[quote name='coffman'][quote name='elprincipe'][quote name='Darthrook']It's no real suprise that other countries don't want W. Why would you want somebody in power that backs out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty? Or backs out of the Kyoto Protocol? Or doesn't support banning land mines?[/quote]
Um, the Kyoto Protocol was never in place to be backed out of. In fact, during Clinton's presidency the Senate passed a resolution by 95 to 0 that said they would never ratify it in its current form, which allows countries like China to avoid all restrictions. Therefore, blaming Bush for "backing out" of the Kyoto Protocol (a horribly misguided agreement even if you support its aims) is just plain stupid.
Back to the topic, I'm sure nobody's surprised at the poll results. Anyone know where you can get the numbers and not just a story about them?[/quote]
The greatest flaw with the Kyoto Protocol was the exclusion of developing countries. China, however, ratified the Protocol and stated that they would do their part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. China is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases (can you guess who is the largest?), so with China on board the U.S. should not have removed its support for the Protocol. Blaming Bush for leaving the Protocol is not only fair but is completely accurate. If it would have died in the Senate, then Bush would have been off the hook and the Senate would have been at fault. It was never given that chance, however.[/quote]
So do you blame Clinton for our failure to ratify it as well? After all, he never submitted it to the Senate, knowing as Bush does that it has no hope of ever being ratified in its current form. Even if China actually did reduce its own emissions (promises, promises, same as Russia), that leaves out all the other developing countries that have huge and increasing emissions, such as Mexico, Brazil, India, etc. This is where the big increases in emissions are going to come from in the future. So it is just insipid to support a treaty that exempts the sources of future increases while destroying our economy to do so. Whether you believe something should be done about emissions beyond what we're doing or not, the Kyoto Protocol would have a devastating effect on our economy and thus would be a extremely stupid thing to enact, as understood by every single member of the United States Senate.