Digging deeper: The enviro-nitwit-ization of the GOP

MichelleMalkin.com ^ | December 13, 2007 | Michelle Malkin

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Well, fun was had by all yesterday covering the stultifying Schoolmarm and the GOP candidates in Iowa. Fred Thompson earned his gold medal for refusing to follow Schoolmarm’s order for a show of hands on an inane global warming question. Now, let’s dig a little deeper.

As I noted yesterday, the rest of the leading GOP candidates’ responses to Schoolmarm’s global warming query demonstrate a rather disturbing greening of the party. And not just mild green. But bright, neon, Gore green. Total enviro-nitwit-ization. Can these guys really belong to the same party as stalwart, anti-fearmonger Sen. Jim Inhofe? Have they not been briefed on NASA’s shenanigans? Like John Stossel says: “What you think you know may not be so.”

Look at the screenshot Allah captured of the exact moment Schoolmarm asked the candidates to raise their hands if they “believe global climate change is a serious threat and caused by human activity.” I lightened, annotated, and labeled the pic for ease of scrutiny:

4hands.jpg

Faster than Al Gore’s Gulfstream, the hands of Giuliani, Huckabee, and McCain shot straight up in agreement with the First Commandment of Global Warming: Thou Shalt Blame Man. What about Romney? As Allah sharply noted (he’s also got video), Mitt’s mitt waffled at “half-hearted half-mast”–before he sheepishly turned it into a clap for Thompson.

You want to cringe some more? Here’s the relevant portion of the transcript of the exchange.

MS. WASHBURN: Thank you.

I want to take on a new issue. I would like to see a show of hands. How many of you believe global climate change is a serious threat and caused by human activity?

MR. THOMPSON: Well, do you want to give me a minute to answer that?

MS. WASHBURN: No, I don’t. I –

MR. THOMPSON: Well, then I’m not going to answer it. (Laughter, applause.)

MS. WASHBURN: Okay.

MR. HUCKABEE (?): How about 30 seconds?

MS. WASHBURN: No, I — you know, I want –

MR. THOMPSON: You want a show of hands, and I’m giving it to you.

MS. WASHBURN: We’re going to follow up on that, but what I need to know is who believes global climate change is serious and caused by human activity.

MR. GIULIANI: I do.

MS. WASHBURN: And then we’ll talk in more detail about it.

MR. : Serious? It is.

MR. GIULIANI: I believe that global climate change is a serious –

(Cross talk.)

SEN. MCCAIN: And I think climate change is real, and I –

MR. HUCKABEE (?): Let’s have a chance about it –

(Cross talk, laughter.)

MS. WASHBURN: Go — I’m going to start with Senator McCain, come back to Mayor Giuliani.

SEN. MCCAIN: I’ve been involved in this issue since the year 2000. I have had hearings. I’ve traveled the world. I know that climate change is real.

But let me put — put it to you this way. Suppose that climate change is not real, and all we do adopt green technologies, which our economy and our technology is perfectly capable of. Then all we’ve done is given our kids a cleaner world.

But suppose they are wrong. Suppose they are wrong, and climate change is real, and we’ve done nothing. What kind of a planet are we going to pass on to the next generation of Americans? It’s real. We’ve got to address it. We can do it with technology, with cap-and- trade, with capitalist and free enterprise motivation. And I’m confident that we can pass on to our children and grandchildren a cleaner, better world.

MS. WASHBURN: Mayor Giuliani?

MR. GIULIANI: I agree with — I agree with John. Climate change is real. It’s happening. I believe human beings are contributing to it. I think the best way to deal with it is through energy independence.

MS. WASHBURN: Who doesn’t agree?

MR. GIULIANI: And I think energy independence is a –

MR. : That I agree with.

MS. WASHBURN: Who doesn’t agree?

REP. HUNTER (?): But he said “contributing” but not totally –

MR. : No — yes.

MR. : No.

MR. : Yeah.

MR. : Oh, okay.

MR. : Yeah.

MR. : Yeah.

MR. : Well, and I — (laughter) –

(Cross talk.)

REP. HUNTER (?): On our party, you’re getting closer –

SEN. MCCAIN: More than contributing, my friend –

MR. ROMNEY (?): Give us — give us each a chance.

