For those who've researched, which Dem is best on environmental issues?

[blm]

Since we are well into the primaries I'm assuming many of you have truly researched the candidate's past record and their current policicy proposals. So, who did you decide was best?

For me it's Kerry, with Kucinich a close second.

[Paulie]

1. What items push Kerry into first with you?

I'd be happy to compare specifics. Or is it just because Kerry has been in office longer?

[poskonig]

2. Kerry hands down.

From defunding road building in our national forests to ANWR to CAFE standards, Kerry is the best candidate. I've said this even when I was supporting Dean. Kerry is awesome on renewable energy, banning MBTE, and greenhouse emissions.

But he's "the same" as the Toxic Texan.......

[HowdyDUit]

20. defunding road building in our national forests

I'm not sure that's the best approach to allow access for disabled people like my partner and I. We enjoy seeing our forests and camping deep within them. Without roads we can't get in and are left out of the great American dream of enjoying OUR public lands.

A great many old logging roads allow us to drive in to camp and enjoy the surroundings.

[Kanary]

23. They're not going to take your roads away from you

What *'s new bill did was appropriate $$$ for NEW roads for logging, and mineral rights.

Each new road does damage to the forests, which includes the wildlife. Some of these areas are on the brink as it is.

There's plenty of room for accomodating you, while protecting the natural areas.

Kanary

[littlejoe]

25. Being a devotee of environmental issues, it is no contest.

Kerry by a landslide! As for the road building issue. Aside from clearcutting, building roads in forests is far more destructive than people think. It displaces and kills wildlife, breaks up habitat, causes erosion, allows more people in to do even more damage, (ie. polluting, forest fire potential, and last but not least, gives logging companies even greater access to inflict catastrophic damage to our environment.

Senator Kerry is the only member of congress to be endorsed by environmental groups, based on his consistent and sterling record of votes on environmental issues.

If you really care about environmental issues, Kerry is your man.

[oldcoot]

38. If the logging industry gets its way, you won't get to see trees

Instead, you will see stumps.

[OhioStateProgressive]

I'd say Dennis

I can't remember the name of the dirty nuclear plant he was able to get shut down, but it was owned by the CEI and his stopping of the nuclear plant led into his problems withm CEI. Little known, because of Dennis's problems as Mayor, is that he signed the first set of laws that started to clean up Lake Erie, which I think is a big thing.

[0rganism]

3. Really? You've found Kerry to be #1 on environmental issues?

Great! I want to know more. Can you tell me where JK stands on

1) preserving the last remaining stands of old-growth forests, in the Americas and overseas
2) modifying existing trade treaties to incorporate wage and environmental protections
3) regulating the introduction of GMOs into the ecosystem

I've looked at his site, and I'm not finding position statements on these things. But you probably know a lot more about him than I do. Please fill me in.

[littlejoe]

26. Didn't you get the answers to those very questions yesterday in

your own post. If I am mistaken then please forgive me.

[0rganism]

31. Sure, that was done roughly the same time I posted here

I thought maybe blm wasn't going to read my post, but might have specific info on John Kerry's environmental positions he'd share in this thread. Seriously, I'm not trying to bait Kerry and Edwards supporters. In all probability, I see myself becoming one after the primaries are decided. I just want to know where they stand ASAP.

I understand there's been a lot of flamebait around here for quite a while; however, my recent posts on these matters are fully aimed at gathering information as efficiently as possible. I forgive any suspicions my parallel inquiry may have caused.

[genius]

4. Dennis has the highest rating. Kerry is second.

This is Edwards's weak place.

[JohnKleeb]

7. Actually I think Dennis is 2nd in record

but I agree this is Edwards' weak spot. However I think both Dennis and John K have 90% at least. They both have fine environmental visions which is why I like em both on this issue. This is an issue where I like Kerry and Kucinich a lot, and explains my equal support of the two.

[blm]

9. Actually Kerry is rated highest, genius. Check out global stewards link.

http://globalstewards.org/democrats.htm#env

[buddhamama]

16. do they take the WTO, NAFTA etc. into account

when rating a pol? trade agreements effect the environment.

[blm]

17. Maybe they factored in his 10 years of work on the Kyoto Protocol

which would have added the protections that environmentalists were seeking in their trade agreements.

