Cons do you not recall Bush addressing "Global Climate Change" in hi SOTU?

Question

Now .......finally even he is accepting the fact something needs to be done ....or......is he just paying lip service to placate the Democrat Party?

Answer 1

If you research some, you will find that no side has ever denied that there has been a slow climate warming pattern over the last few years. The disagreement has been why it is happening. Not even all the scientists can agree on that. You can also go to a web site and see numerous environmental inititives that this administration has put in motion.

George W. Bush - Environmental Champion

President receives prestigious award and takes opportunity to outline new environmental initiatives.



In a brief ceremony held yesterday in his home state of Texas, President George W. Bush was named recipient of the annual Environmental Conservation Award by the Environmental Assessment League (EAL), for his outstanding work in the field of conservation as Governor of Texas and in his first few months as U.S. President. The award winner is selected each year through an extensive survey of environmentalists and scientist who assess the impacts and success/failure of programs and projects implemented during each administration. Among the survey of 20th century US Presidents, Bush narrowly beat out Ronald Reagan for the top spot, while Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Bill Clinton received the lowest marks for environmental achievement.

In a brief speech following the award presentation, the president took the opportunity to address the issue of global warming, acknowledging that while it may be a real threat, he doesn’t support the Kyoto Treaty but favors a market-friendly alternative instead. "I am convinced that a compassionate conservative philosophy frees industrial plants to achieve their highest potential," he told those in attendance. “The answers to our environmental problems clearly require a solutions-oriented approach. I am planning to sign legislation that will encourage industry to obtain air permits, but not require them to do so. I believe that if we give businesses major tax breaks and the opportunities to self-audit and clean up their own mess, they will step up to the challenge.”

President Bush went on to say that, while he appreciated receiving the award, that he didn’t intend to rest upon his environmental laurels, but intended to push forward with even more innovative initiatives. “I support more flexibility in environmental regulations. For example, I favor conserving wilderness areas by encouraging private citizens to take up wildlife management, rather than leaving everything to the federal government. If we eliminate the estate tax, it will make it easier for private landowners to spend money protecting the animals on their own land.”

Among the projects and ideas put forth by Bush included his proposal to add aluminum overhangs to oil derricks planned for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As the President acknowledged, “this will give the animals on the refuge a chance to seek shelter from the rain and snow, and they’ll come to realize that living next to an oil derrick is really not such a bad thing.”

Bush also announced he was establishing a blue-ribbon panel that would include strong environmentalists such as Alaskan Representative Don Young, and Senators Ted Stevens and Frank Murkowski, to help tackle some of the environmental issues. I selected these three great Alaskan congressmen in honor of the 12th anniversary of Exxon Valdez oil spill. I don’t intend to let a disaster like that happen on my watch. I mean, what happened to Exxon was a real tragedy," he said. "I’m going to ask congress to establish a cap of $50,000 as the most that any community can receive for an oil spill."

In support of Clean Air Act enforcement, the President took the opportunity to address criticism he had received for lowering carbon dioxide emissions standards. “As President, I know it is my responsibility to acknowledge the will of the people. Therefore, I am instructing Christine Todd Whitman, head of the EPA, to study the possibility of planting trees around all new power plants. These trees will absorb carbon dioxide and give us oxygen in return.” President Bush also called for a halt to basing environmental decisions on “fuzzy science.” “The liberal media would have you believe that we should lower the arsenic levels in drinking water. Next they’ll be telling you we should remove the hydrogen from the water and then the oxygen, until there is no water left at all.”

The President also called on amending the Endangered Species Act to limit habitat protection requirements. “We have too many species on the Endangered List," the President acknowledged. "If we limit it to say, ten species, we can really concentrate on protecting those. And then, after a year or two, when they’re okay, we can choose another ten to put on the list to replace them.”

Bush also received high marks from the Environmental Assessment League for his recent plans to add an "environmentally friendly" T-ball field next to the White House and to enhance the National Trail System. The President had recently designated a new 714-mile historic trail to run from Washington, DC to Tallahassee, FL. Dubbed unofficially as the Bush Brothers Legacy Trail, the President said he was looking into the possibility of adding a connecting side trail to the Silverado Savings & Loan in Colorado, but decided to wait and see if it could be paid for using contributions from the National Rifle Association.

The award presentation ceremony in Austin had to be cut short after about 30 minutes, when several members of the crowd had to be treated for smog inhalation. The liberal media later blamed the incident on the fact that Texas had more than twice as many industrial plants violating clean air rules as any other state and that 93 plants in Texas did not comply recently with regulations to control volatile organic compounds. But Texas Representative Dick Armey, who was attending the ceremony, dismissed this explanation as “election hangover” by the Democrats. "It was my understanding that the people who passed out were actually just overwhelmed by some of the President’s ideas."

Answer 2

He has done more to help global warming than you might think. Just because he pushes for drilling in Alaska and that sort of thing doesn't mean he is against cleaning up pollution. His energy bill (2005 I think) has pushed alternative fuels and higher MPG ratings on cars more so than any other president. As far as climate change goes it is a natural occurrences and this is not the first time it has happened. Scientist claim that the last time we had global warming it was a boom in new species so whats the problem?

Answer 3

Lip service, indeed. He didn't say, "global warming," he said, "global climate change." A lot who deny global warming use this argument...that the earth is going through a phase, a heating up phase and it will soon cool again. Rinse, lather, repeat. I think he was placating to the left.

Answer 4

Yes, and I couldn't figure out why he did that.

The facts don't support it, and his attack on the domestic auto makers is even more bizarre.

What bothers me most is the failure of people to understand that the government dictating such things is a disaster.

You DO understand that the whole SUV / light truck growth was a direct result of the original CAFE laws, don't you? So, here, government action to appease the loudmouths actuall had the exact opposite effect - it created a less fuel efficient fleet by pushing people in large cars into SUVs and Trucks. I won't even mention the greater number of fatalities due to smaller cars with thinner steel.

And to think people still pat themselves on the back for that...
amazing!

Answer 5

Its just lip service. His "plan" isn't a plan--and he didn't actually say anything different than in the last SOTU. And he hasn't DONE anything--except give the oil companies more subsidies and the coal companies more exemptions from the Clean Air Act.

Answer 6

He is proposing a renewed focus on the environment to keep developing countries and China in check. If those countries are forced to put in polution controls in place instead of totally ignoring what the rest of the developed world has been doing for the last two decades it puts them at an unfair competitive advantage.

By making India, China and the rest of the developing Asian countries invest in their pollution control technology instead of their infrastructures he can slow down their economic growth. He will hold the US up as a shining example because most US companies have MACT in place now and will have to invest less than companies that have no pollution controls in place.

It's all about the money.

Answer 7

Yes. He sounded sincere to me. Over the weekend I heard that Hollywood was responsible for most the green gases in California. How does this stack up for the Dems there? Do you think they are sincere about doing somethng about Global Warming?

Answer 8

It's the latter. Now he put up some half-assed and inadequate initiatives and when the dems don't pass them he can blame them for not taking action.

Answer 9

He barely addressed the issue, and I doubt he intends to do anything that would ruffle the feathers of his oil baron henchmen buddies. Lip service is exactly what he gave global warming.

Answer 10

a little of both. He is acknowldeging it, but that doesn't mean he will support legislation that wil restrict business. Hopefully he will support a 'cap and sell' idea, where there is a cap placed on emissions...if you fall below it, you can sell your extra to a company who needs more. And the companies who use more have to pay more. It is brilliant, and win win in my opinion