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Subscribe to RSSPresident Obama spells out how he plans to spend more time on climate policy in his second term.
In his first substantive comments about climate change in months, President Barack Obama on Wednesday vowed to do more in his second term -- just not at the expense of jobs and economic growth.
The president got support from mainstream environmentalists, but criticism from activists wanting climate at the top of the policy pile.
"We haven't done as much as we need to," Obama said in response to a reporter's question about climate policy that was asked at a wide-ranging White House news conference.
Obama did not provide specifics, but said he would talk with "scientists, engineers and elected officials" in the next few months to make more short-term progress on reducing carbon emissions.
Longer term, he said, a national conversation is needed "to make sure that this is not something we're passing on to future generations."
Obama emphasized, however, that Americans "have been so focused on, and will continue to be focused on, our economy, jobs and growth."
"If the message is somehow we're going to ignore jobs and growth simply to address climate change," he added, "I don't think anybody's going to go for that. I won't go for that."
But if the plan is to "create jobs, advance growth and make a serious dent in climate change ... I think that's something the American people would support," Obama said.
The president didn't spell out how, but his first-term climate policies focused on stimulating jobs in industries reducing carbon emissions.
The balancing act did not go over well with Forecast the Facts, a climate activist group.
"The president’s assertion that addressing climate change should be secondary to concerns about the economy is a gross disappointment," Brad Johnson, the group's campaign manager, said in a statement. "While conventional D.C. wisdom is focused on the manufactured crisis of the 'fiscal cliff,' the truth is that the most urgent threat to our national safety and economic well-being is the climate cliff that we are already beginning to tumble over."
At the Sierra Club, blogger Paul Rauber gave Obama the benefit of his doubt about long-term action, but added: "I hope we don't wait too long."
The Natural Resources Defense Council was more generous.
"President Obama already has done more to combat climate change than his 43 predecessors combined," NRDC President Frances Beinecke said in a statement. "He’s determined to do more, and we’re ready to help him finish the job."
But she also was quick to offer policy advice. "The next step," she urged, "is to go after the biggest sources of carbon pollution -- power plants."
More from the news conference:
- Obama slams GOP criticism of UN Ambassador Rice over Benghazi attack as 'outrageous'
- Obama: 'No evidence' of national security harm in Petraeus scandal
- Obama claims mandate on taxes
The climate issue was largely absent from the presidential campaign.
Republican nominee Mitt Romney mocked Obama's stance, telling his party's convention in August that "President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise is to help you and your family."
Obama did pick up a late endorsement from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose city was battered by Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29.
Bloomberg said he favored Obama, in part, because he "sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet."
While climate scientists decline to attribute individual weather events to global warming, many believe extreme storms like Sandy, along with more intense droughts, wildfires and floods, will become more common if temperatures continue to warm.
After Obama's comments Wednesday, Bloomberg welcomed the national conversation proposed by the president. "I look forward to supporting that new effort in any way I can," he said in a statement.
U.S. lawmakers in 2009 did debate so-called cap-and-trade legislation meant to limit carbon emissions, but that attempt died and has not been re-introduced.
California on Wednesday did launch its own statewide cap-and-trade system.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Just another way to separate people from their hard earned money...
I'd rather have work in a smog..than be jobless while breathing clean air...? Well, I am not here to judge...jobs are important...more tax revenue...then more investment to go around...
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one step back ... two steps forward...
.
FORWARD...
Yeah....right....say one thing and then do another. HOW MANY of the NEW 6,125 regulations put forth by this administration in the past couple of months, mostly by the DOE, will STIFLE JOBS and GROWTH ?
And now the lead in quote is going to be embedded in STONE ????
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You got what you voted for Pigotry. ALERT, ALERT.....Progressive on the loose.
Well, if current climate trends continue, we'll sure be adding a lot of construction and clean-up jobs to the economy as we rebuild again and again. Not sure that's the kind of job growth we want though and it will play hell with our insurance rates.
