Context is very important here. Buhs is referring to a Senate vote that took place nearly 9 years ago
Today there is stronger support, and even John McCain (R) is a proponent of Congressional action.
The message isn't even really that the US should just sign up to Kyoto, but that we should enter the International dialog surrounding climate change.
The most powerful nation on the planet shouldn't be ignoring what's clearly a Global problem. It's called "pluralisim", something that most right-wingers are deathly afraid of.
-spence