During today's marathon markup hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) argued that, by creating federal building standards, the Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill will unleash a "Global Warming Gestapo" on the good people of Louisiana and elsewhere.

Waxman: "I'd like to ask a question of the gentleman (Mr. Scalise), you've said global warming Gestapo, what does that mean?" Scalise: It basically is the powers that are vested in the Secretary under Section 201 of this cap and trade energy tax, to go into someone's house, number one to go in, and then charge them. Waxman: "So if anybody does something you don't like you call them Gestapo? What do you think of the people who run other government agencies, do you think the government is made up of Gestapo?" Scalise: "I don't think the government should be able to tell somebody if they're living in their home and they're abiding by all the laws that they're an unlawful occupant of their house, that's the terminology of the bill, that's frightening."

Waxman: "I would welcome the expression of your point of view, but I would like to request that perhaps that's a little strong to say Gestapo."

That's a new one! The GOP has been sort of throwing a number of different (and dubious) anti-cap and trade talking points at the wall to see what sticks. They've got the "energy tax" tag down, and, in the Senate, they're thinking it might be a good idea to say that, by working on climate change legislation, Democrats are in the pocket of big business.

But Reductio ad Hitlerum usually doesn't get people very far. Even in the House of Representatives.

Late update: Brad Johnson has more.