RFK Jr. to run the EPA?????

[notheist]

It's rather disturbing to hear Obama may be considering antivaccination believer RFK Jr. to head the EPA!

True, it would be worst in having him head the department of health or FDA, But after 8 years of GWB anti-science agenda we sure don't need a switch to pseudoscience.

[Puppycow]

Article (http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/11/06/team-obama-rfk-jr-californias-nichols-bandied-as-possible-epa-chiefs/)

I agree. It seems that he has not made this decision yet. I hope that in the end he realizes that this is the wrong man for the job. It would not be 'new politics' but 'dynastic politics.'

[CapelDodger]

It's rather disturbing to hear Obama may be considering antivaccination believer RFK Jr. to head the EPA!

The headline is :

Team Obama: RFK Jr., California’s Nichols, Bandied as Possible EPA Chiefs

from the Wall Street Journal. (My emphasis.) If that disturbs you, get used to being disturbed.

True, it would be worst in having him head the department of health or FDA,

Aren't you disturbing yourself by these imaginings?

But after 8 years of GWB anti-science agenda we sure don't need a switch to pseudoscience.

Agreed. Let's not worry about stuff that's bandied about by scare-mongers and wait to see what happens. It's only a couple of months, and there's Xmas to distract us in the meantime.

[CapelDodger]

Article (http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/11/06/team-obama-rfk-jr-californias-nichols-bandied-as-possible-epa-chiefs/)

I agree. It seems that he has not made this decision yet. I hope that in the end he realizes that this is the wrong man for the job. It would not be 'new politics' but 'dynastic politics.'

Forget "in the end", RFK Jr was never in the running in the first place. Even the WSJ refers to his name being "bandied about". It's not about Obama seeing sense, it's about people not recognising nonsense when the WSJ serves it up.

Not that the WSJ is entirely shameless

"So who’s (http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/11/obamas-most-imp.html) on the short list (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF4rMH8K4iDQ&refer=us)? Plenty of names, starting with environmental lawyer and activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., according to Politico (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15320.html). That doesn’t have too many environmental types (http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/11/5/115844/057) very happy (http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/environmentandenergy/archive/2008/11/05/so-who-s-in-at-epa.aspx)—beyond Mr. Kennedy’s prior adventures in linking vaccines and autism, or opposing offshore wind power, many fear he doesn’t have the managerial expertise to handle a sprawling agency that will only get bigger."

And yet there's only one name is in the headline. The only dynasty-freaks we're seeing here write for the WSJ.

[Puppycow]

Forget "in the end", RFK Jr was never in the running in the first place. Even the WSJ refers to his name being "bandied about". It's not about Obama seeing sense, it's about people not recognising nonsense when the WSJ serves it up.

Not that the WSJ is entirely shameless



And yet there's only one name is in the headline. The only dynasty-freaks we're seeing here write for the WSJ.

Never in the running? Click on the Politico article (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15320.html):
Obama considers stars for Cabinet
By MIKE ALLEN | 11/5/08 12:18 PM EST

President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

Obama’s transition planners are weighing several other celebrity-level political stars for Cabinet posts, including retired Gen. Colin L. Powell for secretary of defense or education, the officials said.

Kennedy's cousin, Caroline Kennedy, who helped Obama lead his vice presidential search, is being considered for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, although some Obama officials doubt she would take the post. Obama is indebted to the Kennedy family for a hearty endorsement at a crucial point in the Democratic primaries.

The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

[davefoc]

I think CD's thought is that Kennedy was only being considered for the EPA job in the sense Condi Rice was being seriously considered for the McCain VP slot. That is to say, not at all. Condi Rice's name was being bandied about just like Kennedy's name, but name bandying is not much evidence of actual consideration.

I'm not sure that he's right about Kennedy but it looks like CD might be and if he is right that strikes me as a good thing.

[kallsop]

Never in the running? Click on the Politico article (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15320.html):


Ouch, and so soon after the Obamessiah defenders were jumping to his defense. That's gotta hurt.

[technoextreme]

It's rather disturbing to hear Obama may be considering antivaccination believer RFK Jr. to head the EPA!

:hb:

[davefoc]

I just read the Wikipedia article on Robert Kennedy Jr.

He's a pretty interesting guy. There was too much there to even summarize very well but a few things that I particularly noticed:

1. He was arrested for and convicted of Heroin possession. He received two years probation for that.

2. He favored Clinton in the primary and announced that he would consider running for her seat if she was elected president.

3. He co-founded a bottled water company. A bit of a strange path for an environmentalist but the proceeds were donated to charity.

4. He's written several books.

5. He's been active in environmental causes for quite awhile.

And of course they mentioned the autism/vaccine stuff and his theories about stolen elections.

