National Wildlife Action

NH Sportsmen Poll

2007-10-23T14:11:00.002-04:00

A poll recently released by National Wildlife Action found that 60% of New Hampshire sportsmen believe global warming impacts their quality of life.

Among the highlights:

72% of hunters and anglers in New Hampshire believe global warming is occurring, with 63% indicating that human activity is a contributing factor;
75% of New Hampshire sportsmen believe our elected officials have a strong moral responsibility to act now to confront global warming and protect our children's future;
By a two to one margin, global warming is the most important conservation issue among these voters;
One in every three respondents (32%) report that they have already seen changes to wildlife habitats that they think may be caused by global warming;
66% of New Hampshire sportsmen agree global warming is an urgent problem requiring immediate action and a majority (57%) believe the United States is doing too little to address the issue;
More than three-quarters (77%) agree the United States should be a world leader in addressing global warming and 87% agree that we can improve the economy and create jobs while confronting global warming;
New Hampshire hunters and anglers would be attracted to a candidate who agrees with them on addressing global warming, and only 14 percent have decided who they will vote for in the upcoming presidential primary.

The poll got some great press in New Hampshire.

Learn more.

Hunter and Angler Lobby Days

2007-10-22T16:21:00.000-04:00

8 Candidates Lay Out Their Global Warming Plans

2007-07-09T17:13:00.002-04:00

Below, I've posted all of the 8 Democratic Presidential Candidates responses to questions by moveon.org members about their plans to address global warming. Believe me, there's good, bad, and ugly among these responses. But we need more of this, more citizens challenging these '08 hopefuls to lay out their plans, and act on them.

Please, watch the clips, and keep score.

Ed. Note: Thanks to MoveOn and their Town Hall series on climate for providing these clips on YouTube. Be sure to check out their website for more on this great series. ~ Wildlife Action

Richardson Gives a Swing at Subsidies

2007-07-09T17:13:00.001-04:00

Energy Independence, Richardson Style.

New Orleans, and a Cabinet Position?

2007-07-09T17:09:00.001-04:00

The executive.

Bill Richardson Lays Out One Agressive Global Warming Plan

2007-07-09T17:07:00.001-04:00

80% by 2040!
Dates and rates, baby!

Edwards Gets Green Job Question

2007-07-09T17:05:00.001-04:00

Open the grids!

Carbon Auction?

2007-07-09T17:03:00.001-04:00

Get off our addiction to oil!

Kevin Powell Asks the Green Champ About His Plan

2007-07-09T17:02:00.001-04:00

We should not be building another coal-fired power plant in the United States of America!

It's time for the President to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war...

Steve Kirsch Asks Kucinich: Isn't It time to Accept EU's Plan

2007-07-09T16:58:00.001-04:00

Yes. And then some. Cap and Share!

The Impact Of Ethanol

2007-07-09T16:56:00.001-04:00

We cannot call ethanol the path of the future.

Kucinich's Plan--Green Philosophy!

2007-07-09T16:52:00.001-04:00

Integrated Greenness. This, we like!

Subsidies: Will Gravel Redirect the Power?

2007-07-09T16:47:00.001-04:00

Redirect? No, he'll end it! Fusion? Fission!? Fusion! Skullduggery!

Political Interests

2007-07-09T16:45:00.001-04:00

Ethanol? Corn? Clean Coal? Sequestration? Nuclear?

or Efficiency, Wind, Solar?

Gravel Lays Out His Plan

2007-07-09T16:43:00.001-04:00

Wait, somehow his sales tax plan helps global warming?

Does a good job pointing out that Israel, Japan, and France are leading the way.

What is American doing?

40 MPH in the Next 20 Years, Will Hilary?

2007-07-09T16:39:00.001-04:00

Well, she'll try.

There is no try, Hilary, only do.

Would She Create A Cabinet Position?

2007-07-09T16:37:00.001-04:00

Nope, she wouldn't. She cares about New Orleans, though.

What is the most important priority, Hilary?

2007-07-09T16:36:00.001-04:00

Global Warming is ONE of her highest priorities? Oy!

More Green Jobs or Big Business. Dodd?

2007-07-09T16:35:00.001-04:00

Oooh, a bold new vista!

Dodd articulately says nothing he hasn't already!

The Dodd Administration Will Oppose LTC

2007-07-09T16:32:00.001-04:00

Global Warming Is A Serious Issue! says Dodd

Dodd's Plan

2007-07-09T16:26:00.001-04:00

Under his plan, Polluters Will PAY, hrmm...sounds good, but where's the rest of the plan. He says nobody else achieves 80% by 2050, but Richardson is pledging 90%. Sounds like a Green-Off to me

Former Labor Secretary Asks About Carbon Auction

2007-07-09T16:24:00.001-04:00

Clean Energy a Manhattan Project?

Jean Barker reminds Obama of Liquid to Coal

2007-07-09T16:21:00.001-04:00

Obama defends his stand on liquid to coal, "clean coal" technologies.

How IS Obama's Plan Different?

2007-07-09T16:17:00.001-04:00

Well, at least he talks the talk now.

Stop Dirty Coal?

2007-07-09T16:10:00.001-04:00

Daron Murphy asks if Biden would stop new dirty coal plants!

Bush failed @ G8, would Biden?

2007-07-09T16:09:00.001-04:00

Biden says no.

Biden's Plan?

2007-07-09T16:08:00.001-04:00

Biden lays out his plan.

USCAP Un-American? Give me a break!

2007-07-04T13:27:00.000-04:00

The Washington Post ran a Reuters article Sunday entitled Carbon Backlash: Coal Divides Corporations. The article dealt with the divide in the corporate world between the corporations who have embraced the nations call to curb global warming emissions--GE, DuPont, Pepsi, and Catepillar, GM aka Chevy all joined the United States Climate Action Partnership--and vocal coal industry execs clamoring against them as enemies. Robert Murray, the chairman and chief executive of Murray Energy Corp., went so far as to stop doing business with his one time tractor supplier Caterpillar. He then called the USCAP corporations Un-American.

Just let that one heat up your atmosphere for a few seconds.

If you can tell me what is more American than GE, DuPont, General Motors, Johnson and Johnson, Pepsi, Dow Chemical, please let me know. In fact, if you can tell me what's more American than these corporations teaming up with large, respectable environmental organizations in the spirit of civic engagement and responsibility to challenge the Congress of the United States to do something about the challenge of this generation, then please, I'll take you out for vegan soul food!

Murray says that in order to curb emissions, we need to invest more heavily in coal, not less, looking to clean coal and such. But if he really believes this, why be against a cap and trade? If he's really confident that the technology is out there to produce enough energy while meeting the emissions cap (agreed to by scientific consensus), he wouldn't be desperate enough to call USCAP un-American. But then, I guess hes kind of insecure.

In totally unrelated, shocking news, the daily grist is reporting that Wilderness is pretty much a thing of the past.

Marc

Angling for Industry

2007-06-27T14:42:00.000-04:00

Anyone who’s been picking up the Washington Post lately has seen the enormous feature about Dick Cheney, “The Angler.” Each day, the Post has covered a different manner in which Cheney has expanded and reinvented his power and influence as vice-president. Today’s feature, “Amending Environmental Laws to Benefit Business”, hits home. The post laid out Cheney’s calculating efforts to ease environmental regulations in favor of industry, in the face of law and science. In the case of endangered fish in the Klamath basin, “law and science seemed to be on the side of the fish. Then the vice president stepped in.” This cowboy of the American bureaucracy, this patient angler, worked gradually but persistently to overturn environmental regulations. When all else fails, challenge the science and create doubt!

“The thing to do, Cheney told Smith, was to get science on the side of the farmers. And the way to do that was to ask the National Academy of Sciences to scrutinize the work of the federal biologists who wanted to protect the fish.”

Gee, where else have we seen pro-industry politicians “challenge the science”? Cheney was able to get a panel from the National Academy of Sciences to claim that there was “‘no substantial scientific foundation’ to justify withholding water.” And what happened after Cheney hooked the panel?

“Months later, the first of an estimated 77,000 dead salmon began washing up on the banks of the warm, slow-moving river. Not only were threatened coho dying -- so were chinook salmon, the staple of commercial fishing in Oregon and Northern California. State and federal biologists soon concluded that the diversion of water to farms was at least partly responsible.”

The government had to pay $75 million in disaster aid to farmers and fisherman because of this decision, which was meant to benefit farmers in the first place. The article goes on to tell the narrative of Christine Todd Whitman’s clash with Cheney over just how fast and how pro-industry the overturning of environmental legislation had to be, a clash that ultimately lead to her resignation.

Kudos to the Post for trying to revive the tradition of investigative journalism in this country, letting the people know just what those politicians they elected are doing behind closed doors. It’s encouraging to see such an enemy of the environment get blasted in such an important publication. And while it’s unfortunate that the Post waited to blast Cheney until after the fact, this article raises serious questions about the kind of elected officials we want to send to the hill in ’08.

Marc

Mobilizing Young Voters

2007-06-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

In light of Marc’s report detailing NWF’s commitment to the Power Shift conference and the greater Campus Climate Challenge, I found the following voter turnout data particularly appropriate. Newly released figures from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) indicate that student voters have become an increasingly large, diverse, and active constituent body. In the past presidential election, this so-called Millennial Generation (voters ages 18-29) turned out in record numbers (up 11% from the 2000 presidential election). The trend continued in the most recent 2006 mid-term election, suggesting that young voters, notoriously characterized as an apathetic bunch, are beginning to change their ways.

Eligible 18-29 year old voters will be pushing 44 million in 2008 and ’08 hopefuls are taking notice. Nearly all the leading candidates have dedicated campaign resources to attract young voters: from targeting them via social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, to hiring youth outreach directors, to hosting events directed at younger audiences (Clinton’s Club 44 and Giuliani’s Young Professionals for Rudy). And if that doesn’t work, there’s always my personal favorite: downloadable Obama mobile ringtones that remix catchy sound bites with modern hip-hop beats.

Through initiatives like Campus Climate Challenge, young voters are becoming increasingly aware of and concerned about the impact of global warming and climate change. It is my belief that this concern will mature into other forms of environmental activism. Although it is perhaps too ambitious to expect every young voter to champion on behalf of the green movement, it is not unreasonable to hope that many young voters will take platforms on energy independence and global warming into account when choosing who to support in 2008.

Bettina

Shift The Power!

2007-06-21T14:18:00.000-04:00

A room full of talented folks from NWF met with Campus Climate Challenge coordinator Jessy Tolkin to discuss the promising Power Shift conference happening this fall. The conference will be the largest and hopefully most important student climate meeting yet—drawing 3 to 5 thousand students, ’08 presidential hopefuls, and climate experts from all corners of this broad and diverse movement.

NWF is looking to play a powerful role in the conference, ensuring that Wildlife message gets across to the students and leaders. With the mind-bloggling but encouraging 11-committee organizing structure to the conference, covering everything from racial, ethnic, and class diversity to logistics and planning, there is definitely room for influencing the way this conference turns out!

So let’s hope those presidential candidates--Republicans too!--conservationists, evangelicals, crazy activists, hunters and anglers, crunchy granolas, and whoever else cares about climate change show up this fall and start shiftin’ the power.

Marc

The Briefing - 6/12/07: Senate Energy Bill Edition

2007-06-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

The Senate energy bill looms large... here's a quick rundown of all the news on the bill and its components.

MW

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The Briefing – 6/11/07: Senate Energy Edition
510 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Media Coverage of the Senate Energy Bill
- What’s Happening:
o Reid hopes to make quick work of energy bill
§ He’s offering a course for energy independence
o Senate and House turn focus to energy
o Regional interests shaping the bills
- Fuel Economy:
o Senate tackles fuel economy rules
o Climate looks ripe
o Reid: Standards must rise
o It’s the Senate v. Automakers on MPG
- Renewables/Biofuels:
o 15% renewable standard may cut CO2 by 3 billion tons by 2030
o National RPS rules key to fixing flaws in state policies
o Focus on mileage and biofuels
o Thune focuses on biofuels
- Global Warming:
o In drive for climate bill, Reid is all energy
- Bad Stuff:
o Groups warn against coal shale subsidies
o Controversial oil substitutes sharply increase emissions, devour landscapes
§ Man, even China doesn’t want CTL
o Coal-to-liquid industry taps controversy
- Controversy:
o Here comes the lobbyists
o Energy bill under fire from several different directions
o The American Petroleum Institute isn’t so happy
- Editorials/Op-Eds
o Harry Reid: How the U.S. Should Fuel Its Prosperity
o LA Times: Serious Energy Reform
o Des Moines Register: Focus Energy Bill on Conservation, Research
o Bangor Daily News: A Better Energy Bill
o Colorado Springs Gazette: Mining the Taxpayers
Quotes O’ the Day
“Our search for solutions must begin at home, powered by American-made ingenuity and innovation. But the impacts of our oil addiction do not stop at our borders; they reverberate around the planet and in the atmosphere that surrounds it.” ~ Majority Leader Harry Reid

The Briefing - 6/11/07: G8, NASCAR, and Naked Protesters

2007-06-11T12:53:00.000-04:00

A big thank you goes out to Bettina, our new intern, for helping compile a good chunk of The Briefing! It's been out of commission for a while, but we're back and back for good. Boo ya.

