Three of this country’s best-known grandfathers are at odds on the issue that may well turn out to be the biggest news story of our time.
Here’s the perspective of Vice-President Dick Cheney. Sean Hannity of Fox News asked him about global warming at the end of a flattering conversation last week. (To call it an interview would be inaccurate. It’s closer to a massage…with words.)
HANNITY: I got one last question, if you’ll indulge me. Some people — this is for a FOX News special they’re doing — some people predict the world is going to suffer irreversible damage from global warming trends that have been measured. What is your position on that, and what is the Bush administration’s position?
CHENEY: I think we need to look at the facts. And clearly, there has been some warming. It’s not clear exactly what caused it, how much of it’s cyclical, how much of it’s caused as a result of the activities of man.
But I think it needs to be addressed through technology. We spend more money on research in this area than anybody else in the world. And we need to continue to work on it.
But I also don’t think of it as a crisis. I don’t think we need to be in a panic mode. I think that technology and strong economic progress is the way for us to go.
We produce twice as much output per unit of energy today as we did 25 years ago. We’re twice as efficient as we used to be, in terms of the energy consumption. That’s major progress. That helps things like global warming. So I’m an optimist. I think this is a set of circumstances that we can deal with going forward.HANNITY: Mr. Vice President, always good to see you.
CHENEY: Sean, thank you very much.
HANNITY: Thank you.
CHENEY: Pleasure, as always.
HANNITY: A lot of fun. Lynne, I was too tough on him.
Here’s what Walter Cronkite said for the stopglobalwarming,org "virtual march on Washington."
I am joining the hundreds of thousands who shall be marching in the Virtual March on Washington to Stop Global Warming in order to demonstrate the concern that we all hold for the future of our planet and all the living things — flora, fauna, human and animal — that exist upon it. The governments of the world have tarried long enough, and the United States is scarcely without doubt the greatest culprit among them.
We the people have the strength to bring our country from our weak-kneed stumbling gait in the last ranks of reason to the leadership of the great march to environmental victory.
I want to be in that parade and if there is a place up front I’d wish to lead the band or at least be assigned a big bass drum to help pound out the rhythm of glorious success.
But most interesting of all, at least for yours truly, is what John McCain said, for the same organization:
Dear Fellow Marcher,
Today the Stop Global Warming Virtual March on Washington arrives in my home state of Arizona, where global warming will make normal, seasonal droughts longer and more severe. Ranches in my state recently endured six long, dry years that devastated grazing lands. Many were forced to abandon land they’d worked for generations, and others saw long-profitable and proud businesses pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. This spring, the rains returned, but the climate change that made this drought so severe threatens us still. Read more about what is happening in my home state and the ranchers’ plight at http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/march/cascabel
Joining us on the March this week is the world’s most respected newsman, Walter Cronkite. As you can see, the March continues to grow and is supported by our country’s most visionary leaders and experts on global warming.
Joining the March is a powerful way for you to have your voice heard in the fight to stop global warming and I hope you will join me in reaching out to friends, family and colleagues to march with us. If we all work together as one voice, we can shift the debate on this issue this year.
Sen. John McCain
Marcher
McCain’s statement is interesting not just because he obviously takes the issue far more seriously than does the White House, but because he connects global warming not to some melodramatic disaster in the far future, but to changes that — yes, folks — are happening right now.
This is the reality: global warming is here. According to the National Assessment from 2002, the multi-billion dollar research program run by the U.S. Global Climate Research Program, for example, average temps in California are expected to be three or four degrees hotter, on average, annually, by 2030. No big deal? Make that claim to the California wine industry.
Kit Stolz 