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While I still maintain that global warming isn't and shouldn't be a political issue, the conservatives have done everything in their power to prove me wrong. The article below is pretty accurate in describing how conservatives "deal" with global warming.
Conservatives and global warming
I was recently made aware of the fact that the conservative National Review has a newish blog called Planet Gore. That's right: the only conservative blog I know of on global warming is primarily focused on mocking Al Gore -- who is, you'll recall, a big Fatty Fatterstein.
This pungent discovery got me pondering a post on how conservative opposition to global warming advocacy seems openly and bizarrely centered on hatred of liberals and environmentalists and Al Gore rather than, say, any substantive take on the issue itself. It is perhaps the clearest example of how modern conservatism has descended into pure ressentiment.
But -- and let this be a lesson to all you procrastinating pundits out there -- Jonathan Chait beat me to it
The psychology at work here is pretty clear: Your average conservative may not know anything about climate science, but conservatives do know they hate Al Gore. So, hold up Gore as a hate figure and conservatives will let that dictate their thinking on the issue.
The latest assault on the planet earth comes from a Republican Senator, James Inhofe (who thinks that the climate change is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people).
Inhofe vows to put brakes on Gore's 'Live Earth' concert at the Capitol
And finally, GOP attack on Gore makes no sense at all
So from what I've been seeing, the way the conservatives deal with global warming is to ignore the scientific findings, spend their negative energy attacking the messengers while doing absolutely nothing to reduce CO2.
Does that sound about right to you?
Actually, it makes me smile. Why? I've been hearing about this all over the place and frankly I don't care.
But wait - why would I not care about one of the leaders in the environmental field being attacked? Don't I care that he might be a hypocrite?
Well, not really. Why? So many reasons. First of all, as long as you aren't living in a tree, naked, and eating stuff only from your surrounding then you're responsible. I'm responsible. Gore is responsible and Bush and Cheney are responsible. All of you people who joined in this latest attack are responsible.
Secondly, what have those who criticized Gore personally done to help reduce the CO2 or combat global warming? Remember we all share responsibility to preserve this beautiful blue earth for the next generation. Gore has many faults and he's doing his part to make it better. What have you done?
Thirdly, it's the old tactic from the right to attack and smear. We've seen it countless times and we even saw they did it to each other (Bush VS McCain). This isn't new. This isn't something anyone should be surprised. Instead, this should be expected. And if you expect something and it happens then you really don't care.
Lastly, it's laughable that people try to dig up dirt on someone who isn't even running for President. I can't help but wonder, why not spend more of your negative energy on someone like Clinton, Obama, or Edwards?
