You could see this one coming a few days ago, when John Baird insisted that the Torys had no plans to withdraw from the Kyoto accord. And this morning the Natty Post's John Ivison is reporting that:
There are rumblings that when the Conservatives bring out their new regulations on industrial emissions next month, the language will be decidedly softer on Kyoto.
"I'm certainly detecting a sense that, instead of differentiating themselves from the Liberals on Kyoto, they will present their plan simply as a better version of the same thing," said one source close to the government.
Good news? Maybe, but it now looks like the new and improved, opposition-party-crafted Clean Air Act, will
....be allowed to die quietly on the order paper and be buried in an unmarked grave.
As a government bill, the Tories will simply not call it to a vote, and render the whole committee process a monumental waste of time and taxpayers' money.
If true, this will prove what many suspected: that Harper is not brave enough, or dumb enough, to fight an election on environmental issues. Instead, he will
...refrain from introducing fresh legislation, but will simply bring forward regulations on emissions that can be incorporated into existing environmental legislation.
The Conservatives will probably call for big emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 2004 levels by 2020.
...which might be fine. The important thing is here is always when these emitters have to start cutting GWGs (and whether these cuts are absolute or merely cuts in "intensity"), not some date over a decade down the road when they are supposed to achieve a goal most of today's politicians won't be in office to witness. So once again we will have the Torys repackaging Liberal initiatives after a delay, and with less philosophical coherence.
The most interesting question is, how do rank and file Torys handle this flip-flop of "Dionesque" (as Ivison calls it) proportions? Well, thus far the Blogging Tories have been willing, if Harper claims the world is square on Tuesday, to walk around arguing that the world is square. And if on Friday Harper changes his mind and argues that the world is a rhomboid, they've been willing to go into the weekend saying that the world is a rhomboid. So, their budget beefs aside, I suspect for the most part they'll be fine with it. As a Liberal supporter, I watched for over a decade as the party raped my principles, and eventually got tired of it. These guys are still virgins to power. To them it still feels like Love.
Thank God. BTW Harper may be more in tune with Canadians' views than Kyoto Stephi. According to a recent AngusReid poll a majority of Canucks believe GW is no more important than other issues like terrorism. And only 38% think GW was mostly caused by humans. So much for the great Canadian consensus touted by the natural climate change deniers like Suzuki.
ReplyDeleteAngusReid:
"A higher number (54%) considers global warming is important, but no more so than other problems like HIV/AIDS, poverty or terrorism.
When asked about the possible causes of climate change, 42% of respondents believe global warming is a natural phenomenon that human activity made worse, while 38% think it was mostly caused by humans."
That's the Angus Reid poll that I pranked. Wouldn't put too much weight on that.
ReplyDeleteIf you pranked it then the numbers for man-made GW must be even lower.
ReplyDeleteOther way around. My fake self is very Conservative.
ReplyDeleteAs a Liberal supporter, I watched for over a decade as the party raped my principles, and eventually got tired of it. These guys are still virgins to power. To them it still feels like Love.
ReplyDeleteNicely done.
It usually takes a few days for the wingnuts to coalesce around a set of talking points, although in emergencies, they'll all go quiet. Let's watch and see what they do.
42% of respondents believe global warming is a natural phenomenon that human activity made worse, while 38% think it was mostly caused by humans."
ReplyDeletePeople who understand population surveys (and that, obviously, wouldn't be you) usually conclude that polls like this, where the results are roughly divided, indicate that, on the whole, people aren't 100% certain. That's to be expected, since the overwheling majority of us aren't climate scientists.
Beyond that, the poll is measuring nothing other than opinion and belief. And those things, little Con-onymous, do not constitute science.
Fortunately, the 'uncertain people' have more votes than the climate scientists.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what the "flip flop" is here. I don't think meeting Kyoto targets was part of the election platform. No flip flop there (unlike their income trust and cap gains pledges which were outright lies). They haven't said anything about withdrawing from Kyoto, no ff there either. All they've said is that the targets are unachievable without doing major economic damage. Essentially agreeing with Cretin's bum boy Eddie Goldenberg. BTW most of the euroweenies wont make their targets either.
ReplyDelete"BTW most of the euroweenies wont make their targets either."
ReplyDeleteOne big difference is that them Yerpeans ain't natterin' nabobs o' negativity like the HarpoonTossers. They're at least tryin' an' some of 'em is succeedin'. Most of 'em are doin' a lot better than Canada.
On target
Sweden +3.3%
UK +1.4%
Off target
Germany -1.3%
Luxembourg -5.6%
France -9.5%
Italy -10.2%
Greece -10.7%
Netherlands -12.1%
Portugal -14%
Finland -16.5%
Belgium -22.9%
Austria -24.5%
Ireland -26.8%
Spain -33.3%
Denmark -37.8%
Canada is about tied with Ireland. If we put a little effort into it, we could do a lot better. Unfortunately, the Liberals did little other than talk an' the Cons did nothing except denounce Kyoto an' stand in the way of progress.
