The Green Bait-and-Switch – Adam Smith Institute In the US many environmentalists are getting infected with the NIMBY-virus* as they realize the unpleasant consequences of renewable energy. New projects, such as the 240-mile transmission line through Indiana to accommodate wind farms (at a cost of $1bn), are unlikely… Does Government Need to Fund Energy R&D? – OpenMarket.org The Breakthrough Institute, whose willingness to think outside the box I greatly admire, issues a challenge of sorts to my friend Jim Manzi, who has been particpating in a debate with them over …
DENVER – The left’s relationship with domestic fossil fuel production is growing curiosor and curiousor. Despite Sen. Hillary Clinton’s (D-NY) prime time billing, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer gave the best received speech last night. It was supposedly on renewable energy, but Schweitzer also said: “we have cut more taxes for more Montanans than any time in history, increased energy production at the fastest rate in the history of Montana.” And where did that ‘fastest rate’ of ‘increased energy production’ come from? Wind accounts for less than 1% of our nation’s …
DENVER – OK … he bought everybody in The Big Tent lunch today. Pickens sponsored a meal for all the bloggers here catered by Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (I had a steak burrito). Later Pickens took to the main stage where he was joined by Sierra Club president Carl Pope and Center for American Progress president John Podesta. Pope and Podesta enthusiastically endorsed the Pickens plan. Coupled with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s personal investment and rhetorical support for Pickens, it is becoming clear that the left is adopting the Pickens energy platform …
DENVER – Turns out we are not the only conservatives here in The Big Tent. Stalwart pro-life blogger Jill Stanek is also blogging among the left this week and she snapped this great photo on Tuesday. The back of the girl’s form fitting t-shirt asks you to support the National Association to Repeal Abortion Laws (NARAL).
DENVER – It’s not just Nancy. This Sunday on Meet the Press Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended her personal investment in T. Boone Pickens energy plan telling Tom Brokaw: “I’m, I’m, I’m investing in something I believe in. I believe in natural gas as a clean, cheap alternative to fossil fuels.” The Pickens plan is very popular among progressives here at The Big Tent. On the main stage now is a panel titled “Faces from the Front: Western Perspectives on the Drilling Boom” and all the speakers are big fans of …
DENVER — Tonight former President Bill Clinton is supposed to deliver a speech on the official Democratic National Convention theme, “Securing America’s Future.” It is still unclear whether Clinton will stick to his assigned topic, or if he will go off message and defend his presidential legacy. Part of that legacy is the beginning of the online left, specifically MoveOn.org, which was created in 1998 to help defend Clinton from impeachment. MoveOn has since expanded its policy portfolio far beyond sexual harassment lawsuits, and its claimed 3.2 million members are …
DENVER — Ever wonder what promotional materials a non-profit group dedicated to a “sustainable” society might give away at a major convention? Well, take a peak at the official promotional bag (above) for Progress Now’s Big Tent and wonder no more. The lefty magazines, I understand, but that it is a lot of plastic to be giving away for a “sustainable” world. Also, I couldn’t give that Bluetooth ear piece away fast enough. My favorite item was that book there in the middle: It’s too bad things didn’t work out …
How Transparent is Your Local Government Website? – Government Bytes Sunshine Review is working on the My Government Website Project for “people from all around the country to collaboratively determine the extent to which government-managed websites contain the information people need.” Minnesota’s Declaration of Energy Independence – Townhall I wish I could have posted about this earlier, but on Saturday, the Minnesota Republican Caucus unveiled their Declaration of Energy Independence at the Minnesota State Fair. Card Check: Making the U.S. More Like France, Ossified – ShopFloor Big-picture commentary by Bernie …
DENVER — We always knew the left loved big government central planning of the economy, but we never knew how much they loved it. Also on Bob Kuttner’s “Take Back America: The Economy” panel here in The Big Tent were United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard and Green for All founder Majora Carter. In addition to Kuttner’s “Apollo scale” investment in alternative energy, Gerard called for a “Marshall plan” for green collar jobs and Carter called for a “Green New Deal.” The idea that markets can privately order themselves is completely …
While the Massachusetts health reform has generated a significant amount of attention, few have focused on the critical Medicaid demonstration “waiver,” which enabled the reform and was set to expire on June 30. Absent an agreement on the terms and conditions of the waiver’s renewal, last Friday the feds granted the state its fifth two-week extension in order to continue negotiations. While the feds and the state aren’t willing to make public the details of their ongoing talks, the local media have reported that the Bush administration is standing firm …