MW

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The Briefing – 6/11/07
511 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Politics, Politicians, Elections, and Electoral Mayhem
The (supposedly) Presidential ’08 Crowd
- McCain: Bush deserves credit; Defends immigration stance;
- Romney: Has some Mormons wary;
- Thompson, Fred: Heads west; George Will’s thoughts;
- Clinton: The anti-Clinton machine resurfaces; What’s her sport?
- Obama: Launches massive door-to-door effort;
- Bloomberg: Bob Shrum (yikes) offers some analysis;
- Giuliani: Can he win the nomination?;
- Richardson: Would leave no troops in Iraq
Senatorial Shenanigans
- Sen. Johnson (D-SD) expected to return to work
Our Very Own House of Commons
The Environment and Elections
- The Clinton/Obama “energy plan” – pandering like no other!
- ’08 candidates are hot for global warming (I give the credit to Bettina for that line)
o Here’s a similar article from NRP
o They also give us a nice little run-down on their global warming positions
Environmental Issues People Really Should Care about in the News
- NASA leader regrets global warming comments
- G8: US plans to consider European plan. Wow, that’s a strong statement.
o Financial firms do some prodding of their own
o UN Sec-Gen praised the progress
- Will ethanol lead to food shortages?
- Can NASCAR go green?
o Formula One is trying it…
- Bush’s climate plan? Ehh, not so impressive… and the world continues to pass us
o Not to mention US Cities
- Clinton (BILL) promotes green jobs
- Measure global warming from space? Not under the Bush Administration
- New laws poke a hole in the Clean Water Act
- Green U. -- Is that anything like P.C.U., but with a carbon calculator?
- Mayor Bloomberg works with NYC Universities to cut their carbon emissions
- Taskforce created to cut “cyber warming”
- Congress is primed an pumped for a showdown
- Turkey waste? Promising, but that’s gotta stink
- Sea Lions hit by high levels of acid poison in California
…oh that pesky Blogosphere
- The Daily Green: Republican debate outpaces Democrats on the environment… what exactly did they have to show for all that time they used?
- The Fix: Will religion affect your vote?
- MYDD: Dem nomination at a glance
- DailyKos: Republicans losing grip on rural areas?
- Grist:
o Slow food fight
o Green sports stars
o Wind energy hits Alaska
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Nothing like naked protesters to make you turn the other way
- Have you “storm-proofed” your dog?
- Did a comet kill the Wooly Mammoth?
- Oooh boy, I guess it wasn’t that good
- If Larry Flynt is involved, it has to be classy
Quotes O’ the Day
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ~ E. E. Cummings

The Briefing - 5/29/07: Secret Service, Greenland, Coal, and The Vatican

2007-05-29T12:30:00.000-04:00

So according CNN's Money section, Generation Y produces driven, ambitious, and pierced workers. We're a weird lot, focused on success but not afraid to challenge authority. Sounds good, although I hope we can live up to such platitudinal greatness.

MW

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The Briefing – 5/29/07
524 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Politics, Politicians, Elections, and Electoral Mayhem
- Think you can’t handle this ridiculously large Presidential crowd, what about the Secret Service?
The (supposedly) Presidential ’08 Crowd
- Obama: Hitting Romney and McCain hard; Will unveil health care plan in Iowa; Here’s a sneak peek
- Romney: Playing the lead in Iowa
- Giuliani: Surprisingly, he is backed by social conservatives; Maybe its because he’s smiling
- Edwards: Populism is a risky bet
- Clinton: Vilsack is a key player
- Huckabee: Room for more???
- Bloomberg: Why the fantasy won’t come true
- Biden: May pay political price for Iraq war funding vote
- Coburn: Wait… what... Coburn???
Senatorial Shenanigans
Our Very Own House of Commons
- Texas 22: Lampson will not run for Senate, intends to seek re-election
The Environment and Elections
Environmental Issues People Really Should Care about in the News
- Speaker Pelosi sees firsthand evidence of climate change in Greenland
- US rebuffs Germany on greenhouse gas cuts, consistently holding back the G8
o 2009 set as a deadline for negotiations
- Lawmakers push for big subsidies for coal to liquid
- A legacy issue for older Americans -- What type of planet is being left for future generations?
- Efficiency, not just alternatives, is promoted as an energy saver
- Will warming lead to a rise in hurricanes?
- Oxfam – Rich must pay bulk of climate change bill… who’s Rich?
- Anti-pollution lawsuits have fallen by 70% under the Bush Administration
- From state pride to rarely eyed?
- Biodiesel makers see opportunity
- Program aims to treat nature-deficit disorder
…oh that pesky Blogosphere
- Green Media: The Vatican goes solar
- The Fix: On the Obama-McCain kerfuffle
- MYDD: Frustration with coal-to-liquids
- MYDD: Peterson yields on Farm Bill amendment process
- Grist:
o An interview with Warren Stone, green religious leader
o Dispatches from New Orleans
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Can science outwit storms like Katrina?
- An analysis of Gen Y workforce… not sure if I wholly agree…
- Who needs Mother Nature anyway?
- Man, leave the freakin’ Teletubbies alone
- The nerve.
Quotes O’ the Day
“You can't make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire. All you're doing is recording it.” ~ Art Buchwald

The Briefing - 5/23/07: Global Carbon Emissions, Al Gore, and Invasive Species

2007-05-23T13:36:00.000-04:00

Carbon emissions are increasing exponentially, Republican Governors are pestering the Bush Administration to do something, and we've got two Senators pushing for drilling in the Arctic. Sheesh.

MW

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The Briefing – 5/23/07
530 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Politics, Politicians, Elections, and Electoral Mayhem
The (supposedly) Presidential ’08 Crowd
- Giuliani: An abortion muddle?; Above the McCain-Romney fray;
- McCain: Assails Romney on immigration; Turns focus to fundraising
- Richardson: Kurtz wonders why no one is paying attention to him;
- Edwards: Discussing diplomacy and military policy; An easy mark?
- Gore: He’s got big plans; Even lucky enough to have Maureen Dowd pick on him
- Romney: He’ll bring a new approach;
- Clinton: She’s got Bill doing some fundraising
- Thompson, Fred: Signs point to a candidacy;
- Gingrich: Announcement coming soon
- Brownback: Wants to end US reliance on foreign oil by drilling in the Arctic and Canadian sands
- Obama: Ready to get specific on health care
Senatorial Shenanigans
- Oregon: Smith may get a challenger soon
Our Very Own House of Commons
- DCCC leader gets early jump on ’08
The Environment and Elections
Environmental Issues People Really Should Care about in the News
- Global carbon emissions in overdrive
o Response from Grist
- Border fence could imperil wildlife
- Governors Schwarzenegger and Rell to the EPA: Lead, or Step Aside
- How to win the energy war
- Harnessing methane, cutting waste… recycling carpet tiles
o An interview with the CEO on his green conversion… and here’s the video
- Returning to the land for fuel
- Money shuffle creating friction over Farm Bill
- Gov. Corzine (D-NJ) worrying environmentalists
- NY cab fleet to be green by 2012
- Sens. Rockefeller and Byrd: Coal and clean air aren’t incompatible
- Sen. Murkowski likes the whole drilling in the Arctic thing too
- Bill to honor Rachel Carson is held up in the Senate
- Happy 300th, Carl Linnaeus
…oh that pesky Blogosphere
- The Fix: Hillary and Women
- TPM: Edwards – “War on terror” is a bumper sticker slogan
- The Caucus: New ads from Dodd and Romney
- Taylor Marsh: A conversation with Al Gore
- The Lede: Sustainability for the rich and poor
- This is pretty neat
- Grist:
o Change the rules, change the future
o Is it alright to kill an invasive species?
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Great, now the saying “Who needs men anyway?” really has some weight
- Umm, I’m guessing the “side effect” would make the car ride home a tad uncomfortable
- Mars was once… wetter?
- Alright, why am I not on this list?
Quotes O’ the Day
“Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons.” ~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Climate: A Growing Bi-Partisan Issue

2007-05-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

Also Posted on RunRed.org

Global warming is seeing an increasing amount of attention and fueling the momentum of conservationists is growing bipartisan support for bills like the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, lead by Senators McCain and Lieberman. Most recently McCain and Lieberman have been joined by one of their colleagues, Senator Norm Coleman, as a leader on addressing the issue of climate change will certainly help in viewing it as a true issue of concern and not a tool for political gain.

In late April Senator John Sununu became a leader in supporting legislation to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emmissions. This issue is also further raised by Newt Gingrich as a debate that conservatives need to engage in to ensure that small businesses are supported when action is taken on this issue. In the last few years the only bipartisan support on this issue came largely from champions for the environment like Lincoln Chafee and John McCain along with the two Republican Senators from Maine Collins and Snowe. This growing support will ensure that Members will have avenues to work together and ensure legislation that is best for us as a nation.

The Briefing - 5/16/07: A Republican Debate, Melting Antarctic Ice, and WRDA

2007-05-16T16:47:00.000-04:00

Well, a majority of the Senate voted for the first global warming bill this session. Too bad they needed 60 to pass it, sigh...

MW

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The Briefing – 5/16/07
537 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Politics, Politicians, Elections, and Electoral Mayhem
The (supposedly) Presidential ’08 Crowd
- The Republicans Crowd: Debate!... How about the winners and losers?
- Brownback: His Darfur stand
- Giuliani: Saw an opening and took it; walking the pro-choice tightrope; the rise that vexes Republicans
- Clinton: Clash of the politics; widens lead in latest poll
- McCain: Swipes at Romney
- Romney: Nailed by anti-Mormon campaign
- Edwards: Policies offer benefits to women
- Tweezerman: That’s right, Tweezerman
Senatorial Shenanigans
- Oregon: Blumenauer will not challenge Smith
Our Very Own House of Commons
The Environment and Elections
Environmental Issues People Really Should Care about in the News
- Analysis finds large Antarctic ice has melted
- Senate presses to pass WRDA
o But sadly reject an amendment requiring the Corps to consider climate change
- Scientists backing off theory of a cooler Europe
- I’ve always wanted my very own carbon calculator
o Zerofootprint.net
- NYT: A Fresh Start on Energy
- Toyota cutting hybrid costs, says every one of their cars by 2020 will be a hybrid
- Environmental groups join forces
- Defenders likes Chairman Rahall’s Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act
…oh that pesky Blogosphere
- The Fix and The Caucus offer analysis and liveblogging of the debate
- DailyKos: Just no normal weather anymore
- TPM: Why no media coverage of Rudy’s farm gaffe?
- National Review: Bush’s ethanol plan is almost entirely bad
- Grist:
o An interview with Dr. James Hansen
o Solar’s inevitable dominance
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Jerry Falwell passes away
- Hahahaha. Fantastic.
- Hope for bald men everywhere
- Well, I think I’m pretty entertaining, but I guess not entertaining enough… sigh
- Treadmill desks?
- Neato.
- Want to get healthy? Exercise 72 minutes… per week?
Quotes O’ the Day
“Ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so.” ~ John Stuart Mill

Obama post.

2007-05-14T16:02:00.000-04:00

Ok, as promised here's the Obama clip. Can't say I was too thrilled with his initial reaction - look to China first, that's right out of the "do-nothing" play book. But his support of cap and trade is good.

The Briefing - 5/14/07: Dodd's Proposal, Support from the Spy Chief, and a New Format!!

2007-05-14T14:29:00.000-04:00

Ahh, it's good to be back! After a long absence to due a number of circumstances, most notably a reworking of its format and focus, The Briefing is back! In short, it's now more focused on politics and any electoral bent on the environment. Also, it will no longer be a daily offering. The plan is to deliver it every Monday and Wednesday, but with more tradition postings on the blog interspersed. I hope you like it. Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions. Improvements can always be made.

Enjoy!
MW

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The Briefing – 5/14/07
539 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Politics, Politicians, Elections, and Electoral Mayhem
The (supposedly) Presidential ’08 Crowd
- Dodd: His ambitious global warming proposal,
- Obama: Uh-oh, he said “tax”; Come on Barack, it’s a pretty good show
- Bloomberg: New Yorkers say, “Giuliani who?”
- McCain: Dismisses Iraqi Parliament call for withdrawal
- Romney: Criticizing Bush, railing against polygamy, and talking religion
- Giuliani: Qualifying his abortion stance with regards to Court picks
- Hagel: He’s back again, and he likes Mike
- Clinton: Gets Spitzer’s endorsement
- Thompson, Tommy: I’ve never heard this excuse before for saying something stupid
- Gingrich: Yep, he’s still thinking about it
- Thompson, Fred: He’s ready to go… just not yet
- Brownback: Snubbing Brett Favre in Wisconsin… good one, Sam
Senatorial Shenanigans
- Colorado: Bob Shaffer jumps into the fray
Our Very Own House of Commons
- A couple special elections in California and Massachusetts
The Environment and Elections
Environmental Issues People Really Should Care about in the News
- Spy Chief (what do I have to do to get a title like that?) backs global warming study
- Outdoor industry, experts want to “leave no child inside”
- Bangor Daily News: Better flood control
- President Bush ready to announce new air pollution regs… annnnnd here it is!
- Fed loans for coal plants clash with carbon cuts
- Cutting packaging… bout darn time!
- Fish virus worrying anglers in Eastern Wisconsin
- Climate change hurts low emitting Africa
- Don’t have all the species memorized? Check out the Encyclopedia of Life
- Wetlands losing ground in Ohio
- Argentina confronts Latin American biofuels craze
- Most Floridians favor action on global warming
- Goodness gracious, enough wildfires for you? From Georgia/Florida to California to Minnesota
- Yahoo! Green
…oh that pesky Blogosphere
- Wildlife Action: Day 6 of Derek’s Jaunt through Iowa
- The Fix: Where Dems made gains in ‘06
- The Caucus: Putting the candidates through the Sunday ringer
- DailyKos: Countdown to $100 oil
- Nature’s Climate Change Blog: Biofuels warning
- MYDD: Edwards goes left
- Politico: When conservative bloggers revolt
- Check out this blog by certain new intern here at NWF
- CPI on problems with Superfund
- Grist:
o On class and climate change
o Praising Rupert Murdoch??
o More on peak coal
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Smoking in a movie? That’ll get you an R
- It’s what my Mom always told me, its what’s inside that counts
- Wow, Hef even gets a pad in Second Life?
- Are Scotty’s ashes Lost in Space? (hehe, awesome double sci-fi reference)
- Serving our country? No MySpace or YouTube for you!
- And the winner for Morons of the Year… these guys
- An interview with the Round Mound of Rebound
Quotes O’ the Day
“All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.” Aristotle

Grassrootsy goodness

2007-05-13T21:05:00.000-04:00

Day 6: Ok, I missed a day. So sue me. Here's what's been going on:

After meeting Mitt and Barack on my first couple days here, I had my fill of politicians and so this weekend have gone back to meeting the folks of the heartland. Yesterday I tabled at "Family Safety Day" event in Boone, Iowa (birthplace of Mamie Eisenhower but not Boone's Farm "flavored wine product"). Put on by a woman who's a NWF activist and seems to know every single person in Boone, it was sponsored by the Iowa National Guard and had tables with police dept, fire dept, DNR. I met a couple of fascinating folks and, pleasantly, all but one person who came up to chat with me was concerned with and didn't question global warming.

