Yes, yes, it was a historic event. Thank you Wolf Blitzer for reminding us a few dozen times. The thing is, as debates go, this evening's Clinton-Obama showdown was something of a disappointment. Even the CNN producers got bored with the love-fest unfolding at the Kodak Theatre, deciding by hour two that it was more interesting to pan the audience for Hollywood stars (look, it's Pierce Brosnan!).

Maybe we're overly cynical because not one of the moderators deemed energy and environmental issues important enough to merit a single question during the 110-minute debate. Questioners didn't exactly go outside the box with their subject matter, covering -- in rough order -- healthcare, immigration, experience and Iraq.

Luckily, viewers watching the debate on television did get their fill of energy talk during the commercial breaks, thanks to Americans For Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC). Every set of ads included at least one for this group, which promotes the virtues of coal power. This isn't the first CNN debate that they've sponsored, and while EnviroWonk isn't one to scream about conspiracy theories, it's odd that the debate didn't include one question about fossil fuels or climate change.

[Does anyone else find it odd that ABEC uses a 10-year-old girl to sell the public on why coal is the answer to our 21st century energy problems ... their Web site kind of freaked us out]

We're guessing the real reason the environment didn't come up this evening is that there wasn't much to debate. As Grist proves, Obama and Clinton hold nearly identical positions on climate and energy issues. Bringing it up tonight would have made for boring television, and that's a major no-no when you're in Hollywood.

Comments (10)

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Now that Edwards is Gone
written by Tim Hurst, February 01, 2008

...so are any substantive discussions of our energy or climate policy (although I think Clinton did say the words 'climate change' once. This is so wrong, and one doesn't have to be a conspiracy theorist to see how much Big Coal is influencing the public discourse in terms of energy and environmental issues.

But I Tivo'd it again so I missed the ads!

...
written by Karl, February 01, 2008

Yes, but it was a lovely evening; almost like the Oscars with everyone being pleasant to one another, giving thanks for the opportunity to be there, etc. And yes, there was little substantive discussion, especially about the environment. (I think Hillary made mention of global warming once in her opening remarks.) The only interesting question was the last one about whether each would ask the other to his/her running mate. As to the ads for ABEC, I think they should have used the money for investing in CO2 capture and storage technology. Now that might have a positive impact.

...
written by Bill, February 01, 2008

It is clear that environmental issues are way down the trough, so to speak, of political priorities. This logically suggests that even if a Dem is elected president, a nationwide carbon cap-and-trade law is not the slam dunk people think it is. Dems control Congress right now, and they still can't get sufficient votes.

The Dems Control Congress in T
written by Tim Hurst, February 01, 2008

but they don't have the votes to stop a well-organized filibuster. THAT is the problem. And that will be the problem next week when the Senate has an opportunity to extend tax credits for renewable energy.

The above should have read:
written by Tim Hurst, February 01, 2008

"The Dems Control Congress in Theory..."

...
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