Showing posts with label John Kerry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Kerry. Show all posts
Wow, what a week it has been, so far, with still more left to go. It's been light on the blog for the last couple of days, but as a result, this is going to be a rare look into some of the things I've been doing. It's been fun.
On Tuesday Consequence flew in the winners of the Organize to be Heard challenge. Those who generated the most calls, wrote the most letters, held a rally, etc., and racked up points based on these tasks, were invited to Washington. In all, there are 13 of them, five from Michigan, but the rest stretching all over the country. Four made cross-country flights from the west coast.
When the Michigan delegation arrived, they were able to walk right into a little protest being staged at Senator Lisa Murkowski's office, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) committee and author of what the environmental community calls the "Dirty Air Act."
The Murkowski amendment is actually a "Disapproval Resolution" which states that the science of climate change is still in question and therefore the EPA should not be able to regulate greenhouse gases. There's an important point of distinction here that no one I have ever talked to thinks the EPA should be doing this. This is the job of Congress because regulating GHG's without any consumer protections or investments in manufacturing or clean energy could hurt the economy. But the EPA doesn't have a choice. It is a bound by a Supreme Court ruling back in 2007 to regulate GHG's, as they are considered a public health hazard.
The problem is that Murkowski's amendment doesn't tell the EPA no, it denies climate change. One Senate staffer said yesterday in a meeting that they would support her resolution if it didn't deny climate change. Many probably would.
[More]
On Tuesday Consequence flew in the winners of the Organize to be Heard challenge. Those who generated the most calls, wrote the most letters, held a rally, etc., and racked up points based on these tasks, were invited to Washington. In all, there are 13 of them, five from Michigan, but the rest stretching all over the country. Four made cross-country flights from the west coast.
When the Michigan delegation arrived, they were able to walk right into a little protest being staged at Senator Lisa Murkowski's office, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) committee and author of what the environmental community calls the "Dirty Air Act."
The Murkowski amendment is actually a "Disapproval Resolution" which states that the science of climate change is still in question and therefore the EPA should not be able to regulate greenhouse gases. There's an important point of distinction here that no one I have ever talked to thinks the EPA should be doing this. This is the job of Congress because regulating GHG's without any consumer protections or investments in manufacturing or clean energy could hurt the economy. But the EPA doesn't have a choice. It is a bound by a Supreme Court ruling back in 2007 to regulate GHG's, as they are considered a public health hazard.
The problem is that Murkowski's amendment doesn't tell the EPA no, it denies climate change. One Senate staffer said yesterday in a meeting that they would support her resolution if it didn't deny climate change. Many probably would.
Evening y'all. Hope all is well.
They tell me that this is when life really gets busy.
Today Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry unveiled their version of the House's ACES. While the title, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue - okay, we'll be honest, it's horrible - it cannot get lost how groundbreaking this is.
This is the cliched "uncharted territory." There had never been a bill on this issue passed through either chamber of Congress, so to have passed a bill and now have one introduced in the Senate is a huge deal. Not to mention, while someone light on details, the things that are present in this bill are much stronger than they started in the House. The Senate bill is certain to be weaker at the end of the process, should it be passed.
So today we had a big event on the East Lawn of the Capitol, with quite a few people and almost ever member of the Energy and Public Works Committee. Follow ActGreen in the next few days for updates and more information about what is going on. The LCV website also has some good stuff, along with a lot of pictures. There was a particularly unfortunate photo of John Kerry raising his hand in a Heil Hitler solute. Needless to say, it was not used.
I will try and keep you up to date with the things that will be going on around the bill. Life is about to get pretty crazy.
Some links:
It is absolutely ridiculous politics that John Boehner would attack president Obama for going to Copenhagen to help Chicago's Olympic bid. The Olympics are HUGE for a country and the region they are in. And had he stayed home, Obama would have been the only leader of a contending country not present. Congressman Boehner is fine with telling the president to stay out when he is in Washington, but the second the leader of the free world leaves for 24 hours, Boehner can't handle it.
Remember that Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) amendment? This is exactly what she was trying to stop.
China is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic.
And a very well researched, especially interview-wise, story about theJohn Edwards situation.
