Obama Sends Clear Message On Global Warming

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015711.php

November 18, 2008

OBAMA SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE ON GLOBAL WARMING.... A two-day gathering called the Bi-Partisan Governors Global Climate Summit convened this morning in Los Angeles, and Barack Obama made an unexpected video presentation, vowing a "new chapter in American leadership on climate change."

If you can't watch clips online, the Washington Post has a full transcript of the text, but I'd note that Obama offered unambiguous remarks on the issue, criticizing the federal government's recent failures, touting a federal cap and trade system, promising to "invest $15 billion each year to catalyze private sector efforts to build a clean energy future," and citing specific annual targets on emission reductions.

Obama also spoke to the international delegations (12 counties sent representatives to this week's event) on hand in L.A. "Let me also say a special word to the delegates from around the world who will gather in Poland next month: your work is vital to the planet," Obama said. "While I won't be President at the time of your meeting and while the United States has only one President at a time, I've asked members of Congress who are attending the conference as observers to report back to me on what they learn there. And once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations, and help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change."

In other words, don't worry about that Bush guy; hope is on the way.

As Greg Sargent noted, "Pretty refreshing to have an adult as incoming president."

—Steve Benen 1:20 PM

Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvG2XptIEJk&eurl=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015711.php

[Schema Thing]

1. K& R. Help in the nick of time.

[WePurrsevere]

2. Excellent! Hopefully...

the actions he takes on this will help turn things around and quickly.

[babylonsister]

3. I think cooperation from PE Obama and his team will be key, and will

be a heckuva lot more than has been given for 8 years.

[Skwmom]

4. I wonder why Gore didn't want to join the administration?

Words are cheap. We want action.

[cali]

5. gad. do try and engage a brain cell or two

Action? He's NOT THE PRESIDENT YET. And what's cheap, is mindless little bromides in place of actually thinking. Of course words aren't always cheap, genius. Quite often they're the most powerful thing in the world.

[Skwmom]

7. Well, we can't all be as smart as the political operatives and politicians that have

made the U.S. such a sterling example of economic and financial success. They must be SO PROUD of where they've led this country. They should really go have a few drinks and celebrate.

[Cha]

6. Rec'd~ This is the kind of

unambiguity I like!

[JimWis]

8. That's great news. Thanks for sharing the info.