Politidumb of the Week

I missed this one last week.  Representative Hank Johnson (D - Ga.) asked us to imagine to imagine a world without balloons.  Pushing crony capitalism for the helium crowd,

Johnson stood up for some of the most important victims of congressional gridlock: children’s birthday parties and comedians trying to make their voices high-pitched. Discussing a bill to continue the federal government’s sales from the National Helium Reserve, Johnson intoned, 'Imagine, Mr. Speaker, a world without balloons.' In his pun-riddled push for the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act of 2013, he lamented, 'today, the House has chosen to just simply float above it all.'

'Too often lately, this body has sat deflated,' he said, but 'not for a lack of hot air.' 

During a 2010 committee hearing regarding the U.S. military’s presence in Guam, Johnson voiced his concerns about the island “become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize.”

Guam -- did someone mention Guam?

The Navy brass are incredibly cool dudes.

Here comes introducing a resolution Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and a dozen other Democrats, claiming the results of climate change include drought and reduced agricultural output  -- particularly pernicious consequences for women.

"[F]ood insecure women with limited socioeconomic resources may be vulnerable to situations such as sex work, transactional sex, and early marriage that put them at risk for HIV, STIs, unplanned pregnancy, and poor reproductive health," it says.

Climate change could also add "workload and stresses" on female farmers, which the resolution says produce 60 to 80 percent of the food in developing countries. 

The chances for regional conflict also increase with climate change, the resolution says, because changing weather patterns could lead to migration and refugee crises. It said these sorts of potential conflicts over land will have a disproportionate impact on "the most vulnerable populations including women." 

More broadly, the resolution says climate change will hurt "marginalized" women, such as refugees, sexual minorities, adolescent girls, and women and girls with HIV. It also cites Hurricane Katrina as evidence of how climate change can affect women, noting that the storm displaced "over 83 percent of low-income, single mothers" in the region.In a statement to The Hill, Lee said women are critically underrepresented in the development of climate change policy. 

"My resolution will affirm the commitment to include and empower women in economic development planning and international climate change policies and practices," she said. "This will help communities adapt to climate impacts, and embark on a path towards clean and sustainable development."

War, starvation, economic collapse, prostitution and sexually transmitted disease?  That's quite a lineup.  I am speechless.  I don't know what to say other than this week's Politidumb award goes to U.S. Rep. Barabara Lee.  Congratulations Barbara!  As for Representative Johnson, your time will come.

Michelle Obama embraces Barbara Lee