Finish My Fight With Big 3: Gore to Obama

He criticizes decision to stop push for tougher smog rules

(NEWSER) - Et tu, Al? Former VP Gore joined the chorus critical of President Obama today in a short blog post headlined "Confronting Disappointment." Gore focused on the president's environmental moves, specifically the surprise decision not to impose tougher smog rules . But he also noted that the decision came amid high-profile protests at the White House about a planned oil pipeline from the Gulf Coast to Canada. More»

Germany blasts US currency policy ahead of summit

(NEWSER) - Days ahead of a G20 summit, President Obama has weighed in on an international debate over currency, as the US seeks to cull huge German and Chinese trade surpluses, the Wall Street Journal reports. At a New Delhi press conference, Obama seemed supportive of the Fed’s decision to buy $600 billion in Treasury bonds. “The Fed's mandate, my mandate, is to grow our economy,” he said. “That's good for the world as a whole.” More»

Former VP's alliance issues statement critical of plan

(NEWSER) - President Obama's decision to allow offshore drilling in the Atlantic has resulted in his first public disagreement with Al Gore. The former vice president's environmental group issued a statement critical of the policy, asserting that we "cannot simply drill our way to energy security." In the past, Gore and his group have either been enthusiastic boosters of Obama policies or have remained silent , notes the Hill . More»

Copenhagen deal creates 'league of super-polluters'

(NEWSER) - The Copenhagen climate deal President Obama struck with China, India and South Africa flies in the face of progressive values, environmental writer Bill McKibben rages. Here’s how:

• Obama made the UN obsolete: “The clear point is, you poor nations can spout off all you want on questions like human rights or the role of women or fighting polio or handling refugees. But when you get too close to the center of things that count—the fossil fuel that’s at the center of our economy—you can forget about it.”

Copenhagen summit yields basic deal to fight climate change

(NEWSER) - President Obama and the leaders of China, India, and South Africa reached a "meaningful agreement" tonight in Copenhagen on steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the White House announced. The deal requires the nations of the world to list their actions to curb emissions and sets up a framework for rich countries to pay poor nations in order to cope with the effects of climate change. The agreement is meant to limit global warming to 2° Celsius. More»