Stay up y'all. So awesome that fall is here.
[More]
They tell me that this is when life really gets busy.
Today Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry unveiled their version of the House's ACES. While the title, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue - okay, we'll be honest, it's horrible - it cannot get lost how groundbreaking this is.
This is the cliched "uncharted territory." There had never been a bill on this issue passed through either chamber of Congress, so to have passed a bill and now have one introduced in the Senate is a huge deal. Not to mention, while someone light on details, the things that are present in this bill are much stronger than they started in the House. The Senate bill is certain to be weaker at the end of the process, should it be passed.
So today we had a big event on the East Lawn of the Capitol, with quite a few people and almost ever member of the Energy and Public Works Committee. Follow ActGreen in the next few days for updates and more information about what is going on. The LCV website also has some good stuff, along with a lot of pictures. There was a particularly unfortunate photo of John Kerry raising his hand in a Heil Hitler solute. Needless to say, it was not used.
I will try and keep you up to date with the things that will be going on around the bill. Life is about to get pretty crazy.
Some links:
It is absolutely ridiculous politics that John Boehner would attack president Obama for going to Copenhagen to help Chicago's Olympic bid. The Olympics are HUGE for a country and the region they are in. And had he stayed home, Obama would have been the only leader of a contending country not present. Congressman Boehner is fine with telling the president to stay out when he is in Washington, but the second the leader of the free world leaves for 24 hours, Boehner can't handle it.
Remember that Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) amendment? This is exactly what she was trying to stop.
China is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic.
And a very well researched, especially interview-wise, story about theJohn Edwards situation.
Stay up y'all. So awesome that fall is here.
Hey, before I get into my long, running opening you are always so excited to read (I know you are!), just wanted to pass along two links, one hilarious, one not so much.
First, if you read Geoff Baker's Mariners blog you probably already saw this, but apparently last night, before the M's game, former Mariner and current broadcaster Mike Blowers predicted that Matt Tuiasosopo (yes that one) would hit his first major league homerun into the second deck on the 3-1 count in his second at bat. Seriously. Well, listen for yourself...I will say if they Mariners have made one very good decision in recent years, it was hiring Blowers. He is very good up there.
Second, a rather scary story out of USC that was text to me almost right after it happened. Stafon Johnson, one of the only Trojan running backs with the ability to hold onto the football, apparently (and this is not meant to be funny AT ALL) lost the handle on a barbell he was bench pressing, dropping it on his throat. He immediately started coughing up blood and was rushed to the hospital where he is still in surgery.
I spent considerable time talking to the person that told me about it and apparently he was being spotted - a requirement at college weight lifting sessions. While it is possible that the spotter's attention lapsed, there is no way he didn't catch it. Can't imagine if Johnson had dropped the likely 200-plus pounds he was benching directly on his throat, that he would still be alive. Anyway, keep him in your prayers.
Moving on.
HUGE week here in the nation's capitol for those of us in the energy sector. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) will be unveiling their version of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation on Wednesday. If I have to type that phrase anymore I am going to go crazy.
One of the major things we do at LCV is provide our state leagues with LTE's (letters to the editor) for them to find signers for and send out to local media. You would probably not be amazed, but this is where most political LTE's come from. Joe Schmo generally does NOT get his LTE printed. We want to put out as much positive feedback as we can, knowing the the oil and coal industries are not going to get beat again. They are like the Yankees - they spent $130 million-plus already and all they got was a climate bill. So this time they will spend more. Because they can. The difference is I like the Yanks - your 2009 AL Eastern Division champs!
Anyway, so in the last two days I have written around 50 versions of the same 150ish words. Needless to say, I've gone a little nuts.
And if this sort of thing turns you off from politics, well, it should. This is how advocacy works. LTE's are never geared toward readers. They are geared toward the deputy press secretary in the office of the Congressmen and Senators in that state or district, who compiles the clips everyday and runs them by the member.
So it should be a wild week.
And with that note, I'm out. Sorry about the lack of other links. Will update. But, actually I did just think of one.
