I’ve got a brilliant proposal for the future of our nation. I’m gonna call it the “Unpopular President” amendment, and it will limit or improve the President’s veto power based on his current popularity rating. An unorthodox idea, true, but possibly the only Lieberman-Warner will get past a veto by lame duck Commander-in-Chief George W. Bush.

Despite that gloomy introduction, day one Senate debate on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Protect Act went fairly well, at least from an environmental prospective. Few of the voices arguing against the bill questioned the existence or damage potential of human-caused global warming, preferring instead to focus on the economic repercussions a cap and trade plan would have, especially in the current economy.

Supporters argued their opposition was in the pockets of industrial interests, and highlighted that energy prices are already skyrocketing; the 50-cent increase in the price of gas by 2030 predicted by the White House if the bill passes, claimed Senator Lieberman, would come as a relief.

The backers’ current goal of 60 votes, enough to stave off a filibuster seems attainable. But the 67 needed to overturn a Bush veto may be a bridge too far.