Protests are a Necessary and Appropriate Response to the Trump Administration

Donald Trump has augured protest unlike any that have gone before it. The level size and scope of these protests are unprecedented. They started while Trump was on the campaign trail and persist to this day. We have seen a massive protest on Inauguration Day January 20th and the Women's March that took place on January 21.

The electoral victory has spawned an unprecedented movement. Protest is important and never more than in the dark times heralded by Trump's win in November.  The reasons to protest are numerous and include the numerous swipes Trump and Republicans have taken on climate action and environmental protections.

Cantor's Loss to the Tea Party Kills Any Hope for Green Legislation

The defeat of Eric Cantor by Tea Party candidate David Brat in Virginia means that we can expect the deadlock in Congress to continue. This is particularly true with regard to energy, environment and climate legislation. While the GOP is well known for being anti-science and anti-environment, Tea Party Republicans are far more likely to be climate deniers than their mainstream Republican counterparts. Cantor is no friend of the environment but he has lost to someone that is far less likely to support even the most rudimentary green legislation.

When it comes to climate change there is a stark partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats, but the tendency towards denial is far more pronounced among Tea Party Republicans.

CPAC 2013: Leading Conservatives Don't Want Change

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) came together for their annual gathering and they have once again snubbed climate change, green jobs and a sustainable US economy. CPAC is hosted by the American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF), a 501(c)3 charity.

The conference was founded in 1973 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom. The majority of attendees are young people under the age of 30, appropriately the theme in 2013 is “America’s Future: The Next Generation of Conservatives.”

Aside from a few derisive comments, there was no mention of climate change, clean energy or the environment.

Those who did mention climate change did so with the intent of undermining the green agenda. Speaking at CPAC on Friday March 15, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) tried to disprove climate change by noting that President Obama wore a jacket during his chilly inauguration in January!

The Stark Partisan Divide on Global Warming

A huge gulf exists between Americans who accept the reality of climate science and those who do not. According to an October 15, 2012, Pew Research Center poll, Democratic voters are more than twice as likely to embrace the facts on global warming than their Republican counterparts.

A growing number Americans, including voters who identify as independents and those from both major parties, believe global warming is occurring. Predictably many Republicans continue to ignore the powerful body of evidence supporting the existence of global warming. This should come as no surprise as the GOP presidential nominee is now leading the climate denial train.

How Morality Can Win the War on Climate Change

The climate movement must go beyond preaching economics and explaining science, we must create a moral imperative that compels us to act. To get people involved in the war on climate change we must weave environmental awareness into our codes of conduct.

GOP Fights Removal of Oil Subsidies

Republicans have rejected a bill that would have killed tax breaks for big oil companies. Despite the President's plea to end oil subsidies, on Thursday March 29 the Senate voted 51-47 against a Democratic bill that would remove billions of dollars in oil company tax breaks. President Obama has been a champion of ending big oil's subsidies since taking office. "It's like hitting the American people twice," Obama said. "You're already paying a premium at the pump right now. And on top of that, Congress...has thought it was a good idea to send billions of dollars more in tax dollars to the oil industry."

Video: Newt Gingrich & Nancy Pelosi Ad to Combat Climate Change

Before Newt Gingrich was running for the GOP presidential nomination he was a leading advocate to combat climate change. This ad is part of the "We Can Solve It" global warming ad campaign sponsored by former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection.

Video: Newt Gingrich on Climate Change "The Evidence is Sufficient"

Before running for President, Newt Gingrich was an advocate supporting efforts to combat climate change. In this video he is seen saying, "the evidence is sufficient...to move towards most effective possible steps to reduce carbon loading." He even talked about the need for "green conservatives." He also addressed Republican concerns about big government but he went on to say that we need to discuss "whats the most effective way to solve it rather than get into a fight about whether or not to solve it."

Huntman's Belief in Science Was His Undoing

Utah governor Jon Huntsman's Presidential campaign came to an end when he said, ‘I respect science.’ This is political suicide for anyone seeking the GOP presidential nomination.

Failed GOP 2012 Presidential Candidates on Climate Change

Republican's confusion on climate change is well known, but this ignorance is not only a defining feature of those left in the GOP presidential race, it also applies to those who dropped out. Here are the views of three Republican candidates who are not longer in the 2012 race. At one time these candidates were viewed as the most promising contenders for the Republican nomination for President. The list of failed popular contenders includes Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, and Herman Cain.

