Mobilizing Young Voters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - 4/10/07: 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

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

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

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