These Words Mean What?

Professor Obama chimes in on the "irreversible momentum" of clean energy, yet seems to indicate that future policy choices will influence our eventual energy path.

So, is the momentum for clean energy irreversible unless it is reversed? I'm not sure what I am being told here. Nor can I guess at his intent. If his goal is to take the pressure off Trump and talk the Hillary/Obama crowd in from their various window ledges, I suppose a "Trump Doesn't Matter" essay might make sense. or maybe he is hoping to persuade the international community of that notion.

Who knows? And, after checking the calendar, who cares? I'll guess at another motivation - since this paper is nicely foot-noted and appears in "Science", maybe Prof. O is hoping to snag another Nobel Prize on his way out the door. Bookends!

SINCE YOU ASK: NO, the word "fracking" does not appear. Waddya, kidding? He does acknowledge that US carbon emissions fell while the economy grew in part due to a shift to natural gas from coal, without using the five letter word:

Since 2008, the United States has experienced the first sustained period of rapid GHG emissions reductions and simultaneous economic growth on record. Specifically, CO₂ emissions from the energy sector fell by 9.5% from 2008 to 2015, while the economy grew by more than 10%. In this same period, the amount of energy consumed per dollar of real gross domestic product (GDP) fell by almost 11%, the amount of CO₂ emitted per unit of energy consumed declined by 8%, and CO₂ emitted per dollar of GDP declined by 18% (2).

The importance of this trend cannot be understated. This “decoupling” of energy sector emissions and economic growth should put to rest the argument that combatting climate change requires accepting lower growth or a lower standard of living.

...

The IEA noted that “There have been only four periods in the past 40 years in which CO₂ emission levels were flat or fell compared with the previous year, with three of those—the early 1980s, 1992, and 2009—being associated with global economic weakness. By contrast, the recent halt in emissions growth comes in a period of economic growth.”

...

The American electric-power sector—the largest source of GHG emissions in our economy—is being transformed, in large part, because of market dynamics. In 2008, natural gas made up ~21% of U.S. electricity generation. Today, it makes up ~33%, an increase due almost entirely to the shift from higher-emitting coal to lower-emitting natural gas, brought about primarily by the increased availability of low-cost gas due to new production techniques (2, 15).

Mysterious "new production techniques.

Obama also explains that public policy must continue to incentive businesses to improve their bottom lines by conserving energy, since businessmen (and women! Also, the gender-fluid) can't figure out for themselves that cutting costs and reducing the efficiency of their energy usage can improve the venerable bottom line. Yeah, I don't know why these business leaders are so foolish and short-sighted either, but thank heavens a former (and failed) community organizer is here to help straighten them out.

Comments

[Truthbetold5]

"KILL ROOM FOUND! Pegasus Museum owned by Alefantis is home to..." [duplicate video]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DnT9QzmMAe4

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

is the senate supposed to vote on confirmation today or is that later?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Captain Hate,

I figured they would all cover it. They covered Reagan's, I remember, and I think Bush's.

It's bound to be an obnoxious and delusional performance.

I will be here on the internet reading and not listening. I will follow Twitter comments, because that's as close as I can get.

Like I said, I have done my duty by watching SOTU over the years. I just can't listen any more.

[Threadkiller]

And no offense TK, but if someone is going to convince me he's not fixated on minutiae, it probably won't be you.

No offense taken. I don't intend to convince you, I'm merely sharing my view.

Minutiae is one of his fixations, not his only fixation, IMO. He fixates on that which helps him win.

An alternate is that when he got around to delegating, he did a good job.

In the Streep Justice scenario, are you saying he planned on delegating all along, or that he shot from the hip at 3AM and then had to think fast to salvage the deal?

[Captain Hate]

rich, the appropriate committee votes, maybe today or slightly later, followed by the entire Senate.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

rich,

Later. There is testimony from outside witnesses tomorrow.

Then they vote on whether to send it to the Senate for a vote. THEN the Senate votes.

[Cecil Turner]

at some point they will have to start caving and Sen Sessions is an odd choice to start a fight that doesn't look like will end too soon.