Here, here. Profits, yes. World destruction, no. Thank God Romney did not get elected--that clueless corporate uncouth clown would thoroughly trash our whole planet for pennies on the dollar. Then, he would run and hide in his mansion, after all the damage was undisputably scientifically proven.
we live on a planet with finite space and finite resources and our politicians keep talking about infinite growth so they can sound as if there will be infinite jobs, the insanity we have created is soon to come crashing down and no one can stop it.
Damn that liberal media!
The height of hilarity is watching low-information partisans quote from "liberal media" "facts" which purport to make their case against... a "liberal" President... using the "liberal media" as the basis of their attacks.
If you can't stop the Predator 1%, at least enjoy the antics of their jesters.
Yeah RoosterBoy, so you like chickens huh? Some name to be calling yourself, guess it goes with being an Obama lover.
@Pigotry.... I told you... I told you..... Obama is already starting the "pivot" dance... Now I don't think he is going to abandon the left but since he is not worried about re-election.. the first supporters over the side are Climate change advocates... next will be the LeGiBiT community.... Just remember... This is what you wanted.
Now I heard today that a employee of a private company (not government) willl be looking for a new job because they cancelled his health insurance... why?... because Obamacare mandate says if you employ over a certain amount you have to pay a "stipend" into the fund... This increased cost forced the employer to simply cease the care he provided and pay the "fee".... Oh yeah.. things are looking so nice for us (sarc). Any one seen the stock market lately... My guess they are betting on Hope and Change...
What's next?... I can hardly wait.
Obama is claiming he will not put climate legislation ahead of jobs, yet the increased environmental regulations his administration has passed have been killing jobs and job growth. His war on coal alone has cost many jobs. His administrations stopping of new drilling in certain areas has cost many jobs. His administration stopping the Keystone XL pipeline cost thousands of jobs. So much for not letting environmental/climate issues kill jobs!!! His administration has also wasted a lot of taxpayer money propping up uneconomical "green technologies" and supporting start-up "green companies" with unworkable business models, making sure that his cronies who invested in these failing companies got paid off with taxpayer money though guaranteed loans to the companies before the companies went bankrupt. In the Solyndra deal the loan money was used to pay off early investors who were Obama supporters so they would not lose money and then the company filed bankruptcy, sticking the taxpayers with the bill. The administration essentially allowed government money to be used to pay off Obama's buddies. It is also pretty obvious that the business/investment community has no faith in the Obama administration. On election day the stock market (DJIA) closed at 13245.68. It closed today at 12571.18. This an almost 675 point (5.09%) drop in just over a week while the NASDAQ has gone from 3011.93 down to 2846.81 for a drop of just over 165 points (-5.48%), the S&P500 has gone from 1428.38 to 1355.50 for a drop of just under 73 points (5.10%), and finally the broader Russel 2000 has gone from 825.54 to 773.30 for a drop of over 52 points (6.33%) - talk about sending a clear message about what the markets think of the business climate with Obama being reelected!!! It certainly does not seem like the business community has much faith in Obama's ability to turn the economy around and start growing things again. In fact with Obama's reelection to market sentiment has turned decidedly bearish!!! Things are only going to get worse as the true costs to business of the implementation of Obamacare starts to show up in the bottom lines of companies. The Obama administration's policies have been decidedly negative for the business climate in this country so I have absolutely no faith that Obama's environmental policies going forward will be any different.
deprogrammer
Yours is the most enlightened comment.
First of all, there is no reason why we can't have more jobs, including many that would be to protect our life support system.
The main thing is that doing things in favor of the environment reduce profits for some. If we had any substantive collective intelligence, we'd understand that you can't eat and breath profits.
Obama feels he has to be a pragmatist and I guess he may be right on that score, but eventually, and the problem only grows worse until we come to the eventuality, we will have to understand that all these concerns about profits and growing more billionaires isn't healthy, it isn't logical and the notion that a guy working no more hours than a gardener, can stash away enough peices of paper to keep the next uncountable number of gernerations of offsprings lazy and stupid with all that stash.
Mostly, money is to spend and circulate and as it goes by we can all take some and leave some.
The most insulting bullsh!t is that we can have endless growth in a closed environment. We are not about to go to the stars and other worlds within any time we can imagine. We are where we are stuck and if we don't get it that if we do not take care of the planet, we will disapear from it. Some say science will find a way for us. Science is a two edged sword like everything else. For every positive thing it brings us we are subject to the negative.
