On Anniversary Of Apollo Landing, Naysayers Continue To Try To Block Our Generation’s Challenge: Clean Energy
On Anniversary Of Apollo Landing, Naysayers Continue To Try To Block Our Generation’s Challenge: Clean Energy
Today marks the 40th anniversary of one of America’s finest hours, the Apollo moon landing. Many remember the landing as a testament to a nation’s ability to rise up and meet the challenge set forth by President Kennedy. Indeed, through sound public investments that unleashed the innovation of America’s scientists and engineers, we succeeded in the “greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.”
But forgotten in this story of American achievement is the fact that not all were united behind the Apollo effort. Many conservative cynics, chief among them Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), opposed the Kennedy’s proposal altogether. Goldwater denounced what he called the “extravagant spending for the man on the moon program.”
In this century, President Obama similarly issued a bold challenge for our generation. Obama has called for “affordable, renewable sources of energy” to soon end our dependence on fossil fuels — the leading cause of climate change — and oil from the Middle East.
But just as Kennedy had detractors in the form of legislators like Goldwater, Obama faces a chorus of entrenched special interests and conservative naysayers who hope to derail a clean energy economy by proclaiming America cannot accomplish it:
SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R-OH): “Unfortunately, many proponents of a cap-and-trade scheme, such as Lieberman-Warner or Waxman-Markey, seem to be stuck on fantasies [...] Unfortunately, many of the supporters of green energy never mention that it is unrealistic.” [Senate Floor, 6/4/09]
REP. ROB BISHOP (R-UT) has smeared clean energy reform, calling the notion of green jobs “as real as the Jolly Green giant.” [ThinkProgress, 6/3/09]
SEN. JIM INHOFE (R-OK) has slammed clean energy reform as “unrealistic” and “expensive.” [Senate Floor, 1/8/09]
Today, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) declared, “As with the space program, this new mission will revitalize our economy, create jobs, and spur research, development, and innovation.” ThinkProgress’ Victor Zapanta has produced a video highlighting our generation’s “man on the moon” challenge. Watch it:
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Progressives get the message about green renewables being good for the planet.
That message gets plenty of play but isn’t adopted by conservatives, who think it’s socialist conspiracy.
But, the additional message in this thread – that the measures can end our dependance on the middle east does resonate with conservatives.
Maybe it’s not important to have their buy in, but if progressives want at least the absence of strong obstruction on the part of conservatives in regards to going green – that message (ending the dependance on middle east oil) should be promoted as much as the benefits to the environment.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pmSEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R-OH): Unfortunately, many proponents of a cap-and-trade scheme, such as Lieberman-Warner or Waxman-Markey, seem to be stuck on fantasies [...] Unfortunately, many of the supporters of green energy never mention that it is unrealistic [Senate Floor, 6/4/09]
REP. ROB BISHOP (R-UT) has smeared clean energy reform, calling the notion of green jobs “as real as the Jolly Green giant.” [ThinkProgress, 6/3/09]
SEN. JIM INHOFE (R-OK) has slammed clean energy reform as “unrealistic” and “expensive.” [Senate Floor, 1/8/09]
These are the same tools who claim to be “real Americans” ; “real Americans” believe other Americans are incapable and/or incompetent ?
Yeah , way to show your patriotism there …………
July 20th, 2009 at 6:48 pmHeh! These guys are from the flat-earth wing. They believe the Moon landings were staged, the Earth is six thousand years old, and no one can ever know why an airplane can fly.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pmbackup says:
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July 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Your entire post is simply delusional ; CANCERVATIVES are just about exclusive with-in the horseshit GOP.
And everyone that is in or supports the garbage Republican Party WILL NEVER BUY IN and/or accept any plan or proposal forwarded by any DEM , much less a progressive……….
July 20th, 2009 at 6:51 pmExcellent video.
Most things worth doing are not easy, and in our “I want it now,” mass consumerism culture, we seem to only want to do things cheaply and half-assed.
Spend the money upfront and do the job right, so you don’t have to keep doing it over and over again. It’s cheaper in the long run.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:51 pmAlthough it is regrettable that our “librul media” never seems to mention the potential profits of new energy technology.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pmWho is the jackass who voted down rhf’s , pete’s and my posts ?
Probably one of the GOP/Chimpy backing suckholes hiding in the weeds ……….Loser.
I hope you aren’t pulling that shit , b-cup
July 20th, 2009 at 7:02 pmI hope you aren’t pulling that shit , b-cup
MCMetal. You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m routinely voted down double digits.
For the record, I voted one of yours down, because I disagree at #4 (I promise you’ll get over it), but not rhf or pete. Actually voted up Zooey’s post and pete’s at 7.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:11 pmbackup says:
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I hope you aren’t pulling that shit , b-cup
MCMetal. You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m routinely voted down double digits.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:20 pm Vote Up | Vote Down | (-15) | Report Abuse
For the record, I voted one of yours down, because I disagree at #4 (I promise you’ll get over it), but not rhf or pete. Actually voted up Zooey’s post and pete’s at 7.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Disagreeing with someone’s post means they deserve an immediate “thumbs down” ; what a petty little boy you are.
BTW
I NEVER AGREE with any of your utterly moronic and totally useless posts ; but I can see why you constantly receive double-sigit thumbs down votes.
You earn them …………
July 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pmI think Trajan, or the other sockpuppet factory, has taken to voting down whole threads, MCMetal. There never seems to be more than two at once.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:23 pmI could care less. I dig the new voting system. It makes the site better.
I didn’t know that down votes got your panties in a bunch. I’ll try to placate you in the future with plenty of up votes.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pmpete says:
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I think Trajan, or the other sockpuppet factory, has taken to voting down whole threads, MCMetal. There never seems to be more than two at once.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
As if it matters ……….b-cup believes that simply disagreeing warrants a thumbs down rating ; what a colossal PANSY ………
July 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pmI gross about $1300 a month, att, and rent. I’m going green. This time next year I’ll have a solar water heater and a windmill to run my irrigation pumps so that I can recycle my pool and bath water. I use water like a vestal virgin.
Tonight I’m putting mylar on the windows. And am researching energy star appliances to replace this crappy dishwasher and good, but not-adequate fridge.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:29 pmbackup says:
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You earn them …………
I could care less. I dig the new voting system. It makes the site better.
I didn’t know that down votes got your panties in a bunch. I’ll try to placate you in the future with plenty of up votes.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
This site and the new voting system are here for a reason/purpose , and it has nothing to do with your enjoyment or your opinion .
BTW
I don’t give a shit about your “down votes” , turdburglar ; I’m just mad at myself for wondering why you’re such a monumental weasel coward .
You are a GOP backer , after all…………Typical.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:30 pmWhile we’re on the topic: If down votes are petty, are the down votes my comments receive also petty?
I don’t feel they are, but it seems you’re employing a thin skinned double standard.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:32 pmbackup says:
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While we’re on the topic: If down votes are petty, are the down votes my comments receive also petty?
I don’t feel they are, but it seems you’re employing a thin skinned double standard.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
You’re trying to equate your mindless , GOP backing-apology-laden nonsensical ramblings to something that you simply disagree with ?
It seems as if you don’t possess the slightest inkling of intellectual honesty , nor care to view yourself for what you simply are : a GOP apologist tool………
You are simply WEAK ; which is typical within the GOP……
July 20th, 2009 at 7:40 pmMCMetal. Okay. I disagree with you comment and give you a thumbs down. And that makes me a ‘colossal pansy’.
Here’s my comment from a few days ago that warranted 15 down votes:
backup says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
If the 15 down votes aren’t for disagreement (that you say shouldn’t warrant a down vote) what are they for?
I’m comfortable with people disagreeing with me. Why do you care so much if someone disagrees with you?
If the down votes aren’t for showing disagreement, what do they mean?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:46 pmMCMetal. I’ve thought about and it’s not worth my time. I’ll drop it, but if it makes you feel better, I went back and up voted all your other comments.
It seems really important to you.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:51 pmJust for the record, I don’t vote down ideas I disagree with. I do vote down lies, quote mining, straw men, and pure senseless hostility. Confirmed trolling behavior from confirmed trolls get it automatically.
A little sensible hostility and sincere disagreement, on the other hand, serves to keep discussions lively. And it’s always possible to learn while exploring different ideas, even some of the batscat from the sockpuppet twins has led me to interesting research.
I get frustrated with ol’ B-kup myself but (gulp!) he generally plays fair and seems sincere for the most part. IMHO he generally adds to the discussion with good, if somewhat sarcastic or even condescending, humor. A “Devil’s Advocate” can prove refreshing.
I hope that the new rating system doesn’t turn into a popularity contest or a means to shut up all dissent. Just from watching how the voting has gone, it’s apparent that people are still exploring how they use it and it will always be affected by mood and temperament and the vileness of a particular troll.
Mostly I hope the voting system continues to close the posts of the real “stupid trolls“. The only firm rule I’ve set for myself is to never open a closed remark unless I’m directly involved in that particular discussion. So, I would have to rethink that rule if posts are closed due to polite dissent or good-natured ribbing. And I really hope I don’t have to return to wading through troll scat in case they actually might have made a valid point worth exploration.
But, most of all, I hope we don’t use it to “vote people off the island” for, relatively, mild infractions.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:35 pmreminds me of today’s Gawker article. Normally a great little site, today there’s a rant on how we shouldn’t even try to send people to Mars until we solve all our domestic problems. Like somehow we can re-purpose Rocket Scientists to create jobs in Detroit. Or somehow us not spending money on science would automatically free up money other places.
It’s sad, that a man walked on the moon when I was 2. Now we may never see any major advancement in space exploration in my life time. We still drive cars with combustion engines. The future is now but even less brighter and exciting by the day. Bah.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:39 pmpete. That’s fair. Maybe I’ve been using it wrong. I’ve voted down ideas that I disagree with basically as I would vote up a comment I agree with.
You’re probably right to spare the down votes, but I really like the new system.
I’m not interested in silencing anybody, but I like the idea of being able to agree or disagree with an idea without having to take the time or effort to post a comment in reply.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:54 pmPoint of fact that needs to be clarified:
A significant part of our population still believe that the moon landing never happened (our local newspaper interviewed one).
OTOH – I’d guess at least 5% of the country (and these people are almost universally in the GOP 25%ers) are, as Dave Berry or Lewis Grizzard (I can’t remember which) remarked about their relative – they believe that the moon walk was a fake but Professional Wrestling is real.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:27 pm