Posted on 06/07/2008 5:52:18 PM PDT by vrwc54
As this week’s debate on climate change has unfolded, the American people and those watching us around the world had every reason to hope that we would act. Every credible scientist and expert believes action is necessary. This is critical and long overdue legislation that represents a good first step in addressing one of the most serious problems facing our generation.
Like many of my Senate colleagues, I believe the legislation could have been made even better. Had there been a substantive Senate debate about some of the concerns with this bill, I believe the outcome could have generated broad support. It certainly would have received my support.
Unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the Senate has chosen to block progress, rather than work in a good faith manner to address this challenge. This is a failure of our politics and a failure of leadership – a President who for years denied the problem, and a Republican nominee, John McCain, who claims leadership on the issue but opposes this bipartisan bill.
We can’t afford more of the same timid politics when the future of our planet is at stake. We are already breaking records with the intensity of our storms, the number of forest fires, and the periods of drought. By 2050, famine could force more than 250 million from their homes. And if we do nothing, sea levels will rise high enough to swallow large portions of every coastal city and town.
This bipartisan legislation establishes an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions. It helps states, cities, and towns invest in technologies to reduce energy bills for homeowners, increase energy efficiency, construct green buildings, and expand public transit. It invests in green technology to help our automakers to retool and our fossil-fuel industries to become clean. The bill provides real financial relief to working families. Importantly, the bill restores our great nation’s international leadership role, while including provisions to ensure that all major emitting nations also take serious action to solve this global problem.
Let me be clear, this bill is not perfect. Emissions reductions must reflect the scientific consensus, which are reductions of at least 80 percent 2050. We must ensure that more middle-class families reap more of the financial benefits created by this bill. And we must direct greater resources to the regions of the country that will bear the brunt of this critical transition to a clean energy economy.
I believe that the American people are ready to lead the world on this issue. The time for distractions, divisions, and excuses is over. The time for new coalitions, informed and civil debate, and a sense of shared purpose is long overdue. As president, I am committed to ensuring that our children and our children’s children can point to this generation as the time when American found its way again.
you can’t mistake the arrogance on his face....unreal
Well since he’s obviously not a retard, it’s blatantly obvious he a liar.
New avatar. I like it.
Financial benefit? From where?
LOL He's an expert on climate change now since he put out a pre written talking point statement straight from Algore.
You can't question Obama about it so don't even try.
I am betting on both.
I wish I knew.
Was there really a conservative alternative? My choice, Fred Thompson, didn't seem motivated to seriously campaign for the job.
Duncan Hunter started nowhere...and never got anywhere.
Mike Huckabee was a card-carrying member of the religious right -- with a populist platform.
Mitt Romney, my second choice, would probably make a very good President -- but few were convinced he was really a conservative and many were spooked by his Mormon religion.
Tom Tancredo was a one-issue candidate who never had a chance.
Five guys...no one of which was the obvious answer.
So, we end up with McCain -- who is nobody's answer. To anything.
Depressing, isn't it...???
The depression is self induced.
We must begin to work for 2012. Think good thoughts.
In the meantime there is only one nonliberal candidate.....McCain. Rather than third party koolade, we must make McCaIN LEMONADE to make it till the next election.
Perhaps a star will appear at the convention, a conservative star who can speak and inspire.
Sie sind willkommen. Ich muss einen Avatar fuer mich finden. Aber die "bbr" meint "baby bunny rabbit" und meinen Avatar wird warscheinlich komisch sein.
LOL, me too. What's that make us? :-}
Being in Middle Tennessee, Fred was definitely my man. If only he was 20 years younger. Cancer took a lot out of him, I think. He can formulate thoughts well on paper, but the energy to campaign wasn’t there.
I recall that the policy prescriptions on Fred's website were thoughtful and exciting, going far beyond anything anybody else was putting out there.
Fred knew what it would really take to reform the federal government -- and was evidently prepared to undertake the task.
He would've made a helluva President. But, alas, it was not to be.
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