The Texas Drought

[Bill McIntyre]

I really feel sorry for the people of Texas. The entire cattle industry is being decimated and may never come back. The heat and lack of water is unprecedented. Can you imagine Texas without cattle?

Its just ironic that their Governor believes in God but not in science and the overwhelming evidence of climate change.

At the very least, maybe the people of Texas should select someone who represents their interests instead of his own.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2091192-1,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/us/06wildfire.html?_r=1&hp

http://thecattlecall.wordpress.com/tag/texas-cattle-industry/

[Marcus]

I think Perry is a POS but am still at a loss of how equating his belief in climate change would somehow prevent the loss of cattle due to drought.

[Bill McIntyre]

I think Perry is a POS but am still at a loss of how equating his belief in climate change would somehow prevent the loss of cattle due to drought.

He is one more idiot denying climate change, and one with a high profile.

No one person can change everything, but every person who is on the right side helps. We won't do anything to save ourselves until a majority believes that we can and should, and having a Presidential candidate spouting bullshit to appeal to the religious right doesn't help.

Its sort of like no one person will elect Ron Paul, but lots of them could.

[Marcus]

He is one more idiot denying climate change, and one with a high profile.

No one person can change everything, but every person who is on the right side helps. We won't do anything to save ourselves until a majority believes that we can and should, and having a Presidential candidate spouting bullshit to appeal to the religious right doesn't help.

Its sort of like no one person will elect Ron Paul, but lots of them could.

Well then...he certainly doesn't need to be elected. I mean, what good is it having a president if he can't control the world's temperature? I thought by now that our entire destinies could be controlled...the heavens conquered. We could be so much more.

[Freedive4life]

Pretty sure Perry is a POS that will shit out any lie possible to try and make himself look good. Yet it has backfired and only made him look extremely stupid.

Maybe the die off of the cattle is a good thing, considering they are a very large part of Climate change in itself.

[miguelitro]

At this point it doesn't really matter the what the cause of the drought is as neither side has any idea how to immediately change the weather(nor is there any way in my opinion)
I was driving through the middle of nowhere in southern baja a couple months ago and started seeing lots of dead cattle. We finally got to the ranch house and the poor guy had lost 70% of his herd to a 3 year period of not enough rain. the poor man was heartbroken.
will the government further subsidize the ranchers or will it let the industry adapt in texas to the changing climate?
Mike

[Hungry1]

The Dust Bowl in the 1930's was far more devastating. I forget...who's fault was that? Bush or Perry? This country has a long history of devastating droughts dating back to the 1700's.

Side note on that POS Perry...source NY Times.

Arguably, Mr. Perry’s most interesting energy efforts have related to wind power, which has boomed under his administration. Today, after a decade of rapid growth, Texas is the nation’s wind leader. The groundwork was laid by Mr. Bush, who in 1999 signed a bill that — besides deregulating the electric sector — established a renewable-energy requirement that kick-started wind development.

But Mr. Perry has added to that. In 2005, he signed a bill requiring Texas to have 5,880 megawatts of renewables capacity by 2015. The state has already surpassed that requirement.

Mr. Perry has also strongly backed a $5 billion project to build transmission lines to ferry power from remote West Texas to big cities. “He has been a stalwart in defense of wind energy in this state — no question about it,” said Paul Sadler, executive director of the Wind Coalition. An extra charge of up to $5 per month on Texans’ electric bills will pay for construction of the lines.

But Mr. Perry’s backing for renewables has limits. Solar power advocates have been frustrated by his failure to support a requirement for nonwind renewables, which both the Legislature and the Public Utility Commission (whose commissioners Mr. Perry appoints) have considered but not acted on.

Asked why Mr. Perry supported one requirement but not another, Mr. Miner said that the earlier policy “created a system to incent the development of the most economic renewable generation, which for our state was wind.” He added, “If you mandate a specific technology, you run the risk of getting stuck with high costs, and such mandates have failed to pass the Legislature in the past.”

[Captain1World]

I think Perry is a POS but am still at a loss of how equating his belief in climate change would somehow prevent the loss of cattle due to drought.

It's about understanding reality and being able to react to it.

Perry doesn't understand climate change , and sees god's hand everywhere.