What we should be thinking of is not going back to the 50s, which, trust me, wasn't really all that nice, we need to go to entirely new places in our thinking otherwise we will simply just wind up back here.
We cannot survive the continued activities that are ALTERING the planet's CHEMESTRY. Regardless of some will say, that is the BOTTOM LINE.
Radical tree hugging libtards could give a damn about American jobs. In fact, most of them hate people so the more human suffering the better.
Most adults living today will probably not have to face adverse climate change issues. So, sure, let's keep polluting for the sake of our own benefit and let our great grandchildren watch the human species waste away with insufficient food clean water, while the critters that thrive in the new climate eat us for lunch.
The earth has survived worse, and will probably survive again. The era of humans will just be a little blip in the history of earth. God can always try again.
FlatIron72,
Do you really believe that protecting our environment is "tree hugging." Are you aware of the fact that trees emit the oxygen that human beings need to breathe? Are you aware of the fact that trees absorb the carbon doxide that we breathe out? In a perfect cycle trees help to sustain human life. The GOP will chop down every tree for profit. How about a little more "tree hugging?" You will be healthier.
OK...so the media isn't calling this a flip-flop from his first 4 years, so what is it? A waffle?
Did Obama take this stance while campaigning? No. That may have cost him a vote.
This long list, 5 pages now, will certainly get longer before this all over:
Promise Broken rulings on the The Obameter
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/rulings/promise-broken/?page=1
You people are ridiculous. If he would have stayed critical - you would have been calling for his head. Now that he wants to move too the center on some things - its still not acceptable.
It's called compromise to everyone who think people should never change. Flip flop to some to most it is getting along and doing what is right for the country.
If a dirty coal burning power plant were to be built next door to Romney's mansions what do you think he would do? Dirty coal burning is OK in your back yard but not mine!
Don't worry libs, he's just talking crap. With all of his new regulations, the upcoming EPA regulations, cuts to defense, and ACA, and amnesty for illegals, it's obvious that the last thing he's interested in is American jobs.
25 Walker
Do you not realize that extreme environmentalism is one of the suggested tools to fell capitalism by the communinists?
Maybe you should enroll in China's education system and see what they say about carbon.
I recently heard a Liberal on a radio show simply say "Fear" every time someone he knew would say something about a possible event that he did not agree with.
You can say exactly the same thing about Carbon. You cannot have life without carbon. And yes, too much carbon is not a good thing.
Why the focus on the possibility of the planet heating up too much? Fear!
AS much as this can be true, to add up all the carbon in the earth, it in no wise ever likely to surpass the highest recorded quantity of Carbon in the atmosphere which is 50% higher than what we have now.
I have yet to see any evidence from that spike that events were catastrophic. Not only that but science prefers to ignore that reality.
Fear is what the left uses on the kids. Fear is what the left uses on the Senior citizens. Fear is what the left uses on Minorities. Fear is what the left uses on women.
Fear used inconjunction with promises to save you from the fear they promote, is how they operate to keep and maintain control of the groups of people they seduce with give-aways.
I personally welcome some sort of environmentalism. I live in an area that just had a tropical storm, and then a blizzard come through in less than a week's time. You're telling me climate change had nothing to do with that?!
Plus, call me naive, but if green energy is still so new, and the government spurs green energy growth by giving tax breaks and subsidies to green energy companies, wouldn't that also mean more manufacturing jobs and construction jobs? Someone will have to manufacture the components to build all these green energy plants. Someone will also have to build all of these things. It's sad when China's further along in green energy than the US.
"But if the plan is to "create jobs, advance growth and make a serious dent in climate change ... I think that's something the American people would support," Obama said."
Reality check time- The UN is proposing a "Carbon tax" on 1st world nations (read us) to give money (read redistribute) to 2nd and 3rd world countries. That's going to cost money and jobs here, so I hope the President doesn't jump in line. There have been rumors of a national "Carbon tax" as a way to raise revenues as well. If you want to take money out of the taxpayer's pockets in the name of "carbon", then prove to us that the money will be used to create/do something so that carbon isn't needed. I'm pretty confidant that politicians would use the moment to get more slush money for their pet projects over doing anything more directed, so before you try it- prove it.
