Exclusive: Administration Claims Of Fighting Global Warming Mean Crap-All!

In a simply astonishing development, the recent Bush Administration offer of "binding" climate goals aren't actually sufficient in any way!

A senior European official has described America's latest offer on climate change as far too little, far too late.

The US climate chief James Connaughton told the BBC that President Bush was ready this year to sign up to an international long-term goal of huge emissions cuts by 2050.

He said the US was also prepared to agree to internationally-binding medium-term goals for its own greenhouse gas emissions [...]

But European climate experts are angry that the White House still refuses to set a date for halting its growth in emissions.

One government official said: "This is nowhere near enough. The rest of the world only cares about tangible US emissions reductions. Until they come up with firm figures for reductions, the rest is meaningless."

Really, you could bowl me over on this one. After all, it's not like the conservative movement still uses temporary weather changes as proof that global warming doesn't exist or anything. And it's not like politics influences decision-making on climate issues, leading to anti-scientific rulings at odds with federal regulators carried out by obstinate political hacks who view Congressional testimony as a test of their evasion skills:

The issue, remember, is that Johnson, despite the unanimous recommendations of his staff, blocked California's attempt to institute strict greenhouse gas limits on cars and trucks. But when asked by committee chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) if he remembered a key meeting in May of 2007, when staff briefed him on the decision, he said he did not -- and shot back "Do you remember what you were doing on Tuesday May the 1st of 2007?"

"If I saw my calendar, yes I would," Boxer responded.

And what discussions did he have with the White House about this issue? Asked by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for any information about such contacts, Johnson gave the same answer again and again: "I have routine contacts with various officials on a wide range of issues. . . . I value the ability to have candid discussions that are part of good government." As Johnson's last hearing showed, questioning the man is a bit like boxing an iceberg.

It really is just amazing that the White House would somehow deliver statements that don't reflect reality.