Bush Gets Serious About Gas Emissions

By CBSNews.com's Jennifer Hoar

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Pull the Prius out of the garage because President Bush is getting serious on greenhouse gas emissions.

Dominating the front pages this morning is the news that the Bush administration has a "new framework" for its approach to the ubiquitous global warming issue. In a pre-G8 Summit speech Thursday, Mr. Bush declared that the U.S. would "play a major role in shaping global environmental policy" after the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, the Washington Post reports.

On an issue where the administration had once been part of the coalition of the hesitant, it will now lead the coalition of the aggressively concerned, it appears.

USA Today reports that Mr. Bush proposed that countries producing the most greenhouse gases "develop a strategy to reduce emissions by the end of 2008." The paper also points out that the U.S. is the leading producer of those toxic gases. So, if all goes according to plan, we'll have clean air for the next inauguration. Too bad there aren't third terms …

Rethinking Rupert

Also on the news docket this morning is Rupert Murdoch. The Bancroft family, which owns Dow Jones, has coyly announced that it will meet with the News Corp mogul to discuss sale of the company, the Wall Street Journal says. Not to appear over-eager, a Bancroft representative said in a statement that Dow Jones will entertain collaboration "with another organization, which may include News Corp." The family indicated that it "isn't committing to negotiation" with Murdoch. What, monogamy is passé?

"TB Andy"

Well, ladies and gentlemen, apparently U.S. border patrol is about as effective as an expanse of Saran Wrap. Andrew Speaker, the 31-year-old man with drug-resistant tuberculosis, was admitted into the U.S. from Canada by authorities who knew he "was being sought by health authorities," the New York Times reports.

The horror of this public health hazard is probably best summarized by the L.A. Times: "Border alert on TB patient disregarded." It's usually not too comforting to read "TB" and "disregarded" in the same sentence.

And For Sports Fans

The Friday front pages have something for all of the sports buffs out there. The New York Times showcases a presidential contender's prowess playing hoops while USA Today tells us how golf stars, who clearly have ATM receipts in the single-digits, are picking up beaucoup bucks by designing golf courses.

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[toolmangler-2009]

I am suprised that no one has grabbed him, put him in an escape-proof belljar so we could collect his emissions and cut our dependance on foriegn oil. Might not help much but it would stop further damage.

[toddpw01]

Gee, I wonder what happened that Bush is finally pretending to see the light all of a sudden?

Could it be the Democrats have finally found something they can use to get Rove under oath??

[likeitis5050]

tucsonsteven totally with you on the ACLU.

The Patriot Act can circumvent any of the Bills Of Rights deemed necessary to insure homeland security but the ACLU still gets to lend assistance to any national threat it so chooses to help. I wish it was up for election in 2008. It has lost its usefulness here.

[likeitis5050]

Well you can be sure, what ever the brain child is, that it will end up being loaded with mandates, and policies, and compliance snags that require documentation and tons of paper work before it can be implemented...oh, and by the way...don't think for a minute any funding by the government will be provided. He just likes to write the rules and policies and mandates that everyone has to follow just to be allowed to stay on the government's list for 'good teachers' and 'good schools' and 'good Americans'...the money needed to run his program is your problem. No Child Left Behind...promises were made to provide 80% of the money needed to implement the 'mandated' program, but...gosh...it just never seems to get here. I realize he didn't think it up all by himself...it's too complicated. But he did make the promise to help fund. Bush needs to stop trying to run with the big dogs.

[tucsonsteven]

Great Article Title.. I used to like Bush, but after his new immigration policies I lost total respect for him. I can't get my wife into the country without going through months and months of waiting, but if I would of snuck her in, she would be able to stay.

On the Flip Flop theory I think the ACLU got Bush to flip flop. Maybe they threatened him with yet another piece of work lawsuit like their latest one below...

Al Qaida suspects sue Boeing, with ACLU's help?

I'm sorry, but this world is going mad. ACLU executive director Anthony Romero should be hung for treason. The ACLU should be closed down. What a waste of human life!

Go BUSH! Can't wait to see what you do next! And who'd a thought.. I am a conservative.

[j-whitman]

Bush gets serious about gas emissions -- He had the White House cook ad Beno to the TexMex food.

[kansas1946]

"Bush Gets Serious About Gas Emissions"
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I just had to chuckle when I saw the banner for this article. (above) I am really glad that Bush is now serious about "gas emmissions" because gas and hot air is about all we have had from this administration since day one.

[nyckate]

ANd yet another load of BS from Bush - he asked nations to get together and figure out a way to handle this by 2008 - when he's OUT of office??

This is just another stall tactic to protect his largest investors/donators - the US Oil/Energy Lobby.

Bush - the ultimate scammer - he's screams GREASY OIL USED CAR SALESMAN!!

[infidel_us]

"Bush Gets Serious About Gas Emissions"

He's now taking Bean-O :)

[afmca]

Bush has decided to slow the process more by creating a parallel group. He hopes to be able to manage the discussion and manipulate the message. His environmental goal until 2008 - stall, stall, stall!