What an amazing coincidence. Republicans for Environmental Protection’s web site features a photo of Senator John McCain holding up a sign that says “Stop Global Warming.”
A few days ago, Rush Limbaugh’s site featured the very same photo. But not for the same reason we did.
We and Rush, of course, have different ideas about global warming. We’re supporting McCain, who will tell anyone on the campaign trail who cares to listen – including those watching last week’s South Carolina debate – that global warming is real and it’s time to act, based on the conservative principle of stewardship.
Limbaugh, who undoubtedly obtained his climatology degree from a cereal box, whines that McCain is not really a conservative. He pooh-poohs global warming and even boasts about wasting energy. Nothing conservative about that. Rush is saying, in effect, “if it feels good, do it” – an attitude straight from the New Left.
But enough about Rush. Last year, Arnold Schwarzenegger went so far as to call Limbaugh “irrelevant.”
Which brings me to my second observation in this, the wildest presidential campaign that I can remember. Those who insist that global warming is not real and/or that there is nothing we can do about it are on the wrong side of history.
Like Grant’s siege of Petersburg, the political forces favoring action to fight global warming are wearing down the denial lobby.
Right now, McCain is in the catbird seat among the Republican candidates. The Fix, a Washington Post political blog, says McCain now has the most paths leading towards the nomination. Of course, it’s too soon to be certain and voters – not smart-alecky pundits – will have the final say.
If the GOP nominee is McCain, then whoever is president next year will be on record in favor of legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions. The new president and Congress will feel heat to get the job done.
The public is concerned, and that includes Southern conservatives, as revealed by polling data from the Republican firm Ayres, McHenry & Associates.
Mayors and governors are worried about global warming’s impacts on basic services, such as water supply, for which they’re responsible.
Big business wants certainty and policies that will build up the market for cleaner energy technologies.
Climate stewardship is catching fire in religious communities.
The hard work of stepping up the pressure for climate action continues. In the meantime, the fun and games will continue on the campaign trail. On to Michigan and South Carolina.
For my Democratic friends, it's on to Nevada, a beautiful state that deserves a little time in the national spotlight. Here's a tip for out-of-state campaign workers swarming into Nevada: If you want to be on the good side of people from the Silver State, never, ever pronounce the state's name as "Nev-AW-da." Really.
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