[Puppycow]

Heroin? Conspiracy theories? Vaccine woo? None of this bodes well.

On the bright side, how much damage can the head of the EPA do? :boxedin:

[boloboffin]

What control does the head of the Environmental Protection Agency have over vaccines?

[boooeee]

What control does the head of the Environmental Protection Agency have over vaccines?


None, as far as I'm aware. But what does his stance on vaccines and autism say about his ability to objectively weigh scientific evidence? Isn't that an important qualification for the head of the EPA?

The idea that RFK Jr. is being considered seems to trace back to a single source which claimed he was being "strongly considered" by the Obama team. Hopefully the source was mistaken, as there seem to be several more well qualified candidates out there.

[davefoc]

Heroin? Conspiracy theories? Vaccine woo? None of this bodes well.

On the bright side, how much damage can the head of the EPA do? :boxedin:

I think the head of the EPA has the potential to do substantial harm and substantial good.

Although it doesn't make the news much some industries are squeezed enormously by foreign competition and tightening US environmental regulations. Balancing the needs of industry and the environment is a tricky problem and a green zealot could leave a land of ruined businesses behind before he was replaced.

On the other hand, a pro business, to hell with environment type might allow unjustified environmental damage behind.

Of course it's a Democratic administration so the green zealot scenario is more likely but it would be nice if we could avoid either kind of extremist in the office and just get somebody who favors analysis, facts and practical solutions, and who has a combination of management experience and familiarity with environmental issues.

[dudalb]

We already have a thread about this. I suggest they be merged.
People, could we actually search a little for a thread about a topic before starting a new one?

[Beerina]

I think CD's thought is that Kennedy was only being considered for the EPA job

They're also "floating" the ideas. "Soandsos a, b, and c are being considered for job X", wait a week or two for the trial baloon to lift off or be popped, and pick the least problematic one.


So raise a fuss over Kennedy because of his woo-woo medical beliefs, and they'll drop him like a frozen turkey.

[corplinx]

Before I posted here I didn't even know there was an anti-vacc movement. I have to give Obama a pass on this one if he appoints RFK. He has to pay Teddy back for the early endorsement.

[Gregoire]

RFK jr. is way over the top. His anti vaccine rhetoric is just the tip of the ice berg. I used to listen to his rants on a show called "Ring of Fire" on Air America which I assume he still does. Anyone who wonders why this would have been a poor choice should tune in some time.

[Gregoire]

I think the head of the EPA has the potential to do substantial harm and substantial good.

Although it doesn't make the news much some industries are squeezed enormously by foreign competition and tightening US environmental regulations. Balancing the needs of industry and the environment is a tricky problem and a green zealot could leave a land of ruined businesses behind before he was replaced.

On the other hand, a pro business, to hell with environment type might allow unjustified environmental damage behind.

Of course it's a Democratic administration so the green zealot scenario is more likely but it would be nice if we could avoid either kind of extremist in the office and just get somebody who favors analysis, facts and practical solutions, and who has a combination of management experience and familiarity with environmental issues.


Exactly! A conspiracy theorist who thinks Big Pharma is covering up the "dangers" of vaccines does not belong anywhere near a policy making post in our government.

[portlandatheist]

I have to give Obama a pass on this one if he appoints RFK. He has to pay Teddy back for the early endorsement.
He has to do no such thing.

[davefoc]

Before I posted here I didn't even know there was an anti-vacc movement. I have to give Obama a pass on this one if he appoints RFK. He has to pay Teddy back for the early endorsement.

He has to do no such thing.

corplinx is the master of the, is-this-sarcasm-or-is-this-sincere post. His moderate independent political stances make it difficult to tell exactly where he's coming from based on his overall outlook.

In this case, though, I think what we had here was sarcasm with a touch of possible but unlikely truth mixed in.

My sense of it was that unlike the vast majority of political endorsements which are cynical and self serving Kennedy's endorsement was genuine. He believed that Obama had the integrity and skills to make an excellent president and that he had the skills that could get him elected. But, of course this could just be naive horse **** and Kennedy was just making a quid quo pro arrangement where Kennedy was securing treasure for the Kennedy's in return for this endorsement. I'd like to think not.

ETA: Or maybe Kennedy was just pissed at the Clintons and this was his idea of how to get back at them.

[portlandatheist]

corplinx is the master of the, is-this-sarcasm-or-is-this-sincere post. His moderate independent political stances make it difficult to tell exactly where he's coming from based on his overall outlook.

Thanks for the heads up. I presumed it was serious. At the JREF, it is very difficult to tell, especially in the conspiracy forum!

