White House to unveil dire climate warning in new report

[IDemo]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration will release an updated report on Tuesday showing how climate change touches every part of the country, as the administration seeks to convince the American public on the need for a crackdown on carbon pollution.

Some environmental and public health groups expect the U.S. National Climate Assessment to be a "game changer" in the administration's efforts to address climate change.

The extensive report will update a January 2013 draft, which detailed how consequences of climate change are hitting on several fronts, including health, infrastructure, water supply, agriculture and especially more frequent severe weather.

Since then, the report was reviewed by the National Academies of Sciences and attracted more than 4,000 public comments.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-unveil-dire-climate-warning-report-053001184--finance.html

[postulater]

1. Nye and Tyson musta chewed his butt.

Thank you.

[pangaia]

2. And Jimmy.

[postulater]

6. Yes, Jimmy.

Listen to wise elders.

[FailureToCommunicate]

8. John Holdren more likely.

[postulater]

26. I hope they propose some effective actions.

Holdren is smart.

[newfie11]

3. Good

It's about time, of course the majority will pay as much attention as they did to Gore and Carter.

[2pooped2pop]

4. yes but instead of stopping the big polluters

they will probably just enact laws against the peoples. Laws against smoking, fireplaces, toilet flushing, cookouts, not owning a newer car, dog farting.

But no laws on those too big to regulate. Fracking will continue. Dumping chemicals into the oceans will continue, pouring toxins into the air by big corps will continue. Laws against solar and wind will continue. More nuclear plants will be built. Regulations will continue to dwindle.

Just put a cap on your dog farts will ya?

[TBF]

5. Sadly that is exactly what will happen. nt

[JoePhilly]

7. Reminds me of when Obama cut Social Security.

[2pooped2pop]

10. and when he went after those bankers too

Just like that.

[JoePhilly]

11. And when he didn't end DADT.

Or the Iraq war.

Or the Bush tax cuts for the 1%.

But the key point is that he hates the American people ... and after issuing a powerful report on climate change, he'll use that report to hurt the average American, cause again, he hates them.

[riqster]

14. Drat, you have seen through his eeeevil plan!

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. Did you hear this report is ahead of "big" climate change bill/initiative ...

that the gop will add a build Keystone amendment ... AND PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID HE WILL, THEN, VETO because the amendment will stand in the way of said initiative?

Can we, NOW, put to bed the DU "he's gonna cut SS" "approve Keystone, damn him" version 1,000 narrative?

[JoePhilly]

42. Speculative outrage is the very best kind ...

... it requires no direct proof and is self perpetuating.

So how do we know the President will use this report to hurt average Americans?

Simple, not enough bankers have been prosecuted yet.

If speculative outrage could be used as fuel, DU could power a small city.

[1StrongBlackMan]

47. A small city like ...

NYC!

[2pooped2pop]

16. just saying

Nope he don't hate the American people, but he sure don't hate the big boys club either. He could have done a lot more for the people. He chose the banksters, he chose the corps. He does not speak out about the lies enough. Oh hell, this could go on all day.

[TBF]

13. This has nothing to do w/Obama personally -

it is the way things are handled in this oligarchy. Get back to us when a bank is actually indicted rather than bailed out. Until then I will share foreclosure stories with you ...

[2pooped2pop]

18. yeah, ditto

If anything happens it will be on the backs of the poor and middle class.

[JoePhilly]

19. You made a prediction about what's going to happen.

Now you want to change the subject.

[TBF]

20. No - you instantly turned a statement

into "you hate Obama and want to bash him" without reading context. It happens way too often on this website lately and I've narrowed it down to 2 things.

Either:

1) Can hear no wrong about Obama period - any statement that even comes close to being negative has to be swatted down & the person saying it must be mocked and ridiculed as if they hate the president and not merely disagree on some policies.

and/or

2) Objective is to just be nasty to anyone who isn't 100% Obama in an attempt to cause discord on the website - and make democrats look like asses. This could cause folks to stay home and not vote in the midterms.


It's one or the other - I don't know which. If you do a search on my name you'll find plenty of positives as well and I can assure you I will be voting in the midterm (we have Wendy Davis down here and we really want her as the next governor of Texas). I don't hide the fact that I'm a socialist, and that I only involved myself with voting in terms of putting in the people who are the most friendly to workers. That has traditionally been the democratic party.

