Democratic senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has placed a hold on votes to confirm two of Barack Obama's top science adviser nominees. Obama has tapped Harvard physicist John Holdren to head the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Oregon State University marine biologist Jane Lubchenco has been asked to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. I don't know whether these are decent appointments or not, but I do know that Sen. Menendez is a douchebag, because he hasn't blocked the votes on these appointees out of any concern over them. Instead, he's just trying to get attention for some Cuba-related issue he has a personal jones for. This is exactly the kind of melodramatic circus act that makes our entire legislative body look like a bunch of whiny teenagers. Really, the whole Capitol Building might as well be the set for Lord of the Flies. I wonder how many taxpayer-funded working ours will be spent patronizingly asking this guy to tell everyone what he wants them to hear about Cuba and stop being such a dick. This delay also means Holdren and Lubchenco may not be able to participate in a Washington meeting on climate change science policy this week. Christ, what a douchebag. More details here.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sen. Robert Menendez: Douchebag
