Obama drops plan to limit global warming gases

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON – Environmental groups and industry seem headed for another battle over regulation of greenhouse gases, as President Barack Obama said he will look for ways to control global warming pollution other than Congress placing a ceiling on it.

"Cap-and-trade was just one way of skinning the cat; it was not the only way," Obama said at a news conference Wednesday, a day after Democrats lost control of the House. "I'm going to be looking for other means to address this problem."

Legislation putting a limit on heat-trapping greenhouse gases and then allowing companies to buy and sell pollution permits under that ceiling narrowly passed the House in 2009 as a centerpiece of Obama's domestic agenda, but it stalled in the Senate.

Republicans dubbed the bill "cap-and-tax" because it would raise energy prices. They then used it as a club in the midterm elections against Democrats who voted for it. Thirty of the bill's supporters were among some 50 House Democrats whom voters turned out of office Tuesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101104/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_greenhouse_gases

[VMI Dem]

1. I'm shocked.

[Bluebear]

7. .

[Bluebear]

9. No flaming blue links yet either!

:)

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. EPA regs. No Congress needed.

[MilesColtrane]

3. Massachusetts v. EPA determined that the EPA can and should regulate...

CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

Obama should have issued the orders to rewrite regulations to do exactly that instead of waiting for Congress to pass a law. (But, that seems to be a pattern with him, doesn't it?)

[xchrom]

4. the EPA is seriously broken and in need of an overhaul.

when i moved here to durham i met a small cadre of gay scientist who work at EPA -- and oy the stories i hear.

[MilesColtrane]

5. Agreed.

I'd bet that all federal agencies are infested with Bush cockroaches whose sole mission is to take sit on their butts and take kickbacks from businesses to "look the other way".

[glitch]

15. He only uses executive power when it comes to things like rendition, habeas corpus

(still defunct), growing unitary power and expanding the war on central asia.

Actually directing the bureaucracies within his administration, not so much. Well, not so much if it's power weilded for the people.

But to be honest, I don't he has that much power anyway. I think the power behind this country's government resides elsewhere.

[Democat]

6. Obama should wait until Republicans ask him before he surrenders.

Maybe he's scared Republicans will raise their voices, so he's trying to guess what they want and give it it to them before they ask.

[dpbrown]

8. +1

A little quick to the surrender, isn't he.

[SunsetDreams]

10. KEY WORDS: It was not the ONLY way...in other words there are more

that will be added......geez

[Bluebear]

12. I know, 'geez', those environmentalists.

:)

[QC]

11. Change-a-riffic! n/t

[gratuitous]

17. Hope-tastic!

Damn, I love me some 12-level Vulcan chess.

[QC]

20. O ye of little faith!

Soon it will all come together....

[Bluebear]

26. Man, the voting machines hadn't even cooled off before this was announced!

[HughMoran]

13. Of course - he has to

Congress can't pass it now.

Was I supposed to leave my brain at the front door?

[Smashcut]

16. He has to? Why?

Why not make them vote against it?

Why not go on ever TV news show and explain why it's necessary, and identify by name who is against it and what their big energy $$$ ties are?

Why not actually fight for something?

[treestar]

18. things have changed

It won't get voted on, because they won't bring it up. They are in charge of the agenda now. Elections have consequences.

Geez, the next two years it'll go from "twist their arms" and "make them filibuster" to "make them bring up legislation they don't want when they are in the majority."

[Bluebear]

21. 'Why not actually fight for something?'

That would be novel.

[TornadoTN]

23. So we went from "We don't have the votes" to "We dont have the votes"

That was two years well spent, that's for sure. :sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

24. + + + + +

[MadHound]

14. Face it people, we're not going to turn this climate change boat around

Politicians are too timid, corporations too strong, and most folks really don't care. Recognize the fact that climate change is going to get worse, much worse over the next hundred years, and prepare accordingly.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Naturyl]

22. I will look for ways to stop drinking without avoiding beer.

Gee, I bet that's gonna work, eh?

[derby378]

25. About damn time

"Pollution permits?" A permit to damage the lungs of America's children by fouling our air? No, thank you. That's not change I can believe in.