Posted December 10, 2008 5:55 PM
by Jim Tankersley
The energy and environmental front is coming into focus in the Obama transition:
President-elect Barack Obama will tap:
-- Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu as his energy secretary.
-- Former New Jersey environmental commissioner Lisa Jackson as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
-- Former EPA administrator Carol Browner, who served in the Clinton administration and served as director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection before that, as a high-level energy adviser reporting to the president.
A senior Democrat confirmed these appointments for Tribune's Washington Bureau.rhis evening. Obama plans a press conference in Chicago on Thursday.
Comments
Given the high quality of Obama's appointments so far, there is still hope he won't use the Secretary of Labor (which means workers; not unions) to pacify the labor organization lobby.
Posted by: Still Optimistic | December 10, 2008 7:29 PM
Well these should warm the hearts of the lefties that were upset with his other picks.
Let's add more environmental regulations on businesses trying to stay out of bankruptcy.
Posted by: MU789 | December 10, 2008 9:01 PM
I wonder if the nominated Sec of Energy and EPA will consider the opinions of these 650 scientists?
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http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=2158072e-802a-23ad-45f0-274616db87e6
Posted by: Terry | December 10, 2008 9:28 PM
Is this the same Carol Browner, who made drainage ditches in Nebraksa "Protected Wetlands".
Because of her ruling Nebraska could not keep the drainage ditches clear of sediment. Why??? Because you cannot disturb wetlands. In so doing cause some of the worst flooding in Nebraska in memory. Yes the same
Clinton policy wonk with no real experience. Can't wait what to see what she fixes next.
Posted by: george from outer space | December 10, 2008 9:45 PM
Right, .... MU789. Environmental regulation doesn't have anything to do with businesses staying out of bankruptcy. Let's just let Corporate America dispose of their waste products in any manner they see fit. If they didn't worship the almighty dollar so much, and had a reasonable amount of social responsibility, they wouldn't need to be regulated.
Posted by: john | December 10, 2008 9:47 PM
Hey MU789, what's wrong with having businesses clean up their own messes? Since when is "corporate responsibility" a dirty phrase?
At least he picked a scientist for a science position. Which is much better than our current president.
Posted by: Alverant | December 10, 2008 9:52 PM
President Obama has made perfect picks thus far. Finally, a cerebral President.
Posted by: Edwin L. Jones | December 11, 2008 1:12 AM
Dr. Chu is a cryogenics - superconductor expert. He has worked on the cutting edge of electromagnetic energy research, down in the Last of the Reliable Red States. He is a REAL Scientist.
"Hopefully", the inclusion of Carol Browner on the Team will not cancel out the scientific expertise of Dr. Chu. "Hopefully", they will have lunch every day. Dr. Chu speaks / Carol Browner listens.
If Dr. Chu, REAL Scientist, is not neutralized by Carol Browner, Shoelace Scientist, then this should be a great pick that the great Obama has made.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | December 11, 2008 7:57 AM
Thanks MU789 for doing your part to defend us against these horrible environmental regulations. We'll be spending a truck by with a load of toxic waste to dump in your front yard later today. We know you won't mind, as it will lower our costs and help keep us in business.
Posted by: Big Business Polluter | December 11, 2008 7:57 AM
george from outer space,
There were a LOT of those Carole Browner rulings in the 90s. The name is synonymous with spend a lot of $$$$$$$ for little or no real environmental benefit. Either that or close the doors and lock up the gate. "Hopefully" Dr. Chu, a REAL Scientist, will have more influence than Carole Browner, a Shoelace Scientist. (For what it is worth, a Shoelace Scientist is engaged in the study of shoelaces during those high-powered science lectures in the classroom).
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | December 11, 2008 8:12 AM