Al
The VP rumors are running hot and heavy. Kaine? Bayh? Sibelius? Clark? Clinton? Biden? Every direction one looks, a different name.
Al
This choice will say something serious about Barack Obama’s commitment to taking action on the greatest challenge that this nation, that humanity might ever have faced.
Al
This choice matters. And you have a chance to affect this choice.
A moment about Barack
Barack Obama was not the nation’s greatest voice on global warming or the greenest politician when it came to energy issues. He voted for the 2005 Energy Bill. He supported coal-to-liquids program. He continues to speak about Clean Coal.
Through the election campaign, Barack’s voice on energy and global warming has strengthened, strengthened considerably.
Through the election campaign, Barack’s positions on energy and global warming have strengthened, strenghtened considerably.
Even though Barack has strengthened (and is light-years beyond McCain), there is still improvement o be had. And, improvement that will be required if WE are to navigate our way to a prosperous, climate-friendly future.
And, navigating that course will require great fortitude, great strength of purpose both in desired outcome and willingness to fight the battles that will require fighting to acheive a more sensible energy future.
Thinking about a Vice President
Barack Obama will soon announce his Vice Presidential pick, the man or woman to stand beside him on inauguration day next January and for the next eight years. And, the security as to “who” will be named remains tight. And, amid that security the opportunity might remain to influence that pick.
This Vice President could be someone who will strenghten Barack’s backbone when it comes to energy and global warming issues. Someone who ‘gets it’, who doesn’t need convincing from WE that there is such a thing as Global Warming and that we need, no WE must do something (actually, many, many somethings) about it.
Many of those rumored, such as Kathleen Sibelius, have taken courageous positions on energy issues and fought serious battles against fossil fuel industries for a cleaner future.
Or, the next Vice President could be someone seemingly in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry. Someone who might talk-the-talk about Global Warming, but shows through their actions that they simply don’t get it. That they view, at most, Global Warming as just another issue among a panoply of issues, and an issue that rates behind others in the priority order for attenion and investment.
Several of those often rumored (“Dirty Rotten Scoundrel” Tim Kaine perhaps most notably) fall strongly in that second category. Several of those often rumored would serve to weaken Obama’s position on energy and Global Warming issues. WE can’t afford this.
Al …
WE can’t pick up the phone, you can …
Al
WE can’t dial the number, you can …
Al
WE can’t get Barack on the line, you can …
Al,
WE can’t speak with Barack about energy and Global Warming issues and the next Vice President.
Al
WE can’t have a heartfelt conversation with Barack about the criticality of this decision for the future of the nation, for humanity, you can …
Al
Will you make the call that WE so desperately need?