Is Obama Giving Up On Fighting Global Warming?

[n2doc]

— By Kevin Drum| Wed Mar. 30, 2011 6:43 PM PDT
AP is reporting that congressional leaders and the White House are working on a compromise budget plan that would cut $33 billion in spending. I'm a little surprised that John Boehner might be on board with this, since I figure he has to allow a government shutdown before eventually compromising if he wants to retain any credibility at all with the tea party wing of the GOP. But maybe he's decided that going through with the shutdown kabuki is pointless because the tea partiers are uncompromising zealots who can't be appeased no matter what. If that's the case, then the $33 billion figure is no big surprise.



But what's up with this?

A Democratic lawmaker familiar with a meeting Wednesday between Obama and members of the Congressional Black Caucus said the administration made it clear that some House GOP proposals restricting the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory powers would have to make it into the final bill....It's not clear which proposals the White House might accept, but those backed by Republicans would block the government from carrying out regulations on greenhouse gases, putting in place a plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and from shutting down mountaintop mines it believes will cause too much water pollution.



These kinds of leaks often turn out to be mistaken in one way or another, so it's probably best not to panic yet. On the other hand, it's notable that Obama barely even mentioned climate change or greenhouse gases in his big energy speech today. This concession to Republicans on the EPA would jibe with that, and if it's true it would mean that Obama has essentially given up completely on anything other than token action to address global warming. That should sure get the base amped up for 2012, shouldn't it?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/03/obama-giving-global-warming

[Scuba]

1. Yep, just like...

...single payer...

....closing gitmo...

...ending the wars...

...not torturing people...



He's now a registered Republican. Or maybe a Tea Party member. But he's not the guy who ran in '08.

[vi5]

2. But....but.....THE LIST!! THE LIST!!!!

He "committed" to things......and he "pledged" other things......and there was "support" as well for things!!! I saw them on a list so that must mean it's all official and stuff......and besides....PRESIDENT PALIN!!! PRESIDENT PALIN!!!!!

[Scuba]

3. "President Palin" seems to sum up...

...the current Democratic National Platform for 2012.

Here's my suggested alternative:

The 2012 Democratic Platform


We will pass new tax laws that spread the tax burden fairly across the economic spectrum, with those benefiting most from our society contributing commensurately.

We will pass law to protect the right of workers to organize and have a voice in the operation of US businesses. This will include raising the minimum wage to $20.00 per hour to ensure a reasonable standard of living for all working families and to stimulate our sluggish economy.

We will pass law to provide Medicare for All so no American is denied care or has to suffer financial hardship because of health problems, and no American businesses are saddled with health costs that keep them from competing fairly with foreign competitors. This plan will include a “safety net” to guarantee every citizen is provided the food and shelter necessary to survive difficult challenges in their lives.



We will withdraw of all US military and contracted personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of the hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of lives being wasted on these wars, we will instead provide aid to these countries, and to other depressed areas where atrocious conditions breed terrorists.

We will order the Department of Justice to investigate those who led us into these wars to determine if war crime charges are warranted. If so, they will be prosecuted with vigor and any ill-gained profits shall be returned to the people.

We will order the Commerce Department to present a holostic plan for maintaining and advancing the infrastructure of our great country.

We will order the Secretary of Education to present new plans to guarantee all Americans have access to our public schools, from pre-kindergarten through advanced degrees.

We will order Homeland Security to present a new plan for securing our borders from those who would do us harm while allowing appropriate travel and visitation to our many friends around the world. This plan is to include a path to citizenship for those who serve in the US military, or who came here as children and are now productive members of our society.

We will order the Department of Energy to begin another “Manhattan Project” to enable us to cease our dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, I am announcing the nationalization of all US oil and gas reserves, as well as other reserves owned by the citizens of the US that are currently being extracted from our soil for private profit without regard for our environment.

We will order the Department of Justice to begin immediately to root out crimes of corruption within our government. In concert with this, I want Congress to pass laws to ensure elected officials are serving for the benefit of the American people as a whole, not to gain wealth or power for themselves or their friends.


