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I’m getting hit with a spambot which is posting every half hour. I’ll turn it off later to see if it continues.
According to the Burlington Free Press, it’s because the legislation is too weak.
The legislation, by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; and John Warner, R-Va., narrowly survived a 4-3 vote by members of a global warming subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Sanders voted with two Republican members against the bill that would reduce global warming emissions from power plants, factories and motor vehicles by about 50 percent to 60 percent by 2050.
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“This bill is too weak in a number of ways,” Sanders said. “Number one and most importantly, it does not reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050, which the scientific community is telling us very clearly must be done for us to have even a 50-50 chance of keeping the planet from catastrophe. The bill would lower emissions by up to 63 percent. But that’s just not good enough.”
He also objected because it fails to address regs on coal-fed power plants and provides no funding for alternative energies.
Sanders is the only independent senator currently in office (edit – wrong. Forgot about Lieberman.), and the first socialist ever elected into the senate. He’s a favorite pol of mine. While he’s been caucusing with the Democrats, he is a maverick. He’s been the topic of a few of my posts – here, here, here, and here. And you can play his character in a video game.
Meanwhile, somebody e-mailed this link to Breathing Earth, which contains some interesting graphics about warming and population. But I’m not clear as to whether the CO2 emissions depicted represent human exhaling exclusively, or carbon combustion and industry as well. I suspect it’s the latter or India would be lighting up red more often than the US.
Sanders photo comes from the Burlington Free Press article linked above.
In an editorial in which they spend most of the first half of the piece apologizing for making the endorsements, they split their endorsements – the progressive Higgins in the north, and the conservative Curless in the south. New blood and experience, and we need open minds on everything, etc.
I’ll write some concluding thoughts on the campaigns tonight. Meanwhile, the Quilez event at my home yesterday afternoon was reasonably well attended and enjoyable. Carlos impressed those he met and educated me about the intricacies of Fortuna politics which I’ll write about one of these days maybe after spending some time in Parlato’s bar where apparently the bigwigs of Fortuna like to get together.
Meanwhile, the candidates debated on KMUD this morning. I caught bits and pieces of it which were interesting. It’s already available by podcast here.
I think the progressives have a chance tomorrow, but it would be an incredible upset. The conservatives have most of the business community behind them, and unfortunately the unions have gone to bat for them as well. That’s a tough coalition to beat on a grassroots level. I’ve seen it done in SF on occasion.
On the other hand, Quilez’ phone banking has given the campaign reason to be hopeful. His base is energized, and all of the sudden Curless is showing up at places like KMUD in Redway. Meanwhile, the signs in Fortuna and on Highway 36 keep disappearing, faster than the Quilez campaign can replace them. This has all happened in recent weeks. Somebody’s nervous.
I have more, but it’s going to have to wait.
Addendum: Richard Marks makes his predictions for tomorrow. Morris gets 10 percent? I’d be shocked. Then again, I’ve been shocked before.
Second addendum: Not election related, but other blog related. CPR has a very lively thread going on Heraldo’s secret identity.
Now we’re seeing the real thing. Yet somehow I doubt it’ll draw the same level of outrage from the usual proponents of the term. Around 500 dissenting leaders have been detained, many of them lawyers and human rights activists. This morning Bhutto said in an NPR interview that she expects to be arrested, although she told ABC that she might enjoy some protection due to her international profile. President Musharraf meanwhile, is comparing himself to Abraham Lincoln.
Scores of paramilitary troops blocked access to the Supreme Court and parliament. Streets in the capital appeared largely calm, with only a handful of demonstrations. But one, attended by 40 people at the Marriott Hotel, was broken up by baton-wielding police.“Shame on you! Go Musharraf go!” the protesters shouted as officers dragged some out of the crowd and forced them to the ground. Eight were taken away in a van.
For us, it represents the fruits of 10 billion in military aid, including the sale of F-17s to Pakistan which would really only be used against the only democracy in the immediate area.
Photo of Abraham Lincoln is from The Atlantic, which has a great discussion of whether he should be considered an ally or adversary.
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