Green Drinks in Conway Arkansas

Sep 15th, 2009 in Tour Blog Bill arrived, Donna arrived, Susan turned off her computer and off those three went–north to Conway, Arkansas to meet a group that calls itself Green Drinks. They hardly drank anything while we all engaged around Bill’s presentation, local news and thoughtful discussion. There is more to tell about his wonderful group and meeting, but it will have to wait til later. For now, enjoy the photos. Share...

Day Nine-Ten: Chicago

Sep 14th, 2009 in Tour Blog It was hot and sunny in Chicago, which Duff never experienced because he spent the time between trains in the dungeon that is the waiting room for sleeper car passengers. Lucky for him, there was live music. Anyone recognize these guys? I had no opportunity to ask their names. I would have asked if they had climate change songs, and I bet they do. Share this:EmailPrintFacebookStumbleUpon

Day Eight: Arkansas

Sep 13th, 2009 in Newswire, Tour Blog We did it! We’re 7 for 7. And we’ve got a 2-fer. Our Arkansas SOS organizer, Donna Shade, succeeded in getting us a meeting with the lone holdout for our Heartland Tour–Senator Mark Pryor of AR. I had tried many times to get this meeting, but was shut out. Donna’s success show the undeniable strength of local, constituent activists. Now, we will meet Pryor’s State Director in the same 9/15 session we had previously scheduled with Senator Blanche Lincoln’s State Director. This could be a powerful gathering. We’re meeting with both staffs. And Lincoln is now the...

TOUR DAY SEVEN

Sep 12th, 2009 in Tour Blog We met with Richard Lugar’s State Director and Deputy State Director. “Mark,” a senior Lugar staffer from D.C., joined us on speaker phone. Mark told us that Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas has said publicly that “there will be no climate bill in 2009.” Mark said the health care bill had jammed the senate schedule leaving little time for climate legislation. We talked coal power and wind power and local opposition to biomass in southern Indiana. Lugar’s staff emphasized their “Lugar Energy Initiative” that pushed biofuels and biomass, among other...

Day Seven: “President Obama’s Energy Bill”

Sep 12th, 2009 in Tour Blog After the meeting in Senator Lugar’s office, back at the hotel, I realized I’d left the little bag for my camera in his conference room. I changed into walking clothes and went back over there. No one I’d met in the morning was there. A young man was answering the phone, which was ringing off the hook. “Senator Lugar’s office, please hold. Senator Lugar’s office, please hold.” To me, “How can I help you?” I told him and he had a slight look of disbelief until he found the bag under my chair in the conference room. As I was leaving, he was...