Today, after visiting the Iowa Historical Museum (which had a great exhibit on Iowa's natural resources, but conspiculously did not have the words "global warming" or "climate change" anywhere), had a NWF "meet and greet." There was a group of 5 very interesting folks, from the med student from California, representing the Iowa University "future physicians for the environment" to the Pheasants Forever member who was very concerned with threats to CRP. We had a lively discussion and discussed the role NWF can and should play in the state.

Yes it was a good grassrootsy weekend. After all, you can't visit the heartland, without meeting some of the heartland folk.

2007-05-12T00:28:00.000-04:00

Day 4: It's late. I have to be up early tomorrow. Wait... didn't I say that last night? Ah well, it's still true. So after a couple hundred miles of driving, a couple good meetings and lots of corn fields today, I'd rather write about this evening - It was a beautiful evening, mid seventies, not a cloud in the sky and having driven through corn fields all day the only thing to do was go to a ball game. And an Iowa Cubs game was the perfect tonic. Triple A baseball. Such americana. And then at the end of the 4-3 cubbies win, it was fireworks friday - the rockets red (white and blue) glare.

Maybe this presidential tailgetting is getting me patriotic, or maybe it's just something in the Iowa air, but I'm growing to like the state and like the people. I think the next few months could be fun.

ps. Technical complications have hindered the Obama YouTube posting promised yesterday, but it'll be up soon. promise.

Obama warming

2007-05-10T23:55:00.000-04:00

Day 3: It's late. I have to be up and on the road be 6am tomorrow to get to a 8:15 meeting in Lisbon, Iowa - yes, hunters have no problem getting up early! So, you get nothing more than a tease tonight: I went to a Barack Obama event and got to ask him a question in front of about 500 people. Here it is, "As you know, coal burning power plants are the biggest source of global warming pollution, and yet 150 new coal plants are proposed for being built. Do you have plans to prevent these plants? or if not, what's your plan to stop these plants from emitting global warming pollution?"

For the answer, check out the blog tomorrow, and we'll have a YouTube video of his answer.

Iowa Global Warming

2007-05-09T21:23:00.000-04:00

Day 2 in Iowa. Today I was part of a steering committee meeting of the Iowa Global Warming campaign. This is a coalition effort to get Iowa citizens to ask candidates focused questions on global warming solutions. Iowa stands to gain so much from solutions to global warming -whether it's cultivation of next generation biofuels or building new wind turbines - Iowans should, and will, be asking candidates about global warming. This campaign will help make sure people are at all public candidate events and that people are asking good questions that can get more than just the soundbyte answer.

Then this evening I went to a "Ask Mitt Anything" Mitt Romney campaign event. With easily 200 people in attendence, Romney smooth-talked his way through the assortment of questions on Iraq and immigration, then someone asked about global warming. Romney's answer lacked specifics, but he did site the need for better fuel efficiency, more renewables and, interestingly, nuclear power. He couched his answer in the need to be energy independent, with the side benefit of reducing global warming pollution. Not exactly what I'd like to hear in an answer, but glad he had to answer it. Tomorrow I'll be at an Obama event; can't wait to see if he brings up global warming unprompted.

Also... apparently there is some debate over whether the DC primary referenced yesterday is final. Iowa has a law that says they MUST be the first primary, so maybe the DC primary is just for the "Shadow Representive," the best DC can do for congressional representation.

Arrived in Iowa

2007-05-08T22:27:00.000-04:00

I arrived in Des Moines today with exactly 250 days till the Iowa Caucuses. Although known as the "first in the nation" primary, Iowa is actually the second primary behind Washington DC, but Iowa still serves as a much more revered - and probably accurate - barometer of the nation.

For the next 250 days National Wildlife Federation (and, when appropriate, National Wildlife Action) will be working to get global warming as a pivotal presidential campaign issue here in Iowa. We'll also be working extensively in New Hampshire, and around the nation throughout the primary season and right up to the election 545 days from today.

For the next couple days I'll tell you what I'm up to while I'm here and my thoughts of what's going on here in Iowa. I'll leave you with my first political sighting, which came as I exited the airport. The first billboard I saw upon leaving the airport asked me if I was running for president. Yes, the billboard said, "Running for President? 'Before you ask for my support walk a day in my shoes.'" SEIU wants the 18 current Presidential candidates (that's right, 18 candidates!) to consider the American worker. Until tomorrow...

A Fight that has No Partisan Lines

2007-05-08T17:52:00.000-04:00

The Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) is thought to be one of the largest pieces of pork barrel legislation. Opposition to it builds a unique partnership of strong fiscal conservatives and conservationists.

The National Taxpayer’s Union (NTU) uses the WRDA bill in the voter scorecard it publishes to rank how well Members of Congress are protecting our tax dollars. NTU strongly oppose the bill because of the number of special projects Members of Congress embed into the legislation and promote reforms to the Army Corps of Engineers in how they implement water projects. Urging Congress to reform the Corps is the link that builds this partnership as it is a main focus of Conservationists to ensure water resources are protected for the future. These organizations are working with Senators Feingold and McCain to establish an independent Water Resources Commission to prioritize water projects in the future.

Prioritization is a topic that for some reason draws support from an unlikely crowd in the conservation community that not too many people know about. In the past has been defeated by Barbara Boxer, who was able to whip votes against an amendment back in July of 2006. But this is an issue that receives strong support in protecting tax dollars and the environment from Presidential candidates across the political spectrum such as, Senator McCain (R-AZ) as the lead champion, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT).

National Wildlife Federation Joins General Motors and Shell Oil in Call for Swift Action on Global Warming

2007-05-08T12:13:00.000-04:00

Statement by Larry Schweiger
President & CEO National Wildlife Federation
On the organization joining USCAP
U.S. Climate Action Partnership

Washington, DC (May 8) – “We are delighted to announce the National Wildlife Federation has joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

“USCAP is a powerfully growing voice uniting American business and conservation organizations in the call for swift action to confront global warming. Together, we are urging the federal government to quickly enact strong legislation to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

“USCAP is advancing common sense solutions to an uncommon threat. Global warming is the defining issue of the 21^st century, and the number one priority of our work on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation’s four million members and supporters.

“We look forward to working with our new USCAP partners as we continue our work with America’s hunters and anglers and all conservation advocates to advance legislation that effectively meets the threat of global warming.

“USCAP is also the latest demonstration that global warming is a top priority in mainstream America. Leaders of business in America are responsible to shareholders, employees and customers across every shade of American political opinion. They cannot afford to made decisions on the future of their enterprises through any partisan ideological lens.

“Today, in addition to the National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy, USCAP announces a doubling of business members including new members General Motors Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, Siemens, AIG, Alcan, Boston Scientific, ConocoPhillips, Dow Chemical, John Deere, Marsh and Shell Oil.

“This group joins the organizations that founded USCAP earlier this year, including Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, FPL Group, Inc., General Electric, PG&E, and PNM Resources along with Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and World Resources Institute.

“USCAP members are united on the goal of prompt enactment of national legislation using market forces to slow, stop and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions over the shortest period of time reasonably achievable. USCAP’s “Call to Action” (available at www.us-cap.org) recommends that Congress establish mandatory emission targets to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas levels by 10-30 percent below today’s levels within 15 years, and a 60-80 percent reduction by 2050.

“We share that goal. We believe we all also share a moral responsibility to confront global warming to protect our children’s future. The fundamentally different planet that global warming threatens to create with severely diminished wildlife and radically altered habitats is not an alternative we can responsibly consider as a legacy.”

The National Wildlife Federation inspires Americas to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

Daily Briefing - 5/3/07: The Top Culprit, Honeybees, Nature Deficit, and Global Warming

2007-05-03T14:03:00.000-04:00

Woohoo, a great step forward with the passage of the Honda amendment to the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007!

MW

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Daily Briefing – 5/3/07
550 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- WWF: US the top culprit of global warming
- UN talks down to the wire on IPCC III
o Green lobby pushes for renewable energy
o UN names special envoys
- Arctic melting, well ahead of schedule
- Feeling warmth, subtropical plants move north
- Targeting rice?
- Fighting global warming is a win-win for health problems
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Democrats back down on timetable
- George Will: The road to a GOP House
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama (reaching out with tough love), Obama again (a MySpace skirmish), Giuliani (which one will show up tonight), Dodd (smacks Edwards), McCain (its good to be alive), Thompson, Fred (actor, politician…), Giuliani again (seeking cash in silicon valley), Hunter (confidence bolstered by straw polls), Bloomberg (is his improving Spanish skills a telling sign?)
- GOP contenders grapple with answering questions about President Bush
- Florida Dems having second thoughts on early primary
Other News from the Media
- Honeybee die off threatens US food supply
- Some are still pushing coal
- More and more American cities are opting for car-free
- NWF’s very own Dave Stallings is getting some press out in Montana
- Oil reliance strains military
…and the Blogosphere
- Treehugger: Battling Nature Deficit Disorder
- The Fix: Senate recruiting
- The Caucus: The GOP debates tonight
- Grist:
o Haste makes waste
o Taking the fund out of superfund
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Want to live a long time? Eat less.
- You think you’ve had a bad day? This guy had a bad day.
- Oh man, a recycling game!!!
- I guess Rudy doesn’t like ferrets…
- _____ uses derogatory names once every seven seconds. Take a guess.
- Snubbed AGAIN. One of these days I will be noticed… one of these days, sigh.
- Mac vs. PC? No, this is Marvel vs. DC.
- This section is getting long, but how could I not include this?
Quotes O’ the Day
“To be great is to be misunderstood.” Ralph Waldo Emerson… Is this why everybody looks at with puzzlement?

Daily Briefing - 5/1/07: Arctic Sea Ice, Knut, Coastal Restoration, and Global Warming

2007-05-01T12:45:00.000-04:00

Any post that involves Knut has to be good.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 5/1/07
552 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- EU calls on developing countries to reduce greenhouse gases
o US and China balk
o China focuses on their own growth
- Global warming’s impact on wildlife
- Major industries call for decisive action
- It’s about time that no-good plankton was put to work
- Arctic sea ice melting faster
- May burn a hole in wallets
- Canadian premier proposes emission caps
- Views differ on warming’s effect on grizzlies
- Awww, Knut
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- April toll is highest for U.S. in ‘07
- Sen. Johnson returns home from hospital
- Tony Snow comes back to work
- Bloggers looking for access to the Capitol
- Bush appointee goes after the White house
Potential ‘08ers…
- Giuliani (will he talk about Iraq?), Richardson (interview with Washington Post), Obama (snubs black caucus), Clinton (women set high standards), McCain (calls for a “League of Democracies”), Clinton again (taking all of Kerry ’04 fundraisers), Bloomberg (could he shake up the race), Thompson, Fred (rehearsing for prime time), Brownback (unrepentant conservative),
- The candidates favorite foods to cook
Other News from the Media
- A walk on the wild side… a profile of NWF’s Dave Mizejewski
- Letting the Mississippi loose and reclaiming land in Louisiana
- Hey, we need solutions to global warming and energy independence. The Bush Administration has got a brand new one! More drilling!!! Yay!!!!!!!
- The engineering challenge of our generation?
- Coral, reborn
- Goat extermination in the Galapagos
- How clean is your city’s air?
- The Supreme Court and the Clean Water Act: Five Essays
…and the Blogosphere
- MotherJones: Gone
- The Fix: Will Dems get another shot at Arizona 1st?
- National review: What Giuliani has to do
- DailyKos: A Gardener’s Guide to Global Warming
o Also on Wildlife Promise
- MYDD: On ’08 Republicans
- Grist:
o An interview with Ann Bancroft, polar explorer
o Getting educated on carbon offsets on campus
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Ooh, the DC Madam scandal heats up. Note the mention of NWF, I think the DC staff… or perhaps membership… has some explaining to do…
- Some of you may like Al Gore, but I’ll take this guy
- Arrggh, he should apologize to everyone who had to see this as well
- Sigh, we hope you come back quickly and just as you were, Eastern Market
Quotes O’ the Day
“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” ~ Mark Twain

Daily Briefing - 4/30/07: IPCC III, Carbon Offsets, Debates, and Global Warming

2007-04-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

Oh man, I'm terrible with getting this out!

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/30/07
553 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 panel sees need for new steps
- Hammering out the details of IPCC III
o Eyeing the master plan
o U.S. and China criticize report
- About those offsets…
o Response from David Roberts at Grist
- Nuclear power is no answer
- A national security issue
- [California] acts quickly to cut greenhouse gases, but there’s more to do
- UN Chief backs Gore
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Vote only a prelude?
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (her power pointer), Hagel (and his stand), Clinton again (how to deal with Obama), Obama (on his faith), Edwards (giving the people of California what they wanted last time), Obama again (reaches out to blacks in LA), Gore (makes a political hire), Thompson, Fred (getting support from Reaganites), McCain (not happy about his press treatment), Giuliani (clients taking luster from homeland security image), McCain again (do years = experience?), Obama again again (a bit of a stumble), Romney (a question of faith and politics), Giuliani (an interesting list of supporters), Edwards and Richardson (disagree over taxes),
- GOP: They want somebody to love
Other News from the Media
- Americans can’t handle the “inconvenience” of compact fluorescent bulbs
- Hope for a zero-pollution car
- Indian project shows that solar power is affordable
- Shark fin soup decimates marine ecosystems
…and the Blogosphere
- Open Congress: Now that Iraq is off their plat (for now) Congress looks ahead
- TomPaine: What global warming split?
- Instapundit: On CFLs and mercury
- Grist:
o Fighting Shell
o Climate change in the Dem debate
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Have you had a hug today?
- My question is, if they’re allowed to use Dance Dance Revolution how come we couldn’t use the PowerPad???
- Web 2.0… unhooked from the computer
- The Queen Mum comes to the States
- Interchange near Bay bridge in San Francisco melts
Quotes O’ the Day
"He offered strong support and commitment to work very closely with me, and I am going to fully use his very powerful political message to mobilize political will and thus enhance the awareness of the international community with this issue," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Al Gore

Daily Briefing - 4/26/07

2007-04-26T12:16:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday John James Audubon (and my sister)!

