The Wolf at Our Doorstep. Still.
The Guardian says that Bush is about to make an "historic" about-face on global warming later this month:Bush and Blair held private talks on climate change before Christmas, and there is a feeling that the US President will now agree a cap on emissions in the US, meaning that, for the first time, American industry and consumers would be expected to start conserving energy and curbing pollution."We could now be seeing the beginning of a consensus on a post-Kyoto framework," said a source close to the prime minister. "President Bush is beginning to talk about more radical measures."
As Kevin Drum at Political Animal points out, "color me massively skeptical." After all, didn't Bush proclaim in last year's State of the Union Address that America was addicted to oil? And yet.... nothing happened.
Nice that this administration has decided to agree with international mainstream science after only six years. But since this is most likely a cynical political maneuver once again, how many times does Bush get to ignore half the real crises we face while crying wolf by not following through on the other half? And how many times will the American people/media keep falling for it?
First, they ignore. Then they embrace, but still ignore. Then it's too late, and the war expands to include Iran and Syria, and Jesus--who's chucked the title 'Prince of Peace' for the new title 'Prince of Pain'--has to come down from the heavens to gobsmack the heathens, and stuff like global warming never really mattered now, did it?
Run out the clock: That seems to be the script off which they're operating.
At least it sounds like the European Union will continue to take it seriously and make more progress...
Update: One day later, the White House denied the report, saying, "Global warming would be the best thing ever for the vacation industry. Can you imagine how great the cycling would be in places like the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana if it was warm and sunny there year-round? Hooey!" In follow-up polling, the cycling vote swung 13 points in Bush's favor.
posted by Howard at 8:00 PM
4 Comments:
Great post, Howard. Depressing as all hell (and you'd NEVER get away with this thought-crime on BJ.com), but a good reminder of some of the things that "The Great Decider" has and has not done since his supreme court appointment.
Have a great 2007, and keep the interesting threads coming.
Slow_Moe
At this point, I don't believe anything that comes from the mouth of Bush the Dumber. BTW, I like your blog a lot. I first found it through Bike Journal. Perhaps I'll get a chance to meet you and Best Girl at the Buffalo Bicycle Classic.
dporter
Thanks to the both of you. According to the Out of Office Countdown calendar we got for Christmas, there are only 736 days left... if we don't cross any more tipping points before then.
My best girl and I are looking forward to the Buffalo Bicycle Classic again. We'll meet somehow someway.
The path is littered with tipping points. 736 days is still too long for ahhh...our president to be the pretender. I heard through the grapevine, that he wants to push stricter CAFE standards on the suto companies. In hindsight, the auto companies probably would have liked some prodding earlier. Maybe Ford and GM would not be in the position they have now. On second thought, yes they would be.
I enjoy your blog. I look forward to more.
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