President does the right thing (dismissed global warming report)Rush Limbaugh

rushlimbaugh ^ | 6/4/2002 | Rush Limbaugh

[TLBSHOW]

President does the right thing

President Bush has dismissed the report put out by his administration warning that human activities are behind climate change that is having significant effects on the environment. The report to the UN, written by the EPA, puts most of the blame for recent global warming on the burning of fossil fuels by human beings. The president said, dismissively, as described by AP, "I read the report put out by the bureaucracy."

Folks, I had a conversation with people in the White House this morning over all of this, and this is pretty much what I heard. The EPA was referred to as a "bureaucracy," that did things on its own over there, and the report went out, with not a whole lot of attention paid to it. Much of what was interpreted by the New York Times was not correct, in terms of the administration's view of the report. Now we have the president dismissing the report.

We played the sound bite of the president's remarks on Tuesday's show, and you can hear it for yourself in the audio link below, along with more analysis, but here is a transcript of the question, and the president's entire answer:

QUESTION: Mr. President. Do you plan new initiatives to combat global warming?

BUSH: No - I have laid out that very comprehensive initiative. I read the report put out by the bureaucracy. I do not support the Kyoto treaty. The Kyoto treaty would severely damage the United States' economy. And I don't accept that. I accept the alternative that we've put out - that we can grow our economy and at the same time, through technologies, improve our environment.

This sounds to me like a pretty clear, open and shut case dismissing the contention of the report. One of the central aims of the Kyoto Protocol is to blame human activity for global warming. The president is saying that he does not agree with that when he says, "I read the report put out by the bureaucracy. I do not support the Kyoto treaty." This is a big step. There are few who would do this, who would make a correction like this in the heat and the thick of things. President Bush has done the right thing here, and that is ultimately worth a whole lot of support and applause.

Perhaps this episode is sort of like when we learned that the federal government was going to buy up all those oil and gas leases in Florida to see to it that there was no new oil drilling or gas drilling either in the gulf or on three wildlife reserves in Florida. The reason the administration gave was, "We don't want to destroy the environment. We don't want to do damage to the pristine countryside." In the process, they undercut their own desire to do just that, drill for oil in ANWR. We were all scratching our heads trying to figure that out. I don't know that I have an answer, but it may well be that some things are just not calculated as far out as they should be. It will be interesting to see if anyone is held responsible at the EPA for this, as we discuss in From Rush's Stack of Stuff: Bush Dismisses EPA Report, But Will He Dismiss Those Who Put It Out?

One thing that we know for sure, my friends, is that in most cases the attempt to do the right thing is always there with this administration. I know that actions are more important than intentions, but couple that with the fact that we're talking about somebody here, George W. Bush, who has a profound level of integrity and decency. People want to believe and trust the president. That's why his approval numbers are so high. What he has done today is one of the reasons why his approval rating is understandable, and greatly deserved.

Folks, here's just a little bit more on the Bush strategy, and a few things to keep in mind as you try to analyze this: The White House thinks their strategy is working like a charm and, really, who could argue with them? Their strategy is not to really spell out their own agenda and fight for it no matter what. Their strategy is to advance a centrist agenda that consists of a sizable percentage of the left's agenda, issue by issue. In the process, they're picking off Democrat votes. They're doing two things. They're denying Democrats issues to run on, and at the same time giving specific members of the Democrat coalition reasons to vote for Bush or against the Democrat candidates. The way they're looking at it, it's working.

The second element to this is a little less clear, but there's something at play here that I underestimated for a long while and I won't again. Whether it's right or wrong, or whether it's an incorrect standard, is not the point now. Bush is benefiting from the fact that there was a far greater dislike and disgust with the Clinton administration among the general population than we ever knew.

We were following presidential approval polls and concluding that over half the country thought Clinton was just the greatest thing since sliced bread, and that's not the case. What we saw in those polls was the natural tendency of people in this country to support their president, whoever and whatever he is. It takes a lot for presidents to destroy the bond of trust they have with the American people, because the American people have such respect and awe for the office of the presidency. So in contrast, Bush is so far ahead of Clinton when it comes to these basic human characteristics - honesty, integrity, decency, and character - that he's getting a double whammy benefit from all of this.

