I'm starting a write-in campaign!
Posted on 05/12/2008 5:26:19 AM PDT by webschooner
PHOENIX (AP) - Republican John McCain, reaching out to both independents and green-minded social conservatives, argues that global warming is undeniable and the country must take steps to bring it under control while adhering to free-market principles.
In remarks prepared for delivery Monday at a Portland, Ore., wind turbine manufacturer, the presidential contender says expanded nuclear power must be considered to reduce carbon-fuel emissions. He also sets a goal that by 2050, the country will reduce carbon emissions to a level 60 percent below that emitted in 1990.
"For all of the last century, the profit motive basically led in one direction - toward machines, methods and industries that used oil and gas," said McCain. "Enormous good came from that industrial growth, and we are all the beneficiaries of the national prosperity it built. But there were costs we weren't counting, and often hardly noticed. And these terrible costs have added up now, in the atmosphere, in the oceans and all across the natural world."
The Arizona senator promised to challenge China and India, two economic rivals who are fueling their challenge to U.S. market supremacy with heavily polluting fuels such as coal, gas and oil.
"For all of its historical disregard of environmental standards, it cannot have escaped the attention of the Chinese regime that China's skies are dangerously polluted, its beautiful rivers are dying, its grasslands vanishing, its coastlines receding and its own glaciers melting," said McCain.
He also took a swipe at President Bush, who balked at the beginning of its term at signing the Kyoto global warming protocols. McCain said he would return to the negotiating table.
"I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges. I will not accept the same dead-end of failed diplomacy that claimed Kyoto. The United States will lead and will lead with a different approach - an approach that speaks to the interests and obligations of every nation," he said.
The language highlighted the political stakes for McCain, his party's presumed nominee. His visit to Oregon came just days after the two leading Democratic contenders, Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, campaigned in the state.
Oregon is among the expected general election battlegrounds, and its Columbia and Hood rivers are playgrounds for many outdoorsmen and environmentalists.
Global warming also stands with abortion rights and an array of social causes as important issues to the evangelicals and Christian conservatives whom McCain hopes will bolster his political base this fall.
McCain has long expressed a belief in global warming, arguing that even if he is wrong, acting as if the planet's temperature were increasing would only benefit the environment if scientists subsequently proved he was mistaken.
McCain traveled to the Pacific Northwest from Arizona, where he and his family spent Mother's Day.
In his speech, he highlighted his personal experiences viewing evidence of glacial recession. He also cited evidence of a shift in animal migration patterns.
"You would think that if the polar bears, walruses, and sea birds have the good sense to respond to new conditions and new dangers, then humanity can respond as well," he said.
McCain's major solution is to implement a cap-and-trade program on carbon-fuel emissions, like a similar program in the Clean Air Act that was used to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions that triggered acid rain.
Industries would be given emission targets, and those coming in under their limit could sell their surplus polluting capacity to companies unable to meet their target.
McCain wants the country to return to 2005 emission levels by 2012; 1990 levels by 2020; and to a level sixty percent below that by 2050.
"As never before, the market would reward any person or company that seeks to invent, improve, or acquire alternatives to carbon-based energy," he said. "More likely, however, there will be some companies that need extra emissions rights, and they will be able to buy them. The system to meet these targets and timetables will give these companies extra time to adapt - and that is good economic policy."
What the hell are those?
Okay calling all RINO McCain Kool-Aid drinkers to tell me again why McCain should get my vote.
Make your list long because if you notice my tagline my list as why I won’t is pretty long.
They are conservative Christian who have been seduced into thinking that God equates stewardship with big government controls.
OMG. There is no global warming. Changes occur with the earth’s atmosphere all the time.
My goodness NOAA cannot predict what the weather will be this Friday with more than 80% accuracy, and that’s just five days from now.
How about ten years from now? No way. All they’ve got are computer models.
How and why did Mr. McCain sign on to this malarkey?
Okay calling all RINO McCain Kool-Aid drinkers to tell me again why McCain should get my vote.
“If he used the word “undeniable”, he has proven himself an idiot. Another brick in the wall. Please, Repubs, ditch this clown and give us a real candidate. We’ll respond in two ways: 1) you’ll get money, 2) we’ll actually vote.”
Please, someone tell me how we could actually ditch McCain at convention and get a real conservative candidate! I am for “operation chaos” at the GOP convention because I do not believe McCain can beat Obama OR Hillary!
OK, I’m not into Kool Aid, and I ain’t no RINO.
Here’s why you should vote for Mr. McCain:
1) He will be strong on the WOT;
2) He’s not Obama.
OK, that’s my list. :)
Number 1 is a good point. It’s the only one I can come up with either. I have until November to decide if that trumps everything else.
1. He's not Obama.
You may not want to ride either horse, but you will be forced to come November (January actually). I will take the 60 percent reduction and prosecution of the war to victory over what the libs are cookin'...
A vote against Obama IS a vote FOR McCain.
Harder to stop a RINO president then a dem
Bull. Stewardship of the land and good use of all available energy are certainly conservative values ... values which I hold near and dear ... but I in no way buy into the "global warming" farce.
If there were a selection on the ballot that represented that statement, you might have a point. But the real fact remains that a vote for McCain shows up as support for his positions and indicates your support for the continued leftward slide of the GOP. That is pretty much what has gotten us to the point that we find ourselves.
There’s no way in hell Obama will ever get my vote. He is too far left...and STILL has a questionable past.
Yes I am ready to deal with dims as POTUS.
It will be a lot harder for Repubs to fight against McCain’s policy’s then to fight against dems.
I'm starting a write-in campaign!
I'm just sick to death that he's pandering to the brain dead mouth-breathers that buy into any human induced climate change.
Who is he trying to motivate, the people who are already voting democrat?
Keep it up John, we'll all stay home, moron.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I fail to see how government-mandated reductions translates to free-market principles.
Thanks for the transcript.
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