Arthur Schaper: Whitehouse’s GOP Forecast: Sunny Skies
Friday, February 21, 2014
Arthur Schaper asks: Why can't Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse let the climate change movement die a natural death?
Seriously, the world has gotten a little warmer the past few years. In Southern California, one skittish beach resident dipped in the ocean four times last year, even though for years she had avoided the water, and walking on the sand burned a little more than expected.
Then again, you New Englanders may have noticed, with all those polar vortexes and the rest. Don’t feel so bad, though. Here in California, we could use the rain, snow, sleet, hail, as the Central Valley dries (er, dies) of thirst. But that’s not climate change, that’s political change, and not the one I was hoping for. After supermajority Dems played water politics in Sacramento, a Republican cherry farmer from Hanford won a state senate seat in two-to-one Dem territory last year. Now that’s climate change I can believe in, a change in the political climate, that is. By the way, I just gotta rain on the liberal-progressive-statist-crypto-fascist parade with this one. A GOP took the mayor’s seat (San Diego!) in a lean-Democrat city, too. Cheer up, Rhode Island GOP, demographics are helping Democrats less and less these days.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, back to climate change.
Well, there actually are a few Rhode Islanders who may not have noticed. There’s US Senator Jack Reed, up for reelection in 2014. He visited Afghanistan fourteen times during his tenuyre, but as for Rhode Island, one only wonders (or wanders). Get out of Afghanistan, and get back to Rhode Island, Reed!
And then there’s US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Oh brother (sun, moon, and stars). This guy will not let the climate change, er alarmism movement die a natural death.
Last week, he announced the following:
"Republicans have to produce a presidential candidate and I think if he's a denier, he's finished," Whitehouse said Wednesday. "Which means they will have to trek a little bit towards the middle to cover their presidential candidate."
All Rhode Island (and national) Republicans (yes, I know you’re out there), raise your hand if you give a shell what Whitehouse thinks about anything.
. . .*cricket*. . .
But let’s have some fun, shell, er shall we?
Republicans have to produce
Mommies and Daddies (and snails and puppies) produce. Political parties nominate, select, (or quietly stab in the back) their candidates. 2012 was how not to nominate, and in 2016 the GOP will vet a reformed primary process: short, sweet, and send ‘em to the White House (not to you, Sheldon!).
I think if he's a denier, he's finished
As I wrote above, climate change is real, both the seasonal and the not-so-reasonable. Am I worried about it? Two recent phenomena dispute the gravity of climate change: polar vortexes in New England 2014 and an unprecedented, freezing point in Southern California 2013, along with older records dating back to the 1800s. The United States endured a mini-ice age in the Los Angeles area them, and New Englanders are experiencing one now. Climate change in terms of higher or lower upswings takes place over decades, and they are nothing to get chilly or burned up about.
See what went on there? I resorted to something called “science”, which in and of itself proves nothing, but reasoned inferences suggest that climate alarmism is just that: an “ism”, and for those addicted to it, they should seek a sponsor and work a Twelve Step Program.
Besides, the rest of the industrial world, from China to Australia (the recently installed conservative majority Down Under pledged to scrap the carbon tax), have quit drinking the climate-change kool-aid, with economic growth to follow.
Furthermore, for a confirmed progressive like Whitehouse to say “he” without including a possible “she” is very disconcerting. Then again, one should not be surprised by such gender-biased language from a wealthy politician who demonizes other wealthy people, i.e. the ones who actually earned it by working for others and providing them a worthwhile good or service.
Which means they will have to trek a little bit towards the middle to cover their presidential candidate."
“A trek?” Beam me up, Sheldon. “Make it so, Number One!” The second phrase comes from Star Trek, The Next Generation, (no climate problems in Warp Nine).
Trek: to go on a long arduous journey, typically on foot.
Now, even if one implies that there is a vast difference between the center and the right in the Republican Party (there isn’t), to suggest that the 2016 GOP candidate will have to trek “a little bit” suggests that Whitehouse has lost track of proper diction, or the dictionary.
The 2016 Republican primary will be much shorter (and decisive), a June convention, and more time to shake hands, kiss babies, and raise money..
As for Democrats, Whitehouse just called out embattled Senate colleague Mary Landrieu as a climate change buddy, but she’s running (not trekking) a red-as-possible campaign this year, with strong support for coal and oil. With Democrats like Whitehouse, Republicans won’t have to fight for the Senate this year.
Whitehouse’s climate alarmism is real: sunny skies for Republicans in 2014 and 2016.
Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Follow him on Twitter @ArthurCSchaper, reach him at [email protected], and read more at Schaper's Corner and As He Is, So Are We Ministries.
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