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Senator Graham Walks Away From Cap And Trade — Monday’s Roll Out of Bill Postponed

By Anita Finlay ("Ani") on April 25, 2010 at 3:30 PM in Bank Bailouts, Big Oil, Campaign promises, Congress (House & Senate), Current Affairs, Economy, Energy Policy, Gas Prices, Immigration Reform, John Kerry, Unemployment/Jobs

According to The Hill, Senator Lindsay Graham, who has been working with Senators John Kerry and Joe Leiberman for six months on Cap and Trade Legislation has walked away from the table as he…

is upset over Democratic plans to take up immigration legislation this year – he accuses Democratic leaders of pushing forward immigration “haphazardly” and calls it an election-year political gambit.

John Kerry said in a statement on Saturday:

“We all believe that this year is our best and perhaps last chance for Congress to pass a comprehensive approach. We believe that we had reached such an agreement and were excited to announce it on Monday, but regrettably external issues have arisen that force us to postpone only temporarily,”

Kerry also commented that:

“I remain deeply committed to this effort which I have worked on for more than twenty years. We have no choice but to act this year. The American people deserve better than for the Senate to defer this debate or settle for an energy-only bill that won’t get the job done.”

Reading between the lines, I assume he thinks the Dems have “no choice” but to act this year because after the November elections, they will no longer have the numbers to ram this through. Understandably, voters who are still reeling from the passage of confusing health care legislation are deeply concerned about more sudden change and its effects on our troubled economy.

Ben Gemen of The Hill also reported earlier this week on Graham’s specific cause for concern regarding the Dems rush to ram through immigration policy:

Graham has been working with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on an immigration plan, but reacted critically to reports that Democratic leaders may try to move on the issue.

“If immigration comes up then that’s the ultimate CYA politics,” Graham said. He warned against bringing up a bill in a “haphazard way.”

“This comes out of left field,” he said. “We haven’t done anything to prepare the body or the country for immigration.” Graham said the measure he has discussed with Schumer is not ready, and wondered aloud what could be brought to the floor.

“It would be news to me if we’ve got one done [an immigration bill],” he said. “I have been working with Chuck, we have been making progress, but business and labor are not together on a temporary worker bill.”

Graham noted that the climate change and energy bill that he’s crafting with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is supposed to be unveiled Monday.

“What am I supposed to do, write an immigration bill between now and Monday with Chuck?” Graham said.

We will see what transpires. As of now, Graham is no longer on board with cap and trade.

Look, the Dems won in 2008 and all things being equal, I can understand all the horses wanting to race at the same time as they attempt to pass all manner of legislation that has been whirling around in their hot little brains for many years. However, we are still in such a difficult place with the economy. If this administration doesn’t wake up and focus on jobs, jobs, jobs right now, they may find that voter outrage grows beyond anything that can imagine or manage.

While it is certainly possible to multi-task and push on more than one front at a time, what we have seen thus far does not inspire confidence. The health care legislation that just passed is “historic.” It is also a historic mess that requires a lot of fixing. If there is more careless and hasty legislation on the horizon re reform for Wall St., immigration and cap and trade — likewise pushed through with the same lack of care in the crafting — there may be more mutlitasking required in the repairs department than our legislative bodies have any idea how to handle.

Do it once. Do it right.

I’m waiting for some of the adults in the room to emerge and think something through before putting more junk on the books. It is much easier to make a mistake than it is to repair one.

elaine

Not to worry, that Rino will wander back.
Docelder

The best part of Bush II and his redeeming quality is that he saved us from Gore and Kerry. Forget Al Qaeda. Our real problems really are homegrown. I think Napolitano is onto something. There isn’t a nickels difference between Kerry, Gore and Barack. We would be equally screwed with any of them. They are all apologists for America. Gore apologizes for our industry, Kerry for our military power and Barack for everything. Same difference really.
Ferd Berfle

Graham did the right thing. I am now anxiously awaiting the rest of the Republicans to do the same. Big business has aligned with the Democrats on this one to open our borders to illegals so the democrats will get new voters and the corporations, new slave labor. Say no to both, damn it.
PssttCmere

I wonder what they will bribe Graham with to bring him back into the fold…seems all pols can be bought….sorry to say.

“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
kenoshamarge

Adults in the room? In Washington D.C.? In Congress?

Only very stupid people or very young and inexperienced people, or the worst kind of people, politicians, would want to rush into another important bill without careful crafting.

