This is big.

Great news for all of us who seek a Blue/Green Alliance!  The Teamsters today left the ANWR coalition, a group in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Jim Hoffa has just announced that the Teamsters are pulling out of the coalition supporting drilling in ANWR and are shifting their support to efforts to build coalitions with green groups to create a sustainable energy economy around sources like solar, wind and geothermal.

"We are not going to drill our way out of the energy problems we are facing--not here and not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," Hoffa told labor and environmental activists at an Oakland, Calif., summit on good jobs and clean air. "We must find a long-term approach that breaks our dependence on foreign oil by investing in the development of alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power."

Hoffa Rejects 'Drilling Our Way Out' of Energy Crisis, Demands Long-Term Policy Solutions

More, after the fold.

(also on dkos)

i always tell people that the first door -- by which i mean the first person you talk to -- is the hardest.  you don't know what to expect when you're in a new state or new campaign or new year, no matter how many times you've done it before.

here i am in florida, and i didn't even have to look at the list.  i knew i was in republican territory.  north part of orlando, close to winter park, homes built around a couple of small lakes.  i knock on the first door and i look to see the party registration.  republican.  of course.  but no one is home, so i leave the lit and move on.  rinse and repeat for the second door.  the third door is right next door.  another republican.  i didn't even have to look, there was a contribution envelope in response to a direct mail plea from john mccain.  the faint blue check could be seen through it in the bright sun light.  i thought about not knocking on the door (the outgoing mail was clipped to the door), but i figure, wtf.  it's on my list.  and that's why i'm here.

i have on my blue obama shirt and the lady who answers the door says, "i don't want to talk to anyone supporting obama!"  i pretend i haven't seen the envelope.

Cross-posted on Campaign Diaries

Whatever the make-up of the 111th Congress, no one will be able to say that Democrats didn't try everything in their power to reach a 60-seat majority. As of the spring of 2008, there already were eight highly competitive seats that no one would be surprised to see turn-over: With Virginia and New Mexico all but lost for Republicans (and Senator Ensign acknowledging just as much), the GOP is in grave danger in New Hampshire, Colorado, Alaska, Mississippi, Oregon and Minnesota. On the other hand, Republican attempts to go on the offensive have been disastrous, with only Louisiana looking competitive.

Bush wants Congress to lift the ban on developing Oil Shale on federal lands on the Green River Plateau in Colorado and Utah.

That brought an immediate response from Colorado's Democratic Governor Bill Ritter:

GOV. RITTER CRITICIZES FEDS OVER OIL SHALE REGULATIONS

"Someday the technology may exist that will allow us to responsibly extract oil from Colorado shale. But that day is years away. That day will only come when crucial questions about impacts to water, air quality, wildlife and our local communities -- are fully understood and answered. That day is not today. This was a premature and unnecessary act by the federal government that is not supported by science or technology.

Extracting oil from shale rock is an extremely dirty, insanely carbon intensive process, that will dump huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere because the shale rock has to be heated to 700 degrees to get the oil out.

"Flip-flopping" is yet another Republican phrase that Democrats have allowed into our communications. We need to stop using it ASAP. Call them liars, crooks, etc., but not "flip-floppers."

So many Democrats out there don't seem to understand that when we use Republicans' language, we lose. In fact, we love to use the same attack language they use. Here's a tip: it does not help our cause. A great example came during the DFL convention in Rochester. Howard Dean spoke against John McCain, and one of his biggest applause lines a list of policies which "he voted for, before he voted against it." Now why would the leader of our party want to remind people of one of John Kerry's biggest flubs of the campaign?

Democrats, in general, are amused with the irony of using Republicans' language. But the irony doesn't translate well. Instead, we just wind up as the party that can't come up with its own message.

(07-22) 21:27 PDT  -- Barack Obama is betraying his promise of change and is in danger of becoming just another political hack.

Yes, just like former maverick John McCain, who has refashioned himself as a mindless rubber stamp for the most inane policies of the miserably failed Bush administration. Both candidates are embracing, rather than challenging, the fundamental irrationality of Bush's "war on terror," which substitutes hysteria for rational analysis in appraising the dangers the country faces.

Terrorism is a social pathology that needs to be excised with the surgical precision of detective work, inspired by a high level of international cooperation, the very opposite of the unilateral war metaphor that recruits new generations of terrorists in the wake of the massive armies we dispatch. At a time when we desperately need a president to remind us we have nothing to fear but fear itself, we are increasingly being treated to a presidential campaign driven by fear.

He has a good point about how terrorism should be treated. But is anyone else really confused and upset how he is now blaming BHO for it all?

Cross posted on
The Economic Populist -
A Community Site for Economics Freaks and Geeks

Failure in war can be a bad thing.  Failure in business can be a personal loss, and in some instances a detriment to the economy.  With the recent calamity hitting the two largest mortgage lenders, not to mention other large American business concerns, it seems to a select few that failure is indeed a viable and good option.

A gamble with very high stakes is being openly promoted by adherents to a free-market orthodoxy.  These individuals, gaming on anger and the perceived loss of utility of these given enterprises, are pushing the public onto this wager.

So as the presidential campaign heats up and Barry Obama continues to receive the star treatment, I gotta believe OLLLLLLDDDDDD Rodham-Clinton has a serious case of post-election blues.

Every time that old bat sees Barry O on the tube I can only imagine what she's thinking:  THAT SHOULD BE ME!!!!!!!!!  HE'S STEALING MY THUNDER!!!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!WAAAAAAHH!!!!!!!I WANT TO BE  PREZ-EEE-DENT!!!!!!!!!I SHOULD NEVER HAVE ENDED MY CAMPAIGN!!!!!!!......................... HAHAHAHA.........HEHEHEHEHEHE........... ...HOHOHOHOHO

Recently some news show asked -- in a serious tone -- whether OLLLDDD Rodham-Clinton was still in the running for VP.  And this purportedly was a serious newscast?

Serious question:  can any of you loonie lefties give me a single solitary reason why Barry O at this stage would choose ORC?

Seriously, outline any/all reasons why Rodham-Clinton should consider herself still in the running