Not sure how many of you have ever heard of Maldives. It's an island country about 450 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. It boasts the lowest highest point in the world (catch up with that?) at 2.3 meters. In other words, the effects of global warming would sink the country, much like some of the U.S. Navy bases. They are so worried about this that the country has already purchased land in Australia for 330,000 or so residents. Anyway, the cool story is that, in order to call attention to this obviously major issue for them, the president will be holding a cabinet meeting under water. If you Google image search the country you will see some pretty awesome pictures of underwater restaurants and such. This will be a regular government function. Pretty cool/interesting.
Also, whoever did this, serious or not, is an idiot. You just cannot do anything that seems like a threat to the president.
And I'm not sure what to make of this whole Iran situation, other than that I'm pretty sure the governments that are acting all up-in-arms probably already knew about this and now it is just public. Oh, how the news media can change things.
Later.
[More]
First, if you read Geoff Baker's Mariners blog you probably already saw this, but apparently last night, before the M's game, former Mariner and current broadcaster Mike Blowers predicted that Matt Tuiasosopo (yes that one) would hit his first major league homerun into the second deck on the 3-1 count in his second at bat. Seriously. Well, listen for yourself...I will say if they Mariners have made one very good decision in recent years, it was hiring Blowers. He is very good up there.
Second, a rather scary story out of USC that was text to me almost right after it happened. Stafon Johnson, one of the only Trojan running backs with the ability to hold onto the football, apparently (and this is not meant to be funny AT ALL) lost the handle on a barbell he was bench pressing, dropping it on his throat. He immediately started coughing up blood and was rushed to the hospital where he is still in surgery.
I spent considerable time talking to the person that told me about it and apparently he was being spotted - a requirement at college weight lifting sessions. While it is possible that the spotter's attention lapsed, there is no way he didn't catch it. Can't imagine if Johnson had dropped the likely 200-plus pounds he was benching directly on his throat, that he would still be alive. Anyway, keep him in your prayers.
Moving on.
HUGE week here in the nation's capitol for those of us in the energy sector. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) will be unveiling their version of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation on Wednesday. If I have to type that phrase anymore I am going to go crazy.
One of the major things we do at LCV is provide our state leagues with LTE's (letters to the editor) for them to find signers for and send out to local media. You would probably not be amazed, but this is where most political LTE's come from. Joe Schmo generally does NOT get his LTE printed. We want to put out as much positive feedback as we can, knowing the the oil and coal industries are not going to get beat again. They are like the Yankees - they spent $130 million-plus already and all they got was a climate bill. So this time they will spend more. Because they can. The difference is I like the Yanks - your 2009 AL Eastern Division champs!
Anyway, so in the last two days I have written around 50 versions of the same 150ish words. Needless to say, I've gone a little nuts.
And if this sort of thing turns you off from politics, well, it should. This is how advocacy works. LTE's are never geared toward readers. They are geared toward the deputy press secretary in the office of the Congressmen and Senators in that state or district, who compiles the clips everyday and runs them by the member.
So it should be a wild week.
And with that note, I'm out. Sorry about the lack of other links. Will update. But, actually I did just think of one.
Not sure how many of you have ever heard of Maldives. It's an island country about 450 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. It boasts the lowest highest point in the world (catch up with that?) at 2.3 meters. In other words, the effects of global warming would sink the country, much like some of the U.S. Navy bases. They are so worried about this that the country has already purchased land in Australia for 330,000 or so residents. Anyway, the cool story is that, in order to call attention to this obviously major issue for them, the president will be holding a cabinet meeting under water. If you Google image search the country you will see some pretty awesome pictures of underwater restaurants and such. This will be a regular government function. Pretty cool/interesting.
Also, whoever did this, serious or not, is an idiot. You just cannot do anything that seems like a threat to the president.
And I'm not sure what to make of this whole Iran situation, other than that I'm pretty sure the governments that are acting all up-in-arms probably already knew about this and now it is just public. Oh, how the news media can change things.
Later.
Happy Monday morning y'all. Some days I am just stunned by how beautiful the weather can be out here. Perfectly clear skies and cool (right now) this morning. But I also love the rain and we should have some more of that this week.
