Mitt Romney just had an awesome week but, unless he and attracts new groups to the Republican coalition, it still seems he won't win the November election. If he wants to win, he'll need to broaden his base. One reasonably easy way he can do that is by attracting gay and lesbian voters and the other is by attracting environmentalists. Since it seems hugely unlikely he'd make the policy flip-flop he'll need to get the gay vote, environmentalists may be his best bet for broadening the base without sacrificing a single stated principles.
A bit on Romney's great week first and why it probably won't deliver the election. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker just survived a recall attempt, President Obama claimed (bizarrely) that "the private sector is doing fine," after bad job numbers raised questions about his stewardship of the economy, and Ron Paul's son, Rand, even endorsed him. In fact, it's difficult to think of a better turn of events for Romney's campaign. That said, barring a full-scale recession between now and the election, I'd still put money on Obama to win: Romney hasn't led in the polls since last September. Quite simply, Obama will likely be able to make up for a decidedly lackluster domestic economic record by relying on a few genuine foreign policy successes, the power of the incumbency, and a mobilized base.
Since the (few) positives in Obama's record and the incumbency are unalterable, the Romney camp can only win by shaving parts of Obama's base.
And environmentalists are one place big place where it could work. Stanford University researchers have found that about 38 million Americans care a lot about the environment and might vote on it. Assuming that environmental voters turn out at roughly the same rate as other citizens who can vote, this means that somewhere between 15 and 19 percent of the electorate will vote partly on environmental issues.
Although there's no current, detailed polling, it's likely that Obama currently stands to get around 75 percent of this group -- taking 50 percent of it would probably be enough to put Romney over the top. So how can he do it?
First, Romney should commit to a comprehensive program to reduce the damage that the government does to the environment. This is conservative bread and butter and, luckily, there's a pre-written agenda (okay, I'm one of the authors) -- Green Scissors -- on how to do it. In addition, Romney should work to expand conservation by expanding the principles of the successful, money saving Coastal Barrier Resources Act. The act, signed by Ronald Reagan, forbids the functioning of many federal programs on barrier islands and along barrier beaches and, in so doing, has created an area of protected land larger than all but one National Park in the lower 48 states.
Second, Romney should continue his attacks on Obama's bureaucratic command-and-control environmental policies -- blocking the Keystone XL Pipeline, placing all sorts of new EPA mandates on industry -- with simpler, equally pro-environment policies. In particular, Romney should commit his environmental protection agency to trying to price externalities resulting from pollution. This wouldn't be the (fairly) derided and unworkable "cap and trade" schemes but, rather, a way of replacing bureaucratic mechanisms with market ones. Since pollution of all kinds is what Ronald Reagan called a "destructive trespass," it's perfectly consistent with conservative principle to impose fees on those who emit pollution. This type of system will do far more to clean up the environment than heavy-handed, economy-harming direct regulation and, if all the fees were rebated to consumers or used to cut other taxes, wouldn't necessarily increase the size and scope of government. It's a winner and has, particularly in elite circles, already attracted attention from environmentalists.
The bottom line: environmentalists, unlike other core democratic groups -- government workers and welfare recipients among them -- aren't necessarily clients of the state and don't intrinsically benefit from bigger government or the continuation of given programs. Likewise, there's no necessary link between the environment and much of the Democratic Party's agenda that promotes abortion and disdains traditional faith. In fact, there are plenty of places that bigger government actually harms the environment. Romney can get environmentalists to vote for him without sacrificing conservative principles. He should do it.
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 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
However, Obama is no better. In fact, he's one of the worst presidents in history on the environment. He acknowledges his decision to open up the east coast of the U.S. to oil drilling will kill up to 224,000 dolphins and hundreds of thousands more will be permanently crippled just from the 8 years of seismic blasting alone. And yet he pursues this path. There are 3,000 oil spills per year in the Gulf of Mexico, the deepwater horizon has never stopped leaking, and so far over 38,000 dolphins have died, and many more currently suffer with lung cancer, liver cancer, anemia, etc.
As someone who cares deeply about the natural world, the oceans, and the many intelligent lifeforms that must survive in it, I will be voting Green as i have since the late 1990's.
I actually wet myself from laughing so hard when I read this. Now I have to clean up my seat, but it was worth it.
And counting "pollution" as a cost of business is just the beginning of sane, accurate and fair accounting. What about the true costs of irreplaceable resources?
These efforts at
http://greenscissors.com/issues/
should be supported by everyone in both parties. It makes no sense to continue to subsidize outmoded programs to help people who don't even need any help.
Too bad most of the commenters here are more interested in partisan politics than in helping the environment.
these will not help romneys cause
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/chris-stolle-virginia-gop-climate-change_n_1586128.html?ir=Green&ref=topbar
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/fort-collins-wildfire-new-mexico_n_1585683.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/chris-stolle-virginia-gop-climate-change_n_1586128.html?ir=Green&ref=topbar
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/fort-collins-wildfire-new-mexico_n_1585683.html
it down to a man quickly. Reverse logic doe not owrk on enviromentalists, romnette with caroled dyed hair will get no better than 15 %.
live long anyway , care to drink fracking water 8 oz a day x 6 also with surfacant 6X a day and stay healthly!???
Yes corporations have the right to make money but they also have a responsibility to the earth, to the other creatures we share it with and to the people who will come after us... If Romney were to say something to that effect, I would sit up and take notice.
But it ain't gonna happen.
you can't seriously believe that monstrous load could ever flush.
tran- canada southern part of piple Repubs we need it for the good the united states security
dems say ok lets quaranty to use in the US on that part. Then the reps vote in down to man quickly because it is going the the world market!
Floping on womens rights
planned parent hood
Abortion!!!!!! it is all on tape!
the american car industry " he will take credit for that!
He calls of the welfare party all the time. when half the people are on welfare and food stamps are republican!
They do not like his remain on wars possiblity!
going to france to avoid military service, scapimg 5 son will not serve!!
Pays taxes to foriegn countryies and not payng taxes on mitts american taxes,
to presenting his tax record like daddy did, hjow many accounts are there?
edge sketch renewal to blank
You will not vote for me if i tell you what mitt what he wants to do!
what ever he said he will stand on what he said, no matter what he said
Mitt know common mens friends that own nascars.
trying to get slogans of local people
A toy board game of the nation!
a gift to the nation on working women
defunding all the medicaid and welfare!
health care vouchers on health care they know will be a mandate, it has to be
Democrats will remember these things a long long time.
Wanting a single tea/gop political party!