Including Kerry, Who Will Be The Greenest President Of Last 40 Years?

[DrFunkenstein]

Let's use the publication of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" as the dawning of environmental awareness in the United States. Since that time, a host of concerns have arisen regarding ecological degradation, while the government has ried to balance these concerns with the concerns of the business community.

In your opinion, which President will have tipped the balance more towards long-term environmental solutions over short-term economical gains?

(note - I didn't bother with Gerald Ford)

[demnan]

1. Obligatory bitter election comment

I say Al Gore, after all he wrote a book about this stuff.

[fryguy]

6. not to mention he won 2000

[JI7]

2. JOHN KERRY JOHN KERRY

JOHN KERRY IS THE BEST ON THIS ISSUE. I REALLY HOPE HE WINS. THAT'S WHY THE LCV ENDORSED HIM SO EARLY.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. CAPS LOCK

It's not even a centimeter away from the rest of your keyboard. Please press it next time.

[Rainbowreflect]

3. You forgot Al Gore.

He would have my vote.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. I was very tempted

to vote for Bush just to be an asshole. But I'd then have been forced to kick my own ass. :dunce:

[wysimdnwyg]

7. As much as I detest the man

I had to go with Nixon. He was instrumental in establishing several major initiatives, including the EPA, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. While Carter was a true champion of the cause, and while Kerry may turn out even better than Carter, Nixon's record is very impressive.

[DaveSZ]

8. Carter and Nixon

Carter saved the most land from exploitation of any president, and Nixon signed into law many landmark environmental laws.

[amazona]

11. I agree

It was a tough call between Nixon and Carter but Nixon did get the ball rolling at a very tough time and who knows at what cost to himself with his backers.

On Edit-- I didn't include Gore or Kerry because they haven't had a chance to show what they could do as president -- doesn't seem quite right to me to compare deeds and possible deeds -- I'll leave that to the darksiders. But I'm sure Gore would have done a fine job, and Kerry will also.

[mobuto]

14. Nixon was forced to

You can't give Nixon the credit. The Democratic Congress forced his hand. He established EPA because the only alternative was a full Department of the Environment.

Kerry will be tops.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Agreed

On presidential records, Nixon is credited and it is true...but he was forced by the Dems...on the other hand, that is what makes Clinton's first two years so disappointing.

[Jacobin]

9. Nixon. Got the clean water act passed

[WI_DEM]

10. Carter

he signed into law one of the most landmark pieces of conservation legislation--the Alaskan Lands Act. He also won enactment of Super Fund legislation which cleaned up toxic waste dumps. His Energy program which did win congressional approval only to be dismantled by Reagan also had strong environmental standards.

[redqueen]

12. Nixon

Hoping Kerry will top him, but since my crystal ball's in the shop...

[styersc]

13. Nixon is the correct answer.

It took Nixon to go to China and to form the EPA.

[Zinfandel]

15. Without a doubt it was President Carter, then believe it or not...

Richard Nixon.

[greendog]

16. Nixon, Carter.....not Kerry

Nixon signed for and approved of the regulation of big business's environmental practices. Carter saved an enormous amount of public land from exploitation, had a decent energy policy, and set a good example by installing solar panels, turning down the thermostats in the White House, and wearing a sweater to compensate.

Kerry, with his 5 luxury homes around the country will be one of the biggest personal resource hogs to ever sit in the White House. Five homes heated all winter long, multiple lawns to water and mow, and private aircraft to ferry him back and forth between them.

[mobuto]

18. Bullshit

You can whine all you want about Kerry being rich, but his record as a Senator has been one of consistently leading the charge on environmental issues of all sorts. I think Kerry's amazing 96% rating from the League of Conservation Voters more than cancels out the deleterious effects of his heating bill.

[greendog]

19. What about the deleterious effect of NAFTA on......

.....the environment of Mexico? How about the effect of free trade on the environment of China? Kerry voted for it.

And yes, compared to Jimmy Carter you'd have to agree that Kerry is an energy pig. It is relevant. He chooses to waste all that energy....then wants credit for being an environmentalist.

And where did I "whine" about him being rich? His wealth allows him any lifestyle he chooses.....and he chooses....to be a conspicuous pig.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. Kucinich would have been, Carter was

Hopefully Kerry will be next in line.

[genius]

20. Interesting. There was an "error" recording my vote.

Maybe this is something the admininistrators should check into so that all votes are counted.

[Davis_X_Machina]

22. Another vote for President Gore n/t