But I'm also not going to "shut up" and not discuss issues. If you think you can force me to do that than you don't know me very well.

[Maven]

70. Yeah, and when he fought long and hard for the public option.

[Autumn]

22. You are just so right. That's exactly what will happen

[Bluenorthwest]

25. If only we could harness the precious powers of cynicism and pessimism and use them for

the good. A renewable and bottomless resource.

[2pooped2pop]

29. yeah well, after people get their hopes up time and time again

only to be crushed by the reality, sometimes one just starts to doubt the hope.

Living out here in the real world with the real people who are getting fucked royally by the money folks, kind of leaves you doubting that any real good will come from any of the bullshit promised. It's kind of like when they call a bill a "clean air" bill. It sounds so good, you want to believe. But then you find that you got fucked again. Clean Air just meant that the polluters can regulate themselves. Yeah, that's gonna happen.

People are desperate and hopeless out here. A promise to do something about climate change, years too late, doesn't make us believe anything real is gonna come out of it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

49. What "reality" are you speaking of? ...

The reality where DADT got reversed; or the "reality" where it didn't happen fast enough?

The reality where financial industry wrong-doers are being prosecuted; or the "DU reality" where it's not happening fast enough, or the wrong people are being prosecuted?

The reality where the ACA got passed; or the "DU reality" where it's not single-payer?

The reality where Social Security hasn't been touched; or the "DU reality" where it's going to happen ... any minute now?

The reality where Keystone is all but dead; or the "DU reality" where it's going to gain approval ... any minute now?

The reality where Syria did get bombed; or the "DU reality" where it would've if we hadn't written outraged posts to an anonymous message board, or if Putin hadn't done PBO a benevolent solid?

What "reality" are you talking about?

[2pooped2pop]

54. the one out here where most won't live to see social security

out here where really what financial industry wrong doers who have destroyed this country with a planned take over of the poor and middle class peoples life long earned homes and property, only to buy it them themselves at auction. WHo was prosecuted? Really? A couple of low hanging fruit? While I see a man get a 30 year sentence for selling pot?

Yeah our reality is that they are trying to kill us and no one is going to stop them. We will be dead or in prison. And no one is going to stop it.

ACU yeah it's good but not as good as most other countries.

Our reality is death or imprisonment.

[1StrongBlackMan]

62. More non-fact based "reality." ...

WHo was prosecuted? Really? A couple of low hanging fruit?

Wow ... a twofer: both the "DU reality" where it's not happening fast enough (well actually your saying it's has happened at all) AND the DU "reality" where the wrong people are being prosecuted? But here:

