Here’s a ground breaking moment: The Nobel Committee awarding the top prize for what a person might achieve.
As much as we all love to love Obama, this really does fly in the face of past presidential Nobel Laureates such as Theodore Roosevelt, and Jimmy Carter. They’d actually done something big. Former Vice President Al Gore got his Nobel for his heavy lifting on an environmental call to action … after he’d left office.
Perhaps the Nobel Committee is just so desparate for Obama to succeed ( aren’t we all?) that they’re hoping this will spur him to be just that man of great hope. At the end of the day, maybe this honor will enable him to distance himself from the lure of big contributors such as Goldman Sachs…
I say “Congratulations” but I’m going to still be holding my breath.
It seems like every day, we hear more on the news that tells me, at least, Obama gets it when it comes to the critical imperative to green the country and our economy. He’s obviously had a staffer read Thomas L. Friedmans’ book, “Hot, Flat and Crowded”, and that staffer must have given him an excellent briefing in return.
At last we have a new president—and one who obviously “gets it” about the need for America to change over to a Clean Energy system and renew our national ideals and sense of purpose in the process. With that in mind, I am now going to begin to revise and update Hot, Flat, and Crowded for a new edition and to write the new chapter, Chapter 18. Thanks to all for your contributions; I’ll take up a number of them in the new chapter.
A final question: What is President Obama leaving out? What should he do on the clean energy front that he isn’t already doing?
The takeaway from that book, and I really do suggest that everybody put down what they’re reading now, and plow through “Hot, Flat and Crowded”, is that going green is the very best solution to the economic crisis our country is facing. Friedman makes the case, right down to specifics, of how going green - initiallywith our antiquated electricity grid - can produce hundreds of thousands of new, sustainable jobsnow and into the future. It would also be the foundation by which American industry and workers can take back supremacy we’ve squandered over the last three decades and more.
Importantly, this ‘greening’ of America would produce jobs that cannot be outsourced to foreign countries - that will stay right here at home - while providing Americans with a vastly improved standard of living, clean energy and enhanced national security, since we would no longer be hostage to the fossil fuel petro-dictators.
Please watch the video below, but also go to the Repower America webpage and sign the petition going to Washington D.C.
Obama has sounded the clarion call, but already the Republicans are starting to go back to their old sorry ways - as naysayers. The Obama campaign was about participation in the process by the electorate - that means you.
Dear Friend,
Today, I will be testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about repowering America and the need for us to resume global leadership on the climate crisis. As you know, it’s a critical time in our country and we all have a role to play.
In Congress, our leaders are debating an economic recovery package. It includes unprecedented support for putting Americans back to work building a clean energy economy.
But entrenched interests in Washington will be working hard to weaken the legislation — opposing funding for clean energy programs that support things like wind, solar, energy efficiency and a new national electric grid.
Comments to Gore’s proposals:
Dr. James Hansen — Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
“This is just what the doctor ordered — to cure our carbon addiction and stimulate the economy. It would be the turning point that is needed to lead the world to a stable climate.”
Bob Barr — Libertarian presidential candidate
“America responds well to challenges, if it is laid out, if it’s in terms that people can understand and relate to, if it makes sense – and what he’s laid out makes sense.”
As members of Congress work out the details of a bill that can pass both the House and the Senate, it’s important that you let each of your elected representatives know that you want the recovery to be about repowering America.
You and I know that continuing with the status quo will not revitalize the U.S. economy. Please make sure your elected officials know, too.
Watch the video and send a quick note to Congress:
Friday, October 9, 2009 at 03:32 
