Bill Bradley: Arnold and the Green Republicans of California
Think the Republicans of California Support the Bush Administration's Environmental Policies? Think Again.
President George W. Bush, trying to climb out of a Nixon resignation level hole in job approval ratings, said a few uncharacteristic and seemingly mysterious words in his State of the Union address. Words like “global climate change, alternative fuels, solar, wind, wood chips.” The answer to the mystery lies not in Washington, but in California, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In the somewhat tarnished Golden State, the former action movie superstar and one-time Hummer aficionado has rebuilt his popularity in several ways, not the least of them his championing of environmental issues. His support for renewable energy sources, and his well-publicized plan to sharply curtail California’s emission of greenhouse gases, is very popular with Democratic voters. It may not be a surprise that these policies are also very popular with the increasingly crucial independent voters, by far the fastest growing group in the state.
But, given the carping of conservative Republican activists, bloggers, pundits, and legislators elected from gerrymandered districts, there is an even more interesting fact about Schwarzenegger’s popularity. His environmental policies are very popular among Republican voters.
Schwarzenegger’s environmental polices are overwhelmingly supported by Republican voters, 63% to 19%, in the brand new poll by the widely respected Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Schwarzenegger’s own private polls show much the same thing.
This should be no surprise, at least for those following this, because a PPIC poll over the summer showed 62% support among Republicans for unilateral state action, independent of the federal government, to control greenhouse gases leading to climate change and global warming. Only 33% were opposed.
California Republicans backed the already existing state law to require automakers to to sharply curtail tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases in upcoming models of motor vehicles by 71%. That law is under attack from the Bush Administration.
Of those same Republicans 82% back the government spending more money to develop alternative energy sources for motor vehicle fuels. In addition, 85% of independents favor the same measure.
Also at the 82% level Republicans want the government to spend more money on developing developing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuelswhile 86% of independents want that as well.
On the specifics of the Schwarzenegger plan on greenhouse gases, 65% of Republicans favor the rollback of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. As do 68% of independent voters.
69% of Republicans favor the mandatory emission limits being applied to electric power, oil, and natural gas facilities. 78% of independents favor it, as well.
President George W. Bush, who has represented the traditional conservative view on such matters, has little support in California for his environmental policies. This befits someone whose job approval rating in California has fallen to 29%. Obviously what he’s doing isn’t working.
It will be interesting to see when other Republicans figure out what Schwarzenegger has wired. A great many of those who put themselves forth as speaking for Republicans don’t actually represent the views of their voters.
The question really raised by this commentary is “Why do they think they’re Republicans?” A belief that government (State or Federal) must control and manage society is a distinctly socialist viewpoint.
When individuals lose sight of the philosophy that grounds a political party, yet they remain tied to the symbols and habits of that party, is it the party that needs to evolve or the individual? I would say the individual must recognize their position as out of the norm for that political party and move on to one which represents their interests more clearly.
Republicans used to stand for the rights of individuals and property rights; now they’re merely the ‘war and extreme religion’ faction of the Democrat-Socialists.
Wow is all I can say. 82% of republicans according to this poll think the government should subsidize it’s pet alternative fuels. Kind of scary, like everyone in CA drank the kool aid, any skeptics left out there? Global Warming? To think that anything CA does on it’s own, (regarding GW) ,will have anything other than an immaterial effect on the eventual outcome of GW is borderline delusional. And we’re not talking Dems but Repubs.
God help us all.
The herd grows larger. The selling of global warming by the MSM is a demonstration
of their effectiveness and how quickly an insignificant phenomenom can become a life and death issue. There is no counter measure which can defeat the issue so many on the right just capitulate.
Come on, they’ve got the Courts , the schools, the vast majority of main stream media, most of the next generation and many of our institutions of government .
Global madness might be a better title.
Anyone for surrender ?
The herd grows larger. The selling of global warming by the MSM is a demonstration
of their effectiveness and how quickly an insignificant phenomenom can become a life and death issue. There is no counter measure which can defeat the issue so many on the right just capitulate.
Come on, they’ve got the Courts , the schools, the vast majority of main stream media, most of the next generation and many of our institutions of government .
Global madness might be a better title.
Anyone for surrender ?
I say let the Governator and the Democrats regulate away. One of three things will happen:
1)The price of energy will go up quite a bit.
2)Someone will find a magic wand to make all “green things” happen.
3)The mandates and regulations will just be repealed or ignored as has happened in the past when CA tried to “mandate” X percentage of cars sold in CA to be electric.
I truly am sorry for the double post, so please accept my apology.
But while I’m at it I would like to say one more thing about Arnies green army.
To people driving political agendas and causes the publics money is of no consequence to them. By that I mean the revenues squandered in this crusade is only incidental to the greater mission. That being that we all participated in this noble and mighty effort and what a great change we created. Thats all useless drivel and twenty years from now when we look back at what a terrible waste of money and energy this was who will see to it that this never happens again ?
MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION -R11
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
“Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. “Let’s face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy.” The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products should be reduced or eliminated)
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
“To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.”
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Jan. 28, 2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America’s capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis–the one in 1942–President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X’s 5 hrs per day X’s 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2
4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”)
Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on “performance based” (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product – that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.
Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com
I would like to respond to Mr. Draimans post above and recall the statement I made earlier. “To people driving political agendas and causes the publics money is of no consequence.”
Mr. Draimans extensive post is filled with words like mandatory, imposing, requiring, mandating and regulating. In his mind the solutiom to all of these problems is to dictate his vision and viola, the problem is solved.
I thought we lived in a free society where our decisions and dollars decide which solutions we prefer. The first impulse of every utopian (socialist planner) is to make the masses obey the government.
The people in this society are supposed to make the government obey them. It is certainly becoming more difficult when we forget who is governing who.
So, relax and take a deep breath, the world and its problems will reach their conclusion on some distant day and the energy “crisis and renewable power sources” will seem insignificant. They are really the creation of the hyper ventilating and over fantasizing main stream media.
It is about politics, power and money and we the taxpayers know that NO solution will save us a dime. It is after all, other peoples money.