Partial List of Financial Sector Officials Convicted since 1/20/09
2/2/12 David Higgs and Salmaan Siddiqui, Credit Suisse, plead guilty to conspiracy involving valuation of MBS
3/6/12 Allen Stanford, former Caribbean billionaire and general schmuck, convicted on 13 of 14 counts in $2.2B Ponzi scheme, faces 20+ years in prison
6/4/12 Matthew Kluger, lawyer, sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with co-conspirator stock trader Garrett Bauer (9 years) and co-conspirator Kenneth Robinson (not yet sentenced) for 17 year insider trading scheme.
6/14/12 Allen Stanford sentenced to 110 years without parole.
6/15/12 Rajat Gupta, former Goldman Sachs director, found guilty of insider trading. Could face a decade in prison when sentenced later this year.
6/22/12 Timothy S. Durham, 49, former CEO of Fair Financial Company, convicted of one count conspiracy to commit wire and securities fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, and one count of securities fraud.
6/22/12 James F. Cochran, 56, former chairman of the board of Fair, convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire and securities fraud, one count of securities fraud, and six counts of wire fraud.
6/22/12 Rick D. Snow, 48, former CFO of Fair, convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire and securities fraud, one count of securities fraud, and three counts of wire fraud.
7/13/12 Russell Wassendorf Sr., CEO of collapsed brokerage firm Peregrine Financial Group Inc. arrested and charged with lying to regulators after admitting to authorities he embezzled "millions of dollars" and forged bank statements for "nearly twenty years."
8/22/12 Doug Whitman, Whitman Capital LLC hedge fund founder, convicted of insider trading following a trial in which he spent more than two days on the stand telling jurors he was innocent
10/26/12 UPDATE: Former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta sentenced to two years in federal prison. He will, of course, appeal. . .
11/20/12 Hedge fund manager Matthew Martoma charged with insider trading at SAC Capital Advisors, and prosecutors are looking at Martoma's boss, Steven Cohen, for possible involvement.
02/14/13 Gilbert Lopez, former chief accounting officer of Stanford Financial Group, and former controller Mark Kuhrt sentenced to 20 yrs in prison for their roles in Allen Sanford's $7.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
03/29/13 Michael Sternberg, portfolio mgr at SAC Capital, arrested in NYC, charged with conspiracy and securities fraud. Pled not guilty and freed on $3m bail.
04/04/13 Matthew Marshall Taylor,fmr Goldman Sachs trader arrested, charged by CFTC w/defrauding his employer on $8BN futures bet "by intentionally concealing the true huge size, as well as the risk and potential profits or losses associated."
04/04/13 Matthew Taylor admits guilt, makes plea bargain. Sentencing set for 26 June; faces up to 20 years in prison but will likely only see 3-4 years. Says, "I am truly sorry."
04/11/13 Ex-KPMG LLP partner Scott London charged by federal prosecutors w/passing inside tips to a friend in exchange for cash, jewelry, and concert tickets; expected to plead guilty in May.
08/01/13 Fabrice Tourré convicted on six counts of security fraud, including "aiding and abetting" his former employer, Goldman Sachs
08/14/13 Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout charged with wire fraud, falsifying records, and conspiracy in connection with JP Morgan's "London Whale" trade.
08/19/13 Phillip A. Falcone, manager of hedge fund Harbinger Capital Partners, agrees to admit to "wrongdoing" in market manipulation. Will banned from securities industry for 5 years and pay $18MM in disgorgement and fines.
09/16/13 Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout officially indicted on charges associated with "London Whale" trade.
02/06/14 Matthew Martoma convicted of insider trading while at hedge fund SAC (Stephen A. Cohen) Capital Advisors. Expected sentence 7-10 years.
03/24/14 Annette Bongiorno, Bernard Madoff's secretary; Daniel Bonventre, director of operations for investments; JoAnn Crupi, an account manager; and Jerome O'Hara and George Perez, both computer programmers convicted of conspiracy to defraud clients, securities fraud, and falsifying the books and records.

I know ... the wrong folks were prosecuted ... despite there being no prosecutions.

Yeah our reality is that they are trying to kill us and no one is going to stop them. We will be dead or in prison. And no one is going to stop it.

ACU yeah it's good but not as good as most other countries.

Our reality is death or imprisonment.

"And the award for Most Nihilistically Dramatic Line from a Intertubz Message Board goes to ..."



no

[2pooped2pop]

65. yeah, you're right. Not the right guys.

Insider trading? Martha Stewart make your list? wire fraud? Low fruit in the big game.

but thanks for your time. You have that saved?

[randys1]

28. Jesus, can he get credit for anything?

Hey, I criticize Obama all the time, but I knew I was electing a moderate, not at all liberal, President, didn't you?

And at least he is doing something about climate change, now if Keystone goes thru I will lose my mind, but baby steps.

[1StrongBlackMan]

50. Why would the Administration approve the pipeline ...

AND threatened to veto the climate change bill, if an approve Keystone amendment is offered?

Just asking ...

[randys1]

56. Good question and I hope you are right

Wait, approve Keystone amendment?

Oh, I see what you mean, but yes I hope you are right...

I worked on his campaign, Obama, and I would again, so if he doesnt ditch Keystone he will hear from me

Did you hear Joe Biden saying "we will do that too" when asked about stopping the deportation of immigrants?

I think I saw it on Rachel...

BTW, if anybody around here has brain damage and doesnt think OBama has accomplished much, take a look at this

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/march_april_2012/features/obamas_top_50_accomplishments035755.php?page=all

I wont list them, but I am so god damn sick and tired of a bunch of white guys demanding that the FIRST Black president fix 200 plus years of white guys fuck ups...overnight

[1StrongBlackMan]

59. While I admit to having only the most pedestrian understanding ...

of the issues surrounding Keystone, I can see major problems with building a pipeline over sensitive areas, though I believe NOT building the pipeline will have little effect on the extraction of the oil, it's going to come out the ground and it's going to go to China.