MS. WASHBURN: I did.

MR. GIULIANI: And I think that our party should embrace this as an issue for us, in our positions –

MS. WASHBURN: Well, let me come at this way. Let me come at it this way. What impact on the economy would be acceptable in order to reverse global warming and greenhouse gas emissions?

Governor Romney?

MR. ROMNEY: Well, it’s going to help our economy because we’re going to invest in new technologies to get ourselves off of foreign oil, and as we get ourselves off of foreign oil, we also dramatically reduce our CO2 emissions. That’s good for the environment; it’s also good for our economy. Because $300 to $400 billion worth of oil a year from other people who use it against us, that’s bad for our economy, it’s also bad for the environment.

MS. WASHBURN: So then our –

MR. ROMNEY: We can do these things in a way that help both the environment and the economy and national security. That’s the beauty of what we’re talking about here, which is, yeah, is global warming an issue for the world? Absolutely. Is it something we can deal with by becoming energy independent and energy secure? We sure can.

But at the same time, we call it global warming, not America warming. So let’s not put a burden on us alone and have the rest of the world skate by without having to participate in this effort. It’s a global effort, but our independence is something we can do unilaterally.

No effort to challenge the fundamental premise of the question. Just Gore-approved soundbites and cheery “have our eco-cake and eat it, too” platitudes.

No full-throttled attack on radical eco-fear-mongering and the manipulation of environmental science for political gain.

Not even a mild-mannered “Well, the science isn’t settled and there is by no means a consensus.”

Is this the best we can do?

Bad enough we have border control cross-dressers leading the GOP presidential pack.

Must the Republican nominee also be a Gore-in-GOP clothing, too?

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Ran a search and didn't see this posted - seeing four of the "Big 5" raise their hands, can anyone out there really question whether Fred is the candidate for conservatives to rally around?

This is not meant as any disrespect to the fine FReepers supporting either Hunter or Tancredo - I truly hope they do well in the upcoming caucus and primary votes.

However, if they do not and you are forced to pick from the Big 5 in your primary or caucus - remember that four of them will sell you and this nation out to the environmental wackos for political expediency. Click on the link above at michellemalkin.com to see the photo that proves it.

Fred is our last, best hope to save us from a very dark (pun intended) future.

[pissant]

Thank you Michelle

[live+let_live]

It makes me so sad to see that has become of the Republican Party. Why do they even exist? They have become Democrat-lite.

[Slapshot68]

“Gore: US Blocking progress at climate talks”

http://www.yahoo.com/s/759589

Says the guy who won’t debate the issue with scientists who aren’t buying into the hype.

[Vigilanteman]

Giuliani, Huckabee, and McCain shot straight up in agreement with the First Commandment of Global Warming: Thou Shalt Blame Man.

Those three should have just disqualified themselves. And Fred hit a home run.

[OKIEDOC]

FRED IS DA MAN.

Only candidate that has the common sense to say enough of this BULL SHIITE to the liberal moderator.

If the Pope could vote Fred would be his man because both think this climate change is nothing but a big farce.

It’s time for all the Fred supporters to put up by taking a clue out of the Ron Paul campaign book.

We Fred supporters need to inundate the MSM and Internet with one Email after another on Fred's qualifications.

Go Fred........

[businessprofessor]

Disgraceful. FDT is the only viable candidate. If any of the other top stooges gets the nomination, the rats will win in a landslide. Wakeup Republican primary voters! The responses of these three candidates should disqualify them from any consideration.

[marron]

Those three should have just disqualified themselves. And Fred hit a home run.

"Global Warming" is a fraudulent issue designed to justify government controlled economy and money-laundering in the form of "carbon credit trading". Its also a perfect litmus test which exposes the corrupt, the obtuse, and most importantly the unqualified-to-be-president.

I agree with you that in this exchange Giuliani, Huckabee, and McCain stand exposed and disqualified. Romney teeters on the brink, saved from himself by Thompson.

[Captain Pike]

However, if they do not and you are forced to pick from the Big 5 in your primary or caucus - remember that four of them will sell you and this nation out to the environmental wackos for political expediency.

