More Scott Brown's confusion. (The EPA is a non-governmental agency).

[Mass]

Republicans are generally ignorant, but Scott Brown keeps in line with his reputation of being the new Sarah Palin.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_06/024208.php

SCOTT BROWN'S ONGOING CONFUSION.... Like every other Republican in the Senate, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) support a GOP scheme yesterday to strip the EPA of its power to regulate carbon emissions. It wasn't a huge surprise -- Brown is on record saying he doubts humans are responsible for global warming, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding -- but it was nevertheless yet another disappointment.

After yesterday's vote, the frequently-confused senator explained why he tried to take the EPA's authority away.

"Well, I'm looking out for jobs and jobs in Massachusetts and throughout the country. And to give a non-governmental agency the ability to regulate the way that they have the potential to, they can regulate churches and restaurants and drop it all the way down from the big emitters to the very smallest emitters and it's not appropriate. And, you know, we in Congress should continue to work on this issue and have the authority to do just that. And I would encourage, certainly, the majority party to start to work on a lot of these energy issues right away."

Let's unpack this a bit. First, if Brown is "looking out for jobs," his opposition to Democratic efforts is backwards. Second, the Environmental Protection Agency is not "a non-governmental agency." Third, the pending legislation wouldn't apply to churches and restaurants.

And fourth, if Brown would like Democrats to start working on "these energy issues right away," why is he blocking Dems from working on these energy issues right away?


For a while, Brown had an excuse to explain why he seemed so ignorant -- he could chalk it up to being new. But that justification loses its luster every time Brown makes a ridiculous claim that he should recognize as untrue.

Brown doesn't understand the stimulus. Brown doesn't understand financial regulatory reform. Brown doesn't understand health care reform. Brown doesn't understand economic policy. Brown doesn't understand energy policy.

I know people think he's a nice guy, but when should the public expect Scott Brown to take his job seriously enough to do some homework?

[livetohike]

1. The level of ignorance in the GOP is amazing

Where has he been in the last 30 years that he doesn't know about the EPA? How can people this stupid be elected to the Senate?

[smoogatz]

3. How can people this stupid be elected to the Senate?

Because in the Republican party having a grasp of the issues is a sign that you're a RINO, and is likely to get you primaried. The ONLY thing that matters is your ability to pay lip service to the teabaggers' far-right ideology, no matter how incoherent it may be. And Brown isn't even the dumbest Republican in the Senate--I think that particular honor probably goes to Inhofe. The dumbest Democrat may very well be Evan Bayh--he seems literally not to know shit from Shinola, and seems to feel that governing is a secondary function of the Senate, not nearly as important as hangin witcho budz in the Big Club.

[livetohike]

4. Agree on Bayh....I'm trying to think of when this changed

(ignorance in the Senate). Maybe I was just young and unaware, but I don't remember Senators having such a poor grasp of the issues, etc. back in the 60's, 70's and even the 80's. Sure there were characters on both sides of the aisle, but no one struck me as outwardly stupid. Now they wear their ignorance proudly. Sad.

[uponit7771]

2. Scott Brown is a white conservative, he can be a true dumbfuck & cons of all races will STILL vote..

...for him and back him with all defense.

[ProSense]

5. He's right up there with Palin:

clueless with supporters.

[Jennicut]

6. Senator Centerfold has no brains.

None of us are surprised.

[KingFlorez]

7. Airhead

He almost gives Palin a run for her money.

[zippy890]

8. comes by his stupidity naturally - his father is one of the most stupid

people I have ever met- knew C. Bruce Brown when I worked in Newburyport MA
and he's a total jerk. easily manipulated by other people's political agendas
if he can get a little something for himself personally.

like father like son. nothing between the ears.

blechh

[activa8tr]

9. I hope his quote gets front page in the Boston Globe

I want the people of Massachusetts to know they have their own Sarah Palin!

[AlinPA]

10. In this case it's not ignorance, it's just plain stupidity.