McCAIN CLIMATE POSITION INFLAMES THE RIGHT - L.A. Times A1, "GOP struggles to reinvent without losing itself: The party agrees it must change or face catastrophe in November. But that's about all members can agree on," By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten: "Republican strategists who once sought to annihilate McCain for his independence are now enthusiastically backing his candidacy, offering strategic advice and affirmation of his conservative credentials. They include Bush's former senior strategist, Karl Rove; and [Grover] Norquist, the anti-tax activist.
"Norquist acknowledges that McCain's approach to capping global warming emissions has inflamed some conservatives, calling it THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUE DIVIDING THE PARTY NOW. More important than angering conservatives, Norquist says, is that McCain's position means 'he won't be able to draw a sharp contrast' with his Democratic opponent on this topic, and thus will miss the opportunity 'to do what Bush did to Gore: travel the coal states and tell workers that the Democratic candidate favors environmental rules that will cost you your job.' ...
"Economic conservatives believe McCain's so-called 'cap and trade' system is unworkable, violates free-market principles and would harm business interests. ... Late last week, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh castigated McCain for his 'embrace of a radical environmental agenda,' calling it a sign that the Republican Party 'is abandoning conservatism, abandoning those things and those people that made it victorious.' "