It's always entertainting the way certain politicians talk about environmental issues. This weird exchange in Congress is no different.  The scene is a committee hearing on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), a notorious drilling advocate and Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), a huge proponent of anti-environmental legislation, battling with historian Douglas Brinkley.

YOUNG: I will tell you if you ever want to see an exercise in futility, it's this hearing. That side's already made up its mind. This side has already made up its mind. And I call it garbage, Dr. Rice, that comes from the mouth…

BRINKLEY: Dr. Brinkley. Rice is a university. I know you went to Yuba College and you couldn't graduate.

YOUNG: I'll call you anything I want to call you when you sit in that chair … You just be quiet.

BRINKLEY: You don't own me. I pay your salary.

YOUNG: I'll tell you right now …

BRINKLEY: I work for the private sector. You work for …

HASTINGS: Mr. Brinkley, do you want to continue to sit in this panel?

BRINKLEY: Yes.

HASTINGS: OK. Then please follow the rules.

Yikes. Of course, this goes into the Congressional Record forever which is pretty awesome. But after the jump is the most telling part from Rep. Young.  

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