Associated Press reporter Arthur Max played up how the United States drew "sustained applause" on Sunday in Germany for joining the liberal consensus on the need for dramatic energy regulation to stop the "climate change" menace. Absolutely no one in the story questioned that consensus, and Max even downplayed how the Senate (Democrats included) voted on a resolution opposing the Kyoto climate-change treaty 95 to 0.
BONN – Once booed at international climate talks, the United States won sustained applause Sunday when President Barack Obama's envoy pledged to "make up for lost time" in reaching a global agreement on climate change....
The debut of Obama's climate change team was widely anticipated after eight years of obdurate participation in U.N. climate talks by the previous Bush administration.
Notice how Max and AP carefully negotiated around the 95-0 vote during the Clinton administration and left readers with the impression that only Team Bush stood in the way of scientific enlightenment:
The United States was instrumental in negotiating Kyoto, but failed to win support at home. When George W. Bush took office, he renounced it, calling Kyoto a flawed agreement that would harm the U.S. economy and unfair because it demanded nothing from countries like China or India.
Now, Obama's man on global warming, Todd Stern, echoed the liberal internationalist wisdom and caused great relief (including, from the tone of this report, the AP):
"We are very glad to be back. We want to make up for lost time, and we are seized with the urgency of the task before us," Stern said to loud applause from the 2,600 delegates to the U.N. negotiations.
They clapped again when Stern said the U.S. recognized "our unique responsibility ... as the largest historic emitter of greenhouse gases," which has created a problem threatening the entire world.
...Stern said no one on his team doubted that climate change is real. "The science is clear, the threat is real, the facts on the ground are outstripping the worst-case scenarios. The cost of inaction or inadequate action are unacceptable," he said — a total change of tone from his predecessors....
"It sent chills up my spine seeing the U.S. applauded," Keya Chatterjee of the Worldwide Fund for Nature said after Stern's speech.
It was only 15 months ago at Bali, Indonesia, that U.S. negotiators were booed when they threatened to veto an accord laying down a two-year negotiating process to replace Kyoto. They backed off when the delegate from Papua New Guinea, Kevin Conrad, told them if "you are not willing to lead ... please get out of the way."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Approval?
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 09:16 ET by allanfDid the AP Story note that the Obama Administration does not have the approval of hard working businessmen who will be hit with higher fees and taxes for this claptrap.
Does it mention that the approval of the effete snobs is not important.
It's truly amazing
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 09:25 ET by 10ksnookerHow ignorant people are so easily led off cliffs. I guess that's the definition of ignorant.
Of course they applauded
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 09:40 ET by theduck6just like the democrat party base, you can always count on a warm reception if you are footing the bill with someone else's money.
If you rob Peter to pay Paul , you can count on the support of Paul. But you do end up with a sore Peter... paraphrased from axiom and a corrolllary
Jekyll and Hide Stories
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 09:42 ET by dboA more honest assessment of what's going on in Bonn as reported by TIMESONLINE's America Can't Wave Magic Wand On Climate Change.
Let Them Prattle On
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 09:43 ET by aakaakaakYep, BHO has signed on to the global warming schtick lock, stock and barrel. So what? Seriously, so what? Now that he signed on to the accord is something going to magically happen? Is the world of environmentalism going to turn around in the U.S. and snap-to? No, it will not. It will fail just like NAFTA, CAFTA and so many other international "pledge" agreements have. So what's the harm in BHO making nice with a bunch of international feel-good tree-huggers? It's international political equity with absolutely no requirements to do anything. It's freely available good publicity with no coheisive strings attached. It just doesn't do anything productive.
Go for it Barry! Just remember to NOT put my money where your mouth is!
Dreaming
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:24 ET by general companyYep, BHO has signed on to the global warming schtick lock, stock and barrel. So what? Seriously, so what?
Go for it Barry! Just remember to NOT put my money where your mouth is!
Fat chance, you answered your own question. The results are obvious
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Sustained Applause
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:28 ET by misterbee241That's because they KNOW Obama is there with the checkbook and pen in one hand and a mouth full of mea culpa in the other.
"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."
Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941
I feel like I'm living
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:28 ET by bobthemanI feel like I'm living on Mars... the world has taken leave of their senses and my kids and my kids kids are going to be paying for this propaganda for years to come.
I get a knotted, quesy lump in the pit of my stomach at the thought of these people in control of a world where common sense has left the building.
http://politicsofdestruction.com
Semantics
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:40 ET by slickwillie2001Different countries' positions on the old Kyoto are largely semantic. Among those that signed on to Kyoto, only industrial basket cases like Russia have actually met the targets. Most, like Canada, signed on to Kyoto and then did not meet the targets because they didn't want to destroy their country's industry. We simply took what was actually a less cynical postion and didn't sign the ugly POS. Those qualifying as developing countries were exempt anyway.
Breaking the AGW fraud will take some of the industrial giants like China and Japan with politically independent scientists loudly proclaiming that it is all a fraud. Don't expect leadership from the USA on this.
International Socialism
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:57 ET by dbo...and some countries such as Japan, Italy and Spain have already paid out enormous sums of cash proving that Kyoto is/was nothing more than a mechanism to redistribute wealth.
"Cannibal's cooking cauldrons environmentally friendly"
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:50 ET by SickofLibsKevin Conrad of New Guinea quoted as saying "U.S., get out of the way".
That would be the New Guinea that still had active cannibals and head hunters a few decades ago?
Funny, funny stuff, AP!
Europeans
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 11:17 ET by iveseenitallWhy do we even question these applauding Europeans? Yes, Europeans. Are they not Socialist success stories? Just look at them sitting at their little tables sipping wine and smoking. They smell -- so what? They need haircuts--so what? They are lazy and ignorant--so what? Let's emulate them. Get rid of your gas guzzling autos, buy a motor scooter or get a horse. Go to the metric system. Unionize America. Socialize medicine. Nationalize all businesses. Raise taxes to 80%. Riot when your favorite team loses a game. Let the bulls run through the streets and gore your citizens. And, most of all, support the myth of Global Warming with enthusiasm and ignorance. Power to the government! Put your hands together for all patriotic Europeans, especially Barry and Al.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
We can always depend
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 11:24 ET by cocodrieWe can always depend on the Europeans to come defend us, especially the French. That's why we are dismantling our defenses.
I know, I can go to hell for lying.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Not exactly..just don't
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 19:32 ET by mandrakeNot exactly..just don't bear false witness against thy neighbour. So you're ok ;)
Power-saw to the people - Dexter
Marxists and Socialists
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:44 ET by Delsalove others like themselves.
Applause, applause for SOBama, their fellow comrade!
Where is the surprise?
A massive wealth
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 19:20 ET by RR GOPA massive wealth redistribution plan, with more than a little of that wealth being redistributed right into various Socialists' bank accounts, companies, and campaign coffers.
Man, are people gullible.
So am I, because I still get the feeling that I'm missing something really big and diabolical, but don't know exactly what it is?
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).