1. TomP's interview with Friends of the Earth (FOE) Action President Blackwelder - regarding their recent endorsement of Edwards and discussion on his energy plan.

Here's the interview frontpaged (thanks Mike!) at BlueHampshire. . This is part I; part II should be up tomorrow. Thanks to Tom for the great questions and thanks to FOE taking the time to explain their endorsement in depth. Before you go read it in full, here's a bit for you about how we don't have to choose between a clean environment and good jobs:

Q:  Polluters often attempt to present a false choice between environmental degradation and jobs.  In fact, clean, green technologies can mean more jobs for Americans, and good paying jobs.  Edwards proposes creating at least 1 million "green collar jobs" by investing in clean energy and energy efficient technologies.  Can you explain the relationship of economic growth, including good paying jobs, and using clean, green technologies?

A: Edwards really gets it: green does not have to mean fewer jobs.  If our nation makes  serious and smart investments in clean energy technologies, such as wind, solar and geothermal, we can create good-paying jobs, expand markets for the renewable energy industry and secure our country's energy future.  

Renewables are secure and viable alternatives to dirty, fossil fuels and costly and dangerous nuclear power. They can be scaled up relatively quickly, which means jobs and economic growth for states and local communities in the U.S., particularly in rural areas that have been hardest hit by economic downturns but have the space for these technologies to be constructed and brought online.

I also really liked how they are going to put their endorsement into action on the ground in New Hampshire and other states. If you would like to lend them a hand:

Please visit the FoE Action website to find out how you can get involved in our campaign to elect John Edwards as president: www.foeaction.org.

Check out the rest of the interview and be on the lookout for Part II.

2. A Personal Encounter - great account of a real discussion with John Edwards on energy and the environment.

The FOE interview leads us right into a very interesting article on TerraPass about John and Elizabeth Edwards meeting with a group of environmental and business leaders in San Francisco last Saturday.

Its a fascinating article, showing how much Edwards has really begun to master environmental issues and is very open to learning and finding the best solutions. Here's some of the article - but read the whole thing if you can:

Edwards displayed an impressive knowledge about global warming. Not at the Al Gore level, but comfortably fluent in cap and trade, atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases, and the likely impacts of melting polar ice caps and sea level rises. He briefly shared his New Energy Economy pla and highlighted opportunities to spur "green collar" job growth in the United States.

Then he asked us questions on the potential for plug-in hybrids, the current limits of battery technology, how to give companies credit for voluntary greenhouse gas reductions, and whether recent evidence of climate impacts made the goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 not ambitious enough. Our answers led to a real back-and-forth that I don't think happens very often in modern political campaigns. Elizabeth Edwards revealed her own command of carbon-speak, as well.

Wow - a presidential candidate actually asking them questions! A "real back-and-forth" - a real discussion.

And while noting that all the candidates have now released environmental plans, the author felt that Edwards had something a bit more:

But beyond the policy specifics, Edwards really seems to understand the complexity of climate change and the massive economic and energy transformation required to deal with the problem. He showed humility in wanting to learn from experts. And he left me with the sense he might be the guy who could lead the U.S. and the family of nations to a more secure, low-carbon world.

In other words - Edwards sees the big picture, Edwards gets it. And if you haven't yet, check out Nulwee's wonderful diary that seems to agree.

3. Edwards Unveils Hunting And Fishing Bill Of Rights - a progressive plan to preserve America's natural resources for those who use and appreciate them.

John Edwards was in Nebraska and Iowa today, starting his 4 day, 17 stop Iowa tour, and put forth a Hunting And Fishing Bill Of Rights to protect America's wilderness.

"Growing up in small, rural towns, I learned early that America has been blessed with a wealth of natural resources. Just as it is our right to enjoy America's forests, mountains, fields and streams, it is also our responsibility to protect them for generations to come." -- John Edwards

If you missed RDemocrat's excellent coverage, check it out. Here is the press release and here is the detailed plan..

The plan has 5 key elements (check the links above for more details):

1. Improve Access to Public and Recreational Lands

2. Protect the Tradition of Responsible Gun Ownership
   
3. Preserve Access to Clean, Healthy Water for Fishing
   
4. Secure our Natural Heritage for Future Generations
   
5. Expect Citizens to Share Responsibility for Stewardship

4. California wildfires - what can you do to help?

Title of this section says it really. Want to help? Here's a good place to start. There was an excellent diary by LaEscapee today on how OneCorps is mobilizing to help out in this crisis, just as OneCorps has helped with action and attention to issues like poverty and climate change.

5. Edwards lays it out - Clinton's Failure To Offer Straight Answers On Iraq And Iran

And switching gears, Edwards continued to criticize Clinton's lack of leadership and evasive answers on Iraq and Iran:

The staggering estimate by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that the war in Iraq will cost $1.9 trillion is a stark reminder of why it is so critical that every presidential candidate offer the American people a real plan for ending the war.

"For over a year, Senator Edwards has proposed a very specific plan for withdrawal, including the immediate withdrawal of 40-50,000 troops to jump-start the political solution needed to end the violence, a diplomatic offensive involving all local, national, and regional parties, and a complete withdrawal of all combat troops within 9 or 10 months. Unfortunately, other than political rhetoric and doubletalk, we've heard nothing from Senator Clinton about her specific plans to end this war.

"Even more disturbing, while Senator Clinton still refuses to lay out a detailed plan for ending the war in Iraq, she seems more than willing to help President Bush take America closer to war with Iran. After nearly seven years of George Bush, and a terrible and costly war, the American people deserve straight answers on Iraq and Iran from every presidential candidate -- the real question is when is Senator Clinton going to start providing them?"

That last question is the one more and more voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other states are going to be asking, especially as Bush and Cheney continue to "lead" us deeper into Iraq and into a reckless confrontation with Iran. It seems to me that voters there have very clear choices:

6. Extra, Extra! -  

Check out Edwards statement of disappointement with the Senate's confirmation today of yet another BushThink judge.

Check out what Iowa women think about John Edwards and health care.

Check out Ambinder's cryptic comments on the New Hampshire SEIU endorsement. Hmmm....

And thats the news - hope you enjoyed it! And now that you're done reading, help Edwards and his True Blue Majority.