Friday Coffee Talk/Open Thread

by: BZP

Fri May 18, 2007 at 07:02:01 AM EDT

• Christine Barry: At Least You Won’t Have To Pay Higher Taxes. Christine hits it out of the park. This is a must-read.
• DFP: Stop avoiding budget decisions. "For all their crowing about not raising taxes, [Senate Republicans] have taken no major steps to bring the budget into structural balance, so that income matches outgo. To the contrary, they have created worse problems for the next fiscal year, setting the state up for steeper cuts or a higher tax than if they had bitten the bullet now."
• Conservative Media: Bishop taking on Gingrich role of shutting down the state government. The Guru does a nice job of walking us through the last several months of budget insanity.
• Capitol Journal: What's the holdup? Boy, that's a tough one to answer.
• DFP: Survey: Capitol insiders not pleased with state's leaders. I'm no statistician, but these survey results just don't hold water. Better get Nirmal on this one.
• Argus-Press: Ethanol plant brings mixed feelings for residents. "More than 20 residents, city officials and out-of-towners commented on the proposed plant, which could reside on Parmenter Road and produce about 100 million gallons of ethanol a year."
• Media Mouse: Activists Respond to Investigation of Michigan DEQ in Sulfide Mining Controversy. "A press release issued by Save the Wild UP titled "MDEQ Bungles Investigation," made harsh criticisms of an investigation that failed to interview people outside the DEQ and reached contradictory conclusions when it called for the reinstatement of a DEQ official at the center of the probe."
• [con]serving michigan: Rein in the CAFOs. "The Freep has an excellent editorial in [yesterday's] paper discussing the state Senate’s management of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). While some credit is due for even addressing the issue, the Senate’s hesitation to lay down a moratorium on new operations is intensely disappointing. For the many rural citizens, though, who are unfortunate enough to live anywhere near these farms that literally spray liquidized fertilizer across fields, it is devastating."
• Bay City Times: Michigan joins new greenhouse gas registry. Hmm. I'll be curious to see what kind of response they get: "By joining the registry, Michigan companies will be able to get credit for cutting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases when expected federal mandates begin. Those mandates are likely to include a trading program for carbon credits, aimed at creating a net decrease in emissions."
• Mike Ramsey: Run For The Hills. Leave it to Mike to put the whole global warming thing into perspective for us: "Of course, the same Faulknerian mouth-breathers that have their heads in the sand on this issue will be the first to claim that the effects are the wrath of an angry God (*cough*Katrina), driving them deeper into their delusional stupor."

Thirteen Weeks and Two Pages to Answer a Yes or No Question About Global Warming

by: LiberalLucy

Tue May 15, 2007 at 11:00:00 AM EDT

Cross-posted from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood with BZP's permission. ****

On February 7, 2007, I sent an email to Rep. Rogers' office asking the following question:

I would like to know how Rep. Rogers voted in this National Journal Poll about Global Warming.

Does the Congressman believe "it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the Earth is warming because of man-made problems?"

This is what the poll found: 95% of Democrats believe in man-made global warming, whereas 83% of Republicans do not believe the science behind global warming.

Well, after seven weeks, I finally received a response from Mike Rogers' office via snail mail today. It's almost two pages long, and lays out all the steps the Congressman has taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the House. As Mr. Rogers says, he is...

acutely sensitive to the delicate balance we must reach protecting our precious environment, while preserving the jobs that provide for our way of life.

Now, I do appreciate that the folks at Mike Rogers' office took the time to send me this letter, and I'm willing to give the Congressman some credit for what efforts he has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (trust me, his record is better than some of his Republican colleagues).

However, as we have pointed out in the past, Rep. Rogers continues to deny the fundamental science behind global warming, has accepted numerous campaign contributions from some of the country's most notorious polluters, and consistently receives failing grades from environmental groups.

Mike Rogers closed his letter to me by saying:

Rest assured, I will work tirelessly toward this important economic, environmental and national security effort.

Obama's speech at the Detroit Economic Club today

by: SharonRB

Mon May 07, 2007 at 22:31:37 PM EDT

Read the whole speech here. He does a great job addressing the needs of the auto industry, as well as the needs of the country.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama to the Detroit Economic Club
Detroit, MI | May 07, 2007

America is a country that hasn't come easily. In our brief history, we have been tested by revolution and slavery, war and depression, and great movements for social, civil, and equal rights.

