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Obama, Romney, PBS Let Americans Down Big Time

800 lb gorilla ignored in last night's debate

Obama: The first role of the federal government is to keep the American people safe.”

Romney: “We have a responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of our people, and that means a military second to none," he said. "I do not believe in cutting our military. I believe in maintaining the strength of America's military.”

Based on these two comments from the debate last night, one would conclude that President Obama would never avoid talking about a serious national security issue and that Mitt Romney respects the opinion of our military leaders. And, being a Republican, one might also assume Romney respects the opinions of our financial experts.

WRONG, and WRONG, and WRONG.

Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, made this point quite clearly in his recent statement:

Climate change is one of the most serious health threats facing our nation. Yet few Americans are aware of the very real consequences of climate change on the health of our communities, our families and our children.

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, made this point even more bluntly in stating:

We need to… convince the world that humanity really is the most important species endangered by climate change.

In a 2010 statement, 33 of the top generals and admirals in the United States stated:

Climate change is making the world a more dangerous place. It’s threatening America’s security. The Pentagon and security leaders of both parties consider climate disruption to be a “threat multiplier” – it exacerbates existing problems by decreasing stability, increasing conflict, and incubating the socioeconomic conditions that foster terrorist recruitment. The State Department, the National Intelligence Council and the CIA all agree, and all are planning for future climate-based threats. America’s billion-dollar-a-day dependence on oil makes us vulnerable to unstable and unfriendly regimes.

A 2010 statement from 268 investors representing assets of more than US$15 trillion:

Several leading studies indicate that the systemic shocks to regional and global economies from climate change will be substantial and will worsen the longer world governments wait to take sufficient policy action.

So clearly our health, military, and financial experts agree that human-caused climate change poses a very real threat to our health, safety, and financial security.

But here is what each candidate said about climate change:

........

Yep. Nothing at all.

PBS does not escape criticism either. More than 160,000 requests (including a letter from me) were sent to PBS asking them to include a climate change question but none were asked.

Shame on all of you.

Had Enuf! October 4, 2012 at 08:19 pm
As I have said in earlier posts, all you liberal academics would be better served moving to upstate NY living on unfracked land and watching Pennsylvania exploit the Marcellus Shale. Sitting on a rocking chair in a cold unheated cabin you could contemplate global warming ( oh now you call it climate change).
Notice I did not say you could smoke your pipe watching the bamboo grow, because that is verboten.
mary ann October 5, 2012 at 02:44 pm
It's only the first debate. I can't wait until they bring up the oil situation. Think of all the oil that Obama has been using flying back and forth to NYC and a lot of states all for his fund raising parties. What a joke! It cost us (the middle class) a FORTUNE! He doesn't seem to mind I would like to see Romney state that he is for the Canada pipeline, as we need fuel and we would be better off getting it from our friendly neighbors than the Middle East. We could finally pull out of there all together. Anyone know where the oil from the Alaska pipeline goes? Ask Obama.
Scott A Mandia October 5, 2012 at 02:55 pm
Mary Ann,
Drilling for domestic oil does not lower gas prices. The price of a barrel of oil is set by the world market regardless of where that oil comes from. Under Obama, domestic oil production is at a ten year record high and yet gas prices are rising. Drill, Baby, Drill is a myth and those that claim we need to drill oil to keep prices down are either lying to you or do not understand basic economics. See: http://bit.ly/UndSnX We need to start shifting away from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) quickly if we wish to protect our health, wealth, and our children's futures. We are going to end up buying our solar and windmills from China instead of selling it to them. China is way ahead of us in developing clean energy technologies. Shame. You do not think Romney is flying to fundraisers?
John K Massaro October 5, 2012 at 03:08 pm
Mary Ann, perhaps you should do some research & stick to facts before posting, because quite frankly, you're embarassing yourself...
What does Romney's plane run on? Do you honestly think Canada could supply the US with enough oil to dismiss the middle eastern market entirely? Over 99% of Canadian oil exports are sent to the United States, and Canada is the United States' largest supplier of oil already. Canada is already eyeing Asian markets for export as it loses 18 billion dollars a year in dealing with the US due to American increases in its own oil production... And Obama said he was open to reviewing Keystone XL again, if TransCanada reapplied for a permit, which it hasn't. I'm guessing due to the fact that other countries are willing to pay more per barrel than the US is... Not to mention, Canadian Environmentalists are already on high alert & ready to shoot down any plans for additional pipelines, as they believe pipelines aid and abet the oil sands, a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions... Meanwhile, Romney has this "Unicorns & Rainbows in Puppyland" fantasy about "clean coal"...
John Gruber October 5, 2012 at 07:58 pm
mary ann 2 things you ought to look up before you post: capitalism and supply and demand theory
Had Enuf! October 6, 2012 at 02:30 pm
Domestic oil production is up during Obama admin b/c states have issued permits for drilling on state land, the Feds block any drilling on federal land. Obama has no say as to what the states permit.
Scott..don't try to blow smoke in front of the facts...it will cause climate change
Fred October 6, 2012 at 05:38 pm
I would like to see both candidates engage in dialog about the environment, but Scott your putting your own idea's into Obama's mouth. His comments might be more of him wanting to avoid a direct conversation about military/ national security, a clear weak point, rather then him buying into climate change
Home Town Native October 6, 2012 at 06:08 pm
AMEN!
Dick Dickinson October 7, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Who cares what you think? Just shoot yourself already.
Had Enuf! October 8, 2012 at 11:11 am
Dick, you are a true liberal.....you believe in freedom of speech provided it is speech you agree with.
Justin Time October 8, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Why all the concern? Democrats cant do anything in a republican congress so Obama was powerless for a year and a half. Those of you who want change will certainly get it if your boy Romney gets in!
Think you have it bad now being in the middle class, then vote him in and slide into poverty. Enough of the unemployment rate, 93% of the population is employed. The rest dont want or arent qualified for the jobs out there. As one candidate said "The value of people is much greater in India" Silly people, wake up! Dont vote if you are undecided there are enough losers in politics.
Dick Dickinson October 9, 2012 at 12:21 am
You have no idea who I am or what I believe. Most you can infer from my comment is that you go shoot yourself. Had enough? Go shoot yourself!
For your edification, free speech has to do with government restriction of speech, not "everybody gets to speak their mind without being called an asshole."
John Gruber October 9, 2012 at 12:38 am
This is what people do Dick, when they disagree with you and you put up valid points they try to label your beliefs so you appear to be as simple minded as them
John K Massaro October 9, 2012 at 12:52 am
Just to let you know, Dick. I plan on flagging every one of your posts as "inappropriate" if you continue to act the way you do, calling for people to "shoot themselves" & calling people "assholes". If I could get banned for calling someone an "ignorant tool", I think your behavior shouldn't be allowed either...
John K Massaro October 9, 2012 at 03:12 am
Keep in mind, the Feds have not allowed drilling on public land due to the public outcry from the environmentalists. If it were solely up to the Feds, Big Oil companies would have bribed their way in already...
Paul Kersey October 15, 2012 at 02:02 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2217286/Global-warming-stopped-16-years-ago-reveals-Met-Office-report-quietly-released--chart-prove-it.html
Scott A Mandia October 15, 2012 at 10:55 am
http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2012/10/14/met-office-in-the-media-14-october-2012/
I choose to accept real evidence from real experts. The writer of the article you linked to has a long history of dishonesty and misrepresentation.
Paul Kersey October 15, 2012 at 01:56 pm
Choose your experts carefully.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/09/18/climategate-star-michael-mann-courts-legal-disaster/
Scott A Mandia October 15, 2012 at 02:10 pm
Larry Bell is an architect.
http://profmandia.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/forbes-magazine-uses-astrologer-for-financial-advice/ So you want Patch Readers to trust an architect with ZERO climate science research? Would you trust an architect to diagnose you as healthy if 98% of the actual medical experts told you that you were sick? Nobody wants man-made global warming to be true but it is foolish to believe what sounds good versus believing what is actually true because that truth hurts. Instead of denying the facts, why not engage on the policy front so you have a reasonable voice that might be heard. When you post links to those with no credibility it cannot help you to gather support for your position.

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