Joe Barton is a great big jerkoff.   Unless your a political junky he's a relatively unknown congressman from texas who holds some big sway on the energy commission.  He's a very conservative republican and he's now one of the most hated men in America.  Even his own party doesn't want to know him now after that great big dumb apology to BP.   You can see the apology on Steve Brodners post.  
Five years ago I had an opportunity from Texas Monthly to really find out who this guy realy  is.   I thought he was the kind of polititian that even babies despised.  And you know how polititians love being photographed hugging babies.