When it comes to global warming, some people just don’t get it. This can be frustrating enough when dealing with a misguided friend or acquaintance. But when the denier happens to be a United States Senator, one of a mere 100 voices charged with protecting the vital interests of the country, frustration can give way to sheer astonishment.

Enter Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), one of the most outspoken and passionate deniers of Global Warming in all of American politics - and given the utter lack of action on the urgent issue by the Federal government until just recently this is no small feat. Things have begun to change for the better though, with or without Senator Inhofe, in the recent passage of legislation upping the required mileage on automobiles sold in the United States and with the 2007 ruling by the Supreme Court that the EPA must do more to enforce the Clean Air Act which has slowly prodded the Bush Administration into talking about doing something (which sadly represents progress since it’s more than they had been doing).

However, even this slow chain of events is rolling along too fast for the Senior Senator from Oklahoma, as witnessed in these choice quotes from Inhofe this past Friday:

“Obviously the concept of regulating carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act is flawed and the act must be amended by Congress,”

Apparently he and I have very different definitions of the word obviously.

“If Congress does not act, then the resulting regulations could be the largest regulatory intrusion into Americans’ personal lives, a nightmare scenario.”

“Big Brother is alive and well in the career ranks at the EPA.”

You know, I read George Orwell’s classic novel 1984, a couple of times actually, and I don’t remember the part where the totalitarian government of Oceania attempts to make the world a better place for future generations by reducing pollution and increasing the air quality for Winston Smith and friends.

Honestly, enough is enough with these jokers. Our future is at stake not only as a country but as a planet, and obstructionist deniers like Senator Inhofe need to get out of the way, immediately.

You can takepart in pushing the United States Senate to enact stronger legislation to fight Global Warming by contacting your US Senator - and don’t forget to tell them to extend the Energy Independence Investment Tax Credit while you’re at it. Also, feel free to contact Senator Inhofe directly with your feelings about his stance on Global Warming.

LINKS:

Red Orbit: EPA too powerful, could damage economy

Gristmill: Inhofe’s speech and right wing myths on Global Warming

CBS News: Warmed Over, American Prospect: Senator Inhofe’s Science Abuse