Daily Briefing - 12/15/06

Reports are out today that show expected sea level rise resulting from global warming have been underestimated. This goes along with the New York Times article pointing out that this pesky warming trend just keeps on keein' on. Meanwhile, one of our "friends" from CEI wrote an article for Forbes saying that we should love global warming because winter storms can kill people and it would mean more sun and happy people and unicorns. Yay! We're filled with global warming news today, so read on...

In Washington, Senator Johnson (D-SD) has made progress, yet the political vultures continue to swirl. The L.A. Times has a great article on the GOP's missed chance to reshape environmental laws. The author writes that this is in large part because of the greening West and environmentalists successful outreach to hunters and anglers. For evidence of such a collaboration, check out www.TargetGlobalWarming.com. Media continues to swirl around potential '08ers, writing about Hillary's lunch partners, Mitt's recent aversion to the press, Barack Obama, new support for John McCain, Barack Obama... oh, and Barack Obama.

In other news, TruthAboutCars has a great piece on the brilliant Amory Lovins and his one percent solution. Tom Friedman opines about the importance of alternative energy by looking in President Bush's past affinity for wind power. The US Census says we watch too much TV, spend too much time in front of a computer, and eat too much. Umm, yes.

Finally, Michael Crichton is using his books to get back at his critics. I think this calls for an Inhofe hearing! On to the briefing...

MW

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Daily Briefing – 12/15/06
689 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Sea level rise under estimated
o Also from National Geographic
- The trend continues in 2006, climate agencies say
- Forbes: Love Global Warming
- Ignoring an inconvenient truth
- Warming may affect sever weather events, but evidence isn’t clear
- Letting the customers fight global warming
o LA Times: Forcing consumers to foot the bill
- Regulators may move to curb coal plants
- Flooding in Scotland, thanks to warming
- Montana state panel hopes to counter warming
- Putting a price on carbon
- Taxing emissions, executive proposes
- India says its emission are not harming the world
- Alternet: The solution is us
- Vermont town commits funds to combat global warming
- Grist: Dem voters and global warming
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Experts optimistic about Senator’s condition
- Pelosi looks to boost oversight of ethics and intelligence
- 109th leftovers
- DeLay’s missteps still haunting GOP, could turn Texas blue
- Bush urged to break US oil dependence
- An interview with Tom DeLay
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (power lunching with D’Amato and Koch), Obama (on Obama), Obama again (Some say he’s ready), Gingrich (gets own Fox News special), Clinton again (invited to NH), Richardson (meeting with North Korean officials), Romney (a bit camera shy), McCain (gathers support from Sen. Roberts(R-KS)), Brownback (winning praise from religious conservatives), Romney again (announcement in January), Kerry (in Egypt)
- CBS News looks at the second tier
Other News from the Media
- GOP misses chance to reshape environmental laws, thanks to a greening west and the alliance between environmentalists and traditional members of the GOP base, hunters and anglers.
- Tom Friedman wants the President to invest his political capital in wind
- Can’t believe I missed this: Amory Lovins and the one percent solution
- Europe passes tough chemical law
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix takes a look at the Senate line in ‘08
- Over at DailyKos they’re breaking out polls showing that America likes Democrats more than Republicans. The polls are based on sheets of paper passed out with instructions that said, “If you like Democrats check here, Republicans check here, if you want to go out Saturday night check here.”
- Matt Stoller at MYDD on the 50 State Blog Strategy
- National Review on the big shift in political demographics
- From grist:
o Just say no to fake guacamole
o The strangest biofuel sources
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Holy sour grapes, Batman! Michael Crichton, global warming denier extraordinaire, takes on a critic in his newest book by making him a child rapist. Please do not forget that Mr. Crichton was once one of Senator Inhofe’s prized witnesses.
- US Census Bureau: Americans are fat and lazy. That is all.
- The AP on Hooters (ahem, the restaurant)
- Career opportunities for Rick Santorum
- World’s tallest man saves dolphins
Quotes O’ the Day
"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.” ~ Oscar Wilde