In His Own Words Santorum on Climate Change Part 2

As revealed in a Treehugger article titled Rick Santorum Has Absolutely No Idea What He is Talking About, Santorum has some convoluted ideas. Here is his response to a man in New Hampshire who questioned him about climate change:

In His Own Words Santorum on Climate Change Part 1

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has made a slew of absurd statements about climate change. Not only does he believe that climate change is a hoax, he refers to the large body of scientific evidence as "bogus" or "junk." Rather than rail against Santorum for his lack of understanding, here are a few examples that effectively illustrate his ignorance:

Santorum's Unwavering Opposition to Climate Science

Santorum has criticized President Obama for embracing climate science, but he has also offered similar criticisms to fellow Republicans. Santorum is unique amongst those vying for the Republican nomination in that, unlike his rivals, he has not had to change his views on climate change.

GOP Presidential Hopefuls Gingrich and Paul's Climate Change 180s

Republicans seeking the presidential nomination have been forced to abandon their scientific assessments of Climate change. Republican flip flops on climate change are evidenced by the positions of the GOP presidential contenders. Here is a brief summary of the changing views of Republican candidates Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

Video: Conservatives Against Republican Ignorance on Climate Change

This video is about the changing views of Republicans. On the one hand you have the GOP presidential candidates on the other hand there are thinking Republicans. At the moment they appear to be moving in opposite directions. It is widely recognized that running for the GOP presidential nomination also involves running from climate change. However there is a group of Republicans who want to change the anti-scientific stance of the party. One such group is New Hampshire Republicans for Climate. They want their party leaders to adopt responsible policy positions that acknowledge the facts and respond to climate change.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: The Republican War on Climate Science
Video: Republicans Anti-Scientific Stance

Video: The Republican War on Climate Science

Republicans and their corporate masters for years have been trying to keep the truth about climate change from reaching the American public. They work tirelessly to tell us that the earth isn't getting hotter; or that there is no scientific consensus that global climate change is real; or even that climate change is a good thing because its going to open up shipping routes in the arctic. Their latest efforts, however, go far beyond their usual tactics, as they're now trying to get their anti-science agenda taught in public schools. Mike Papantonio discusses this issue with Chris Mooney author of Republican War on Science.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Republicans Deny Facts on Climate Change
Too Dirty to Fail: The GOP's Ongoing War with EPA Standards
Dems Seek Hearing on Climate to Educate GOP
Republicans' Anti-Science Stance on Global Warming
Republicans Undermining Climate Legislation
Green Stimulus Spending and Republican Opposition
The Foxes in the Henhouse: Republicans in Charge of Climate and Energy Committees
Video: Conservatives Against Republican Ignorance on Climate Change
Video: Republicans Anti-Scientific Stance

Video: Gingrich's Absurd Dismissal of Climate change

Newt Gingrich, once believed in climate change, but like others seeking the GOP presidential nomination, he has found religion on climate change and now dismisses it at every opportunity. The 2012 Republican presidential candidate claimed he was qualified to deny climate change science because he is an "amateur paleontologist". In this video, the Young Turks host Cenk Uygur makes fun of Gingrich's laughable justification for his denial of climate change.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
GOP Presidential Hopefuls Gingrich and Paul's Climate Change 180s
Failed GOP 2012 Presidential Candidates on Climate Change
Huntman's Belief in Science Was His Undoing
In His Own Words Santorum on Climate Change Part 1
Santorum's Unwavering Opposition to Climate Science
Rick Santorum's Anti-Environmental Theology
Foster Friess is the Climate Denying Money Man Behind Santorum
Romney Increasingly Uncertain about the Science of Global Warming

Video: Republicans Anti-Scientific Stance

Here is an interview with Adam Lee in which he reviews how Republican presidential hopefuls all seem to have at least one thing in common -- they hate science. Although there are only four remaining GOP nominees vying for the nomination, the full slate of 2012 Republican presidential contenders shared a common disbelief in science. Being anti-science is de reiguer because this is what those participating in the GOP primary process are demanding from their presidential nominees. For an article by Adam Lee titled "Why the Anti-Science Creationist Movement Is So Dangerous," click here.

Republicans Deny Facts on Climate Change

As the rest of the world is coming to grips with some of the solutions to the difficult challenges posed by climate change, US Republicans are still denying the very existence of global warming.

Romney Increasingly Uncertain about the Science of Global Warming

Republican front runner Mitt Romney seems to being getting more obtuse about climate change as his campaign goes forward. Speaking at a closed-door fundraiser in Pittsburgh, Romney told donors at the Consol Energy Center, "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us."