Obama Is The Only Remaining Green Candidate, Says Times' Friedman

As we emerge from Labor Day, college students are gathering back on campuses not only to start the fall semester, but also, in some cases, to vote for the first time in a presidential election. There is no bigger issue on campuses these days than environment/energy. Going into this election, I thought that -- for the first time -- we would have a choice between two "green" candidates. That view is no longer operative -- and college students (and everyone else) need to understand that.

With his choice of Sarah Palin -- the Alaska governor who has advocated drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and does not believe mankind is playing any role in climate change -- for vice president, John McCain has completed his makeover from the greenest Republican to run for president to just another representative of big oil.

Given the fact that Senator McCain deliberately avoided voting on all eight attempts to pass a bill extending the vital tax credits and production subsidies to expand our wind and solar industries, and given his support for lowering the gasoline tax in a reckless giveaway that would only promote more gasoline consumption and intensify our addiction to oil, and given his desire to make more oil-drilling, not innovation around renewable energy, the centerpiece of his energy policy -- in an effort to mislead voters that support for drilling today would translate into lower prices at the pump today -- McCain has forfeited any claim to be a green candidate.

Read the full story here

Related:

::Sarah Palin On The Environment
::McCain, GOP Differed On Climate

Comments

[GLT21]

I agree that Obama would be the best hope for the future of my kids and maybe someday grandkids.

More war, more pollution, a more police state, more death, etc....

God help us if the R's win.

[HesNotTheMessiah]

Sorry, have to disagree with you, GLT. Socialized medicine? No thanks. That Ahmadinejad wants Obama to win should speak volumes about your guy.

Drill here. Drill now. Go nuclear, clean coal, wind, solar, etc. Do it all. Do it ALL now.

"This time I'm voting Republican because, last time, the Democrats left a bad taste in my mouth."
- Monica Lewinsky

[TJRich]

As far as I know, Ahmadinejad is not eligible to vote.

[wyson]

Shouldn't you be watching Fox news.

[FastMovingCloud]

Oh, aren't you clever. I hope Lewinsky sues you.

[Rosie2]

What is your alternative, if you can't afford ANY medical. Give us your plan.

[RAFunge]

haven't you read or seen on al jazira the Ahmadinejad gave a speech last week (8/30 ish) that mandates that all Iranian vehicles will be converted to CNG by 2010 in order to sell their excess to the USA. Drill baby Drill but as T Boone Pickens points out that we use 25% of the worlds oil and only produce 3%. are we going to quit driving our gas hogs? they haven't yet with $4 gas, how high does it have to go?

[Patrioticwoman]

If you are white, your God is not Obama's god so be sure to tune into the Black Liberation Theology so that you can prepped to call on the right god for your race. Do you realize BHO has a crazy nutty religious belief. But that is not being green, it's being 'cool' hollywood style. Americans have sound judgement, no rookies in the whitehouse. Especially not rookies endorsed by hamas, iranian crazy president, fidel castro and every other thug in the foreign lands.

[11Xray]

That's funny; you know who agrees with you? The Communist Party USA; that's right...Obama is their man, too. Check out their website and see for yourself.

As for me, no thanks. I feel a lot safer with McCain and Palin.

[RAFunge]

OMG... where do you people get this crap... they can endorse anyone they want. the right wing conservatives do... what's the difference?

[thirteen13]

There is no maybe about it. Your kids, grand kids, great grandkids, great,great grandkids, great, great, great grandkids and so on and on and on, will be paying big time for what the Republicans borrow and spend mindset has caused.

Borrow and spend mean anything to you? Tax cut (borrow) for the rich. War, economic hardship
(payback) for the rest of us.

Oil Iran is next Republican invation target. Have you signed up those future warriors with the draft board? They have to know who and where you are.

[rasit]

Bush-Cheney, two oilmen, didn;t care about the effects of fossil fuel for 7 1/2 years; Bush won;t support the Kyotoa Treaty., because the global warming is due to China and India...Right, we have 3 per cent of the world's population, and we consume 20 per cent of the oil produced,

Republicans have ALWAYS blamed someone else for the problems they created, because they are in the pockets of lobbyists.

After listening to Sarah Palin blame the media for DOING THEIR job by asking questions about her, it is very obvious in the unfortunate event of a McCain-Palin win. Get ready for more BLAMES, MISERIES and GLACIER MELTS

[djkrlsn]

Neither Clinton nor Bush sent the Kyoto treaty to the Senate because it would have been overwhelmingly rejected (it also wasn't ratified in much of Europe)

[Kirby]

She is a strident trumpet for a blinded Republican Party and its Presidential Aspirant, Senator McCain, the Bush Clone. She is certainly not presidential in her mean demeanor, and just does not have the "presence."

So they're gearing us up to have four more years of imperialistic, triumphalistic spreading of democracy, and "defending freedom." No talking to anyone without preconditions, take it or leave it. That'll take us far, right on to Armageddon.

