Environmental advocates are not just melting down over President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, with its mounting cast of climate-change deniers and oil industry allies. They’re also capitalizing on it.
In the month after the election, the Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation’s contributions soared nearly 300 percent compared to the previous 30-day period, said spokesman Josh Block. This week, CLF’s website included an overt pitch for donations featuring Trump’s nominees as a rogue’s gallery of environmental villains.
Pictured against a devilishly red backdrop were Trump, who has asserted, bizarrely, that the “concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive’’; his nominee for Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (a climate change skeptic who has called himself “a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda’’); former Texas governor Rick Perry, who is nominated to lead the Energy Department he had proposed abolishing; and secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, who leads the world’s largest oil company, ExxonMobil.
“We need your support for the battles ahead,’’ the legal advocacy organization said in its pitch, which featured a prominently displayed red button to “Donate Now.’’
In September, CLF filed suit against ExxonMobil, claiming the corporation is violating environmental regulations and failing to account for climate change impacts at its Everett Terminal. CLF president Bradley Campbell blasted Trump’s nomination of Exxon’s CEO as the “latest and most egregious step in turning the federal government, and stewardship of the global environment, over to a cabal of corporate extremists with proven disdain for science, stewardship, public service, and the common good.’’
Stephanie Ebbert
Twitterverse responds to Romney
What do political junkies think about Donald Trump’s decision to pass over former governor Mitt Romney for secretary of state? Judging from the response on Twitter, Romney fans (and foes) are conflicted about the development.
“Sorry you won’t get the job; would have been an honor for our country,’’ wrote Barbara Slavin.
“Lord! You were our last hope,’’ said Boston Jimmy.
And on the other hand . . .
“He used you. Would like to see you stand up to an admin that is #PutinsPuppet,’’ said Mike Fisher.
“You are too good to serve with a Russian stooge, frankly,’’ said Justin Hendrix.
Some observers appeared baffled by the entire episode.
“Some day, please write why you did what you did and let him do to you what he did to you,’’ said Steve Hellem. “Thanks for your service.’’
Romney was among Trump’s fiercest critics during the presidential campaign. He held an extraordinary press conference last spring in which he lit into Trump’s business record and his campaign promises. “Here’s what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud,’’ he said. “His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing members of the American public for suckers.’’
But in recent weeks, Romney and Trump seemed to have put all that in the past, meeting in person to discuss the possibility of Romney becoming Trump’s secretary of state. That either man would have considered such a partnership seemed startling, but in the end Trump chose ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for the job.
On Facebook and Twitter Monday evening Romney said, “It was an honor to have been considered for Secretary of State of our great country.’’
The Twitterverse wasn’t so sure. “Was it?’’ asked Scott Lowe.
Felice Belman
New England electors demand security briefing
The list of Electoral College members calling for a security briefing before they vote next week is growing — and includes numerous electors from New England.
The effort was organized by California elector Christine Pelosi, daughter of Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader. In a letter to National Intelligence Director James Clapper, she and like-minded electors wrote: “The Electors require to know from the intelligence community whether there are ongoing investigations into ties between Donald Trump, his campaign or associates, and Russian government interference in the election, the scope of those investigations, how far those investigations may have reached, and who was involved in those investigations. We further require a briefing on all investigative findings, as these matters directly impact the core factors in our deliberations of whether Mr. Trump is fit to serve as President of the United States.’’
Among the signers: all four of New Hampshire’s electors, Dudley Dudley, Bev Hollingworth, Terie Norelli, and Carol Shea-Porter; Rhode Island elector Clay Pell; Massachusetts electors Nazda Alam, Dori Dean, Jason Palitsch, Parwez Wahid, and Paul G. Yorkis; Vermont elector Martha Allen; and Maine elector Diane Denk.
Felice Belman
For Dukakis, a litter mishap
Michael Dukakis sometimes got roughed up politically as governor of Massachusetts and Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. Last week he got roughed up literally — all in the name of a cleaner Boston.
A passerby spotted Dukakis with blood on his face the morning of Dec. 8, but Dukakis said it was just a mishap. While picking up trash along the Emerald Necklace, he explained via e-mail, “I reached down for a piece of litter and somehow tripped, falling flat on my face on the sidewalk.’’
The 83-year-old former politician now serves as a professor of political science at Northeastern University, and has been known to clean up trash during his walk to work from Brookline.
There’s no question about Dukakis’s dedication to eliminating waste of all kinds — not only is he on a one-man crusade against litter on the streets of Boston, he also encouraged Globe readers to leave their post-Thanksgiving turkey carcasses on his doorstep last year so that he could use them to make soup for his family.
His mishap last week resulted in “a lot of blood’’ and two stitches on his nose, he said, but he brushed off the injuries with characteristic aplomb later that day.
“No good deed goes unpunished!’’ he said.
Jacey Fortin
Walsh at the White House
WASHINGTON — Boston was well-represented at the White House this week, as President Obama hosted his final summit for My Brother’s Keeper, his initiative that strives to support young men of color.
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh spoke in the late afternoon about how he implemented My Brother’s Keeper in his city. Later in the day, two young men from Boston who had participated in the program stood behind Obama during his remarks.
The White House has repeatedly acknowledged Boston’s My Brother’s Keeper programs as one of the best in the country.
“I challenge other cities across America, when this president is no longer in office, to keep this program going,’’ Walsh said during his remarks. “This program makes a different and this program changes lives.’’
Malachi Hernandez, a Northeastern University student who is the first person in his family to attend college, introduced the president.
He called Obama his role model.
After Obama took the stage, he complimented Hernandez, calling the young college student “telegenic.’’
To laughs, Obama said, “We may have to run for something at some point.’’
Astead W. Herndon