Plus, we can't leave the war out of the equation. The way he has conducted himself in the aftermath of September 11th inspires confidence. As long as he doesn't do anything to interrupt or weaken the bond of trust that people have, he's going to be riding high, and it's going to be smooth sailing ahead. Bush doesn't look political at all. He doesn't appear to be doing anything he's doing because of politics, even though he is, but it doesn't look that way. He's just riding high for all sorts of reasons. As far as he's concerned, this strategy of his is working and I don't see what there is to suggest that he needs to change the way he's doing things.

The desire that so many people have to want to believe the absolute best of this man is not going away. This belief is being reinforced every day by his own actions, as it was on his dismissal of the EPA report on global warming. The investment in George W. Bush is being validated each and every day as people see him, listen to him, and hear him speak. He's really riding the crest of a wave that few presidents have, and he's making the most of it, in his own way.

[jla]

It's funny though, Nick, that President Reagan had to cope with the same thing, (without an ongoing, historically high approval rating), but he managed to get things done.

[gov_bean_ counter]

No, but it was clear he either didn't read the report or didn't understand it, because his take on it was dead wrong.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Baloney, they are equal now. Rush kept the fires of conservatism burning strong, kept the truth from being buried, and kept clear the path for which new leaders, such as Bush, could come to power. But now Bush has earned his way to the top, and to the real powers to implement profound changes. One carried the load, and one now carries it.

Rush made a mistake, has corrected it, and is back on board with Bush in the big picture(even though the may disagree on points and issues.) Since you recognize his contribution to conservatism, I have to ask: If Rush can do that, why can't you?

[Diddle E. Squat]

As others have pointed out, Reagan signed his share of farm bills, environmental laws, and tax hikes.

Selective memory is not a good tool of persuasion.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I'm sure at this point this is all just total wishful thinking on my part, but is there any possibility that perhaps Rush's U-turn(that'll torque some of 'em!) might have been the result of someone at the WH confiding that they are looking to at some point institute civil service reforms? Obviously not now, but when conservative power in Congress is more secure? It would fit in well with Bush's stated principles of seeking accountability through reforms. Again not now, but I don't think the necessary political climate is as far away as some might think. Three years ago who would have thought that the 'permissible' thinking on social security reform would have shifted so starkly? And from where I stand civil service reform is one of the two real keys(along with budget downsizing) to unlocking a meaningful change in the direction of gov't beauracracy. Not to mention a seismic shift in the political landscape, maybe not on the scale of a USSC appointment, but getting up there.

[Pelham]

Apparently, Billy-boy and David Frum got set up

That would explain Frum's brief career as a speechwriter, more so than the "wife's email" story. Interesting.

[whenigettime]

Rush has no need to "come clean". He gave his view of Bush's administration's recent change regarding global warming on Monday. Now Rush is reporting an apparent reversal by Bush regarding the document. Problem is, as Rush stated, Bush is the controlling authority in what comes and goes from the Whitehouse, including a document from the EPA. Now, if this is a rogue document, meant to harm Bush in some way, then heads are gonna roll. Unfortunately, I did not hear enough of a reversal from what President Bush said. I am not convinced that Bush is distanced from the document that was sent from the EPA to the U.N. WHERE IS THE G.W. I VOTED FOR?????????

[Texasforever]

U.N. WHERE IS THE G.W. I VOTED FOR?????????

Assuming you did vote for him, he never existed at least not in your world.

[whenigettime]

The George Bush I voted for was someone who is for less government, pro-American, and was not going to drag us into the U.N. I see now a George Bush pandering to the left, and I cannot for the life of me understand why.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"That would explain Frum's brief career as a speechwriter, more so than the "wife's email" story. Interesting."

But of course. Most likely you heard that "Wife email" story on Fox News channel, where Bill Kristol has a contract.....

[Texasforever]

The George Bush I voted for was someone who is for less government, pro-American, and was not going to drag us into the U.N. I see now a George Bush pandering to the left, and I cannot for the life of me understand why.

Because he has not done one of the things you just accused him of. But then that would spoil your pout wouldn’t it?

[Nick Danger]

President Reagan had to cope with the same thing, (without an ongoing, historically high approval rating), but he managed to get things done.

So did Ollie North. He was one of those "seek forgiveness, not permission" types. He got it done, but he damn near derailed the Reagan presidency.

Then there's the "ketchup as a vegetable" fiasco. Does anyone really believe Reagan had anything to do with that? Nyaa, that was just some bureaucrat down in the bowels of the Agriculture Department, making lunch menues. But it was all over the pages of the liberal papers, just like this EPA report. Remember when the Clinton Administration declared salsa to be a vegetable? They did, you know. But that was never in the papers. The press are whores.

