NYT/Reuters: Pres. Clinton Says Must "Get Off Our Butts" to Stop Warming

[DeepModem Mom]

Clinton Says Must "Get Off Our Butts" to Stop Warming
By REUTERS
Published: May 20, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton said on Saturday global warming is a greater threat to the future than terrorism and that the United States and other countries must "get off our butts'' and do something about it.

Clinton, speaking to the graduating class at University of Texas' Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, said the United States must pursue policies that make "more partners and fewer enemies'' and use "institutionalized cooperation'' before there is catastrophic damage from global warming.

"Climate change is more remote than terror but a more profound threat to the future of the children and the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren I hope all of you have,'' Clinton said.

"It's the only thing we face today that has the power to remove the preconditions of civilized society,'' he said.

"I am not one of those who is pessimistic about the future of the world, assuming we get off our butts and do something about climate change in a timely fashion.''...

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-environment-clinton.html

[rodeodance]

1. hey Bill, about time! maybe you can Gore can be buds again?

[rodeodance]

2. say global warming is greater than TERRORISM! whoooww.

....Former President Bill Clinton said on Saturday global warming is a greater threat to the future than terrorism and that the United States and other countries must "get off our butts'' and do something about it.

[blm]

3. And if you didn't keep the books closed on IranContra and BCCI, Gore would

be president, and BushInc and many of his world-polluting cronies would have been in jail or at least not allowed the power to control the world's resources.

[robbedvoter]

8. So, BFEE wouldn't have stolen the election then? Interesting

theory. Somehow everyone but kerry seems to be responsible in your book for our predicament.

[blm]

16. You posit that the books being opened on IranContra and BCCI wouldn't have

assured that the Bushes would have been made pariahs in this country and that Gore WOULDN'T have won in a landslide in 2000? Or didn't you read what I actually posted?

[robbedvoter]

17. Yup. Gore probably won in a landslide anyway (as kerry)

and the BFEE media would have never made the Bushes pariahs. I am absolutely convinced of it.
Not saying it wouldn't have the right thing to do (opening the books0, just that you overestimate the effects.
Remember, W didn't become a pariah for screwing up on 911 - on the contrary, and his being a desertor still put him somehow above a war hero. Don't underestimate the BFEE and their mighty wurlitzer. From Harken, Enron, Abramoff - just how many pesonal connections with shady dealings tainted fearless leader with the masses?

[blm]

19. The corporate media wasn't prepared to out themselves in 1993 when Clinton

should have opened the books. In fact, Walsh had alot still to reveal re the Iran hostage deal, but Clinton closing the books pulled the carpet out from under his work.

The corporate media didn't make its full right-wing tilt till 1997. And the GOP didn't have 80% control of the electronic vote till 2002.

Yep - ALOT would be different today if Clinton had opened those books.

[robbedvoter]

21. I don't think there ever was a tilt. Looking back, it was a mere matter

of quantity.
reading the Hunting of the President - it was all there in place, from before the time Clinton took office.
Conason attributes the miracle of Clinton's winning to the timely death of Lee Atwater. He was probably right.
Again, I don't think that particular case was THAT important in the "tilt" Everything in the media was quietly bought since Watergate.

[blm]

22. Absolutely it was in place BEFORE Clinton took office - but, after they

ramped up FOX, the rest of them didn't even BOTHER with appearances of neutrality.

[Kutjara]

4. I almost agree with Billy Jeff.

We part ways at his hope that we all have children and...grandchildren and...great-grandchildren." We're never going to solve our climate problems if we all keep reproducing like priapic rabbits.

[bahrbearian]

5. "Climate change is more remote than terror " ?

WTF Hey Bill it effects the whole earth, not so remote.

[kestrel91316]

6. Memo to Bill: Hey, President Clinton - I love ya as much as the next guy,

but I have got to ask you one thing. Where the HELL were you on global warming and climate change for EIGHT FUCKING YEARS?????? You had the chance to lead the world on this one. Just think what you could have accomplished with a bunch of executive orders pertaining to energy self-sufficiency and climate change issues..........it boggles the mind.

But no, you had to spend your days boffing that slut.

Jesus wept. What a waste of a perfectly good presidency.

[robbedvoter]

7. Actually he did veto all the GOP bills against the environment

including an ANWR one.
http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/record/appendc.asp
The list does NOT include the national parks he created by executive order before he left office - wingnuts were livid!
The Kyoto agreement was voted down by the Senate - not much he could have done in the cisrcumstances.
Blame Clinton - the national sport - aint's just for the wingnuts anymore!

[pooja]

10. I seem to remember that he didn't want to sign kyoto because he didn't

think the protocol went far enough to really reduce emmissions...and it still allowed for developing countries to still pollute on higher levels....india and china

[robbedvoter]

11. never came to his signing - Senate rejected it 99 to 1

But I think you are right about the reasons.

[kestrel91316]

13. I know, I know, he was fighting an uphill battle, but he was NO

environmentalist - at least not one with true understanding of the issues like Gore.

If he had taken the bull by the horns and started governing by executive order, he could have done so much more. Bush gets to do things that way now, and it's all for nefarious purposes. It disturbs me no end.

[robbedvoter]

18. His was not an imperial presidency. One reason I like the man.

As for your statements and comparisons with Gore, did you actually check that link? You'd be surprised.
besides, once again, he did establish national parks by executive orders.

[kestrel91316]

25. I DO give him credit for that, but a lot of good it did. Bush won't

fund the parks properly, and wants to basically sell them to the highest bidder. He's all for commercializing them, and allowing gas/oil/mineral extraction.

So merely HAVING the parks on paper does not appear to be quite enough.

[BikeWriter]

15. Uh, Clinton was fighting a GOP Congress!

[BikeWriter]

20. Where the hell were you? Bill Clinton signed the Kyoto Treaty!

Former President Bill Clinton signed Kyoto, but Bush refuses to submit the treaty to Congress for ratification because he says industrialized nations like the United States are unfairly singled out.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0610-01.htm

[kestrel91316]

24. Clinton could have issued executive orders regarding CO2 emissions

I bet. He could have done for the environment what Bush has done to cement RW power and enrich his cronies, essentially by fiat. I guess it never occurred to him that he didn't need no stinkin' Congress, and could just make all the rules himself.........

[BikeWriter]

27. He had Congress working against him, * hasn't until recently.

[DS1]

9. No shit

[swag]

12. Clinton said, "Butts?" Impeach him!

Oh wait. Can a private citizen be impeached?

[robbedvoter]

26. Arlen Specter tried! "We can take his Secret Service protection!

It was all that lovely frenzy in 2001 when they were trying to get his numbers down and W's up. All MSM artocles on Clinton used the word "disgraced" next to his name - and there was a new "gate" manufactured daily _Office, AF1, Pardons, presents, vandalism etc. Good times, good times!
P.S His poll numbers when he left? 68% approval!

[BikeWriter]

14. Yee Haw! Tell 'em, Bill!

[Rex]

23. Oh boy...someone forgot to slip Bill the RW kool-aid today!

Keep away from that stuff Bill! It causes you to act like you like Bush and the Brood! Detox!