McCain Breaks With Bush On Climate Change

Urges Free-Market Principles And "Effective Diplomacy" To Reduce Global Warming

(AP)  John McCain broke with the Bush administration and Republican Party orthodoxy Monday as he not only declared global warming real, but reached out to Democrats and independents with a free-market solution that includes capping carbon-fuel emissions.

The GOP presidential contender also prodded China and India - two major emitters of the greenhouse gases blamed for the planet's warming - to join the effort, although he muted planned talk of tariffs against them in favor of "effective diplomacy" to encourage their compliance.

An aide later said the Arizona senator didn't want to be interpreted as being "at odds with his commitment to open trade."

McCain was less restrained in his approach to President Bush, who broke a 2000 campaign pledge to regulate carbon-dioxide emissions and who also backed off signing the Kyoto global warming protocols shortly after taking office.

"I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges. I will not accept the same dead-end of failed diplomacy that claimed Kyoto. The United States will lead and will lead with a different approach - an approach that speaks to the interests and obligation of every nation," McCain declared.

The language highlighted the political stakes for McCain, the Republican's presumed presidential nominee.

His visit to Oregon came days after the leading Democratic contenders, Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton Clinton of New York, campaigned in the state.

Oregon is viewed by some as a general-election battleground, and its Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood National Wilderness are playgrounds for many outdoorsmen and environmentalists.

Among those attending McCain's speech was Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat. McCain heaped praise on him - despite mangling the pronunciation of his name - and said, "As president of the United States, I will sit down with Governor Ted Kulongoski and all other governors of this country, whether they be Democrat or Republican, and work for the betterment of this nation."

Global warming also stands with abortion rights and an array of social causes as important issues to the evangelicals and Christian conservatives whom McCain hopes will bolster his political base this fall.

Democrats derided McCain's record on the issue, noting contributions to his campaign from energy lobbyists, his recent proposal to temporarily suspend the federal gasoline tax as a means of making driving cheaper and some votes against alternate energy sources.

"It is truly breathtaking for John McCain to talk about combating climate change while voting against virtually every recent effort to actually invest in clean energy," Obama said in a statement.

Clinton said, "While Senator McCain's proposals may be improvement on President Bush's, that's not saying much."

McCain has long expressed a belief in global warming, arguing that even if he is wrong, acting as if the planet's temperature were increasing would only benefit the environment if scientists subsequently proved he was mistaken.

The main solution he outlined Monday is to implement a cap-and-trade program on carbon-fuel emissions, like a similar program in the Clean Air Act that was used to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions that triggered acid rain.

Industries would be given emission targets, and those coming in under their limit could sell their surplus polluting capacity to companies unable to meet their target.

McCain wants the country to return to 2005 emission levels by 2012; 1990 levels by 2020; and to a level 60 percent below that by 2050.

Internationally, McCain promised to challenge China and India, economic rivals who are fueling their challenge to U.S. market supremacy with heavily polluting fuels such as coal, gas and oil.

While the prepared text of his remarks had him promising to work with the European Union and other like-minded governments "to develop a cost equalization mechanism to apply to those countries that decline to enact a similar cap," he changed up his remarks to the audience.

"I would work with the European Union and other like-minded governments that plan to address the global warming problem to develop effective diplomacy, effective transfer of technology or other means to engage those countries that decline to enact a similar cap," he said.

[irliberal]

Hahaha... the lone republican horse (old mare really) breaks with the republican party line that global warming is nonsense. Hehehehe... that''s gotta burn their cookies. I love it! lol!

[sjc_1]

Since when has free market and volunteer action had anything to do with solving Global Warming? As long as countries tie fossil fuel usage to their economic growth and standard of living, they will resist any reductions...period. This is why Kyoto was necessary, to get countries to realize that they had to step up and sacrifice for the good of all. It was not "diplomacy". Diplomacy is if you would please stop shooting at us we would really appreciate it.

[cbville72]

IR Liberal?????

No....actually UR Stupid.

Thank You.

[j-whitman]

cbville72,,,, Today was the day our military was supposed to lay out the administration''s evidence of captured weapons being supplied by Iran. ----- Guess What ???

Bush & McCain lied to this country yet again, Weapons specialist saw them & NONE of them are from Iran

[j-whitman]

cbville72,,,, Anyone ever tell you that UR Stupid ???

