Let's see, checklist for President Barack Obama...
- Stop torture, reclaim moral high ground... check.
- End global gag rule, promote real pro-life agenda... check.
- Bolster states' rights, save planet—
Nope: President Obama has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to revisit a Bush-era regulation that forbade states from setting their own environmental standards. From the East Room...
"For the sake of our security, our economy and our planet, we must have the courage and commitment to change," Obama said in his first formal event in the ornate East Room of the White House.
"It will be the policy of my administration," he said, "to reverse our dependence on foreign oil while building a new energy economy that will create millions of jobs."
California and at least a dozen other states have tried to come up with tougher emission standards than those imposed by the federal government, but Obama said that "Washington stood in their way." The president wants the EPA to take a second look at a decision denying California — and the other states that want to follow its model — permission to set tougher tailpipe emission standards [Ben Feller, "Obama Targets Greenhouse Gases," AP via Yahoo News, 2009.01.26].
In other words, our new Democratic President is signing an order to get Washington out of the way.
I pause in my hearty laughter to ask: Republicans, what platform do you have left? Don't answer yet; no rush. I can wait until 2012 for the response. President Obama certainly can wait: he's too busy right now solving problems.
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Update 17:15: And how do the states feel?
Obama's announcement on his seventh day in office delighted California officials who have criticized his predecessor for ignoring the state's long tradition of setting its own air standards.
"For too long, Washington has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to the environment," Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said a news conference at the state capitol. "Now California finally has a partner and an ally in Washington, in the White House" [emphasis mine; Samantha Young and Erica Werner, "Calif. Scores Vindication, Environmental Win," San Francisco Chronicle, 2009.01.26].
Governor Schwarzenegger recognizes some things are more important than party... like breathing.
Yeah, Obama supports states rights. Ha! Just how does his handling of the abortion issue favor states rights?
ReplyDeleteI'm saving my laugh for last after Obama has set up thought police, stomped out all opposition, and people start to see him for the far, beyond reach, lib that he truly is.
Not everyone is as in love with him as you are.
Don't hurt your arm, patting yourself on the back, Cory. Be careful what you wish for because it may come true, and all the baggage that comes with these plans for Change. Obama has some plans that are definately needed, but remember that he is the most liberal Senator that ever served in Washington, DC. That will be a hard pill for many to swallow.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:20: Funny how your only response to a concrete, positive policy change is to complain about policy changes that exist only in your imagination. Knock knock: reality calling! :-D
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:46: I can't help but pucker, your grapes are so sour. :-*
I'm still laughing.
FOCA would be the greatest usurpation of states rights in the history of this nation. Obama supports states rights and I'm SD's pro-choice champion. Hah! Come on Cory, your man crush for the Usurper is creepy and it's blurring reality for you.
ReplyDeleteCory, Obama stated on his own website that FOCA is one of his first priorities. It's not a policy in my mind. Read his own words on his own White House website. Maybe he will put out the word on this executive order this coming Friday. so it doesn't make a big news splash; like he did last week with the announcement that he was reversing policy and giving millions of money (we don't have BTW) to foreign gov'ts for family planning even if they support abortion.
ReplyDeleteO doesn't care for any rights except his own and advancing the far left agenda.
Cory, you have presented more evidence to show that Barack Obama has an open mind. We could do a whole lot worse.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama is not an angel. He's not a devil. But he has a lot of people either singing like angels or screaming like devils! I'm starting to get some laughs out of this.
It'll take awhile for us to find out whether President Obama reduces or increases the polarization of the electorate. If I were a gambling man ...
Call me naïve, Stan, but the electorate may have reached the maximum level of polarization possible. Obama's actions on the environment (and abortion and some of the other bugaboos mentioned by the sour-grapesers above) won't alienate anyone who's not already alienated and taking their talking points from Rush Limbaugh. If Obama outperforms his predecessor (a low bar) and manages the recession well, he won't convert the moderate center, but he'll get their sensible vote. Obama's success could even depolarize the electorate, as the Dobson/Hickey fringe will get more desperate and shrill and alienate some of pragmatic Republicans who will realize Obama is actually promoting a bigger chunk of their American values.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm not getting my talking points from Rush. It just so happens our church is one of those on the forefront of this FOCA stuff. Many states have laws on their books regarding partial birth abortion, parental notification, crossing state lines with kids to perform abortions, etc. And if Obama has his way and bows to NARAL etc, the federal gov't will be fiat simply wipe the state laws and wishes of those people off the books. So much for states rights. And I managed to say all this without anyone from the far right telling me what to say. I do have a brain myself and can think for myself. And exec orders like these will do nothing to heal the divisions in this country.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Dobson fan, and I don't listen to Rush, at all. Lumping me in with them is quite inaccurate. But, whatever.
ReplyDeleteGeez, even I'm starting to get a crush on Obama...
ReplyDeleteIt really torqued me when I heard that W was using the EPA to deny California its right to protect its environment as it saw fit. Good thing H came along to set that straight.