Posted by Mark Silva at 9:06 am CDT
Actor Fred Thompson may have gotten a few laughs a few months back when he went on the radio with his “Plutonic Warming,” wondering if shrinkage of an ice cap on Mars might have something to do with the planet’s inhabitation by “alien “SUV-driving industrialists who run their air-conditioning at 60 degrees and refuse to recycle.”
But, now that Thompson, star of TV and film and former senator from Tennessee, has opened an exploratory bid for a campaign for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, he might have to start taking global warming a little more seriously. Even President Bush has taken notice of the issue, calling for an international conference of the leading industrial nations to set “a global goal” for reduction of greenhouse gases – though, given the order in which Bush addressed this issue in his weekly radio address today, one may wonder how seriously the president takes the issue as well.
Thompson, after all, runs the risk of adding himself to that lineup of Republican candidates who raised their hands on stage when asked during the party’s first presidential debate who doesn’t believe in evolution. Thompson’s light-hearted essay on the Paul Harvey Radio Show on the ABC Radio Network back in March raised the question of the earth’s location in the Solar System. (Hear it here.)
“Some people think that our planet is suffering from a fever,” Thompson said on the show. “Now scientists are telling us that Mars is experiencing its own planetary warming: Martian warming. It seems scientists have noticed recently that quite a few planets in our solar system seem to be heating up a bit, including Pluto. NASA says the Martian South Pole’s ice cap has been shrinking for three summers in a row. Maybe Mars got its fever from earth. If so, I guess Jupiter’s caught the same cold, because it’s warming up too, like Pluto.
“This has led some people, not necessarily scientists, to wonder if Mars and Jupiter, non-signatories to the Kyoto Treaty, are actually inhabited by alien SUV-driving industrialists who run their air-conditioning at 60 degrees and refuse to recycle. Silly, I know, but I wonder what all those planets, dwarf planets and moons in our SOLAR system have in common. Hmmmm. SOLAR system. Hmmmm. Solar? I wonder. Nah, I guess we shouldn’t even be talking about this. The science is absolutely decided. There’s a consensus. Ask Galileo.”
Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted Thompson’s comment on global warming at a forum this week: “That’s kind of where that particular wing of the Republican Party is,” he said.
Reminded that Sen. John McCain of Arizona is among the leaders of legislation in the Senate to cap greenhouse gas emissions, Kupchan said: “It’s moving… I think it will happen, and it will happen in 2009. If you just look at the political landscape, we’re getting there. It’s just not going to happen under this president.”With President Bush preparing to leave next week for a European tour centered on the Group of Eight summit in Germany, this is the text of the radio address which Bush delivered today, highlighting several issues he raised this week in preparation for the G-8. Just as he has during his two terms in office, he took a little while in this address to get to global warming:
“Good morning. Next week, I will travel to Europe to attend the G8 summit. At this meeting, the leaders of industrialized nations will discuss ways we can work together to advance trade, fight disease, promote development that works, increase access to education, and address the long-term challenge of global climate change.
“It is in America’s interests to help these efforts succeed. When we help lift societies out of poverty, we create new markets for American goods and new jobs for American workers. When we help reduce chaos and suffering, we make America safer, because prosperous nations are less likely to breed violence and export terror. And this week, my Administration took several important steps to advance peace and opportunity across the world.
“On Tuesday, America took new actions to address the ongoing genocide in Darfur. On my orders, the Department of Treasury tightened our existing economic sanctions against Sudan and imposed additional ones. I also directed Secretary Rice to work with our allies on a new U.N. Security Council Resolution that will seek to impose new sanctions, expand the arms embargo, and prohibit Sudan’s government from conducting offensive military flights over this troubled region. The people of Darfur have suffered long enough. We will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world.
“On Wednesday, the United States demonstrated leadership on another crisis affecting Africa: HIV/AIDS. In 2003, my Administration launched a $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS relief, and that plan has supported treatment for more than one million people. This is a good start, but only a start. So I’ve asked Congress to double our initial commitment for HIV/AIDS prevention to $30 billion over the next five years. By making this commitment now, we will help deliver lifesaving treatment, prevent new infections, and support care for millions of people across Africa.
“As we fight violence and disease, America is also using its influence to help struggling countries transform themselves into free and hopeful societies. And on Thursday, I announced three new initiatives that will help the developing world.
“The first initiative is a new project called the Africa Financial Sector Initiative. This initiative will help bring African nations the technical assistance they need to strengthen their financial markets. And it will encourage the international financial community to create several new private equity funds that will mobilize up to $1 billion of new private investment in Africa. By taking these steps, we can help African entrepreneurs access capital, so they can grow their businesses and create jobs across the continent.
“The second initiative is a new effort to help more of the world’s poorest children get an education. In 2002, my Administration launched the Africa Education Initiative, which has provided about $300 million to improve educational opportunities throughout that continent. Now, with the support of Congress, we will devote an additional $525 million over the next five years to help provide a quality basic education for up to four million children in poor nations. With this initiative, we will help young people get the skills they need to succeed and a chance to achieve their dreams.
“The third initiative is a proposal to help developing nations meet their growing energy needs while protecting the environment and addressing the challenge of global climate change. Under my proposal, by the end of next year America and other nations will set a long-term global goal for reducing greenhouse gases. And to meet this goal, we must help developing countries harness the power of technology. The United States is investing billions of dollars in clean energy technologies and coming up with new ways to share these technologies with other nations. Through the spirit of innovation, we will help developing nations grow their economies and be responsible stewards of the environment.
“In all these endeavors, the American people can be proud of our global leadership and generosity. Our Nation is delivering aid and comfort to those in need. We’re helping expand opportunity across the world. We’re laying the foundation for a more peaceful and hopeful future for all our citizens.
“Thank you for listening.”