JimBobby
remember guys, this is the EASY phase of Kyoto.
ReplyDeleteThe tough challenge comes when the enviroites impose even more radical sack cloth penances on our prosperity in teh next round.
If they succeed.
I doubt it. Canada won't be stupid this time like when the 20watt bulb know as PM Cruton got hosed at the Kyoto 1 round. Next round hard point should be no China, no Russia, no Saudi Arabia, no Kyoto 2.
No worries, the current 40 year sun spot cycle is ending and the "heat wave" we have been experiencing since the mid 70's is ending. The impending global cooling period should be revealing for the Great Church of Gaia. Should be lots of political suicides as mother nature puts paid to the CO2/Kyoto ponzi scheme.
Fortunately, the 'uncertain people' have more votes than the climate scientists.
ReplyDeleteThat's completely irrational. The *threat* of tyranny of the majority that you're issuing aside, as BCL once pointed out, no enlightened society goes to war with its scientists for very long.
I'm not sure what the "flip flop" is here. I don't think meeting Kyoto targets was part of the election platform. No flip flop there (unlike their income trust and cap gains pledges which were outright lies). They haven't said anything about withdrawing from Kyoto, no ff there either. All they've said is that the targets are unachievable without doing major economic damage. Essentially agreeing with Cretin's bum boy Eddie Goldenberg. BTW most of the euroweenies wont make their targets either.
How cute. You chose "anonymous" because you're too cowardly to even attach your usual pseudonym to this silly little comment.
Which one of Kate's regulars are you? It would be more amusing to know that than anything you're likely to say ever would be.
By the way, it's amazing how enraged the global warming deniers are. Are they mostly syphilitic oil patch rig pigs, or simply people whose investments are very much tied to oil?
ReplyDeleteEither way, the psychology is fascinating.
this is GREAT
ReplyDeleteHow to make money from the hordes of stupidos who believe in the Kyoto global warming ponzi scheme.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Save-a-tree-and-offset-carbon_W0QQitemZ200089599886QQcategoryZ1469QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
just fucking brilliant
That's estúpidos, Ponzi. Don't try so hard, or take deep breaths before you rant, or something...
ReplyDelete"The *threat* of tyranny of the majority"
ReplyDeleteTypical Liberal elitism here. The great unwashed don't know what's good for them so screw 'em.
Did ti-guy just corner the market on hypocrisy, or what? First, he starts denigrating democracy as "tyranny of the majority" and then, then! He has the balls to call someone else a coward for anonymous posting!
ReplyDeleteGolly, I'll just go look up "ti-guy" in the phone book and give him a piece of my mind. Lord knows he needs it!
Well, I was making the distinction between anonymity and pseudonymity, but I understand your emotionality and biliousness often interfere with your ability to think critically and dispassionately. I suggest you up the dose.
ReplyDelete"Tyranny of the majority" is not coextensive with "democracy," Ratty. The two concepts don't really have much to do with each other.
Typical Liberal elitism here. The great unwashed don't know what's good for them so screw 'em.
ReplyDeleteNot true. But you don't decide reality by a vote, do you?
...unless of course, you want to insist slavery is good thing, which I believe has happened in recent history.
Has anybody mentioned it's a money-sucking socialist scheme?
ReplyDeleteIt ain't about the environment; it's about power and control.
Has anybody mentioned it's a money-sucking socialist scheme?
ReplyDeleteI believe the delusionals are currently testing that hypothesis. Unfortunately, they're getting bogged down with the requirements of empiricism.
Well, I was making the distinction between anonymity and pseudonymity, ..."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that is what you were trying to do, too bad it just looked like typical ti-guy pseudo-intellectuality. And yeah, I know that a left-of-nutbar guy like you has difficulty with the concepts of majority, democracy, and tyranny. Sometimes it just seems like the whole world is against you, right? Well, we are :-)
I'm sure that is what you were trying to do, too bad it just looked like typical ti-guy pseudo-intellectuality.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you acknowledge that that was my intent, the only legitimate critism you can level at me was that my intellectualising was not clear, not that it was pseudo-. The next time something escapes you, please don't hesitate to ask for clarification. I'll be more than happy to provide it for you.
And yeah, I know that a left-of-nutbar guy like you has difficulty with the concepts of majority, democracy, and tyranny.
I don't have any difficulty with those concepts.
Sometimes it just seems like the whole world is against you, right? Well, we are :-)
Last I checked, the world seems to be pretty much on my side. Whatever animus you hold towards me personally, while unfortunate, I'm sure, is a psychological issue that is yours alone.
Up the dose and cheer up, Ratty.
"I don't have any difficulty with those concepts."
ReplyDeleteBrilliant riposte, ti-guy, brilliant! Now, can you do it with a pouty face, quivering lower lip, and a tear in your eye?