Conservative Republican a Strong Climate Change Activist
That’s right, you read the headline correctly. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina is getting censored by his own colleagues because of his clean energy, reduce greenhouse gases and carbon pollution, improve energy security message, but he is not letting up.
The Senator gave a speech this week that looks like it could have been given by Obama or Al Gore.
As The State: South Carolina’s Homepage stated, “U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham renewed his call Tuesday for federal controls on greenhouse gas pollution, despite continued criticism from the Republican Party’s most conservative members. Graham, R-S.C., backs legislation to crack down on carbon dioxide pollution, which he said will also boost the U.S. economy and reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”
Graham is acting like a real leader, concerned more about the future of his people and the world than the norm in the Republican party, which may come as a surprise, but isn’t that what politicians (our leaders) are supposed to do?
Graham reportedly made the point that he has been censored by the Republican party because of its “misplaced priorities” regarding certain narrow interests. However, he is convinced that global warming is a major problem.
“I have come to conclude that greenhouse gases and carbon pollution is not a good thing,” Graham said. “All the cars and trucks and plants that have been in existence since the Industrial Revolution, spewing out carbon day-in and day-out, will never convince me that’s a good thing for your children and the future of the planet.” (Of course, he meant power plants, not living plants of nature.)
He also said that if climate legislation was passed, the US EPA would come regulate greenhouse gases anyway, that the polar ice caps are melting and it is a threat to the nation and the world, and even went further to talk about the importance of new energy for national security: “Moving away from the nation’s reliance on foreign oil will create more demand for other energy sources and create a new energy economy for the US. It’s also good for national security, since many nations that sell oil are hostile to the US.”
Wow, sounds like a hippie activist.
Graham is optimistic and also prepared for the political backlash from oil-bought politicians and their followers. “Whatever political push back I get I’m willing to accept because I know what I’m trying to do makes sense to me,” Graham said. “I am convinced that reason, logic and good business sense, and good environmental policy, will trump the status quo.”
That is all refreshing to hear.
via Climate Progress & The State
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Image Credit: isafmedia via flickr under a CC license
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January 8th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Just to clarify, Lindsay Graham is not a conservative Republican. He’s an apostate conservative with (R-SC) after his name.
January 8th, 2010 at 6:52 am
I’m glad to see more conservatives taking a stand for the environment. See? We’re not all coal-loving polluters!
January 8th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Exactly, just like not all Democrats are gun grabbing socialists…
Here’s a hint about the USA two party system, both the Democrats & Republicans want to pit the voters for either side against one another.
That way you’re all way too busy yelling at each other to pay attention to the elected .GOV employees that keep screwing things up behind your backs while you’re not paying attention to them…
January 8th, 2010 at 10:09 am
About time too!
January 8th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Congressman Dave Reichert (R) of WA also has a good record of environmental protection, including opposition of ANWR and support of Cap & Trade.
http://reichert.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=4119
January 8th, 2010 at 10:47 am
The historical facts are very different. He has not voted with the Democrats once in these 50 roll-call votes I researched in 2008 since 1993 (Gore fossil BTU tax), in seeing if McCain’s vote could be for clean energy.
Because they were few I remember which ones crossed the aisle: Collins, Snowe, (Coleman, Smith and Chaffee, who have been voted out since)Specter (who became a D),and Hatch (EVs)
January 8th, 2010 at 10:53 am
good extra info, Susan.
thanks for that
maybe he’s set to change??? any thoughts?
January 8th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Zach – here’s the 50 rollcall votes linked all in one place – quite useful research
http://www.matternetwork.com/2008/9/mccains-50-votes-against-clean.cfm
January 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Yes – that would be great if he changes!
January 8th, 2010 at 11:26 am
hopefully, he’s ’seen the light’. he’s definitely talking big now, against the liking of some of his colleagues.
thanks for the link.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:29 am
This title of this article is incredibly misleading and false. To call Lindsey Graham a conservative is absolutely a canard.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Anyone who actually examines the scientific data knows that climate change is real, and knows that we need to act soon if we are to mitigate the negative changes.