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/26/07
557 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- McCain: Climate change is a security issue… and he ain’t one of those Hollywood people, either.
- Indian MPs urge their country to take action
- Well golly, looks like the folks at Ford are a bit more progressive than previously thought
- Frontline pounds both parties for inaction on global warming
- California’s global warming law is about to go from theory to practice
- Global warming comes to coal country
- Swindle movie makes a long catalog of fundamental and profound mistakes
- A new island?
- This thermostat goes to 11
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- House passes Iraq pullout timetable
- Proving Arnold wrong… democrats DO have muscles!
Potential ‘08ers…
- McCain (a second try), Obama (and his Nieburhian instincts), Giuliani (broadening his message on terrorism), McCain (Gonzales should resign), Romney (paying 2$ million for ad airtime), Gilmore (if a person announces their candidacy and nobody notices, does it make a sound?), Obama again (catching up to Clinton in polls), McCain (the honest republican?), Gore (Bloomberg supports him), Brownback (rescinds support for immigration bill), Clinton (breaking out the drawl?), Biden and Brownback (discussing plan B for Iraq)
Other News from the Media
- Hypocrisy at the Capitol? Noooo, never!
- Well we know carbon dioxide is bad news… but how about carbon monoxide?
- The Governator threatens the EPA
- Online publishers taking advantage of environmentalism. Great, being green will be played out any day now.
- Fish killing virus spreading in the Great Lakes
- Canadian environmental plan leaked
…and the Blogosphere
- Earth Portal, where scientists finally get their say!
- The Fix: The First Democratic Presidential Debate
- MYDD: National Democratic polling trends
- Grist:
o T.S. Munkhbayar and his fight against mining in Mongolia
o The Nation takes on climate change
o British Columbia joins WRCAI
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- One giant leap for Stephen Hawking
- Can we start buying real estate on it yet?
- Is this an insight into dogs’ political tendencies?
- Seriously, who throws… beans??
- Passed over AGAIN. That’s it, I’m holding a grudge.
Quotes O’ the Day : Two for the price of one today…
“In heaven all the interesting people are missing.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.” ~ Albert Einstein

The Heat Certainly Is On

2007-04-25T14:35:00.000-04:00

The League of Conservation Voters has rolled out a great project following the presidential race from the angle of stopping global warming (hmm, sound familiar?). Well, their efforts are quite a bit more comprehensive than this little 'ol blog. The Heat Is On is a great resource for tracking candidates, whether through their records, stated policy goals, or live events.

Just check out this chart that displays each candidate and his/her position on key issues in the global warming debate. It makes it easy to see which candidates have put global warming as a priority and which need a little more prodding. They also have a page with more detailed information on each candidate.

Props to our friends over at LCV for providing an easy guide to global warming and the '08 presidential election.

MW

Daily Briefing - 4/20/07: Gardeners, Voting Rights, and Global Warming

2007-04-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

WRDA passes the House... with a great amendment. On to the Senate...

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/20/07
563 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- National Wildlife Federation:
o Gardeners can play an important role
o Colleges leading the way
- One-third of Americans see global warming as world’s top environmental threat
- Senator Boxer sees action on legislation
o She also introduced a website to help consumers
- Could global warming cause war?
- Consumer Reports global solutions center launches a website
o Greener Choices
- UN Security Council debates climate change over protests from developing countries
- Bird species being put in danger
- New York creates Office of Climate Change
- India asks nations to cut greenhouse gases
- Global Corporations need to fight climate change
- Canadian Environment Minister: Cost of Kyoto is recession
Water Resources Development Act
- House passes WRDA
o Including a very important amendment from Reps. Blumenauer, Welch and Petri
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
- Senators chastise Attorney General Gonzalez at hearing
o He’s on a very hot seat… or, as The Economist says, under fire
- Senate Majority Leader Reid: Iraq war is lost
- Supreme Court abortion ruling is a turning a point
- Heavily investigated, Rep. Doolittle steps down from appropriations committee
- ANOTHER Congressman gets raided by the FBI
Potential ‘08ers…
- Richardson (will start airing ads in Iowa), Obama (pushes carbon reductions in car fuel), Obama again (money is talking to him), Brownback(early success is key), Gore (Bill Clinton says he may enter), Clinton (pressure bruises fundraising), Clinton again (to speak at Rutgers), Edwards (Beverly Hills style), Edwards again (Trippi joins the ranks), Giuliani (nation learned from Oklahoma City), McCain (critics should “get a life”), Obama again again (with Gov. Patrick a kindred spirit), Romney (the Connally of ’08?), Romney (dominates MI fundraising)
- Bill Clinton’s thoughts
Other News from the Media
- Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways? The answer is bad semantics. The real question is why is it more environmentally destructive to park than to drive?
- How green cleaners measure up
- Effort to save endangered crops gets a boost
- On advertising solar energy systems
- Well, at least Nissan is listening to consumers
- UN lauds Gore
- Wild Sky Wilderness Act clears big hurdle
- Air Force embraces solar power
- Coke goes green
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: The ’08 Presidential Line
- Yahoo: Going carbon neutral
- DailyKos: Dem Cattle Call
- RCP: McCain… the comeback kid?
- WorldChanging: Make this Earth Day our last
- Grist:
o Bush v. Clinton on climate change
o One giant step for greenkind
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- MySpace news? Like, oh my god!
- Whoa, weird.
- Uggh, gross. Three things that should never be spoken about together… Trump, Rosie and S&M.
- Gambling addicts take note
Quotes O’ the Day
"My hope is we can bring a bill out of [committee] before the summer recess so that it will be ready for floor action sometime in September," ~ Senator Joe Lieberman

Daily Briefing - 4/18/07: WRDA, UN Security Council, Chimps, and Global Warming

2007-04-18T12:55:00.000-04:00

WRDA heads to the floor...

MW

-----------------------------------------------------------
Daily Briefing – 4/18/07
565 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- UN Security Council hits impasse over debate on global warming
- Read this carefully: The increase in greenhouse gas emissions have slowly begun to decrease
o U.S. greenhouse gases increased over the last 15 years
- The Guardian: There is no doubt that global warming is a security threat to us all
- Side effect of global warming, thanks to wind shears, might weaken hurricanes
- Sen. Bernie Sanders: We Must Act Now
- Sen. Joe Lieberman sets timeline for climate bill
- NJ Senate panel looks at ways to cut emissions
- Bad, bad pun à An Inconvenient Tooth: Food is a major contributor
- Put the market to work
- Africa warned on climate change
Water Resources Development Act
- WRDA heads to the House floor
- Dallas Morning News: Our Future is on the Line
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- U.S. House readies for vote on D.C. seat
- Supreme Court upholds partial birth abortion ban
- Senate ethics Committee is looking into Sen. Domenci’s dealings in the AG kerfuffle
- Barney’s not so radical
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama (Tom Friedman is impressed by him), Clinton (using some pork in her presidential push), Obama again (big army), Edwards (lots of funding from lawyers), Clinton again (gets endorsement from anti-war Congressman), Tancredo (can’t we wait a little while to split hairs to make political points??? UGH.), Paul (UGH, see previous statement), McCain (GOP ought to be the party of life), Thompson, Tommy (on the SCOTUS abortion decision), Romney (wealth cannot be matched), McCain again (starts throwing some mud at other GOP candidates, discreetly), Giuliani (leads SC fundraising), Thompson, Fred (conservatives boosting him to run)
Other News from the Media
- A day of mourning
- Tips for living environmentally friendly
- Reworked panel adopts a get-tough attitude on New Orleans levee repairs
- E.P.A. going greener
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Parsing the polls on gun control
- National Journal: ’08 Race rankings for the Democrats
- TomPaine: Get aggressive on global warming
- Politico: Congress barely flinches
- The Caucus: Labor sets candidate forum dates
- RCP on the Dem Primary: Netroots v. National
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Maybe he came for the pizza…
- Chimps more evolved than humans… As the examples rush through my head, I don’t have any inclination to disagree
- Chappelle pulls record long stand-up
Quotes O’ the Day
“I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

Daily Briefing - 4/17/06: Tragedy, Voting Rights, Pulitzers, and Global Warming

2007-04-17T12:50:00.000-04:00

...

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/17/07
566 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Warming predicted to take severe toll on US
o Health effects from smog, heat waves seen
o Expected to hit Southwest hard
o Coastal areas face risks
o Water woes
o Problems for Great Lakes
- UN to assess climate change as a threat to security
- Gov. Crist and Sheryl Crow rock out
- Warming likely to affect Africa most severely
- Former Generals urge Bush to take action
- Please… stop… spinning. I’m getting incredibly dizzy.
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- No Taxation Without Representation!!
o Voices seeking a vote
- UN moves on Sudan force
- Britain stops using “war on terror” phrase
Potential ‘08ers…
- Edwards (outpaces Clinton in Western NY), Thompson, Tommy (insert: foot in mouth), Brownback (is Romney’s biggest rival), Kucinich (some aren’t a fan of his Iraq War ideas), Thompson, Fred (they want him to run at TownHall), Clinton (getting money from Hef), Edwards again (says he’s the strongest pick), Giuliani (cross dressing back in the spotlight), McCain (fellow Republicans – not him, of course – spent too much), Obama (Russell Simmons takes him on), Obama again (gets edge on Clinton and Giuliani on Wall St),Edwards and Romney (get top IA donations), Romney (raises most from NH), Obama again again (similar message to Gov. Patrick)
- Finance filings offer glimpses of ’08 candidates
- Races tighten on both sides
Other News from the Media
- Hell comes to Virginia Tech
o From around the world, shock, sympathy, and denunciation of gun laws
- No fishing zones in tropics yield fast payoffs for reefs
- Chimps: Almost human, and sometimes smarter
- Fighting plant blindness
- A renewed push for ethanol… without the corn
- Tyson Foods and ConcocPhillips to produce diesel fuel from animal fat
- Gas prices rise for 11th week
…and the Blogosphere
- MYDD: Donor demographics
- Grist:
o US Military steps it up
o No sweat solutions
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Bringing the Olympics to Chicago?
- Hey, 26.2 miles with no gravity can’t be that hard… can it?
- Oh come on!! Not even a consideration for Wildlife Action???? No respect…
- Since it randomly came up in the office, I thought I’d post a link to School House Rock
- Woohoo, marathon day!
Quotes O’ the Day
"[Gov. Crist] has talked more about global warming in his 100 days in office than other governors have in their whole term." ~ Singer Sheryl Crow Monday in Gainesville

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

2007-04-16T12:17:00.000-04:00

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.)

Daily Briefing - 4/13/07: Army Corps, Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Onion, and Global Warming

2007-04-13T13:19:00.000-04:00

Mind your luck today.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/13/07
570 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Army Corps has to face global warming
- US faces change
- Canadian Environment Minister comes to US seeking a global effort
- Lloyd’s of London: Prepare for serious climate change
- Fight global warming, use a clothesline
- Australian PM Howard refuses climate change plan
- The Economist on cutting down trees
- Virginia leads DC metro region in growth of greenhouse gas emissions. Local officials say that the removal of George Allen from the public sector should show an immediate decrease…
o U.S. PIRG drops state by state report
- Florida lawmakers move expansive energy plan forward
- Warming is serious, say Californians
o Arnold: From Governor to green giant though some question his credentials
- Holmen Courier: Action Needed
- Mayor Menino (D-Boston) proposes cut in greenhouse gas emissions
- Snow won’t dampen Step It Up rallies in Michigan
- NWF’s Melinda Hughes goes to Clarion
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Things are getting a bit mysterious with all this email deleting
- Saying no to Fox News
- Gov. Corzine (D-NJ) in critical/stable condition after car crash
- Umm, Senator Byrd may have lost it
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (showing signs of life in SC), Giuliani (big apple baggage?), McCain (jeez, he can’t be happy about that title), Gilmore (GOP needs a true conservative), Clinton (proposes rebuilding government), Giuliani again (says he can take Hillary), Romney again (plays down role in health law), Huckabee (goes to Utah), Kucinich (yes, he’s still around), Obama (building the money machine), Edwards (McCain is dead wrong), Giuliani again again (scrutiny finds him), Obama again (backed by Rep. Adam Smith),
- Politico’s campaign notebook
- Dems urge Shaheen to challenge Sununu
Other News from the Media
- 16 ideas for the planet, including this one from the venerable Jerome Ringo
- FEMA at it again
- A plan to curb watershed pollution of the Chesapeake Bay
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix’s Friday Senate Line
- Grist:
o An interview with Jay Inslee
o US consumerism through China and Brazil
o US soccer team goes carbon neutral
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Farewell, Kurt Vonnegut
- THE ONION comes to DC
- With regard to the Imus debacle, Jason Whitlock throws it down
- A small gesture grows into a movement to pay respect to Jackie Robinson
- OK so let me get this straight… humans came from monkeys and chickens came from dinosaurs??? I think these scientists are messing with us.
- Senator George Allen, can you explain this for us?
Quotes O’ the Day
"Climate change, other than the war in Iraq ... is the most important thing we can work on," ~ Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Daily Briefing - 4/11/07: Debate!, USCAP, Richard Louv, Johnny Cash and Global Warming

