--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, I know Obama was trying to take the…" description: "\"Now, I know Obama was trying to take the long view, but talking about solar energy in the middle of the oil spill is like watching your house engulfed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png" --- # Now, I know Obama was trying to take the long view, but… ![“Now, I know Obama was trying to take the long view, but talking about solar energy in the middle of the oil spill is like watching your house engulfed in flames and saying, 'We really should change the curtains.'” quote by Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png) > “Now, I know Obama was trying to take the long view, but talking about solar energy in the middle of the oil spill is like watching your house engulfed in flames and saying, 'We really should change the curtains.'” [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Addressing climate crisis with minor actions while a disaster unfolds is ineffective; meaningful change requires systemic, timely solutions, not superficial fixes. **In simple terms:** Small fixes won’t solve a big crisis; need big, timely action. Key Takeaway Focus on systemic change, not just quick fixes. Themes environment policy action urgency Mood urgent critical reflective Type political environmental critical When to use this quote - government policy - community activism - emergency response - media messaging Key Concepts climate change political will public perception Questions to Reflect On - What larger actions could replace symbolic gestures? - How can urgency be communicated without panic? A Different Perspective Quick fixes may give false hope and delay necessary large‑scale action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Oil spill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oil-spill/) [Solar energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-energy/) ## Related quotes > [Sarah Palin is speaking out about the oil spill. She said, I'm not kidding, we should ask the Dutch for help with the spill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sarah-palin-is-speaking-out-about-the-oil-spill-she-said-i-m-not/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [At the White House, they caught another fence jumper earlier today. It was Obama trying to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/at-the-white-house-they-caught-another-fence-jumper-earlier-today-it/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Hillary Clinton, President Obama, they're trying to turn the American dream into the European nightmare. We need to rescue the country from socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/hillary-clinton-president-obama-they-re-trying-to-turn-the-american/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [It's not that Michelle Obama is trying to conceal her true feelings, it's that she does not want to be a political liability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-kantor/it-s-not-that-michelle-obama-is-trying-to-conceal-her-true-feelings/) [Jodi Kantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-kantor/) > [“Obama Still Trying To Close Gitmo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obama-still-trying-to-close-gitmo/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obama is trying to protect Obamacare, and then obviously even in his own party a bunch of people are against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/obama-is-trying-to-protect-obamacare-and-then-obviously-even-in-his/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [Obama trying to save the planet you niggas trying to save these hoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obama-trying-to-save-the-planet-you-niggas-trying-to-save-these-hoes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can see Obama trying to be the president who suggests solutions for everyone who has experienced economic hardship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/i-can-see-obama-trying-to-be-the-president-who-suggests-solutions-for/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [I'm not really much into politics, because it's rarely discussed in my line of work, but I know that Barack Obama is trying his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-m-not-really-much-into-politics-because-it-s-rarely-discussed-in-my-2/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Three explanations dominate speculation about what Obama is up to. The first is that he's trying to lay the groundwork for his successor, presumptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/three-explanations-dominate-speculation-about-what-obama-is-up-to-the/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [I think President Obama is trying to deceive the public in pretending that he was not a part of Congress that has made some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-think-president-obama-is-trying-to-deceive-the-public-in-pretending/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [The last four years under President Obama have been trying and troubling for this entire country. The tired big government policies of the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/the-last-four-years-under-president-obama-have-been-trying-and/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [The only future Barack Obama is trying to win is his own reelection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/the-only-future-barack-obama-is-trying-to-win-is-his-own-reelection/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Obama has been trying or was trying to transform the country away from the way it was founded, and it is causing misery, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-has-been-trying-or-was-trying-to-transform-the-country-away/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The only future Barack Obama is trying to win is his own re-election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/the-only-future-barack-obama-is-trying-to-win-is-his-own-re-election/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) ## More by Craig Ferguson > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sober alkies are often asked: "When did you hit rock bottom?" but a more informed question might be: "How many times did you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sober-alkies-are-often-asked-when-did-you-hit-rock-bottom-but-a-more/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Remember the band, Flock of Seagulls? They had their van stolen. I was like, They still have a van?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/remember-the-band-flock-of-seagulls-they-had-their-van-stolen-i-was/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People spend thousands of dollars trying to keep their teeth straight. I just hope we can live in a world where we accept gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-trying-to-keep-their-teeth-straight/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Whoever I had become had to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/whoever-i-had-become-had-to-die/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [My pilot's license. I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/my-pilot-s-license-i-m-proud-of-that/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People are saying that Anderson Cooper could be the new Oprah. And then these people are struck by lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-are-saying-that-anderson-cooper-could-be-the-new-oprah-and/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I'm so excited about the new iPad, I just iPeed my iPants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-m-so-excited-about-the-new-ipad-i-just-ipeed-my-ipants/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [For my birthday that year Anne gave me an inflatable atlas globe, along with a birthday card in which she wrote: I give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/for-my-birthday-that-year-anne-gave-me-an-inflatable-atlas-globe/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [114 isn't as old as it used to be they say its the new 104.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/114-isn-t-as-old-as-it-used-to-be-they-say-its-the-new-104/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I have to do a show which is of interest to me, or else I'm lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-have-to-do-a-show-which-is-of-interest-to-me-or-else-i-m-lost/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The first ads for medical marijuana have started airing on television in California. The ads are quite expensive. It costs a lot of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-first-ads-for-medical-marijuana-have-started-airing-on-television/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I wanted to be a rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-wanted-to-be-a-rock-star/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) [Explore all 421 Craig Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## More Climate quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) [Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now, I know Obama was trying to take the long view, but talking about solar energy in the middle of the oil spill is like watching your house engulfed in flames and saying, 'We really should change the curtains.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Craig Ferguson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the-long-view-but-talking-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the-long-view-but-talking-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/craig-ferguson-664_climate_now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the_618475.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Now, I know Obama was trying to take the long view, but talking about solar energy in the middle of the oil…” — Craig Ferguson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Craig Ferguson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Now, I know Obama was trying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the-long-view-but-talking-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/now-i-know-obama-was-trying-to-take-the-long-view-but-talking-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```