[davefoc]

Thanks for the heads up. I presumed it was serious. At the JREF, it is very difficult to tell, especially in the conspiracy forum!:)

Especially when you jump into the middle of one of those threads. It seems like nobody could be serious but somewhere in there there's one person who is, or maybe not, maybe he's just screwing with the people who think they're screwing with him.

[Skeptic Ginger]

We already have a thread about this. I suggest they be merged.
People, could we actually search a little for a thread about a topic before starting a new one?They aren't always easy to find. The search function is a pain because of the need to wait 60 seconds before changing your search terms if you don't word the search to get a hit the first time.

I started this thread yesterday: Tell Obama: RF Kennedy Jr is not the man for the job (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=128775) Fine with me if the mods want to merge it with this one.

The reason for objecting to this appointment is on principle. If RFK cannot distinguish between good science and bad science, how is he qualified for this position?

[Skeptic Ginger]

.... He has to pay Teddy back for the early endorsement.Despite your usual banter, I have to say, that is an interesting angle I had not thought of. Not that we have a clue if it is factual, but it does bear consideration as a reason Obama might have considered RFK in the first place.

[Skeptic Ginger]

He has to do no such thing.Of course Obama doesn't have to. But do we know if Teddy had anything to do with the recommendation?

[Skeptic Ginger]

Article (http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/11/06/team-obama-rfk-jr-californias-nichols-bandied-as-possible-epa-chiefs/)

...I posted this on the blog:

RF Kennedy’s failure to distinguish good science from bad science should disqualify him from this position.

The scientific community is not in some conspiracy with Big Pharma over vaccines and autism, nor are they Big Pharma dupes. The evidence is in and vaccines are unrelated to autism. Time to move on to investigating other causes of autism.

Someone who hasn’t figured that out isn’t someone who should be in charge of the EPA. The job requires a basic understanding of research and the scientific method.
Comment by Skeptigirl - November 15, 2008 at 1:32 am

[Puppycow]

Lisa Jackson to head the EPA (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=asJUo_UNRhQo&refer=home)

ETA:
Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama will name Nobel Prize-winner Steve Chu, director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to head the Department of Energy, a person close to the presidential transition said.

Lisa Jackson, former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and current chief of staff to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, is Obama’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, the person said.
. . .
Focus on Science

“He certainly needs somebody who can focus on the science and energy policies and I can’t think of a better guy than Steve,” said Mike Lubell, a physics professor at the City College of New York, who has known Chu for 30 years.

Since taking over as director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in August 2004, Chu has pushed the lab to focus on climate change and on developing new carbon-neutral sources of energy, said Robert J. Birgeneau, the chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley.

“He has been relentless about addressing the technical challenges of renewable energy in a deep way,” said Birgeneau, who has known Chu for three decades since the two men worked at Bell Laboratories in the 1970s. “We will now have an energy policy that can mean the U.S. will have a chance of obtaining energy self-sufficiency through new technology.”

Lynn Yarris, a spokeswoman for Chu, declined to comment.

Chu played a leading role in Berkeley being selected by BP Plc as the home of a $500 million research program to develop a new generation of renewable fuels.
. . .
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a non-profit alliance of local, state and federal employees, say Jackson’s record in New Jersey should “disqualify” her from running EPA.

They claim Jackson allowed politics to sway her policy decisions and that she suppressed scientific data.

Jackson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

[Puppycow]

I think I'm starting to see a pattern of shoddy, unreliable reporting with Politico. They're the original source of this RFK Jr. speculation.

[Puppycow]

More examples of awful reporting from Politico (http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/11/25/115222/71)

[Skeptic Ginger]

SourceWatch on Politico (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_Politico)

Wiki on Politico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Politico)

Politico on Politico (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3011.html)Is Politico a GOP Shill?

[portlandatheist]

I'm relieved.

[CapelDodger]

Told you so :).

[Skeptic Ginger]

Lisa Jackson chosen to head the EPA (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-obama16-2008dec16,0,2027165.story)

[davefoc]

Told you so :).

Well, I thought I said it first, but in reviewing the thread all I did was say that you might be right. I notice that once the facts were in my mind had forgotten any uncertainty and just remembered that I thought that the name bandying stuff was bogus and Kennedy had no shot. Oh well, let me congratulate you on your well deserved I told you so.

[Darth Rotor]

Lisa Jackson chosen to head the EPA (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-obama16-2008dec16,0,2027165.story)
What do these New Jersey people think they know?
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a non-profit alliance of local, state and federal employees, say Jackson’s record in New Jersey should “disqualify” her from running EPA.

They claim Jackson allowed politics to sway her policy decisions and that she suppressed scientific data.

What, a politician allowing politics to sway a policy decisions? Call 911, it's an emergency! :jaw-dropp