First, my story of the week, hope and Climate Change. I will admit, as i watch the president s inaugural address on monday morning, i was definitely not expecting this. We will respond to the threat of Climate Change. Knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought. And more powerful storms. The path toward Sustainable Energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But america cannot resist this transition. We must lead it. Youll recall with the exception of a single line in his dnc speech, our current state of climate peril was barely mentioned in the campaign. In fact, it was the first time in 24 years it was never raised at any of the debates. So, i was not the only commentator who was surprised to find such a passionate, lengthy passage in his speech. A speech, of course, is just that. Often we have a tend
0 figure, directing the nation s attention and resources at a whim. and in the sphere of national security that is increasingly what we actually have. but when it comes to domestic and economic policy the president isn t really the most pressing issue. if you were to start listing the obstacles to climate progress in order you start with the major fossil fuel companies themselves, the noise machine that has converted it into cultural issue, house republican caucus which unanimously committed to the deprave denialism, and senate republicans who killed the last big climate bill, and then democrats who say they care about climate change but wouldn t go along with the fill buster to make a bill a reality. only after that you would get to president barack obama. for this reason it s per verse to focus climate policy exclusively on the president. but barack obama is also the most powerful person in the and i am almost certain that 50 or 100 years from now the only issue that will really matt