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    What's this?
Stephen Colbert and Tom Ridge get awkward over fracking
The former Secretary of Homeland Security tries to defend fracking and digs himself a few holes.
Tue, Jun 14 2011 at 9:47 AM
 8

Related Topics:

Fracking, Water Pollution, TV Shows
Tom Ridge and Stephen Colbert

TOUGH CROWD: Things got a bit awkward when Tom Ridge went on the "Colbert Report" to discuss natural gas and fracking. (Photo: Comedy Central)

 
Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge may want to do a little more preparation for his next appearance on the "Colbert Report."
 
Ridge was Stephen Colbert’s guest last week when the two decided to discuss natural gas production on the late-night TV show. Ridge began by saying that he wasn’t a lobbyist for the natural gas industry, and then went on a long diatribe about why natural gas is the best energy source for the future of the Untied States. Colbert, never one to miss irony, immediately pounced on Ridge by praising him for doing such a good job lobbying him.
 
The interview got more awkward when Colbert began to bombard Ridge with fact after fact about a common, yet controversial, technique used for natural gas production called hydraulic fracturing. Fracking, as it is commonly called, is a process in which huge amounts of water are mixed with toxic chemicals and injected into the ground to extract previously untapped sources of natural gas.
 
Ridge defended the process by quoting Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa P. Jackson, who said no one has definitively proven that fracking has led to water contamination. Ridge neglected to point out that no one has proven that contamination isn’t happening, in part because of loopholes that keep the chemicals used in fracking a secret. Colbert did not miss this point.
 
“During the Bush administration, Vice President Cheney’s energy task force made sure the companies doing this didn’t have to reveal what the chemicals were that were being pumped into the ground,” began Colbert. Then, after listing the chemicals believed to be used in fracking, which included kerosene and toluene, Colbert asked, “Which of these can I feed my toddler?” Ridge laughed at that one and awkwardly offered no response.
 
And just when you thought the interview couldn't get more awkward, Colbert went to the video screen to show residents setting their tap water on fire, and read a warning — given to residents of a Wyoming town where fracking takes place —asking residents to place fans in their showers to help avoid spontaneous explosions. Ridge said the flaming faucet water was a natural occurrence independent of fracking, and made a few wise cracks about the fan in the shower warning. Funny stuff ... I guess. The video is posted below: 
 

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

 

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comments: 8
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anonymous
aaron fleszar Jun 18 2011 at 3:31 PM

I wish Steven could report on this
http://illuminaticonspiracy.blogspot.com/

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anonymous
Uncle B Jun 16 2011 at 4:48 PM
Fracking, Top-soil burnout, paving of agricultural lands, tower building cities. Water-ways, streams, rivers, lakes, even ocean shorelines all polluted with humanure. Huge dumps, landfills, toxic chemical dumps. Fumes in the air, humanocidal toxic chemicals exhausted in great poisonous clouds. Oil wells gone dry, rivers running low, even drinking water reserves running on empty, coal mines emptied out, most mines at or approaching the empty point. American economy, totally foreign oil dependent,
.... More
and totally addicited to low power, low pressure, low efficiency gasoline on rubber tire solutions. This is the Coca-Cola Corpocracy, no longer Democratic, even corporations allowed to"Sponsor" openly political candidates with all the resources they may have at hand, in order to gain political "Favor" - Not a government by the people, not a government for the people, but a Lobbyist infested, influence peddling, law-making mess! China, meanwhile, has forged ahead. They will very soon have perfected safe, benign waste product, plutonium free, Thorium fueled nuclear reactors - the ones poo - pooed, disgarded even, by America's corporatists in the 1970's! China also has a fully 400% more efficient nuclear electric bullet train network, and its associated nuclear electric powered human infrastructure, up and running! Producing goods, cheaper, due to nucear electric and rail economies, than anything the gasoline dependent, rubber-wheeled American worker can. China has cows that give "human milk" for lactose intolerant folks (mostly orientals) steel, processed to behave like stainless steel, without expensive nickel additives, more cars than America has, even more english speaking folk than America has - it is so true! more folk on the internet than America has, and, when the combined ussian, Chinese, Military are counted, a bigger Military force than America has! China trades openly and in defiance of "American Law" for petroleum products with Siberia, using Yuan as currency of transaction, and thus, opening the entire natural riches of Siberia to China's voracious factories, in Yuan, skirting entirely the "New YorK' money manipulators and th thumg of the U.S. Fed's on the scale for every deal made otherwise! What doea this mean? A Pan Eur-Asian Empire, forming before America's eyes, daisy -chained electricbullet-trains the 'glue', Thorium fueled safe, benign waste product, plutonium free operation, high efficiency operation, the "fuel", the Chinese Yuan, the currency! America "Out of the loop"! Posturing, prancing, strutting, by tightly stuffed, fat bummed, "White Shirts' at any level in America, over any issue in America, Fracking included, wither before and awesome reality in the world today! America, world's largest debtor nation, owng for the larger part to Japan, and China, is broke today, and will beg at the feet of communit Chinese odficials for even more credit, this very summer. China has already deemed America unsuitabl for more loans, will use her money otherwise developing her on empire, a communist one, for the people of the world, not America's exclusive, "White Shirts" they are broke now!
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anonymous
swajsofa Jun 14 2011 at 5:20 PM

Is it not true? I googled it, and the first thing that came up was this: cogcc.state.co.us/library/GASLAND%20DOC.pdf
Looks like Ridge isn't the only one saying it.
Besides, it's still a terrible description. Where's the awkwardness exactly?

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anonymous
GovTogether Jun 14 2011 at 4:52 PM
This is one of the main issues that is plaguing the American political system. The fact that a former member of government can take what he learned from his service, turn around and then lobby for a special interest is a new, and frightening development. It allows special interest groups to dominate the political spectrum and get whatever they feel is necessary passed. At GovTogether, we're looking to change this. We want to give the American people their voice back. Our hope is to have a candidate
.... More
pledge to run on our platform, and vote the way his constituents want him to vote instead of selling his vote to the highest bidding lobbyist. www.GovTogether.com
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anonymous
GovTogether Jun 14 2011 at 4:30 PM
This is a huge issue in American politics today. The fact that once out of office, a politician can then take what he learned and use it to get rich by lobbying members of Congress. Lobbyists hold such sway over the political system in the United States that it ends up hurting you, the voting public. This is why at GovTogether, our goal is to shift the power back to you. We want to give the people their voice back, and we want to do this by using a tool that the vast majority of the American public
.... More
can utilize; the internet. Take a look at our website and let us know what you think by voting. www.GovTogether.com
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anonymous
swajsofa Jun 14 2011 at 12:48 PM

Where was the awkwardness again? I go into this hoping to see Ridge squirm based on your description... and pretty much the opposite happened. I did not realize that scene from Gasland has nothing to do with gas drilling. Would have been nice if the movie mentioned it.
Anyway, fail; I think your descriptive abilities need some work. Don't waste my time.

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anonymous
wup Jun 14 2011 at 4:49 PM

I think you might need a little more healthy skepticism. Just because Tom Ridge said it doesn't mean it's true.

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anonymous
sam Feb 21 2013 at 8:46 PM

Following the hype over flammable water seen in the documentary Gasland, the producers of the film have since stated that in fact, the videos shown of this are in no way linked to hydrofracking. In fact, geologists have shown that where this occurred, it was due to water wells that were dug improperly into preexisting sources of methane. I understand the hesitation to trust Ridge,, but maybe you should do some research before dismissing his claims.

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