From the State of the Union 2003
Our third goal is to promote energy independence for our country, while dramatically improving the environment. I have sent you a comprehensive energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation, to develop cleaner technology, and to produce more energy at home. I have sent you Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70-percent cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years. I have sent you a Healthy Forests Initiative, to help prevent the catastrophic fires that devastate communities, kill wildlife, and burn away millions of acres of treasured forest.
I urge you to pass these measures, for the good of both our environment and our economy. Even more, I ask you to take a crucial step and protect our environment in ways that generations before us could not have imagined.
In this century, the greatest environmental progress will come about not through endless lawsuits or command-and-control regulations, but through technology and innovation. Tonight I'm proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles.
The Republican President, Vice, Cabinet, House and Senate did NOTHING to stop the effects of Human Induced Global Warming, while exploited every natural resource the USA had and made plans to destroy the Alaskan wilderness as well with bridges to nowhere and drilling in ANWR.
THEY DID NOTHING
and
THEY ARE STILL DOING NOTHING.
The project for the Hydrogen Car is nearly dead. Has anyone heard anything about it's success and wide distribution in the USA? No. Is the transportation infrastructure different? No. Is the energy infrastructure different? No. Are skies cleaner? No. Is there still mercury pouring out of smokestakes in the USA and polluting the air and fisheries? Yes.
READER VIEWS: ON COAL-FIRED PLANT, ZOO EAGLE, BOB LIDA
Sebelius shows
a lack of courage
I agreed with The Eagle editorial "Take lead: Sebelius needs to walk her green talk" (Sept. 16 Opinion), regarding Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Holcomb coal-fired plant expansion question. She's simply passing the buck by dumping the permitting decision on the state's Health and Environment secretary. Thus, Rod Bremby becomes the fall guy, whichever way he goes, and she will retain her "green" image, saying it wasn't her decision.
Hogwash. If she doesn't have the legal power to stop what would be a huge source of polluting carbon dioxide, she certainly has the power to influence Bremby. In reality, she's between a rock and a hard place. I believe she really does want to keep the Holcomb plant from expanding and contributing to more global warming. But she knows that she'll probably not get another thing through the Legislature if she blocks it, because of the political power of western Kansas legislators who see it as "economic development, the planet be damned."
In his book "Profiles in Courage," President John F. Kennedy told of leaders who had the courage to do the morally correct thing rather than the politically safe thing. I hope Sebelius would show that kind of courage. An old saying comes to mind, which paraphrased might read: "If you're not part of the solution to global warming, you're part of the problem."
T. KNEILBel Aire
http://www.kansas.com/205/story/182931.html
The Republicans are lazy, old, do nothings that have not one innovative thought among them and absolutely no moral leadership to guide this country and bring about rapid change to stop the devastating effects of Human Induced Global Warming. Old ideas, no leadership and more exploitation. That is all the Republicans have to offer the American electorate.
Do you remember what Bush's plans were to make health care affordable? Do you? From the same State of the Union address of 2003.
To improve our health care system, we must address one of the prime causes of higher cost, the constant threat that physicians and hospitals will be unfairly sued. (Applause.) Because of excessive litigation, everybody pays more for health care, and many parts of America are losing fine doctors. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I urge the Congress to pass medical liability reform.
Tort reform. He promised Tort Reform would rein in the runaway costs of health care. You know what it did, it allowed Michael Moore to go out and make a movie about the most exploitive industry in the USA, "Privatized Health Care" that kills it's members. Members TWARTED from suing because of Bush's Republicans OPPRESSIVE Tort Reforms.
Anyone in their right mind voting Republican in 2008 doesn't care about themselves, their children or the future, but, ONLY more and more exploitation of anything that will bring them ready cash. Exploitation of the USA treasury. That's all their interested in because if they were successful in private industry they won't be looking to the USA Treasury to exploit in the first place !
Paulson defends Bush on environment (click here)
By Deepti Hajela, Associated Press September 28, 2007
NEW YORK - The idea that President Bush is not committed to fighting climate change is a misperception, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson insisted yesterday.
Paulson spoke during the second day of the Clinton Global Initiative conference. His comments came the same day Bush convened a two-day meeting on climate issues that emphasizes creating more ways to find a solution to global warming, rather than setting firm goals for reducing carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for the environmental problem.