Not content with f##king up the health care catastrophe now they think they have a big vote getting issue with immigration.

The new law in Arizona is something the Dems believe they can use to stem the tide of voters that are abandoning them as fast as they can jump off the bandwagon. Now the Dems can rush back to their favorite chant of “racist, racist, racist”. Lucky for them the media is all ready on board.
Peggy Sue

Ani said:

“I’m waiting for some of the adults in the room to emerge and think something through before putting more junk on the books. It is much easier to make a mistake than it is to repair one.”

That’s it in a nutshell. Forget the damn “historic” label or the rising cheer that this is will be another huge win for Obama, whether immigration or carbon credits, whatever. Any reasonable person knows that the healthcare reform bill is an utter mess. The mantra of getting anything passed is better than getting nothing done should raise the question: For whom?

Americans across the board feel left out of the equation. Enough sucking up to monied interests, lobbiests or anyone else whispering sweet nothings in the President’s ear. The anger and pain in the hinterlands is real; it is not manufactured. And what to we continuously hear? Happy talk. Just like the last Administration.

Get on the ball, do it right or do us all a big favor: get out of town.
I’m a Linda too

Spot on Ani.

For whatever reasons, I’m happy Cap and Trade is being shelved, and I hope PERMANENTLY. As it does nothing they claim, under the guise of reudcing carbon pollution.

Just yesterday I posted a rant on my fb page, I’ll share. It was on this very topic.

“Take My Money Please”, NOT!

Yesterday at 4:01pm |
It is becoming ever apparent that politicians and key Global players/business men, have been using environmentalists as pawns and puppets.

I have been feeling that way the more evidence I was seeing come to the surface. Even more clearer was that our politicians dropped any measures about cleaning up dirty pollutants and jumped on the Cap and Trade (away) efforts. Cap and Trade, which is the main component of the ACES Act that passed the House last year, has almost nothing about creating jobs in our country for clean or renewable energy. It mainly consists of Cap and Trade, which does nothing to limit pollutants or carbon from fossil fuels. It is a tax, and energy permits to be traded on the open market, to further drive up energy costs. Long gone are things like “sequester” carbon.

Then of course most of the claims we have been told “without doubt”, by “scientists”, turn out to be fudged and absolutely made up information these scientists and governmental groups were using and claiming and from sources a far cry from science.

Jesse Ventura is correcct, follow the money. And in this case, one of the same persons pushing for Cap and Trade, is the same big business man who helped created the IPCC (intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) who left London, moved to China and is living a very private life, who is also pushing for the world currency.

In light of the fact that Cap and Trade will do nothing but increase costs for energy (the energy companies LOVE it, because they can use the added costs as reasons to charge more for energy)[remember Enron?] and many of our tax dollars have already been given to private businesses under the name of “renewable energy” or “create jobs” , opening up supposed solar panel or windmill businesses across the country, to now have them all being downsized, or shutdown, because the jobs and creation of those solar panels, etc, are now being made in……..CHINA, it is no surpise to find out that a group of Global Investors representing $13 Trillion in assets have been lobbying this Congress to pass Climate Bill in the Senate, so they can start reaping the rewards under the name of “renewables and energy efficient”. The 450 Global Investors who gathered in New York earlier this year, “believe there is BIG money to be made. But only if they put a price on Carbon.”

You betcha! Power and money is the almighty driver And we are nothing but the food for those predators. Cap and Trade is only about control and money and that is the main component that Congress put in their energy bill. Can you imagine how much our energy costs will be as they tax energy and trade permits for energy on Wall Street, making it legal to do what Enron did, only go much further? And all while the renwable market will be protected on their pricing. WOW!

And this latest even came from the Sierra Club magazine. The ones who last year made the argument that there were two reasons to pass a new Climate treaty in Copenhagan. Which half that argument only weeks later was proved to have been made up and the other recently has added so much ice this past winter, we are ahead of where we were decades ago.
HARP

Miners are saying shove your cap ans treason.

Obama at funerals of WV miners killed in explosion last week. He obviously there only for PR…. and families know it!
Women pulling back from attempted embraces. Men not shaking hands. Distain on many faces.
Note to Mr. Obama. Welcome to America outside the Beltway, where we know what you really are!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2500258/posts
I’m a Linda too

As I mentioned to some Republicans, knowing the Dem’s card playing, as so typical anymore, they already started about this being “about Mexicans”.