It seems like the former glib mayor of New York doesn't know the UN resolutions to which we've ascribed, nor does he wish us to attempt the posture of "honest broker" in the Middle East. The final resolution of the East Jerusalem situation is to be a give away to Israel, is it? Well, if that's the case we can sure as hell get ready for that McCain 100 year war over it on Israel's behalf, because it is a certain non-starter for any real comprehensive and lasting peace. Little wonder that Lieberman picked McCain up out of the spent heap to push him for president. And who will do all the fighting? It won't be any Americans with dual citizenship, Israeli-American!

AND, who will suffer when the frustrated masses of Muslims and others will be finally able to exact out of the United States its final payback for our duplicitous behaviour against balance and fairness in the Israeli-Palestinian situation? Wake up, America! Most so-called terrorists are extremely frustrated freedom fighters.

[bigdog1515]

I say if you don't like fossil fuels, don't use them. Go walk or ride a bike and leave the rest of us alone !!!

[KillTheMessenger]

We are. It's those pesky Saudis that flew the planes into the Twin Towers that aren't. And now they are even taking the real price for oil: whatever is left in your wallet.

:-)

[ZeroBama]

Actually, global warming is due to natural cycles in the weather/climate that have nothing to do with humans. Just because B follows A doesn't mean that A caused B.

[Beranek]

Another natural cycle is to replace the scoundrels every eight years.

[thirteen13]

Please tell us if there is a limit to the number of humans the earth can support?

If there is a limit, why would that be?

At what time in recent human history has there been no harm to the environment?

[ilovemydoggy]

Obama is a great green candidate. McCain & Palin will continue the legacy of destroying the planet.

Baby boomer views: http://www.Vaboomer.com

[bigdog1515]

Yeah, we're destroying the planet. Ever been to a third world country ??? They don't care what they put into the air and water. Go south to Mexico or Central America, take a trip to China or India. We have some of the strictest environmental standards in the world already for an industrialized nation. There are very few places you can drink water right out of the tap other than here in these United States.

[TJRich]

Maybe, but it's organic. We use chemical, solvents, nuclear radioactive gunk and such. Much easier to purify your water. And most of them don't have taps.

[sherwoodforest]

I think Republicans want the US to be just like Mexico- they hate environmental laws. They want to turn our parks over to big business and give corporate polluters a free pass and NO TAXES -oh and no services either. The longer we keep Repugs in office, the more like the 3rd world we are becoming. And now they are getting ideas about using China as a model- Business and government working as one to pollute and profiteer- Repug heaven!

[KillTheMessenger]

We (in the Western World) happen to use most of what China produces. We are using most of the world's oil and are responsible for almost all the excess CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere.

A little information would help you to appear credible.

[arthur2008]

TORONTO (Sept. 3) - A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier, scientists said Wednesday.
Derek Mueller, an Arctic ice shelf specialist at Trent University in Ontario, told The Associated Press that the 4,500-year-old Markham Ice Shelf separated in early August and the 19-square-mile shelf is now adrift in the Arctic Ocean.

[HesNotTheMessiah]

OMG!! Not the Markham Ice Shelf !! This truly is Armagedden...

"This time I'm voting Republican because, last time, the Democrats left a bad taste in my mouth." - Monica Lewinsky

[KillTheMessenger]

You aren't eligible to vote. 13 year old trolls in their parent's basement don't qualify.

[Chemwiz]

Who cares! Special interests like the 'Green' concept, but Americans don't buy into it - obviously. The Greens need to go pedal that bike in China and see if it floats.

[GuyRC]

By Americans I take it you mean the people you recognize as Americans, the ones that agree with everything you say. I know people who are buying into it and you don't get to decide if they are Americans or not.

[Warmglobe]

I thought he was the only black candidate

[Chemwiz]

LOL LOL LOL!!

[Patrioticwoman]

Obama is whatever color you want him to be. He is a pimping community organizer who will sell out the USA faster than J.Lo ditched Pdiddy after the fata shooting (allegedly). Governor Palin is the triple threat - Mother, Wife and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska a.k.a Governor, aka Madame Vice President in waiting. Good times!

[markie1111]

"Only One Green Choice Remains"....whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not, the only green choice for this planet is the immediate reduction of human population by two-thirds. and we all know that is not going to happen. so we live the choice we have made and the consequence. And the consequence is the Sixth Great Known Extinction on Earth and it's repair will take about a million years.

[KillTheMessenger]

Except, of course, that it's not the numbers that count but the efficiency with which we supply them. So in reality, if we get rid of our inefficient American society, we can supply twice the number of people without damaging the planet any more than we do already.

[markie1111]

right, and what planet do you live on??? what don't you understand about a percent or so a year of decrease in biodiversity let alone the perspective of a few thousand years and the resultant accumulation of those years? are you so blind that you can't see what is happening before your very eyes???

[TARthritis]

The content of Gov. Palin's convention speech aside, I have not personally found the tone of a person's voice so grating since I used to sit in Capitol Hill hearing rooms and endure the endless drone of former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas). Anyone who likewise endured those times knows we're in for some of the same "let-me-chew-out-my-own-brain" moments as the campaign proceeds and we are subjected to the governor's mellifluous, "hard-'R'" rantings.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi TARthiritis . . . so your contribution is we all need to speak like you? . . . Quite the treat! . . . Am looking forward to it!

