Boston Globe - "As well spews in Gulf, Obama makes climate bill a priority"

[TomCADem]

It is about time. We have talked forever about the need to develop and fund alternative energy sources. The U.S. consumes 20 percent of the oil produce, but only has 2 percent of the world's reserves.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/06/03/as_well_spews_in_gulf_obama_makes_climate_bill_a_priority/

PITTSBURGH — Signaling that the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster has propelled climate change legislation toward the top of his priority list, President Obama called on Congress yesterday to roll back billions of dollars in tax breaks for oil companies and help the nation end its dependence on fossil fuels.

Obama predicted he would find the political support for legislation that could dramatically alter the way Americans fuel their homes and cars, including by placing a price on carbon pollution. A bill crafted by Senator John F. Kerry to do just that remains mired in the Senate.

* * *

It was the fourth time in 12 days that Obama urged the Senate to take up the energy and climate change bill. The call to action was hailed by Kerry, a Democrat of Massachusetts, and Senator Joseph Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, who together filed the legislation last month.

“President Obama is clearly putting his shoulder to the wheel to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year,’’ Kerry and Lieberman said in a joint statement. “Nothing could be more definitive than his explicit commitment today to find the remaining votes needed to pass this vital legislation.’’

[Clio the Leo]

1. Biden said on Charlie Rose this week...

.... he thinks this disaster may change some minds on the bill and that, now, he thinks it has a real chance of passing.

[vaberella]

2. It's strange sometimes how things sort of change to the side of the President.

Especially when it comes to the big stuff. He has DADT almost repealed..we have the senate left to vote among other things.

[Clio the Leo]

3. Yeah but I think it might be a little more accurate to say...

.... that the girl who's in your avatar with the pistola is the one who has DADT almost repealed. ;)

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Nice to see you give that to Pelosi

She has done far more on DADT than I had expected. But the ones who really get the credit for the progress made are the activists, the Veterans, the wrongfully discharged, who refused to sit down and shut up. They are the real heroes here.
And as nice as the progress is, 'almost' only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades, my Dad used to say. Which is why we count our chickens only once they stop being discharged.

[vaberella]

6. That's my girl. I even give her credit for Obama to have won the Presidency.

She has been his pillar from the beginning, from his time as a Senator.

[Mass]

4. It needs to be made a priority for Harry Reid, who still does not get it.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

7. Good. Human Beings are so wonderful--we always do the right thing

after we've pushed every other sexier, more profitable option to the brink of death.



it's really jarring to see LIEberman's name there, though. Makes me worry that he'll try to derail from the inside, soon as he gets the chance (and the incentive $$$$$$)

[Cha]

8. Thank you, Tom nt