Lindsey Graham Rebukes Fellow Republicans: "The Green Economy Is Coming"

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) chastised his fellow Republicans Wednesday for refusing to deal with climate change and said they needed to see green legislation as something that could help business.

"I am no scientist, but I've ... seen the effects of a warming planet," he said in a press conference. "The green economy is coming. We can either follow or lead. And those countries who follow will pay a price. Those nations who lead in creating the new green economy for the world will make money."

"If you can't participate in solving a hard problem, why are you up here?" he asked.

Watch, via ThinkProgress:

Of course, the climate bill compromise Graham is working on with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is weaker than the current legislation. Republicans have been boycotting the Environment and Public Works Committee hearings, blocking action by exploiting a committee rule that at least two members of the minority have to be present before opening markup.

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Comments

[gene r peckover]

All good things start out with good ideas . It does have to be shared with everybody who cares . If more poeple created solutions that work we could all profit instead of crying about spilt milk. I can add 6mpg hwy & 10mpg intown with an extra 150hp to V8 gas Ford, Chevy & Chrysler vehicles with factory warranty continuance. Large Family Highway Hybrids with Towing capability. GenesVettes.com. Reduce gas consumption from 30% to 50%.I have 3 test vehicles that I give test drives by appointment.2007 Corvette 34mpg hwy-43mpg around town 750hp-2008 Corvette 32mpg hwy 40 around town 775hp-2009 Silverado 28mpg hwy-32 around town -18mpg towing 6,000 lbs -500hp-550tq. Who will tell the public about a solution that works & will save 30 to 50 % gas consumptiom . That will also support our auto industry so we can have safer vehicles made here in the US. This is something that can be done now that will add green to many of those vehicles that are underpowered and that waist gas.Gene

[mamacat]

You know that the Republican Party is in big trouble when Sen. Graham is accused of being too liberal by the base of the party.

The idea of Sen. Graham being the voice of reason, compared to the rest of the Republican Senators, boggles the mind.

[jasper48]

ehT notgniffuH tsoP srotaredoM kcuS esroH kcoC

[bbrecht]

right on!

[janeycat]

I guess Graham thought the only way to get their attention was to tell them thats where the money is. but they all just want to say is .... no no no ,not gona go to rehab i say no no no ... it would be like them being rehabilitated for them to agree on anything that is not coming from their party.

Well,got news for them.....their a dying breed..... some of them are really trying to hold out hope that they can brainwash the young people......but i think the young people have a brain and want a greener earth to live on.the young people are the main ones pushing for not killing our planet.and for using our resources, besides this is going to be their home long after the older repubes are gone.

like my mom always said ....... chit or get off the pot !!

[realpolitic]

Lindsey Graham is a Republican for some reason not stuck in the 1800's.

[ResidualSelfImage]

Legalize hemp and fix bad trade deals congress!!!

Fall of the Republic;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

[rgilley]

No not fall of the republic..­..hopefull­y fall of the republicans! They got us to where we are just like they did in the great depression.

[BlueFloyd]

lindsey graham has the whitest teeth anyone has ever come across.

[spinns17]

i think this is the only repug i like.i dont know why but i do.lol

[theone718]

It might be weaker than an already weak bill BUT if we get the FOUNDATION in place then it is something we can build on for sure. WE NEED SOMETHING PASSED. This isn't Health Care, where a bill without a Public Option shouldn't even be entertained, WE NEED SOMETHING.

[ReedYoung]

Instead of compromising the legislation, Senator Graham, you should be making your fellow Republican Senators understand why they should support the same policies for national security reasons, even if their constituents overwhelmingly believe in a 6,000 year old Earth.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070415/na-gen-us-global-warming-security/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-beinecke/us-military-says-we-need_b_255680.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-powers/why-the-military-is-worri_b_280529.html

Cut the crap. Global warming is only one compelling reason to abandon as quickly as possible all combustion-based methods of energy conversion in favor of purely mechanical and electrical­-induction based methods (wind turbines, concentrating solar thermal plants, wave energy and geothermal energy), and photoelectric (rooftop solar panels) methods of converting other forms of energy to usable electricity. If you assume that global warming is the only reason for these policies, then some people's "skepticism" about science leads you to compromise, but that assumption is wrong, and will lead you to support legislation that is weak not only on climate, but on energy independence and as a result, on national security.

[ReedYoung]

Your party has already released a health care "alternative" that saves less in total than the Democrats' plan.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/gop-health-care-bill-woul_n_346438.html?show_comment_id=33991972#comment_33991972
Now, if you can't even get national security right, you gopers literally have no issues left other than opposing gay rights and abortions. You want to run on the politics of hate the rest of your career? If not, then stop lobbying Democrats to foul up a climate bill that already is not strong enough, and start petitioning your fellow Republicans to pull their heads out of their rectums and support legislation that is called a "climate bill" that will finally advance the agenda of energy independence that notorious GOP failures Bush and Palin made so much noise about.

[chedet]

maybe he started watching planet earth.

[lvogt]

I understand polluters want to deny greenhouse gas dangers but I am stunned that Republicans do not see the business opportunities in green technology. There are millions to be made and they are going to miss the boat. There is green in green, baby.

[LeighAnnes]

How many buggy whip companies went out of business because of the car? Or prop airplane companies when jets were introduced? Many businessmen are short-sighted. Remember IBM giving Bill Gates all rights to the PC software because "only the hardware is important?"

[b1rd67]

If Ronnie Raygun hadn't overturned Jimmy Carter's renewable energy initiatives we would already be selling Green technology to China and India and making money hand over fist! We would also be free from Middle-East oil! But that might have hurt the Bush family business so we can't have that now can we!?

[BannedbannedBunny]

You make a very good point!

[ReedYoung]

Wind speed and Solar output vary, but only within steady parameters. Over a 24-hour period, there is always some sunshine (except at the poles during their respective winters), and anywhere you'd build a farm of wind turbines, there is always some wind each day. Over weeks, months and years, the variance is utterly negligible, and in shorter terms, having a variety of energy sources on the electrical grid will prevent any local lulls in wind or Solar activity from leading to blackouts or even brownouts.

The reason corporatists (Republicans and certain Democrats who take oil, coal and Big Ag money) prefer combustible energy sources is that they are scarce, and therefore the markets can be manipulated. It's really as simple as that.

[b1rd67]

Good post - fanned.

[dbailey]

well, I'm sure as soon as he said :make money" , that woke everybody up

[Mike169]

Freakin' moderate!