Do you think Pres. Obama will make climate change a central issue...

[polichick]

...after his re-election? The epic hurricane Sandy certainly provides an opening to get serious.

For the sake of our children, I hope this country will finally tackle climate change as we would the war of all wars - that's how high the stakes are.

[Mr. JJE]

1. NO...not now

There are too many campaign donations he has to back up. He just can't do it before this election

[polichick]

2. I said AFTER his re-election.

[pinto]

3. I don't get your point.

[Firebirds01]

18. I shall be the first

to welcome you to DU!

[FSogol]

4. What about all the promotion of alternative energies & increasing fuel efficiency in his 1st term?

Doesn't that count?

[polichick]

6. That's a tiny drop in a big heaving ocean of things that need to be done.

[FSogol]

8. The political climate is in worse shape than the planet's climate.

Hope you are GOTV since we'll need a House & Senate majority to get anything done.

[polichick]

11. Dems did zip on this when they had WH and both houses...

It's not just Republicons with their head in the sand.

The President needs to lead on this in a big way.

[FSogol]

14. They were busy trying to stave off a new Great Depression and fixing healthcare.

Get a bigger majority in Congress is the only way it gets addressed.

[musiclawyer]

5. No and No and No

unless he gets a democratic House, which I doubt, AND Harry Reid gets rid oif the filibuster. The latter is more likely to happen soon.. The former not until at least two more years of GOP House obstruction and better PR spotlight on what the GOP House actually does--nothing.

[polichick]

7. Maybe with Mayor Bloomberg talking about climate change in his endorsement...

...the subject will be taken up in a meaningful way.

[progressivebydesign]

24. Well the fact that Romney LAUGHED at the President in his convention speech..

over "rising seas" tells you that the President has been trying. You're right, though, the obstructionists who are tied financially to the energy industry/lobbyists, will fight him tooth and nail. Because apparently republicans and industry execs will be living on mars when the Earth dies, and Romney gets his own planet. soooo

[CTyankee]

9. This kind of disaster often has huge consequences.

AFter re-election, there will be a more serious discussion about climate change. The country will be jarred out of its complacency. There will be more Sandy's and the people will be forced to open their eyes...

[polichick]

10. Sad that it takes so much for people to wake up...

I hope the President LEADS on this - that's his job, after all, to lead when there is looming disaster.

[CTyankee]

13. if Christie can step across the aisle, so can others. They just need encouragement.

Ihope Christie's example, plus some real soul searching by some (any?) thoughtful republicans can come together with Obama and start a movement to consider what we can do right now that we are not already doing, to work on this huge problem...

[polichick]

16. Maybe Christie and Bloomberg together will make a difference.

[progressivebydesign]

23. again.. the President has accomplished MUCH so far, but until the congress wakes up..

..it'll be a struggle. I applaud what he's done so far.

[flamingdem]

12. We've nearly doomed the earth

He'd better do that

[polichick]

15. Agreed - strong, bold, fearless leadership on this issue is critical.

[flamingdem]

17. If not

I'm chaining myself to White House fence, I wanted to do that a couple of decades ago and should have!

[polichick]

19. I'll join you! :)

[flamingdem]

21. great!

We can spot each other to go to the bathroom! I forgot about that part..

This is a good person for info, he lead the fight against the pipeline:

www.billmckibben.com/

[amborin]

20. if we pressure him to, then, yes eom

[progressivebydesign]

22. He already has done so much, even with the obstructionists in Congress.

I applaud what he's accomplished so far, and expect even more from him in the next four years.

It's an economic issue, and you KNOW that the insurance industry knows this, as well.

[polichick]

29. I hope he'll put it front and center in his second term...

We face no bigger problem.

[lunatica]

25. I hope they tackle it like they tackled the race to the Moon

It was epic.

[polichick]

28. Exactly - but with even more urgency because it matters more.

[blazeKing]

26. No but he'll continue to invest in alternative energy

Carbon taxes aren't happening here. It's too much of a hot button issue. But you do know he has significant new regulations on coal plants and other polluters right? Every bit helps.


Everyone around saying Obama hasn't done enough. What do we want him to do? What specific proposal? What proposal that doesn't slash hundreds of thousands of jobs in a weak economy? I believe he's done what he can. Maybe I'm wrong.

[polichick]

27. imo a second term should free him to talk about climate change a lot more...

...and this latest disaster should've opened enough eyes to make it much easier.

On Edit: ExxonMobil is okay with a carbon tax - others will be too.