But I know a little something about strategic thinking. I began to speculate that the administration was going to kill the US portion of the project when I realized that this has been on the drawing board since before 2010 ... and the administration has been stalling the project from the jump arguing that the impacts studies had to be done. When the studies were done (and largely supported the project) and administration still delayed, I believed my speculation supported. Then, when the administration announced the delay until after the Nebraska Decision (i.e., after the 2014 elections), my speculation turned to confidence that the project was dead ... the delay was only to NOT hurt Landrieu, Pryor and Udall. (I have written as much and got smacked around pretty well, but I remain convinced).

Yes ... I caught the "we will do that too" statement. I love Biden, and those that consider him "undisciplined" are full of crap ... everything this administration says, whether PBO, or Kerry, or Biden, it's for a reason.

I know I shouldn't say this because it raises the ire of some here; but. I have to say it ... While the gop is wrong on policy and strategically inept, it appears that the gop is far better at reading the administration's messages than DUers, who are right on policy; but prove wrong on every speculative administrative move after another.

[randys1]

63. We should invade Canada and put a stop to that oil coming out of the ground

and do it by force, give our military something good to do for once

and

then go to Indonesia and invade them to stop them from burning down all the rain-forests, or cutting them down

I am not kidding, the UN or a new entity needs to supersede the nonsensical and childish notion of country and borderlines and do something to prevent the end of life

[1StrongBlackMan]

64. Oh Noes ....

I am not kidding, the UN or a new entity needs to supersede the nonsensical and childish notion of country and borderlines and do something to prevent the end of life.

ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT!!!

But in all seriousness, the concept of country and border is already passé; has been for over 50 years ... Corporations have already superseded the notion of country; they just need to keep believing in country (read: governments) so that we will direct our fire at the wrong foe. Example: NSA=Bad/Google=Not Bad; Constitutionally regulated Law Enforcement=Bad/non-constitutional regulated Law Enforcement (read: corporate security forces)=Not mentioned.

[Shivering Jemmy]

31. Your post is profoundly ridiculous

You do know the Peesident is readying some very strong executive action on coal plants and gas mileage right?

Anything more than that will require legislation. So unless you have a magic legislation wand lying around, that is about all that can happen.

[2pooped2pop]

36. and we both know it's not enough.

and we are still fucked. I wonder if it will be as strongly worded and enforced as hamp and other missed the mark, gave in to the money, programs.

Perhaps it will be as forceful as one of Conyer's strongly worded letters. Those are so effective.

Sorry, some days the stink of what we have become does not allow me to believe.

[jtuck004]

68. This.Life on the plantation. n/t

[steve2470]

9. please, President Obama, help change the message from "global warming" to "climate change"....

Yes yes, the average temperature of the globe is slowly rising, but climate change is the more important overall point. That way, the idiotic TV weathermen/women can no longer chuckle and say "OMG it's snowing in April, global warming herp derp"

[seabeckind]

32. That term was coined by the republican noise machine

They felt that using global warming was too scary. By saying climate change they could imply that there might be some good side effects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Luntz#Global_warming

Call it what it is.

[steve2470]

37. hm wasn't aware of that

I'm just so sick of ignorant people, including the TV weatherpeople, thinking a cold snap/late snow shower/etc is evidence against AGW and/or climate change. It's not. We all know that on DU.

[ronnie624]

40. It should be called 'catastrophic climate change',

because that is what is really going to happen. Global warming is actually a rather fortunate affair, as it allows life to exist on the surface of the planet. It is a quick and radical change to the existing climate that threatens us.

[SeattleVet]

58. The term was in common scientific use well before the GWB administration/fiasco.

I worked at a research facility with several climate scientists since the mid-1990's. They had regretted that the phrase 'global warming' had ever been used and popularized, since the reality was that it was not a steady overall warming but a process that would create more and more severe oscillations in localized patterns. We should expect to see more extremes at both ends of hot and cold, and wet and dry, depending on the changes in the air currents and winds and your location on Earth. They almost always used the term 'global climate change' when making presentations, and would try to always correct reporters that were asking them about 'global warming'.

