Comments on: In case you thought passing a climate bill was easy: “Chaos, arm-twisting gave Pelosi win”

By: urban trekker

urban trekker — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:59:37 +0000

I wonder what are the other Dems who voted no – thinking? Even Kucinich is on that list.. it’s not easy to please everyone, at least we can get something going to start with..

By: Mike D

Mike D — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:25:37 +0000

“As we all know, there is never any need to check whether politicians are prevaricating.”

ZING!

Good one.

By: SecularAnimist

SecularAnimist — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:50:52 +0000

MarkB wrote: “These Democrats need not be scared by some loud zealots who are attempting to intimidate them into thinking their political career is on the line.”

They are not scared by some loud zealots. They are scared by some very, very, very wealthy and powerful corporations. And unfortunately some of them don’t need to be “scared” much, because they are bought-and-paid-for tools of the fossil fuel corporations to begin with (see “coal-state Dem”).

By: MarkB

MarkB — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:58:30 +0000

Many Democrats need to grow a backbone. The strong majority of Americans support greenhouse gas reductions and most polls show support for cap and trade. These Democrats need not be scared by some loud zealots who are attempting to intimidate them into thinking their political career is on the line. Hopefully, Democratic Senators, who don’t have to worry about the constraints of representing very narrow interests, will not feel threatened in this manner.

By: Richard Brenne

Richard Brenne — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:42:28 +0000

For about four score and seven years there were comparable battles in Congress to preserve slavery as an institution and as the foundation of the U.S. economy, especially in the South.

Now the foundation of our economy comes from burning fossil fuels.

Four score and seven years hence, and for all eternity, our descendents will wonder why we ruined our planet for them, for everyone between our times, and for everyone to follow.

The pro-fossil fuel forces are like the pro-slavery forces. They will be seen as such to virtually everyone of all generations through all time. We need as many as possible to see them that way now.

By: Charles Siegel

Charles Siegel — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:45:33 +0000

“triple-checking their whip lists to decide who was a solid “yes” and who was prevaricating on the cap-and-trade legislation.”

They mean “vacillating.”

“To prevaricate” means “to deviate from the truth” or more bluntly “to lie.”

As we all know, there is never any need to check whether politicians are prevaricating.

By: Modesty

Modesty — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:24:31 +0000

And which Senators will push for the Section 702 economy-wide goal to be consistent with what WRI says the bill can do?

By: Modesty

Modesty — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:23:18 +0000

Chiming in with several commenters above: Senate road map ASAP.

Thanks!

By: Will Greene

Will Greene — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:08:36 +0000

I echo Bill R’s comment. Who will be the fence sitters in the senate?

One more question, I’m new to this. If a cap and trade similar to ACES passes the Senate are we done, or does it have to go back to the House for another vote? I need to know if it’s worth it to keep working on my congressman. (I volunteer for Greenpeace)

By: Lewis

Lewis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:06:47 +0000

The odd thing to me is one of my Senators is talking of how he got some pork for Ohio into the bill while my Representative in congress voted against it (to front page stories extolling his resolve in the face of arm twisting from the Speaker and President.) It is a bit exasperating.