Our man is NUTS!

[41chevy]

Obama: Climate Pact Would Be 'Act of Defiance' Against Terrorism

LE BOURGET, France — Pushing for a powerful climate deal, President Barack Obama called the global talks opening Monday outside Paris an "act of defiance" against terrorism that proves the world stands undeterred by Islamic State-linked attacks in Europe and beyond.

Obama used his speech to more than 150 world leaders to salute Paris and its people for "insisting this crucial conference go on" just two weeks after the "alleged" terrorist attacks that killed 130 in the French capital. He said leaders had converged to show resolve to fight Global Warming and uphold their values.

"What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it," Obama said.

Obama's remarks came at the start of two weeks of make-or-break negotiations to finalize a sweeping global agreement to cut carbon emissions and hopefully stave off the worst effects of climate change. Obama exhorted leaders here to fight the enemy of cynicism — "the notion we can't do anything" about the warming of the planet.

After sketching dire threats of submerged nations, abandoned cities and ever-worsening flooding and natural disasters, Obama insisted that grim future "is one that we have the power to change." He urged leaders to "rise to this moment," invoking the late Martin Luther King Jr.'s observation that there's such a thing as being too late to a cause.

"That hour is almost upon us," Obama said.

Efforts to secure a climate deal have been hampered by a long-running dispute about whether developing nations share the same burden as industrialized nations that have historically polluted much more. The U.S. and other nations have insisted that all countries chip in under the new agreement.

Aiming to put a finer point on that argument, Obama met Monday with President Xi Jinping of China, which has started taking aggressive action to curb emissions, and with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has argued repeatedly that climate change isn't India's fault.

As he sat down with Modi, Obama said he agreed that India has the right to pursue economic development and fight poverty, but said those priorities must also reflect "serious and ambitious action by all nations" to curb its carbon pollution. Modi pledged that India will fulfill its climate responsibilities in full, declaring that "development and protection of the environment go hand in hand."

In his meeting with Xi, Obama said nowhere had coordination with Beijing been more critical or fruitful than on climate change. He credited U.S. and Chinese leadership with leading 180 nations to make their own pledges to curb emissions in the run-up to the Paris talks.

"My leadership on this issue has been absolutely vital," Obama said. China emits about 10 percent of the world's greenhouse gases and the U.S. about 30 percent.

Yet Obama also invoked hot-button issues that have long vexed U.S.-China relations. The United States has complained bitterly about cyberattacks against the U.S. emanating from China, and Obama has spoken out regularly against China's assertive moves in disputed waters in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

"Our teams have found ways to work through these tensions in a constructive fashion," Obama said.

After their meeting, the White House said Obama had urged China to live up to commitments on cyber that Xi made when he visited the White House in September, and that Obama had "stressed the need to address regional issues, including maritime differences, peacefully and in accordance with international law." Obama also encouraged Xi to move ahead with economic reforms that would let U.S. companies "compete fairly in the Chinese market," the White House said.

Xi, speaking through a translator, said that global worries made it even more important for the U.S. and China to work together.

"The world economy is recovering slowly, terrorism is on the rise, and climate change is a huge challenge. There is more instability and uncertainty in international situations," said the Chinese leader.

As the conference kicked off, the Obama administration announced United States is pledging $551 million to a global fund to help poorer countries adapt to climate change. The U.S. contribution joins pledges from Germany, Canada, Italy and others to total $248 million.

The Obama administration didn't specify where the U.S. dollars would come from. Obama has struggled to convince the Republican-run Congress to fund his climate goals, amid concerns from critics in the U.S. who say his energy plan is unattainable and could be wiped away by his successor.

Obama also said the U.S. would participate in a new private-sector partnership aimed at boosting investment in clean energy technology. Announcing the initiative on stage with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the backers of deal, Obama said new, cheaper technologies would be critical to helping poorer nations "skip the dirty phase of development."

"That's why the private sector — from inventors to investors — will have a seat at the table," Obama said.

Obama capped his day of climate diplomacy at a working dinner with French President Francois Hollande. The leaders and top advisers dined met for an intimate dinner at L'Ambroisie — a chic eatery in Paris' trendy Marais that boasts a coveted Michelin three-star-rating.

The president is slated to continue his talks with world leaders on Tuesday. Obama plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will host a meeting of island nations hit hard by climate change before returning to Washington.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press

[PeterMack]

I agree, he's out of his freaking mind if he thinks the terrorists give a shit about global warming. The two things have absolutely nothing

to do with each other. On another note I love how America and a couple other nations have to change everything we do in order to

comply with eco freak regulations while turd world countries like China and others can pollute as much as they want. We can cut our

emissions in half while China doubles theirs. Doesn't seem fair or logical, but I guess as long as terrorists don't get hurt feelings its

a win for Obummer!

[b615rich]

A bizarre state of affairs only gets worse and worse. We now deny human nature and ignore economic principles, then double down on the last bad idea which didn't work. It seems they* can take an indefensible position and mandate we accept "group think" as the reality - increasing statism requires dissention be suppressed. Through the history of mankind, the ones who promise to save us from one another have always been the devil in disguise. All this said I climb under my old Mack, with my Craftman hand tools, and listen to country music - as a break to control a little of my own destiny.

*nothing to do with partisan politics, just human nature.

[carlotpilot]

gullibles travels

[theakerstwo]

Any thing to destroy our country.Bad thing is there still are enough people here to vote him back in if he was to run again.

[41chevy]

I really hope I'm in the front row on Judgment Day when he answers for his sins . . .with out his teleprompter.

[grayhair]

Buffoon in chief

[Red Horse]

Saw news footage today-not sure which cities but one in China and one in India-could NOT see buildings because of the inversion-people walking with surgical masks on! This loon we have does whatever he can to side step the real issues that confront us. And the next loon waiting in the wings will do no better-and she will win unless the Republicans get their shit together-and quickly!

This is our last chance. If you think the electorate deck is stack now, if we lose this next one its a done deal IMO.

[HeavyGunner]

Well remember the 08 olympics in China? Athletes refused to go there at first because of smog and China had to shut down a bunch of industrial parks. That's when glyphosate went through the roof because unexpectedly China couldn't flood the USA market.

[41chevy]

Saw news footage today-not sure which cities but one in China and one in India-could NOT see buildings because of the inversion-people walking with surgical masks on! This loon we have does whatever he can to side step the real issues that confront us. And the next loon waiting in the wings will do no better-and she will win unless the Republicans get their shit together-and quickly!

This is our last chance. If you think the electorate deck is stack now, if we lose this next one its a done deal IMO.

Obama, the guy with the biggest carbon footprint in the world when he travels, could use modern video technology and stay home. Furthermore, his actions speak louder than his words - his deal with China and India gave them until 2030 to do anything about their pollution issue. Obama's motto is "Talk loudly and carry no stick."