Revise and extend: Bush's wasted years

In its lead editorial, "Too little, too late," today's Buffalo News dismisses President Bush's Rose Garden speech on climate change as proof that this administration has wasted eight years in ignoring the issue and making, on the way out, a tepid proposal that would only slow the rate of increase in American greenhouse gases.

Other reactions and follow-ups:
* Reuters had two reports, one from European Union HQ in Brussels and the other from a meeting of big (polluting) nations in Paris. In neither place were officials much impressed by Bush's speech. German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel issued a statement headlined "Gabriel criticises Bush's Neanderthal speech. Losership, not Leadership."
* On the U.K.'s Guardian Unlimited, columnist David Roberts called the speech "a big fat nothingburger."
* The Economist calls its leader [that's Brit for "editorial]" "Lukewarm: The 'toxic Texan' discovers a belated resolve on global warming," and says everyone's just waiting for the Bush term to end to face the problem.
* Writing in The Wall Street Journal, the Cato Institute's Patrick Michaels says all the numbers are a big mess, the necessary technology is not there, and any real reduction in greenhouse gases means we will just have to learn to live with less energy.
* The San Francisco Chronicle notes that, on the same day that Bush was "serving up hollow rhetoric," Californians were eagerly looking for ways to make saving the planet good for business.
* The Seattle Post-Intelligencer suggests that those worried about how much it will cost to cut greenhouse gases might want to compare those expenses to the cost of building huge walls to keep out rising sea levels.
* The Christian Science Monitor notes that, for all the criticism aimed at Bush, any success he has in engaging China to address the issue as well will be a major accomplishment.
* And, on The Atlantic.com, James Gibney figures that the Bush administration, through its protracted war in Iraq, has already cut carbon emissions by increasing the price of gas and pushing people to burn less of it.

--George Pyle/Editorial Writer
(Photo of President Bush delivering climate change speech: Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP) 

Comments

[Neil]

As long as we're dealing in cliche's, how about: better late than never - or do you prefer the glass being half full?

[George's Memory Helper]

Was it not the administration of Mr. & Mrs. Clinton who refused to submit the Kyoto Treaty to the U.S. Senate for official ratification?

(After all U.S. Senate Democrats unanimously voted against it in a resolution - joined by all Republican senators too.)

Or was that the fault of then Texas Governor Bush or his evil assistant Karl Rove somehow manipulating every single one of the U.S. Senate Democrats?

[George Pyle]

I never said Kyoto was the way to go. But whether it was or wasn't doesn't excuse the Bushies shameful lack of action on either doing it, fixing it or coming up with something better.

[john]

Whenever I hear someone say something like "Bushies", what they say losses all credibility to me. Bush hasn't been the best president, but the left and the press have just acted liked total a$$es and children through these past years.

[Rick]

John, Pyle's animus toward the current administration has never really been a secret. Just read any given editorial to see that. And you are right about the way the press has behaved. I do find it ironic that the same people who insist that we must do something about a problem that might be more than 100 years away, that might or might not happen, and doesn't exactly enjoy a scientific consensus are the same people who refuse to address the Social Security issue, which is more certain and will come up much quicker. I guess that's what happens when you govern to emotion.

[George Pyle]

So I guess "Clintonistas" is right out, then. Shucks.

[Neil]

How about "Obamanations" George?

[Art Klein]

I had to smile as I checked the world News reporting George W.'s weak and late effort to get the wheels back on his cart. Its just too late George. We are still pumping twice as many emissions per capita as any other nation and using about twice as much energy per captia to live.

Te world is beginning to rank the U.S. with third world countries in so many health categories it is useless to try to list them.

Actually the Presidents speech will hopefully be his last attempt to generate any interest in himself or his agenda. The world mostly yawned and the story died. Everyone is waiting for January 2009. Salve, George W. you have done enough harm.