Daily Briefing - 4/16/07: Step It Up, National Security, Thomas Friedman, Narwhals, and Global Warming

Thanks to everyone who went out and participated in a Step It Up event this past Saturday!

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/16/07
567 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Global warming called security threat for second time this month
o Could spur conflicts
- Climate change scenarios scare, motivate kids
- Enlisting the help of narwhals
- Paying to absolve the sin of emissions
- KPMG shifts to neutral
- Washington on verge of passing law that limits emissions
- Can we change our lives to save the planet
- The latest research and politics: A discussion with Washington Post’s Juliet Eilperin
Step It Up: Bill McKibben says we sure did step it up
o Hundreds rally in Montpelier
o Bay Area residents step it up
o In Chicago, MCC leads the rally and crying for green living at Daley Plaza
o Rallying the masses in Philadelphia
o Hudson Valley residents stage rally
o 200 rally at Naples pier
o Rallying in Austin and at the Alamo
o Mapping out the future coastline in Manhattan
o Marching in Seattle
o Hundreds in Boston join protest
o Rep. Yarmuth joins rally in Louisville
o Folks in Rapid City turned out
o And a whole lot more…
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Conservatives to Bush: Fire Gonzalez
- Webb: McCain impugning patriotism of Iraq foes
- Bush drops two controversial nominees for environmental posts
- Congressional junkets picking up steam
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (she’s got the most in the bank), Obama (donors linked to Clinton are switching), Richardson (goes to Texas, brings tornado with him), Giuliani (to speak at Rev. Pat’s U… and plans to say some interesting things on abortion), Edwards (touting Southern roots), Giuliani again (will dress drag down campaign?), McCain (will pledge to overhaul tax code), Obama again (2,000 come to hear him speak), Romney (secures strong start in Iowa),
- Only a nerd like me would this interactive map of donors to be really cool
- Candidates still take cues from their base
Other News from the Media
- Thomas Friedman and The Power of Green
- Residents of New Orleans are seeing MASSIVE increase in their insurance premiums
- Russia tries to save polar bears with legal hunt
- California adopts first phase of ocean preserves
- Financially, solar power for the home is a tough sell
- Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?
- Shoddy cleanup at Ford superfund site
…and the Blogosphere
- Reason: Critics looking to lower the drinking age
- The Fix: The money race
- DailyKos: Give Josh Marshall the Pulitzer
- TPM: Rangel-Flake looking to change America’s Cuba policy
- Huffington Post: Oil and the eclipse of the American century
- Ecotality: Does solar make economic sense?
- Grist:
o Step It Up!
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Honoring Jackie Robinson’s achievement and carrying on his legacy
- Survey: The most knowledgeable Americans watch Daily Show and Colbert Report, read newspapers… least knowledgeable, Fox News viewers
Quotes O’ the Day
“Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.” ~ Thomas A. Edison (I’d like to think that “something” could also be referred to as a politician.)