Climate blogs and news roundup: Waxman-Markey markup edition

There is just too much good material to get it all in this week, so let's dive in!

Brad Thompson at Think Progress had some fun with some video of Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, before and after the climate bill markup:

A week ago, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, bet he would have committee chair Henry Waxman (D-CA) “by the nuts” during the markup of landmark climate and energy legislation by the committee...

. . . . .

“This is not going to be one of those gentlemanly, pro forma markups,” Barton swaggered, while circulating a list of hundreds of poison-pill amendments. “We’re prepared for it to take weeks or months.”

Instead, business and industry joined President Obama and environmentalists to support the bill, leaving Barton’s fellow global warming deniers to anonymously snipe at each other. Waxman didn’t blink at Barton’s bluster, even hiring a speed reader to negate Barton’s threat to delay the process by forcing the reading in full of the 937-page legislation and every amendment.

And the video in question:

This is interesting (and only partially about energy): A new group of businesses have pulled together to support the President’s agenda -- including, you guessed it, clean energy. John Harwood of the NY Times wrote:

The coalition, calling itself Business Forward, plans to announce its formation on Thursday. Organizers said the group, whose initial members include AT&T, Facebook, Hilton, IBM, Microsoft, Pfizer and Time Warner, will engage in public advocacy but will not lobby administration officials or members of Congress.

“When it comes to health care, education, and other critical issues, business leaders are among America’s strongest advocates for reform,” said Jim Doyle, the new organization’s executive director. “They can make the case for taking a long-term view in a way that few others can.”

In case you missed it: 1Sky’s own Campaign Director did an interview from the 2009 Skoll World Forum at Oxford, UK, for the Global X blog:

Watch the video for more, but here are two quotes to give you an idea of Gillian’s inspirational ideas:

We are all on this boat together and we only have one chance to make it right.

Her advice: listen!

The essence of social change and effective work is the heart of human relationship. I don't think we can really be in an active and right relationship with people unless we are hearing them.

And finally, for those of you who have been spending the better part of recent days on the Waxman-Markey hearings, a little comic relief via TPM: Waxman's speed reader finally got to perform!

Enjoy the long weekend!