[xocet]

66. Your claim is wrong. Attached is a link to a UN document from 1992 that addresses climate change.

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/conveng.pdf

UNITED NATIONS
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION
ON CLIMATE CHANGE


The Parties to this Convention,

Acknowledging that change in the Earth's climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind,

Concerned that human activities have been substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, that these increases enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result on average in an additional warming of the Earth's surface and atmosphere and may adversely affect natural ecosystems and humankind,

Noting that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs,

Aware of the role and importance in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases,

Noting that there are many uncertainties in predictions of climate change, particularly with regard to the timing, magnitude and regional patterns thereof,

Acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions,

...

http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/background/items/1350.php

[seabeckind]

69. You are correct but missing the point

The intent was to reframe the situation to make the consequences less scary and provide wiggle room for interpretations. I know there were reports making the case for the description to be technically correct and they had been around for a while.

The fact is that there is global warming. You can call it macaroni if you want but the Earth is warming. Having some scientists spending time arguing semantics isn't solving anything other than kicking the can down the road.

The crop distributions will be altered.

Deserts will appear where there was forest.

The sea levels will rise.

There are some really scary things coming down the pike and the only way there will be any active change is if people are scared. Make them scared.

The climate's going to change...oh goody, I won't have to shovel my driveway...

[xocet]

74. This last winter the local news frequently used a variation of your last sentence to minimize

global warming and to make a joke of it in the minds of the public.

They would say something like - "Snow fell again last night. There's some more global warming for you! ...(laughter)...." To be honest about this, the anchors were not quite so blatant, but the implication that global warming is neither serious nor real was definitely there.

In terms of framing, perhaps a better name than either global climate change or global warming needs to be found. Possibly, one could consult Metaphors We Live By by Lakoff and Johnson to find a better name that retains accuracy.

[Edim]

51. It's anthropogenic global warming (AGW),

mostly caused by anthropogenic CO2 emissions. That's the hypothesis; humans emit CO2 by burning hydrocarbons (mostly for energy) and the emissions increase the atmospheric CO2. Anything else is Orwellian.

[kristopher]

57. Here is a direct link to download the report

http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/downloads

[hedgehog]

61. It's a good report as far as it goes - I jsut wish whoever prepared it had had the time/money

to draw up the region maps a little differently. My area on the shore of Lake Ontario has weather/climate much closer to Milwaukee than it does to NYC. It would have been nice to see a Great Lakes region added. I'm sure that a good chunk of Northern California should have been placed in the Northwest rather than Southwest as well.

[bananas]

73. Thank you. nt

[Jefferson23]

12. I think it would be a big help if the US sponsored a summit, have all the experts gathered

here for a couple of days and have the discussions televised. Americans need to hear this
and address the questions that all the deniers have ever used as excuses..as well as
a frank discussion of the corporations that are culpable.

Why can't we take this crap head on?

[2pooped2pop]

17. because it cost the people with money some of their billions in profits to

do shit the right way. Can't have that. Let's subsidize them with the little peoples tax money instead.

[fasttense]

21. We are destroying the earth for the 1%

making it into a hell hole with all our pollution, so some very rich men can get richer.

Think about it. We have the technology (or at least we can buy it from the Chinese) to gather the clean and free energy from the sun and wind. We know carbon fuels are making people and the earth sick. But do we stop the oil and gas corporations from continuing their destructive ways? NO, Why not? Because some very rich men want to get even richer. It's as if all governments outlawed the telephone and insisted we all continue with the telegraph, just so the owners of the telegraph corporations could continue to make riches.

[marions ghost]

44. Good analogy

--re. the telegraph--we peons are not "allowed" to have real progress on these issues. We are kept in the Dark Ages when the public is ready to get on with the real changes that are necessary and forge a better future than the dire one predicted. In other words, clean up our act.

But look around--the oil companies ARE investing in solar and wind. They want to be able to control that too.
After they've totally screwed up the environment as much as possible. They want it on their timeline, not ours. They will stress us and the environment as long as they legally can. That much is absolutely known and predictable.

[seabeckind]

41. Long ago I found things like this work better

if a plan is developed and presented to the committee ahead of time.

This is what we plan to do. Where do you see weaknesses? How can we improve it?

This is how long it will take (at least the startup). This is how much it will cost. This is how we'll pay for it.

Framing is everything and if you allow somebody else to do the framing, you've lost the discussion. Before you start.

Where's our high speed rail?

[marions ghost]

45. Yeah

where's our high speed rail and also our local commuter rail?

