Lightbulbs Aren't Enough
Washington, DC -- The election's aftermath election continues, with lots of gossipy stuff about Governor Palin's wardrobe and how Rush Limbaugh hates John McCain and the Republican party. The media are ecstatic that they no longer need to spend much ink on the substance of governing but can instead review the horse race over and over with clean consciences (except in Georgia, where there's still a Senate runoff).
However, in the midst of this trivia, an occasional nugget offers insight into how our next President views the political arena he has just mastered so thoroughly. Here's a wonderful bit from Newsweek's "Secrets of the 2008 Campaign" quoting Obama on efforts by the debate moderators to keep things at a sixth-grade level:
"I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself,
'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.' Instead
of being appropriately [the tape is garbled]. So when Brian
Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done
[that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of
trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm
thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve
global warming because I f–––ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's
because of something collective'."
Ultimately it's about education and changing behaviors. But changing our lightbulbs is certainly a good start when it comes to conserving electricity today as we migrate to renewable energy sources in the coming decades.
Posted by: Jeff Fread | November 11, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Could you please contact ken@1800blogger.com
Posted by: Ken | November 11, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Carl,
Just think if he had said that he bought a Prius!
Posted by: Paul from Potomac | November 11, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I would suggest checking my comment yesterday as we have to wake up to bigger environmental crises developing from the massive never-ending messes of organic wastes and sewage if they are not gotten under control soon. Switching to more energy efficient light bulbs, to Prius, to biofuels, to nuclear power do nothing to get those messes under control to keep our descendants from being buried by the messes. Dr. J. Singmaster, Fremont, CA
Posted by: Dr. J. Singmaster | November 11, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Glad Obama gets it.
Posted by: dave scott | November 11, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Obama does not get it. He is a meat eater. Why does he ignore the UN report?
Posted by: UN | November 12, 2008 at 06:36 AM