Corzine on Carbon Caps, Global Warming

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 05:02:43 PM EDT

Governor Corzine, N.Y. Gov. Spitzer and the Premier of British Columbia Gordon Campbell held a conference call from Portugal with the English-speaking press (I guess that's us!) to discuss the formation of the International Carbon Action Partnership.  The event's host was the Portugese Prime Minister Jose Socrates. 

This new alliance -- a broad coalition of US states, Canadian provinces, European countries plus New Zealand -- seeks to provide an "international forum in which governments adopting mandatory greenhouse emissions cap and trade systems will share experiences and best practices on the design of emission trading (strategies.)

Governor Corzine has walked the walk on the environment and states like ours have taken a real ledership roll as signatory to the regional greenhouse gas initiative (REGGI for short) along with NY and eight other ("Blue") states in the northeast.

A Canadian journalist pressed the pols about a regional plan, as opposed to a global effort.  A Jersey writer echoed the sentiment, calling the whole initiative mere symbolism in light of the anemic repsonse from Washington. Plus if places like, say, China or Missouri aren't bound by the tough standards, isn't it kinda like pissing in the wind?

"We are not tilting at windmills," Corzine chided.  "We're setting the prototype for the nation!"

Corzine went on:

My background as the former head of Goldman Sachs has given me a unique perspective on many market-based solutions to important public problems, such as environmental degradation.  But it is my life in public service that has helped me understand that it will take the courage and commitment of a core set of leaders, like those of us gathered today (in Lisbon), to drive implementation of smart, feasible, and measurable policies needed to address an issue as urgent as global warming."

Not Better Safe - Just Sorry

by: Jeff Gardner

Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 04:21:15 PM EST

Maybe it has something to do with what Matt Stoller is talking about on MyDD about the difference between a great governor, and a good governor:

Eliot Spitzer is going to be a great Governor of New York state.  He's a brilliant man, a fighter, and he's willing to lead.  He led on an issue that Democrats are often scared to touch, gay marriage.  He's for it.  He knows it's the right thing to do.  And as Attorney General, when Pataki asked him to issue an injunction to stop gay marriages going on in New York, he refused.

Jon Corzine, right next door, is just as liberal as Eliot Spitzer.  And he's a good Governor, with relatively high approval ratings, in a fairly liberal state.  But as of yet, he's not a great governor because unlike Spitzer he doesn't follow his instincts.

But, it's not just Gov. Corzine who's a good leader missing the chance to be a great leader. It's also Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts - who took a beating this past summer in the budget battle. Roberts could wipe away the questions that arose about his leadership then by taking a stand now for what he knows is right. Instead, he's playing it safe, and getting steamrolled again.

And maybe saddest, and most personally upsetting, it's Senator Loretta Weinberg - always such a good leader, who should be leading the charge with a Marriage bill in the Senate, but instead is playing it safe, tarnishing her reputation, disappointing her most enthusiastic supporters with her acquiescence to discrimination, and probably sealing her fate in next year's primary. What does she think happens when - as his advisors are no doubt already telling him to do - Ken Zisa announces he's for marriage equality?

Good is not great. Just ask New Jersey voters.