Climate Politics
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The American Enterprise Institute: Still crazy with denial and delay
Conservative think tanks remain oblivious and impervious to the facts. They cling to global warming denial and delay even in the face of the remarkable advances both in scientific understanding about global warming and in clean technology solutions. We have seen that the Cato Institute remains intellectually bankrupt on both the urgency of the climate […]
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Where the presidential candidates stand on endangered-species issues
Last week, we looked at Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s positions on public-lands issues. This week, we delve into their stances on another often-overlooked environmental topic: endangered species. The Endangered Species Act hasn’t been discussed much by the candidates this election season, but it has been in the news in recent months. In August, it […]
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Obama highlights efficiency in his network show
Everyone will have their own reaction Obama’s show on network TV tonight. I’ll just comment on one bit. As prelude, remember that a) efficiency is the fastest, cheapest, most economy stimulating and economy strengthening way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, b) every wonk in the world is obsessed with efficiency, c) reporters don’t understand it […]
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Al Gore calls on young people to get out the vote on climate
In a live webcast tonight, former vice president Al Gore and Energy Action Coalition head Jessy Tolkan implored young voters to get out the vote and push for action on both the climate crisis and energy independence. Gore emphasized the need for young people to stay involved after the election to ensure that politicians live […]
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Obama pitches energy independence in his prime-time TV spot
In a half-hour political infomercial aired on multiple TV networks Wednesday night, Democrat Barack Obama focused on several of the most pressing issues facing Americans today — including energy independence. The ad featured several regular folks discussing the problems they face, as well as political leaders from around the country talking about the candidate. “We’ve […]
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Sarah Palin on spreading the oil wealth in Alaska
“We’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs.” — Gov. Sarah Palin, speaking to the New Yorker several weeks before she was nominated for vice president, on Alaska’s brand of socialism collective ownership
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Meet the people who might fill top environmental jobs in an Obama administration
How green would Obama’s cabinet be? A few names to file away. So what exactly does change look like? Barack Obama has ambitious energy and environmental plans. If he wins on Nov. 4, who will he recruit to carry them out? Will he rely more heavily on Washington newcomers or on Clinton […]
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The intellectual bankruptcy of the Cato Institute
“They have learned nothing, and they have forgotten nothing.” So the French statesman Talleyrand supposedly said of the pre-revolution monarchy. The words apply equally well to that bastion of libertarianism, the Cato Institute. Over the years, I have debated one of their senior scholars, Jerry Taylor, many times. He is probably the craftiest debater that […]
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What mix of ignorance, ego, and incompetence explains Palin’s bizarre energy policy speech?
A few words on Palin’s energy speech, which I finally forced myself to read. I don’t really have words to express how bizarre this is. Where to begin? Why do a policy speech at this late date? Why is this better than a rally? Who is this supposed to be directed to? The base, who […]
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China to invest $280 billion in rail network ‘as a stimulus measure’
Australian media reports: China will invest nearly $A445 billion (US$ 280 billion) in its overburdened rail system as a stimulus measure aimed at blunting the impact of the global financial crisis. The investment is part of plans to extend the country’s railway network from the current roughly 125,502km to nearly 160,900km by 2010, Shanghai’s Oriental […]
