A Bipartisan Future
In the midst of a big week for "Greenhouse Gas" news, Nancy Pelosi made an important admission:
The Speaker also answered an inquiry from Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) on nuclear energy by saying that while she was once opposed to nuclear energy, changing technology had made her "bring a more open mind" to the option."It has to be on the table," she said.
RS Redstate has an almost nonpartisan analysis of the politics behind this change of heart:
Here's the situation. One side is convinced that global warming via the man-made production of greenhouse gasses is going to sucker-punch human civilization unless said production is seriously reduced, starting Right Now. The other side is not so convinced, and is both in a position and generally inclined to put the brakes on any legislation that addresses the concerns of their opponents. Fair enough, so far?Now, again, the one side would like greenhouse gas production reduced. The other side would like the current restrictions on nuclear power - which does not produce greenhouse gasses - reduced or eliminated. From what I can tell, the other side (my side) would be thrilled to junk oil and coal plants in favor of the equivalent in nuclear... just as they'd/we'd be thrilled to get electrical power cheap enough to make this a toy for the middle class instead of the rich. We'll do it laughing in our collective sleeves, of course - to think that They traded more nuclear power for less greenhouse gasses! - but so what? I mean, really: so what? The climate change people want the coal and oil plants gone, right? They want more electric cars, yes? They'd like less greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere, correct? Well, there's a deal to be made, here: and deals where both sides think that they're skinning the other guys are the very best deals of all.
Glenn Reynolds is wondering if "Bush can sell this as an effort to have a "more European" energy policy."
It is very encouraging that such a big piece of future could be delivered with almost everyone in agreement. The only holdouts will be those environmentalists who want a complete ban on nuclear power no matter how safe it can be delivered.
