Tea-Party Effect: Jeb Bush Has to Deny Climate Change

An "intellectually arrogant" polar bear.

We knew this was coming, and Jeb Bush didn't disappoint.

"I don't think the science is clear of what percentage is man-made and what percentage is natural. It's convoluted," the former Florida governor said at an event in Bedford, New Hampshire.

"For the people to say the science is decided on this is really arrogant, to be honest with you," he said, according to CNN. "It's this intellectual arrogance that now you can't have a conversation about it, even. The climate is changing. We need to adapt to that reality."

What the hell does that even mean? We do know what the result will be: no action on global warming, pure and simple. That's the Republican Party line, full stop.

Tea Partiers will not let a single candidate budge on this issue, again, full stop. So vote for Republicans if you want NO ACTION on climate change or reduction of fossil-fuel use or increase in support for alternative energy sources. Vote Democratic if you want a chance that we can stop our headlong rush over the cliff to oblivion.

Also, thanks Koch brothers! You have signaled that anyone who acknowledges the legitimacy of the science concerning global warming will not get a damned dime of your money. Thanks a lot.

This isn't a Jeb Bush thing. This is a GOP thing exacerbated by Koch money.

Bottom line is if Jeb Bush -- the "reasonable" GOP candidate -- can't risk supporting the science of climate change, then no GOP candidate this cycle can risk it, especially during the primary. And, of course, it calls into question just how "reasonable" Jeb Bush ever was.