Old and new Europe revisited

You may remember that a few years ago there was an attempt by the US administration to divide Europe in two parts, the new and the old, depending on their view on US policy in Iraq. Are we witnessing a new attempt, but by use of a new dividing line - the view on global warming?

A republican representative in the congress has asked the Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, about his view on the issues and had an astonishing response. With all respect for Mr Klaus' experiences with dictatorships in the past, this leads him wrong when he talks about "Climate Change Intolerance". The concern for the future may not tolerate headless wastefulness, but that is not meant to shackle the freedom of anyone in particular, but rather to provide such for all.

And a nagging question remains. How does the republican, Joe Barton, look upon the governor of California. Is he new or old? Is he European or American?