[jla]

If Rush can do that, why can't you?

I'm not too sure Rush has.
In my opinion Rush will remain true to his beliefs, and criticize W when he strays from the Conservative fold.
Yet at the same time, I think Rush has a genuine hope that W will emerge into the Conservative we thought he'd be, as well as W himself campaigned as being.

I defended W right up to, and including, the immigration bill in this same manner.
But here I sit, looking at a President with historically high approval ratings who continually kowtows to the liberal-democrats.
All ya hear is how everything will change if we gain control of the Senate.
WHY do we have to wait? Why not take the initiative now? Other Presidents have successfully passed their legislation despite not having their party's majority in Congress.

Fact is, I honestly believe we're seeing the true Geo. W. Bush.
And this all started with his dad, who himself stated that he had become more 'conservative' after being VP for eight years under President Reagan. Well, we found out ol' HW got into the big chair and suddenly forgot the previous administration. Hell, he even renounced his idiotic "voodoo economics" remark, only to do an about-face and declare the now infamous "read my lips" pledge.

Ya know what really stinks, Diddle? We finally got our White House back, and the Grand Ol' Party ain't in such a grand mood.

I honestly believe that there's a lot of animosity towards the Conservatives, or so-called 'right wing' of the GOP.
You might recognize us, we're the ones who would never malign or denigrate our standard bearer...President Reagan.
And we'll never apologize for standing by our principles. So all the 'guilt trips' you all try to put on us about 'Hillary or Gore being elected' won't stick.
We haven't strayed...George W. Bush has.

[Pelham]

I don't recall where I ran across the 'wife's email' story. I rarely watch Fox, or any TV for that matter. I likely picked it up from Fox second hand, via talk radio. Probably from Hugh Hewitt- he's a good little neo-con boy, pals with Billy-boy and the rest of that Hive.

[Texasforever]

We haven't strayed...George W. Bush has.

LMAO Tell me are you a Bircher?

[jla]

I'm aware of everything you've stated. (I've 'mixed emotions' about North, but that's a different story).
Nevertheless, President Reagan got things done, internationally and economically.

[altair]

It's not like they have a Nielson box like TV.

There's more to Nielson ratings than the magic box. During sweeps, they also pass out diaries to random households. I would assume the Arbitron ratings are done with diaries. If that's the case, then the numbers probably aren't very believable. When it was my turn to get a Nielson diary, I put down shows that I thought deserved ratings points whether I watched them or not.

[billybudd]

Rush is a confused mess. That quote from Bush doesn't say anything about what Rush thinks it implies. Bush simply says that Kyoto is a bad idea. He doesn't say that global warming is uncertain. He doesn't say that humans aren't contributing to global warming. Where does Rush see all this? Because Bush used the word "bureaucracy"? That's an awfully marginal reason for Rush to totally change his tune from his complete bashing of Bush yesterday. Something is going on and I think Rush is feeling guilty about yesterday.

[Texasforever]

Nevertheless, President Reagan got things done, internationally and economically.

Really, can you name a federal agency that Reagan did away with? Can you name a budget that Reagan signed that did not increase spending. Can you tell me a law that Reagan got repealed? Can you tell me tax increase Reagan did not sign? Can you tell me an amnesty that Reagan did not sign? Reagan spent the Soviets into bankruptcy and that is the greatest thing any president has done in our history BUT Reagan did that while compromising your vaulted "principles" from the day he was sworn into office. Ronald Reagan would tell you, if he could, that GW Bush is his ideological clone.

[Nick Danger]

looking to at some point institute civil service reforms?

I think I know what you're getting at, but I'm not sure that's the way to go about it. I think the right way to reform the federal bureaucracy is to decentralize it. Move the Agriculture Department to Kansas, where the bureaucrats will have some real farmers in their bowling league. Make the HUD bureaucrats move to the South Bronx; they could take over one of those "housing units" they put up there. I'd move the Interior Department to some logging town in Oregon, and the Energy Department to Texas.

The goal in this would be to break this "culture of government" that permeates the Washington, DC area. Make these guys live amongst real people who are affected by what government does. Too many of them spend their entire lives working and associating only with other people who work for the government. It causes a weirdness we would all be better off without.

One of these days, NASA. One of these days... to the MOON!