[cfin5]

This is why conservatives don''t believe or trust Senator McCain. Burn our cookies?....NOPE! That only happens when someone you trust betrays you. This isn''t the only issue we have with the republicratic senator from Arizona.

[j-whitman]

cfin5,,,, I''m still surprised any conservatives trust any of today''s republicans. American Jewish groups are defending Obama against McCain & Lieberman''s attacks.

[j-whitman]

dragonwagon5,,,, McBush is desperate, trying to sound like Al Gore now.

[j-whitman]

cbville72,,,, You are neither man enough or honorable enough to stand with a Whitman let alone call yourself one.

[omaar-101]

McCain won`t back Webb`s GI Bill plan


Oh Yeah...John McCain is a ''True Patriot'' US Veterans can Depend On...Huh


WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has suggested he would OPPOSE a Bi-Partisan measure by Virginia Sen. Jim Webb to expand college Tuition Benefits for (Military Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan).


McCains new move comes as a blow to Webb, a freshman Democrat and former Navy Secretary who had been Quietly building Bi-Partisan support for months.



Note: Webbs GI Bill, a centerpiece of his 2006 campaign, would pay the college tuition of many Military Veterans who have served since the (Sept. 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks). The amount of tuition paid would not exceed the cost of the most expensive state school in a Veterans Home State, in most cases.

The Current Montgomery GI Bill pays only a SMALL FRACTION of the COST of COLLEGE TODAY.

[cfin5]

j,....That''s why I only trust ones voting record, not what they deduct is the PCC (politically campaign correct) thing to say. Even if the person is honest in what they believe to be the wheres and whys in a matter, I still require them to be correct. I don''t see how the two could not be twain. You know, what I would like to see regarding the government leaning into the oil companies is: Where did all of these high mileage carburators and diesel fuel (cooking oil, etc,..) patents disappear to? I''d say some kind of "Fuel Patent Audit" is in order!

[cbville72]

cbville72,,,, You are neither man enough or honorable enough to stand with a Whitman let alone call yourself one.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by j-whitman at 09:04 PM : May 12, 2008

Thanks for the compliment. I found out long ago that you are neither intelligent nor mature enough (even though you are over 50) to have a debate on ANY subject. Your infantile EVERYTHING LEFT and ALL DEMOCRATS ARE GOOD AND ALL REPUBLICANS ARE BAD mentality is ridiculous. You are swayed not by what is right or wrong on ANY issue, but always on what a republican did wrong and why a republican is to blame for everything. I don''t try to persuade you on any issue.
I just make fun of you and cast your 5th grade mentality (and grammar) into the limelight where everyone can see what a fool you are.

Thanks for making it easy and Thank GOD I AM NOT A WHITMAN.

[omaar-101]

A President that Really & Truly Cares about Americans and their home plights.


The U.S. House of Representatives opened debate on Wednesday on a bill (HR 5830) that would create a $300 billion fund to save homeowners from foreclosure, but President George W. Bush threatened to VETO the legislation which he said would "reward speculators and lenders."


The plan looks certain to pass the Democrat-controlled House and the bill''s sponsors expect many Republicans will defy the president and back their measure in the face of the current housing crisis.

Declining home values and rising foreclosures over the past 12 months have darkened the mood of U.S. consumers and pushed the economy toward recession. Recent reports show consumer confidence hit a five-year low in April, while home prices booked a record drop in February.

The Democratic plan combines a variety of new measures as well as some already-passed legislation in a bulky bill largely crafted by Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee.

Significantly, nearly a third of Republicans on Frank''s committee voted for his portions of the housing bill.

Late on Tuesday, the White House threatened to veto the housing plan and took particular aim at a provision that would deliver $15 billion of federal grants to cities and towns so that they could buy foreclosed homes that are in disrepair.

[j-whitman]

cfin5,,, Yes, we agree --- Personally, I feel if a man lies to this country in high office or running for it as much as what''s been going on they should surrender their citizenship on the spot.

You made an good point on the patents, I haven''t heard anything on that in quite awhile.

[cfin5]

Funny that Jim Webb was mentioned. He is the one guy I really thought would jump into the presidential race even though Reed politically shackled him with a few remarks. He''s much more electable than Obama.

