Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for March 30, 2015

James Watt, who, where, when?(Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior.)

I have to admit that I no longer remember what the guy did…

James Watt thought the Grand Canyon was boring.

For the deliberate inconsistency, check Dick’s tie.

James Watt was the worst, until this current batch of Republicans in House and now, Senate as well. He famously said it was our DUTY to use up all the Earth’s natural resources, for profit of course, because Jesus would be retuning in his lifetime, so it was important to use everything up

Watt also ran a company that was mandated as the sole source for doing all the “random” drug tests for federal employees, which was intersting as the company had absolutely no labs or equipment to do the testing! I was involved in the suit against the random test policy, which we intially won in the Supreme Court to shoot down the program. Thus found out about that little deal, but don’t try to track down much of anything during the Reagan administration, it’s about what all got “classifed” as secret.

James Watt; ’Ol Light-Bulb Head!

They know who loves them.

Well … Watt’s still alive. Maybe he’s holding out hope that his prediction will yet come true. (rolls eyes)

James Watt made a lot of money for environmental groups. After his appointment, private donations tripled.

Watt opposed having The Beach Boys play in DC on July 4. Said they would attract a bad element.

Like putting Wall Street bankers in charge of the Treasury Dept.

If you check the DSM,there’s a specific psychiatric condition called Delusional Disorder that very clearly describes the mental disorder, the “lunacy” you mention : http://psychcentral.com/disorders/delusional-disorder-symptoms/

The very real mental illness of the Evangelicals and other Zealots suffering from the God virus who are trying to hasten us towards a theocracy should be THE issue at this time. In 2012 they backed a candidate who believes his underwear “provides protection against temptation and evil" and nobody seemed to notice. Is there anybody else who finds what’s happening to be a chilling state of affairs?

Is he related to the bush family?

James Watt, of whom it was said, “His idea of a wilderness is a parking lot without stripes.”And yes, the current crop of RWNJs in Washington is deeply frightening. You never know who the American people will elect.

Doonesbury readers are so cool, thanks for the reminders.

What eventually got Watt dismissed was his extreme tactlessness in the language he used regarding minorities and the handicapped. It doesn’t bear repeating here, but you could search it. It was pretty appalling.

Please see the first cartoon onhttp://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorial-cartoons/jim-morin/

Watt was also an out-and-out crook who got off with a relative wrist-slap.

I’m sure more than a few are waiting for a nuclear war in the Middle East as a surrogate for Armageddon.

The start of all of this…http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1981/06/30

that was the one-off prequel..Here’s the actual start…http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1981/08/31

Wasn’t it James Watt who claimed that 80% of all pollution was caused by trees? I’ve seen the quote attributed to President Reagan himself, but he may have been relying on Watt’s word. I’m actually curious. Does anyone have the real scoop?

James Watt thought that (paraphrasing): We should use God’s bounty quickly before the end times come. In other words, he wasn’t a conservationist.

No, he did not. He prefaced a lot of future remarks with “if the Lord tarries,” which is kind of a Christian “Inshallah” but I notice nobody actually documents a case where he said what you accuse him of.

@beenthere240“I’m sure more than a few are waiting for a nuclear war in the Middle East as a surrogate for Armageddon.”.On Diane Rheme the other day, they were talking about members of ISIS ISIL or whatever trying to set up the final conflict, even believing beheading Christians would bring in Jesus on their side. Interesting times

Hmm, speaking Nancy the dragon lady; when Watt pulled all mineral withdrawels to open all public lands to mining, he at the same time shut down a gravel operation on public land on the boundary of the Reagan “ranch” in California, because the dust disturbed Nancy! Folks have no clue how corrupt that administration was, even ignoring how many of them were CONVICTED (like Ollie North) of high crimes, but sprung by Reagan appointed judges on appeal, or pardoned.

Isn’t that the bird Dick’s been looking for that just landed on his hat? :confused:

Or, you could go back an even greater number of years the the James Watt that vastly improved the efficiency of the steam engine. These improvements paved the way for the industrial revolution. Just look at us, now.