Some people will never be pursuaded of the truth, and it becomes prudent if you want to win elections to just go with the flow. The alternative is to follow the Libertarian party into oblivion.

I think the best solution is Gingrich's jujutsu of saying "sure we have climate change, so we need to get busy building nuclear power plants as fast as possible".

The true goal of the environmenalist organizers (the majority of greenies are useful idiots and honestly don't see this) is to destroy Western Civilization in general, and the US in particular. By turning their mandate to eliminate CO2 production into a mandate to instead build CO2 free nukes we've thwarted their ultimate goal and turned their arguments against them. Newt's a damn smart guy. Wish he were running instead of the rest of these folks.

[ModelBreaker]

These guys are idiots. “Well it wouldn’t hurt us to go green because then we’d be green.” ARGGGGGGGH. Trillions of dollars later and surrender of leadership of the global economy to China (who has no intention of going along), we would be green.

[Eagle of Liberty]

I have already decided that if Hunter doesn’t get it, I want Fred to get it.

[newgeezer]

[LibLieSlayer]

“MR. THOMPSON: You want a show of hands, and I’m giving it to you.”

He said “I am NOT giving it to you”.

LLS

[GrandmaPatriot]

Not so. If you view the video you will see that Mitt raised his hand higher then Huckabee at one point. He too stands exposed. There was no teetering.

[CharlesWayneCT]

First, isn't it strange that, after Thompson said he wanted to talk about it, and the others argued that they should all talk about it, Thompson never talked?

Here is what Romney answered to Washburns MODIFIED question, which was what could be done for the environment:

MR. ROMNEY: Well, it’s going to help our economy because we’re going to invest in new technologies to get ourselves off of foreign oil, and as we get ourselves off of foreign oil, we also dramatically reduce our CO2 emissions. That’s good for the environment; it’s also good for our economy. Because $300 to $400 billion worth of oil a year from other people who use it against us, that’s bad for our economy, it’s also bad for the environment.

MR. ROMNEY: We can do these things in a way that help both the environment and the economy and national security. That’s the beauty of what we’re talking about here, which is, yeah, is global warming an issue for the world? Absolutely. Is it something we can deal with by becoming energy independent and energy secure? We sure can.

Here is Fred Thompson's official position, from his web site:

And while we don’t know for certain how or why climate change is occurring, it makes sense to take reasonable steps to reduce CO2 emissions without harming our economy. Overall, I am committed to:

1. A balanced approach to energy security that increases domestic supplies, reduces demand for oil and gas, and promotes alternative fuels and other diverse energy sources.
2. Investing in renewable and alternative fuels to promote greater energy independence and a cleaner environment.
3. An energy policy that invests in the advanced technologies of tomorrow and places more emphasis on conservation and energy efficiency.
4. Conducting research and development into technologies that improve the environment, especially the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Thompson, and Romney, have taken a sensible approach. McCain is ALMOST sensible, but starts with an assertion that man causes warming, and even argues with Hunter about man simply being part of the problem.

[ElkGroveDan]

Why is there a question with Romney? He clearly has his hand up.

[Excellence]

I don’t see where Fred was actually allowed to answer the question.

[ElkGroveDan]

This transcript is totally out of sequence — especially Fred’s comments.

[Eagle of Liberty]

The true goal of the environmenalist organizers (the majority of greenies are useful idiots and honestly don't see this) is to destroy Western Civilization in general, and the US in particular. By turning their mandate to eliminate CO2 production into a mandate to instead build CO2 free nukes we've thwarted their ultimate goal and turned their arguments against them. Newt's a damn smart guy. Wish he were running instead of the rest of these folks.

It almost sounded like Newt was speaking through McCain in part of McCain's answer.

This is definitely the way we need to adress this issue:

- The globe has experienced climate change in the past and it will again in the future
- Our way of life has not contributed to the climate change as much or possibly at all like some on the left are claiming, but we should always strive to use cleaner energy. That is why we must build more nuke plants.
- This will also make us energy independent, which will remove the ability of rogue nations to hold us hostage.
- In the meantime, we must drill for our own oil while investing in other technologies.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Sort of like the “conservative” or “tory” part in UK. Not truly “conservative”, just left of center. Where Labour is “extreme” left.