Category Archives: politics

Global warming: Americans don’t like to think about it

Why have I been spending so much time on culture and not climate lately? Because not only is the news discouraging, it seems American's can't handle the truth. Take a look at this recent on-line poll from Scientific American. Yes, on-line polls are driven by the self-selecting and so untrustworthy. But as a snapshot ofContinue reading “Global warming: Americans don’t like to think about it”

The truth about Prop 23: get it now!

Before it's too late (latest polls look bad for the prop). My story in the VC Reporter: The money quote, from Fran Pavley, who authored AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, the legislation signed into law in California in 2006:  “It’s not just that these oil companies are trying to protect their bottom line,”Continue reading “The truth about Prop 23: get it now!”

China attacks U.S. in climate negotiations

From Tiajin, an inside look at climate talks being hosted by Chinese. Reporting is from Angel Hsu, of Yale University, in the Atlantic: [Chinese negotiator] Su's comments in the corridors of the Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center reflect his obvious frustration with what he feels is hypocrisy on the part of the U.S. in the climateContinue reading “China attacks U.S. in climate negotiations”

Did Jerry Brown endorse a peripheral canal yesterday?

Or did the AP botch the story? A University of the Pacific professor who blogs at Valley Economy wants to know. It's a great question. Here's the sentence from the Brown website that the AP read as an endorsement of the "alternative conveyance," also known in the past as the peripheral canal. Support conveyance andContinue reading “Did Jerry Brown endorse a peripheral canal yesterday?”

The central conservative truth…

…and the central liberal truth, perpetually at war. "The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself." Boy is that well-put. From a new book of letters written by Daniel PatrickContinue reading “The central conservative truth…”

Obama White House delays Bush tax cut vote, puzzling observers across political spectrum

Despite a considerable Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, the Obama White House is not going to call for a vote in Congress on allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire before the election. Some say letting the tax cut for the rich expire would appeal to Americans, bu the polling isContinue reading “Obama White House delays Bush tax cut vote, puzzling observers across political spectrum”

Is America getting weirder?

Forget the inescapable Tea Party for a second. Just consider: GOP voters nominated a woman to run for a Senate seat in a populous Eastern state whose signal achievement in life, seemingly, is not having sex.  Isn't that a little, um, peculiar?  Not an exaggeration. Here's Christine O'Donnell opining on the subject of procreation onContinue reading “Is America getting weirder?”

The “Kochtopus” and climate change

The political blogosphere has been buzzing about a huge story in The New Yorker by Jane Meyer on "the Kochtopus." To put it in short, just as Hillary famous said, there really is a vast right-wing conspiracy, funded by $100 million from the ultra-right-wing Koch brothers, who run a fossil fuels empire. The amount ofContinue reading “The “Kochtopus” and climate change”

Obama accepts inaction on climate as bill dies in Senate

Tim Dickinson blames Obama for what became official today: the comprehensive energy/climate bill is dead. David Roberts blames Republicans and centrist Democrats, and sees no silver lining.  Yet at the same time, as numerous publications have pointed out, the coal industry has lost its mojo, in part because of campaigns such as the Sierra Club'sContinue reading “Obama accepts inaction on climate as bill dies in Senate”