Light bulb moment? Tea Party's Michele Bachmann vows to repeal energy-saving light bulb law

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Daily Mail

Light bulb moment? Tea Party's Michele Bachmann vows to repeal energy-saving light bulb law because it 'breaches freedom of choice'
By Paul Bentley
Last updated at 11:06 PM on 26th June 2011

Senior Republicans have provoked the fury of green campaigners after they vowed to repeal a law on energy-saving light bulbs because they believe it breaches human rights.

The 2007 law, which is set from January to introduce across the board energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, is being contested by more than a dozen right-wing politicians, including Tea Party Presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann.

Their argument that the law breaches human rights because of the requirements it makes on old incandescent bulbs is, however, based on rumour and misunderstanding, campaigners said.

The 2007 law provides new standards for old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, requiring them to burn more efficiently.

Read more: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-2008447/Light-bulb-moment-Fury-Republicans-try-repeal-energy-saving-light-bulb-law-breaches-freedom-choice.html

[alphafemale]

1. She also vows to bring back leaded gas. nt

[usrname]

3. And child labor and

horse and buggy and slavery and unequal rights for women and wanton discrimination.

Because it's freedom of choice dagnabbit!

[personman]

11. Nah, they call it "Securing the rights of toddlers to work" and it sounds much more freedomy. nt

[Erose999]

41. Lead paint too. She and her followers like eating the chips.

[No Elephants]

2. "Human rights" to a particular type of light bulb? Mkay. So, is she for equal human rights for

the GLBT community, too, or only for lovers of incandescent bulbs?

[Lasher]

6. Maybe light bulbs are people, like corporations.

Free speech for light bulbs! Let's run this one by the SCOTUS!

[personman]

9. On what fucking planet is incandescent vs flourescent a human rights issue?

It's a fucking insult to real human rights issues like torture, slavery, abuse, discrimination, genocide, rape, etc.

You have to be a real elitist fuck to have as strong feelings about your light bulb.

Yes a white light doesn't make you look quite as fuckable as a soft yellow light... Get over it. It's worth it to have the Earth 1/4th as fucked.

We're talking about 90% inefficient bulbs vs well... less inefficient.

In case I haven't said it often enough... Fuck fuckitty fuck fuck fuck.

[No Elephants]

18. Perhaps you are confusing Michelle's Bachman's position with mine?

She's the one who said it was a human rights issue. I'm the one who mmocked her for it.

[personman]

43. I was just agreeing with your mocking. It's all good. nt

[AtheistCrusader]

4. Has she ever voted in favor of stricter CAFE standards or anything like that?

Nice to pin a hipocrite as one, when you can.

[KurtNYC]

23. it's big business that wants the light bulb ban -- the GOP is not going to undo it

they'll run on this and then do nothing. The GOP wrote and passed the ban.

The law pushes home users to use less electricity so more is available for businesses. Businesses already pay a lower rate for electricity (mail services, taxes and many other things) but they want to make sure they have plenty available.

[JoeyT]

46. Big businesses pay a lower rate for electricity.

Small businesses pay a much higher rate for electricity, water, phones, and everything else. Well, it was true here, it may vary by location.

[provis99]

5. Improved headline:" Bachmann Keeps Saying Stupid Shit.

Country Unable to Shut the Idiot Up"

[sce56]

8. Bill Maher said of her the other day "The shit does not fall far from the bat!" or was it Palling?

[rhett o rick]

26. It was Bristol Palin. nm

[geomon666]

7. What the fuck is wrong with some people?

It's a light bulb. People are hoarding old light bulbs because heaven forbid we make something more efficient and slightly more expensive. Where the fuck am I, in the dark ages?

[dencol]

10. More like the decline of an empire.

Nothing makes sense and people start to go bat-shit crazy because they don't know what to do, or who to blame. That's what causes this silliness.

[Enthusiast]

17. I have actually heard

some say, "I don't like the quality of the light."

[mwooldri]

24. The quality? Maybe it's to do with the quality of the light "bulb".

CFLs have come a long way. Instant on, different temperatures, dimmable CFLs, different designs and fittings of CFLs. Plus the LED lights are coming along nicely - though they are quite more expensive than CFLs. As an interim step, our house is nearly fitted out with CFLs everywhere. Everywhere except the bedside lights because I couldn't find any replacement light sources that are rated 10-15w in incandescent light bulb terms. The only place I know for sure that has an incandescent bulb in it is the refrigerator.

[Enthusiast]

32. We use 100% CFLs.

Just sayin'.

[No Elephants]

19. They last longer and use less electricity, so, all things considered, they are less expensive.

Also, they make energy efficient bulbs that look like incandescent bulbs and function a lot like incandescent bulbs as well. That's what I'm buying.

