Most movies have three acts. In the first act, you reveal some
sort of problem; in the second act, you see that problem
compounded; in the third act, the problem is revealed to be larger
and more dire than anyone expected. So, in a monster movie: I)
Uh-oh, there's a monster! II) And it can breath fire and shoot
lightning bolts from its eyes! III) And it's grown to the size of
the Empire State Building!
This is a useful guide to understanding John McCain's global
warming plan. We've known for a while now it's
some kind of monster, and it turns out now that, yes, it does
breath fire and shoot lighting bolts from its eyes. How so? Well,
McCain, possibly the most fervent GOP advocate of a cap-and-trade
plan, apparently has no clue how the "cap" part of the plan works.
Via Obsidian Wings, here's a snippet from a recent press
conference:
"QUESTION: The European Union has set mandatory
targets on renewable energy. Is that something you would consider
in a McCain administration? [...]
MCCAIN: Sure. I believe in the cap-and-trade system,
as you know. I would not at this time make those -- impose a
mandatory cap at this time. But I do believe that we have to
establish targets for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions over
time, and I think those can be met."
Except, of course, that the whole point of a cap-and-trade plan is
to impose mandatory emissions caps. Apparently, as Hilzoy
points out, this isn't the first time McCain has been confused
about the policy, which he's been a leader on for years (he
co-sponsored a cap-and-trade bill with Joe Lieberman). The only
question now, I suppose, is what oversized terror this thing will
mutate into for Act III.
topics:
Trade, John McCain, Movies, European Union, Energy
