President Obama visits the wind energy production facility, Trinity Structural Towers Manufacturing Plant, during an Earth Day visit in Newton, Iowa.
(LARRY DOWNING/REUTERS)Photos (1 of 1)
Earth Day: Obama promotes wind, Limbaugh promotes plastic
By Jimmy Orr | 04.22.09
What do President Obama and Rush Limbaugh have in common today? They’re both celebrating Earth Day.
They just have different ways of expressing their celebrations.
We told you earlier that while President Obama was scheduled to discuss the benefits of wind power at a green manufacturing facility in Iowa, Limbaugh was honoring the memory of the man who invented the plastic bag.
Since that time, both have spoken and we can update you a bit on what they’re talking about.
Obama
At the Trinity Structural Towers wind energy plant in Newton, Iowa, President Obama announced that the legislation he’s pursuing will move the country toward energy independence while preventing the “worst consequences of climate change”.
“Last week, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court, the EPA determined that carbon dioxide and other tailpipe emissions are harmful to the health and well-being of our people,” he said. “There is no question that we have to regulate carbon pollution; the only question is how we do so.”
“I believe the best approach is through legislation that places a market-based cap on these kinds of emissions. Today key members of my administration are testifying in Congress on a bill that seeks to enact exactly this kind of market-based approach. My hope is that this will be the vehicle through which we put this policy in effect.”
Water lease
He also announced an executive action that he termed “historic.” The president said his administration would establish a program to lease federal waters “to generate electricity from wind as well as from ocean currents and other renewable sources.”
“This will open the door to major investments in offshore clean energy,” he said. “It is estimated that if we fully pursue our potential for wind energy on land and offshore, wind can generate as much as 20 percent of our electricity by 2030, creating as many as 250,000 jobs in the process. As with so many clean energy investments, it’s win-win: good for environment and great for our economy.”
Limbaugh
Meanwhile Rush Limbaugh announced on his radio program that he will personally see to it that he destroys two acres of rain forest.
“What else am I going to do for Earth Day?” he asked. “I’m going to have every one of my cars driven as much as possible today; I’ve got my airplane flying to Los Angeles and back; … all the lights are going to be on, the air conditioning down to 68 degrees in all, well, four out of the five houses — the property manager in [the fifth house] likes the temperature down to 65 degrees.”
Plastic bags
Earlier we told you that Limbaugh — in what he called a solemn tribute — honored the late Gordon Dancy.
“He invented the first high-density plastic grocery bag, which can handle up to 40 pounds of stuff. That singular invention has benefited our daily life on earth in multitudinous ways,” Limbaugh said.
The car
Limbaugh also “honored” Charles and Frank Duryea.
“On September 20, 1893 they constructed and tested the first gasoline-powered automobile,” he said. “They were also the first to incorporate into an American automobile business. Now we travel the Earf in gas-powered cars; we owe these two a debt of gratitude.”
And, just like last time, we pause to celebrate perhaps the most appropriate band for Earth Day — Earth, Wind, and Fire.
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<< It’s Earth Day! Obama and Limbaugh celebrate it differently | MainComments
4. John Frum | 04.22.09
What does Obama want us to do, become more like Denmark?
You know, the happiest nation on earth, located in the region where the citizens enjoy the highest quality of life.
What’s he thinking?
We must put a stop to this.
I know: let’s stigmatize his efforts with labels. Let’s call them “socialist”, or “fascist”!
Yeah, that’s the ticket. Bog him down with words!
5. BB | 04.22.09
Mr. Limbaugh should consider moving to a third world country that has a poor environmental regulations since he believes that they are not necessary. I would love to hear what his opinion on foul air, bad drinking water, unbearable traffic conjestion, toxic fresh water bodies, and soil erosion would be then. Perhaps Mr. Limbaugh thinks that America’s air, land, and water just magically clean themselves.
6. Frank M. | 04.22.09
Rush said:
Limbaugh also “honored” Charles and Frank Duryea.
“On September 20, 1893 they constructed and tested the first gasoline-powered automobile,” he said. “They were also the first to incorporate into an American automobile business. Now we travel the Earf…….”
It is now 2009, Rush, you are about 116 years out of date in your thinking.
And the GOP is going along with you. Thanks for your open mind.
7. Qrkilo1 | 04.22.09
Limbaugh’s comments were taken out of context…as usual. And don’t forget gang that for every green job Obama creates, we will loose 2 jobs from the existing private sector. I guess we’ll make it up in volume..haha
8. Vera | 04.22.09
you liberals will never really understand what Rush is saying, and why is he saying it…..your intelect cant reach that far. Or, even better - this is above your pay-grade. God bless America!
9. Handel | 04.22.09
Your Obama obviously started campaigning for a second mandate.
