by William Monroe [courtesy of Blog for America]

This speech begins the discussion ...perfecting Amerca.

(http://youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo) 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Kassie R. Siegel
Director
Climate, Air, and Energy Program
Center for Biological Diversity

Let’s be clear about the California Environmental Quality Act and global warming.

As our state’s flagship environmental law, CEQA requires all state and local agencies to assess, and then to reduce, to the extent feasible, all significant environmental impacts from new projects. Greenhouse gas emissions are among the most important impacts that CEQA addresses, and thus the law provides an ideal opportunity as well as a legal mandate for cities, counties, and other agencies to consider the greenhouse gas emissions from new projects they approve and then to adopt measures to reduce those emissions. The CEQA environmental review process is not about stopping projects, but about improving them. This process is established across the state and has a long, proven record of success. The CEQA is a key component of the suite of laws and policies already on the books to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our state.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Elizabeth Edwards (left, with John and their two children) used her alloted time before the Democratic Party'sExec Board this morning to toot her husband's horn on Iraq, health careand education.

"We know there are two school systems in this country," she told thecrowd of nearly 500 today. "We have two health care systems. We evenhave two voting systems, it turns out."

Edwards, a breast cancer survivor who was tragically re-diagnosed acouple of months ago, received a warm reception from the largelyliberal audience. She used the platform to outline an issues-basedcampaign.

There's more...

Photo courtesy of Richard Silverstein.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The sad thing about Catherine Witherspoon's resignation from thestate's Air Resources Board yesterday is that it seems to confirm thefear that Arnold is a "jolly green monster" with no man behind the curtain. The Sacramento Bee reports the Governor wants a new Board chair whowill move forward with his proposed "cap and trade system." We wouldurge Arnold to leave the Board alone.

Dan Walters today addresses the question of Arnold's approach to globalwarming, describing the Governor's international travel andpronouncements of "post-partisanship" working in California. The cruxof the matter is this: will the Governor use his enormous political capital to promote himself as an environmental guru or will he get seriousabout the day-to-day, tough choices needed to make a real dent inemissions?

California potential for high-speed rail (above) is at a crossroads and is in need of upstart funds to get off the ground, writes BillDawson on the California Progress Report blog. One stumbling block isthe opposition of Gov. Schwarzenegger, despite the fact that high speedrail is good for the economy, environment and quality of life.

There's more... 

by Todd Beeton [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]

(cross-posted from ATM Watch)

So far, we've received hundreds of questions at our ATM Watch Ask The Candidates page. Today, Senator John Edwards responds. 

In the video below, Edwards addresses two of your most pressing issues, health care reform and energy independence. He then goes on to answer a specific question from Jane in Los Angeles: 

My three issues are poverty, peace and global warming.  I see them as connected.  Do you?  What would you do to address them, both domestically and internationally?  Are they your top priorities and if not, why not?

Great question, Jane.

Video and more over the flip...
Here's the video.  

Tomorrow, Senator Edwards continues to embody the spirit of ATM Watch with his Small Change for Big Change event at San Jose State University. It costs just $15, details are HERE.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom answered questions from reporters this morning about the collapse of a stretch of overpass near the Bay Bridge earlier today. The collapse, caused by the explosion of a gasoline truck, shut down two freeways. Only the driver of the truck was injured.

Newsom said he was concerned about the vulnerability of the area's infrastructure, especially in light of a potential terrorist attack or major earthquake.

But the mayor, acknowledging the miraculous lack of casualties, said this was an opportunity for the city to prepare for alternative transportation options if a worse catastrophe occurs.

"It shows that we as a city have a lot of work to do," Newsom said.