Yeah, I still can't figure 'em out. I thought Tillerson might be low-hanging fruit (or one of the other super-rich ones like DeVos . . . gotta be a financial conflict in there somewhere), but for ideological differences, Pruitt is the obvious choice. By the time they get there, their powder's gonna be all wet.

Also, a lot of donors for the Dems are hard left, so oppositional tactics mean money.

Certainly the case with greenies (which is why I thought Pruitt would be the main target). And I guess lawyers and AG are big money items, but I'm still not seeing Sessions unless it's ideological (and really not then--he's hardly a bigot).

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

he can let us know how much the seas retreated as a result of his reign.

still proud that his girls will be able to surf in Hawaii (one of his more delusion utterances about global warming was about his kids not being able to surf in Hawaii ...)

Emperor His Highness King of Scotland SCOAMF Obama the Zeroth.

[buccaneer morgan]

Another day ending in y, hopefully it went conflict with the episode of bones, delayed.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

thanks Miss Marple and Captain Hate.

[maryrose]

Rich:
They already do manufacture votes but they miscalculated the disgust of Michigan voters after the Feds polluted their lake, bankrupted Detroit and made water in Flint not fit to drink.
Obama and Dems to Detroit- Drop Dead!
Only 9 more days until Barackexit!

[maryrose]

Willy:
The world of denial is stress free.

[buccaneer morgan]

Podesta was going to be secretary of state, Starbucks for labor secretary?

[DebinNC]

BOzo races to force ruinous policies on Baltimore and Chicago PD before Sheriff Trump is sworn in.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Predicted NBC coverage:

Shots of people crying.
Shots of people holding "Thanks, Mr. President" signs.
Shots of anti-Trump signs.
Fake protesters who are white.

Etc. etc.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

Cecil-

although I underestimated how long democrats can drag out fights: Texas they rolled out to Oklahoma for a while and Wisconsin they decamped to a Titled Kilt (classy choice Dems). Although in both cases those fights blew up in their faces. Maybe an exception in North Carolina where they were able to get the governorship?

[Captain Hate]

By the time they get there, their powder's gonna be all wet.

Think of them like the annoying punk that picks a fight with you and after you pound him, just tries to get blood and snot on you.

[buccaneer morgan]

Sandberg for treasury, Morrell likely as CIA.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

A haymaker. Oh brother.

In all the years of you semantically lionizing yourself I have yet to see one that could knock a hen off its nest.

[Appalled]

Cecil:

Sessions can be portrayed as a bigot, kept off the bench by a heroic St. Teddy of Chappaquiddak, and opposed as a racist, lo these many years ago, by that disappearing creature mourned by Democrats, the Moderate Republican that Listened to them.

Reality stopped mattering to political partisans some time in the first Reagan administration.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

maryrose-

I was making a joke about the typo "e-manufacturing".

[Cecil Turner]

In the Streep Justice scenario, are you saying he planned on delegating all along, or that he shot from the hip at 3AM and then had to think fast to salvage the deal?

How would I know, and why should I care? I'd note he's not doing it today--just high minded stuff about jobs and public servants--so maybe he was just bored.

rich, the appropriate committee votes, maybe today or slightly later, followed by the entire Senate.

One schedule I saw had another all day meeting tomorrow for Sessions (Sen Judiciary committee). So I'd guess that vote for tomorrow. Don't they usually have the Senate vote after inauguration?

[Willy]

Well it's like shadow boxing Ignatz.

When shots aren't answered it's a win for the monologue.

[maryrose]

Appalled They don't have the votes to stop Sessions from being confirmed.
If Dems close ranks Use nuclear option.
This is for grandstanding and money raising.
Booker 's ploy will blow up in his face.
He hardly knows Sessions and did praise him earlier on.
Another whining phony stunt by Dims to try and grasp some relevance.
Pathetic.

[maryrose]

Ultimate irony
Al Franken me. Stolen election questioning Sessions
Reminds me of Womanizer Ted Kennedy casting aspersions on the character of Justice. Clarence Thomas.

[Captain Hate]

Don't they usually have the Senate vote after inauguration?

I think so but hasn't Trump been unusually prompt with his nomination decisions, unlike quibbling Zippy?

[henry]

rich, there are protest singers in the Capitol in Madison still today. These imbeciles never stop.

[Willy]

They chose Sessions first because of the usual over confidence...delusion...denial....dysfunction..et al.

