In 2008, Cirque offered him the job, which involves a routine atop what looks like sinking house, plus warming up the audience.

WSJ: Social Media

McClendon and other panelists at the hearing, convened by the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, want Congress to know that natural gas can have a more prominent role in America's energy future.

FORBES: Natural Gas: Booming In The Beltway

Although his office has asserted that the listing will still allow energy production in Alaska, members of Congress -- including Rep. Edward Markey, chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming -- have expressed strong objections to any such notion.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: LOST oil prophets

Finger presented the assessment to a joint hearing of the House Intelligence Committee and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

NPR: U.S. Report Links Climate Change to Security

Although they now have a friend in the White House, the cold economy and cold winter will cool public ardor for global warming initiatives.

FORBES: Pessimism's Bull

Re-election to the White House is giving President Obama the oomph he needs to tackle the effects of global warming a topic that has been legislatively off-limits.

FORBES: Obama's Sly Attack on Climate Change

' It was: 'How can we spin this in such a way that it doesn't cause problems for the White House by conveying the impression that we're acknowledging the seriousness of the global warming problem?

BBC: Climate chaos: Transcript

This past weekend, Nancy Pelosi and seven other House members began a trip to Greenland, Germany and Belgium to talk to scientists about global warming.

FORBES: Pelosi's Global-Warming Delegation

However these hearings play out, I hope the Obama White House takes some extra care to consider whom they should select to present their case for the evidence supporting anthropogenic global warming.

FORBES: Debating the New Congress on Science