Meet Our Nation's Climate Villains

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Wondering where to direct your anger at the lack of climate legislation? Look no further than Rolling Stone's list of "the 17 polluters and deniers who are derailing efforts to curb global warming." Some of these "climate killers" are obvious, like Oklahoma Senator James "global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" Inhofe, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerman, or Fox News head Rupert Murdoch. But some climate villains are a bit more surprising, like former Democratic House Majority Leader Dick Gephart who, it was news to me, "now uses his considerable political clout as a lobbyist for Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company." Then there's cuddly investor Warren Buffett, who's been corrupting the climate conversation of late. Tim Dickinson writes:

"[Buffett] has been blasting the president's push to curb global warming - using the same lying points promoted by far-right Republicans...But Buffett, whose investments have the power to move entire markets, is doing far more than bad-mouthing climate legislation - he's literally banking on its failure. In recent months, the Oracle of Omaha has invested billions in carbon-polluting industries, seeking to cash in as the world burns.

It shouldn't come as any real surprise that 16 of the 17 "climate killers" are old, white guys rich off of fossil fuels. (The only exception is Mary Landrieu, the Democratic Senator from Louisiana whose campaign's coffers are lined by Gulf oil and gas money.) Read about 'em and weep.Photo (cc) DC Supervillain Minifigs - Wave 6 by flickr user levork.