Mamdani mocked by GOP for telling New Yorkers to set thermostats to 78

[DrFunkenstein]

Source: The Hill

Republicans are criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) after he suggested residents set their thermostats to 78 degrees to help conserve energy in the city as it braces for triple-digit temperatures this weekend.

“New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool. Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can,” Mamdani wrote on the social platform X late afternoon Wednesday.

Conservative lawmakers and pundits linked the recommendation from the city’s first democratic socialist mayor to victories over the last two weeks by other democratic socialist candidates, arguing it is another example of Democrats embracing “socialism” or “communism.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Mamdani’s remarks are “Proof that communism is (unfortunately) alive and well.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said, “This is Communism at work,” while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, “The Socialist Democrats are coming for your AC.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/5952239-nyc-mayor-thermostat-criticism/

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The article goes on to point out that Trump's Dept of Energy made the same recommendation, as did the of Florida Public Service Commission appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and several other GOP-led agencies.

This is pretty desperate stuff. It might have worked in the 1970's, but non-MAGA people understand that climate change is at the root of this insane weather - not those who are trying to keep the grid from shutting down like it did in Ted Cruz's Texas.

Naturally, Cruz opens his poorly-bearded mouth to attack Mamdani despite his Cancun-based history with grids, and - naturally - his own state has made the same request on numerous occasions.

Funny, I don't see them saying anything when Trump has oil prices jacking up the cost of air conditioning, but says it "is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace.”

Not much from the GOP when Trump said that the pain of tariffs would be worth it despite unaffordable groceries (and pretty much everything).

Old school "moderates" will hem and haw about these GOP taunts (despite the OBVIOUS hypocrisy), but the new energy in the Party knows that the way to deal with this nonsense is to take the fight to them.