Newt "realizes the conservative movement can’t continue being perceived as the Flat Earth Society"

[ProSense]

Climate: Debating The Nondebatable

<…>

So it was expected to be today when Gingrich faced Sen. John Kerry in a debate over global warming. Yet the Kerry-Newt debate (video is up on C-Span.org, more at John Kerry's blog) may well shift the overall debate, away from the definitively answered “is global warming happening?” to “what do we do about it?”

Crafty Gingrich downplayed, but did not renounce, his global warming denial arguments. (Kerry helpfully reminded us that Newt recently said there was no evidence of global warming, just cultural anthropology,” properly calling into question Newt’s sincerity.)

But Newt clearly realizes the conservative movement can’t continue being perceived as the Flat Earth Society, and in turn, sought to move the debate towards the question of our government’s role.

<…>

Newt also derided a firm cap on carbon emissions as a “bureaucracy and litigation” strategy. Kerry quickly rejected the false frame, noting that the same claims were lobbed at sulfur dioxide caps, and were proven wrong.

<…>

At one point, Newt argued that it has been hard for conservatives to be environmentalists because of fears it would lead to “bigger government and higher taxes.” But that seems to be a bit of projection on his part.

<…>

Ah, the old "Ice Age" swindle. Conservatives keep pushing that line despite its thorough debunking.

<…>

No question, it is astute of Newt to recognize that a fight over the role of government is relatively better for conservatives than a fight over established science.

At the same time, he tries to sound like he's proposing positive solutions, by supporting "substantial research into climate science." It is very clear from his long anti-environment history that his criticisms, masked as constructive, are intended to confuse and obstruct. Meanwhile, the scientists of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, despite meddling from the White House , have erased all doubt that strong action is imperative.

<…>

But as Kerry did, we can take that fight head on and win. If we do, we’ll be in an even stronger position to enact the legislation needed to solve the climate crisis.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Newt, you are an amoral heathen HERETIC." - repubicon True Believers

"Real republicons repudiate science. There ain't one damn thing in the Bible about global climate change, so just shut up, go home and revert to being a good TRUE BELIEVING republicon by quietly counting up your war profits, and playing with the trophy wife you dumped your real real (and desperately ill) wife for."

- republicon cronies and True Believers (in corporate propaganda)

[NanceGreggs]

2. It's not a matter of perception, Newt ...

The Conservative movement is The Flat Earth Society.

[gratuitous]

4. You caught that, too?

Gingrich would like the problem to be the public's perception, rather than the fact that the Republican party is the unregenerate embodiment of the lizard brain lower order of our species.

[NanceGreggs]

5. Exactly!

That's been their problem all along - and the voters are finally catching on. The party never CHANGES for the better; it just attempts to change the PERCEPTION of how they're doing ...

[beachmom]

3. Thanks for the link. "Crafty Newt" is right. The MSM got completely

fooled by him, and just downright lied about Kerry. Glad to see Tom Paine sees what really happened.

[mloutre]

6. Kerry and Gingrich both deserve a big raise for this one.

Yesterday's climate-change debate between current Senator Kerry and former Speaker Gingrich seems to have earned a big raise for all concerned.

It raised awareness of the urgent need to deal with the science of global climate change in a responsible manner.

It raised questions of why smart people from both sides of the issues can't work together more often to find mutually-acceptable solutions to common problems.

It raised the bar for reasonable, rational, respectful discourse between persons from different partisan political parties.

It raised eyebrows on the part of pundits who had been predicting a 'smackdown' but got a hug fest instead.

It raised the hopes of those who believe progressive politics is finally on the rebound in America.

And it raised the hackles of arch-conservatives who bitterly accused their erstwhile standard-bearer of selling out to those terrible tree-hugging leftists.

(I especially like that last aspect of it -- let the über-right wingnuts go choke on their own vile bile. Sorry, you jerkholes, Gingrich's goin' green. Deal with it.)