*This is nice and all, but if this kind of activity only takes place while left-handed black guys are President, the planet's goose is cooked.
*Somebody's happy about it, though.
"The days of Washington dragging its heels are over."
– President Barack Obama, January 26, 2009.
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Climate Action Report
January 26, 2009
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Dear Bruce, (((Yo!)))
I just witnessed history in the making.
This morning, President Barack Obama signed two executive orders that could be remembered as the critical turning point toward achieving real energy independence and stopping global warming.
(((Gotta play to the domestic right and the left, even though there's never been any such thing as "American national warming.")))
President Obama directed the EPA to review the Bush administration's denial of a waiver request by California to cut global warming pollution from automobiles. The president also ordered the Transportation Department to enact short-term rules on how automakers can improve the fuel efficiency of their new models.
Politically, what President Obama said was at least as important as what he signed.
The President's powerful statement affirming his commitment to moving aggressively to cut global warming emissions and unleash
America's clean energy future laid out clear goals for action in the coming weeks and months.
The President's plan – including the next step of a cap on carbon pollution – means more new jobs, a rebirth for the
American auto industry, and less global warming pollution.
(((Yesterday – Smoot-Hawley protectionism; today, stiff fees for anything made with Chinese coal. Hey wait a minute!
This carbon thing could work great!)))
If today's announcement is the start of a comprehensive policy like that, I'd say that's pretty darn good for the first week in office.
I was deeply honored to be among those who attended the White
House ceremony and witness history in the making. And, I couldn't help but think that this is what change looks like.
For more on today's news, here's a good article from the
Washington Post: http://action.edf.org/ct/Lp16sGE1tmVi/
And, please feel free to offer your own comments on our Green
Room blog: http://action.edf.org/ct/L716sGE1tmV8/
We'll keep you posted as we continue our efforts to support
President Obama's goal of capping and reducing America's global warming pollution.
Thanks for everything you help make possible,
David Yarnold
Executive Director
Environmental Defense Fund