2007-04-11T13:59:00.000-04:00

Kerry v. Gingrich... Lincoln v. Douglass? Ehhh, probably not, but hey... at least Newt isn't a flat-earther.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/11/07
572 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- ConocoPhillips joins U.S. Climate Action Partnership, the first major US oil company to do so
- Kerry and Gingrich debate... and guess what, they only disagree on solutions
o Video analysis from the dorky Dana Milbank
- Cap and trade may become (nuclear) energy’s stock in trade
- Little time to avert big temperature rise
- China and Japan go green together
- IPCC report dire for North America
- Friedman: Upsetting the balance in Kenya
- Sea rise in India buries islands and way of life
- Israel’s green mission
- Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon tasks nations on alleviation
- John Edwards will attend Step It Up global warming rally in Florida on Saturday
- Hey, it looks like Canadians can be in denial just like Americans!
- Coffee drinkers beware
- Washington too hot for Live Earth… grrrrrr, it would have been free!!!!!!
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Bush criticizes Democrats for delay in Iraq spending bill
- US sending another warning on Darfur… no action yet, though
o Google Earth documents the tragedy
- European growth will outpace US this year
- Liberals worry Pelosi is favoring moderates
- Colleagues helping Sen. Johnson
- Duncan Hunter Jr. to run for Congress… while in Iraq
Potential ‘08ers…
- Thompson, Fred (reveals he has cancer), McCain (strongly backs Iraq war in speech, calls Dems reckless), Edwards (works day shift at nursing home), Giuliani (fails the supermarket test), McCain again (pounded by the press), Edwards again (isn’t afraid to dis Fox news), Giuliani again (pleased to oblige), Romney (wants to expand armed forces by 100,000), Romney again (major ad spending), Giuliani again again (four pillars of American prosperity), Edwards again again (touts gay supporters), Clinton supporting Rutgers basketball team), Obama (tees off on McCain), Obama again (seeing some backlash for slow response on Imus),
- Some in GOP express worry over ‘08
Other News from the Media
- Richard Louv in Orion Magazine: Leave No Child Inside
o Here’s Mr. Louv’s great website, Children and Nature Network
- Unlike the Terps of the University of Maryland, these terrapins survive
- Great Judicial Smackdown 2007 continues (ß headline stolen from Grist), appeals court rebukes Administration over salmon
- Oy vey, way to kill worker morale. Note to self, don’t buy stock in Circuit City
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: The democrats’ generic edge
- Open Congress: Are republicans starting to crack on Iraq?
- National Review: Forget Kyoto
- Grist:
o On population
o Climate solutions for the rich and powerful
o Vanity Fair’s “green issue” redux
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Tell that smarmy Steve Jobs to top this!
- Barry Gibb burns down Johnny Cash’s house!!! (Not really, but one must question..)
- Well, now we’ve got somewhere to go once we dilly-dally on global warming for too long
- Known for its conservative tilt, BYU protests planned commencement speech by VP
Quotes O’ the Day
“The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason.” ~ John Cage … I’m listening to his seminal work, 4”33, right now. (A prize to anyone – without the aid of the internet! – who can describe this phenomenal piece of work.)

Daily Briefing - 4/10/07: Trees, Anxiety, Dieting, and Global Warming

2007-04-10T14:05:00.000-04:00

In today's briefing... dieting makes you fat and trees cause global warming.

I'm not kidding.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/10/07
573 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Newsweek: Making sense of melting ice
- Challenge to emissions rule is set to start
- Hunger in Asia and Africa a concern amid climate change
o In Africa, climate change will also impede development
- Will hit Europe’s Mediterranean region hard... get to Nice and Barcelona while you can!
- More rainforests might slow global warming
o But planting trees in higher latitudes could exacerbate the problem
o And of course folks in Moron-ville are spinning this one
- EPA ruling paves the way for wider action
- Insurance companies commit to climate change disclosure
- Tying climate to national security
- All eyes on Vermont as court case proceeds
- The Robin Hood approach to global warming
o With reaction from Grist
- Live Earth set for July 7th, headliners announced
- Second Life takes on global warming
- I’ve posted it before but here is the Washington Post’s section on global warming
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Bush would veto stem cell bill
- Senators press for more files on Attorney removals
- Waxman looking to get Rice to testify before committee
Potential ‘08ers…
- McCain (the tragedy), Clinton (and the military), Clinton and Giuliani (NYers like ‘em), Obama (no second place for him), Obama and Clinton (snub Fox), Obama again (barnstorming NYC), Thompson, Fred (if you get an endorsement and aren’t actually running, does it count?), Richardson (content to start slow), Romney (among many to spot at Bush library), Giuliani (legal past hints at future), Obama again again (gains in SC),
- Polling early… and often
Other News from the Media
- US toughens its positions on China trade
o China ain’t too happy
- Scientists project how dust affects Martian climate
- Fish protection lags, court agrees
- California sinks LNG pipeline plans
- Eco-anxiety … and the people from grist making fun of it
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Keeping an eye on Clyburn
- MYDD has their April straw poll
- Grist:
o On home water conservation
o Growing a green economy
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- No smoking and higher wages for Maryland
- Haha.
- I hope this isn’t too taboo for the briefing
- … And in medical news: Chocolate is better than tea, diets make you fat, and coffee lowers the risk of Parkinson’s
o Somebody get me a mocha!
Quotes O’ the Day
“A State without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.” ~ Edmund Burke

Daily Briefing - 4/9/07: $100 million, Fighting Scientists, Virtuoso Violinists, and Global Warming

2007-04-09T12:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/9/07
574 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Next Task: Repairing the climate
- Learning from Europe
- Christine Todd Whitman: SSC ruling is a welcome first step
o For the Chief Justice, a dissent and a line in the sand
- Doris Duke Foundation to offer $100 million to deal with global warming
- Detroit decides to help shape, not resist, regulation of emissions
- UN sounds the alarm
o Scientists v. diplomats
o Scientists see report as too soft, blame China, Saudi Arabia for watering it down
- Washington Post: A Consensus on Crisis
o Climate wars loom as the future looks bleak
- Mountaineers: The eyewitnesses to climate change
- The 3 step climate action plan
- Newsweek: The War of the Words
- China to participate in post-Kyoto talks
- Worried about high gas prices
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- President renewing efforts on immigration
- Democrats’ cause is tempered by reality
o But they seek to lead the way in tax overhaul
- Another layer of scandal
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (he’s rising), Obama (all sizzle and no steak?), Clinton and McCain (lose frontrunner status), Gingrich (taking on AG Gonzalez), Obama again (boosted by Clinton defectors), Romney again (initial public offering), Thompson, Tommy (record isn’t enough), Clinton (the end of inevitability), Clinton again (will not be crowned), Edwards (getting help in SC), Giuliani (blasted by firefighters), McCain (the meltdown), Huckabee (slaps down Romney for hunting gaffe), Richardson (arrives in North Korea),
- “Why do US candidates need so much money?” This is America buddy, why does ANYBODY need so much money?
- Candidates should look beyond Iraq
- Democrats may now top GOP in donor efforts… now both parties can be bought with equally massive sums of money!
Other News from the Media
- Iran goes nuclear… somebody tell them they’re not allowed to use Yucca Mountain
- Slate: Green is in
- Even the President is intrigued by plug-in hybrids (Even if he doesn’t know how to use a socket)
o The folks at Grist sure enjoyed this
- Ranchers and army at odds in the old west
- Plastic wrapper today could be fuel tomorrow
- Can man improve on nature’s fishbowl?
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Romney’s inner circle
- Raw Fisher: McCain’s new money man
- RCP’s Politics and Elections page
- Grist:
o A unique insight into the IPCC process
o Texas solar opportunity
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- This. Is. Un-believable
- Apple ships 100 millionth iPod
- Will this fad ever get old?
- Imus: “I’m not a racist”
- Flight cancelled over rude language
Quotes O’ the Day
“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.” ~ Aldous Huxley

Daily Briefing - 4/6/07: IPCC, IPCC, IPCC, IPCC.....

2007-04-06T12:52:00.000-04:00

IPCC Report #2. It's a doozy.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/6/07
577 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- IPCC: Report #2
o NYT, Internat’l Herald Tribune, SF Chronicle, Bloomberg, Reuters(India), Seattle PI, Alaska Report, WSJ, Gulf News, Billings Gazette, Earth Times, Grist
o A moral obligation, Fear over diluted warnings, Stark picture of a warming world, National Council of Churches call for immediate action, The peril we face, World’s poorest will suffer the most
- Permanent drought predicted for Southwest
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Fort Wayne: A planetary victory
o Indianapolis Star: Bush brushes off Supremes
o Could impact IT
o Alabama Times Daily: Not so clean
o Florida Today: The green light
- Gov. Doyle (D-WI) highlights energy and global warming efforts, including an Office of Energy Independence and Task Force on Global Warming
- The real cost of climate change and why doing good is better (for profits!) in the long run
- Threatening natural wonders
- Mauritania being buried
- Asia tourism faces chaos
- Kansas City Star: U.S. must lead the world
- Great Barrier Reef at risk
- John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry: Warming to the idea of change
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- New regulatory head favors hands-off approach… oh boy
- Mideast media mostly upbeat on Speaker’s visit
- Sen. Inhofe sees himself as “the next Pombo”
- Apple… not so green
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (no no really… I am hunter!!!), Obama (finding that success breeds more success), Thompson, Fred (gearing up), Romney again (using his wealth), Giuliani (will not seek abortion changes), Giuliani again (take him or leave him), Bloomberg (and the money machine), McCain (can he win?), Obama again (offering a health care revamp), Edwards (quiet momentum), Clinton and McCain (a spending spree awaits),
- There will be more voters in Florida
Other News from the Media
- Wildlife smugglers test their skills
- How supply-side economics trickled down
- Unemployment rate drops to 4.4%
- So the daylight savings one month early? Yea, didn’t do much
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix’s Friday Governor Line
- Wired: Panel releases report after late-night politicking
- National Review: Life Lessons for Rudy
- Huffington Post: Bleak report issued… but hey, don’t worry
- Only In It For the Gold
- Grist:
o The warm on terror
o Slow Food Nation
o Why waiting for fossil fuels to run out isn’t such a good thing
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Holy cow! An ambidextrous pitcher!
- Doonsebury takes on Mitt Romney
- Martha Stewart, menu-maker for the space bound
- And up on Mars… a problem with warming
- Al Gore to open Tribeca Film Festival
- When (gay couples) wish upon a star!!!
- Wow. Bill O’Reilly blew a gasket
Quotes O’ the Day
“Global warming’s potential to harm wildlife is one of the report’s central findings. Temperature increases of just a few degrees may propel 20 to 30 percent of all species toward extinction.” Larry Schweiger

Daily Briefing - 4/5/07: IPCC, Biodiversity, Al Franken, and Global Warming

2007-04-05T12:17:00.000-04:00

Today's briefing is brought to you in honor of NWF's ROC-extraordinaire, Jerry Karnas.

MW

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The Jerry Karnas (Daily) Briefing – 4/5/07
578 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- "What you saw today is that Florida has gone, in a matter of four months, from Category 5 denial to Category 5 action. We are feeling a hurricane force wind of change on this issue. And it's unprecedented," said NWF’s Jerry Karnas,
o Man, that’s some powerful stuff. I feel like there’s no point in going on… but I guess I have to. SighIt’s all downhill from here.
- Climate panel is confident warming is underway… and that humans are responsible
o Already affecting the world’s flora and fauna, and decimating biodiversity
o Report may have some problems reaching deadline in time
- John Tierney, curmudgeon-extraordinaire
- Kennebec Journal: Time for Congress to address global warming
- The Saratogian: Global warming should be a national effort
- Warming hurts health
- Christian Science Monitor launches global warming website
o And here it is!
- US lags on plans
- Warming thins herd for Canada’s seal hunt
- Hot planet, poisonous fish
- John and Teresa Heinz Kerry: Addressing global warming is good for business
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Gonzalez prepares to fight for his job
- David Broder: A dubious electoral idea
- 3 Republicans part with Bush on Syria
- Gotta love recess appointments
Potential ‘08ers…
- Edwards (Elizabeth is quite the draw), Obama ($25 million?!... otherwise known as Big Bucks Barack), Obama again (fundraising gives him respite from stumbles), Clinton (standing among blacks is on the line), Romney (“a lifelong hunter?”), Edwards again (cashing in on cancer?), Romney again (the Mormon advantage), Giuliani (roe woe?), Giuliani again (don’t be surprised if he wins it), Romney again again (wants to end tax on savings), Dodd (supports civil unions), Gingrich (offends Latino community, apologizes in Spanish), Thompson, Tommy (first day officially on the trail), McCain (retools money team, delays entry)
- Early ’08 fundraising has a clear blue tint
- DNC will sanction six monthly debates starting in July
Other News from the Media
- Captives freed by Iran arrive in Britain
- Woohoo, a channel all about us! Well, maybe not just us but we’re included in the “green movement.”
- A plug-in hybrid… and a school bus
- Washington bans PBDEs
- Top ten utility green power programs
…and the Blogosphere
- Hotline: Al Franken pulls in $1.3 mil
- Blue Hampshire: Portsmouth Mayor jumps into Senate race
- David Sirota thinks John Edwards is the “people-party candidate”
- Fred Thompson: Real American Idols
- TomPaine: More pollution does not equal less
- Grist:
o An interview with Duke Energy CEO
o Will the environment be a factor in ‘08
o A remarkable consistency
o Green parenting
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Hey, who wouldn’t want one of those fresh and toasty sandwiches?
- Bone of Joan of Arc actually from a … mummy? Huh?
- My Maps… yet another ridiculously cool product from Google
- The page program flourishes. I guess that whole scandal thing was a draw? Yeesh, I’ll avoid saying anything else…
- John Kerry, you are THE MAN
Quotes O’ the Day
“Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it.” ~ Jules Renard

Daily Briefing - 4/3/07: EPA, China, Bush Administration, Columbian White-Tailed Deer, and Global Warming

2007-04-04T11:56:00.000-04:00

The buzz grows over the impending release of the IPCC's second report, due out this Friday. It's been called "bleak," "a tearjerker," and references a "highway to extinction." As America's foremost conservation organization, we wait with baited breath.

