Good news- the President has changed when he will attend the Copenhagen climate conference from the beginning of the conference to the end. This development seems to signal that the White House is optimistic gthat the conference will result in concrete results:
The White House released a statement from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Friday announcing that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen for the tail end of the climate conference, on Dec. 18, rather than at the beginning of the summit.
Citing China and India's announcements on emissions this week as indications of the potential for a real breakthrough in Denmark, Gibbs explained: "There are still outstanding issues that must be negotiated for an agreement to be reached, but this decision reflects the President’s commitment to doing all that he can to pursue a positive outcome."
"The United States will have representation in Copenhagen throughout the negotiating process by State Department negotiators and Cabinet officials who will highlight the great strides we have made this year towards a clean energy economy," he continued.
Of course, I expect the Villagers to question the wisdom of the President daring to put his prestige on the line for an issue he campaigned on. Then again, the Villagers are still obsessing about whether Desiree Rogers should testify before Congress. But I guess that's understandable: grilling the WH social secretary is far more consequential than trying to slow down the amount of pollutants countries spew into the atmosphere. (Actually, I agree Rogers should be called before Congress to testify, not about the Salahis, but about why the hell she decided to wear that avant-garde fakakta shmata from Comme de Garcons. This was a state dinner, not a Lady Gaga concert.)