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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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