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McCain urges free-market principles to reduce global warming

Monday, May 12, 2008 10:00 AM PDT

By Glen Johnson
The Associated Press

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PHOENIX — Republican John McCain, reaching out to both independents and green-minded social conservatives, argues that global warming is undeniable and the country must take steps to bring it under control while adhering to free-market principles.

In remarks prepared for delivery Monday at a Portland wind turbine manufacturer, the presidential contender says expanded nuclear power must be considered to reduce carbon-fuel emissions. He also sets a goal that by 2050, the country will reduce carbon emissions to a level 60 percent below that emitted in 1990.

"For all of the last century, the profit motive basically led in one direction — toward machines, methods and industries that used oil and gas," said McCain. "Enormous good came from that industrial growth, and we are all the beneficiaries of the national prosperity it built. But there were costs we weren't counting, and often hardly noticed. And these terrible costs have added up now, in the atmosphere, in the oceans and all across the natural world."

The Arizona senator promised to challenge China and India, two economic rivals that are fueling their challenge to U.S. market supremacy with heavily polluting fuels such as coal, gas and oil.

"For all of its historical disregard of environmental standards, it cannot have escaped the attention of the Chinese regime that China's skies are dangerously polluted, its beautiful rivers are dying, its grasslands vanishing, its coastlines receding and its own glaciers melting," said McCain.

He also took a swipe at President Bush, who balked at the beginning of his first term at signing the Kyoto global warming protocols. McCain said he would return to the negotiating table.

"I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges. I will not accept the same dead-end of failed diplomacy that claimed Kyoto. The United States will lead and will lead with a different approach — an approach that speaks to the interests and obligations of every nation," he said.

The language highlighted the political stakes for McCain, his party's presumed nominee. His visit to Oregon came just days after the two leading Democratic contenders, Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, campaigned in the state.

Oregon is among the expected general election battlegrounds, and its Columbia and Hood rivers are playgrounds for many outdoorsmen and environmentalists.

Global warming also stands with abortion rights and an array of social causes as important issues to the evangelicals and Christian conservatives whom McCain hopes will bolster his political base this fall.

Democrats derided McCain's record on the issue, noting contributions to his campaign from energy lobbyists, his recent proposal to temporarily suspend the federal gasoline tax as a means of making driving cheaper and some votes against alternate energy sources.

"Senator McCain's campaign rhetoric on the environment means nothing when he's willing to give his donors sweetheart deals and appoint right wing judges bent on gutting environmental regulations, which is one more reason he is the wrong choice for America's future," said a statement from Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.

McCain has long expressed a belief in global warming, arguing that even if he is wrong, acting as if the planet's temperature were increasing would only benefit the environment if scientists subsequently proved he was mistaken.

McCain traveled to the Pacific Northwest from Arizona, where he and his family spent Mother's Day.

In his speech, he highlighted his personal experiences viewing evidence of glacial recession. He also cited evidence of a shift in animal migration patterns.

"You would think that if the polar bears, walruses, and sea birds have the good sense to respond to new conditions and new dangers, then humanity can respond as well," he said.

McCain's major solution is to implement a cap-and-trade program on carbon-fuel emissions, like a similar program in the Clean Air Act that was used to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions that triggered acid rain.

Industries would be given emission targets, and those coming in under their limit could sell their surplus polluting capacity to companies unable to meet their target.

McCain wants the country to return to 2005 emission levels by 2012; 1990 levels by 2020; and to a level sixty percent below that by 2050.

"As never before, the market would reward any person or company that seeks to invent, improve, or acquire alternatives to carbon-based energy," he said. "More likely, however, there will be some companies that need extra emissions rights, and they will be able to buy them. The system to meet these targets and timetables will give these companies extra time to adapt — and that is good economic policy."