[cbville72]

I found out long ago that you are neither intelligent nor mature enough (even though you are over 50) to have a debate on ANY subject. Your infantile EVERYTHING LEFT and ALL DEMOCRATS ARE GOOD AND ALL REPUBLICANS ARE BAD mentality is ridiculous. You are swayed not by what is right or wrong on ANY issue, but always on what a republican did wrong and why a republican is to blame for everything. I don''''t try to persuade you on any issue.
I just make fun of you and cast your 5th grade mentality (and grammar) into the limelight where everyone can see what a fool you are.

Thanks for making it easy and Thank GOD I AM NOT A WHITMAN.

[j-whitman]

cbville72,,, I don''t believe you''ve ever heard me say all democrats are good,,, And yes, not all republicans are bad. just wrong

[cbville72]

cbville72,,, I don''''t believe you''''ve ever heard me say all democrats are good,,, And yes, not all republicans are bad. just wrong


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by j-whitman at 09:26 PM : May 12, 2008

Thanks for the 5th grader abridged version of your views and thanks even more for announcing it publicly.
It is true then that age does not beget intelligence in any way...Especially in your case.
You''ve made that abundantly clear. Have a great night. I''ve trashed you quite enough for one night.

[j-whitman]

cfin5,,,, I don''t put much credibility in the electibility concept --- Bush got elected with a **** poor record & zero experiance except with the party.

I do like Webb, he''ll be a strong contender sooner or later.

[j-whitman]

cbville72,,,, You open your mouth & trash yourself as you always have. You still don''t know jack squat

[cfin5]

j,....Whoever gets elected, we all have to live with it. That is why I want the best American on either side to finish the race unto the election. I did not participate, nor agree with this operation chaos stuff I heard about. To me it smacks as dishonest and a sort of "the end justifies the means" thing, like cheating while gambling at the same time. I don''t like either vice.

[j-whitman]

matvei1107,,,, Just what McCain ideas sound good ??? More of the same destructive foreign policies, ignoring the hero''s & veterans who return home, killing the livelyhoods of American farmers, continuing massive borrowing & pandering to America''s enemy''s ?? More Endless Wars ??? Attacking Iran ????

[randynason]

Dumb-Dumb might have more crediblity if he had stood up to Bush prior to his endorsement from Bush. Given the timing, MacCain seems like more of an as*-kissing schmuck than a cool maverick. He''s a Party-man, pure and simple. Republicans are going down the drain like the human wastes they are. Bye-bye-

[j-whitman]

cfin5..... Yes, I totally agree with you on that. Have you had a chance to listen to Grover Norquist on the republican concept of smaller government ?? It''s the direction this GOP is taking our country. ----

His concept is our government should only be large enough to defend the country. And he''s a leading White House advisor who''s views are accepted all the way to the party chairman... That''s the direction they are taking our country, just toss out our Constitution.

I''ll always say with a rapidly growing country & global problems --- A smaller government is catestrophic... People should be insisting on an effecient government.

[cfin5]

j,...Sorry, I''ve never heard of this Norquist guy. The Founding Fathers were so eloquent in the reasons why they did what they did,....I would vote for anybody who mirrors them best.

[j-whitman]

cfin5,,,, Catch you later, good talking to you.

[tbweb]

Being President of the U.S. is complex and what makes it so complex is the diverse makeup of the United States. The U.S. President has to be President for all U.S. Citizens whether is agrees with their political agenda or not, he or she is still their President. More than any other candidates you get the feeling Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama both would be President for all Americans and now it up to America to decide which direction it wants to go in. Many Republicans don''t like McCain and I think that''s good for America because it indicates we have a real American here, not a real Republican, Sen. McCain deserves serious consideration!

[prinzowhales]

The Global Warming Scam is so completely, so utterly intellectually contemptible that I would be very surprised that McWar did not endorse it along with the two other New World Order flaks--Obama and Clinton.

People stupid enough to vote for Demopublican garbage get what they deserve. The lies coughed up by Al Gore alone on global warming probably exceed the 935+ lies told by the Bush Regime in support of their war of aggression against Iraq.

[cbsblogger]

Rush has been dittoing the Repub line of no such thing as global warming or climate change for years.

This makes him a liar.

[mydogdylan6]

Is Republican Johnny Mac suggesting more government regulation over business? I bet the GOP fat cats aren''t cheering this idea. That might cut into their dividends. Probably cost them $.02/share. Lord knows we can''t have that.

I don''t even know what the Republicans are supposed to represent these days. It used to be small government and a hands off approach to business. Except when business needed help crushing any pesky labor issues. (Thanks Ronnie)

Now, "small government" means the largest deficit in American history, the largest debt in American history, government spending at previously unheard of levels, and more international borrowing than ever before.