Being a machine engineer I know (unlike the obamabots) that all he talked about is just croc. It is simply impossible to be done - Even if you cover all the US teritorial waters with gear. But the obamabots don’t care. They just need someone to talk nice things to them.
11. Jill Gamesh | 04.22.09
Qrk: How does anyone take “I’m going to have every one of my cars driven as much as possible today; I’ve got my airplane flying to Los Angeles and back; … all the lights are going to be on, the air conditioning down to 68 degrees in all, well, four out of the five houses” out of context? Stop and think about what you’re saying. Do you realize how ridiculously biased it sounds?
Vera: Exactly whose “intelect” are we talking about?
Handel: Check a good satellite image of Denmark, such as is available through Google Maps. See all those white dots just offshore? Those are wind turbines. Denmark is just about weaned off of fossil fuels. Are you saying Denmark can do something that America can’t?
12. Headonright | 04.22.09
Denmark is the size of Vermont, has the highest taxes in the world, and still only gets 20% of its energy from wind. They tax cars at 105% of cost to cut down on oil consumption; have been enacting every draconian law and tax ever heard of to save energy. After 25 years their energy consumption is exactly the same as when they started (although population grew 7%).
Sounds like a plane to me, Mr. President
13. Anlala | 04.22.09
Mr. Limbaugh is either ignorant or a liar (if you listen to him 2 days in a row, he contradicts himself. For example, “liberals hate the bill of rights” but are “socialists”. To be a socialist, don’t you have to be highly regulated and have stuff like…a bill of rights? Hm). Poor man. People with no conscience have a long road ahead of them. Everyone may not agree with President Obama (hey, remember how we’re supposed to “support” the office of President and that’s all American/patriotic and stuff?), but at least our President is working toward solutions instead of riling up the haters.
14. wtobias | 04.22.09
did you ever wonder why obama the Clinton and gore pulled there investments in oil and gas right before he took office. and do you know were they invested there money after obama took office. and why isn’t the environmentalist yelling about messing with the oceans floor and the impact this will have with marine life .there are people that live near these windmills and say its effecting there lives insomnia. ears ringing, in headache. from the sound the windmills make. we will also lose jobs, the plant obama was at employs 90 they are hiring 10 more, a plant that employed 30000 people hardly a boom to that town i like to spend my the money i work hard all week to make and here is a guy that is dead set on taking as much as he can to give away dont worry i include the last king that sat on the thrown too
15. Jill Gamesh | 04.23.09
Headtfixedtotheright: At 65%, taxes in Denmark are at a level where the country could definitely be called socialist, but Denmark doesn’t have close to the highest taxes in the world. The important thing to note is that even uberconservative John Stossel’s program 20/20 did a special this past January in which they acknowledged that the Danes were the happiest citizens on Earth. If people with higher taxes enjoy a higher quality of life and are happier, what does that make people who wail incessantly about taxes–antihappiness? In favor of prosperity at any cost, including quality of life? Fill me in here: what exactly is the goal of becoming more prosperous?
And what’s the point of citing Denmark’s total energy consumption? After 25 years not only is its fossil fuel consumption curtailed, they’re virtually weaned off Middle East oil. Can we say the same?
Get your head on straight.
16. Julie in VT | 04.23.09
I thank God every single day that my values don’t mirror those of the rightwingnuts. Keep spewing your filth Rushbo - the Party of No-bots will remain in the wilderness for at least a generation.
17. John | 04.23.09
I know, I have an idea, in celebration of Professor Limbaugh! If he really believes in what he says, why not have him be confined to a room which has all his cars running, no plants, plenty of good old fashion American burgers (with bacon) and have him live there for a year…see what happens? Or perhaps he is just talking this way because, guess what? he can! And he’s making money, a lot of money, doing it. 3 cheers for Professor Limbaugh…and Assistant Professor Beck! The empty American dream is alive and well, just like we like it!
18. Aaron | 04.23.09
Hate is an amazing emotion. It is almost always thought of as bad. But hate can be a very empowering, bringing out strength, energy, determination and a sense of purpose. People who feel hate towards something or someone sometimes act on it - in the rare cases that they do act, odds are that the endeavor will succeed.
But that is one kind of hate. The other kind of hatred is rotting and erosive. It never leaves because it can never find an escape. It’s trapped within, and everything a person does in life is affected by this hatred. It becomes damaging and paralyzing not just to the person who holds it, but to everyone around the person.
I wonder what type of hatred Limbaugh has.
19. DaSwankOne | 04.23.09
Vera, if you are going to question my intellect you could at least learn to spell the word.
20. Sandra Martin | 04.23.09
Rush Limbaugh was making a joke. He has a marvelous sense of humor, unlike the hateful lefty/liberal/democrats who hate him. On the other hand, our origin-challenged president really did kill about two acres of jungle yesterday while flying his BIG JETS to all sorts of places that didn’t need or want him. I thank the Lord everday I have better sense than to be one of the hateful left.