[Cecil Turner]

they decamped to a Titled Kilt (classy choice Dems).

I visited that particular Tilted Kilt a couple times. Had a great beer selection, okay bar food, and a couple of collegiate volleyball players (sisters no less) that were stunning. I'd give 'em a pass on that one.

Reality stopped mattering to political partisans some time in the first Reagan administration.

Maybe I'm giving 'em too much credit for having a plan. Vote counting isn't really all that tough.

If Dems close ranks Use nuclear option.

That particular nuke option is already part of the rules. It's a straight up--or-down 50+ vote.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Franken: I'm not a lawyer.

Mr: Obviously.

[maryrose]

Sessions will recuse from directly prosecuting Hillary but is open to appointing a special prosecutor.
Clintons better nail that pardon down pronto.

[Dave (in MA)]

Have we reached Peak Diaper Pin yet?

[Old Lurker]

Congress is in session on Inaugural Day and in the past the Senate confirmed as many cabinet officials as were ready on that Day #1. Obama got 7 approved on his Jan 20.

[Willy]

Now your reaching for Mary Jo?

Your compassion is overflowing, but it's kinda old and deflective, no?

On to the future, not backward. Your fears are as yet unrealized and you should prepare.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Yes possibly, Vilhelm.
But the thoughtful man of letters always considers silence might indicate he is halitosic rather than sage.

[Clarice Feldman]

Sessions is from the south--therefore he must be a racist--and to keep the lie going, he has to be targeted--all Southern white males are KKK --Gee, Cecil do I have to explain everything to you?

[maryrose]

Cecil:
It is a done deal.
Why the character assasination of Sessions by Booker?
First order of business as A G.
Determine as Holder did with Rosen if Booker is an enemy of the country and don't allow him a passport or visa and put him on a no fly list.
Then start tapping his parent's phone

[Willy]

'considers silence..'

Or...intimidation and a lack of meaningful insight....confusion....semi-literacy...I could go on..

[Willy]

Yes. It doesn't assist for the caricature when the candidate talks like he has a mouthful of marbles or peanuts.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

maryrose,

I think Booker's testimony is one of those "speaking truth to power" kabuki theater things to position him for the Obama replacement in 2020.

I can see the ads now....

[DebinNC]

new thread, y'all

[Cecil Turner]

I think so but hasn't Trump been unusually prompt with his nomination decisions, unlike quibbling Zippy?

I can't find any useful summary. Obama kept on Gates, and announced him in early December. Clinton was chosen in November 2008 (they delayed her official nomination until after thanksgiving), while Tillerson was 12 December so I don't think Trump can claim unprecedented speed (or at least it's not entirely one sided).

I'd think the reason to delay until after inauguration was that you couldn't be officially in office until your president took the helm. But I'm remarkably uneducated on the subject.

[Clarice Feldman]

Start burning coal like crazy__http://www.climatedepot.com/2017/01/10/pravda-scientists-now-warn-of-a-new-ice-age-as-temperature-plummets-to-80f-in-russia/

[Dave (in MA)]

Don't tell the feather passer, but there's a new thread.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

And just when I thought you might inadvertently crash into some redemptive self awareness....

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

>>>On to the future, not backward. Your fears are as yet unrealized and you should prepare.<<<

come here for the biting commentary, stay for the fortune cookie sophistry

[jimmyk]

Franken: I'm not a lawyer.

Mr: Obviously.

Did someone actually say "Obviously"? Who?

Better to say: "If I recall correctly, you are a failed comedian."

[lyle]

http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/10/obama-staffers-cant-find-work-in-trumps-dc-there-are-no-jobs/?utm_content=buffer4ef43&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Here's a hankie...

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

don't think my car is going to get done before I should go into work ... snow day!

[Mein Gott, the destruction from this poor focus.]

Clarice, this cold spell is just weather, but the fact is that we've a very poor understanding of natural climate change. It was an error, a convenient, lucrative, and power grabbing error, but an error all the same, to focus upon CO2 as the climate control knob.

[DebinNC]

"If I recall correctly, you are a failed comedian."

And remember the huge "Air America" hoopla where Franken was touted as the left's Rush Limbaugh and how that worked out?