The National Journal Insiders's Poll this week provides strong evidence that the GOP is really the Flat Earth, Anti-Science, and Irrationality Party. The Democrats, meanwhile, may not exactly be "profiles in courage" much of the time, but at least they're "reality based." The evidence? According to the National Journal poll, only 23% of Republican "insiders" believe that "it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the Earth is warming because of man-made pollution?" A whopping 77% disagree with that statement, despite overwhelming, near-unanimous scientific evidence and agreement on the subject.
In contrast, 98% (!) of Democratic insiders believe man-made pollution is indeed causing global warming. Yes, it looks like we have just the slightest of disconnects between the two parties on global warming.
Not coincidentally, the National Journal Insider's Poll on global warming comes during the same week that Time Magazine's cover reads: "Be Worried, Be VERY Worried" (about global warming). And a Time-ABC News poll shows that 85% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 88% saying it "threatens future generations." Meanwhile, "[t]hree-quarters [of Americans] want to see Bush and others ? Congress, American businesses and the American public ? take action to help the environment in the year ahead."
In other words, Republicans are not just out of touch with science and reality on this issue, they're also out of touch with the vast majority of Americans. A couple of quotes from Republican "insiders" illustrate just HOW out of touch they are:
*"Even if temperatures are rising, a dubious proposition in itself, there is absolutely no conclusive evidence that it has anything to do with man."
*"The press has made up its mind and is taking the side of extreme environmentalists."
Yeah, that's right guys, the fact that year after year, we see record world temperatures means nothing. The fact that we've been pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution began has nothing to do with it. And apparently, according to the Flat Earth Republicans, Occam's Razor - the law that says "the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible" - has been repealed.
In other words, Republicans fiddle (and make excuses for their oil industry buddies) as the Earth burns up.
Meanwhile, here are a few "reality-based" comments from Democratic insiders:
*"There have been 868 studies, peer-reviewed, and not a single one doubts it; there is no controversy."
*"Yes, beyond the shadow of a doubt. All major scientific bodies of the world agree that humans are changing the climate and that we must take immediate action to avoid dire consequences."
*"It's also proven that -- for the Bush administration -- scientific evidence is never conclusive."
*"The Bush administration really has their head in the sand."
Oh, and the Republican answer to global warming? According to the Insider's Poll, only 50% favor "higher fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles" and just 35% favor "mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions." In contrast, Democratic "insiders" overwhelmingly (90%) favor mandaotry carbon dioxide limits, while 86% favor "higher fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles."
Is this a major disconnect or what? Let's just put it this way, if you care about the planet we live on, and specifically if you worry about global warming, then you've got only one party to vote for this November - the Democratic Party. If, on the other hand, you are an ostrich with its head in the sand, then you should DEFINITELY vote for Republicans wherever you can find them. And, come election day, when Hurricane Zeta is pounding the Gulf Coast, you can tell yourself that Global Warming Has Nothing To Do With It.
That's right, it's just "natural fluctuations" to blame. Or maybe it's all those damn trees, as Ronald Reagan once said. Let's cut 'em down and pave 'em over, now THAT will solve the problem! Either that, or give more tax breaks to Big Oil so they can continue to rake in record profits while the penguins and polar bears look for new homes. Whoops, they won't have any new homes to go to. Ah well, extinction's part of the natural cycle too. Anyway, Armageddon's on its way, so why worry about Earth in the "here and now?" That, my friends, would be a liberal/commie/pinko way of thinking, and we can't have any of THAT type of talk here in the God-fearin', Bible thumpin' Republican States of America. Er, what's left of it after sea levels rise 30, 50, or 100 feet. Anyway, those are all "blue" areas, so screw 'em. We're Republicans, and we're going to be the Permanent Majority Party in America - what's left of it, anyway - forever. Even if it kills us, which it very well might.
Sigh.
P.S. Republican "insiders" include Virginians George Allen, Eric Cantor, and Tom Davis. Just thought I'd point that out.