RNC: Red and green

Grist talks to Jim DiPeso of Republicans for Environmental Protection 8

David and I talked to Jim DiPeso, policy director of Republicans for Environmental Protection, while we were covering the Republican National Convention this week. The group endorsed John McCain way back in October, and despite the addition of the less-than-green Sarah Palin to the GOP ticket, DiPeso said his group stands by McCain.

We caught up with DiPeso to talk about McCain's climate change plan, his recent reversal on offshore drilling, the Palin VP pick, and whether the group would ever consider endorsing a Democrat. Watch it:

Kate Sheppard is Grist’s political reporter.

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  1. randino Posted 12:38 am
    06 Sep 2008

    Hope over Experience.Republicans for Environmental Protection reminds me of Catholics for Choice, or the people trying to get the Catholic Church to have female or married priests. Their's is a hard, lonely road.
    The spokesperson has drunk the McCain as Maverick Kool Aid. McCain has rolled over for the right time and time again. The culmination of this process was Sarah Palin. He cannot win without the jihadi wing of the party, nor can he rule without them. If he defies them, they will make him into a caretaker president whose record will be devoid of accomplishments. They will patiently wait for him to die off and then get who they want - Sarah. Then god help us all, because only god will be able to clean up the debris she leaves behind. He also has an LCV rating of 27, which should get the attention of REP.
    Randy Cunningham

    Cleveland, OH

    Randy Cunningham
  2. caniscandida Posted 2:34 am
    06 Sep 2008

    "rolling over for the right"Yes, Randy, that is the way it looks to me too.  And for Jim DiPeso to bring up the old memory of McCain as resistant prisoner in Hanoi, as a sign that he is prepared to "push back" against all the Republicans who do not believe the climate-change science, is foolish.
    On the analogy between the REP and Catholics for Choice: well, I see what you intend, but the analogy is not perfect.  In fact, as large a proportion of US Catholics as of the US population in general believe that abortion should be legal and available.  And Catholics for Choice are certainly not cheerleaders for the anti-reproductive-rights hierarchy, as DiPeso is for his party leaders.
    One of the most misleading and dismaying things that DiPeso said was that Sarah Palin was not chosen for what she could contribute on energy policy.  In fact a number of Republican pundits have praised her knowledge and experience of energy issues; and one of them burbled that she knows more about energy than McCain, Obama and Biden combined.
    On a totally different subject: I was dreading, on DR's behalf, that the interview would end with a handshake -- as in fact it did -- after DiPeso spent so much of it picking his nose.

    Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.
  3. mreinbold Posted 3:32 am
    06 Sep 2008

    caniscandidaThere is one fish that I really love. BARRACUDA!!
  4. mreinbold Posted 3:34 am
    06 Sep 2008

    Red and greenYou people are really about the Red. The Green is just a vehicle for getting to the Red.
  5. Angelsnecropolis Posted 5:09 am
    06 Sep 2008

    the "expert"I'm no expert on Palin but what I've read is that she isn't an energy expert and the notion that she is is just republican propaganda to "inflate her resume" according to the post A Palin In The Neck by Joseph Romm.
    One is only helping to propagate that false notion when saying "In fact a number of Republican pundits have praised her knowledge and experience of energy issues." It may not be a direct acknowledgement of her expertise but it's the same thing as using "some people say..." with no evidence to back up the claims.
    It would be best to refrain from further spreading false information by reiterating the the republican propaganda. The individuals that may not be knowledgeable enough to research the matters on their own will read a post or comment and automatically think it is fact. It's a sad truth that most Americans are just "sheeple" and are much more inclined to follow than lead.
  6. randino Posted 5:24 am
    06 Sep 2008

    Oh, go put on your junior G-Man badgeand open a file on someone.  
    Randy Cunningham

    Cleveland, OH  

    Randy Cunningham
  7. caniscandida Posted 8:25 pm
    06 Sep 2008

    OK, Angel, on "sheeple"(Triple Greek etymology, by the way: "angelos" is "messenger," originally, and later, biblically, "angel," a messenger of God; "nekros" is "corpse"; "polis" is "city"; "Nekropolis" is "the part of the city where corpses are deposited."  "Cemetery" comes from "Coemeterion," "the place of sleeping": "sleeping" being a not uniquely Christian euphemism for being dead.)
    OK, Angel, I sort of see your point.  But surely there is nothing wrong with calling a spade a spade.
    One of the frustrations I feel, when writing online, is suspecting that my words will not be understood VERY LITERALLY, that they will somehow assume a partisan connotation.
    As for "reiterating Republican propaganda": You are right, one ought not to do that, they are sadly good enough at it themselves.  In this case I had hoped all I was doing was showing an array of Republican opinions which were obviously objectionable.  But perhaps that was not so obvious ...  OK, sorry, I shall try to do better next time.

    Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.
  8. Wolverine Posted 10:16 am
    10 Sep 2008

    A True OxymoronRepublicans for Environmental Protection?  You've got to be kidding.  How in the world can these people claim to be for environmental protection if they support Republicans?  Or McCain, who's a hardcore anti-environmentalist?  What this group should be called is Republicans for Environmental Protection So Long As It Doesn't Disturb Our Profits Or Lifestyle.  Unfortunately, this is true of many so-called environmentalists, including many posters here.

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