Memorial Day Weekend: Thompson, Obama, and Dodd
May 29th, 2007 by Carbon Coalition
This was a busy weekend in NH. Gov. Tommy Thompson started the weekend early with a WMUR interview Friday afternoon for the ongoing political series “Conversation with the Candidate.” I had been chosen earlier to be a part of the small audience. I was grateful for the chance to get up-close with a candidate, but unfortunately WMUR put my question on global warming in the 11th spot (following many Health Care questions and even a question about avian flu) and I never had the opportunity to ask it in on camera. But, I did get to talk to Thompson after the filming was finished. I asked him how he would address the issue of global warming as president and he listed four main points: 1) bring the best scientists to Washington and put them to work on the issue. 2) get the US independent “well maybe not completely” of foreign oil by using both corn and cellulosic ethanol 3) raise the fuel standards (but he gave no specifics about how much) 4)invest in renewables. I asked Thompson, who boasted being the only candidate with “solutions,” if he will release a comprehensive plan soon and he said “very soon.” We’ll look forward to seeing it. In the meantime, we hope he keeps holding onto that sticker!
Many FOTPCs got out to see other candidates this weekend. Here’s what they had to say:
From Barrington: “I attended the Chris Dodd house party in Barrington today. There were two main parts of his discussion: The war in Iraq and Global Warming/Energy Policy. My impression after hearing him and reading his plan is that he really gets it.
He was running late and didn’t take many questions so I didn’t get a chance to ask him one. However, after it was done I was able to shake his hand and speak to him briefly. I did mention that 164 towns have passed the NH Climate Change Resolution, which he was already familiar with. I offered him a Carbon Coalition “Stop Global Warming” pin which he graciously accepted. I wonder if he wore it at the house party in Portsmouth.”
From Hanover “I got in at the Obama rally today in Hanover, right in the front row. There were no opportunities for Q & A with maybe over 2,000 in attendance and many turned away.
The Senator mentioned in a short section of his 20 minute speech that global warming is a key challenge facing America, that 40-45 mpg CAFE could eliminate oil imports, that a carbon cap would result in investment in alternatives. I would call him good on the carbon cap, CAFE, RPS. However, he is a prime sponsor of a coal-to-liquids bill in the senate.
I was able to hand the Senator a written copy of my question about liquid coal.” (For more on liquid coal see this article in today’s New York Times.) Hopefully, he’ll give this FOTPC an answer. Stay tuned.
