest-nominee had lied. Instead, she blamed "some well-funded groups" for Bernhardt's problem with ethics.
JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS: Donald Trump and the MAGA hatters shout "Drain The Swamp" and, simultaneously, their lobbiest-nominee Berhardt is literally working to drain protected wetlands:
"Those changes (advocated by Bernhardt) would have led to the release of vast amounts of water from the delicate ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Delta for irrigation of commercial farmland."
First, citizens have to "give a hoot" about the unceasing resource grabbing and habitat destruction. Second, citizens have to "choose a side" because the office holders who square-off against THOSE WHO PAY LOBBIESTS MILLIONS are going to be ambushed, condemned, and pilloried. Third, "never relent" to sponsored tyranny.
1
Bernhardt's defense against his unethical involvement in Westlands project: His involvement in Westlands project involved interests of larger group—not just Westlands! Does this make sense? So, he can help Westlands as long as its bad effects are broad?! Bernhardt says he wasn’t aware of meetings on Migratory Bird Treaty between Interior officials & Intl Petroleum Asso. that cut protections for birds until "he read about it in the news."! This from a guy who is renowned for attention to detail! Interior has 8 “quasi-officials” in charges of its bureaus that manage more than 450 million acres of public lands! Interior is in this dubious position because Bernhardt appoints unqualified people who will have trouble getting Senate approval. His "recusals" from involving himself in decisions about former lobbying partners are meaningless because All OF HIS TOP staff are also closely tied to Energy Industry. For 131 DOCUMENTED reasons why he's the Worst ever Secretary of Interior (Yes, much worse than Zinke), see https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog
1
You must never forget than a crook will only be at ease with more crooks!
1
The titles all now read .Secretary of X of Donald Trump, no longer Secretary of X of the United States.
1
and no one is surprised...
1
Wonder what would happen if a proposal to open up fracking on Trump's Bedminster, NJ golf course were made to further his goal of energy dominance. Which would win out - his love for his golf course or love for money? My God, his head might explode!!!
1
So what your saying is "Its Thursday in DC".
5
Working for a crook like Trump attracts unethical people. Look at his cabinet heads. His White House staff. It’s a swamp filled collection of grifters, liars, nativists, and party hacks.
2
The only real question is he a swamp creature or a sewer creature?
Another Trojan Horse appointment.
Will this ever end? Is there even a shred of decency left in this horrible administration?
3
November 3, 2020. That is the day we take our country back. It started in the 2018 midterms, when we got the House back, now we need to finish the job. Eschew bitterness, revenge, or hate, but act with resolve. This article is eerily similar to uncounted others like it, but the gist is the same. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Be a problem solver, please!
5
"... it is refreshing that Mr. Bernhardt is not under fire for the sort of unseemly personal grifting attributed to previous Trump officials."
How gratifying it is to learn that Mr Berhhardt is merely an industry insider committed to destroying the agency he heads and is relatively free of the ethical baggage so prominent among most of this administration's Cabinet members!
3
What will Trump supporters once again reply?
That Democrats must have done similar things too!
Except that they didn't.
But as GOP voters accepted Trump's order to no longer fact-check anything and turn Fox News' fake news into a religious beliefs spouting machine, they don't even care anymore, they merely supposed that as "libs" are "evil persons", they undoubtedly MUST have done the same thing, and probably even worse.
Once you assume things like that, prosecuting Republicans becomes indeed a witch hunt, as those who send the prosecutor in are supposed to have done what they now want to prosecute too.
Any GOP voter who accepts this kind of argument, however, clearly admits at least one thing: he doesn't believe in ethics or moral values anymore. Because IF you decide to cultivate high moral standards, then the fact that an opponent does immoral things can NEVER be accepted as an excuse to start doing them too. Especially in that case, you have to continue to keep up those standards yourself, if not, your destroying America's greatness even more.
And this shows how hollowed out morality has become, for today's conservatives. Moral values are now mere end goals, rather than means to improve things.
For Democrats, however, both strong moral values and democracy itself continues to be THE best tools to create a more perfect union and a more thriving society as a whole.
