Daily Briefing - 1/22/07

So it seems that in the President's State of the Union tomorrow he will be unveiling a bold national strategy to fight global warming and take a serious step toward energy independence. We've heard the bit about energy independence before ("Our nation is addicted to oil."), but even the possibility of the President mentioning global warming without the qualifying "the science is still out there" mumbo-jumbo is jarring. It's about time the Administration caught up to the rest of the American people and the world in understanding the urgency of the situation.

Maybe he's finally catching on because 10 major CEOs are coming to lobby him and the House just gave the Oil industry a solid slap and all the American public did was applaud. Or maybe he's worried about the penguins and polar bears? Honestly, it doesn't matter. Whatever the reason for the progression in thought, we all look forward to positive and serious policy.

Elsewhere, Presidential candidates are popping up out of the woodwork like rats in a rotten log. Senator Clinton casually announced over the weekend, saying she's in it to win it. Did Yogi write that for you? Senator Brownback (R-KS) also announced this weekend to virtually no fanfare thanks to Mrs. Clinton. Governor Richardson (D-NM) with arguably the most stacked resume of all candidates also announced with an overly wonky video on his website. It's January of 2007 and roughly 47 people have announced their candidacy. Oy vey, this is going to be one hell of a ride.

On to the briefing...

MW

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Daily Briefing – 1/22/07
651 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Climate Policy’s Odd Man Out: The irrelevancy of the Bush Administration with regards to global warming
- New warnings on climate change
- Climate change: Cool enough for Sundance
- Bush goes green…?
o Unveiling a “bold new national strategy to confront global climate change”
- CEOs lobby Bush on warming
o Major businesses and environmental leaders unite to call for swift action
- Environmental policy may be thawing
- Seeing evidence, seeking leaders
- Will penguins become extinct?
- Report says Virginia could be in danger
- Four local WI events offer talks on global warming
First 100
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Confidence in Bush leadership at al all-time low
- Bush expected to stress energy security and improved fuel economy
- If Clinton should win, who would replace her?
- Bernie Sanders: The Socialist Senator
- Sen. Hagel: Republican party must change
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (She’s in… with a soft launch), Richardson (he’s in), Obama (aura reminiscent of JFK), Dodd (tells voters to give him a chance), Romney (may get support from top House GOP Member), Gingrich (’08 run would be last resort), Brownback (he’s in), McCain (should go ahead and announce), Giuliani (choices), Biden (his time in SC)
- Rush of entries gives ’08 an early intensity
- How Obama vs. Clinton shapes up
- Michael Barone questions the presidential picking process
Other News from the Media
- Damaged ship off Britain spills fuel and cargo
- You, too, can be an energy trader right in your heated home
- Insurance relief: Florida legislators trade risk for significant cuts
- Chavez to U.S.: “Go to hell, gringos!”
…and the Blogosphere
- The Caucus on Congress v. Bush
- Grist:
o Boxer and Bingaman take TXU (the guys trying to build those coal-fired power plants) to the mat
o LCV does Sundance
- MYDD analyzes the post-Obama announcement polls
- The folks over at RedState are unhappy about the first 100 hours
- The Hill: Realistic limits can fight global warming
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Using God to keep you away from the fridge
- Unabomber wages legal battle to halt the sale of his personal papers
- Google turns a page on book downloads
- Dogs may promote good health
- Man falls 16 stories and lives
- Golden globes go green
Quotes O’ the Day
Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made. - Otto von Bismarck