MW

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

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Administration thinks they’re doing enough
- EPA revives California’s request to set tough emission standards
- Reports from the four fronts on warming
- Linfen, China: The frontline in the war on global warming
- IPCC: It’s been called a tearjerker
o The elimination of up to 30% of life forms
- Global warming happens, is it catastrophic?
- Christian Today: Climate change could be biggest disaster in human history, says WWF
- Gore urges engineers during San Jose visit
- Florida leaders hear of insurance, global warming woes
o Conversation urges conservation
- Australian fish being driven south
- Idaho: Valley residents challenged to stop global warming
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- President Bush fighting Democrats and doubts
- Speaker Pelosi goes to Syria
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (Mormon base a mixed blessing), Obama (reports $25 million in fundraising), McCain (revamps fundraising), Edwards (returns to Iowa), Obama again (facing a battle over Iraq war opposition), Obama again again (knows his way around a ballot), McCain (evangelicals bracing his immigration stance), Giuliani (tells Iowa voters to evaluate his record), Giuliani again (won’t commit to Iowa straw poll), Romney again (money in the bag, now works on name rec), Clinton (Iraq funding plan a thorny issue), Edwards again (crowd zeroes in on issues), Biden (Bush could be impeached, but that would be impractical), Richardson (goes to North Korea at the behest of the President), Giuliani again again (surmounts expectations in NH), Thompson, Fred (evangelical leader likes him)
- GOP protégés aim shots at each other
Other News from the Media
- Brother, can you spare a cup of coffee for Columbian white-tailed deer? Do note the quote from NWF’s very own Corry Westbrook.
- British captives to be freed
- An arid west no longer waits for rain
- Loss of coral may cause food supply crisis
- Court overturns Duke clean air law ruling
- Electranet could see the light of day
…and the Blogosphere
- RCP: New polls from CA, IA, and NH
- MYDD: New Hampshire poll
- TPM: “Moderate” GOP senators will bail on Iraq if progress isn’t obvious by late summer
- PeakEnergy: Bright green building and dark green buildings
- TomPaine: Overwhelmed by climate
- Grist:
o Automaker suit against California may be dismissed by tomorrow
o Is coal running out too?
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Labor union v. Starbucks. Over what you ask? Piercings.
- Mayor Rocky Anderson v. Chain stores
- Umm, is that why he looks the way he does?
- MySpace to hold presidential primary… It better not be on February 5th or I will, like, totally be angry.
Quotes O’ the Day
“There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking.” ~ Thomas A. Edison

Daily Briefing - 4/3/07: More Supreme Court, IPCC, Spies, Campaign Money and Global Warming

2007-04-03T11:41:00.000-04:00

The media is focused on the Supreme Court decision dropped yesterday with roughly EVERY major outlet publishing a story about it. As a whole the reaction is quite positive, most legal analysis seems to see the decision as solid, if not a change in course of the Court's view of standing in the environmental cases. Don't take my word for it, check out the plethora of articles below.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/3/07
580 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Lots more on the Supreme Court decision
o From NYT, WSJ, Canada National Post, LA Times, NPR, SF Chronicle, KC Star, WashPost, Legal Times, USA Today
o Emissions law could still face hurdles
o A simple explanation of the ruling from Grist
o White House response
§ Grist: Bush v. Everyone Else
- The second IPCC report cometh…
o Tropical losers, northern winners?
o They’re even talking about it in Turkey
- U.S. spies urged to assess global warming
- Citing Al Gore, federal judge allows global warming lawsuit to advance
- U.S. and Australia holdouts… it doesn’t work in the NFL, why would it work with this?
o U.S. hampering efforts
- The FACE of global warming (GO BU!)
- Bangladesh warns region must act
- Impact on Florida discussed today
- Gore wins praise from head of Nobel committee
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Reid may move to cut war funding
- Gonzalez prepares to face down the Senate
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (big time money numbers), Obama (on global warming and cap and trade), McCain (hmm, some dissenting views on the Senators visit to Iraq), Tancredo (as immigrants tremble everywhere, he’s in), Clinton (backs public campaign funding), Clinton again (gets endorsement from Gov. Corzine), Clinton again again (heads to Iowa), Edwards (Elizabeth: This is what I wanted to do), Giuliani (big money month), Giuliani again (heads to Iowa), McCain again (money troubles), Obama again (anticipated most of the problems in Iraq… so he says), Obama again again (built donor network from roots up), Biden (surprisingly still around)
- Nine candidates agree to GOP debate
Other News from the Media
- Busy hurricane season forecast
- Solar power going mainstream?
- Nationalism may weaken big oil
…and the Blogosphere
- Here’s a nifty little site that tracks news coming out of each campaigns headquarters
- The Fix: Wowed by Mitt
- National Review: Hot Times in the High Court
- RedState: On the Fred Thompson boomlet
- DailyKos: A few lessons for the traditional media
- SCOTUSblog: On the global warming decision
- Grist:
o Carbon tax catching on?
o An interview with David James Duncan, author and fly-fisherman
o CO2 low hanging fruit
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Title factory? Jeez, do Florida fans need any more to gloat about? Nonetheless, congrats to my brethren of Gator persuasion.
- Sydney Pollack to direct film about the 2000 recount… I’m guessing it’ll seem like a sequel to Tootsie.
- What do you get when you combine Scary Spice and Eddie Murphy?... Uhh, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
- French train hits 357mph
- Wow, they really are beaming him up!
- Yet another reason why Google is the coolest company around
Quotes O’ the Day
“I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic."” ~ Richard Pryor

Daily Briefing - 4/2/07: Supreme Court, John Dingell, Loads of Campaign Cash, and Global Warming

2007-04-02T12:09:00.000-04:00

Aaaaaand we're back!

After a lengthy absence thanks to NWF's annual meeting, which was a rousing success the Daily Briefing is back with the Wildlife Action blog on life support, I'm sure. Nontheless, our return is met with great news.

The Supreme Court this morning announced that it has ruled against the Bush Administration on regulating carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act. Justices Stevens (who wrote the majority opinion), Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, and Kennedy voted in favor of allowing the Federal government to regulate carbon dioxide clearing states such as California of any potential legal action and opening the door for future Administrations, or dare I say this Administration, of regulating carbon dioxide emissions.

As expected Justices Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Roberts dissented. My colleague Derek wrote about the argument way back in November. You can read his analysis here, but here's a quick quote that summarizes his guess,

So, to my calculation that brings us down to 4-4, with Kennedy on the fence
(just like the wetlands case). My gut hunch is that Kennedy will think
Massachusetts doesn't have standing, thus leaving a 5-4 decision against us.
However, I'm notoriously bad at predictions and tend to be pessimistic, and upon
leaving the court there seemed to be full agreement that the case went as well
for us as it possibly could have.

Well, you came close, but thankfully Justice Kennedy did not live up to your pessimism.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/2/07
581 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Supreme Court rules against Bush Administration in global warming case. Feds can now regulate car emissions.
- Chairman Dingell, speaking at NWF’s annual meeting, says climate change bill is the most difficult task he’s faced, but one he will not rush.
o David Roberts at Grist is unimpressed
- Time: The Global Warming Survival Guide
- Fearing a refugee crisis like we’ve never seen
- EU official pushes U.S. on emissions
- Himalayas could melt by 2030
- Catholic Online: Former VP makes impassioned plea
- NWF’s (a “conservative green group,” so says the author of the article) An Inconvenient Truth film party spurs discussion
- State coalitions curbing global warming
- Judge OKs global warming suit
- Sydney blacks out for global warming
- CA legislature flooded with bills on climate change
- Who says India isn’t doing anything about global warming? Bollywood!
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Democrats to widen conflict with Bush
- President Bush declines to throw out first pitch
- The Governator sure likes his cronies
- Republicans targeting McNerney but fearing a 2008 meltdown
- Bush pushing three pro-industry nominees
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (shatters record for fundraising), Thompson, Tommy (if he enters race and no one notices, does it make a sound?), Thompson, Fred (Bob Novak sure likes him, maybe he’ll leak some of his secrets), Edwards (the media’s most personal debate), McCain (sees progress in Iraq, after visit), Obama (Congress will fund war if Bushes uses veto), Giuliani (a Rudy awakening… ugh, why do people have to use such bad puns?), Obama again (getting chewed up?), Huckabee and Brownback (fighting for attention), Giuliani again (ties to Kerik may hurt him), Tancredo (platform: immigration), Obama again again (Dems must listen to faithful), Romney (raises $23 mil, tops GOP field),
Other News from the Media
- WRDA bill passes out of committee
- NWF partners with Sonopia, kick starting the mobile revolution
- National Landscape Architecture month kicks off
- San Antonio sets water conservation example
- Seeking a car that gets 100 miles a gallon
- U.S. won’t override state rules on chemical plants
- San Francisco takes aim at plastic bags
- U.S. churches go green for Palm Sunday
- Federal judge strikes down Bush Administration forest management rules, you know because trees are kinda useful
- Interior official rode roughshod over agency scientists, violating federal rules
- LA suffers longest dry spell in 130 years
- MA offshore wind farm wins state approval
…and the Blogosphere
- Michael Barone on parties, polls, and predictions
- DailyKos has the Democrat’s first quarter fundraising numbers
- Pajama Media has a straw poll with very odd results
- TomPaine: The inspiration budget
- Grist:
o On green weddings
o Helpful hints for deniers
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Wahoo! It’s baseball season! (I will refrain from mentioning anything about a certain team with 26 glorious championships for fear of retribution from half my office, specifically Chelsea)
- When people with square pants go bad…
- French architect claims to know the secret of the great pyramid
- My question is, are the Dippin’ Dots sustainable?
o Gap rocking the organic
- BRILLIANT. JibJab on the news
Quotes O’ the Day
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

Daily Briefing - 3/27/07: 83% of Americans, India, Local Climates, and Global Warming

2007-03-27T12:40:00.000-04:00

83% OF AMERICANS...

What percentage of our politicians?

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/27/07
587 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Scientific American: 83% of Americans say global warming is a serious problem
- British economists: India must mitigate climate change
- Driving the message
- Heat invades cool nights over Arizona desert
- Top EU energy official comes to Washington
- Local climates at risk… may create novel climates or eliminate some altogether
- U.S. magazines going green
- A rush for riches in the Arctic
- Laurie David and Sheryl Crow hit the road on the Stop Global Warming College Tour
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Tony Snow’s cancer has returned
- Webb aide mistakenly tries to take gun into Senate building
- Republicans soften stance on pullout message
- Poll backs Attorney General investigation
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama (his back story), Clinton (cultivating the military), Giuliani (wooing anti-Hillary crowd), Clinton again (takes on White House), Edwards (Elizabeth is buoyed by supporters), Edwards again (gains support as he remains in the race), Romney Paying off students), Romney and McCain (touring Texas), Thompson, Fred (gaining support in the House), McCain (traveling through SC)
Other News from the Media
- You, too, can be a banker to the poor
- Taking green up a notch
- Mr. Puck’s good idea
- Global boom in coal power… and emissions
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: The Case Against Fred Thompson
- The Caucus: Couric criticized for Edwards interview
- Huffington Post: Science for Sale
- MYDD: As Dems’ Senate field expands, GOP admits concern
- The Man in Seat 61: Traveling without flying
- Tell your clean energy story, get in Rep. Jay Inslee’s book!
- Grist:
o Investing in wind
o As farms succumb to chemical factories, bullets fly
o Conservatives and global warming
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Cool, robot worms
- Rudy gets shunned by Mets fans
- A solar powered Wii
Quotes O’ the Day
"The planet has a fever. If your baby has a fever, you go to the doctor. If the doctor says you need to intervene here, you don't say 'Well, I read a science-fiction novel that told me it's not a problem.' If the crib's on fire, you don't speculate that the baby is flame-retardant. You take action.” ~ Al Gore, during Congressional testimony

Daily Briefing - 3/26/07: China, John Edwards, Prince Harry and Global Warming

2007-03-26T12:57:00.000-04:00

As a conservationist who obviously cares greatly about the environment an how our country tends to it, I am quite glad Sen. John Edwards has stayed in the race. His contributions to bringing global warming to the forefront of the campaign have been fantastic, and I hope he continues to make it a major part of his campaign (which I fully expect -- just notice his expected attendance at a global warming forum), and the other candidates will follow suit!

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/26/07
588 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- China, Norway, and UN ink deal
- John Edwards in S.F. for global warming forum
- Sen. McConnell (R-KY) blocks Live Earth concert from being staged on Capitol grounds
- Why the right goes nuclear over global warming
o Chris Mooney offers some ideas as well
- Investors call for government action
- Becoming an issue in NH
- VT lawmakers are grappling with climate change
- Spurring a race for Northwest Passage
- Birds are having trouble adapting
- Artificial turf causes global warming
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Bob Novak: A President all alone
- Paul Krugman: The emerging Republican minority
- GOP senators lug weight of war into ‘80
- A fresh face vows to revive GOP
- Jim Webb (D-VA) is on the warpath
Potential ‘08ers…
- Gingrich (his reading list), Edwards (rejecting the sympathy vote), Edwards again (candor from the campaign), McCain (says they won’t meet fundraising goals), Romney (says don’t believe the hype about McCain), Romney again (pander, pander, pander), Hagel (still pondering), Clinton (can no longer safely depend on black, female voters), Bloomberg (eyeing ’08), Obama (hits South Florida), Obama again (does he fit with blue collars?), Giuliani (drag story could ruffle right wing)
- Elizabeth Edwards: Political Wife
- Democratic candidates on health care
- SC may move up its primary
Other News from the Media
- Book review: This Moment on Earth, by John and Teresa Heinz Kerry
- Time Magazine changes cover story about Afghanistan only for America
- NYPD spied broadly before GOP convention
…and the Blogosphere
- Huffington Post: GM switches gears on climate change
- MYDD: Interview with Bill Richardson
- Grist:
o An interview with the director of Appalachian Voices
o Carbon trading v. carbon taxes
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Washington D.C.: A hub of knowledge workers attractive to many businesses
- So you picked the final four? Join the club (sadly, I’m not included in this club)
- Prince Harry stumbles spectacularly into the gutter
- Julia Roberts, going green
- Greenpeace is shifting to the music biz
Quotes O’ the Day
“Never answer a critic, unless he's right.” ~ Bernard M. Baruch

Daily Briefing - 3/23/07: Cow Burps, Markets, Voting Rights (or lack thereof), and Global Warming

2007-03-23T16:31:00.000-04:00

As Chair(wo)man Boxer says, "Elections have consequences."