So what happened to America's conservatives? Where and how did they loose their moral compass?
I do not understand why it is not an impeachable offense to appoint agency heads who deliberately sabotage the mission of the agency itself.
1
Our remaining natural heritage is again in great danger, just as it was decades ago when James Watt was the spirit behind despoiling the natural countryside. Attaboy, Mr. Bernhardt
Maybe we need a law allowing inspector generals to check on candidates BEFORE they are confirmed. Of course, this would mean Trump would have had no cabinet members except for his first Defense Secretary.
6
All you need to know is that if Trump nominates someone you can be sure the public is getting fleeced.
24
Time for the democratic presidential candidates to bring resounding damnation of Trump's GOP war on earth. There is no other way to describe their utter disdain for the environment, the health of land and the people.
16
@vole
Not only did they already do so, it's even better, they already developed a science-based solution too.
It's called the Green New Deal.
5
“...The new secretary, David Bernhardt, is under investigation on complaints that, as deputy, he used his office to advance the interests of former lobbying clients...
So what happens when an old secretary, as secretary, uses her office to advance the interest of future foundation donors...
Or is that a non-newsworthy dog-bites-woman sort of thread...
3
@W in the Middle
1. The GOP launched investigations against her for two years, and didn't find anything illegal - contrary to Mueller.
2. You really believe that IF Hillary did something illegal, Trump would NOT have put her behind bars already? Even he knows that his "lock her up" was just a funny chant, nothing serious.
3. Could you please explain how the Clinton foundation somehow hurts America - let alone destroys it the way these anti-science Republicans systematically do once they get on the job ... ? Any concrete ideas?
2
@W in the Middle
11 separate investigations and NEVER found guilty of ANYTHING. GOP spent millions of our dollars dragging her name through the mud so fools unable to think for themselves would get on the bandwagon. But I must admit - I enjoy watching those who cried "lock her up" go to jail themselves. Oh, those glass houses! Ya' gotta love 'em!
It seems there are a whole lot of career swamp people in this organization who need to be cleared out.
6
@Knute
Except that his not a career guy, and instead worked for big oil during his entire life - which is precisely the point of this op-ed.
It's Congress that appoints people nominated by the president to lead the government's departments.
So these are by definition the rare political appointments, contrary to the people working for the Executive branch of government for their entire life - those are the career people. But they're not part of the swamp, fortunately.
2
Ethically elastic, or, ethically challenged administration?
It appears, from the head of the rotten fish down to the press secretary level there are no ethics and no moral compass.
So, the new Secretary of the Interior will fit in the cabal of Trump quite well just as the lackey Attorney General and Flimsy Graham have.
7
If a person works for Trump, they are corrupt. No job for Trump involves honest , truthful endeavors. Rather they cluster around corruption, self dealing, obfuscation , duplicity, in short , BREAKING THE LAW.
14
The focus has been on King trump. But let's not forget that most of these cabinet members have been confirmed by the Legislative Branch. The whole system is sick. And it is sickening.
6
@Mike Bonnell
Only by the GOP Senate.
So no, it's not the entire system that is sick, it's the GOP.
All we have to do is vote them out. Because THAT's how a democratic system works.
3
@Mike Bonnell A slight amendment to your comment, as several others have made the same mistake. The House has no role in these confirmation hearings or votes -- only the Senate. Given the near-equivalent (to the executive branch) corruption among the Mitch McConnell GOP-led Senate, getting cabinet or other confirmations through is a piece of cake for Trump. The only hope, on that score, is probably voting them out, but for some reason, Trump supporters in some of these states are utterly enamoured by immorality, corruption, venality, and (apparently) sin.
@Ana Luisa
I beg to differ. This system is corrupt, on both sides. I could offer many many examples both now during trump's tenure and Obama's before.
That being said, go and have a peek at the Roll for Bernhardt's confirmation. (56-41) Several Democrats voted to confirm him...
The Trump Reign of Destruction continues to be a pattern of putting the Fox in the Hen House... nothing less. If you doubt it, look at the background of every cabinet secretary appointed by this greed-driven Trump administration. "What's best for America?" That is not a concept that has once entered the Oval Office under the illiterate thumb of Trump.