[joeglow3]

33. Count me as a hoarder

I spent over $100 on energy efficient bulbs that are supposed to last something like 10 times longer that regular bulbs for new recessed lighting we put in our basement. 12 of the 13 bulbs burnt our before a single regular recessed light did in my kitchen (and our kitchen was remodeled 5 years earlier). And I know it is not the wiring, because I replaced most of the bulbs with regular ones and the compact bulbs I did replace have already burned out again.

[krabigirl]

48. I like the bulbs, haven't hoarded them but I like them.

[Kablooie]

12. Yeah! And kerosene lamps! We need choice in the marketplace!

[No Elephants]

20. Has manufacture of kerosene lamps been banned?

[struggle4progress]

36. And what about the prejudice against outhouses? Why do I have to have indoor plumbing?

[WheelWalker]

37. And whale oil, too

:sarcasm:

[gtar100]

13. These people like Bachmann are going to kill us all if they get their way.

What a bunch of short-sighted, self-serving assholes. They want nothing to impede their selfish impulses. They think nothing of the fact we all breath the same air, drink the same water, and depend on the same limited resources for subsistence. They have been jaded by their wealth and have proven they are not competent to be considered leaders or hold power. Yet, here they are. Bachmann would fit so well in a Nazi uniform, don't you think? She is dangerous and careless with our lives in both the big and small things.

[Hugin]

14. She should resign. n/t

[hlthe2b]

15. too many "dim bulb" comparisons, eh Michelle?

;)

[DesertDiamond]

16. I demand the right to destroy this planet!!!!

[krabigirl]

49. Don't worry, the zillions of wars are already doing that.

No one ever talks about the emissions that occur from modern warfare, and the waste. And Obama can call himself a "green" president? Please.

[Warren Stupidity]

21. Rightwing Populism is all about The Stupid.

There a quite a few posters here who will support this idiocy.

[avebury]

22. K&R

She just doesn't want more light shining down on her battiness.

[rhett o rick]

25. Bachmann is a distraction. Best to find out what Karl Rove is up to.

My money is that Rove is busy getting crap on pres Obama and is working to get another Republican president. And he isnt working for any of the current kook-a-buros. I bet he is working for the Bush Family. Dont count them out.

[mac56]

28. +1

She is nothing but a rodeo clown. Don't be distracted.

[BiggJawn]

27. She's keeping the real reason secret...

Going back to less-efficient light bulbs will burn more coal and natural gas, thus hastening the Return of Jeebus...

[ehrnst]

29. Next up - socialist nanny state child safety seats! (nt)

[gordianot]

30. It appears she does not like being dismissed called a "flake".

I agree she should not be called a "flake"; it does not begin to address her central core malice and random ignorance given her level of education.

Addressing light bulbs in this manner on the surface makes it easy to see why even Chris Wallace (who fell far from the tree) calls her a flake.

[Javaman]

31. I'll state the obvious...

this woman is a fucking moron.

[Blue_Tires]

34. I was really hoping the 'anti-science' era ended when Bush Jr. left office

now it seems to be worse than ever...

[ileus]

35. there's a winning platform...

[nyy1998]

39. I was thinking the same thing, why make your political stand on lightbulbs?

It's kinda like it's her San Jacinto chant "Remember the Alamo, remember florescent lights!"

I doubt too many ppl will get worked up over that motivational speech.

[sulphurdunn]

38. Hmmmmm.

If we removed standards for auto safety, teabaggers could exercise their freedom to buy cars without seat belts, safety glass or airbags. Just a thought.

[Rosa Menti]

40. Nothing says "throw-back"

like Michelle Bachmann. She must be part neanderthal. (I apologize to Neanderthals)...

[BREMPRO]

42. these morons are just effin insane.. anything for a political point

and at the expense of the environment...such short sighted thinking goes beyond all reason and good sense.


psychopathic morons.

[kelly1mm]

44. I hope not! Then my stash of 400+ 60 watt lightbulbs will be almost worthless!

That was my retirement plan!

Seriously I do have 400 incandecent lightbulbs. I like them better than CFL's. Should last my and my kids lifetime!

[marasinghe]

45. WTF? dingbat must identify light bulbs with the brainstorm thing in 'toons.

no more incandescent bulbs - no more fresh ideas for the lunatic fringe.

who'd have figured life in the 21st century USA, would imitate a Road Runner cartoon.

not to mention a bad horror movie.

[krabigirl]

47. Meh. I don't really care about the light bulb thing.

So these bulbs are bad, fine, but I still use them in some lamps, the other cfls in other lamps. Bachmann is an idiot, though. Too bad she can't make the same connection with the drug laws. People have the right to consume cannabis in their own homes, why isn't she fighting for those rights?

[Bragi]

50. moved by author

wrong place. sorry

[Ter]

51. Good for her, first time I ever agreed with her

Compact Fluorescent Lamp's (CFL's) are terrible and do more harm than good. All we need is a black market for light bulbs.