Schwarzenegger inconsistencies on environment befuddle activists

Bradenton Herald ^ | April 17, 2007 | Kevin Yamamura

[FairOpinion]

They praise Schwarzenegger for getting the public to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and using his political celebrity to shift national debate in a green direction. They say the governor has scored major accomplishments by signing a bill to reduce emissions 25 percent by 2020 and pursuing new alternative fuel requirements.

But they have misgivings about the governor's past opposition to top environmental priorities. They say the governor has focused on long-term plans that may not require real sacrifices for years. Yet he has opposed more immediate environmental solutions as too costly to businesses.

Schwarzenegger's staunch opposition to fees led to his veto last year of a $30-per-container charge at congested Southern California ports to reduce pollution, a major priority backed by almost every major environmental group. It was opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce and California Farm Bureau, who contribute heavily to the governor's campaigns.

Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, author of the vetoed ports bill, gave Schwarzenegger credit for speaking out against global warming. "However, he missed the boat on a crisis we have right here," Lowenthal said. "We have diesel pollution and thousands of deaths right here in Southern California."

The governor, in his veto message, said he instead pursued $1 billion in ports funding in his public works bonds last year. He also suggested that the container fee would hurt exports.

Schwarzenegger also opposed a $4 billion ballot initiative to fund alternative energy research through a tax on oil extraction. Oil companies spent heavily to defeat it while Silicon Valley and Hollywood multimillionaires supported it, as did the state's environmentalists.

[FairOpinion]

Looks like environmentalists are upset that Arnold won't let them destroy CA business and CA economy in the name of environmentalism.

Another reason to be very happy that Arnold is governor, not some liberal Dem.

[Shermy]

They just don’t understand the carbon trading scams and the money pushing it.

They have no clue how they’ve been suckered by this scam, their hopes and fears about pollution transformed and overtaken by the carbon trading money and the
global warming ideology it hides behind.

[ElkGroveDan]

Looks like environmentalists are upset that Arnold won't let them destroy CA business and CA economy in the name of environmentalism.

I'll let SW answer that most idiotic assessment.

[chaos_5]

You give the Greens and inch and they will take a mile.

[Jeff Chandler]

the governor has focused on long-term plans that may not require real sacrifices for years. Yet he has opposed more immediate environmental solutions as too costly to businesses.

Pandering to the greens without incurring personal blame for the harm he causes within the time scope of his political ambitions.

[EagleUSA]

Let us hope he saves California from these eviro-whack jobs that are nothing but mindless troublemakers with no sense of state, the citizenry, business and other elements of reality in our lives.

[ken21]

calleeforniya is run by:

trial lawyers

unions—prison, edukashun

indian casinos

hollywood

silicon valley

the edukashun union castrated governator in an ill-conceived election. the governator hasn’t been the same since.

[edcoil]

Schwarzenegger inconsistencies on issues befuddle taxpayers.

There, fixed it.

[P-40]

that may not require real sacrifices for years.

The key is that he won't be in office then.

[Wiseghy]

Gov. S. is still pro-economy, and seeks COMMON GROUND in promoting economic interests in environmental technology and preservation.

This is very frustrating to many environmental interests who have nothing but utter contempt for commercial and economic entities of all kinds. I run into this hostility all the time. They have absolutely no understanding of how economic development can pay for and lead to greater environmental protection in the long-run.

[honolulugal]

Click on POGW graphic for full GW rundown

FReepmail me to get on or off

New!!: Dr. John Ray’s
GREENIE WATCH

Please ping me if you find one I’ve missed.
OKSooner and I are doing the POGW
ping list while xcamel is on vacation.

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[FairOpinion]

“Schwarzenegger inconsistencies on issues befuddle taxpayers.”

---

What are you talking about?! Arnold has been very consistent on taxes — he refused to raise them, despite the Dem pressure.

[FairOpinion]

I call that Machiavellian. Very clever, wouldn’t you say?

People should learn from him.

[dirtboy]

I call that Machiavellian. Very clever, wouldn’t you say? People should learn from him.

A Rudy supporter thinks this worthy of praise. What a surprise...

[SierraWasp]

I’m sorry Dan... I can’t even look at that ASSessment, let along dignify it with any kind of an “answer!” It’s just too stomach turning to even get near!!!

[edcoil]

Yes, he calls them fee’s.

The Clinton’s called them contributions.

The fact is Arnold expanded the government in size, burden and cost more then any governor in history.

We are glad he is termed out soon.

[PEACE ENFORCER]

I remember just a few years ago Gray Davis was ousted for running the State’s deficit to 15 billion dollars. Arnold accomplished an astounding 50 Billion (minimum) in future debts, including money for future retired states workers. Hummmmm I guess it’s a good thing we have a fiscally responsible Liberal Politician as the Governor of our State now......do I really to sarc this....Arnold IS A COMPLETE JOKE.

[Czar]

"I can’t even look at that ASSessment, let along dignify it with any kind of an “answer!”

I share your pain...

[sergeantdave]

After looking at land in California last fall, I can assure you that California’s crooked politicians and the eco-fascists who control the state have no interest in either economic development or the environment.

California’s state animal should be Lenin riding a bicycle.

[SierraWasp]

Well, actually, it's a vantrilloquist dummy of Chairman Mao with his little red book of quotations traded in for his little green book of bool chit, co-authored by Michael Gorbechev, headquartered in the International Green Cross HQ in the San Francisco Presidio!!!

Now you know the IGC is going to be funded by the new UN Global Carbon Tax, don'tchew??? (Snort!)