<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Franken win means another likely Senate vote for climate action]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Decker http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:35:12 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/1 Good luck keeping this Kook under control. What's with the Minnesotans, wasn't Jesse Ventura bad enough?

]]> Good luck keeping this Kook under control. What's with the Minnesotans, wasn't Jesse Ventura bad enough?

]]> Comment #2 by veritone http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:09:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/2 That "Kook" was also a serious math jock at Harvard and will make a formidable Senator. And as for comedy, I recommend you find the YouTube clip of British Parlimentarian Galloway tearing strips our of the now defeated Norm Coleman over Iraq. Now that's truly funny to behold.

]]> That "Kook" was also a serious math jock at Harvard and will make a formidable Senator. And as for comedy, I recommend you find the YouTube clip of British Parlimentarian Galloway tearing strips our of the now defeated Norm Coleman over Iraq. Now that's truly funny to behold.

]]> Comment #3 by Oneworld http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:43:19 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/3 Kind of a non-story story here.  Norm Coleman was also very much a "likely Senate vote for climate action".  As for the kook/non-kook debate, have fun hashing that one out.

]]> Kind of a non-story story here.  Norm Coleman was also very much a "likely Senate vote for climate action".  As for the kook/non-kook debate, have fun hashing that one out.

]]> Comment #4 by drd4U http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:16:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/4 Is the real question the person, the position, or...the power?  This provides a certain faction some vocals that weren't there prior to this election- my question is, are we seeing behind this election to the real issue being outed, or, are we asleep at the wheel, yet again vis-a-vis WOMD?  Hey...it's just a question...

]]> Is the real question the person, the position, or...the power?  This provides a certain faction some vocals that weren't there prior to this election- my question is, are we seeing behind this election to the real issue being outed, or, are we asleep at the wheel, yet again vis-a-vis WOMD?  Hey...it's just a question...

]]> Comment #5 by steve7138 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:09:28 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/5 Find it interesting that Democratic Sen. Menendez of New Jersey praised the new presence of Mr. Franken [from a top-ranked environmental quality state: Minnesota] on The ED Show, yet Menendez and Democratic Sen. Lautenberg voted like Deep South Republicans on providing major federal assistance to improve Jersey's ecological status.

Anyone traveling across Jersey's cities [especially those closest to NYC] can see heavy piles of rotting trash and litter along streets, sidewalks and parks--scenes expected to be found more from the third-world than in our "first-world" nation.

Maybe Al can teach these two (and numeorus state, county and township) "public servants" a thing or two, to get their filthy, inhumane environmental conditions across the so-called "Garden State" in first-nation order by voting for tougher federal cleanup mandates to states and localities.

]]> Find it interesting that Democratic Sen. Menendez of New Jersey praised the new presence of Mr. Franken [from a top-ranked environmental quality state: Minnesota] on The ED Show, yet Menendez and Democratic Sen. Lautenberg voted like Deep South Republicans on providing major federal assistance to improve Jersey's ecological status.

Anyone traveling across Jersey's cities [especially those closest to NYC] can see heavy piles of rotting trash and litter along streets, sidewalks and parks--scenes expected to be found more from the third-world than in our "first-world" nation.

Maybe Al can teach these two (and numeorus state, county and township) "public servants" a thing or two, to get their filthy, inhumane environmental conditions across the so-called "Garden State" in first-nation order by voting for tougher federal cleanup mandates to states and localities.

]]> Comment #6 by Tyler Durden http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:32:59 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/6 "Does this mean Franken would vote for a Waxman-Markey-like bill?" is the wrong question.  What should be asked is, will he work to strengthen this bill that has been so weakened that it will probably create more harm than good in its present form?

]]> "Does this mean Franken would vote for a Waxman-Markey-like bill?" is the wrong question.  What should be asked is, will he work to strengthen this bill that has been so weakened that it will probably create more harm than good in its present form?

]]> Comment #7 by Oneworld http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00:49 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/7 Pushing to "strengthen" Waxman-Markey in the Senate, instead of supporting the bill's passage. That is probably the fastest way to cause another climate bill to fail in the Senate. And then big polluters can continue to pour all the CO2 they want in to the air for absolutely free. 

]]> Pushing to "strengthen" Waxman-Markey in the Senate, instead of supporting the bill's passage. That is probably the fastest way to cause another climate bill to fail in the Senate. And then big polluters can continue to pour all the CO2 they want in to the air for absolutely free. 

]]> Comment #8 by Christopher S. Johnson http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:33:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/8 ONE WORLD,

False choice.  Its not an "or" question.  Its an "and " question.  Where is this body of knowledge that says it cant be done?  Nowhere.

]]> ONE WORLD,

False choice.  Its not an "or" question.  Its an "and " question.  Where is this body of knowledge that says it cant be done?  Nowhere.

]]> Comment #9 by splashy http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:31:00 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/9 As I see it, comedians are often more intelligent than other performers, because they have to get their timing, looks, and other things just right to pull it off. Comedy is hard, especially if it's not physical comedy.

Franken will make a fine Senator. I'm hoping he will be able to actually pull things to the leftward side. He has the intelligence and ability to talk that will be needed.

]]> As I see it, comedians are often more intelligent than other performers, because they have to get their timing, looks, and other things just right to pull it off. Comedy is hard, especially if it's not physical comedy.

Franken will make a fine Senator. I'm hoping he will be able to actually pull things to the leftward side. He has the intelligence and ability to talk that will be needed.

]]> Comment #10 by Global Changes http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:36:12 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/10 "We can start by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. One of the dumbest things that President Bush said—and that’s a high bar—is that Kyoto would cripple the U.S. economy. I think the opposite is true. A commitment to reducing emissions will spur the manufacturing sector to produce the necessary technologies. A recent study finds that creating the renewable energy capacity to achieve such an emission reduction would create over 18,000 jobs in Minnesota alone."