11
Instead of draining the swamp, Trump keeps adding to it. Bernhardt is just the latest example of many.
8
Are we surprised? This is Trump’s kind of guy: sleazy, self-serving, and intent on abusing his position to enrich himself and to take care of his friends.
And the hapless Senate? Forget about it.
With the con man’s supplicant Mitch McConnell in charge, it would appoint the Devil to be our next Attorney General. Or, maybe that’s what just happened when Barr got confirmed.
8
Surely nobody can be surprised at this ??!! Exactly what one expects from Trump cabinet and appointees — not to mention the family!!
Surely folks have noticed: We are living through a kleptocracy—quite apart from the most immoral presidency in American history.
8
I'm shocked, positively shocked! Another one of Trump's fulfilled promises to his brain dead base to hire only "best people" for the job is under investigation.
6
Another Trumpublican appointee with ethics issues. I have lost my capacity to be shocked or surprised by this administration and its lack of integrity.
5
Is there ONE honest person who has been in the employ of this Administration? ONE?
5
@John Grillo
Hold on. We're still looking.
I'm so sick and tired of all the corruption and criminality. Can we sue Trump for PTSD?
5
I'm beginning to think I'm not going to survive 2 more years of Trumps corruption and that of those around him..HELP!....how do these people not collapse and wither into nothingness...this is mind numbing
7
Shall names be named? Who are the three democrat senators voting for the confirmation? and why?
5
It is quite obvious that the djt administration is a criminal organization. It is equally obvious that the crimes are white collar crimes that the rich republican party views as either unimportant or not actual crimes since these crimes enrich them and are just 'free market' rights.
These criminals will never be prosecuted with people like Barr overseeing the doj and honorable men like Mueller remaining silent.
Vote these bums out of office in 2020 and jail them in 2021.
5
The blame for this rests squarely on the non-existent shoulders of the United States Senate. Specifically, the Republican majority.
One must ask how many of the Republican Senators' constituents desire to have environmental regulations gutted by an industry lobbyist with no apparent ethics.
What's happened to the separation of powers, especially the Congress' role as a check on the Executive? The GOP Senate has abandoned its prerogatives to a bullying President and taken the coward's path of non-involvement. Pathetic.
4
The takeover of the US government by corrupt oligarchs knows no bounds. Where are the honest and uncorruptible Republican senators? Why have Republicans lost their souls? It can't just be for money, which is worthless of you have no soul.
4
Two words - Dick. Cheney.
Look, it is all out in the open now - pure corruption. Those in power don't even try to hide their conflicts of interests and self-enrichment schemes as they destroy the very institution they are supposed to manage and protect.
5
The swampers Trump is naming to Interior and EPA are making me long for the days of run of the mill Republican hacks like James Watt and Anne Gorsuch.
4
Three so-called Democrats voted for Bernhardt's confirmation: Manchin, Sinema, and Heinrich. This is what Democrats do. They vote for people like Bernhardt, Pompeo, and Zinke and immediatelyy begin hearings into their backgrounds. It is appalling that Democrats dont get it!
2
"[I]t is refreshing that Mr. Bernhardt is not under fire for the sort of unseemly personal grifting attributed to previous Trump officials."
That's how low the bar has fallen in two+ years, almost without our noticing: the presence of traditional, generic corruption is now described as "refreshing".
It would also be interesting to see a detailed breakdown of the Senate vote on Mr. Bernhardt; for instance, did any Republican Senator vote against the confirmation? If so, he or she should be singled out for praise. Although, again, saying so is another sign of how far our political culture has fallen: that a Senator should be praised for just doing his or her job.
7
@Ellen Valle
My thoughts exactly. How very very low we have fallen when even the Editorial Board of the New York Times(!) gives shady characters like Mr. Bernhardt a pass simply because he is merely "prosaically" corrupt rather than (at least as far as we know) a blatant thief & grifter like multiple other Trump appointees.
What is happening to my country? I feel sick.
