Was chatting tonight with a Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist....

[brooklynite]

...who thinks that climate change needs to be the top Democratic issue going into 2020. I',m not aware of any prospective Democratic Presidential candidate besides Jay Inslee who has indicated that would be a priority issue. How many other people think climate change is an absolute must among the issues Democrats will campaign on?

[WeekiWater]

1. This one is difficult.

It’s difficult to make it the cornerstone of a campaign. The problem is, if not now, when? Even the Trump Organization has argued for permits to build a higher sea wall at one of its golf courses because of rising sea levels.

We are talking an issue that is going to have a devastating impact in the near future, and is being realized now.

What it means is arguing for restrictions. Always difficult in the political world. We need to use the vision of Obama and define the change as something that will bring about bountiful opportunities.

[brush]

2. That along with healthcare, jobs of course, and vote suppression.

And throw in green energy development and the jobs that would create.

[shanny]

3. Urgently needed.

The framing of a Green New Deal combined with the moonshot is the way to go.

If we don't solve this, nothing else will matter.

[roscoeroscoe]

6. That's it

Big part of the platform!

[2naSalit]

9. That's true...

once the biosphere collapses, nothing else will matter.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. I say yes. It can be done. Further it must be done

It's as if it were the 30's and America had isolationist tendencies while totalitarianism was on the march world wide. Some times you don't pick your issue, the issue picks you. The consequences of failing to confront climate change head make not doing so no longer an option. This is our big asteroid heading toward our planet. It can be a winning issue politically also if we approach it with the type of moral fervor that true leadership displays in times of crisis.

[ananda]

5. It involves survival of the species.

Nuff said.

[2naSalit]

10. And...

it's everybody's business.

[misanthrope]

7. This shows why Pulitzer-winning journalists aren't necessarily political consultants

If what said journalist meant was "if people were smart and our priorities were in the right places, then climate change should be the top Democratic issue going into 2020," then they would be quite correct.

If what they meant was "making climate change the top Democratic issue in 2020 is a winning strategy" then I think they're being naive. I think the public has shown us repeatedly that they are selfish and short-sighted and have to be coerced into prudence and proactivity.

[Control-Z]

8. My roommate has always been a climate denier and still believes

the Democrats are using fear to make money.

I think he realizes the climate is changing but still believes the hoax to make money. He keeps bringing up California's bullet train as an example.

But we have solar in the apartments where we live now and have the lowest electric bill we've had in more than 20 years. It doesn't matter how much (electricity) we use the bill only fluctuates by $7 to $12 a month. We have paid as much as $500 - $700 during hot California summers in the past. Now we never have a bill higher than about $115. So he believes in using solar in hot climates like California's. But any "big ideas" that cost the tax payer's more he is an idiot about.

I think it should our be number one priority and have thought as much for 15 years, at least. What other voters think I don't know.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

11. it has to be connected to the "green new deal".

[BlueWI]

12. Agreed that it needs to be prominent.

Strategies are needed to make it a winning issue, but it's too important to take a back seat in 2020.