Daily Briefing - 12/8/06

Guess what... there are still skeptics out there. This is why we need to keep working! (That's my John Madden moment of the day.) There is also research coming out today showing an increase in CO2. Over at Grist they continue to analyze the possible consequences of a Supreme Court ruling, and it looks like we may be running the gamut on solutions... we're now looking to flowers.

In Washington, new polls out today showing some very dire numbers for our employees. On the heels of that, Congress looks to give itself a pay raise. Way to get the message guys and gals! In potential '08 news, it is almost all focused on Senator Obama. That man is flooding the media.

In other news we see some bad reports on loosening lead regulations and shortening science reviews over at the EPA. Couple that with a lack of oversight on oil royalties and it's a stellar day! The blogs are officially shifted into 3rd, if not 4th gear on the '08 elections. I give them until February before we hit 5th... and then August when the transmission falls out.

Finally, Lindsey Lohan is finally going for some help... to Al Gore. All that and more in the briefing.

MW

-----------------------------------
Daily Briefing – 12/8/06
Happy last day of the 109th Congress!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Few skeptics still asking why
- Increase in CO2 emissions, Australian research study shows
- Native American conference studies global warming
- Grist: Standing in the face of global warming
- Now we’re looking to flowers for answers
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Tax deal moves toward votes in final push
- Howard Dean: Dems should keep out Buchanan in the FL-13
- Congressional approval ratings at 13%... yikes
- Dissatisfaction with the President’s handling of Iraq has reached 71%... double yikes
- We may see the Foley report today. I hope it’s less racy than the Starr report.
- Bye bye, Bill Frist
- Changes are expected in voting by 2008
- If the NCAA ran our Presidential elections
- And in a final act of the do-nothing Congress… a pay raise
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama v. Clinton (an unofficial rivalry), Brownback (wants more family values), Obama again (winning the book selling race), Obama again again (building fervor), Vilsack (wife takes on NH), Clinton v. Giuliani (New York, New York), Romney (old words coming back to haunt him), McCain (picking NH’ans to run staff), Richardson (will wait until January)
- The Fix maps out the contenders
- National Journal’s insider’s poll
Other News from the Media
- EPA may drop lead air pollution limits
- Report says oil royalties go unpaid
- EPA shortens science reviews
- Public accepts nano risks if benefits are high
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: If John Warner doesn’t run…
- GraniteProf on Obamamania
- RedState looks at Tommy Thompson
- Jon Singer of MYDD looking at the Maine Senate race in ‘08
- Extreme Mortman’s top ten funniest political moments of 2006
- TomPaine: Bright, green efficiency
- From Grist:
o Treehugger on Oprah
o Using grease
o Chatting with Richard Branson
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Lindsey Lohan: “Al Gore will help me”
- Andy Dick… Racist? On drugs? Both? Who’s Andy Dick?
- A romantic comedy about Jesus? Oy vey.
Quotes O’ the Day
"Some reports are issued and just gather dust. And truth of the matter is, a lot of reports in Washington are never read by anybody. To show you how important this one is, I read it," - George W. Bush