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/23/07
591 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Pill stops cow burps, saves the planet
- New system tracks atmospheric CO2
- Response: Markets or Taxes?
- Waxman introduces Safe Climate Act
- More on Al Gore
o He did better than his critics, says Chris Mooney
- Giving nuclear power a boost?
o Some rethinking opposition
- Four in five Canadians believe global warming is occurring
- Sea change in public attitudes
- Global warming may be bad for asthma sufferers
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION: Foiled by the gun lobby
o Thwarted
- Dems pass a timetable for Iraq
o Bush threatens a veto
- More machinations in the Justice Department
- A national security letter gag order
- Ronald Brownstein: Who’s watching the President
- Cabinet official pleads guilty in Abramoff case
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (endorsed by Vilsack), Obama (talking to his old classmates), Romney (luring students with money), Clinton again (she’s got Bill spinning), Giuliani (the Log Cabins like him the best), Giuliani again (changing his tune on gun control), Edwards (choosing to live), Hunter (friends with American Spectator),
- Vegas union wants a say
- Ahnuld takes it to the candidates
Other News from the Media
- The year without toilet paper
- Gates gives $122 million for DC scholarships
- Reaction to grizzly bear delisting
…and the Blogosphere
- Firedoglake: Elections have consequences
- DCist: Meet your new Representative
- DailyKos: Public Opinion on Global Warming
- The Fix: Ranking the GOP Presidential Candidates
- National Review: Isakson-McCain ‘07
- Thoughts from the man himself, Al Gore
- Grist:
o An interview with Rep. Ed Markey
o Big climate week in DC
o Why aren’t more farmers producing organic food?
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Conclusive proof: Vampires do not exist
- Tom Delay didn’t read his own book
- Google staff get free bicycles
Quotes O’ the Day
“Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.” ~ George Carlin

Daily Briefing - 3/22/07: Al Gore, Congress, Honeymoons, and Global Warming

2007-03-22T12:52:00.000-04:00

It's already been established but it was wholely strengthened yesterday... Senator Inhofe is off his rocker.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/22/07
592 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Al Gore gets top billing
o Planetary Emergency, Wonking out, A star, Turning up the heat, A crusade, and Warming up to Gore
o A write-up from David Roberts at Grist
- Gregg Easterbrook: Who wins, who loses?
- Bill McKibben: Global warming can’t buy happiness
- Lobbyists building momentum
- Utility chiefs wary of emission limits
- Activists stirring Americans to change
- Czech leader fights the so-called religion
- Cereal fields in China produce less due to global warming
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- After honeymoon, the fight
- A 16-day gap in emails between DOJ and White House
- Constitutional showdown nears
- Mayor Rocky Anderson: An opponent of the culture of obedience
- Fox News viewers supported George Bush over John Kerry by 88 percent to 7 percent. No demographic segment, other than Republicans, was as united in supporting Bush.
Potential ‘08ers…
- Edwards (wife’s cancer returns, will continue his bid), Gingrich (sure is raking in the cash), Brownback (Iowa strategy), Gingrich again (talks about the 08 race… again), Edwards (America must cut emissions), Clinton (challenges Obama), Obama (defends himself), McCain (partnership with Kennedy faltering)
- Oy vey, super-duper Tuesday
- New poll from Quinnipiac
Other News from the Media
- Deal expands wildlife habitat near Yellowstone, thanks to NWF
- Unite, plan to save outdoors
…and the Blogosphere
- ThinkProgress: Senator Boxer gives Sen. Inhofe a bit of a smackdown
- Grist:
o On Al Gore’s day on Capitol Hill
o Peeing in the shower… does it save water?
o Green jobs for low income workers
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- D.C.: No longer Hollywood for ugly people?
- President, serial killer… who can tell the difference?
- “Paypal me your lunch money, or I’ll spam your email box!”
- Jurassic crocodile unearthed
- Justin Timberlake: But I dowanna be the king of pop!!!
Quotes O’ the Day
"Rin Tin Tin was a movie star. I just have a slideshow." ~ Al Gore

Daily Briefing - 3/20/07: Censorship and Climate Change Politics... Oh how we love the Bush Administration

2007-03-20T16:42:00.000-04:00

This is an uber-late post, but it's a good one and will have to last you until Wednesday ebcause the briefing will be off tomorrow. You can try and cope by following the two hearings Vice President Gore will be testifying at here and here.

Enjoy!

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/20/07
594 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Material shows weakening of climate reports by Bush Administration
o Congressional hearing heats up over changes to reports
o Chris Mooney sounds off on this and the vindication of James Hansen
o David Robert from Grist liveblogged the hearing
- Global warming panel makeup questioned
- Utility and Sierra Club deal aims to cut carbon dioxide
- The Independent Review of the Year: Global Warming
- Climate change concerns everyone, Jerome Ringo tells students
- Lightning and climate change
- Politico: The new climate change politics
o Politico now has a focus site all on global warming, yay!
- Grist: Al Gore to testify tomorrow
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- White House voices support for Gonzalez
o Senate limits Gonzales’ hiring authority
- Prominent conservatives launch effort to restore civil liberties under assault by executive branch
- Christian right at a crossroads
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton v. Obama (oh baby, it’s getting heated), Romney (pandering gone bad: commie phrase sparks rage), McCain (may be changing his tune on immigration), Obama (unofficially smacking Hillary down via YouTube), Edwards (I’m a frontrunner!!!!!!!), Obama again (record shows caution, nuance on Iraq), Brownback (welcome back), Gore (can he let it rip?), Thompson, Fred (got some support in Iowa),
Other News from the Media
- Bush Administration reinterprets endangered species law
- Environmental injustice in Tennessee
- Scientists find the beginnings of morality in primates
- Mine blast kills over 100 in Russia
…and the Blogosphere
- MYDD: Gore nears half a million signees
- Grist:
o The venerable David Tucker asks about organic alcohol
o Outside magazine sure likes Grist
o Answering Drudge
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Millions of Americans may have been overcharged on student loans
- Washington, D.C…. war zone for a day
- Frisbee sized snowflakes?
- Fox News, fair and… not relevant
- Leo takes on peace in the Middle East
Quotes O’ the Day
“There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.” ~ Victor Hugo

ADVISORY: Bush Administration’s Stealth Attack on Endangered Wildlife

2007-03-20T16:39:00.000-04:00

Policy Change Will Hurt Endangered Species by Denying Endangered Species Act Protections

Restoration of the Gray Wolf in the West Would Never Have Happened if this New Policy Had Been in Place at the Time of Listing

With no notice or opportunity for the American public to comment, the Bush Administration released a new policy on March 16, 2007, on how to decide whether a plant or animal is “threatened” or “endangered” and therefore deserving of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

At issue are the Act’s definitions of threatened and endangered, which require that a species must be at risk in a “significant portion of its range” before warranting Endangered Species Act protection. Departing from decades of common-sense and science-based practice, the Administration has reinterpreted this term as follows:

· According to the Administration, species must now decline to the point where all populations of a species are headed toward extinction before the entire species can be listed as endangered. This is contrary to the precautionary principles of conservation biology, which calls for taking early action to protect at-risk species.

· In the typical situation – where only a subset of the populations of an at-risk species have begun to decline – the Administration will only protect that subset. This not only violates conservation biology principles, it is also contrary to the Endangered Species Act, which states that species, subspecies and distinct populations of vertebrates shall receive protection, not subsets of these taxa.

· The Administration will focus on the habitat where the species currently resides, and not its historic range, in deciding the necessity for Endangered Species Act protection and the scope of such protection. Thus, if a species has been reduced to a single population in mere 1 percent of its historic range, the Administration will focus solely on whether the remaining population warrants protection and not consider restoration opportunities in the species’ former habitat.

This new policy – released without the benefit of any input from the scientific community or other experts – appears designed to help the Administration survive legal challenges to its highly controversial decisions to deny or remove Endangered Species Act protection from at-risk wildlife. Some of America’s most important conservation success stories, such as the restoration of the gray wolf to the Northern Rockies and New Mexico, would probably never have happened under this policy. At the time of gray wolf listing, the only occupied range was in Minnesota, and thus it would not have been listed anywhere in the West.

The National Wildlife Federation calls upon the Administration to withdraw this new policy and to allow for scientific and public input in any future efforts to alter this cornerstone conservation law.

Climate Crisis Action Day

2007-03-20T10:02:00.000-04:00

Come on down to the west lawn of the Capitol today and join the rally for Climate Crisis Action Day! Speakers include Senators Boxer, Kerry, and Sanders, Representatives Waxman, Markey, Inslee, and Ramstad, Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez, Sportsman and Radio Host Tony Dean, Arctic Climate Change Scientist Bob Corell, Religous leaders, Native Alaskan Youth, Mollie P., the world's youngest Polar Bear Activist, and many more! The National Wildlife Federation is a proud supporter of the event and will be there in full force!

We hope to see you down there, but if not check out our good friends over at Wildlife Promise where Josh will be liveblogging the rally.

MW

Daily Briefing - 3/19/07: Weapons of Mass Destruction, Investment Firms, The Simpsons, and Global Warming

2007-03-19T12:22:00.000-04:00

Roughly the whole state of New Hampshire sees global warming as an urgent threat that needs to be dealt with. Not coincidentally, the lovely state of New Hampshire is also a big player in the Presidential primary. Sooooo, maybe the '08 hopefuls will get the message??

MW

PS - A brief search of the websites of the top candidates from each party shows that so far only Sen. John Edwards has made fighting global warming a prominent part of his platform. I imagine Sen. John McCain will do so as well, but it is certainly not prominently displayed on his website. The same goes for Sens. Obama and Clinton.

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Daily Briefing – 3/19/07
595 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 Crisis Action Day is tomorrow at the Capitol
- A weapon of mass destruction
- U.S. disagrees with G8 over trees and a global trading program
- Large investors to urge Congress to accelerate passage of climate change legislation
- In New Hampshire, towns putting climate on the agenda
- I’m sure most females will read this and say, “Well, of course it’s all their fault”
- NYT: Taming fossil fuels
- World’s most important crops hit by effects
- Locals combating global warming
- Gore trainees take on Kansas City
- Nothing says “I care about your carbon footprint” like a flatulence card
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Iraq war’s statistics prove fleeting
- Sen. Leahy’s going after Rove and Miers over the attorney firings
- A Southie tradition
Potential ‘08ers…
- Gore (the un-campaign trail), Obama (draws 10,000 in Oakland), Obama again (buries the hatchet with Sharpton), Clinton (a rare appearance with Bill), McCain (older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein), Sanford (denying a run), Richardson (touring Texas), Thomson, Fred (the case for), Romney (getting money from a Swift Boat guy), Giuliani (America needs him), McCain again (conservatives aren’t a big fan), Romney again (too Mormon?), Obama again again (working for Jewish support)
- The candidates and their pets
Other News from the Media
- Wildlife refuges across the country lose staff due to budget cuts
- Building for a green future
- All creatures great, small… and endangered
…and the Blogosphere
- MYDD: The end of apathy?
- Chris Mooney: Waxman’s “one hell of a hearing”
- TomPaine: Dems going lukewarm on global warming?
- Grist:
o Philip Cooney (former COS of CEQ) speaks
o The warming of global opinion
o Canada moving in the right direction
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- An unexpected fissure between the Bush Administration and the religious right… over “Bong Hits 4 Jesus”
- Low seed means low level hotel… bummer
- Congressmen fight over Homer Simpson
Quotes O’ the Day
“Oil dependence is America's achilles heel, and it's allowed our foreign policy to go weak in the knees.” ~ Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)

Daily Briefing - 3/16/07: Temperature Records, Primary Frontloading, and Global Warming

2007-03-16T16:32:00.000-04:00

It's friday.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/16/07
598 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- World breaks temperature record
- G8 Ministers: U.S. will join fight
- Loss of Antarctic ice has scientists perplexed
- Costing billions in grain
- Using smoke and mirrors
- Solutions… from “great to idiotic”
- Gore collects signatures
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!
- Christians who won’t toe the line
- Valerie Plame testifies
Potential ‘08ers…
- McCain (chattering on), Obama (taking on Bill… oh boy), McCain again (touting immigration plan), Romney (also talking immigration), Romney again (putting Mass. economy in the spotlight), Clinton (old ties in Texas may spur some cash), Edwards (global poverty is a security issue),
- Holy primary frontloading batman!!!! California officially moves theirs to the 5th
o South Carolina may benefit
- Bush promises to restore party potency
Other News from the Media
- Green energy enthusiasts are also betting on fossil fuels
- Friedman: Marching with a mouse
- Making US produce safer?
- Coal could face a bleak future
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix’s Friday Line: The Senate
- Carl Pope: If you want to be President, listen to those folks in New Hampshire
- A generation gap between MYDD and DailyKos?
- National Journal ranks the Democratic candidates
- Grist:
o An Inconvenient truth for kids?
o Food and Punishment
o Ranting about facts and persuasion
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Don’t worry about those rats
- Bill O’Reilly sued… ha
- Umm, ‘bout time Disney got with the times
- Rahmbo is a party pooper
Quotes O’ the Day
“Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good.” ~Thomas Sowell

Sportsmen, a Powerful Force in Electoral Politics

2007-03-16T13:22:00.000-04:00

Cross Posted at Target Global Warming.

The National Journal, in an article posted to their website on Wednesday (subscription required), explains the intricacies of one of the most powerful voting bloc in american politics, "The Hook-And-Bullet Vote."

By all estimates, this is a rich and deep well of voters. Between 38 million and 53 million Americans hunt and fish, depending on who is counting, and this constituency tends to be politically astute. Years of perceived infringement on both gun-ownership rights and habitat have trained sportsmen to be particularly aware of politics.

Most sportsmen argue that they are a potent force in both parties.

"When you look at a Republican primary election, this is a very important" group, said David Rexrode, coalitions director for John McCain 2008, noting that sportsmen are typically rural, conservative voters. For this same reason, many Democrats from rural states feel it's important to reach out to sportsmen to debunk an urban, liberal stereotype.

Despite the continued importance of Second Amendment protection, other issues are starting to steal the spotlight. Later in the article, David "Mudcat" Saunders, a rural strategist for Democrats, argues that the "No. 1 issue facing sportsmen is the loss of habitat."

Daily Briefing - 3/15/07: Carbon Capture, New Hampshire, Global Warming, and the Ides of March

2007-03-15T13:57:00.000-04:00

"Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?"