Kerry has always believed in open trade, but, always sought environmental and labor protections.

As president, he'll use his position to further those tighter and fairer agreements.

[oasis]

5. Kerry was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters. (eom)

[revcarol]

6. Kucinich, Kerry a close second

Dennis is incredible on renewable energy, 20% renewable energy by 2010

Kerry good, better in the past. Don't like connections with Montsanto, GM foods. Also for NAFTA,GATT,WTO, etc. where we force GM foods down other nations' throats.

[mzmolly]

8. Global Stewards has some info. Kerry is the best on Enviromental issues

(overall) according to the League of Conservation Voters.

http://globalstewards.org/democrats.htm#env

[MasonJar]

10. I believe that I am right that Kerry was one of those who worked

10 years on the Kyoto Treaty and its environmental direction.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

21. Yes, Kerry worked on the Kyoto Protocol

The other day I attended a class at George Washington University with a friend, and the guest speaker was a woman who worked on the Kyoto Protocol. If John Kerry was half as passionate as this woman was about it, he's definitely a great environment candidate.

[Catholic Sensation]

11. Robert Kennedy jr. also endorsed him

and Robert Kennedy jr. might be the best environmentalist in this country. When the dems win in November and set up their cabinet, Robert Kennedy is going to make an excellent head of the EPA :D

I'm a huge fan of Robert Kennedy's in case you couldn't tell.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

19. I met RFK Jr.

Are ya jealous? :D

[DaisyUCSB]

12. As an OPEN-MINDED Edwards supporter, Yes, Kerry has the edge

However making the struggle against corporate-interests a centerpiece of what the democratic party stands for is as important an issue to me as environmental issues and Edwards has the clear edge there in his entire law and senate career and in his platform compared to Kerrys respectively

[Scott Lee]

13. Oh you mean ANWR drilling Kerry?

*snicker*

[wyldwolf]

14. ,

Nevermind. Not worth the effort anymore. Looking forward to the Kerry or Edwards nomination and no more posts like that.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. A totally false and deceptive post.

Now that we are allowed to post false information I can't alert your post to have it removed.


That rule change was a mistake.

[littlejoe]

30. The great thing about this country is that people can have an

uninformed opinion on issues.

I know that sounds arrogant and conceited, but that's not it. I just call them as I see them.

[Nicholas_J]

35. More B.S.

It was Kerry's threat to filubuster any legislation that inluded drilling in ANWR that killed the attempt to do so.

Democrat will filibuster Artic oil drilling plan

Tuesday, February 13, 2001
By United Press International


Senator John Kerry said that President Bush's attempts to link the ongoing California electricity crisis with the need to open the Artic National Wildlife Reserve to oil and gas development were misleading and could result in bad public policy.

An influential Democratic senator Monday vowed to filibuster a proposal that would allow oil exploration in an Alaska wildlife refuge because the Bush administration's justification for the controversial move was "muddled at best and cynical at worst."
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry said that President Bush's attempts to link the ongoing California electricity crisis with the need to open the Artic National Wildlife Reserve to oil and gas development were misleading and could result in bad public policy...

Kerry promised Monday that any attempt to pass a bill to open the refuge, widely considered the largest remaining pristine wilderness in North America, to petroleum development would be met with procedural delays, including a filibuster, orchestrated by Democrats and sympathetic Republicans...


http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/02/02132001/upi_akoil_41978.asp

Sorry, your facts seem to not be facts, but un-facts.

[oasis]

39. Anyone who continues to spread false accusations after reading the above

articlew/link, should be carefully scrutinized.

[littlejoe]

40. A big thank you.

[charlie]

15. Kerry's record could, believe it or not,

enable him to poach a sizeable chunk of votes from a solidly Republican voting bloc:

This groundswell of conservative opposition to the administration's environmental policies is not limited to the Tongass. Hunting and fishing conservation vs. resource development on public lands is a growing issue throughout traditional GOP enclaves in the American West. Along Montana's Rocky Mountain Front, for example, protests from sportsmen on natural gas exploration are ringing out. This area is revered by hunters and fishers for its world-class trout and large populations of big game.

"Areas like this should be last on the list," says Paul Hansen of the Izaak Walton League. "A lot of conservative-voting people are pretty unhappy over the Bush administration's record on issues like this." And that record was amplified by the ringing silence accorded environmental issues in last week's State of the Union message.

