Demand No More Coal, No More Oil This Independence Day

by Bruce Nilles

No surprise here, on the heels of President Obama's Tuesday night speech, the coal industry front group -- American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity -- released a statement saying they agree with his call for a clean energy future:

"The president also renewed his call for bolder action to create a clean energy future. We share the President's commitment, and recognize the steps we take as a nation must balance America's environmental, economic, and energy goals."

As we said in a post a few weeks ago, the coal industry is working harder to convince you that to address our oil problem we should mine and burn more coal.

continued at Daily Kos....

White House Slams Joe Barton and His Apology to BP (w/ Obama, Biden and other updates!)

by TomP

This is good.  We need to attack and attack Republicans on this.  

Statement by the Press Secretary on Congressman Joe Barton's Apology to BP

"What is shameful is that Joe Barton seems to have more concern for big corporations that caused this disaster than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated by the destruction. Congressman Barton may think that a fund to compensate these Americans is a 'tragedy', but most Americans know that the real tragedy is what the men and women of the Gulf Coast are going through right now. Members from both parties should repudiate his comments."

TPM

continued at Daily Kos....

Why a comprehensive climate bill will pass this year

by Ask 4 Questions

For many weeks I've been wondering where the passion is from Kossacks, from the President, and from myself is with regard to pushing for a comprehensive climate bill to be passed this year.  The intensity around this issue stands in stark contrast to the energy around healthcare reform.  I, and many Kossacks, followed intently the twists and turns of the healthcare debate, and many of us made many angry and supportive phone calls when different congressional players suggested different avenues of going about (or squashing) HCR.  Also, there were huge and violent debates about the issue (remember last summer?), and as usual, lots of lies from industry and conservatives.  

Below the fold I have listed a few guesses as to why things are quieter on the climate bill side of things, and why that's not necessarily a bad thing.  I've also detailed the reasons why we will pass a damned climate bill this year!

continued at Daily Kos....

It's a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood -- well NOT Really

by jamess

Sea creatures flee oil spill, gather near shore
by Jay Reeves, John Flesher, Tamara Lush (AP) -- Jun 16, 2010

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Dolphins and sharks are showing up in surprisingly shallow water just off the Florida coast. Mullets, crabs, rays and small fish congregate by the thousands off an Alabama pier. Birds covered in oil are crawling deep into marshes, never to be seen again.
Marine scientists studying the effects of the BP disaster are seeing some strange phenomena.
Fish and other wildlife seem to be fleeing the oil out in the Gulf and clustering in cleaner waters along the coast in a trend that some researchers see as a potentially troubling sign.
The animals' presence close to shore means their usual habitat is badly polluted, and the crowding could result in mass die-offs as fish run out of oxygen. Also, the animals could easily get devoured by predators.
"A parallel would be: Why are the wildlife running to the edge of a forest on fire?

But, but those Sea Critters, CAN'T RUN onto the Land, most of them.


continued at Daily Kos....

Saving history...or trying to do so

by rserven

I decided that under the current circumstances, providing some distraction would not be unwarranted...and I have a bit of an update to pass along.

Tonight will be another meeting of the West Orange Zoning Board...concerning the desire of Seton Hall Prep and the Archdiocese of Newark to turn McClellan Old-Growth Forest into sports fields and parking lots.

For those who haven't been following, that is General-in-Chief of the Union Army George Brinton McClellan, who was fired by President Lincoln

If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time.

--Abraham Lincoln

...and subsequently ran against Lincoln for president as an anti-war Democrat in 1864.  McClellan was also governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881.

continued at Daily Kos....

America is Dying

by Edger

AP reports:

GULF SHORES, Ala. - Dolphins and sharks are showing up in surprisingly shallow water just off the Florida coast. Mullets, crabs, rays and small fish congregate by the thousands off an Alabama pier. Birds covered in oil are crawling deep into marshes, never to be seen again.

Marine scientists studying the effects of the BP disaster are seeing some strange - and troubling - phenomena.

Fish and other wildlife are fleeing the oil out in the Gulf and clustering in cleaner waters along the coast. But that is not the hopeful sign it might appear to be, researchers say.

continued at Daily Kos....

Call To Action - The Gulf Needs Our Help (With Poll)

by Pam LaPier

This is an updated, reposted diary that I think is important to repost so people know what they can do to help. I know there has been some problems with the volunteer efforts but there are a lot of organizations contributing to this cleanup who could use our help. If I have broken any rules by reposting please let me know and I will delete. Please keep our mothership afloat here.

We are all feeling the pain of what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf coast. We have seen the images of animals struggling for life and heard the stories of fishermen and members of coastal communities talking about how the spill has changed their lives forever. If you're like me you have also felt completely helpless.

The wonderful thing is there are lots of things we can do to help. Many organizations are asking for donations, volunteers and wish lists of things they need. We don't need to feel helpless, we can help.

This is our chance to show the stuff the great community of DKOS is made of. This is our chance to help. Please see the various ways you can help below the jump.

continued at Daily Kos....

Swimming in the sea...

by communicable

According to Time magazine:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul said Monday that Washington lawmakers are showing no consideration for future generations with deficit spending that is passing an "enormous burden of debt" on to America's children and grandchildren.

The article continues:

"I acknowledge that the system is broken, and if we just keep borrowing, we could destroy the entire system," Paul said. "Then, there would be no Social Security, no Medicare and no government because we will be drowning in the sea of debt or destroy the currency in the process."

Conservative politicians have long been invoking a tremendous concern for future generations while railing against deficit spending.  But, the phrase “drowning in the sea” got me thinking: Does Dr. Paul’s concern for future generations extends to topics like climate change?

continued at Daily Kos....

The Mysterious Illness Hitting Gulf Workers Now Identified As 'TILT'

by Ellinorianne

This is part of the huge disaster in the Gulf, the human costs of the clean up and the lack of protective gear.  And they are dealing with horrible working conditions due to heat and humidity.

Many are coming down with mysterious illnesses as well which as been idtenfied as TILT.

For a few days now, we've been hearing and reading about Gulf cleanup workers and people living close to the Gulf coming down with strange 'flu-like' symptoms.  The true diagnosis was difficult, because flu symptoms are common in the illness that's actually overcoming these workers - now patients.  It's called TILT, short for Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance.

Source

continued at Daily Kos....

Should Brave Men Die So We Can Drive?

by gmoke

This is a poster supporting the US Merchant Marine in World War II.  That was when we were a serious people.

These are the actual stakes, as the Gulf of Mexico gusher shows us, life and death.

continued at Daily Kos....