They''ll still try to slam the Dems and claim they''re the ones who will spend away and "raise your taxes". While, of course, the GOP will promose to lower taxes - at least for upper 2%. And why not? They''ll just tranfer all that debt to future generations of Americans. No one will ever have to pay for all their reckless spending right?

Running the goverment should be no different than balancing your check book. If you don''t have it, don''t spend it. The Dems managed to have a balanced budget by the late 90''s. Cheney and the boys apparently decided that was a bad idea. Even though we''re losing jobs and have stagnant wages in the US, I''m glad to know that at least Exxon and Halibuton are still making record profits every year. Gives me warm fuzzies.

[ontheleft]

"Free-Market Principles". Yes, that is the solution to global warming. In fact it''s the solution to every problem according to the Republicans. Don''t regulate industry at all. Let them do whatever they want to do.

[cfin5]

j,...You too. Sorry for bouncing in and out of here tonight. Been kinda busy.

[kansas1946]

Many Republicans don''''t like McCain and I think that''''s good for America because it indicates we have a real American here, not a real Republican, Sen. McCain deserves serious consideration!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tbweb
*************************************

tb, I think you are exactly right. I supported McCain in 2000, but I am going with Obama this go around. I would not be opposed to McCain except for his stance on the war. I belive it was wrong to go into Iraq and McCain has supported Bush every step of the way. But I do think he is an honorable American, just not the best choice this time.

[mydogdylan6]

I also was seriously considring McCain in 2000. However, I think to get the GOP nomination, he''s sold a part of himself. He''s changed his position on several issues already. I felt he used to vote his heart (ticking off both Rep. and Dems.), but now he''s more about getting the hard right Repubican voters to like him. Too bad.

I also can''t reward the GOP for the last 8 years of operating with virtual impunity regardless of the consequences. So it''s another vote for Obama.

[haoli25]

Too Little, Too Late, McBush! Try again in 2012...if you haven''t croaked by then.

[naucoming4u]

I also can''''t reward the GOP for the last 8 years of operating with virtual impunity regardless of the consequences. So it''''s another vote for Obama.

Posted by mydogdylan6 at 10:33 PM : May 12, 2008
.............

The Democrats have to do this on their side as well!

Yes, McCain is being called "McSame" for a good reason, because in order to get the NASCAR Conservatives to vote for him, McCain has to commit to several thousand more dead or injured U.S. soldiers (in Iraq) in order to entice the likes of "jamesm", "speakinup", and all the other Fox News fans.

But Obama and Clinton also feels compelled to coddle the illegal immigrant population for the Hispanic vote, (for starters).

So where does that leave the "independent" candidates? OH MY GOD! They may actually bow down to the needs/wants of the majority of Americans! (And they usually do, but the dumbazz media doesn''t even give them the time of day).

[formrusmcsgt]

So McSame fnally found an issue to differentiate himself from dubya about......

[idnnsg]

Ooooh! He''s such a "maverick"! I''m so impressed! (NOT!)

One tiny problem with this "break With Bush" is that Bush has actually admitted global warming is real, several times in the past couple of years! The difference is that Bush doesn''t want to too anything to try to fix it, whereas McCain wants to suggest unworkable "solutions" (based on the "free-market"), thus obtaining the same non-result.

Here''s an example, Bush on NPR Interview:

MR. WILLIAMS: Now, also in the State of the Union, you talked about the %u2013 quote here %u2013 "the serious challenge of global climate change." Were you talking about global warming there?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Absolutely, and it''s a serious challenge.

[idnnsg]

Ooops!

I meant "Bush doesn''t want to do anything..."

when I said, "Bush doesn''t want to too anything..."

[edward1975-2009]

There is too much evidence to suggest that something is changing in our weather patterns, whether it be global warming or as other have said cycles the Earth goes through. Something is happening, we are seeing the retreating of all major glacier fields, polar ice melting that has been around for 20K yrs or so, and more Categotry 5 hurricanes in the last half decade, than in the history of this nation. To ignore what is happening is just ridiculous.

[kissamaarse]

Sure, McCain. What''s the twist, as on everything else you touch?

[rowdytexan2]

Good for John McCain! We need to get moving on this.

Maybe my vote for ya against Obama will turn out to be a good thing for this country!

[omaar-101]

A President that Really & Truly Cares about Americans and their home plights.