I always get a kick out of how "global warming" changed to "climate change" when the reports coming in don't always support "warming". I am very confidant that humans can make the planet toxic to ourselves, but I'm also confidant that the living planet can also go on without us.
I got a kick out of Pigotry's comment- "rather be jobless and breathing clean air". Sure..... if the government is going to give you everything you need to live then why not go along those lines. I'm doing the world a favor by not working and getting the benies. Got to love the liberal mindset; not we need to develop means to get off of carbon, incentivise creativity and results, and promote these businesses to keep the new jobs here in the US. Nah, just go with business is bad, republicans are bad, travel is bad, the US is bad, the world is changing because of us, etc. etc. That's much better.
JS, it's about net jobs. Job losses in coal have been offset by job increases in oil and gas as well as green energy. You right wingers do your accounting only with the right side of the ledger. That's why your numbers never add up.
JoeNY,
In conjunction with your first paragraph, if companies start getting carbon taxes, much like the health insurance companies and ACA, the only people it's going to hurt is the middle class since our costs will sky rocket. It goes back to his comment "You'll be able to keep your existing health insurance", he just didn't finish that comment by adding the truth "You just won't be able to afford to".
When the government causes more costs for companies, the companies pass it down to the end consumer.
For every action, there is an effect:
1. Put more paperwork, force more health coverage on the insurance companies : Consumer cost goes up to pay for it. (Already happening)
2. Put carbon tax on pollution : Consumer cost goes up to pay for it.
3. Put heavy taxes on the rich : Rich dump assets, move money out of the country (already happening)
While the thoughts are good, the implementation sucks, and it's us (the people he supposedly is working for) are the ones that pay for it.
He's trying to drive away dirty fuel and by definition that drives out dirty fuel-related jobs. Besides, I preferred this speech in its original Spanish. The result was 3 jobs lost for every green job. Now unemployment in Spain is around 26%. "Science-based policy making" should look at the results of previous experiments.
They are going to have to rebuild the Jersey shore and Long Island.
I guess global warming is good for construction jobs - not so good for people that lost everything.
You've got to pick a side Prez!
It's time for the coal industry to wake up and realize its time is over. How about taking the funds from this 'carbon tax' and using it to retrain all those people who are going to be out of work soon due to coal getting its ass kicked in the free market economy by natural gas? Set a deadline for power plants to shift to natural gas and help subsidize the cost to offset the need to stick the ratepayer with the bill.
Kind of funny that you criticize a liberal using that word but you clowns were OK with Cheney running around claiming the smoking gun would be a mushroom cloud. You people own fearmongering.
Wow--I'm just sorry I'm so late to this thread! Somehow I missed the article the day it came out. Quite frankly, we humans have painted ourselves into a painful corner on this one. We bicker and fight over whether climate change is man made, and what the effects will be as we watch both poles melt. The thing that's obvious to me is that physics are physics--the laws of nature only obey the laws of physics. So we stand and argue, while many different first, second, and third world countries continue to pollute. I see myself as an individual as being pretty powerless in this--except for one thing--how I react. I choose to be the best influence I can be in the free marketplace of ideas, to prepare myself and my loved ones the best I can, and leave the results up to my Higher Power. Quite frankly, seeing all the politicking around this, I've decided that the best I can do is remind people of the lessons they should have learned in kindergarten--if you make the mess, you clean it up; and be considerate to others and do your personal best each day. I am preparing myself and my loved ones by learning how to grow as much of my own food as possible, and to conserve resources, and being that kind of example to others. And I pray that somehow, the human race as a whole wakes up to what we are doing to ourselves. If we don't, well like Green Timer (#1.12) says, God can try again.
Read between the lines.
This just means MORE TAXPAYER dollars "invested" in green energy companies that are owned and run by Democrat bundlers, supporters, and even White House staff members.
