The climate emergency knows no seasons, as the disruption to the earth’s natural environment by human-generated factors — like fossil fuel emissions — continue 24 hours a day. 365 days a year.
Despite the mountains of evidence and the overwhelming consensus of climate scientists that the world needs to begin action to reverse the negative effects of human habitation, Trump’s Republican party refuses to recognize the reality of the climate crisis that has resulted in some of the most frightening weather extremes in recorded history.
When Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pointed out that the world had set a record in July for the hottest month in recorded history, one Republican Senator’s response, in particular, stood out for its flippant and dangerous ignorance.
It’s summer, Chuck https://t.co/ccZdMtTD31
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) August 16, 2019
Senator Cornyn’s response was the epitome of a climate change deniers’ supreme — and, in this case, politically cynical — know-nothingism.
The Texas Senator — who hopefully will parlay his refusal to address the climate emergency-in-progress into a sound defeat in his reelection campaign next year — was pilloried on Twitter for his inability to distinguish between normal summer temperatures and the record heat and its accompanying weather anomalies.
It's not just "summer," it's the hottest summer ever, and it's just getting worse, like @SenSchumer said.
If that's too complicated for you, then how about this: your grandchildren won't be able to grow the crops that your parents did, it'll be too hot in Texas for them. pic.twitter.com/adIhqK8XbI
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) August 16, 2019
It's the climate crisis, John. https://t.co/jhCuucffWk
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) August 16, 2019
Also, it was the hottest July ON RECORD. And since July is ALWAYS SUMMER (at least in half the world), your point is utterly irrelevant.
It's, indeed, even more stupid than saying global warming isn't happening because it snows in Montana in January.
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) August 16, 2019
The planet always loses one million miles of sea ice in the summer, Chuck.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) August 16, 2019
On climate change, it's sometimes difficult to tell if Republicans are genuine-stupid, or pretend-stupid to pander to the Koch Bros., or patronizing-stupid because they think their base is so ignorant.
In any case, GOP's stupid is going to create a Hell for everyone's grandkids.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) August 16, 2019
yes, he is
— Rand (@MagnificentRuin) August 16, 2019
No. He’s fvcking evil
— STeve Tahmosh (@stahmosh) August 17, 2019
I still don’t understand people who don’t listen to science and facts.
— Tom (@TFM0716) August 16, 2019
He's being paid to trivialize climate change. Plus, I doubt he even cares about it. Maybe he thinks his grandchildren can eat money.
— Leigh Williams (@LeighWilliamsTX) August 17, 2019
2/2 – The jaw-dropping aspect (as you imply) is his apparent lack of concern for his descendants and posterity generally. Twenty years from now, the World will *not* be the place that you and I know today; life will be much harder for *everyone* (save, perhaps, the super-rich).
— David Edelman (@DoctorOcto) August 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/RobertMihaly1/status/1162835130756608000?s=20
John Cornyn must have studied science at Trump University.
— Trumpy Trumpy (parody) (@outofcontroljb) August 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/PattyArquette/status/1162514689273683970?s=20
Despite the split between the folks who think that Senator Cornyn is truly an imbecile and those who see him as a calculating political manipulator, one may actually discover that both views contain the essence of truth.
The Texas Republican’s outrageous minimization of the direst threat that the world is currently facing serves as a reminder that defeating Trump in the 2020 election will only be half the battle. Turning the Senate blue will be an equally important goal to achieve if we are to ensure a secure and safe future for the world’s children.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Lee Moran at HuffPost.
