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."
How the f*$k did this man become the GOP’s presumptive nominee?
He’s already got enough problems with conservatives. If he keeps screwing around he’s going to lose the election.
McCain is a true idiot. Open mouth insert foot,
Or,, in his case, Open foot insert mouth, cause he is that ignorant.
and that is NOT saying his opponents are any better, cause they are not.
Well John, you might as well make it complete and choose Huckabee for your running mate. If anyone can make Obama look viable, you da man. /utterdisgust
However, Obama will only be worse. It seems that this election will be reduced to the equivalent of eating a crap sandwich or a bowl of crap soup.
Here we go people.....
And some here say that McNasty is much different and better than the two Democrats?
Talk about having ones head in dark smelly places.....
Actually, in an odd way, his position here gives me reason to vote for him: He’s for nuclear power.
Whatever the reason for it, if he’s for going nuke, I’m for it. He might want it for green reasons, me, more for energy independence reasons (as McCain also acknowledges) so fine. Even if his reasoning is flawed, getting on board with nuclear power (as France did decades ago) would be a good thing for America.
“How and why did Mr. McCain sign on to this malarkey?”
No offense Rex, but did you just wake up from a long nap?
This was absolutely predictable!
McCain is another “finger in the wind” politician in the grand tradition. People on this forum that try to convince themselves that he is anything else are in denial.
McCain will do that which is expeditious for McCain and call it bipartisanship.
At this point I would rather see a real Democrat in the Whitehouse. Then the Republicans can get back to being the opposition party which seems to be the only role they can play effectively.
Agreed.
He gamed the system. He became the presumptive nominee with just 31% of the total primary vote. Open primaries, winner-take-all, and a compressed primary schedule helped McCain become the nominee. What party nominates its maverick as its standard bearer? The Stupid Party.
Agreed, but the question is: will he destroy our economy faster or slower than the Dem Candidates?
McCain should view the following DVDs.....
“The Great Global Warming Swindel” and
“Apocalypse No”
There is no shortage of esteemed scientists that do NOT believe in so-called global warming.
Welcome to the club....It’s not easy for any of us to do this. But this economy will tank in a huge way with any one of the three in office. Better the Democrats take the blame, and give us half a chance to take it back in 2010.
If McNasty get in, it will doom our chances for decades and really ruin this once great nation.
In a free market, technology improves. As technology improves, it gets cleaner and more efficient.
If there is global warming, cleaner and more efficient technology will help fight it. If there is no global warming, cleaner and more efficient technology is all for the better.
So, if McCain truly means the free market, when he says, “free market,” there’s no problem.
Record snow fall this year.
Even the abject environmentalists are having to confess that "global warming" is going to be "temporarily" slowed for the next 15-30 years as we "cool off".
As a result, many of the whacko environmental crowd are adopting the term "global climate change" so they can use their leftist/marxistic drivel to justify blaming the west in particular and the US specifically for any adverse climate conditions.
McCain is selling out on this in an attempt to get more votes from the middle/moderate/independent crowd while inflaming and ignoring the conservatives.
Of course GW is undeniable.
I woke up to lower 40’s here in Chicago-land and already it’s in the low fifties; headed for the low sixties. IOW, it is warming up quite nicely.
Now, Juan needs to tell us his understanding of ACCC*.
If your horse has the bit in his teeth and is heading toward the abyss, the obvious thing to do is to beat him upside the head until thoroughly dead, kick his carcass for the trouble, and then go get another horse.
When it comes to science, he’s no dumber than most members of Congress, the man who won the popular vote in 2000, and the vast majority of judges in this country. On scientific issues, they can’t think their way out of a paper bag. It’s not gonna change.
Yep...we’re in agreement on this issue. This is pandering or stupidity....and since he’ll be the next President...I hope it’s pandering. Dumb Al Gore “greenie” types will NEVER vote for him anyway...and this just pisses off those of us who will.
It will be quite interesting to see hell for the first time in my life...courtesy of Obama and his muslim buddies...
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