by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

When I first heard the reports of John McCain's flip-flop on offshore oil exploration and consequent back-up from the President, I knew there was one person to call for comment: Debbie Cook.  In addition to being the Mayor of Huntington Beach, Cook sits on the board of directors of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) and is an expert on energy issues.  She just sent me this statement (on the flip):

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Traci Sheehan
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

As the state budget deficit looms, and a California-EPA progress report for state agency action on global warming shows a mixed record of action across various agencies, Californians have been told they may be forced to wait another year for reliable “polluter-pays” funding to implement AB 32, The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

Despite calls from the state Legislature, the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, and environmental advocates to find a stable, long-term funding plan for implementation of AB 32 in this year’s state budget, the Schwarzenegger Administration has instead proposed to borrow resources from other government programs, including a $32 million loan from the California Beverage Container Recycling Fund. The Recycling Fund repays consumers who recycle bottles and cans.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Peter Schrag

Six years after Sept. 11, 2001, a convenient moment for stock-taking, are we at war or are we not at war -- and if so with whom or with what?

Americans are killed at an average of 80 a month in Iraq. More come home forever damaged in body or spirit. But for most of us, daily life goes merrily on.

Iraqis are displaced by the millions and killed at a rate of 2,000 a month (down, it's said, from 4,000 a few months ago). It's not clear whether that's progress or just because of the growing number of neighborhoods that have been ethnically cleansed.

There is no draft. Taxes are cut for the wealthy -- our children will pay the cost -- and the rich get richer. Our ports remain porous; the administration bows to industry in its feeble enforcement of security at chemical plants, oil refineries and cargo shipments on airlines.

This week's congressional debate again demonstrates how the ultimate measure of the folly and hubris of the invasion of Iraq is the difficulty of extricating ourselves from it. Almost everyone wants to get out, but few responsible people know how and fewer still want to be responsible for whatever follows.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Gary A. Patton
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League