Obama talks about "doubling" the green energy output in this nation. That means a HUNDRED BILLION taxpayer dollars spent to take "green" energy production from 1.5% to a "whole" 3%. And not only that, the very taxpayers that actually PAID for those "investments" get to also pay for the menial output too, at a HIGHER COST to boot.
Yeah, we really have to push that "green" stuff, especially while the rest of the world doesn't do a single thing. I'm sure that all 300+ million of us paying for HIGHER energy costs will set an example that BILLIONS of people in India, Pakistan, Russia, and China will think is just wonderful.
And they'll stop their massive polluting of the world just because we in America are all but PUNISHED for polluting, and all but being FORCED to buy expensive pieces of battery operated JUNK (a $50,000 Chevy Volt costs the TAXPAYERS an additional half MILLION dollars for every one sold), and paying outrageous prices for "green" energy (either through higher fossil fuel costs because of EPA regulation, putting coal and oil plants out of business, or directly buying energy from an expensive, FAILING industry).
Pleaaaasssseeee check you facts before you blather on. "The rest of the world doesn't do a single thing"???? CHINA is whipping the worlds butt deploying green energy. Yes, they are deploying coal plants at a blinding rate too but China understands the way forward is green energy. Germany is now the world leader in deploying photovoltaic arrays. Germany has decided to phase out their nuclear facilities in favor of green energy. Brazil rejected oil as an energy base and instead uses ethanol fuel produced from local crops. Coal lovers are crying "foul" right now calling it Obama's war on coal. Has anyone ever heard of the term "economics" and "free market economy"? Coal is getting it's butt whipped by natural gas. Natural gas is cheaper, cleaner, and readily available through the current infrastructure. At one time oil was "outrageously priced" when compared against a cord of wood most people used for heat. And the local buggy whip maker was a popular guy too! Why do you insist we go back to the 19th century?
If we could just harvest all the HOT Air coming out of the Liberals mouths, we could generate a lot of electricity.
@BobK.
You are partially correct in the fact that natural gas is cheaper than coal for the moment, and that is part of the reason coal is having issues.
The other side is obama and the epa though. Also, natural gas won't always be cheap since the new EPA mandates coming up target both natural gas and coal. Obama has a war on against fossil fuels in general. It's going to be an interesting four years if he gets his wish and we end up having to import the majority of our fossil fuels.
Before Saul was annoint King of Israel, the prophet Samuel warned people that government of man meant paying high taxes that the King would use to pay for his supporters. The people of the day said 'Okay', it won't be that bad, we want a king.
Funny how as much as time changes things, some things never change.
Alex,
It's not that natural gas is cheaper so much as Industry understands that Obama is going to shut down coal. They have been moving to eliminate coal rather than be punished.
A third of china's windmills aren't hooked up to their grid. They're just bloating their numbers. In the olden days that was called a Potemkin Village-- a common strategy for commies.
In one day I have completely lost faith in our President. Some one call the Kindergarten teacher - we need a smarter president that can bring our country together no pander to all sides
Wyo2...Did he get your vote? His greed for power and control made his primary focus getting re-elected.
However, I really don't understand why you're disappointed. Remember all the Hope and Change BS he ran on the first time around? No lobbyist, bills on the internet before passing, etc....you know, fundamentally changing the way politics are done in DC. And what did we get? Politics as usual.
Tell us why you think he would change?
Looks like the next four years will be the same as the last. Yes, I hope there is no more "climate change" legislation so the auto industry can keep churning out cars that get less than 20 MPG and go out of business when foreign competitors shred them because their governments have more foresight. Man people are dense.
Now the Republican Flat Earth Society will get another wedgie. Some of them are only 9,000 years into evolution and are billions of years behind the rest of us.
Obama won't go for climate change legislation if it will hurt jobs? Wait...give me a minute. AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay...I'm back. Damn...if I would have tried to hold that one in my teeth would have exploded.
Exactly what does he call shutting down the Keystone pipeline, cutting oil drilling leases by 50% and vowing to destroy the coal industry. See, ladies and gentlemen...he really does think we're that stupid. Judging by the election results...maybe we are.
He's already dictating what he will and won't do.I don't consider this bi partisan politics.
Maybe it is bipolar politics.
