SOTU 2007: The big climate-change mention

Kind of a let down

Posted by David Roberts at 7:14 PM on 23 Jan 2007

Well, he mentioned climate change, sure enough:

America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil. These technologies will help us become better stewards of the environment -- and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change.

A couple of things to note:

He built a sly ideological position right in to the quote: technology will save us. So, um, forget about those carbon caps. Suffice to say, that's not working.
The mention came at the very tail end of the energy-security section. It's clearly intended to be framed as a side benefit: look, we'll become more secure, and in the process do something about climate change. No question about which goal takes priority.
Kif is exactly right -- the mention of climate change was mumbled, begrudging, and utterly desultory. He obviously felt forced to do this. His heart's not in it.
Because of the above-mentioned factors, this mention of climate change will not have nearly the impact of his "addicted to oil" bomb.

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7 Comments | Post a Comment

Yes...

Not only was Bush not "into" his climate comments, but I swear Cheney smirked when the comments were made...

by Gandhi at 7:42 PM on 23 Jan 2007

Mentioning the "C" word.

Cheney was not the only one smirking. He mentioned climate change and the Democratic section of the Congress stood up and cheered like he announced the Second Coming. Bush looked over at them, with his patented smirk and you know what he was thinking: "What a bunch of ass holes. I mention climate change and they eat it up with a spoon. What a bunch of suckers."

The State of the Union Address? Forgettaboutit. It is an annual non-event. Yawn.

Randy Cunningham

Randy Cunningham

by randino at 5:01 AM on 24 Jan 2007

Smirkers

Well maybe the Cheney smirk will be wiped away by the scooter trial?

Duuhboy will smirk on forever. That is how history will view the worst president ever.

Unfortunately most democrats lack the guts to impeach.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 7:52 AM on 24 Jan 2007

caps

> He built a sly ideological position
> right in to the quote: technology
> will save us. So, um, forget about
> those carbon caps. Suffice to
> say, that's not working.

Carbon caps are not working either. Have you looked around Europe? No one has the economic stomach for significant GHG cutbacks. The US will not either. Our standard of living is too closely tied to GHG emissions, and no one -- including no one here -- will voluntarily reduce their standard of living by more than a token amount.

Thus, new technologies are the only way.

by d41295 at 8:58 AM on 24 Jan 2007

Impeachment

> Unfortunately most democrats lack the
> guts to impeach.

The last thing the country needs is another 1-2 year backwards-looking upheaval like we had during the Clinton administration. Far from lacking the guts, Democrats know that the adult thing to do is put aside petty bickerings and try to move the country forward.

by d41295 at 9:40 AM on 24 Jan 2007

My phone number

I just have to share this because it's so, so good. Are you ready? My phone number spells...

W DID EVIL.

The last "L" is superfluous, but it doesn't matter if you punch an extra number once you've dialed the seven.

by mihan at 10:00 AM on 24 Jan 2007

Suspension of habeus corpus

"petty bickerings"

Violating his oath to uphold the US Constitution. Lying to congress repeatedly. Starting a war using those lies.

Not as serious as an Oval office bj, true. But still impeachable offenses. Hehey.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 10:05 AM on 24 Jan 2007

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