1
Looking at the last sentence of this article, Trump would NEVER appoint as Secretary of the Interior someone who doesn't cross legal and ethical lines. Even if with his appointees not lasting long he names half a dozen to this position, he will never name one who would stay within both ethical boundaries and the law. There's too much dirty money to be made by harming the environment.
14
The bigger question is whether trump's energy dominance policy is legal. It's a policy of environmental destruction, a policy already litigated against and vanquished by legislation.
The EPA has been neutered bt trump's policy.
19
The Trumpian promise, from 19th century French politics, to his supporters and appointees and other insiders (including the presidential family): "Enrichissez-vous" - enrich yourself.
Bernhardt is only the latest in a series of Trump cabinet appointments and WH hires who see politics in Washington, DC, as the opportunity to get rich. And help their families, friends and former clients (who may become future clients) to pig out from the public trough. Nothing more.
That the Congress has put its stamp of approval on these louses is an indication of how useless Congress has become - mostly the GOP members who rubber stamp their WH darling's every whim. There are a few exceptions among the GOP but they aren't taken seriously except for their occasional votes against the party line.
Reminder: The greater the gulf between the 1% and the 99%, the greater the chance that revolution will stir itself. The "yellow vest" movement in France may be gone in a while but not forgotten. No matter its odd politics, it made headlines - and an impression. The "Occupy" movement here was unquestionably the early stirrings of dissent and discontent that could mature into something more palpable and serious. History doesn't repeat, it merely reminds us of present possibilities.
24
This, as well as all the other extremely dubious appointments from this administration, really makes me wonder why Americans vote in and continue to support senators who vote against their collective best interests and vote for corruption.
Perhaps there really is a zombie menace outside of the movies.
29
It’s 2 :30 Am , I opened my phone because I’m overwhelmed with my life and can’t sleep . After reading this , I feel extremely grateful to have a roof over my head , food, drs , and life . My problems have suddenly gone away . This is so tragic .
8
4 sale: Chicken coop.
Bidding: Open to foxes.
39
So another trump cabinet member is under a conflict of interest, ethics violation cloud...what a sick surprise that everybody expected. And not in the job more than a day! A virtual record.
And the tireless GOP Senate defenders of the U.S. Constitution turn their backs once again as they quietly walk away to collect their enabling pieces of silver.
This president, this Cabinet, and this group of Republican enablers don’t even hide their hatred of American values and ideals. They openly destroy the environment, practically give away public land to oil/gas interests, continually attack affordable healthcare, destroy the national safety net, and stay silent as U.S. born hate-groups crawl out from the sewers causing havoc and pain across the country.
The perpetrators of this pathetic moment in American history need to be identified in the legitimate media, taken to court, and shown to be the ugly danger that they are. Each of us who see the danger need to support, with our energy and finances, the groups working to save this country.
71
How can ‘less horrible than the others’ be a recommendation?!
20
This is how government looks in the Trump era. Little governance. Lots of corruption.
39
"The fox guarding the hen house" is not a concern for the Trump administration - it is a guiding principle.
A corollary is "Fox News guarding the insane asylum."
38
Mr. Bernhardt has too many conflicts of interest as to be able to be effective, and efficient, without upsetting his previous 'partners in crime', and be of service to the people. But then again, having a corrupt 'boss' in the Oval Office, it is dubious he'll be fired...as it would if justice had a say.
12
Trump practises Trojan horse politics. By guile, he conspires to wheel in gift horses into departments with the intention of destroying them from within. It is a callous act of treachery to do so.
It seems that his logic is, if the department is too enfeebled, it cannot enforce regulations (those that remain) on corporations or individuals set to plunder the nation’s attributes and treasures. Somehow, Trump’s base go along with this, and it’s tragic how much people will betray their own best interests in their ignorance. There’s a psychology doctorate in there somewhere.
43
Trump vowed to "Drain the swamp!". Instead he's widened and deepened it. The corruption he's surrounding himself within rivals, and quite possibly exceeds, the most corrupt administrations in our history.
And we're talking about some real swamps: Andrew Jackson, who introduced the "spoils system" to reward his friends and supporters; Ulysses S. Grant, whose cabinet was known as one of the most corrupt up to that point; and of course there's Warren Harding who had a number of scandals, including the famous Teapot Dome scandal that led to the tax law requiring the IRS to turn over tax records to Congress of anyone they want to investigate! I'm not sure Richard Nixon even qualifies to join this crew.
