"And Al Gore Helps John McCain into the White House" (Matt Stoller)

[swag]

OpenLeft

So John McCain is moving towards a more moderate position so he can build himself up for the general election. And the way he is doing it is quite fascinating if not surprising.

First, his advisers can read polls and recognize the daunting right track/wrong track polling headwind that is gusting in their face.
Differences between Bush and McCain will be "discussed at great length," promises one aide.

"He'll be direct about it. He's never gratuitous, never disrespectful, but there are going to be policy breaks where it couldn't be clearer." Two areas of difference McCain will highlight: global warming and spending.

And why would John McCain be trusted on climate change? Perhaps because Al Gore is saying he should be trusted.

Gore's spokeswoman, Kalee Kreider, declined to comment on the Obama offer and was complimentary about the presidential candidates, including Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
"Former Vice President Gore thinks that both candidates are very strong. Both of them have offered plans to address the climate crisis ... as has Senator McCain," she said.

I asked Kreider why she is praising McCain, considering that Bush lied in 2000 about his intent to deal with climate change. Here's her response.

The key threshold issue for most NGO's and people working on climate, ourselves included are: Does the policymaker, work, support, vote in favor of, introduce legislation for mandatory reductions in pollution or not. McCain has, Bush has not.

...more

[sakabatou]

1. Why, Gore?

Why? How can Bush II be trusted?

[still_one]

2. what a distortion

I have no doubt Gore does't trust him on Iraq
I have no doubt Gore doesn't trust him on the Supreme Court
I have no doubt Gore doesn't trust him ok ssn or Medicare

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. For that matter he probably doesn't trust him on the environment, either,

but McCain has taken public positions that are at odds with the current regime. Whether he'll follow up on them is a moot point, because he's not going to win the election.

[still_one]

6. I agree /nt

[swag]

4. Interesting McClatchy article on McCain and Global Warming

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31052.html

. . .

When McCain introduced his latest version of a cap and trade plan in January 2007, he warned: "Just as there is danger in doing too little, there is peril in going too far, too fast, in a way that imposes unsustainable costs on the economy."

His 2007 bill would reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by about two-thirds of 2004 levels by 2050. The Lieberman-Warner plan would reduce them by about 70 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. Scientists have said that global emissions must decline sharply for the world to have a chance of avoiding dangerous climate dislocation, including a decline of 80 percent from 2000 levels by midcentury in the United States and other developed countries.

McCain's approach to containing costs would be to allow short-term increases in emissions during periods of economic distress as long as they'd be made up later, Holtz-Eakin said.

McCain also said in 2007 that limiting greenhouse gas emissions must be "based on sound science" and "produce necessary outcomes."

One big change that he'd like to see in the Lieberman-Warner bill is more explicit support for nuclear energy.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who'll oversee the Lieberman-Warner bill as the chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said it was important that McCain and Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supported the idea of a cap and trade system to reduce emissions. "This is the wind on our back," Boxer said.

. . .

[Dhalgren]

5. Al Gore thinks global warming is a more important

issue than which corporate party takes the WH. If McCain wins in November, Gore wants to be able to make gains. From Al's perspective, it is the smart thing to do...

[Two Americas]

7. this illustrates our greatest challenge

In the absence of a comprehensive and coherent political program, replaced by a grab bag of unrelated and isolated social causes, we are weakened and ineffective and unable to stop the political right wing.

The right wingers and their wealthy and powerful clients fully understand what this battle is about, are very clear about their goals, and are relentless in the pursuit of those goals. We are absent from the battle lines, crippled and restrained by our own leaders and spokespersons.

The Republicans don't care about positions on issues, they just use those to gain power, and it is almost effortless for them to outmaneuver us on those because they have nothing to lose and are fighting by the rules that they designed and that we foolishly follow.

The Republicans represent the interests and desires of the wealthy and powerful, about 1% or so of the population. Everything they do is consistent with destroying the public infrastructure, including the law and democracy itself, for the benefit of the few. Were we to represent the interests of the other 99%, protect and defend them - and that means tackling issues of power and economics, the Republicans would be routed for a generation or more, and all of the liberal social causes would fall into place easily. But leading with the culture war issues, as we do, and ignoring issues of class, power, and economics means that we lose everything. This is happening because a small percentage of the population - maybe 10-15% - dominates the left, and they are "economically conservative (Republican or libertarian) and socially liberal." They argue against us "getting too radical" and steer the party to the right politically where it matters - on issues of economics and power.

Global warming is not happening because we are not all riding bikes, it is happening because a few people have all of the power and are making fabulous profits on business as usual. Tackle their power, fight for justice and equality and democracy, and global warming can be stopped. Once we start with a framework of fighting for justice and equality in the areas of economics and power, everything becomes clear and we are unleashed to fight back against the right wingers and their powerful clients.