[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: The Way of the Whigs

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
The Way of the Whigs
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210825175.shtml


   As Mark Levin might bark, "What the hell has happened to my party?"
   Jason Lewis thinks we should rename ourselves the Whigs, from whose
   demise over the slavery question emerged the Republican party. Senator
   John McCain, secure in his status as the presumptive Republican
   standard bearer, may just be the catalyst of a similar split, even if
   he is elected. For the GOP is a mess right now, both nationally and
   here in Minnesota.
   The Democrats have posted three upset Congressional special election
   victories. Locally, we lost Steve Sviggum's seat, insult to the injury
   of the huge DFL gains in 2006. Prime Minister Pawlenty would have lost
   as well had not Mike Hatch fumbled on the goal line. The only people
   holding back the Democrats are themselves Democrats, like Minnesota
   Senator Larry Pogemiller.
   And what are our standard bearers doing, Mssrs. McCain and Pawlenty,
   possibly our fall ticket? Going left. Going hard left. "I'm a
   conservative Republican, dammit!" growls McCain or words to that
   effect. But recently he said:

     We know that greenhouse gases are heavily implicated as a cause of
     climate change. We know that among all greenhouse gases, the worst
     by far is the carbon dioxide that results from fossil fuel
     combustion.

   These statements are outrageously false. Is McCain ignorant or lying?

     By the year 2012, we will seek a return to 2005 levels of emission.
     By 2020, a return to 1990 levels and so on until we have achieved
     at least a reduction of 60% below 1990 levels by the year 2050.

   The same faulty models that predict global catastrophe also predict
   the climatic effect of all this is unmeasurable, less than a small
   fraction of one degree. Only the economic impact is significant and
   undeniable, women and children hardest hit, of course.

     What better way to correct past errors than to turn the creative
     energies of the free market in the other direction. Under the cap
     and trade system, this can happen. In all its power, the profit
     motive will suddenly begin to shift and point the other way toward
     cleaner fuels, wiser ways, and a healthier planet.

   As carbon becomes currency, Congress won't of course tax it or cut
   specific businesses any favors.
   I had assumed that in the interest of national security I would hold
   my nose and vote for McCain. This dangerous, unforced error of
   enviro-lunacy plus the near-certainty of full amnesty and open borders
   when McCain again reaches across the aisle has me reconsidering
   whether to cast a Presidential vote at all this fall.