Of course anyone who paid any attention at all to Trump's behavior over his lifetime could've predicted what would happen. He has made, and continues to make, a mockery of our "justice" system.
48
In the 90s we had a young woman join our firefighting ranks. As a rookie, and only allowed to work seasonally, 1040 regular hours, she was informed that she'd have to give up her very small private USFS contractor business (planting trees after clearcuts), because it was deemed a conflict. Instead, she collected unemployment for a few months over winter and maintained her fitness in order to return to her $11/hour USFS job the next year. We were also informed of the activities that we couldn't perform during those unpaid winter months when we were laid-off -- including sport parachuting! And each refresher we listened to hours of mandated ethics and conduct classes. How things do change the further up the food chain you are. There, it's a free-for-all apparently.
92
@James Devlin Rules of conduct only apply to us little guys (and gals).
1
One of the fathers of conservation in the United States was Gifford Pinchot, a Republican, who worked with Teddy Roosevelt to develop the United States Forest Service and the National Parks. These men understood that the protection of natural resources, be they species, land, or anything else from the earth, could be lost if not properly managed and conserved. The lose of vision by today's leaders of the Republican party demonstrates how shortsighted viewpoints have come to dominate on issues that need to be considered on environmental rather than human timescales.
33
@William
It's all about the money. Principles be damned.
2
If the guy violated ethics rules obviously he should go. But do you expect Donald Trump to appoint members of Greenpeace to his cabinet? About as much as Obama would have nominated one of the Koch Brothers to run the EPA.
8
Grotesque. The point is that this guy is DIRECTLY MAKING MONEY from people who exploit and destroy public lands.
3
@Jack Sonville Ridiculous. The EPA exists to protect the environment, not destroy it. Trump is violating the mission of the EPA and he's violating his oath of office.
3
@Jack Sonville Presumably Trump can't just dissolve the Dept of the Interior by fiat. At least, I hope he can't. But while it exists, it's goal is to protect & foster the 'interior'. For the benefit of all Americans.
This isn't a matter of political preferences, but of deliberately putting someone in charge with the *single* goal of negating the dept's whole mission -- working *only* to exploit (with concomitant harm) for private profit *instead of* protect for the public benefit.
I completely and totally understand how Republicans kowtow to any industry regardless of the costs, environmental, societal or otherwise. They are, after all, a party wholly committed to protecting business; it's in their DNA. What I will never, ever understand is how they square harming the environment and ignoring the facts of climate change as parents and grandparents. Oh, and people with lungs themselves. What is the matter with these people?
82
@Alex Miller
"... committed to protecting business …"
I guess it makes a huge difference how one defines 'protecting business'. When Miami, most of the Florida key islands, and New Orleans becomes uninhabitable within the next 100 years, think of all the businesses that will be lost. When every last glacier in Glacier National Park has melted away, why would anybody want to go there? Well, I guess there is some light at the end of the tunnel: Easter Island became a very desired and successful tourist destination (is it the huge stone heads?) after the original East Islanders depleted every last resource and destroyed the ecology.
To save the value and attractiveness of Glacier National Park, I propose we start erecting huge stone heads right now.
20
“Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Also, money...
13
@Alex Miller
As I see it, they are adherents of the admonition: Follow the Money. They are not protecting business; they only care about the money that business is funneling to them. Accumulating money is how they keep score -- And the winner is .... Should worse come to worse the wanna be ever richers of the Trump GOP must figure they can take their wealth and buy some corner of earth that will be immune to the political, economic and environmental damage they are causing. Of course if that does not work, then they will go somewhere else where they can do as they please. See, they know how to plan ahead. Sure.