 

I think we missed a huge opportunity to help prevent climate change as well as aid the failing US economy during the banking crisis. Instead of funding failed businesses we should have invested in new technologys that would create new jobs, and a sustainable future.

]]> "We can start by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. One of the dumbest things that President Bush said—and that’s a high bar—is that Kyoto would cripple the U.S. economy. I think the opposite is true. A commitment to reducing emissions will spur the manufacturing sector to produce the necessary technologies. A recent study finds that creating the renewable energy capacity to achieve such an emission reduction would create over 18,000 jobs in Minnesota alone."

 

I think we missed a huge opportunity to help prevent climate change as well as aid the failing US economy during the banking crisis. Instead of funding failed businesses we should have invested in new technologys that would create new jobs, and a sustainable future.

]]> Comment #11 by Decker http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:07:03 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/11 Mathematicians are often leaders in the realm of Kookdom.

]]> Mathematicians are often leaders in the realm of Kookdom.

]]> Comment #12 by Tyler Durden http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:45:31 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/12 The bill as it stands will do nothing to solve the problem and will probably cause more harm than good.  Considering that, why do you support its passage so strongly that you oppose trying to strengthen it so it actually does more good than harm?

]]> The bill as it stands will do nothing to solve the problem and will probably cause more harm than good.  Considering that, why do you support its passage so strongly that you oppose trying to strengthen it so it actually does more good than harm?

]]> Comment #13 by Tyler Durden http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:49:54 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/13 "Instead of funding failed businesses we should have invested in new technologys that would create new jobs, and a sustainable future."


Correct.  But that's what we get for electing a president who is more loyal to the crapitalist system than to the Earth or to the average person, regardless of how he portrays or thinks of himself.


]]> "Instead of funding failed businesses we should have invested in new technologys that would create new jobs, and a sustainable future."


Correct.  But that's what we get for electing a president who is more loyal to the crapitalist system than to the Earth or to the average person, regardless of how he portrays or thinks of himself.


]]> Comment #14 by veritone http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:48:06 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/14 The bill, while flawed, is better than you seem to appreciate. It needs to be improved for sure, but you might want to read the National Wildlife Federation's Toolbox assessment of the bill before you throw the baby out with the bathwater. Here's a link to a PDF file of their report: http://online.nwf.org/site/DocServer/ACES_Toolbox_Analysis_by_NWF_Final_6-15-09.pdf?docID=9801

As for Obama, Paul Street continues to do an admirable job revealing his devotion to capital and dedication to empire. Noam Chomsky praised a book Street published late last year and a second papaerback edition is coming soon. Capitalism isn't going away anytime soon and we must do, what we've always had to do: accomplish important things despite it.

There are opportunities to build a strong grass roots movement around the challenges we face with climate and energy. I don't think we get very far, however, by endlessing dividing ourselves in the face of an increasingly unified opposition. Beyond disputing your assessment of the bill, I daresay we would agree on much. My question to you is how are you going to help build the grass roots political will to accomplish what must be achieved prior to the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen?

]]> The bill, while flawed, is better than you seem to appreciate. It needs to be improved for sure, but you might want to read the National Wildlife Federation's Toolbox assessment of the bill before you throw the baby out with the bathwater. Here's a link to a PDF file of their report: http://online.nwf.org/site/DocServer/ACES_Toolbox_Analysis_by_NWF_Final_6-15-09.pdf?docID=9801

As for Obama, Paul Street continues to do an admirable job revealing his devotion to capital and dedication to empire. Noam Chomsky praised a book Street published late last year and a second papaerback edition is coming soon. Capitalism isn't going away anytime soon and we must do, what we've always had to do: accomplish important things despite it.

There are opportunities to build a strong grass roots movement around the challenges we face with climate and energy. I don't think we get very far, however, by endlessing dividing ourselves in the face of an increasingly unified opposition. Beyond disputing your assessment of the bill, I daresay we would agree on much. My question to you is how are you going to help build the grass roots political will to accomplish what must be achieved prior to the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen?

]]> Comment #15 by Tyler Durden http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:45:30 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-30-al-franken-climate-vote/15 Veritone,

I suggest you read the Center for Biological Diversity's analysis of the bill.  CBD is far more credible than the National Rifle Association, er, I mean Wildlife Federation, which is basically a hunters' group and is very conservative to the point of sometimes being on the wrong sides of issues.  If this bill were merely weak I would not oppose it.  But by amending the Clean Air Act to disallow EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources, by providing subsidies to coal companies, and by amending the Clean Air Act to allow building of coal plants without additional greenhouse emission reduction requirements, this bill will likely cause more greenhouse gas emissions, not less.  Moreover, the rather tepid goal of lowering the CO2 level to 350 parts per million will not be achieved by this bill.  Altogether, this bill is much worse than useless, it's very destructive.

]]> Veritone,

I suggest you read the Center for Biological Diversity's analysis of the bill.  CBD is far more credible than the National Rifle Association, er, I mean Wildlife Federation, which is basically a hunters' group and is very conservative to the point of sometimes being on the wrong sides of issues.  If this bill were merely weak I would not oppose it.  But by amending the Clean Air Act to disallow EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources, by providing subsidies to coal companies, and by amending the Clean Air Act to allow building of coal plants without additional greenhouse emission reduction requirements, this bill will likely cause more greenhouse gas emissions, not less.  Moreover, the rather tepid goal of lowering the CO2 level to 350 parts per million will not be achieved by this bill.  Altogether, this bill is much worse than useless, it's very destructive.

]]>