Tuesday, December 20, 2016

We'll see




And in other news, I worried in July about the Trump Administration misusing the pardon power to allow the abuse of governmental power, but I underestimated how soon and how stupidly that might come into play.

13 comments:

Fernando Leanme said...

I don't think Exxon ever failed to acknowledge climate science existed. Before 2006 they simply expressed forcefully their doubts about the impact of CO2 being such a serious problem. Tillerson is a pretty smart CEO, and realized that Exxon would have an advantage if a carbon tax was imposed (because the carbon tax applies to everybody). Given that Tillerson was supposed to retire next year, his replacement is already waiting in the wings, and it is very likely (high certainty) that this person will follow up exxon's long term strategy plan.

Tillerson will divest all of his Exxon investments and options. This will be covered by existing tax law, so he'll do fine. And given his personality he will try to become the best Secretary of State ever. This means that, in spite of the neocon propaganda storm, the USA will make a deal with Russia, concede that Assad will rule Syria, focus on destroying ISIS, and prepare to corner Saudi Arabia. This means building the Keystone XL pipeline and hooking up the lines from North Dakota. The smooth flow of an additional 1 million BOPD all the way to Houston, coupled to energy efficiency measures, will allow the USA to withstand Saudi instability, which we know us coming.

David B. Benson said...

Brian --- Likely to be found unconstitutional.

David B. Benson said...

Off topic but Eli will want to know about the synthesis of N5, pentazolate.

Quite an accomplishment.

Brian said...

Fernando - sounds like your guess is they won't change their tunes. So we'll see.

David - I don't see courts as likely to jump into this.

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

Many thanks, David-

Alfred Nobel wouls surely smile on NaN5 as the finest kind of explosive precursor !:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1612.01918.pdf

Fernando Leanme said...

Brian, I didn't work for Exxon, but I know their bureaucracy. And I know how these large corporations work at the top. Tillersons replacement won't have any drivers to change course. These guys realize we are running out of oil, are gradually shifting to gas all over the world, and don't mind a more competitive environment because they think they are tougher, smarter and better educated.

I think you will see Tillerson introduce a libertarian anti war foreign policy. If you want to see where he's headed start reading American Conservative Magazine. They are opposed to the warmongering and fanning of conflict we have seen under Bush and Obama.

Jeffrey Davis said...

My understanding is that Exxon management had a fiduciary duty to its stockholders to reveal the results of its own scientific inquiries into AGW. And didn't.

Hank Roberts said...

Russell is always worth rereading.
So why isn't this guy getting a Trump position?
https://vvattsupwiththat.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-matter-of-conviction.html

Bernard J. said...

Give it time Hank, give it time...

Hank Roberts said...

Anybody know why CDIAC is shutting down?

NOTICE: CDIAC as currently configured and hosted by ORNL will cease operations on September 30, 2017. Data will continue to be available through this portal until that time. Data transition plans are being developed with DOE to ensure preservation and availability beyond 2017.

Hank Roberts said...

CDIAC shutodown will break a lot of educational and informative links.

Hank Roberts said...

https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/give-the-earth-a-present-saving-climate-data/

Hank Roberts said...

Eli, you emailed me a confirmation that CDIAC is on track for a long planned shutdown. Can you post that? Or should I quote you?