Own it and throw it back in their faces. ”Excuse ME, surely Democrats are not claiming all illegal immigrants are Mexicans, are they”.

Obama has ignored the border for almost 1 1/2 years. Pleas to the wall. And now he looks like the idiot he is, including Janet Nowpollingtano, as American citizens are being tormented and killed and it has becoome a gateway for everyone in the world to enter this country illegally. Including possible terrorists.

They are embarrassed, that’s why they want to rush a bill.

And, they screwed the pooch, if they wanted to grant amnesty, which a super majority of Americans didn’t support anyhow, now will just be bloodshed.

Of course, only an arrogant asshat would think they could sucessessfully make broken border ssecurity about race. I give you the Democrats.
tango

I don’t understand Obamas thinking. They rammed through health care. If they ram through amnesty and Cap N Trade, how does that help the Democrats? They will lose EVEN bigger because Americans will be so super pissed they weren’t listened to on 3 of the major issues of today. And if the GOP takes both Houses and the Presidency within the next 2 years, wouldn’t they then just pass bills revolking, repealing or amending all those previously rammed through bills? That would just negate all Obamas supposed acheivements. I can’t see Obama wanting to go down as the historic President who passed all these laws later repealed or amended because they were unwanted by the majority of the American voters. That leaves me to think they hope to pass this crap through and once it’s done, they figure Americans will forget or just learn to live with it. Or plan to use force somehow to make them stick.

As for jobs, the Obama Administration doesn’t concentrate on that issue because they have no good ideas. The numbers bear out that for all the money spent from the stimulus, while some jobs have been (temporarily) saved, precious few jobs have been created and those that were cost enormous amounts of money. I think some employers might want to hire but fear of what health care, immigration and cap and trade will cost them if passed, keep them from hiring. Liberal ideas aren’t necessarily working and there is absolutely no way they want to try any conservative ideas. So they deflect attention away from the most important issue to Americans and concentrate on everything else hoping we’ll forget.
Docelder

And people like Kerry will get a fresh influx of brown people to cut their grass, clean the toilets and pick tomatoes for the ketchup factory. It is corporatists and elitists that want more indigent labor. Just more poor and uneducated people to exploit. Anything for a dollar.
Yttik

For years Dems have claimed this is urgent, time is of the essence, we must act quickly, there’s no time to waste! All my years as a Dem were filled with rushing here and there in a virtual state of panic like the milk might curdle if we don’t get it chilled fast enough.

Now I realize what they were really saying is that we’ve only got a six month window of opportunity before people realize what we’re really up to and run us out of town on a rail.
I’m a Linda too

I guess it’s like most sick persons. Weather it be a war monger, arsonist, bomb maker , serial killer, etc, they just need to feed their ego and want to be remembered. I put Obama and his reckless policies in the same category. His ego, regardless of the damange (because remeber, his required reading is Saul Alinsky, socialism/marxism) is to place his mark.
I’m a Linda too

I guess it’s like most sick persons. Whether it be a war monger, arsonist, bomb maker , serial killer, etc, they just need to feed their ego and want to be remembered. I put Obama and his reckless policies in the same category. His ego, regardless of the damange (because remeber, his required reading is Saul Alinsky, socialism/marxism) is to place his mark, to be remembered for what he did, however horrible for our country.
helenk

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/24/correction-the-actual-arizona-immigration-bill/
I posted this downstairs but I think it will fit in here too. If people read the bill maybe the propaganda will not work.

WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
Ferd Berfle

Indeed and this pesky set of facts always gets overlooked or worse, gonored.
Ferd Berfle

Indeed and this pesky set of facts always gets overlooked or worse, ignored.
foxyladi14

h wats to do too much too quick
foxyladi14

he wants
HARP

Love your avatar !!
USAPROUD

Its quite simple why the Dems want Cap and Trade…to tax the hell out of us somemore, they are going to try to ram everything they can through whether we want it or not. They don’t give a damn about the average personj and I for one am sick of it!!!!
Ferd Berfle

The health care legislation that just passed is “historic.” It is also a historic mess that requires a lot of fixing
=====================
I have to respectfully disagree. The HC bill is so monumentally wrong in so many ways it should be completely scrapped as fixing it isn’t a viable option.

With this in mind, immigration reform should not even be considered during this Congress. The resulting legislation would be as bad if not worse than the HC mess. We need incremental and very specific legislation designed to address specific areas. The one-size-fits-all bill is only an excuse for pork and other government excess.
Guest

The image of government today has degraded to nothing more than a social club of elitist criminals who plunder the nation’s monetary wealth like pirates and newly-found treasure.