[mepps1]

I really feel sorry for the people of Texas. The entire cattle industry is being decimated and may never come back. The heat and lack of water is unprecedented. Can you imagine Texas without cattle?

Its just ironic that their Governor believes in God but not in science and the overwhelming evidence of climate change.

At the very least, maybe the people of Texas should select someone who represents their interests instead of his own.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2091192-1,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/us/06wildfire.html?_r=1&hp

http://thecattlecall.wordpress.com/tag/texas-cattle-industry/

Wow. This one would be a stretch for Captain1word.

Do you really suppose that when Democrats are elected, drought is banished?

I have no use whatever for Perry, but I am a little surprised to see that you all but blame him for the drought in Texas.

I'm sure comrade1wierd will be along shortly to post a chart demonstrating that global temperatures and precipitation stabilized the very day Obama took office. It's a wonder that Texas isn't saved already. Must be some residual effect of the Republican-lead House.

[ocean_314]

He is one more idiot denying climate change, and one with a high profile.

No one person can change everything, but every person who is on the right side helps. We won't do anything to save ourselves until a majority believes that we can and should, and having a Presidential candidate spouting bullshit to appeal to the religious right doesn't help.

Its sort of like no one person will elect Ron Paul, but lots of them could.

Texas drought number 23 since i have been alive, California has experenced 3 droughts since i have been alive, one serious.

How come people who believe in climate change have never made a living in the real world????????

What a scam, just another way to redistribute the wealth to those who vote for the Democratic Party.

Bill please tell me the energy output of the sun in 2020. Or the earth's tilt, what will that be in 2040?

Or maybe the magnetic field..is that going to be weaker or stronger????

What a complete joke Climate Change is, who has the knowledge to predict the future of something so complex as weather and climate???

Yet even if it was true and the US completely went carbon free using only 1830's energy and technology carbon output will increase by 20% per year worldwide.

For every job we send to China or India because of high energy costs the carbon that we save here is produced there and then some.

How to destroy America vote Democrat!!! Vote for the Democratic Party's latest scam!!!!!!

[Bill McIntyre]

I have no use whatever for Perry, but I am a little surprised to see that you all but blame him for the drought in Texas.


But I didn't blame him. The drought in Texas would be going on if Al Gore was governor. I just said that its ironic that Texas is probably suffering the effects of long term change while its governor is a denier of science. People like him stand in the way of making changes that might well change the future of the planet, if its not too late already.

[ocean_314]

But I didn't blame him. The drought in Texas would be going on if Al Gore was governor. I just said that its ironic that Texas is probably suffering the effects of long term change while its governor is a denier of science. People like him stand in the way of making changes that might well change the future of the planet, if its not too late already.

No Bill the governor is a believer in real science, not a believer is some con man's rigged computer model that is called Climate Change.

[jackpine savage]

No Bill the governor is a believer in real science, not a believer is some con man's rigged computer model that is called Climate Change.

You don't know what science is. My 10 month old knows more science than you ever will. Idiot.

[Marcus]

Perry got bad grades in science and even worse grades in economics.

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/08/rick-perrys-college-grades-would-not-earn-a-spot-on-the-fridge/

BTW, it's a hell of lot cheaper to adapt to changing weather conditions than trying to control them. A foolish waste of money.

[Captain1World]

I really feel sorry for the people of Texas. The entire cattle industry is being decimated and may never come back. The heat and lack of water is unprecedented. Can you imagine Texas without cattle?

**** Texas , these are the same people who claimed climate change wasn't real beacuse DC had a snowstorm a few years ago.

Now look at them. Sometimes people need to be decimated to realize the truth.

**** them.... I don't even eat beef.

[jackpine savage]

Perry got bad grades in science and even worse grades in economics.

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/08/rick-perrys-college-grades-would-not-earn-a-spot-on-the-fridge/

BTW, it's a hell of lot cheaper to adapt to changing weather conditions than trying to control them. A foolish waste of money.

I agree and most of the federal governments actions regarding this issue is working with states and local communities in formulating plans on dealing with thee issues. Unfortunately the concept of cap and trade has over shadowed the issue even though cap and trade has been dead for a while. Temperatures are rising, the facts support that. Areas that have had issues with minimal rainfall in the past are experiencing drought conditions, the facts support that. Areas that have been prone to flooding in the past are experiencing greater flooding, the facts support that. Developing plans on how to deal with these issues is the only responsible reaction, arguing over the causes just buries the issue in political bullshit.