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gimpy wrote on May 12, 2008 10:24 AM:

" C'mon Grandpa John, cap and trade doesn't work. It's just window dressing for continuing business as usual. "

cbears wrote on May 12, 2008 10:55 AM:

" If you think the Chinese are going to listen to us is ridiculous at best! We will follow or be forced to follow all of the rules, and the rest of the emerging world will go on their merry ways. We will follow ridiculous rules, and be blamed for every natural disaster even though we have followed all of the GW bs! Read the Bible, it will explain the goings on in the World today! Pretty simple! "

Flip flop flip flop McCain wrote on May 12, 2008 11:19 AM:

" The straight talk express has been on every side on every issue. McCain said he wouldn't vote for his own immigration bill, he said he didn't vote for Bush in 2000. Honestly, I'm glad to at least have a real politician running, Bush got into trouble on every conviction he had. Iraq for example, he thought he could bring democracy to a culture diametrically opposed to freedom. McCain proves all the time he will say anything he thinks will get him elected. I don't believe anything he says. Like Bush quotes in 2000, "I'm a uniter not a divider", "I have a good heart", to bad such an inferior brain. "

A clear vision wrote on May 12, 2008 11:34 AM:

" President-elect McCain is absolutely right. The U.S. must lead China and India in the right direction not follow. Kyoto was flawed and it has to be changed to include every country without unfairly giving others an advantage. We were right not to sign it. We were wrong not to work toward changing it. President-elect McCain is absolutely right about the need to include nuclear energy in taking the U.S. in a new direction. Improved technology lowers the risk, and we have come to understand the problem with the waste. We have the storage capacity, it is time to make it work. Wind power only provides so much. Bio-fuels actually hurt the environment and are a treat to rain forests in Brazil and Indonesia, and the cost of food in the U.S. and around the world. Nuclear energy has been used safely in a variety of ways and countries. The Nordic countries have build huge storage bunkers under the sea. We should look at the same. President-elect McCain has the look, feel, and experience to be a strong world leader. "

RE Gimpy wrote on May 12, 2008 11:48 AM:

" I am one Democrat who is no longer going to listen to this party's babble. I never accept that my party would support a racist views yet it is clear to me that Obama did just exactly that for more than 20 years listening, trusting, and believing in Rev. Wright. That man is clearly a racist with a hate-filled heart and a vote for Obama is clearly a vote for a man who has similar beliefs. Oprah Winfrey walked away from Wright's church when he refused to change his demonic sermons. If Obama had truly wanted to be president, he should have done the same. That is what a leader would have done. I see nothing in Obama that says he will lead. He has followed the examples of a slum lord, a murderous radical from the 60s, and a racist, hateful minister. Those facts raise serious questions about who would control the White House under Obama. I am one Democrat who will vote for McCain simply because Obama has shown he is a follower and not a strong leader. "

global warming wrote on May 12, 2008 11:53 AM:

" there is no such thing as global warming it just gives idoits something to talk about if there is such a thing as global warming why are we having one of the cloldest springs on record "

To global warming wrote on May 12, 2008 12:48 PM:

" Go to NOAA.org and search global warming. Or to the home of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (division of NOAA). You'll find that it is indeed a reality.
It is called 'GLOBAL WARMING' not Cowlitz County Warming. March had the warmest average land temperature on record and ocean temperatures the 13th.
Polar ice caps, an enhanced greenhouse effect, rising sea levels, weather extremes - both cold and warm including hurrincanes due to increased surface temperatures of the ocean and tornados are all related.
It is not a simple problem - but the solution is simple. Whether or not a person chooses to put away their ignorance and realize that man has indeed had an incredible negative effect on our environment doesn't change to outcome.
Fly over the Pacific Ocean during daylight hours and all you see is pollution.
We are entering a time where it might be impossible to repair the damage to our earth - the best we can hope for is stopping the change.
People a lot smarter than you & I put together say it is happening. What qualifies you to say different? "

Sisyphis wrote on May 12, 2008 1:04 PM:

" In 1978, then president Carter, launched a program to end this country's dependance of foreign oil. That, if followed, would have ended the need for this country to import any oil, changed our energy consumption from oil to solar, hydro, wind, renewable battery's, hydrogen, etc., etc. It would have, if continued, eliminated this country's dependance on foreign oil by the 2000. The White House was stand alone energy efficient at the end of his term. The first Act of the new incoming president Reagan was to eliminate ALL of the Carter inititive and tear down all the solar, hydro energy installed on the White House. There has been NO president since that has tried to do anything other than talk where energy and oil consumption are concerned. Not either Bush's or Clinton. In fact we have regressed. McCain continues with this regression. Also, it is idiotic to equate a local "cold spring" as absence of eveidence for global climate change. It is called Global Climate Change. The increase of the mean global temperature does not nor has it ever meant the end of low or colder temeratures in any one particlure region during any one season. Incremental increases in the overall temperature of the planet, i.e.global warming, is but one acpect of the overall global climate change.And to "Gimpy".... The only racist I see is the one looking back at you in the mirror every day. "

RE Sisphyis wrote on May 12, 2008 1:38 PM:

" Carter had the U.S. on the verge of a Depression. Interest rates were in the high teens, unemployment was soaring, and there was no hope in sight. Carter was taking this country right down the drain. President Reagan reversed the downward spiral and put America back on its feet. In addition, he also did the brunt of the work that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and freed millions in Eastern Europe and Western Asia from tryanny under that evil government. As the oil dependency, it has to be incremental, just as McCain says. It isn't going to happen overnight. You are not going to simply change an oil and coal fueled America overnight. If you think you will see significant changes in the next 10-20 years, good luck. McCain is right, two things have to happen first. We need to go back and renegoiate Kyoto. Clinton sold the U.S. down the drain with that. He got bullied, when he should have been leading. Just like with radical Arabs. McCain is also right when he says we have to lead China and India. Will it be easy, no. Can it be done? Yes but it will take a leader with experience, not some juvenile wannabe. Osama nneds to get out of diapers first if he wants to be president. He needs to show America that he isn't influenced by people like racist ministers, murderous radicals or slum lords. He needs to be his own man first. "

Global Warming Ostrich wrote on May 12, 2008 1:39 PM:

" If something challenges your beliefs you just stick your head in the sand. That's the republican way isn't it? President Elect McCain, boy there's a fantasy. At his age he should be running for the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He'd be young for that. He's a week candidate, eventually he'll have stand on the same stage as Obama and misspeak on the most basic details. Then he'll show himself for the old geezer he really is. "

Whatever wrote on May 13, 2008 9:00 AM:

" There is no good choice for pres. this term. All three of the potentials are socailist in mind set and are bent on control of, rather then freedom for the people. McCain is probably the least of the three but not by much. "

To FDR wrote on May 13, 2008 9:23 AM:

" Your stuck in 1969 obviously. Wonder what you would say if you were still around when the ice age starts again? Stop speaking about the scientific community as if you speak for all of it, because just as many of them do not agree with what propaganda being spewed by people like you.... "

To reSisyphis wrote on May 13, 2008 12:23 PM:

" The economic situation of the Carter years were a direct result of the end of the Viet Nam war and the policies of Nixon/Ford that strengthen OPEC, or/and Reagan, Bush(s), Clinton and McCain's of a petroleum based economy. Kyoto was nothing more than allowing nations to trade polution chits with poorer nations to continue on the course we are going down now to ruin. The worst of all was Reagan. In this country's economic policies he paved the way, no encouraged ($$), US manufacturing to leave our country (that states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan still have not recovered from), created the monolithic industrial farms that destroyed America's family farms (more family farms foreclosed in 8 years of Reagan that all the rest of our countries history combined)created the largest debt in this countries history, destroyed the public school systems, created a debtor society, a prison society, cut and run in Lebanon after hundreds of US Marines were killed by terrorists and numerous US military and civilian kidnappings effectivly creating the modern Islam Terrorist template (Hezbollah), selling WMD's to Saddam, leaving the Middle East with no way to go but down, but trippling the price of a barrel of oil for all the oil men. Reagan?? You want to envoke Reagan in a economic debate?? You need to flush out your head gear. We will never know what would have happened IF Carters plan had been followed. We do know what did because it wasn't. "

FDR wrote on Dec 31, 1969 4:00 PM:

" Ahh you can always count on the flat earth society members to pipe in with their fringe researchers and anecdotal evidence to refute what the global evidence trail and scientific community are saying. Way to pander ot Cowlitz County Warming. March had the warmest average land temperature on record and ocean temperat "

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