Instead we have clogged roads, more pollution, choking on our own fumes. Everyone still in Single Occupancy Zone.

It really shows where priorities are in this country. We should have expanded rail 30 years ago--everyone knew this was coming. Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead--in the wrong direction.

[seabeckind]

48. Got that right

During our last legislative session they did a transit bill. It talked about more express buses. Under no circumstances could any of the money be used for light rail. They also approved funding for another lane on a highway to provide relief for the commuters from 50 miles off.

Developers make lots of money converting corn fields to apartments and office buildings, whether they're occupied or not. (added on edit) and they get a tax break to do it. Car dealers and gas companies make more by having lots of cars going longer ways.

Transit is buses and only poor people (blacks) use buses. And they get too much welfare already. </sarcasm>

[Jefferson23]

52. I think so, and as you point out..you frame it and educate at the same time. You're moving

the issue to the forefront in a much more credible and tangible means.

This could all be accomplished within a summit...we already know many of the answers, but
put it out there already in a big showing.

[Swede Atlanta]

23. The Republican deniers and their financial backers will reject this........

I for one am glad the administration is doing this but this report is not going to change any minds. Wasn't it 2 or 3 years ago there was a national security assessment that came to the conclusion that climate change is one of the top NATIONAL SECURITY challenges for this nation?

The report stated that climate change is going to increase weather volatility with more flooding, more drought, more food insecurity, more famine, more disease and instability. Those are pretty dire warnings. But to what effect?

Senator Ihavemyheadinthesand Inhoffe denied it. Most of the Georgia congressional delegation including both Senators are climate change deniers.

So this report isn't going to change anything. Big money will continue to fund the climate change deniers and ensure there is no meaningful legislation.

What I don't understand with the likes of the Koch Brothers is their short-term vision. They may be reaping billions raping the planet and the environment now. But long term that will change in almost unimaginable ways. Do they not have a vision for their businesses beyond their lifetimes? What about the long-term for their children and grandchildren?

But that is the way it is with big money. It is all about THEM and what they want NOW.

[marions ghost]

46. They don't care about

anybody else's children but their own, and they think their money will shelter their children and grandchildren.

These people think differently. They always think they are immune. That's how they got to where they are.

[seabeckind]

60. Exactly why we need a definite course of ACTION

presented to the congress and say this is where we're going. The report here is the reason WHY we're going there. Here is our path.

Do you have a problem with it and WHY? BTW, denial is not a reason.

Long ago I had picked up a sticker and put it on the wall in my cube. I had done position papers, planning papers, cost analysis, etc. Until the MBAs decided that it was too scary to have the engineers doing stuff on their own (as if doing a presentation of the plan before starting was on my own, but that's beside the point) and said we had to have "brainstorming" sessions. Def: bunch of engineers bored to tears listening to MBAs talking bonehead arithmetic.

Here's the sticker:




http://thedigitaldrew.com/2013/01/17/charts-graphs-powerpoint/

[onehandle]

24. Kiss your asses goodbye. nt

[IDemo]

27. Fox will call this a distraction from, you guessed it....

[mindem]

30. Yea, but what about Bengaawzeee

It's perfectly obvious this is just a tactic to change the subject from what really matters. Nothing matters more than Benghazi, doncha know?

[seabeckind]

34. Then why did you mention it? n/t

[marions ghost]

55. Nothing could disrespect the victims of Benghazi

more than what the RethugliCons have turned it into. A big fat wedge issue for their agenda that serves no real purpose except to be a dog whistle.

They insult the victims who died there.

[seabeckind]

33. And the plan is?????

Sometime before I have to start treading water, please?

And not another speech.

[deutsey]

53. I agree

Now is not the time for another re-enactment of that scene in Life of Brian where the Judean People's Front just sit around making speeches about taking action:

LORETTA: I agree. It's action that counts, not words, and we need action now.

COMMANDOS: Hear! Hear!

REG: You're right. We could sit around here all day talking, passing resolutions, making clever speeches. It's not going to shift one Roman soldier!

FRANCIS: So, let's just stop gabbing on about it. It's completely pointless and it's getting us nowhere!

COMMANDOS: Right!

LORETTA: I agree. This is a complete waste of time.