While it's an approach that has earned Bush some criticism, Paulson said the president is seeking to find solutions.
"He's taking it very seriously. I don't see how it can be anything other than a positive to get the major economies of the world, to get the nations that are responsible for 80 percent of carbon emissions, to get them together to deal with the global problem," Paulson said, responding to a question from panel moderator Tom Brokaw.
The panel addressed issues of economic growth in a time of climate change. Paulson was also scheduled to speak yesterday at Bush's conference in Washington.
Bush's approach got some support from another panelist, Tony Blair, former prime minister of Britain, who said it is important to get the countries together with a framework that takes into account their different economic stages.
It was an interesting start to the second day of the conference, started by former president Bill Clinton in 2005 to bring people together for discussions and actions on global causes.
The initiative draws together world leaders, celebrities, and scholars for three days of discussions on global issues and asks them to take concrete steps on those causes. The first day brought out a number of commitments as participants pledged action on this year's four areas of focus: climate change and energy, poverty, healthcare, and education.
By Deepti Hajela, Associated Press September 28, 2007
NEW YORK - The idea that President Bush is not committed to fighting climate change is a misperception, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson insisted yesterday.
Paulson spoke during the second day of the Clinton Global Initiative conference. His comments came the same day Bush convened a two-day meeting on climate issues that emphasizes creating more ways to find a solution to global warming, rather than setting firm goals for reducing carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for the environmental problem.
While it's an approach that has earned Bush some criticism, Paulson said the president is seeking to find solutions.
"He's taking it very seriously. I don't see how it can be anything other than a positive to get the major economies of the world, to get the nations that are responsible for 80 percent of carbon emissions, to get them together to deal with the global problem," Paulson said, responding to a question from panel moderator Tom Brokaw.
The panel addressed issues of economic growth in a time of climate change. Paulson was also scheduled to speak yesterday at Bush's conference in Washington.
Bush's approach got some support from another panelist, Tony Blair, former prime minister of Britain, who said it is important to get the countries together with a framework that takes into account their different economic stages.
It was an interesting start to the second day of the conference, started by former president Bill Clinton in 2005 to bring people together for discussions and actions on global causes.
The initiative draws together world leaders, celebrities, and scholars for three days of discussions on global issues and asks them to take concrete steps on those causes. The first day brought out a number of commitments as participants pledged action on this year's four areas of focus: climate change and energy, poverty, healthcare, and education.
IF THERE IS NO EARTH, THEIR IS NO ECONOMY ! JERKS ! Tell me, Hank, what's the value of the USA dollar looking like? Ever hear of the word corruption, Hank? Because you and Goldman Sachs have it emblazened across your chests right now !
Goldman Sachs takes stake in Russia's Tinkoff Credit Systems - report (click here)
September 27, 2007: 04:22 AM EST
FRANKFURT, Sep. 27, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) Group Inc has taken a stake in Russia's Tinkoff Credit Systems bank, Vedomosti reported citing an executive at the bank.The newspaper did not say how much Goldman Sachs invested in the bank, which specializes in maintaining accounts for holders of Visa credit cards.Tinkoff currently has 13 mln usd in capital, and hopes to increase this to 50 mln usd by the end of the year.Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the matter when contacted by the newspaper.Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
September 27, 2007: 04:22 AM EST
FRANKFURT, Sep. 27, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) Group Inc has taken a stake in Russia's Tinkoff Credit Systems bank, Vedomosti reported citing an executive at the bank.The newspaper did not say how much Goldman Sachs invested in the bank, which specializes in maintaining accounts for holders of Visa credit cards.Tinkoff currently has 13 mln usd in capital, and hopes to increase this to 50 mln usd by the end of the year.Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the matter when contacted by the newspaper.Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
...Brokerage analysts raised their fiscal 2007 and 2008 forecasts on Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) after the firm topped expectations by nearly 40% with profits of $6.13 per share. GS was able to employ trading strategies to take advantage of the turmoil, though not all of its hedge funds followed the same practice. Forecasts for fiscal 2007 are at a new high with brokerage analysts now expecting profits of $23.67 per share versus $21.83 a week ago. Prior to the recent surprise, the consensus forecast had been falling. For fiscal 2008, the consensus estimate calls for profits of $22.45 per share versus $21.82 a week ago. Two months ago, the consensus estimate had stood at $22.80, however....
