Supreme Court ruling elevates carbon emissions as '08 issue

The Iraq war, corruption and restoring faith in the political system will likely be the three main themes addressed in the 2008 general election race.  All of this has to do with American voters wanting a fresh beginning.  As Craig Crawford of CQ writes, thanks to the recent Supreme Court ruling that rebuked the President on greenhouse emissions, the discussion about a new beginning could center around the concern over climate change, and how we leave our planet for future generations:

The decision, in one of the most important environmental cases ever toreach the Supreme Court, puts enormous pressure on politicians in bothparties — and especially on the presidential aspirants — to take globalwarming seriously. And with foot-dragging for its remaining 20 monthsthe administration’s likely response to the ruling, it will be up tothe next president to either heed the justices’ call to action orcontinue to do little and risk further court involvement. Also, the 5-4vote in the case shows how the next president’s judicial nominees couldpotentially shift the court’s view to either a stronger majority or areversal.

This still leaves the door open for people like Al Gore.  If the former Vice President enters the race, he could promise to appoint judicial nominees that tend to come down hard on oil companies and other big polluters.  Consider that versus if someone like Duncan Hunter were elected, who supports oil company subsidies, and gets campaign contributions from that sector as well.