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/15/07
599 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Capturing carbon, tempering global warming
- Crist can have global reach on global warming
- Push to fix ozone layer, and in the process slow global warming
o Seeking an accelerated ban on refrigerant
- New Hampshire to Presidential candidates: DO SOMETHING
- Global warming panel has the power of the hot seat
- Automakers tell House to lay off fuel economy
- The potential for mitigation is there
- Fairfax County (VA) tackling climate change with an eco-friendly initiative
- Gap among evangelicals widens
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- David Broder: Reports of the GOP death are premature
- Robert Novak: The wrath of Tom Delay
- House passes open government bills
- Capital turns cold for Bush
- Senator Schwarzenegger?... and perhaps Senator Allen redux?
Potential ‘08ers…
- Edwards (goes carbon neutral), McCain (fighting to recapture maverick spirit of 2000), McCain again (standing behind a tough stance), Clinton (some GI’s in Iraq would remain), Giuliani (focusin on energy), Clinton again (angers some over a remark), Obama (crossed a cultural divide as a child), Brownback (is on a roll… according to RedState), Edwards (anthrax scare at his office), Obama again (will not raise personal issues), Giuliani again (loses to Bloomberg in NYC)
- George Will: Why the primary push?
Other News from the Media
- Wholesale inflation surged in February
- Reverb, greening rock all over the country \\m//
- Proposal for offshore LNG terminal forges ahead
- Pennsylvania Governor’s Outdoor Conference starts Sunday
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Progressive group goes after Sen. Baucus
- Tompaine: Debating the farm bill
- Grist:
o Texas hearts solar
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Don Cheadle as Miles? Sweet.
- Odd turns in the DC madam case
- Morocco to Spain… by train!
- Hehehe
- I guess terrorists like bananas?
Quotes O’ the Day
“A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.” ~ William Shakespeare

Daily Briefing - 3/14/07: Britain, Worldwide Polls, Voting Rights, and Global Warming

2007-03-14T11:34:00.000-04:00

We have exactly 600 days until the 2008 Presidential election. What will you do to get global warming addressed by this critical date?

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/14/07
600 DAYS until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Britain drafts laws to slash carbon emissions
o How the penny dropped
o Christian Aid: A good start
- Poll shows a majority of people in the world see global warming as a critical threat
o Sadly, the US was an exception
- Renewing a call to act: NYT on Bill McKibben’s Step It Up campaign
- South Africa calls Gore to help put the brakes on biofuel production
- Rep. Herseth to study global warming
- Auto execs head to Capitol Hill to discuss global warming
o Also from MSNBC
- Frostbite derails Arctic study
o The impact continues to lure scientists
- Will hit Africa the hardest
- Guardian: The appliance of science and the split on solutions
- Dave Johnson has a suggestion: Fewer Babies
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- White House finding trouble harder to shrug off…what’s that saying about a hole and too much digging…?
o A NYT editorial
- One step closer to voting rights in D.C.! TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
- Democrats split on domestic plan
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (another right-wing conspiracy?), Giuliani (marriages annulling his bid?), Gingrich (he’s baaaack), Thompson, Fred (gets Frist’s endorsement… is this guy even running yet?), Clinton v. Obama (fighting over the Jewish vote), Dodd (considering bill to protect homeowners), Huckabee (meeting a challenge from conservatives), Giuliani again (ooh ooh, he’s a flip-flopper too!), Clinton again (knows a little something about firing attorneys), Obama (Sharpton is begging for a fight), Edwards (a little tiff with Bob Shrum… is that a bad thing?), Obama again (media surfing his past)
- A manifesto for the next President
Other News from the Media
- Orion: The Idols of Environmentalism
- World population to reach 9.2 billion
- Seas yielding surprising catch of unknown genes
- Silicon valley sets its gaze on energy
- A decent life wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it?
- A U.S. alliance to update the light bulb
- Judges say EPA ignored setting emissions standards
- Army Corps knowingly put in faulty pumps after Katrina
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix on Sen. Dole’s vulnerability
- MYDD: Norm Coleman is looking weak
- Oooh, ouch
- Huffington Post: Big Oil U
- Grist:
o Making green messages stick
o Dispatch from the Step It Up campaign
o More on the supposed “reasonable middle”
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Behind the Scenes: Chris Dodd on the Daily Show
- Beckham on his way to the US
- Poll: Rich people happy, poor people… not so much
- Oh, those crazy PETA activists (Thanks to Chris in Seattle for digging this up)
- I have a feeling Kevin Smith thought of this… GodTube
Quotes O’ the Day
“Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.” ~H. L. Mencken

Daily Briefing - 3/13/07: Charlie Crist, Jeffrey Sachs, Evangelicals, and Global Warming!

2007-03-13T16:02:00.000-04:00

An interesting piece in the New York Times outlining concern over An Inconvenient Truth. Interesting perhaps because it is misleading, so says David Roberts of Grist. I pretty much agree.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/13/07
601 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Florida Governor Crist (R-FL) joins the ranks in the fight against global warming
- Hey, if Jeffrey Sachs says so…
- Some scientists still aren’t sold
o Grist’s David Roberts and Sierra Club’s Carl Pope aren’t overly impressed with this piece of journalism… Roberts hammers it.
- Evangelicals slam U.S. on torture and take a stand on global warming
- Ontario’s boreal forecast critical in fight
- The Southern Illinois: Only a Carbon Tax Can Stop Global Warming
- Xinhua: 1987 pact slowed warming
- An Inconvenient Truth hits the small screen
- BBC’s climate challenge
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Prosecutor firings had genesis in the White House
o Democrats want an explanation
- GOP voters voice anxiety
- Sen. Coleman leads Franken in early poll
- House republicans protest use of room in Capitol by Muslim group
- Meehan to leave House in July
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama (the moment for this messenger), Hagel (the waiting game), Obama v. Hagel (William Arkin’s dream), McCain (won’t attend Club for Growth), Clinton (nabs some lobbyists), Obama again (Sharpton didn’t like his support of Lieberman), Richardson (bans cockfighting in NM), Obama again again (wife Michelle steps up role), Giuliani (he likes firefighters), McCain again (the people from Club for Growth aren’t too happy with him), Gingrich (will a confession help?), Edwards (takes Manhattan), Romney (so does Mitt), Giuliani again (how pure does he have to be?)
- New York loads up February 5th
Other News from the Media
- Where wilderness meets wildlife in Florida
- Rainforests need the dry season
- Judge stops sale of genetically manufactured alfalfa
- Chemicals may play role in rise of obesity
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Why Drudge matters
- The Caucus: Politics and YouTube
- MYDD straw poll results
- Media Matters: Sunday talk shows lean conservative
- Politico: How the netroots killed the Fox debate
- Grist:
o Let’s Call the Coal Thing Off
o Sustainable development in today’s job market
o A new way to think about ethanol
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Viacom sues YouTube over copyrights
- No e-mail Fridays?! Gasp, the horror!!!!
- Rachel McAdams, an environmentalist I’m a fan of
Quotes O’ the Day
"I am persuaded that global climate change is one of the most important issues that we will face in this century," ~Gov. Crist (R-FL)

Daily Briefing - 3/12/07: Pelosi's Select Committee, Evangelical Concern over Global Warming, "Cleaner" Coal Plants, and a whole lot of Election News

2007-03-12T13:30:00.000-04:00

There's lots of important news to go over today. Speaker Pelosi announces the roster of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, TXU announces plans for cleaner coal plants, there's infighting in Europe over addressing global warming, and three really good articles on ethanol are just a sampling. And not to forget a whole lot on election '08.

Seriously, a whole lot.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/12/07
602 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Pelosi reveals roster of Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
- Top scientists warn of water shortages and disease
- Evangelical board affirms concern for global warming
- Europe divided on how to fight global warming
- Defending the muzzling of scientists
- TXU announces designs for two coal plants to be cleaner burning
- Report warns of disaster
- U.S. insurers seen as lagging
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Kilroy looks for a rematch against Rep. Pryce
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama v. Clinton (the sparring started early), Hagel (that imminent decision is not so imminent), Richardson (profiled by some old friends), Thompson, Fred (revisiting the possibility), Thompson, Fred again (thrilling TN GOP), Giuliani (conservatives balking), Brownback (the lesser-known candidate working the grassroots), Obama (urging compassion in the Middle East), Obama again (Sharpton ain’t a fan), McCain (Mankiw on his notion of tax cuts), Clinton (a hero problem), Edwards (the new version), Edwards again (cancer shaped his plan), Romney (gets support from Guinn),
- Early primary rush upending campaign plans
- Where the GOP hopefuls stand
- Nevada Dems nix Fox debate
Other News from the Media
- Energy independence for Warrenton, VA
- On ethanol:
o Why grocery bills are getting bigger
o Palm oil frenzy taking toll
o The hard truth: America is drunk on ethanol
- Midwest has coal rush, sees no alternative
o A response David Roberts at Grist
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Friday’s Governor Line
- Hotline: White 2008 Race Ranking, the Republicans
- Grist:
o Testing Seattle’s commitment to being green
o Renewable energy, Texas style
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- It’s tourney time baby!
o LET’S GO COLONIALS!
- The silver screen gives Earth its revenge
- Dark energy… it’s out there, and in way more abundance than everything else
- All my troubles warmed away
Quotes O’ the Day
“Al Gore, on a recent trip to New York City to discuss his film An Inconvenient Truth, is walking west on 50th St., when he reaches Park Ave. Gore waits for the lights to change. Then, when he gets his walk signal, he proceeds across Park, strolling past dozens of idling cars and taxis and trucks that have been brought to a halt. How many tonnes of greenhouse gas were spilled into the atmosphere, just so Al Gore could cross the street? Who the hell does he think he is?” ~ Linwood Barclay

Aww, it's like that guy in Titanic

2007-03-09T16:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the brilliant folks over at Wildlife Promise and Kerry Boland for this work of mastery.

The briefing is on a 3-day weekend. See ya Monday!

MW

Daily Briefing - 3/8/07: Wildlife, Censorship, Insurance, and Global Warming

2007-03-08T12:16:00.000-05:00

In yet another sad example of global warming censorship for this Administration, the New York Times has revealed that wildlife officials associated with the Alaskan branch of the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been told not to speak about climate change, polar bears, or sea life when travelling. Its the lead article in the global warming section today.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/8/07
606 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Wildlife officials told not to discuss climate change or polar bears
- Taking climate legislation to the Hill
- Swiss Re: Insurance losses to rise with global warming
- Montreal protocol, the lesser known predecessor to Kyoto, is slowing warming
- Atlantic: Who wins and who loses?
- Chancellor Merkel urging EU to lead
- Changing consumer habits one foot at a time
- A coal executive with a cleanup mission
- Raleigh to host talks
- A magnet for investor money
- Car makers… bad sports or old fossil fools?
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- The immigration minefield
- House Dems seek 2008 Iraq withdrawal
Potential ‘08ers…
- Hagel (will announce plans on Monday), Edwards (to skip debate hosted by Fox), Giuliani (may be too much of a “New Yorker”… as a NYer, I say bollocks to that!), Obama (says investments presented no conflicts of interest), Obama again (NYers begging to go to his event), Richardson (defending character issues), Romney (betting on tax cuts), Huckabee (picking up staffers in NH)
- Think its hard to run as a Senator, how about as a Member of the House?
- George Will: Sees three good options for conservatives
Other News from the Media
- New York Times has a special green business section
- Bank of America’s money is getting greener
- Vermont wants to become the silicon valley of the green industry
- How green is nuclear power?
…and the Blogosphere
- Andrew Sullivan on Ann Coulter and the denigration of homosexuals
- MYDD: A party switch???
- Oh the glory of city living
- Rev. Jim Wallis responds to James Dobson and his global warming denials
- TomPaine: Not a fan of carbon offsets
- Grist:
o On Sports Illustrated’s coverage of global warming
o Landfills v. incinerators
o A chat with An Inconvenient Truth co-producer Lawrence Bender
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Sorry ladies, looks like Prince William is off the market
- In a battle of diets, Atkins wins
- Wikipedia to seek proof of credentials
- Goodness gracious, Captain America died!!!!
Quotes O’ the Day
“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ~Philip K. Dick

Daily Briefing - 3/7/07: Sports and Global Warming, Scooter Libby, and Impeachment

2007-03-07T14:28:00.000-05:00

Man, the sections on '08 candidates just keeps growing...

MW

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Daily Briefing – 3/7/07
607 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- Sports Illustrated: Sports would, and do, gain from going… going…. green!
- IUCN: Women fighting climate change (including NWF’s Patty Glick)
- EU urged to lead
- Experts advise President of the European Commission, Joes Manuel Barroso
- Automakers to fight CA global warming suit
- Minnesota greenhouse gas plan advances
- Reaching Mount Everest
- Global warming and grizzlies
- Tony Blankley: Global warming as a religion and Al Gore and his remissions
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Libby is convicted, faces jail
o For Cheney, political toll may follow
o Guess the pardon date, win a T-shirt!
- Vermont votes to impeach Bush/Cheney
Potential ‘08ers…
- Obama (man of the world), Edwards (snaring some Vilsack supporters), Obama again (rallying in Iowa), Clinton (endorsed by NH House Maj Leader), Giuliani (hawking for votes in Iowa), Obama again again (loves Beyonce), Edwards again (denounces attacks), Hagel (showing his hand?), Giuliani again (will not reach a deal with pro-lifers), Obama for one last time (likes the JFK comparisons), McCain (staffers jump ship after unplanned announcement on Letterman),
- Michigan looks to push its primary date up, bring the automobile industry to the forefront
Other News from the Media
- Venture capitalists want to put some algae in your tank
- The latest trend in ethanol… coal
- A biological hotspot in Africa
- Breathing easier in Thailand: The battle for blue skies pays off
- Preserving land and wildlife to preserve the Afghan identity
- Plug-in hybrids for a sustainable future
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix: Parsing the polls on the democrats
- RedState: The latest dumb idea from the separatist right… conservapedia
- TomPaine: A greener farm bill
- Grist:
o The civil war among evangelicals
o Who’s counting the carbon?
o On local currencies
o Mitigation v. adaptation
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- The earliest solar observatory in the Americas
- Borat seen as human rights victim
- Jenna Bush writes book for teens
Quotes O’ the Day
“Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a congressman can.” ~ Mark Twain