Robert Novak - Industry & Capitalism Helpless Before Awesome Power Of Environmentalists

[hatrack]

Whatthefuckever, Bob . . .

Losing to the Greens
By Robert D. Novak
Monday, December 25, 2006; Page A29

"I've never seen industry so deathly afraid of the current politics surrounding climate change policy," a Bush administration environmental official told me. With good reason. As Democrats take control of Congress, once-firm opposition to the green lobby's campaign of imposing carbon emission controls is weak.

Panicky captains of industry have themselves largely to blame for failing to respond to the environmentalists' well-financed propaganda operation. One government official says "industry appears utterly helpless and utterly clueless as to how to respond." But the Bush administration itself is a house divided with support for greens and severe carbon regulation inside the Energy Department, reaching up to the secretary himself.

None of this necessarily means climate change will become law during the next two years, with President Bush wielding his veto pen if any bill escapes the Senate's gridlock. Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, reassuming chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee after a dozen years' absence, will try to protect the automotive industry from draconian regulation. But over the long term, industry is losing to the greens.

EDIT

Staunch foes of carbon regulation remain in the administration, headed by Chairman James L. Connaughton of the Council on Environmental Quality. But the Energy Department's top executive strata have gone green. Since moving from deputy treasury secretary to energy secretary nearly two years ago, business executive and financier Samuel W. Bodman has kept a low profile. In a rare public utterance on global warming Oct. 5, 2005, he said an "increasing level of certainty" about global warming fueled by carbon dioxide "is real" and "a matter we take seriously." In private meetings, he has expressed dissatisfaction with administration policy. Bodman's undersecretary, former Senate staffer David K. Garman, has shocked industry lobbyists with his criticism of the president's views.

EDIT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/24/AR2006122400500.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

[Kagemusha]

1. That's what losing a deathgrip on government looks like.

They'd better get used to a small helping of functioning democracy and fast.

[Tellurian]

5. Yes, Bob- A problem isn't a problem if money can fix it!

In this case, corporations poisoning our environment have to PAY!
That is after they PAY to fix what they've destroyed.

[SharonAnn]

2. "Helpless Before Awesome Power of Environmentalists"

LOL. I just had to repeat that because I love the way it sounds.

[stillcool]

3. That headline...

sounds like it's right out of a comic book! His 'panicky captains of industry' conjure up such an image as well.

[bluerum]

4. Forecast says mid to upper 40's for the later part of the week here

in central MA. Those environmentalists better stop fooling with the weather to convince us about global warming!

[muntrv]

6. Bob, go drink mercury laced water. Go inhale asbestos and see if you

still feel the same way about environmental regulations.