Personally, I'd like to see something like the WPA from the New Deal that puts people to work building up our infrastructure as well as our defenses against the ravages of climate change.

[Overseas]

35. Sad K&R. Some will then say it is okay to poison our ground water with fracking because it reduces

carbon.

I have seen otherwise intelligent people defend fracking because natural gas has lower emissions of CO2.

Because we can't imagine engaging in a massive conservation and greening effort to save a lot of the oil we now waste because that could create tens of thousands of jobs in the Democratic administration.

They don't think about a warming climate having less groundwater, making that which we still have much more precious.

[snappyturtle]

38. One one hand I'm glad to see climate change getting some press.

OTOH, I smell a carbon tax brewing...cynical me.

[seabeckind]

39. No! No summit, no committee, no bullsh!t

In the past when the US faced a crisis, the gov't rose to the challenge. Eg, WW2, space race, cold war, etc.

There are experts within gov't who know what needs to be done, or at least have very good ideas. Task them with the development of a plan. Eg, at the outset of WW2 the War Dept developed a plan to proceed. What materials would be needed, how they would be deployed, etc. This plan was based on national interests. At that point industry was brought in for advice on the plan and asked how they might assist.

Industry had no veto power. If single corporation didn't like it, they were bypassed. National interests were more important. This makes sense because those corporations depend on our nation.

So too for this plan. Quit asking guys like Immelt to solve job problems, or Geithner to solve banking problems.

Where's the national plan? Our national plan? No more shovel ready bullsh!ts.

Make the gop argue with a concrete proposal and scream it in the media.

Time for change? Finally?

[Marrah_G]

43. I don't understand why the midwest continues to be Red

They have so much to lose with drought. Their churches will be the death of their livelihood.

[Sunlei]

67. The White House has released some good reports. Probably a good idea to release another report.

Because a lot of our fellow Americans live (and die) in areas that already have severe impacts.

I hope this report is more detailed for specific locations where USA disasters will happen.

I don't think even our best efforts, will have much of an effect on global climate change. But perhaps we can adapt and mitigate damages for future American disasters.

[Maven]

71. Nothing more than historical CYA until we see real action that puts the pinch on corporate polluters

[Cha]

72. @Barack Obama

Barack Obama ✔ @BarackObama
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The #NCA2014 is clear: We have to act now to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for the effects of climate change. http://ofa.bo/feW
5:51 AM - 6 May 2014
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Jay Carney (EOP) ✔ @PressSec
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Here's how President Obama's plan to #ActOnClimate helps states, cities, and towns prepare for climate change ? http://go.wh.gov/iJhqKu
5:18 AM - 6 May 2014
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# actionclimate TOD

Mahalo IDemo

[seabeckind]

75. Thanks very much.

I wasn't overly impressed with the "plan", tho. It looks too much like the shovel-ready stuff, basically instead of directing where we as a nation need to go and then usingthe power of gov't spending and contracts to force it, it turns much of the implementation to the local gov'ts. Since more than half the states are in denial because they are under control of the conservatives, I don't see a lot of progress.

For example, the legislature here in Indiana rescinded the credit and assistance programs the electric utility was doin to increase efficiency. Turning to this state to improve energy efficiency in homes doesn't fly well.

The next problem I have with it is that it is doing the same thing and trying to make it more efficient. Raising fuel standards is a great idea...what about my 17 year old vehicles? Secondly, what good does it do to increase efficiency pervehicle if the number of vehicles on the roads increases at the same time? Net effect zero.

What steps are being taken to reduce the number of vehicles? Or a more efficient use of the systems we already have. Eg, reducing the transportation of goods across the country by implementing local productions. This not only reduces our footprint, it also provides regional jobs.

How about some mandates for sustainability and reuse? Do what some european countries do. You must have a use for a byproduct or pay a penalty. If a factory, like a steel mill (assumign there are any left in this country) or a fossil fuel generator has heat as a byproduct of its operation, use that heat for other purposes.

But it really was a nice looking report. Just didn't go very far. It seemed like the author was more worried about stepping on toes than stepping forward.

[TomCADem]

76. Fox News Claims Climate Change Report Is A Distraction From Benghazi

Indeed, Dana Perino dared meteorologists to ask President Obama the real tough questions...about Benghazi.

[Lodestar]

77. We can't wait on top-down change. We all need to be making changes locally and personally. n/t