It has been heartbreaking to see one political party simply refuse to believe the facts because of political dogma, and sadder still to see that this dogma chooses profit over people. Hopefully we are seeing a shift in that stance.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
So true, Global Patriot. Thank You
January 8th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Yay! Cap and trade used to be the republican solution to climate change. Left wingers were saying ban greenhouse gas emissions rather than regulate it. but even for McCain Leiberman, and now Graham, there has to be compromise somewhere.
January 10th, 2010 at 6:27 am
THIS IS AN EDIT OF A SUBMISSION I JUST MADE.
When a politician strongly advocates a policy direction, the first thing to do is follow the dollars to find out why he/she is advocating “we” go in that direction. Senator Graham’s motives must be examined in this light, as should be all “lawmakers.”
The first suspicion arises when he justifies his support based upon discredited science. Means he hasn’t taken the time to find out that he’s sitting out there with very few supporters. The claptrap that Gore has been spewing for years is no longer given any credence by serious scientists who were not being subsidized by a government committed to grabbing control of the entire energy sector.
The questions that should be asked about Senator Graham’s position is
1. Who benefits from it if his suggestions for legislation are followed?
2. Follow the dollars and see from where they come to where they finally end up.
In ANY legislators case, the money stream may start and end up in the lap of an entity that has supported the politician’s election and reelection efforts.
Altruism may have broken out in any case, but that would be rare.
As a case in point, here’s information on one of Al Gore’s business connections. He’s a Founder and Chairman of the Board of the company.
Generation Investment Management
Embed this Topic
[Generation Investment Management]
Generation Investment Management LLP (GIM) is a London-based investment management firm with an investment style that blends traditional equity research with a focus on sustainability factors, including social and environmental responsibility and corporate governance. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is chairman of Generation, and David Blood — previously chief executive of Goldman Sachs Asset Management — is CEO. The pair has given the company… more
Generation Investment Management LLP (GIM) is a London-based investment management firm with an investment style that blends traditional equity research with a focus on sustainability factors, including social and environmental responsibility and corporate governance. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is chairman of Generation, and David Blood — previously chief executive of Goldman Sachs Asset Management — is CEO. The pair has given the company its nickname, “Blood and Gore.” Generation Investment Management LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Generation has built a global research platform to integrate sustainability research into fundamental equity analysis. The firm focuses on the economic, environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities that can materially affect a company’s ability to sustain profitability and deliver returns. According to the GIM website they have sponsored a full energy efficiency audit for each… less
Read article at Wikipedia
Date founded:
* 2004
Founders:
* David Blood
* , Al Gore
View entire collection »
Business
Founders
[David Blood]
David Blood
Prior to co-founding Generation, David served as the co-CEO and CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management from 1999 to 2003. Hisresponsibilities included all…
[Al Gore]
Al Gore
Albert Arnold Gore, Jr., is an American environmental activist, author, businessperson, former politician and former journalist. He served as the forty-fifth…
View entire collection »
Address
Map data ©2010 Google, Tele Atlas – Terms of Use
Generation Investment Management Headquarters
Washington Washington
United States of America
Generation Investment Management Headquarters
London Greater London
Great Britain
Board members:
Member Title
* Federico Wynne
* Mark Mills
* Jason Scott
* David Lowish
* Damon Guirdham
* Duncan Austin
* Martin Bray
* Lisa Anderson
* Al Gore
* Chair
View Generation Investment Management board members »
Employees and other personnel:
Person Title
* Ghessycka A. Lucien
* Office Manager, Associate
* Rema Rajeswaran
* Associate
* Lucy Hodgson
* Office Manager, Associate
* Niki Nikolaus Rosinski
* Associate
* Lila Musser Preston
* Associate
* Louise Martin
* Associate
* Min Kim
* Associate
* Robert Denning
* Associate
* Phillip Harris
* Associate
* Miguel Nogales
* Partner
View Generation Investment Management employees and other personnel »
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