My GOP Rep advocated for renewable energy (another talked Peak Oil!)

[UrbScotty]

As far as Republican Congressman go, Vern Ehlers isn’t all that bad. He’s nice, smart, and is overall decent, considering the district he represents (greater Grand Rapids, MI).

As I was flipping through the channels this evening, I saw him talking about energy and conservation thereof. “I wish energy were purple,” he said, “so that we could see it when it is being spent, and when it is being wasted.” He also said something like (and I’m paraphrasing here), “Some people think conservation is a fuzzy liberal idea, and it’s not.”

Get this, though: I then saw Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland talk about Peak Oil, and how 2/3 of our oil is imported. Both Ehlers and Bartlett expressed concern about how importing oil can threaten our national security, and how natural resources can help alleviate the issue.

You see, there is hope. Not every Republican follows the right-wing line on every single issue. If your Congress(wo)man/Senator is a Repub, contact them! Let them know that Ehlers and Bartlett are concerned, and so should they be!

[kwolf68]

1. Who is he? Where from?

I know Bartlett (NY) is damn good on the environment. He's a scientist and most often goes with the Dems on environmental issues. Not sure where he is more Republican, but Bartlett is clearly a moderate, but in NY that isn't a big deal.

Where is your boy from?

[UrbScotty]

2. Bartlett is from Maryland, and Ehlers is from Michigan. (nt)

[kwolf68]

3. OK no surprise

Those are blue states. I know both states have their share of wingnut areas, but if you'd have said this was a South Carolina Republican I'd have shit my pants.

I can tolerate many Northeast and Upper Midwest Republicans.

On Edit...Whoops...I missed on Bartlett...I was thinking of Sherrod Boertlett (spelling) from New York as the scientist guy. The Maryland guy, to my knowledge is not and doesn't have the track record of the NY rep.

[corbett]

4. Chinks In Republican Armor

Late April's report from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies slammed the door on all members of Congress who continue to argue that Global Warming is a myth:

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7640

Not only is the piece compelling, it benefited from contributions from all around the shrub administration!

At the same time, the Senate continues to progress toward another vote on the Climate Stewardship Act, which was defeated narrowly before the election. Despite the fact that McCain has become the worst type of bootlicker, he continues to press ahead with this important legislation (which has a 40/60 chance of passing in the House).

I'm glad that the two Representatives whom you mentioned are doing the right thing. Now, they just need to arrange for 300 of their colleagues to do likewise!

[slor]

5. They were good...

but they need to start mentioning industrial hemp too!