This is one of those weeks where the plan is not totally settled yet. At the 11 am staff meeting there should be more information. We were supposed to have a rally this week, but the President upstaged it, so that is getting changed. Thank goodness we hadn't sent out a call yet because I would be getting all kinds of phone calls. As it is, the email will probably blow up.
Some of you may have noticed the Rep. Ed Markey announced that he will not run for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat (a name for which it will likely forever be known), meaning the field shrunk one, but is still wide open.
There is not a lot to say on the weekend front (great prime time football games though huh? Man Jay Cutler sucks), but I'll share some links.
You've probably heard this, but New Haven police and the FBI appear to have found the body of Annie Le in the wall at the Yale lab she was working in. ABC News is reporting that police may have a suspect. Her body was found on her wedding day.
The father of the Green Revolution has died. Norman Borlaugh, the Nobel Laureate and feeder of billions, was almost single-handedly instrumental in multiplying food production exponentially.
Wrote about this on JBJ Sports, but watch as Tennis shows its haughty side (like it ever doesn't) in its treatment of Serena Williams. Profanity-laced tantrums are never okay (yes, it was a tantrum), unless your name is Lou Pinella, but Tennis takes its whininess a little far.
Washington Post story on the gap between Sen. Kerry and Sen. McCain on climate.
I felt a somewhat compelled to link this NY Post story about the NY Times lack of coverage of Van Jones. Take it how you will, but know that I think the NY Post is a joke of a newspaper, as evidenced by their printing of actual photos of the Erin Andrews "incident" and on principle really.
Finally,
Kanye, how could you be so heartless?
Stay Classy.
[More]
This is one of those weeks where the plan is not totally settled yet. At the 11 am staff meeting there should be more information. We were supposed to have a rally this week, but the President upstaged it, so that is getting changed. Thank goodness we hadn't sent out a call yet because I would be getting all kinds of phone calls. As it is, the email will probably blow up.
Some of you may have noticed the Rep. Ed Markey announced that he will not run for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat (a name for which it will likely forever be known), meaning the field shrunk one, but is still wide open.
There is not a lot to say on the weekend front (great prime time football games though huh? Man Jay Cutler sucks), but I'll share some links.
You've probably heard this, but New Haven police and the FBI appear to have found the body of Annie Le in the wall at the Yale lab she was working in. ABC News is reporting that police may have a suspect. Her body was found on her wedding day.
The father of the Green Revolution has died. Norman Borlaugh, the Nobel Laureate and feeder of billions, was almost single-handedly instrumental in multiplying food production exponentially.
Wrote about this on JBJ Sports, but watch as Tennis shows its haughty side (like it ever doesn't) in its treatment of Serena Williams. Profanity-laced tantrums are never okay (yes, it was a tantrum), unless your name is Lou Pinella, but Tennis takes its whininess a little far.
Washington Post story on the gap between Sen. Kerry and Sen. McCain on climate.
I felt a somewhat compelled to link this NY Post story about the NY Times lack of coverage of Van Jones. Take it how you will, but know that I think the NY Post is a joke of a newspaper, as evidenced by their printing of actual photos of the Erin Andrews "incident" and on principle really.
Finally,
Kanye, how could you be so heartless?
Stay Classy.
World War II ended today. Seriously, you can't make this stuff up. The ceremonial surrender of the Japanese happened today on the USS Missouri.
I am just a fanatic for this day in history stuff. Maybe I'll just make the blog all about that. Look at what else happened today:
1969: First ATM opened. And the America went broke. Also on the same exact day the original Star Trek aired its final episode.
1666: London started to burn down
1985: The Titanic wreckage was found in the Atlantic
And the one that I decided to look into a little more:
In 1963 Alabama Gov. George Wallace prevented the integration of Tuskegee High School by encircling the building with state troopers. No, the irony in the name is not lost. But we are talking about a governor who literally won his race with this famous quote:
He went on to say that Alabama had been blessed by God like few other states had. It is amazing what you can do in the name of God in this world. Excuse me while I go tell all the women in my office to get back in the kitchen (thank you Bob McDonnell). Seriously though, these jokes aren't even funny. Granted I have live in a seemingly more blessed time and place, but it is amazing that people think this way. McDonnell chalks it up to being a "kid". He was 34. Pray for him.
