Believe it or Not: Bush Says U.S. is "In the Lead" on Climate Change
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 03. 6.08
To be honest, we were as surprised as you (probably) are to hear President Bush proclaim the U.S. to be "in the lead" in the fight against climate change. See, it turns out we got that whole Bali climate talk debacle all wrong; when the U.S. delegation refused to back a modest emissions cut proposal - in the process, almost causing the talks to collapse - it didn't mean to suggest it wasn't committed to the plan (apparently, the officials just had "problems with defining the numbers up front"). Neither was the president's move 6 months earlier to block a statement by G8 leaders committing to halving total emissions by 2050 meant to suggest a lack of resolve on his part.
No, as the good people at Think Progress were quick to point out, the president, speaking at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC), is, in fact, committed to the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol and confident of the U.S.'s "leadership" in moving the world community toward achieving those lofty goals:
"You know, there's a lot of politicians who just talk. I hope when history is written of this administration, we not only talked, we actually did positive things and constructive things
. . .
I will repeat something I've been saying a lot here in America: The United States is serious about confronting climate change, and the strategies I just laid out for you are an integral part of dealing with climate change. Should there be an international agreement? Yes, there should be, and we support it. (Applause.) But I would remind you, an agreement will be effective -- and that's what we want, we want an effective agreement. I think we ought to be results oriented people, not process people. It's one thing to have a nice conference, but out of those conferences we should expect results. We want a strategy that works, not sounds good.
. . .
Now, look, I understand stereotypes are hard to defeat. People get an image planted in their head, and sometimes it causes them not to listen to the facts. But America is in the lead when it comes to energy independence; we’re in the lead when it comes to new technologies; we’re in the lead when it comes to global climate change — and we’ll stay that way."
See? And to think we were starting to doubt this administration's resolve... Since everything is better in video format, we recommend you check out TP's clip and their extensive coverage of this story. Glad to hear we're in safe hands!
Via ::Think Progress: Bush: ‘America Is In The Lead’ On Climate Change (blog)
What a douchebag.
No you guys have it all wrong, Bush meant we were in the lead on causing climate change.
that monkey has no idea what he's farting about ! pity him too ...
Keep in mind this is the same governor who said at a press conference he had been busy studying the issue of gas prices and was astonished when a reporter pointed out that gas was predicted to be over $4 a gallon this summer. If it wasn't for his ability to stand up straight he'd be scraping his knuckles against the ground.
Bush thinks the USA is leading in the fight against climate change?
He thinks his administration has somehow promoted a "leadership" response dealing with climate change?
Does he understand why the word "delusional" is used to describe him?
The same old rhetoric, meaningless words meant to soothe the lethargic masses.
Most people iin the US don't care about anything beyond their own very local sphere. Government leaders know this and words are cheap. Why do anything that might hurt its relationship with big business? Just talk about the environment progress being made, even make something up.
Q: How do you know when Bush is lying?
A: His lips are moving.
Like every member of the GOP (Gas Oil Prostitutes), he is committed to Climate Change.
Oil hit $105 this morning...daddy and his friends are making a lot of money.....
So? This is the man who told Brownie he was doing a heck of a job. What did you expect?
hahahahaha. I am ashamed that i'm american now.
From The Daily Show -more or less...
John makes a silly face and a Bush sounding Voice
"What we need is an international committee on Climate change. We'll have it In LA, no not in the US... uh, We'll have it in Japan. Yeah, We'll call it the Tokyo Treaties, no The Ōsaka Articles, no lets have it in Kyoto. Yeah, We'll call it the Kyoto Protocols."
John leans left as if listening to an Advisor. Replies:
"No, Sh#t? Really?"
Say it enough, and people will believe it. Its not from lack of intelligence that this is done. It is an effective tactic; and it will continue to be effective as long as the US print media continue to act as if reporting means nothing more than reprinting the Administration's talking points. This holds true regardless of which political party holds the most power.
You'd almost think that the promises of tax breaks for wealthy media owners was having some effect on how news is covered...but it just couldn't be something that simple, could it?
Does anyone really care what Bush says???
Ah, the daily question since Bush first took office:
Laugh, cry, or scream?
How can the media let our politicians get away with stuff like this. This is absolutely pathetic. They should have grilled him on comments like that. The worst part is half our country probably hears that and thinks that he's telling the truth.
Yes, this and some of the comments are equal in silliness to Al Gore's "Peace Prize" nonsense.
I wonder why all the Bush-bashing made it through the censorship or 'moderating' and the questioning of Al Gore's credentials weren't put up in fairness?
The whole anti-Kyoto idea was based on the rationale that there is no accountability for polluters like China and India (where all the manuf jobs are going or have gone) to comply. Thererfore, any good we make (do we even make anything any more or is it all farmed out to slave labor?) ... anything we even make any more will be even more expensive and less competitive, all with our cr@p dollar figured in.
I contest the notion that thespyofcharles posted an "intelligent and civil comment".
I feel bad that ariana is 'ashamed to be an american'...with a lower case 'a'. Too bad she is missing the opportunities that this great land still affords ... belching SUVs, snarky/smarmy self-aggrandizing types and all things considered. If it's so bad ... move.
If all the energy that people put towards negative comments were put to solving our energy problems, we would be off fgn oil now.
I believe that no matter who gets elected in November, and no matter who would have won in 2004, either Lurch or Bushy, we would stil lbe in our situation. The oil lobby is too strong for our figurehead presidents to overcome, whether they are in bed together or not.
The REAL impetus for change will be from the public at large and private enterprise looking to make a buck. That's why I hope the Tesla cars will succeed, that's why I hope wind generation will be more accepted and those with the 'that will spoil my view' nonsense will fade away under the weight of common sense. Nukes, ... safer tech is coming, I think France is happy with the power they are getting from their extensive nuclear network. The government won't do a damm thing for us. So stop blaming them and do something positive.
vsk
Maybe he woke up thinking he was the Governator and that all the progress that California making was his idea and that someone else wanted to open up our national parks for oil drilling...... Hey look at us, we're demanding 35 mpg in a few years. That should do the trick.
He can't be replaced soon enough.
Do the words 'Lying Asshole' bring anybody to mind?
Yes ecobore, the words "Lying @sshole" bring former prez slick willie clinton to mind with the screwing around in the oval office thing. And whatever he's told his wife over the years.
They bring to mind the person who says she's too busy to release her tax returns and records of her "years of 'Experience' " to the voting public.
They bring to mind all the politicians who claim to want a strong dollar only to play the violin as it circles the drain.
They bring to mind the people who crushed the EV1s for whatever BullShiite reason.
vsk
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I think everyone around me thinks I'm insane.
Oh how I laughed when I read the title in my RSS reader hahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
It was a very unme laugh, but oh so good!
Thank you treehugger, you've made my bad by reporting the news :D
vsk, you should all be ashamed, how could you guys let in such a dick head. *shakes head* amazing what you lot will do in the name of... well, I have no idea any more
Well, we are leading in terms of wind energy, but that's about it for all. Other than that, we are woefully behind the curve.
isn't germany the best with wind industry?
Of course America is in the lead about climate change - Canada too - its just the direction that is in question!