Retired Republicans Quietly Try to Shift GOP Climate-Change Focus

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/retired-republicans-quietly-try-to-shift-gop-climate-change-focus-20110930

Retired Republicans Quietly Try to Shift GOP Climate-Change Focus

By Coral Davenport
Updated: October 1, 2011 | 11:38 a.m.
September 30, 2011 | 6:29 p.m.

…

Between 2005 and 2010, prominent moderate Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and John Warner of Virginia (now retired) were among Washington’s leading voices in the call to fight climate change, and authored cap-and-trade bills aimed at addressing the problem.

And they did so as leaders of their party: while running for president, chairing Senate committees, and working within the congressional leadership.

Now, moderate Republicans like McCain and Graham have quieted their voices on the issue, in part because acknowledging climate change puts them out of sync with the tea party base that has so energized their party, and because climate-change legislation stands no chance of passing Congress in the current political environment.

But quietly, many acknowledge a deepening GOP schism over the issue, as many moderates grow increasingly disturbed by their party’s denial of proven science. A number of influential Republicans who have left the battlefield of electoral politics are now taking action in an effort to change the GOP’s stance.

…

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. May their voices be heard.

It's a long shot, though...

[polichick]

2. Allow me...

THIS IS YET ANOTHER ISSUE DEMS CAN WIN ON!

[polichick]

3. oops, make that...

[hatrack]

4. Lots luck with that one, guys!

:rofl: