David Roberts is first out of the box to note the obvious, after reading this story in today's Times, which quotes Republican Lindsey Graham:
Realistically, the cap-and-trade bills in the House and the Senate are going nowhere. They're not business-friendly enough, and they don't lead to meaningful energy independence.
Graham then drives the nail in the coffin when he adds:
What is dead is some massive cap-and-trade system that regulates carbon in a fashion that drives up energy costs.
Roberts, who had previously argued that even a weak cap and trade bill was better than nothing, seems ready to throw in the towel:
To me, regardless of what Obama or Reid may want, this signals the death knell for a comprehensive cap-and-trade program, this year and probably for the duration of Obama's term in office. If Graham won't go for it, no Republican will, certainly not the 6-8 Republicans needed.
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