by Kerry Trueman

A first-of-its-kind presidential forum on global warming and energy issues took place last Saturday in Los Angeles, co-sponsored by Grist and Public Radio International’s Living on Earth. Of the 17 candidates they invited, only three bothered to accept: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Dennis Kucinich. The eternally elfish Kucinich clearly has the smallest carbon footprint, what with his vegan diet, modest (1600 square foot) home, and fuel-efficient Ford focus. And he’s got an ultra-green agenda, as Grist’s David Roberts noted in his reflections on the forum, where he posed some of the questions. But Roberts came away from the debate most impressed by Clinton’s command of the issues: “My impression — and this was confirmed multiple times by various audience members I spoke to later — is that Clinton had the best grasp of the political and policy details.” Not everyone was won over, though; over on Daily Kos, thereisnospoon took exception to Clinton’s insistence that “Incremental change is the only way to go”¦it’s imperative we get something passed and implement it, so that we can persuade Americans that it won’t be disruptive or lower their standard of living, but will actually create jobs and do good.” The problem with this oh-so-pragmatic approach, as theresinospoon argues, is that we just don’t have time for it. Our lives are going to be disrupted, one way or another; either we start to radically alter the way we live NOW, or we’re going to have a lower standard of living thrust upon us, ready or not.Then again, Jimmy Carter told us to turn down our thermostats and put on a sweater, and look what happened to him. Maybe we just can’t handle the truth.