Culling The Herd... Redux

It's time to check back in on the ridiculously long run-up to the 2008 Presidential election. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was breaking news twice in the last few weeks. First he formally withdrew his name for consideration as a Presidential candidate. This announcement was of course overshadowed by the bigger story: that Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was actually running for President. Tough break, Tom. My guess is that Brownback or Biden will be the next to bail out.

You may recall I sent a query to all the early Presidential hopefuls asking for each candidate's position and record on ocean policy, ocean science-research-education, US fisheries, and climate change. Well, you can probably guess that the response has been underwhelming.

Not surprisingly, Dennis Kucinich's team has been, thus far, the only one to provide a personal, non-automated response. A campaign volunteer by the name of Gail Heyn wrote that my question had been forwarded to staff but in the mean time I should check out the issues pages on the Kucinich website. I did and under Key Issue # 9, Environmental Renewal and Clean Energy, Kucinich at least acknowledges that oceans are part of the environment:

The United States should lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers and rural environments -- and I have been speaking out on these issues across America. I will also continue to lead in fighting for clean, affordable, and accessible drinking water -- which is an emerging global concern.

While not going into detail, Kucinich also throws a bone to readers looking for a climate change position,

We must reverse course on most Bush Administration policies and support the Kyoto Treaty that Bush rejected.

Thin on the details, for sure, but he gets points for effort.

By far, John Edwards has had the most aggressive and persistent automated response. I've received no less than six emails on topics ranging from health care and poverty to national security, Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo. Each and every one urging me to donate now (including the last email from campaign manager David Bonior seeking some alliterative Coulter Cash). A search on Edwards' website for "ocean" or "climate change" related postings turned up very little.

Does Mitt Romney's website offer insight into his environmental position? Not so much. Considering his flip-flop on a women's right to choose and gay marriage, I'm not so sure a position statement from Romney would mean anything. I suspect it's all just focus groups and teleprompters.

John McCain's eerily dark and oppressive website calls upon voters to join him as Stewards of Our Nation's Rich Natural Heritage. Apparently John McCain has been a leader on the issue of global warming with the courage to call the nation to action on an issue we can no longer afford to ignore. Though not so important an issue as to have McCain go on the record to criticize the Administration's failure to take climate change seriously. The rest of the herd, Republican or Democrat, doesn't offer any greater depth on environmental issues than I've already outlined.

Right now, the early front runners seem to be focused more on solidifying their base and building campaign coffers rather than dabbling in "swing" issues like environment. And as far as climate change, the general consensus appears to be let sleeping dogs lie. Besides, I'm certain there will be plenty of bloviating on that issue once we whittle the pack down to a couple of candidates per party.