President's Big Energy Speech - Zero (Z-E-R-O/None/Zip) Content On GHG Regulation - NYT

[hatrack]

EDIT

Obama called for greater use of natural gas vehicles and advanced biofuels yesterday while touting his administration's record on oil drilling and fuel efficiency. But nowhere in his 3,500-word address was a reference to the greenhouse gas emissions regulations facing threats on both sides of the Capitol this week in an epic battle for which many conservationists had hoped to see the White House suit up.

"t is unacceptable that in a speech billed as being about 'energy security,' the president failed to recommit his administration to defending the Clean Air Act against rollbacks," Friends of the Earth climate director Damon Moglen said in a statement. "If the president is truly serious about energy security, he must be much more vocal in his support of this crucial law."

Dan Lashof, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's climate center, reacted to the speech by drawing a contrast between a White House seeking to "move American forward" and EPA critics "working overtime to move us backward." But Obama's proposed "clean" standard for electricity from low-carbon sources "can't be achieved if dirty power plants are allowed to continue indefinitely to emit unlimited amounts of carbon dioxide into the air," Lashof wrote yesterday on NRDC's blog.

He urged Obama to "not waver" from the White House's previous resistance to GOP budget provisions that would stop EPA from acting on greenhouse gases.

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/31/31greenwire-greens-see-epa-sized-hole-in-obama-energy-pivo-78645.html?ref=earth

[GliderGuider]

1. Whose president is he, again? n/t

[XemaSab]

3. Certainly not mine. n/t

[Lorien]

2. At no time in history have we needed clean gree renewables and leadership

on curbing greenhouse gasses more, yet Obama seems determined to flush our future for even more fossil fuel profits today. If only President Obama resembled Candidate Obama...

[GliderGuider]

4. You've reminded me of one of my favourite jokes

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the senator.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he
realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises ..

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above...

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says.......

'Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted.'

[PamW]

10. Obama's policy is NOT for more fossil fuels...

on curbing greenhouse gasses more, yet Obama seems determined to flush our future for even more fossil fuel profits today
==============================

Obama's energy policy is not based on a future of more fossil fuels:

http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/30/obama-still-wants-nukes/

PamW

[Nederland]

5. Environmentalists need to learn to be pragmatic

Global warming is a political loser, which is why Obama didn't mention it in his speech. However, if he pushes for an end to the use of fossil fuels for other reasons (improved energy security, better for the economy, less money to Arab countries that fund terrorism, etc.) does it really matter? If the end result is the same, why should you care?

[NickB79]

6. Because the end results aren't always the same

For example, the repeated call to reduce the use of IMPORTED oil doesn't necessarily mean less carbon will be emitted. Without the recognition that carbon emissions could have some serious, harmful repercussions to our way of life, we as a society might decide to instead invest in coal liquification or tar sands exploration rather than wind farms and solar panels at a time when many respected climatologists are stating we only have a few years left to embark down the low-carbon road before many of the effects of global warming become irreversible in our lifetimes.

[Nederland]

9. I would agree

However, if you re-read my post you'll see I wasn't suggesting it would be OK for Obama to merely shift from foreign oil consumption to domestic oil consumption. What I said was that if he pushed "for an end to the use of fossil fuels for other reasons" it would be wise for environmentalists to support those efforts, even if their own reasons differ. I know that this particular speech of his did not specifically call for an end to fossil fuel use, but neither did he suggest that investing in coal liquification and increasing tar sand exploration was the way to go either.

[GeorgeGist]

7. In the long run it would be better ...

for politicians to be principled. But obviously you don't care. Bye.

[Nederland]

8. Bye

Good luck with being stubborn.