Keystone pipeline would have created temporary jobs for little return. And are you seriously clueless as to why some drilling permits have been suspended following the worst oil spill in our nations history?
And regarding coal - the coal market is in the tank due to the cost of natural gas being historically low. During the 2000's when coal was dirt cheap and gas was expensive - more coal was used. After much drilling in PA, NY and OH - natural gas supply is at all time highs with demand increasing at a slower rate.
Dont let facts get in your way.
Sounds like we might get more cliffs and more Sandys. Well, I guess it can only go so fast. Obama is after all not the president of the world, which is what it would take to reduce CO2 levels world wide.
Anything that helps collapse this overreaching feral government is a good thing.
For sure there will be more Sandys. There have been before, 1991, 1950, 1900. When a second season hurricane combines with a Nor'easter, it is a bitch of a big storm. People who live on barrier islands and build on swampland or fill, get flooded out. You'd think people would take the hint and stop building in such vulnerable places. But they don't. A good working definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again while expecting a different result.
Proud member of the 0.038%
Obama is an idiot and now he is President fot the next four years..Give him the tax hike for 250k earners and when Americans lose jobs then may be they will get it!! He can not support his entitlements on those small businesses who now will face tax increases!! Republicans should give this idiot everything he wants and lets see how how of happy we are in 2 years!! LOL
har, har, har harlan. Chortle dee doo.
Obama will never "get" it. Neither will roosterboy.
He did get it actually. He was elected by a larger electoral margin than when Bush beat Kerry so technically its a mandate. Dem seats were also gained in the house and senate. So you can cry all you want - you dont really have a say anymore.
Your logic is antiquated and not supported by the majority of the people in this country. Move along.
I wonder if obama has noticed all the newly available mansions in Paris resulting from the 75% top tax rate. Two things to remember about rich people: they're ALREADY rich and they can afford to move.
What a numbskull comment by Frances Beinicke: "more than the other 43 presidents combined." I mean seriously, do you think that the first 40 had an inkling about climate change? Seriously.
Obama's stance on the climate is a pleasant surprise. Though I voted for and support Obama's policies in general, I was somewhat concerned Obama may be influence to sacrifice America's economy and job growth in favor of sanitizing the planet at the expense of humans ability to survive.........Absolute clean, unpolluted air is preferable, but it does not pay bills, cloth the children, protect family from the elements or put food on the table. There has to be a median that is acceptable
Can't wait to go off the Cliff, with $500 Billion coming out of the Dems Favorite Social Programs, looks like the 47% will get a Huge Pay Cut. About Time!!!
You are in favor of elderly people on SS having money taken from them? Classless.
Frankly, I do have a job thanks to the Stimulus package and Green Policies. There is initiatives out there to help homeowners reduce their usage of Heating fuel and Electricity...
You have to start somewhere.
What separates this from everything else we're passing on to future generations?
Longer term, he said, a national conversation is needed "to make sure that this is not something we're passing on to future generations."
Longer term, he said, a national conversation is needed "to make sure that this is not something we're passing on to future generations."
He should have said IF there is a Future generation. Who knows what will happen if these Terrorists get their hands on Nukes. There goes the Future Generation.
They should dig a hole and Bury those Climate Control Regulations. Regulations have sent Millions of our manufacturing Jobs to China and other countries who couldn't care less about Climate Control. I'll bet most of these so called experts on Clean Air smoke Two Packs of Cigarettes a day. I wouldn't be surprised if these wackos were Funded by China just to get our jobs.
The regulations that sent jobs to China came from Nixon's "realpolitik" agreements with Red China and the Republican initiatives which gave tax breaks to companies offshoring jobs. Nice try..but anyone who was watching (for the last forty years) knows where the blame for job loss lies.
Yes. Lets aspire to have our environment look just like china. Sounds like a great idea.
Yeah, having a good standard of living is way more important than the survival of THE PLANET. We deserve this, humans are too stupid to live.
Just as the saying goes that charity starts at home, Obama needs to lead by example on the energy front. First, ground Air Force One. Park all of the executive limos. If he wants to go somewhere other than downstairs to work in the Oval Office, ride a bike. Then issue an Executive Order that every member of his administration must do the same. No more junkets, no more fundraisers, no more golfing parties. Stay in town and do your jobs. That goes for Moochelle too.
