"Where Obama’s climate leadership is really lacking": making senators STFU

[Teaser]

http://www.grist.org/article/where-obamas-climate-leadership-is-really-lacking/

These remarks range from unhelpful to inane. Does Feinstein really think next year their will be a better chance of passing climate legislation when there will be half a dozen fewer Democrats in the Senate and the House could conceivably flip to the Republicans? Is that her rationalization?

The president has either not tried to get senior Democrats to stop bad mouthing climate action in public — or he has tried and failed. Either way, that demonstrates an absence of serious leadership on this most important of issues.

The president should have spoken to Dorgan and Feinstein months ago, and said, “We need to do this. We’re going to do this. I need your help. What do you need from me?” Indeed, he should have made a couple dozen such calls after the House passed the bill a year ago.

So, sure, feel free to criticize him for not using a few beltway code-words in his big speech, but actions speak louder than words — and so far one sees very little sign of action.

Here's hoping there's a grand plan at work here. Right now I'm not seeing it.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Feinstein...is a corporate tool with a "D" after her name instead of an "R".

[Teaser]

2. How can we kneecap the Senate?

they are where progressive policy goes to die.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Wasn't there a time when the Senate was considered the more progressive of the two houses??

[ProSense]

4. Remember the 30 Senators who signed the public option letter?

Where the hell are they on climate change?

It's like they're in hiding.

[Teaser]

6. A bunch of them are openly opposed to the legislation

The thing is, these old fucks have kids and grandkids. They don't think their kids'll be alive when the shit starts to hit the fan?

[politicasista]

9. Good question n/t

[Teaser]

5. only when Repubs had the house.

They were less crazy than the Repubs. But historically, they have crapped on progressivism much more often than conservatism.

[politicasista]

10. delete.

not worth it.

[vaberella]

7. Another one that says Obama's leadership is lacking.

He has a shitty Congress and a rather weak electorate that doesn't push their reps enough.

[Teaser]

8. We must be fair: there is blame on every side

Making Senators shut up is hard fucking work, no doubt. So I understand why he couldn't get them to shut their yaps.

But he does get a piece of the blame. I'm not exempting him, and I'm not dumping the whole issue in his lap either.