by Laurence LewisUnless it is revived and passed, the astonishing collapse of energy and climate legislation in the Senate will be remembered as this era's signature political failure. At a time when Democrats control the White House and both Houses of Congress. Paradoxically, this should serve as an even stronger motivation to elect more Democrats to Congress. There still is a chance to get this right, and we can't afford not to.
The tired excuse that we need 60 votes doesn't fly given the success of so many previous administrations and majorities in passing controversial legislation despite their majorities being smaller than those now held by the Democrats. But even if one accepts that excuse, it only underscores the necessity of changing the rules. To do that, Democrats must retain their majorities, then do whatever it takes to pass the climate and energy bills that the science demands. This is not a time for political excuses. On this issue, we can't afford political excuses. On this issue, we can't afford to be patient or incremental.
The New York Times Friday placed responsibility at the very top, where the buck usually stops. And those who so laud the President for every good piece of legislation that hits his desk need to accept that he also bears the burden when bills don't reach his desk. As the Times puts it:
The Republicans obviously bear a good part of the responsibility for this failure. With a handful of exceptions, they have denied or played down the problem of global warming for years and did pretty much anything they could to protect industry from necessary regulation. There are, however, as many as a dozen Senate Democrats, mainly from the South, Appalachia and the Midwest, who share the blame.
But:
Mr. Obama never fully committed to the fight. He raised hopes here and around the world last year when he pledged in Copenhagen to reduce United States greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent. Until a couple of months ago, he talked a good game, praising the House bill that aimed at the 17 percent target and promising to make every effort to get the Senate to follow.
Then, despite the opportunity offered by the oil spill to press for a bold energy policy, the president essentially disappeared.
And even before he disappeared, his efforts were curiously tepid. His energy speech was a deeply disappointing missed opportunity. He didn't galvanize public opinion, and he didn't play hardball with Congress the way he did at the very end with the health insurance bill. And without his leadership, the Senate did what it usually does and what it undoubtedly will continue to do, without his leadership. As the Times concludes:
There is no chance unless Mr. Obama comes out fighting: calling out the Republicans, shaming and rallying Democratic laggards and explaining to the American people that global warming and oil dependency are clear and present threats to American security.
The science is overwhelming and terrifying as we endure the hottest year on record. This is a historic moment and we can't afford to fail. We need our leaders to lead. Otherwise, we have no chance.
continued at Daily Kos...
