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Enrique

(27,461 posts) Sun Nov 16, 2014, 11:18 AM Nov 2014

conservative columnist breaks with GOP criticism of China deal

http://townhall.com/columnists/stevechapman/2014/11/16/why-china-is-cooperating-on-climate-change-n1918864

(...)

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, however, lost the post-election spring in his step, saying the agreement advances "the president's ideological War on Coal" and "will increase the squeeze on middle-class families and struggling miners."

The bigger reason coal miners are struggling is that their product has been undercut by a boom in the production of natural gas. But McConnell would prefer to blame Barack Obama for commercial developments that are largely the result of ordinary market forces.

The opponents of climate change action had counted on China to give the United States an excuse to do nothing about planetary overheating. Their argument was that it would put a staggering burden on American companies, giving a big advantage to their unconstrained Chinese competitors.

But a couple of underlying assumptions turned out to be faulty. One is that the Chinese put economic growth above everything else. Another is that they are too bent on defying and weakening the U.S. to give in on such a momentous issue.

In reality, the Chinese have come to understand that ever-growing carbon emissions go hand in hand with their deadly air pollution, which causes 670,000 deaths per year -- more than the population of Seattle. They also understand that on many issues, cooperation makes more sense than conflict.

(...)

5 replies

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Highlight:

conservative columnist breaks with GOP criticism of China deal (Original Post) Enrique Nov 2014 OP

"In reality, the Chinese have come to understand that ever-growing carbon emissions go hand in hand Cha Nov 2014 #1

Maybe this will slow McConnell down on his biting criticisms of Obama... Frustratedlady Nov 2014 #2

If the Chinese really gave a crap customerserviceguy Nov 2014 #3

what's wrong with 2030? Enrique Nov 2014 #4

What outrages are you prepared to let the Republicons get away with customerserviceguy Nov 2014 #5

Cha

(297,304 posts)

1. "In reality, the Chinese have come to understand that ever-growing carbon emissions go hand in hand

Reply to Enrique (Original post)

Sun Nov 16, 2014, 11:22 AM

Nov 2014

with their deadly air pollution, which causes 670,000 deaths per year"

Glad China's not ignoring that anymore.. now what's it going to take for the rwingers living on Koch Money to face reality?

Mahalo Enrique

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)

2. Maybe this will slow McConnell down on his biting criticisms of Obama...

Reply to Enrique (Original post)

Sun Nov 16, 2014, 11:41 AM

Nov 2014

I know, I dream.

However, it is way past time that the media corrects the lies and distortions the RW has been spewing ever since Obama took office. They aren't even coy about it.

I'm glad to see someone wiped that smirk off McConnell's face...IF he caught on to what Chapman was saying.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

3. If the Chinese really gave a crap

Reply to Enrique (Original post)

Sun Nov 16, 2014, 02:23 PM

Nov 2014

about air pollution, why was 2030 set as the target date?

Enrique

(27,461 posts)

4. what's wrong with 2030?

Reply to customerserviceguy (Reply #3)

Sun Nov 16, 2014, 04:04 PM

Nov 2014

that's only 15 years from now, it seems like a normal target date for this type of thing.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

5. What outrages are you prepared to let the Republicons get away with

Reply to Enrique (Reply #4)

Tue Nov 18, 2014, 12:16 AM

Nov 2014

for 15-16 years?

It's a bullshit date, set by a cynical ChiComm government that is waiting for a GOP administration to void the agreement. And even if they don't, the Chinese will just violate it, like they've done with every other agreement they've made.

If we really wanted to stop Chinese pollution, we'd make it unpatriotic to sell or buy their shit.

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