8
Joe Manchin was one of the few Democrats to vote for Bernhardt. I keep asking what exactly it is that makes Manchin a Democrat as if that D after his name was some sort of talisman that spares him from criticism? Why can't a real Democrat at least try to primary him in West Virginia next time around? Maybe this absurd excess of caution on his part is not to placate voters but fossil fuel interests. In that sense, he's no better or different than Mitch McConnell
108
@stan continople . Manchin is thinking of running for governor in the next cycle, in which party I can't say. He seems to be flexible for all the wrong reasons. Governor Matt Bevin is trying to wreak havoc with healthcare within the state so maybe Manchin sees less friction in the state house than in the senate.
6
Far from attracting the best and the brightest, Mr. Trump cannot nominate such people because none of them would work for him or further his efforts to dismantle the work of previous administrations. Hence, the parade of unqualified, industry-related candidates of dubious character that have darkened the door of Senate confirmation hearings, only to be passed on by the party currently in power. The damage is done. We are suffering from an entire administration based on the Peter Principle.
121
As long as they keep the price of oil and gas low I feel no guilt here. Isn't that what the Democratic party should be working on. How's that "Cap and Trade" working by the way? No matter the environmental cost that is.
1
@JoeG
Fossil fuels are not going to be important after 50 years, or much shorter if the government would do its job.
Why do you assume that only fossil fuels can run our civilization? They are finite resources, if you don't know. For all the talk of the Permian Basin it contains roughly 6 months of global oil demand.
17
Yep from Texas. That says it all.
2
Oh, I see.
So as long as you get a cheaper fill-up, you’re fine with theft.
Nice. Always good to hear from the, “long’s cigarettes stay cheap, I’m good to go with some bitty cancer,” crowd.
It is appalling what this administration has done and continues to do to decades old regulations/laws designed to protect and/or preserve our environment. However, the destructive political and philosophical consistency has to be respected, even as it makes me sick. I hope the Dems have the temerity to act similarly when or if they can win power.
36
@Stomach acid Yet all we hear on cable news is Russia.
"What does need to be determined is if Mr. Bernhardt has crossed legal or ethical lines in pursuit of those goals."
I think the real question is which lines has he crossed, and how often.
54
@Allen Nikora Actually, the REAL question is why the RepubliCONs deemed him suitable for the head of this department (or any department, for that matter). As for grifting, I'm sure he is counting on being well paid after he leaves office, which can come none too soon. And we don't know if he is taking on the side now. That may be determined as the investigation goes on.
19
"....it is refreshing that Mr. Bernhardt is not under fire for the sort of unseemly personal grifting attributed to previous Trump officials."
The day isn't over yet. This guy is just getting started, give him 6 months, if he lasts that long, and he'll have the ethics folks working around the clock trying to catch up.
His goal is to destroy what the Department of the Interior stands for, to protect our federal lands. He'll do all he can to open up more land to be exploited by the energy companies.
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@cherrylog754 . Sadly ethics violations are not crimes, they are treated as minor infractions of policy. Those involved blush when caught and dismissed in the end. Meanwhile the damage to the environment has been done and the offending companies claim bankruptcy with millions in offshore accts. and go on their merry way to the next environmental disaster sure to be paid for by someone else such as the taxpayer, if the EPA can can have enough cake sales and yard sales to scratch together the funds and the political will.
5
There can be little doubt that the appointments of spectacularly unqualified people is deliberate. I don't know the reason, but it occurs too often to be chance.
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@Cassandra The reason is quite simple. Those crafty republicans are on a never ending quest to prove government doesn't work.
But of course, government is only as good as the people who run it.
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@Cassandra This is one way to maintain control. The appointees must always defer to a higher authority; in this case it's Donny "Little Fingers" . He wants to be like Silvio Berlusconi when he grows up.....
11
@Cassandra
This administration does not know qualified people.
They have no interest in finding qualified people.
The ideal candidates are know-nothing puppets who think they do know, and don't mind working for a mentally unstable boss for the "glory."
20
I believe one of the dangers to ethical government that accompanies the revolving door between lobbying and regulating is that there is not always an evident quid pro quo for unethical behavior. In today's environment, there appears, instead, to be a tacit understanding that you deliver when you are in the regulatory seat and you will reap financial rewards later when you return to the private sector. A prime example may well be William Barr's likely more plush life after his government "service."
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@don healy: an excellent point.