We have emerged from each challenge stronger, more prosperous, and ever closer to the ideals of liberty and opportunity that lay at the heart of the American experiment.

And yet, the price of our progress has always been borne by the struggle and sacrifice of our people - by leaders who have asked ordinary Americans to do extraordinary things; and by generations of men and women who've had the courage to answer that call.

My talk with Carl Levin on Iraq funding and war today (w/photos)

by: David Boyle

Sun Apr 15, 2007 at 17:40:20 PM EDT

Senator Carl Levin and myself--but what is he doing with the Black Flag shirt, and how did his hair get so long?

  As per our earlier notation, the popular senior U.S. Senator from Michigan, Carl Levin (Democrat, by the way), visited the Michigan Union at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from about 12:45-some to 2-some p.m. today. He spoke, largely about Iraq, and took questions afterwards.

C. Lev holding forth at podium, Pendleton Room, Michigan Union

  He said a number of worthwhile things about Iraq, including how bad the war was, how he'd voted against it initially, how important it was that the Iraqi politicians work to reach a solution to their problems (and how crucial it was that the U.S. keep pressing them to do so).

  (much more below)

How We Can All Be Part of the Global Warming Solution

by: SharonRB

Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 14:01:08 PM EDT

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Bush in Global Warming Case

by: Rhonda

Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 11:02:17 AM EDT

Several states had sued EPA saying that the Agency should regulate CO2 as an air pollutant.  Under Bush, EPA claimed they did not have the authority to regulate CO2.  (In their brief they also argued that even if they had authority, they weren't convinced CO2 should be regulated anyway.)

UPDATE:  I just found the case itself at SCOTUSBLOG.  I haven't read it yet.

An Al Gore Special Recipe

by: rchsdems

Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 10:18:36 AM EDT

Immediately following the film will be a talk back session with area environmental leaders including environmental activist and State Representative, Kathleen Law (D-Gibraltar).

Swing on by the DTDO Headquarters located at 21919 Telegraph, in Brownstown (between King and West on the east side of the street across from the new 'spot', Moose MacGreggors) at 7:00pm.  Working to inform the community the DTDO are presenting this event with State Representatives Barb Farrah and Kathleen Law who have signed on as sponsors.

Note that the event is free but donations are suggested.  No outside food or drink will be allowed to be smuggled in yet deliciously delightful organic refreshments that are good for your body and soul will be available for purchase.

For more information you can contact Me (Chris) at chris@downriverteendems.com, (734) 934-9452 or visit www.downriverteendems.com.

Be there or be square!

Michigan's Inconvenient Truth

by: Cordelia Lear

Mon Feb 19, 2007 at 05:22:47 AM EST

Gore has personally trained 1,000 disciples. Part cheerleaders, part angels of gloom, they are fanning across the country with copies of his climate change slide show (330 slides) and the goal of getting their audience roused enough to demand action from their leaders.

Speakers are encouraged to customize their presentations, adding slides or discussing facts about the effects of global warming in their own states.

In Michigan, those talking points could include predictions that by 2100, summer here will feel like summers now in Mississippi and that the levels of lakes Michigan and Huron could drop by 5 feet.

Think Katrina was bad? Imagine how many people will be displaced along the coast of Florida, never to be able to return home.

In order to intelligently debate this topic we need to educate ourselves. Gore's movie and local sessions from trained volunteers can help do that.

The article contains dates and locations for presentations across the state.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., 305 Brooks Hall, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant

Thursday, 7 p.m., Inland Seas Education Association, 100 Dame St., Suttons Bay

March 1, 1 p.m., Children's Home of Detroit, 900 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods

March 3, 9 a.m., St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1790 Fort St., Trenton

March 6, 6 p.m., Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn

March 10, 2 p.m., Brighton Education Center, 125 S. Church St., Brighton

On another local note, Gore's science advisor for his training sessions is retired UM geology professor Henry Pollack.

A big thank you to Al Gore for his hard work and vision on the topic. And, an even bigger thank you to the volunteers.

Mark your calendar, today, for a session near you.

Bush Wants To Use Mirrors To Protect Against Global Warming. Seriously.

by: Rhonda

Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 13:16:42 PM EST

The Guardian is reporting that the Bush Administration wants to put giant mirrors in space to block sunlight from reaching the earth as a means of protecting against global warming.
I am not kidding.

I know it sounds like a joke, but apparently it is no joke.

What the car companies say when they think no one is paying attention

by: jmgear

Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 15:20:14 PM EST