I’m very active this election cycle. I hope all of you are.
Doc99

The pace at which the American Left’s Agenda is being foist upon us is truly breathtaking – a blitzkrieg of legislation if you will. While America is still reeling from the impact of the Porkulus and Obamacare, here come Cap & Tax and Immigration. The media has voted “Present” on all of this, content to trumpet this Administration’s talking points. Only talk radio, the Tea Parties and the net’s Army of Davids has been trying to halt the Obama Juggernaut. By the time November rolls around, it may be too late to roll any of this back over Obama’s veto. To quote Yogi Berra, “It’s getting late mighty early around here.”
EWard

Ditto to the bloggers stating the obvious – the Dems are ramming all this legislation through before the Nov. election. Docelder is right, there isn’t any difference between Kerry, Gore or Obama. I’m ashamed that I voted for them in the 2000 & 2004 elections.

Graham is a fool. The Democrats only care about immigration to add new Democratic voters.
Captain Jack Sparrow

That should be a tin foil hat on that pointed head of yours…..
Captain Jack Sparrow

The Republicans should thank the Governor of Arizona for the Dems moving on immigration reform so suddenly….
Ferd Berfle

I do not know to whom you are referring, Jack-off, but do shut up.

Oh, and here’s a flag for you.
Captain Jack Sparrow

Free Republic? The website of the brain dead….
Ani

Well, I was trying to be charitable but I respect your opinion on this healthcare bill. Starting over would be better — unfortunately since that is not an option, we can only push for the next best thing.
Ani

But that’s basically was Graham was implying when he said that their piush for immigration reform now was a “ctnical ploy.”
Hank

Of Topic: This is “supposedly” the video that FOX NEWS Has been trying to show that is constantly blocked By the administration.
Watch this QUICKLY–before it gets Pulled http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28
Ani

So noted. However, this has become an embarrassment to the Dems which is the only reason they ar now pushing it. The crime that has been happening in AZ as a result of the unsecured (and federally ignored) border is what has precipitating all of this. What is now being touted as “McCain’s Revenge” wherein he was demanding that the Pres send 3000 guardsman along with additional border guards to secure the border immediately.
Ani

So noted. However, this has become an embarrassment to the Dems which is the only reason they are now pushing it. The crime that has been happening in AZ as a result of the unsecured (and federally ignored) border is what has precipitating all of this. What is now being touted as “McCain’s Revenge” wherein he was demanding that the Pres send 3000 guardsman along with additional border guards to secure the border immediately.
Ani

But that’s basically was Graham was implying when he said that their piush for immigration reform now was a “cynical ploy.”
Diana L. C.

Ani,

I may be a pollyanna, but I am still hoping that some of us in our various states will find ways to circumvent Obummer’s, NP’s, and HR’s HC Bill. I’ve mentioned before that I am collecting signatures to get an amendment on our next ballot that will negate the fed’s bill.

Wish us luck.
Ferd Berfle

I suppose I left my charitable side at home when they shoved this abomination on us.
Diana L. C.

I emailed my friends in AZ and did thank them for their state’s move on this. Yep, the Dems will move too darned fast on this and do it as stupidly as they did on the HC Bill. All the Dem legislators will be feeling serious whiplash from NP and HR’s constant, well, lashing the whip while also getting bruised at home by the many voters that are really sick of the type of behavior the Dems are exhibity.
John/johnwsmart.com

Obama’s afraid if he shows up in Arizona some cop will ask for his a papers…and he’ll be deported…
Ferd Berfle

“Janet Nowpollingtano”
====================
That’s funny, I could have swron her name was Janet Newpolitbureau.
Sassy

Senators Grassley and Snow left healthcare negotiations.
Senator Shelby left finance reform negotiations.
Senator Graham left cap and trade negotiations.
There is a pattern here! The democrats are out of control, and it will get much worse with immigration!
They are pulling out all stops before November’s election, for they need to bring out the BO maniacs again!
PssttCmere

Yes, he would be hard pressed to come up with his birth certificate….

“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
creeper

IaLt, didn’t Bush attempt immigration reform? If these Dems were so hot-to-trot to “fix” immigration law, where were they then?
I’m a Linda too

Creeper, exactly.
creeper

More lies. Obama said Muslims developed algebra. India will be surprised to learn that.