I assume you were also not OK with Bush traveling all over the place in AF1? If not - you'd be a hypocrite. You're not a hypocrite are you?
Obama doesn't need global warming to help him kill jobs or stunt growth. He is perfectly capable of doing it himself. That is the one thing he has proven.
LOL When a business is successful - its due to the aspiration and ambition of people. When a business fails - its the governments fault. Got it.
If you had ever started a business you'd know the 2nd biggest obstacle is dealing with govt regulations. The 1st is getting your first customer.
Had Jeb not stolen the election for his brother, all the whiners, naysayers, cynical deniers, and, of course, the terminally ignorant would have been contending with Al Gore- possibly even in time to do something about the global warming that everyone with half an ounce of sense now accepts.
But we're past the tipping point now; the methane clathrates have started to melt.
What should concern you is why no one's discussing the consequences.
Here's two sites that discuss this- one describes the extreme case (unlikely) while the other covers the more moderate possibilities (still less than delightful).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrate_gun_hypothesis
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2012/08/as-the-arctic-sea-ice-melts,-be-wary-of-methane-emergency-claims
But regardless, we are now past the pinnacle on a brand new ride called "extreme and unpredictable weather". Hey, you might as well hold your arms up and laugh on the way down...
Thank you for the links. I wish this would get as much attention as consenting adults in the military sleeping with each other.
My pleasure; when I spend time doing research on any given topic, I do try to pass the results on to those who might be too busy to make the effort.
does that mean coal is back in the all of the above energy policy?
No. Obama doesnt consider those to be "jobs". Those are "criminals" according to his leftie handbook.
Coal is on its way out due to its own accord. Being more expensive to supply and transport than nat gas is why. Get a clue.
Yup. And saying that's going to happen without hurting any jobs is blatant BS.
Yes coal is way too expensive that is why Saarberg shut down the last of it's mines in Saarland and is now importing coal from Colorado. As you can see from the information below coal is way too expensive to transport.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._coal_exports#October_2012:_Jobs_vs._environment_in_Eugene_coal_train_debate
Isn't this the same idiot that blew over $550Million in a solar factory re-election scam using OUR MONEY?
yep, that's the guy.
So you agree subsidies to big oil are a waste also?
At least big oil has the advantage of actually delivering reliable energy.
Less % of green companies went belly up than the number of businesses Romney supposedly saved while at Bain.
"existing" isnt the same as delivering energy. Dont care about Bain. I never believed the "saved" BS line in the first place.
Solyndra is so yesterday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/abound-solar-white-house-_n_2045364.html
What subsidies does big oil get?
Here is what we get from "green" subsidies.
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_21960082/no-green-is-still-unsustainable
I wonder how many people, like me, lost their jobs at the same time, so had no money to buy the kind of solar they wish they could have bought? Do you think that may have impacted the market for it?
Ugh! Obama... we can't spend money if we're DEAD.
If third party candidates weren't so shut out, maybe we could have Jill Stein as president. The Green New Deal she proposed would take care of both environmental and economic issues.
"to make sure that this is not something we're passing on to future generations."
That is exactly what is happening... and everyone knows it.
Save the climate at the same time we make America prosperous? This calls for some good old American Ingenuity! Remember that stuff? We used to be a people proud to take on challenges. Now half of the country just snipes at the other half.
Don't include the 47%ers ; they're special. They should replace the eagle as the symbol of America. They should replace the snake on the flag "Don't Tread on Me."
So you are mocking old people who comprise the majority of the 47%? Classless.
SteveR. I'll run on a platform that allows all the "Red States" to cecede from the union. We can call the interior of the country "The United States of Energy Production." The citizens can have their own President and representitives since demographics are working against them currently. They can frack and coal and drill their little hearts out. When their environment gets a little messy and their children try and make it to California, Oregon or Washington we can treat them appropriately with all of our new Immigration Laws!
Oh the greenies will have their panties in a bunch. Their Messiah just drop kicked them to the sidelines.