In attempt to remind folks that either Democratic frontrunner would be vastly preferable to anything the GOP has to offer, I thought I'd start doing a series of explorations into Republican positions on various issues.

In contrast to the media's saintly image of Republican Senator John McCain, his voting record is that of a Reagan-era, deregulation-happy extremist. While he's cast horrific votes on a number of issues near and dear to progressives, Democrats, and liberals of all stripes, I decided to spend a portion of today digging into his votes on environmental issues.

Link...

McCain would repeal Clinton’s recent executive order banning roads in more than 50 million acres of pristine wilderness. McCain did not oppose protecting the national forest preserve. Rather he objected to taking the action through an executive order, even though the order set off a rule-making process that includes public comment. “The idea that Washington knows best and that local residents cannot be trusted to do what’s right in their own backyard is the epitome of federal arrogance,” he said.

Same link as above...

Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 15, 2005, relating to the removal of coal- and oil-fired electric generating units from the list of major sources of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule:

* Limits smokestack emissions in a two-phase program founded on a market based capping system
* Calls for the first cap to limit mercury emissions to 38 tons in 2010
* Requires the second and final cap to begin in 2018 and stay fix at 15 tons

Senator McCain supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 29 percent in 2006 (the last year its scorecard was published), as opposed to 71% for Clinton and 100% for Obama. (Sierra Club: McCain 60%, Clinton 90%, Obama not noted by Project Vote Smart.) McCain's lifetime score from LCV, however, is a paltry 26%.

Even his areas of strength are mixed (from LCV):

One of the areas in which Sen. McCain particularly separates himself from the field of Republican presidential hopefuls is in his recognition of the economic benefits of tackling climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, he views climate change as a serious national security threat. Yet Sen. McCain’s climate bill would reduce carbon emissions only 65 percent by 2050, whereas science tell us we must meet or exceed 80 percent reductions by 2050 to avoid major environmental catastrophes.