Maybe McCain was once a leader on this topic, but since he's been running for president he's failed to vote even once on key environmental legislation in the Senate. Twice in recent months his missing vote could have extended tax credits on renewable energy, something we sorely need and are still waiting for. The League of Conservation Voters gave him their  worst possible grade -- a zero -- for his voting record in 2007. It's clear we're not going to be able to count on him for the aggressive leadership we need on global warming. He may be better than Bush on the subject, but who isn't?

EarthlingAngst

Gore was also responsible for watering down the Kyoto Protocol. While the EU wanted a target of 15% reductions, the US watered this down to 5%. While the orgainal intent of Kyoto was the internalise emission reductions, Gore was responsible for what is know now as Hot Air.  

"The key point for me is that unlike Gore -- and unlike Clinton and Obama -- McCain doesn't support the policies needed to successfully address catastrophic climate change without devastating the economy".

I must have missed Obama and Clinton calling for the 80-90% reductions in GHG emissions by 2020 that will be required of Americans if our planet is to avoid catastrophic "tipping points" of positive feedback. Last year's Arctic ice melt-off may indicate that we are either already reaching the first of these tipping points or are very close.

Let's at least be honest enough to admit that in the broken American electoral system all of the candidates must pander to the wealthiest 10% in order to finance their political ambitions and to secure positive corporate media coverage. That is why none of them will publicly admit the extent of the emissions cuts required in order to keep human history going through the twenty-second century.

Even most math-challenged Americans should realize that they will not be able to afford energy if our approach to cutting emissions is cap-and-trade. Face it, if we try to get 80% reductions under cap-and-trade, the wealthiest 15% will continue to generate GHG at the same rate as today while everyone else has to make do on next to nothing.

We held back the violent fascists of the twentieth century with personal quotas for gasoline and other goods. We can hold back climate change with personal quotas on gasoline, diesel and grid power, if we are serious. So far, we are not.