Thanks, Karen, for that recap!  I watched “An Inconvenient Truth” Sunday night on Showtime, and it included an update from Vice President Gore at the end.  He talked extensively about the rising acidity in the ocean and how it is related to the coral reefs.  This is indeed very new stuff that has just come out—absolutely incredible how much is changing that a 2006 film has to be supplemented with the deluge of new scientific data.

It is definitely a good thing that public officials like Senator Kerry are taking this threat very seriously and plan to do something about it in the Senate.  I also continue to be wowed by all of Teresa’s work over the years for the environment with the foundation.

I also like that Sen. Kerry mentioned Dodd and Biden, when Rose brought up the two contenders in ‘08.  It’s too early to count everyone else out.

The “reporting” at that radar online site is just deplorable.  Why do they feel the need to attack Kerry and Gore while propping up George Bush?  Why does ANYONE still prop up George Bush?

Ugh.  No wonder a number of media personalities hate bloggers.  They make them look bad.  It’s just like the brainy kids at school always showing up the “popular crew,” who expected to slide through by virtue of their popularity.

This is great reporting on the NYC event.  From what I hear it was a hot ticket and well worth attending.  The good Senator and his wife always shine when they talk about issues that are important to them.  I definitely look forward to future tours for this book.

Thank you Karen. Judging by your excellent recap, the interview went very well.
The Kerrys’ book tour will be a great success.

Thanks for the excellent recap. From your account, this was a great start to the book tour. It’s fantastic that the Kerrys more than five decades of combined commitment to the environment is getting renewed and well-deserved exposure.  I really look forward to reading the book.

Tia,

You might want to check out the Small Business News Roundup from 3-10-2007 and the link to the Climate Change hearing transcript and video clip.

Thanks for the real reporting of this event Karen.

I’ve got my fingers crossed and see that there is still one more city to add to the book tour, and I’m hoping that it will be close enough to attend.

Great post, Karen. I was at the event last night with my son and could never write such a comprehensive and accurate account of the evening.  I’ve always been inspired by Senator Kerry, but last night he did the impossible - after listening to Teresa and Sen. Kerry talk, my 13 year old son announced that he promises to shut off the basement lights every night!

Advancing the debate: Many people forget that energy independence was a big part of Kerry’s message during the 2004 campaign. He advertised about it and addressed it during his convention speech. Even as GOP strategist Frank Luntz was claiming that the GOP had the advantage a year earlier (though I think he’s referring to national and economic security), he acknowledged Kerry’s success in focusing on the issue:

AMERICANS TALK ENERGY

What Americans want more than anything else is less dependence on foreign oil. They know we can never be fully energy self-sufficient, but they want more energy developed right here in America because, in their own words, dependence on foreign oil threatens both our national and economic security.

But while Republicans owned the issue a year ago, that advantage has slipped away. John Kerry’s repeated public focus on the importance of reducing American dependence on Middle Eastern oil and his famous comment that “we should rely on American ingenuity and not the Saudi Royal Family, “at the Democrat convention struck a raw nerve in the American psyche. Americans forgot that it was the Republicans who offered a comprehensive, long-term strategy and that it was the Democrats who kept saying no, no, no.

You need to retake this issue now before the next spike at the pump and before the next surge in our home beating bills. There are four principles that matter most: energy self- sufficiency/independence, national security, new technology/innovation, and a balanced approach that will take America well into the 2lst Century.

1) Make it about Energy Self-Sufficiency and Independence. The energy debate is ripe for partisan picking and the Democrats were smart to use it during their convention. Americans want to hear about solutions to foreign energy dependency and are desperate for big ideas and bold solutions. Energy policy is now a public priority and Democrats put themselves on the side of the future. Americans loathe the idea of being reliant on the Middle East for our energy needs and they were waiting for someone to tell them so. This was John Kerry’s single best line at the convention, and it continues to resonate even today:

PAGE 133—-

DEMOCRAT WORDS THAT WORK

I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation—not the Saudi royal family. Our energy plan for a stronger America will invest in new technologies and alternative fuels and the cars of the future—so that no young American in uniform will ever be held hostage to our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Americans are evenly and bitterly divided about an assortment of political issues, but nearly all of them agree that our nation s’ current energy policy is behind-the-times and needs a new, 21st Century approach. Right now, the Democrats are exhibiting perfect pitch when it comes to their energy message. They understand that if you play on American fears towards OPEC, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, while also appealing to American ideals of invention and innovation, they will have a compelling message. But fortunately for Republicans, the Democratic message does not match their policy. If the GOP wants to gain the advantage you need to match the optimism of the Democrats message—and that begins with a clear statement that the status quo is unacceptable.

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