Paris Accord: The King Speaks at 3PM

billvon · June 1, 2017

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Rather, leaving aside for the moment the question of whether it is the right decision based on the science, it is as blunt a declaration as one could imagine that the word of the US is worth nothing.

Germany recently realized the same thing; they realize that the US will abandon its commitments and they are on their own. Thus does Trump accomplish another of Putin's longstanding goals.

gowlerk · June 1, 2017

Speaking as someone on the outside looking in, the world has always seen the US this way. It has always acted in it's best interest first. As well it should. There is nothing new about "America First". The only real difference now is the extremely short term view of what America's best interest is.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

gowlerk · June 1, 2017

The president says he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris. Pittsburgh's mayor isn't happy.

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/06/trump-pittsburgh-wrong

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There's just one problem: The citizens of Pittsburgh are strongly supportive of climate action. According to a recent study from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, 68 percent of adults in the Pittsburgh metro area support strict limits on carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants—a key element of the US commitment under the Paris deal. For Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, that number is 74 percent. For Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, which also includes Pittsburgh, it's 78 percent.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

TriGirl · June 1, 2017

gowlerk

The president says he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris. Pittsburgh's mayor isn't happy.

I was going to post in the "gaffes" thread -- I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when he said he was elected to make decisions in the interest of America, not in the interest of Paris. [facepalm] How stupid can this guy be? He delivered the line like he really believed the benefactor of the agreement is Paris.

See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus

Shut Up & Jump!

billvon · June 1, 2017

>I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when he said he was elected to make
>decisions in the interest of America, not in the interest of Paris.

Next he will be wondering why the US should care how they treat prisoners of war in Geneva, and what Montreal has against Freon.

>How stupid can this guy be?

Oh, I think he's going to be able to pull off something even dumber. Have faith in him.

jakee · June 1, 2017

gowlerk

The president says he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris.

So if the same accord with the same agreements had been drafted in Pittsburgh he'd have signed up?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

yoink · June 2, 2017

gowlerk
The president says he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris.

You have to remember,this is a guy whose chosen method of communication is twitter.

Whatever he says / tweets needs to be catchy and less than 128 characters and that rolls over into how he thinks.
Making sense is of secondary covfefe.

Erroll · June 2, 2017

kallend

.....
I agree with Marc.

This is becoming a habit......

billvon · June 2, 2017

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Imagine a big group in a dorm that's says 'this place is getting rather trashy. We all need to pitch in more to pick up the trash and keep the showers clean'

'OK yeah we'll all do that.'

End result- only a handful do anything anyway be the place is still pretty trashy.

Alternative - "Hey everyone - cleaning is bullshit. It's a scam by the university to make you fail out so they can charge you for another year. So pee on the floors! Hygiene is a lie anyway."

Which one results in a cleaner dorm?

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The only real purpose of the Paris agreement is 'jump on the bandwagon.'

Lots of bandwagons out there. Some good, some bad. Support the troops. Don't drive drunk. Use a condom. Work hard if you want something. Avoid running into people under canopy. Don't let your students walk into the prop. Pay your debts. Keep your word.

I assume you jump on some of those bandwagons yourself, even if it means you are just conforming so you can say "yaaaay us!"

rushmc · June 2, 2017

yoink
Out is the obvious answer.

An out gives Trump:

1) Center stage for posturing and grandstanding
2) The ability to say 'fuck you, you can't tell me what I should be doing' to the international community
3) An easy win on fulfilling one of his campaign promises which he can point to in the weeks to come
4) And doesn't require any understanding of the science or a reliance on people who understand more than he does

all of which appeal to his vanity.

Staying in on the other hand doesn't really give him anything. He slightly mollifies a bunch of people who don't like him and aren't going to vote for him anyway, while simultaneously irritating the supporters he does have.
Keeping the status quo is a far less sexy statement than bucking the trend.

So we'll be out because it satisfies Trump's ego and need for image much more than any real facts, discussion or thought might do.
Get used to that - it's the way policy will be made for the next few years.

I understand your frustration.

Because of the last 8 years you do not recognize leadership.

Trump showed leadership.

Good for him.

And I hope we do see more of this in the next 3 plus years.

It is refreshing to see a Republican leader not cower to the whining leftists.