Links:
A 7.0 earthquake hit Indonesia near Java. Natural disaster has just been destroying the extremely poor area for years.
Interesting WSJ story about the political leanings of football coaches. Seems like the points made about hard work and all that are not as striking. But the idea that, especially in the larger and west coast markets your players likely trend Democrat could help coaches lean that way. One thing it didn't mention, which is probably of most consequence here, is these coaches bank accounts. How many people would switch party affiliations if they were multimillionaires. During the election last summer there was a question in Sports Illustrated asking what party certain athletes vote with and why. There was a range of answers, but the one that stuck with me was a hockey player: "Republican, clearly. I know what tax bracket I'm in." Seems like it comes down to that more often than not.
Every paper I've read today had a story about the limits of the sex offender program. Reminded me that UW had some trouble with a halfway house in the greek system that the Governor was not too helpful with.
One consequence of the struggling economy is a difficulty in finding jurors that can afford the time.
Is Justice John Paul Stevens moving toward retirement?
The scariest thing about these wildfires already just destroying California is that the height of the season and of the dangerous Santa Ana winds, has not even started yet. Yes, fire is good in many places. It is natural. But not in cities and those are being threatened.
And it is time to start paying attention to The Fix again as the speculation for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat heats up.
The introduction of the Senate version of the energy bill was postponed by Senators Boxer and Kerry, but next week and the week after promise to be pretty crazy.
All for now
[More]
I am just a fanatic for this day in history stuff. Maybe I'll just make the blog all about that. Look at what else happened today:
1969: First ATM opened. And the America went broke. Also on the same exact day the original Star Trek aired its final episode.
1666: London started to burn down
1985: The Titanic wreckage was found in the Atlantic
And the one that I decided to look into a little more:
In 1963 Alabama Gov. George Wallace prevented the integration of Tuskegee High School by encircling the building with state troopers. No, the irony in the name is not lost. But we are talking about a governor who literally won his race with this famous quote:
"Let us rise to the call of freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny . . . and I say . . . segregation today . . . segregation tomorrow . . . segregation forever.Don't believe it was said? Download Kenny G's "Millennium Mix" of Auld Lang Syne. There's a clip. This is the same guy that on his first day in office tried to kick liquor out of Alabama. So the two most ungodly things: liquor and black people. In the name of freedom. THIS GUY WAS THE GOVERNOR!
He went on to say that Alabama had been blessed by God like few other states had. It is amazing what you can do in the name of God in this world. Excuse me while I go tell all the women in my office to get back in the kitchen (thank you Bob McDonnell). Seriously though, these jokes aren't even funny. Granted I have live in a seemingly more blessed time and place, but it is amazing that people think this way. McDonnell chalks it up to being a "kid". He was 34. Pray for him.
Links:
A 7.0 earthquake hit Indonesia near Java. Natural disaster has just been destroying the extremely poor area for years.
Interesting WSJ story about the political leanings of football coaches. Seems like the points made about hard work and all that are not as striking. But the idea that, especially in the larger and west coast markets your players likely trend Democrat could help coaches lean that way. One thing it didn't mention, which is probably of most consequence here, is these coaches bank accounts. How many people would switch party affiliations if they were multimillionaires. During the election last summer there was a question in Sports Illustrated asking what party certain athletes vote with and why. There was a range of answers, but the one that stuck with me was a hockey player: "Republican, clearly. I know what tax bracket I'm in." Seems like it comes down to that more often than not.
Every paper I've read today had a story about the limits of the sex offender program. Reminded me that UW had some trouble with a halfway house in the greek system that the Governor was not too helpful with.
One consequence of the struggling economy is a difficulty in finding jurors that can afford the time.
The scariest thing about these wildfires already just destroying California is that the height of the season and of the dangerous Santa Ana winds, has not even started yet. Yes, fire is good in many places. It is natural. But not in cities and those are being threatened.
And it is time to start paying attention to The Fix again as the speculation for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat heats up.
The introduction of the Senate version of the energy bill was postponed by Senators Boxer and Kerry, but next week and the week after promise to be pretty crazy.
All for now