"What's happening now on public lands is forcing sportsmen to organize," adds Chris Wood, vice president for conservation at Trout Unlimited. "Never before have our interests been as at risk as they are now." His group boasts close to 150,000 members, fewer than 30% of whom say they are Democrats.

...........

Petrich minces no words about the message his group wants to send. "We want to make this an election issue," he says. "We want to make it clear that President Bush and members of Congress stand to lose something if they don't reverse their misguided actions."

Conservative sportsmen turn against Bush

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

18. Kerry, hands down.

Along with LCV ratings, environmental record, etc... he was also endorsed by RFK Jr. If that's not proof of his environmental stances, I don't know what is. He's practically a Green on environmental stuff.

DK actually ranks second, surprisingly.

[arwalden]

22. Well... I'm Glad That Kerry Is Ranked #1.. or #2...

And that the likely nominee isn't waaay down at the bottom of the list when it comes to his priority for environmental issues.

-- Allen

[dogman]

24. Obviously Clark

He actually practiced it. He received an Audubon award for protecting endangered species and was supported by Gaylord Nelson.

[cally]

28. Kerry

is the strongest and Kucinich is a close second. Edwards is pretty weak on environmental issues for a Democratic candidate.

[ldoolin]

29. CUSP puts Kerry on top

The CUSP Congressional Environmental Scorecard, which is the best of the bunch, rates them like this for the 107th Congress:

Joe Lieberman 75%
John Kerry 73%
Richard Gephardt 65%
John Edwards 54%
Dennis Kucinich 51%
Bob Graham 44%

For the 106th Congress:

John Kerry 84%
Richard Gephardt 74%
Joe Lieberman 69%
John Edwards 68%
Bob Graham 60%
Dennis Kucinich 49%

Not rated because they weren't in the 106th or 107th Congress: Dean, Clark, Braun, Sharpton.

108th Congress ratings don't appear to be up yet.

A composite score from these:
Kerry 80%
Lieberman 72%
Gephardt 70%
Edwards 61%
Graham 52%
Kucinich 50%

Kucinich's abortion position sank him, since CUSP (unlike LCV) includes abortion votes. Pro-choice = pro-environment because of the overriding importance of the overpopulation issue.


Oh, and for control purposes and for those DUers who have an irrational fondness for John McCain:

John McCain (R-AZ), a faux moderate Republican: 7% in the 106th, 32% in the 107th, 20% composite

Olympia Snowe (R-ME), a real moderate Republican: 52% in the 106th, 70% in the 107th, 61% composite

Arlen Specter (R-PA), a real moderate Republican: 56% in the 106th, 60% in the 107th, 58% composite

John McCain comes up a little short...

http://www.uscongress-enviroscore.org/

On edit: I was a Dean supporter until he dropped out, and am not all that impressed with Kerry on other issues. But I am perfectly willing to admit that on environmental issues, Kerry is the best.

[corporatewhore]

32. Kucinich Kerry is anti environment because hes pro freetrade

[THUNDER HANDS]

33. Kerry

and Kucinich.

[Nicholas_J]

34. Both the CLF and the Sierra Club have given Kerry

thr highest ratings. Oddly enough Kucinich is not the seciod closest in their rating of environmentalism. That honor goes to Joe Lieberman.

Vermont Sierra Club activists were and are still extremely critical of Howard Dean, which is why they never endorsed him, but the Vermont Progressive Party.

[RafterMan]

36. Kerry, all the way

He's got a good program, plus he understands how to use the dependence on foreign oil argument to scare the center into efficiency and alternative fuels.

I just wish he would use it louder and more often.

[diamondsoul]

37. Past records,

Kerry, then Kucinich (of the candidates remaining in the race). Partly because Kerry has a longer voting record to go on.

Nicholas J mentioned Lieberman has a high rating above Kucinich according to one watch-group and Lieberman does have a very good environmental record.

Still I think policy-wise in this election Kucinich is stronger on Environment because it's a cornerstone of his anti-NAFTA position. The fact that Kerry thinks NAFTA is fixable after 10 years of exactly ZERO change causes me grave concerns.

[GreenPartyVoter]

41. Dennis, hands down

[curse10]

42. Kerry

and it's one of the top three reasons I support him.