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What should be Obama's first priority?

By Tony Kreindler

Posted Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:13am PST

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Last week, Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza asked for thoughts on what Obama's first legislative priority should be upon taking office. I submitted this comment:

President-elect Barack Obama will face a series of challenges that rival any of his modern predecessors — a damaged economy, a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, aging and inefficient U.S. infrastructure, and a deteriorating environment.
Each individually would warrant the immediate attention of the White House. But the President-elect has an historic opportunity to work with Congress on a plan to address them all. That plan should start with a cap on global warming pollution.
With that cap, we can help revitalize the economy by instantly creating new markets and new customers for U.S. manufacturers in the supply chain for clean energy technologies &â&" think wind turbines and all of the cement and steel that go into them. We can stem the flow of petrodollars overseas, by as much as $500 billion over the next two decades by MIT estimates. And we can generate new revenue for investment in America by auctioning emissions permits &â&" all while fighting climate change.
It’s the energy policy America needs now. President-elect Obama should begin working with Congress early in his administration to enact a cap and restore U.S. leadership in the global climate change debate.

This morning, Cilizza posted a follow-up with excerpts from "the most interesting/provocative thoughts" he received, and I was happy to see my suggestion among them: a cap on global warming pollution.

This post is by Tony Kreindler, media director for the National Climate Campaign at Environmental Defense Fund.

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Posted by farazD Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:25pm PST
1st of all obama feel free as a representative of the world and think as a leader of all nations Qualities: having a tune for ignore the little mistakes having simpathy for the poor nation having fear from the God and try to forgive. try to help the poors By God respect all the nations and all relagins do every thing with keen and neet justic and best of luck for obama
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Posted by nywestrock Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:49pm PST
The main pollution is that of the absolutely incorrect hypothesis of global warming. The antartica has grown in ice more than the artic has lost. This fact is never stated for it is opposed to the whole global warming myth. New Hampshire had its' coldest and greatest amount of snow in recorded history last year. You chose that which you want to show the points you desire to foster. I look forward to a day where those of all views can show their reasons and evidence in a non partisan conference on the climate of our planet. Good day.
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Posted by Monsignor K. Kuwajukaba Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:34pm PST
Concerning Green things, and considering this is a green blog, I think a good investment would be in a republic wide green job initiative. states need the federal governments help for financing. If the federal government gives the money the jobs in green tecnology, or weatherization will begin
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Posted by robbrian6 Tue Dec 2, 2008 3:42pm PST
There are three things Mr. Obama must do first: 1. Work with Congress to enact a trillion dollar stabilization package that assists State and Local governments, main street and america's families. 2. Reduce expenditures on the senseless war in Iraq with a responsible troop drawdown to save approximately three to four billion a month. 3. Designate renewable energy alternatives and technologies as THE priority in the arena of reducing global warming. Oil, coal and gas no matter where they are obtained will always be a problem. Mr. Obama would be well advised to declare an efficiency standard that is based on providing public resources, only, for every ton of CO2 reduced per dollar expended. The most efficient based on this standard is ocean energy. Rather than drilling 15K to 20K feet through oceans and into the earths crust use existing technologies to capture ocean energy. Using a scatter gun approach that gives all, non-renewable and renewable alternatives, a share of the very small pie only assures that nothing will work in time to achieve national goals for energy independence.
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