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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama talked about climate change like a man itching for a ferocious battle
By Steve LeVine
President Barack Obama today unleashed a robust plan to rein in carbon pollution, and a stinging broadside against those who would oppose him.
In 2009, Obama came into office promising a law that established a system of carbon reduction known as cap and trade, in which emitters essentially paid for the right to pollute. Passage seemed almost certain. Instead, under a strong lobbying attack by industry, the legislation died in the Senate in 2010.
Today, speaking at Georgetown University, in Washington, DC, Obama struck an evangelistic, defiant and single-minded tone as he said that, given Congresss refusal to act, he will take executive action to usher in a sharp cut in carbon pollution from vehicles and electric turbines. He said that the US will no longer fund coal plants abroad unless they are equipped with equipment that captures emitted carbon. (The full text of the plan is at the bottom of this post.)
And, in the most ringing tone of all, he challenged his listeners to invest, divestwhich, to a lot of folks on Twitter, sounded like a call to put money into zero-carbon technology companies, and pull it out of companies contributing to carbon pollution.
Obama said he had no patience for those who deny that climate change reflects a monumental challenge to the countrya reference to the Republican Party position that scorns the science of global warming. We dont have time for a meeting of the Flat-Earth Society, he said.
more
http://qz.com/97796/obama-talked-about-climate-change-like-a-man-itching-for-a-ferocious-battle/
About time, Mr. President.
LibAsHell
(180 posts)It's just unfortunate that any attempts at action will be fiercely opposed, not only by right-wing morons, but some Democrats. The "well, I do believe in climate change but the scientific community is still out on whether man is a major factor" guys.
I'm all for that executive action, Mr. President! Best of luck!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,525 posts)Take that bully pulpit, and hammer his points home.
Give no quarter. Take the fight to those who oppose him, and us.
It is about time!
Berlum
(7,044 posts)"Yeah, and I was gonna get a big fat freaking bonus for spewing them."
- Rush 'DraftDodger' Limbaugh (R)
longship
(40,416 posts)R&K for this response alone.
Uncle Joe
(58,297 posts)Thanks for the thread, n2doc.
monmouth3
(3,871 posts)LibAsHell
(180 posts)i.e., he doesn't "believe in it."