[Rosie2]

SHRILL!!

[McKinney-theONLY-GREEN]

There is NOTHING "green" about Obama or his minions. NOTHING! The only GREEN CANDIDATE is CYNTHIA McKINNEY. Stop trying to jack other people's platforms when you stupid Dems don't even believe in NOT GOING TO WAR! What kind of dumb ish is this? I have really had enough of these Oprah-fied Democrats pushing their corny Obama candidate in our faces like he is somehow the salvation of the world. He is not even real. This is how Oprah plans to push her scientology agenda in our faces as well. I don't trust ANYTHING that woman preaches about, NOTHING. And Obama is on some serious numbnut ish. He is a big old WIMP. I expected a bit of better journalism from HuffPo, but I have realized how HP has finally went the route of yellow journalism. WACK WACK WACK.

[MacFli]

Dude, your fried

[KillTheMessenger]

Cynthia WHO? Never mind...

[berryessence]

chile,

you need to rethink CYNTHIA MCKINNEY....I KNOW....I LIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY NAMED AFTER HER.

CHILE ..... PLEASE....NOTHING GREEN ABOUT HER OR HER POLICIES.

SHE RAN AWAY FROM GEORGIA AND MOVED COMFORTABLY TO CALIFORNIA...

PLEASE KEEP HER

[TJRich]

I really love her, but just don't understand her hooking up with Nader.

[AdultFilmLegend]

I thought Ralph Nader was leading the Green Party?

I guess I missed the memo. Typical me.

[cnimmo]

nah - that's Cynthia McKinney

Nader is just running independent

[berryessence]

THE ONLY THING GREEN ABOUT NADER

ARE THOSE TEETH OF HIS

[cnimmo]

The only green candidate?

What are McKinney and Nader then?

[KillTheMessenger]

Egomaniacs with no ambition to chance anything for real. They are just in for the ride.

[mezz1962]

Even T Boone Pickens a Plan that Osama has just about endorsed says we need to drill. Obama does not have a plan. He wants to explore solar, Wind anything and everything under the sun which really translates into Millions of wasted dollars.

Every expert in the USA says it will be impossible to accomplish energy independence without more drilling.

Polosi is pushing natural gas no wonder her and her husband just invested $200,000 in Natural Gas stocks

Why wont Obama bring up nuclear energy? It is Clean, safe, Cheap and in fact Osama wants to turn the US into some sort of Europe west he should look at France where 80% of their electricity comes from Nuclear power plants.

[JonG345]

sarah palin is just like george bush!

[MacFli]

I think Bush's speech writer works for Palin

[KillTheMessenger]

You mean Palin works for Bush's speech writer...

:-)

[rasit]

I think even worse; Sarah Palin, a supposedly compassionate, God fearing, Pro-life Christian takes great pride in being a moose-hunter, and how good she is in field dressing the same. As she is also Pro-Choice, she respects a human life, BUT not an animal life. Additionally, as a supporter of Intelligent Design Creationist, DOESN'T she know that ALL lives are CREATED by God? So, how is it ok to KILL ANY LIVE FORM. I bet if this question is posed to her by a media correspondent, her answer would be "it's a sexist question". Good luck, America...

The above is just one example of the HYPOCRISY in Sarah Palin's beliefs...

[rasit]

That all we need!!! We had 7 1/2 years of nightmares, I hope it ends in November 08.

Obama/Biden 08

[berryessence]

NO SHE'S NOT

SHE'S LIKE DICK CHENEY!

I DON'T KNOW IF I GAVE HER A COMPLIMENT

[Patrioticwoman]

Yap! a two term WINNER by changing the hearts and minds of the american people. This was supposed to be the dems year....what a joke! The nominee crafted in the DNC image will fail you and without a messiah, you'll be glad to have the leadership of McCain-Palin.

[Rosie2]

NO HOW, NO WAY , NO MCCAIN/PALIN! Hillary Clinton said today, with which I am in total agreement.

[thinkworklivelove]

Obama is the ONLY candidate that brings people together. The Republicans are only offering one-liners (Dril!), political gimmicks and name-calling. Bush ran that strategy until the "wheels came off". Bush even used it against McCain. 2000- McSame=LOSER. 2008- McSame=LOSER. Eight is enough!

[McKinney-theONLY-GREEN]

Obama is BIG LOSER. ALL GIMMICK, FURTHERMORE HE IS NOT GREEN

[MacFli]

Is baby getting cranky? Maybe you should take a nap

[KillTheMessenger]

Here, have a cookie.

[GuyRC]

This country is a two party country and until you change that Green party presidential candidates are spoilers, nothing more. I'm not saying I like it, that is just the way it is.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi thinkworklivelong . . . . The strategy is two words "Drill Baby".

Looks like you are making a political point . . . but you seem stuck on recycled talking points . . . suggest you lift the needle and see where that takes you . . . there are new and clever talking points coming out every day . . . it is okay to modernize.

[Weathermaker]

Germany leads 'clean coal' pilot
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7584151.stm

I wish this was an American accomplishment, but I guess it's fair if we keep electing creationist idiots who silence our scientists.