Ah-nuld Sets Out to "Terminate" Global Warming

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/2/2006 5:59:43 AM

Sure, Arnold Schwarznegger's a Republican, and I don't agree with everything he does as Governor of California, but I've gotta give him major credit where major credit is due.  On Monday, Schwarznegger signed an historic agreement on Global Warming with Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain.  According to the California Governor's website:

+óGé¼+ôCalifornia will not wait for our federal government to take strong action on global warming,+óGé¼-¥ said Gov. Schwarzenegger after an hour-long roundtable focused on clean energy and climate issues with the Prime Minister and more than a dozen CEOs. +óGé¼+ôToday, we are taking an unprecedented step by signing an agreement between California and the United Kingdom. International partnerships are needed in the fight against global warming and California has a responsibility and a profound role to play to protect not only our environment, but to be a world leader on this issue as well.+óGé¼-¥

This is great news, because - as the "terminator's" website points out - California is the 12th largest emitter of carbon in the world.  Fortunately, California is also taking a leadership role, no thanks to the Bush Administration or Senators like George "97% Bush Rubberstamp" Allen, on tackling this critically important issue, this "Inconvenient Truth." 

According to Gov. Schwarznegger:

People always say you can't be pro-business and pro-environment, but they are dead wrong. You can do both and we+óGé¼Gäóre proving it everyday in California. We are attacking global warming and still creating thousands of new jobs. We are leaders in energy efficiency and leaders in attracting new investment.

That is SO true.  It reminds me of the scene in "An Inconvenient Truth" where Al Gore sarcastically notes that U.S. automakers can't sell their vehicles in China because they don't meet Chinese fuel economy standards!  Could that be part of the reason why sales by U.S. car companies are plummeting?

By the way, there's more good news on the Global Warming front, even as we swelter in a record heat wave across the nation (no coincidence, I'm sure - ha!).  Yesterday, according to the Washington Post:

Twenty-two of the world's largest cities announced...that they will work together to limit their contributions to global warming in an effort led by former president Bill Clinton.

According to former President Clinton:

It no longer makes sense for us to debate whether or not the Earth is warming at an alarming rate, and it doesn't make sense for us to sit back and wait for others to act. The fate of the planet that our children and grandchildren will inherit is in our hands, and it is our responsibility to do something about this crisis.

That is so true.  This is an urgent, immediate crisis about which there is ZERO scientific doubt anymore. Yet the U.S. government, led by a bunch of science denying and censoring nincompoops, fiddles while Earth burns.  This is yet another HUGE reason why we need a change of leadership in Washington, and we need it NOW.  I suggest we start by ditching George Allen's Hummer and driving off into the sunset - in a Prius, of course - with Jim Webb.  In other words, let's "terminate" George Allen's Virginia political career and get busy "terminating" Global Warming, like Ah-nuld's doing in Ka-li-fohn-ya.

P.S.  I still see no action from Virginia on Global Warming.  Why on Earth not?

Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign.  The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.

Comments



I Hope This Is An Honest Effort (PM - 8/2/2006 8:00:15 AM)
But being a political cynic, maybe Blair and Arnie did this to help their personal popularities.  Arnie, after all, has a tough reelection fight and needs to attract California moderates/environmentalists.  If the agreement ends up accomplishing nothing of substance, then its just a Republican publicity whitewash.

However, I will accept this as an honest effort (watching for actual results).  I agree with Arnold's positions on some issues, and being a former Republican do not automatically dismiss all Republican positions as chicanery.

So let's hope this is the real deal, and what we have is a further manifestation of the end of Bushism.



I hope so too...and tend to believe it is. (Lowell - 8/2/2006 8:10:42 AM)
Unfortunately, the "voluntary" efforts by Bush, Allen at all have been a complete and utter joke.  Worse than nothing, actually, because these clowns can CLAIM to be doing something on this crisis while actually doing zilch.  But what do you expect from someone - George Allen - who bashes womens' right to choose yet is a major beneficiary of contributions and private jet rides by the maker of the Plan B "morning after pill?"  Or, a person who accepts large donations from a company - Smithfield Foods - that is one of THE WORST employers and abusers of illegal immigrants in the country?  Or, a person who rants and raves about morality yet accepts money from Jack Abramoff.  Yep, that's George Allen, a guy who says he is "bored" with life in the "wounded sea slug" Senate and wishes he had been born in Iowa (when, that is, he's not fantasizing about being a Confederate officer, despite having absolutely NO family Confederate heritage).  Please remind me: why ANYONE would vote for George Allen?


Yes, it would be nice if it was an honest effort (Ambivalent Mumblings - 8/2/2006 8:43:02 AM)
I too hope that it is an honest effort and they are not simply making the agreement in order to become more popular. If they do make an effort to prevent global warming, however, I don't really care if it's simply an act to improve their popularity because they would be doing something that is very beneficial. But, that's only if they are actually doing something.


I, too, hope this is an honest effort. (summercat - 8/2/2006 9:01:51 AM)
I think Ahnold does have some genuine concern for the environment--he is pretty close to Robert Kennedy Jr.
Altho his big thing about hydrogen fuel cells has been a joke--and does he still drive a Hummer?
In any case, the only way presently to make a difference is at the state and local levels--the current Congress will never do anyting significant.
I, too, was a former Repub--and am sure there are current ones out there who also care about energy in the right way.


Groping for votes (seveneasypeaces - 8/2/2006 1:02:39 PM)
Arnold secretly used energy (Enron) to take Gray Davis down, he now wants to use energy to keep his job.  Start by apologizing for being a spokesman for hummer and driving that ridiculous gas guzzling bus he paraded in.

I find it hard to believe that he and Robert are close.  I'd have to hear it from Robert.  Let's see if Robert does his radio show on the new ever-changing arnold.  It was easy for him to steal the governor's mansion.  He is getting antsy about having to do it again.



Virginia must have a plan (elevandoski - 8/2/2006 5:56:10 PM)
The National Wildlife Federation sportsman poll (May 2006) indicates 80% of hunters and anglers surveyed believe the US should be a world leader in addressing global warming, and 82% believe solving this problem should be a high priority.

In 2001, more than 3 million people spent nearly $1.9 billion on hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing in Virginia, which created 43,014 jobs in the state. Warmer water temperatures could encourage the spread of diseases among oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, threatening Virginia's oyster fishery. According to the EPA, sand replenishment for Virginia's coastline could cost up to $1.2 billion to compensate for sea level rise.