And finally, we are asking you, the People, to help with the most critical problem facing our Democracy today. We’re asking you, the People, to pass a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting political spending by corporations or any other entity or individual not qualifying as a person with citizenship in this great country.


These and other policies we will put in place will cause a sea-change in how our country serves the citizens - We the People - rather than a tiny handful of super-wealthy who would subvert our democracy and plunder our wealth while denying even the most basic services for our citizens. Thank you for your support and thank you for standing up for the rights of all citizens.


Vote Democrat - 2012

[Viking12]

4. In order to give up, one has to try first. So no, I don't think he gave up.

There hasn't been any real effort from the beginning.

[truebrit71]

8. ..and there, unfortunately, is the truth..

If he gives ONE inch to those luddites in the gop then I will have to seriously consider my options in 2012...what is the fucking point if he continually gives in?

[queenjane]

5. Perhaps he's accepting the American Reality

Most people in my sphere don't believe there's such a thing as climate change. ("Hey, it's still snowing in late March, so much for that global warming crap!") They won't recycle, even when their towns give them bins and pick it up curbside. They won't put recyclables in the bins in our office breakrooms, because it's too much trouble to rinse out their soda cans. They won't buy fuel efficient vehicles because all their friends have SUVS and they want one, too (seriously, I hear this often). They become enraged if anyone suggests motor sports are a waste of our declining energy supplies (oil companies should just be allowed to drill the hell out of our natural areas so they can continue to waste fuel, and by the way, gas shouldn't be more than $1 a gallon).

I see a parallel with Americans refusing to be responsible for their own health.
I work with cardiologists, and they tell me they try to convince their patients to adopt healthier lifestyles (eat better, exercise, lose weight, stop smoking), but it's almost always a losing battle. So the docs stroke prescriptions for expensive drugs to keep the patients going a little while longer. The patients, in fact, seem to prefer the pills and the repeated heart catheterizations so they can keep eating at Bojangles every day.

It's a disconnect between cause and effect, a refusal to make sacrifices in the present for the long-term good. Perhaps Obama, like the doctors, has accepted reality . . .

[Tesha]

6. In the long run, it doesn't matter what Americans "believe".

Reality will deliver whatever is real and "belief" doesn't matter
one jot.

The good news is that Washington, D.C. sits very few feet above
sea level now, so they will be one of the first group of Murkins
who have reality thrust upon them.

Me? The lowest points in my town sit about 90 feet above sea
level and my house sits about 350 feet above sea level so I'll
be watching from my eyrie as the truth finally dawns on the
numbskulls.

Tesha

[no limit]

9. That American Reality is that politicians love the cash energy companies hand out.

[queenjane]

14. That, too (n/t)

[mochajava666]

7. No. Running away like a coward is how how fights.

He will only attack liberals that expose him as a neocon.

[elocs]

10. What pathetically passed as a "fight" against global warming is over.

Oh, if every major nation in the world who are major polluters would all come together and seriously attack the problem there would be a chance to impede it, but likely not to stop it at this time.

Unfortunately virtually nothing is being done to deal with the consequences of global warming in which millions will die, starve, or be displaced. Billions in India and China want all of the perks of western civilization that we have enjoyed for years and they will not be denied.

So if we will not act seriously against climate change in this country, then why should other nations make the sacrifice?

[XemaSab]

13. Part of the problem is that much of the rest of the world has NO environmental standards

Mexico, for example, doesn't have modern water or sewage treatment. People litter everywhere. Many of the vehicles on the road are gross polluters. I don't know if there are clean air or clean water standards for industry, but it would surprise me if there were. And that's just overt bacterial, solid waste, particulate, and chemical pollution, without taking into consideration deforestation, erosion, and other problems.

It's a poor country, so they can "get away" with things like smoggy cars in MOST areas that would cause bigger problems in the US, but for a place like Mexico City, smog and bad water are immediate threats, while climate change is a more remote threat.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

11. did you hear? Obama's killing Social Security, too!

:sarcasm:

[XemaSab]

12. Obama has never shown the slightest concern for the environment

(As my avatar implies. :P )

[LiberalEsto]

15. When did he start? nt