21. Patrick Brown | 04.23.09
It is obvious to me that Rush actions are out of spite. He does not care about people, the world, or any of its problems, he only cares about pushing an agenda that supports the super wealthy. He is a shallow, norrow minded fool who is incable of understanding the concepts of altruism, concern for the planet and the fate of human kind. He’s also incable of winning the hearts and minds of anybody except people who are full of hate. If there is such thing as **** there will be a special place for his fat *** to rot and contemplate all the harm he has done to the world.
22. russ chelak | 04.23.09
Sorry to hear that Gordon is dead however my production manager Rick Kraus and I made the first HMW-HDPE grocer sacks at Tedruth Plastics (as well as the first HMW-HDPE trash liners).
Those liners debuted in printed form at the Repblican Convention that selected Ronald Reagan.
23. WestWright | 04.23.09
Unlike many of the drones commenting here, I actually listened to Rush’ Capitalist/Earthday program. He is very much correct that the benefits of a free society with robust free markets that allows individuals to benefit from their native intelligence and ingenuity has always resulted in a higher standard of living, more productivity, better health, longer lives as well as decreasing environmental damages. If you don’t believe this just do yourself a favor and google the Green Revolution.
24. wandering wonderer | 04.23.09
Whenever I’ve got some free time, I get a kick out of the “comments” postings. But I often wonder — who are all these folks…and what are they up to?
For instance, is the posting from wtobias (#14) a satire? The ideas presented are, obviously, uninformed (…”tobias” hasn’t noticed that his taxes are going down?) and, indeed, paranoid (…bizarre fantasies about the stock portfolios of assorted politicians) — but they’re “spelled out” (”…do you know were they invested there money…the last king that sat on the thrown”) so hilariously that — really, now! — it’s gotta be a joke…a parody of the right-wing global-warming stance by mocking the kinds of minds that buy into it.
…at least, I hope so.
25. Len_RI | 04.23.09
Rush Limbaugh has in the past defended his work by saying he is an “entertainer”. He has somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 million people who tune in at least once a week. His education includes being a dropout from Southeast Missouri State University because, as his mother put it, he, “flunked everything.”
Contrast that with Barack Obama who is the duly elected President of the United States of America. He holds that office by virtue of the fact that about 70 million people voted for him. His education includes two years at Occidental College in Los Angeles, continued study at Columbia University where he earned his B.A. Then he went to Harvard Law School where he was selected as an editor of the Harvard Law Review and then went on to be elected President of the Harvard Law Review.
Obama also served as an Illinois state legislator for 8 years and served in the U.S. Senate for 4 years where he had to make real decisions with real consequences. That’s in contrast to Rush who just has to make radio blather for 3 hours a day while bearing no responsibility for anything he says.
So — tell me why the Christian Science Monitor sees fit to compare President Obama with entertainer Limbaugh? You may just as well write a piece contrasting the statements of Stephen Hawking with those of Gilbert Gotfried (with all due apologies to Mr. Gotfried).
26. Alex | 04.23.09
Gee.. people still giving credence to Rush Limbaugh even though he’s been wrong 100%$ of the time. Let’s see. Limbaugh espouses less government control of capitalists. Result? Banking industry goes hog wild over bad loans and quick profit and plunges U.S. Economy into the worst state since the Great Depression. Limbaugh backed Bush administration claims that Saddam Hussain was a Nuclear threat so we went over there and broke Iraq and now we can’t leave. We are stuck sinking billions of dollars into a never-ending war. Way to go Limbaugh and your fans. Not everyone would stick to their guns after wrong all those other times.
27. Andrea | 04.25.09
It’s amazing. Most all of us have watched children’s movies where the poor desperate animals are suffering because man’s
desire to aquire more and obtain more are more important than the life God laid out upon our planet. During these chldren’s movies,
we sit and watch in the simplicity of what is obviously the right thing to do versus what is inherently evil.
Limbaugh is like the evil crane that digs beneath the sacred ground to unearth another dollar.
28. Patrick | 04.29.09
Does Rush Limbaugh own energy stock? Seems like a good incentive to quash the efforts of people trying to conserve energy, while he promotes the inane consumption to anyone who will listen.
29. Phil | 06.26.09
Mr. Limbaugh uses ad hominem arguments (attacking the source but not the substance of a factual claim) and bases fact on his opinion. If that is intellect as one writer opines, then that is very troubling. There are intellects on the right but Mr. Limbaugh is not one of them. Except for the dittoheads, Republican types would be better served by real intellects.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Libor | 04.22.09
Didn’t we just go thru”not in my Mass. front yard” better check with Teddy…..