[ocean_314]

I agree and most of the federal governments actions regarding this issue is working with states and local communities in formulating plans on dealing with thee issues. Unfortunately the concept of cap and trade has over shadowed the issue even though cap and trade has been dead for a while. Temperatures are rising, the facts support that. Areas that have had issues with minimal rainfall in the past are experiencing drought conditions, the facts support that. Areas that have been prone to flooding in the past are experiencing greater flooding, the facts support that. Developing plans on how to deal with these issues is the only responsible reaction, arguing over the causes just buries the issue in political bullshit.

Actually it was the coldest winter this last year for the last 50 years or more.

[jackpine savage]

Actually it was the coldest winter this last year for the last 50 years or more.

Where. Not where I live and I live in a pretty cold region. Been at close to a decade since Buzzards Bay has froze over. Not in Wisconsin where my parents live, ice on the lake is melting earlier every year.

[Captain1World]

Under Gov. Rick Perry (R) this year, Texas slashed state funding for the volunteer fire departments that protect most of the state from wildfires like the ones that have recently destroyed more than 700 homes.

Volunteer departments that were already facing financial strain were slated to have their funding cut from $30 million to $7 million, according to KVUE.

The majority of Texas is protected by volunteer fire departments. There are 879 volunteer fire departments in Texas and only 114 paid fire departments. Another 187 departments are a combination of volunteer and paid.

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/texas-cut-fire-department-funding-by-75-percent-this-year/

[Prater]

Looks like the 1960's water shed project should have been implemented. Texas had 7 or 8 years of drought back then so the Governor and water works proposed a plan to canal water from the Mississippi River Delta. Back in the 60's it was proposed that Texas would surpass its water supply by 2020, but the plan fell through and was never built. Hindsight....

[Prater]

Captain1World,

The money is a grant provided by Texas House Bill 2604 in the Texas Forest Service. It has been set at $23 million per year since the 1990's. It has changed to $7 million per year for the next two years. This money is used for equipment and training with the emphasis on training for the next two years and equipment that is destroyed in fire or accidents on a case by case basis. there are also new federal grants that will be available to make up part of the difference of the new budget. It is a shame that the money will not be available for the next two years, it will just mean that VFD's will need to keep their current equipment in top shape and get through the next two years without new trucks, not easy but doable. You will probably see a fee increase in VFD fire service agreements with home owners and associations that fall within their districts.

http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/uploadedFiles/FRP/New_-_Local_Capacity_Building/TFS_Assistance_Programs/HB2604%20Special%20Announcement--090112.pdf

[Captain1World]

there are also new federal grants that will be available to make up part of the difference of the new budget.

Just like the Stimulus , Perry had a budget shortfall and made up the balance with the federal stimulus money.

How can this be squared ?

The very thing the GOP is against.

BTW , Pointing out that the budget cuts will be for the following two years is no argument , Texas has a wildfire problem , and Perry wants to cut the funds for it and then ask the Federal government to pick up the slack....while campaigning on cutting Federal funds for states.

[Prater]

Maybe we look at it different since I am in emergency services. The federal grants have always been there with a few new ones coming in. Two years is not an argument, but it is relevant either good or bad. Good if the House decides to raise it back, bad if it decides to keep it or lower the funds.

Also, I know you hate the Republicans but did Perry do this? Or is he the target just because he signed it? Perry was not the facilitator, it was the Members of the House that decided and voted on the measure. And I really dont like Perry...I just hate ignorance in my field of work.

And we always have wildfire problems out here in the Central Plains...

[mepps1]

**** them.... I don't even eat beef.

That's strange, given your affinity for bull.

[Megabeast]

Under Gov. Rick Perry (R) this year, Texas slashed state funding for the volunteer fire departments that protect most of the state from wildfires like the ones that have recently destroyed more than 700 homes.

Volunteer departments that were already facing financial strain were slated to have their funding cut from $30 million to $7 million, according to KVUE.

The majority of Texas is protected by volunteer fire departments. There are 879 volunteer fire departments in Texas and only 114 paid fire departments. Another 187 departments are a combination of volunteer and paid.

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/texas-cut-fire-department-funding-by-75-percent-this-year/

Shot any fish lately?