We should be focusing on getting California their EPA waiver to regulate GHG emissions.

That should create a strong precedent to lead towards federal legislation.

_

Unlike federal legislation, all we need to do is put some serious pressure on this one EPA Chief guy.

You climate denying, Republican lemming, you

Hey, Joe, I like the sound of that, thanks!

...where a president lasts only 4 years, at least 2 of which he's either settling in or campaigning for re-election, and ending up with more than a month when he's still president despite his successor having already been chosen. It give a perfect excuse for never getting anything done.

As for the quotes, Upton's is complete waffle, 99% of which is meaningless. He might as well just have said, "We're doing nothing until China and India set a lead, and probably not even then." And Joe Barton...his name sounds so much like Joey Barton (English football player who keeps getting arrested for violent behaviour and showing his behind to the crowd).

If I share initials with 'Global Warming', is that a sign?

major legislation rarely pops suddenly out of a clam shell, like the birth of Venus

usually, there are years of tussle

whether a bill passes Congress and gets signed by Bush in 2008 is not the only relevant criteria for progress

much will happen this year, in terms of coalition building and public opinion

for good or ill

and it will matter down the road

some of this year's tussle, I suspect, will be between the auto industry and anyone with the temerity to get in its way

One would think that Dingell's committee would gain a member that is forward-thinking, unlike the ancient chairman...but, nonetheless the new member has cursed the hopes for new legislation proposed by the committee. If these are the men who are in charge of protecting the air, water, and land of our country from the effects of global warming, then our country is in need of dire help.  They need to take responsibility (not meaning it's their fault directly) for the problems our countries excessive carbon emissions have caused and put a cap on them NOW.

Along with the recent energy bill, this episode should be a lesson that we can't count on any branch of the federal government, as it is currently composed, to take meaningful action on environmental issues.  On the environment, most of them are just a bunch of bumbling fools.

Cities, towns, and some states are the ones taking the lead.  They're on the second lap while Washington is still trying to figure out how to tie its shoes.