January 27, 2009From the Economist.com (01/27/09):

Distancing himself from George Bush, Mr Obama introduced the decision saying that “Rhetoric has not led to the hard work needed to achieve results. Our leaders raise their voices each time there is a spike on gas prices, only to grow quiet when the price falls at the pump.” He has played up the connection between his decision and the $825 billion stimulus package currently making its way through Congress. That bill is meant to fund clean-energy products, make federal buildings more energy-efficient and attain other green goals. Lower car emissions means greater fuel efficiency. So Mr Obama and others can claim that cutting emissions equates with using less oil from America’s adversaries. A green strain of conservatism has grown out of this rationale, of which Mr Schwarzenegger is the best-known example. The national Republicans, led by John Boehner in the House, have groused that the new rule will cost manufacturing jobs. But the Republican minority can do nothing to stop it, and some conservatives will even cheer.