Groveling GOPers Get In Line on Global Warming

[Playinghardball]

Source: Rolling Stone

Time was, you could sign on to the overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is real and man-made and still have a shot at the GOP presidential nod. No longer. Today, unless you believe (or say you believe) global warming is a liberal hoax ginned up to justify higher taxes and tyrannical government, you might as well not apply. "Republican presidential hopefuls can believe in man-made global warming as long as they never talk about it, and oppose all the so-called solutions," Marc Morano, a former aide to environment-loathing Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, tells AP. This puts the several 2012 contenders who once supported fighting climate change in a tough spot. And they've responded to the pressure by ... taking it all back and begging for forgiveness?

• Tim Pawlenty: As governor of Minnesota he signed a law to cut greenhouse gas emissions and appeared in a radio ad where he said, "If we act now, we can create thousands of new jobs in clean energy industries before our overseas competitors beat us to it." As a presidential contender, he said, "I don't duck it, bob it, weave it, try to explain it away," he said. "I'm just telling you, I made a mistake."

• Jon Huntsman: As governor of Utah, he appeared in an ad for an environmental group in which he said, "Now it's time for Congress to act by capping greenhouse gas pollution," and signed an agreement with seven other Western states and four Canadian provinces to reduce greenhouse gases. He now says that while he still believes in global warming, "much of this discussion happened before the bottom fell out of the economy, and until it comes back, this isn't the moment," to do anything about it.

• Mitt Romney: As Massachusetts governor, Romney introduced a Climate Protection Plan in 2004, requiring state agencies and large businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. As a presidential candidate in 2008, he was willing to concede the reality of man-made climate change. He now says he's unsure if human activity is responsible for climate change, that cap-and-trade would be "disastrous" for the U.S. economy, and that "we should not take extreme measures when we are unsure of human role in global warming."

More at: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/groveling-gopers-get-in-line-on-global-warming-20110527

[Permanut]

1. Climate change, yeah sure...

Next the damn liberals will be trying to scam us into thinking the Earth is round, and goes around the sun!1!!11

[rurallib]

2. the purity test is going to be really hard this time

- as noted no climate change
- no new taxes, no matter what
- tax cuts for the rich
- must endorse Republican budget
- corollary - must be against Medicare
- Expect them to declare SS a target also
- must be of only certain protestant denominations
- evangelical is best
- against abortion or anything to do with abortion.
- against food stamps
- corporate money in campaigns encouraged.
- blame media for any problems
- must believe America founded by and for Christians only.
- Christ favors the rich
- plan to destroy all unions
- make all gov't employees fell like freeloaders.
- guns for every American.
- absolutely no gov't health care (VA?)


Short list to start - add on if you want.

[Jim Lane]

3. You left out militarism and homophobia.

The candidate must support continuing all current wars but with a commitment to "winning" them (criticize Obama for unspecified mistakes that have impeded the military). The candidate must also engage in saber-rattling, warning foreign governments that any action that displeases the U.S. may be the basis for a new war.

The candidate must display unrelenting hostility toward LGBT people, starting with never saying "LGBT" -- the approved term is "militant homosexuals" when reporters are present, "deviants" or "perverts" in private.

[MH1]

4. not just abortion, birth control