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

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

MW

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

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

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

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