The U.S. House of Representatives opened debate on Wednesday on a bill (HR 5830) that would create a $300 billion fund to save homeowners from foreclosure, but President George W. Bush threatened to VETO the legislation which he said would "reward speculators and lenders."


The plan looks certain to pass the Democrat-controlled House and the bill''''s sponsors expect many Republicans will defy the president and back their measure in the face of the current housing crisis.

Declining home values and rising foreclosures over the past 12 months have darkened the mood of U.S. consumers and pushed the economy toward recession. Recent reports show consumer confidence hit a five-year low in April, while home prices booked a record drop in February.

The Democratic plan combines a variety of new measures as well as some already-passed legislation in a bulky bill largely crafted by Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee.

Significantly, nearly a third of Republicans on Frank''''s committee voted for his portions of the housing bill.

Late on Tuesday, the White House threatened to veto the housing plan and took particular aim at a provision that would deliver $15 billion of federal grants to cities and towns so that they could buy foreclosed homes that are in disrepair.

[omaar-101]

McCain won`t back Webb`s GI Bill plan


Oh Yeah...John McCain is a ''''True Patriot'''' US Veterans can Depend On...Huh


WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has suggested he would OPPOSE a Bi-Partisan measure by Virginia Sen. Jim Webb to expand college Tuition Benefits for (Military Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan).


McCains new move comes as a blow to Webb, a freshman Democrat and former Navy Secretary who had been Quietly building Bi-Partisan support for months.



Note: Webbs GI Bill, a centerpiece of his 2006 campaign, would pay the college tuition of many Military Veterans who have served since the (Sept. 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks). The amount of tuition paid would not exceed the cost of the most expensive state school in a Veterans Home State, in most cases.

The Current Montgomery GI Bill pays only a SMALL FRACTION of the COST of COLLEGE TODAY.

[stn_sage]

McCain is blatantly pandering on this issue. He wants us to believe that he''s going to engage on this issue!
HOGWASH!

How can we believe this?! As pointed out in the article, he''s taking money from energy companies, he proposed suspending the federal gasoline tax, and he''s voted against funding alternative energy sources!

In other words, his actions betray his words!

He''ll do the same thing Bush did when he was pretending to be an environmentalist in 2000, he''ll go back on his word after he gets in office!

These politicians really believe that the vast majority of the public can be fooled, and most of the time! And, they''re right, IF we let them!

[alphaa10-2009]

CBS reports McCain said, "I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action..."

However, the most serious action ahead for McBush is to vet his own policy statements of glaring contradictions.

For example, euphemism is not a policy, and cannot cover a void of understanding. Yet, McBush would replace the carrot of trade incentives and the stick of tariffs and other trade disincentives with the mere slip of a concept he calls "effective diplomacy"-- this statement just doesn''t ask for credibility, it begs for it.

Continuing the McBush parade of industrial-grade evasions, his cap-and-trade control of carbon emissions is a gradual, voluntary response to drastically immediate, involuntary crisis. Nature has its own schedule, and will have the last word on how humans deal with their global warming problem.

Doubtless, we will be out of time when the last obdurate polluter realizes he has made a big mistake with the environment.

[noloyalisti]

Anyone who believes a word out of the mouth of a Republican should have their head examined. McBush is a true republican: flip-flopper, not well educated on the issues, protect big business at the expense of the common folk. Why would you believe him now?

[jerr11]

Maybe my vote for ya against Obama will turn out to be a good thing for this country!

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 12:36 AM : May 13, 2008


I believe it will.

McCain is the real deal.

We need someone who will steer the country in the right direction.

These past 7 years has been great for the nation.

$4 a gallon gas.

4071 dead Americans in Iraq.

$3 trillion squandered.

Halliburton''s profits through the roof.

I believe the country need to conitue on this path of prosperity.

Go McCain, 94 MORE YEARS, 94 MORE YEARS!

(In Iraq, that is)

[brianbwb-2009]

"Urges Free-Market Principles And "Effective Diplomacy" To Reduce Global Warming"

How is this a split from Bush, who has always believed that the ecosystem should be sacrificed for the profit of a few?

[downtowner97]

Armageddon has to happen before Christians can go be with Jesus in the clouds. McCain wants to prevent armageddon. McCain is keeping Christians from being with Jesus. I really wish Christians would go live in the clouds and stop knocking on my door, so I''m not going to vote for McCain.