And the GOP's counter witness to Al Gore on climate change is...drumroll please...

[babylonsister]

a man for ALL seasons. :D

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_04/017887.php

GORE AND GINGRICH.... The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has been hard at work this week, exploring global warming and ways to combat climate change in considerable detail. The efforts culminate today with committee testimony from Al Gore.

House Republicans were able to invite their own witnesses to give testimony, and last night, they announced that they're calling on one of their own big guns.

Newt Gingrich has just been added to the witness list for tomorrow's House hearing on energy and global warming legislation.

Gingrich will appear before a subcommittee hearing immediately follow the testimony of Al Gore and former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), who are expected to make a bipartisan push for the comprehensive energy legislation introduced by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). That legislation includes cap-and-trade provisions.

"Some on the majority side believed for the longest time that the former speaker knows a lot about health policy but not so much about energy or the environment," said Lisa Miller, a spokeswoman for Republicans on the committee. "When reminded that he was a former professor of environmental studies and wrote two books, 'Contract with the Earth' and 'Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less', they decided to permit him to testify before a subcommittee. It wasn't a bad outcome, even if it took awhile."

A few quick points. First, for GOP officials to keep relying on Newt Gingrich to be a party leader is a dream come true for Democrats. Second, on a related note, that Republicans can't think of anyone better than Gingrich to be a high-profile voice on energy issues points to just how serious the party's mess really is.

And third, there's the inconvenient fact that when it comes to energy and environmental policy, Newt Gingrich doesn't have the foggiest idea what he's talking about.

Should be an interesting day on the Hill.

—Steve Benen

[immoderate]

1. Difficult to comprehend that Newt is a professor of anything.

Except maybe revisionism.

--imm

[hatrack]

2. Yes, Newt, because if we really NEED the oil, it will just BE there when we drill . . .

Clap harder! HARDER, DAMNIT!!!!

[Donnachaidh]

3. Newt -- who was the representative of a county that DOESN'T do anything

for the environment -- other than rip shit down and cement over it, is going to be talking about the environment?

Oh yeah Newt -- wonder how many of YOUR BUDDIES who work at Cobb EMC (the local power company) are being indicted for FRAUD? How MANY of your buddies are also being investigated for hiring illegals for HIGH SECURITY jobs at that same power company?

And Newt -- how MANY of your buddies at the school board got caught trying to sell overpriced laptops to the schools in Cobb County? And how many of your buddies are lining up for no-bid construction contracts for the same county?

Newt Gingrich talking about the environment is the equivalent of Jack the Ripper advocating police protection for prostitutes. Totally bogus bullshit. :grr: