Wasn't John Edwards paying attention when the whac-a-mole media shined the light on Al Gore's unfortunate lifestyle?

Didn't Edwards expect to be asked about the energy efficiency of his own mansion-based lifestyle?

Who's in charge of preparing talking points for the only Presidential candidate to have a taken clear stance on global warming (80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050)?

Whoever it is, they ought to be fired. Hemming and hawing on CNN about the power bill for his 28,000 square foot home doesn't cut it.

It's actually not bad, wasn't the answer American Morning anchor Miles O'Brien was looking for when he asked about Edwards' power bill.

Sure Edwards tried to correct the record in a subsequent Associated Press story. Citing the use of both passive and active solar design to meet some of his family's energy needs, Edwards even told a story of his wife Eliizabeth changing light bulbs.

Sorry: too little too late.

The hounds now have what they need to distract and detract from the key message: Edwards really does have a plan for dealing with global warming (as outlined in the AP story).

• Cap greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2010, cutting them by 15 percent by 2020.

• Push for a treaty to bring developing nations into the battle.

• Create an energy fund by selling $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and end $3 billion in subsidies for big oil companies. He would also set a goal of raising vehicle fuel efficiency standards to 40 miles per gallon.

• Set a goal of freezing electrical demand over the next decade and producing 25 percent of the nation's electricity from renewable sources.

Unfortunately, you've got to get past the Edwards Defends His North Carolina Mansion headline and the first four paragraphs of the story to get to the point.

Carbon Neutral Journal's rants are brought to you by Vertical Media.

Popularity: 4%