The Political Climate: an ongoing commentary on the NH Primary and Climate Change

The first debate of the primary season took place last night, and prolonged focus on the Iraq war and terrorism dominated the majority of the conversation.  Woven into the agenda were discussions about abortion, health care, gun control, and yes, energy and climate change.  Not all of the candidates had a chance to talk about global warming, but for those who did, here’s what they’re saying in the national spotlight.  In honor of Bill Richardson (thankfully his hand gestures are one thing I can’t mimic) I’ll put the responses in a list format:

1.  When John Edwards was asked about the rising price of oil he took the question and ran with it.  Edwards, whom pundits are saying used last night’s platform to distinguish his “specifics” from others’ plain old rhetoric, didn’t necessarily answer the question, but he certainly let Americans know that he wants to talk about global warming and he has a plan to address it.  He quickly rattled off his global warming to-do list:  cap and trade, alternatives, raising fuel efficiency standards, carbon sequestration, clean coal, and implementing conservation measures. 

2.  Joe Biden was asked what solutions to global warming would be “hard” for the American public?  Like Edwards, he didn’t really address the question–although he did say “we need to set hard goals”–but instead took the opportunity to present his ideas on how to address climate change: ”we need a project similar to the Manhattan project,” higher fuel efficiency standards, alternatives (E85) made more accessible,  and emissions caps now.

3.  In one of his many tumultuous sets of remarks, Kucinich, the self-proclaimed “healer,” said we need to stop “global warming and global warring.”  We agree.

4.  Bill Richardson probably deserves the most props for one of his responses (though to be fair, not everyone had the chance to address the issue).  He was asked what he would do his first day in office.  Response: On the first day he would end the war in Iraq.  On his second he would announce a plan for achieving national energy independence.  On his third he would address the issue of climate change.  And on his fourth, he would rest (apparently he’s not as diligent a worker as God). 

5.  Barack Obama was less impressive.  We know he was fired up about Iraq, Iran, and terrorism, but he was handed the opportunity to talk about climate change–what has he done personally to make for a better environment–and instead he fumbled with a weak answer and then took the rest of his 30 seconds to talk about another subject.  Tisk, tisk.  “We’ve worked on changing light bulbs” and ”teaching my daughters about that sort of thing” (about changing light bulbs?)…”but back to the issue of terrorism…”  Maybe Obama should take the NH Carbon Challenge.  It would lessen his own footprint and it might help him provide a better answer the next time.