From Wikipedia (with apologies):
While the word algebra comes from the Arabic language and much of its methods from Arabic/Islamic mathematics, its roots can be traced to earlier traditions, most notably ancient Indian mathematics.

This guy couldn’t tell the unvarnished truth if his life depended on it.

Thanks for the link, Hank.
TeakWoodKite

2. CONCEAL, HARBOR OR SHIELD OR ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL, HARBOR OR SHIELD

19

AN ALIEN FROM DETECTION IN ANY PLACE IN THIS STATE, INCLUDING ANY BUILDING OR

20

ANY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, IF THE PERSON KNOWS OR RECKLESSLY DISREGARDS THE

21

FACT THAT THE ALIEN HAS COME TO, HAS ENTERED OR REMAINS IN THE UNITED STATES

22

IN VIOLATION OF LAW.

I hope BO doesn’t ask for a ride in that state.
AC

Agreed creeper, Algebra developed way before the advent of Muslim in 622 AD/CE. The ancient Arabic peoples did make advances but what have the Muslims done.
Patience

Even my Obama-voting husband is against Cap and Trade legislation.

It seems he and I have switched positions though on the immigration issue. I used to be undecided/indifferent and he was against liberal policies, contending illegals were driving down wages to a ridiculous level. Now I agree with his former opinion but he just shrugs his shoulders.

Call me xenophobic but considering the terrible employment situation in our country, now is not the time to be making it any easier for immigrants — legal or illegal — to come here to work.

Thanks for bringing this story to our attention Ani.
TeakWoodKite

2. CONCEAL, HARBOR OR SHIELD OR ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL, HARBOR OR SHIELD AN ALIEN FROM DETECTION IN ANY PLACE IN THIS STATE, INCLUDING ANY BUILDING OR ANY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, IF THE PERSON KNOWS OR RECKLESSLY DISREGARDS THE FACT THAT THE ALIEN HAS COME TO, HAS ENTERED OR REMAINS IN THE UNITED STATES IN VIOLATION OF LAW.

I hope BO doesn’t ask for a job or a ride in Arizona. They would have to check his status and that won’t end well for the person who picks him up.
BuzzLatte

I guess he may not be able to run for president in AZ unless he shows his…wait for it….. papers that must not be named!

Oh that’s just priceless…. LOL!!!!!
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AnnieCarmel

Well, I think we all know that all the great works, discoveries, art, literature, systems, etc. are of Muslim origin. Einstein for instance….obviously a Muslim. Leonardo, Plato, Newton…all Muslims. LOL! Why does he continue to disavow his brothers? He has never read great works much less studied history. Such an embarrassment. Papa Doc played golf and Mama Doc played…tennis at the posh retreat this weekend…just like the upper crust. But what does it matter? They will never be more than gutter snipes.
I’m a Linda too

When businesses can hire a body to do the work for even-if only half the salary, they do. And when you have an illegal willing to take that, because he doesn’t have to care about the cost of living in this country, he will.

The funniests thing is, these companies lose in the end. Example, they think if they hire 5 illegal Mexicans to do a job that it normally only takes 2 Americans to do (landscaping or home building work) that it still cost them less, but the product is much worse and costs them far more than if they hired skilled legal workers.

Here in NM it is just amazing. I have 5 guys standing around. They look around like “what am I supposed to do?” They are moving rakes, but don’t even pick up the debris. No shit, I’ve watched them rake all the debris in to a pile and leave it between two homes on the dividing property. They don’t cut and trim trees and leave all the cuttings on the grass to kill it. If I told you how they plow snow, you would ask for a video. They just don’t understand what they are doing. I watched one guy drive the plow up and down my street about 5 times….ready? He actually had the plow facing to the left, so every time he drove along the sides of the street, he piled the snow in the middle of the road. I kid you not. I actually went out and took pictures.

Or the guys that don’t know why they are told to put nails all in the wall, and puncture water and electrical lines.

Or the “one helper” who the landscaper is telling what to do to run the water line through pvc piping in the ground, is explaining it 3 times, trying to speak spanish to communicate, then gives up and does it himself.

After having a guy saw in to my custom frame countertop, because he thought he could hold the guide loose while sawing, instead of securing it, my husband and I swore we will not hire any company here to do work and do it ourselves.

This is why they are trying to work out deals with labor and businesses. Only, when they become legal, the businesses won’t be able to hold over their head below normal wages. Does that mean this effort will actually get skilled workers working again?