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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (196150)	8/9/2012 12:05:34 PM
From: JohnM	Respond to of 540781

Ezra Klein's (written by someone else on his staff since he's on vacation) newsletter highlights the extraordinarily hot temperatures this summer. -------------------------------------------------------- Wonkbook dashboard RCP Obama vs. Romney: Obama +3.9%; 7-day change: Obama +1.9%. RCP Obama approval: 47.9%; 7-day change: +0.5%. Top story: It’s getting hot in here July was the hottest month ever in the U.S. “It may come as little surprise to the nation's corn farmers or resort operators, but the official statistics are in: July was the hottest month in the lower 48 states since the government began keeping temperature records in 1895. The average temperature last month was 77.6 degrees — 3.3 degrees above the average 20th-century temperature, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported on Wednesday. July thereby dethroned July 1936, which had set the record at 77.4 degrees, the agency said…A hot July also contributed to the warmest 12-month period ever recorded in the United States, the statistics showed. Climatologists at the agency noted that by the end of the month, about 63 percent of the nation was experiencing drought conditions, which contributed to the high temperatures.” Joanna Foster in The New York Times. There have already been more record temperatures than all of last year. “Thanks to a record warm January-to-June period and intense, long-lasting heat waves during March, June, and July, the U.S. has passed an ominous milestone: with about five months remaining in the year, there have already been more record daily high temperatures set or tied so far this year than were set or tied during all of 2011. And 2011 had the second-warmest summer on record for the lower 48 states. According to Guy Walton of The Weather Channel, who compiles temperature record statistics using data from the National Climatic Data Center, there were 26,674 daily record highs broken or tied during 2011, and through August 5 there were 27,042 records broken or tied this year. The March and July heat waves clearly gave 2012 the edge over last year. During March alone, 7,755 daily records were set or tied, and 4,420 records were broken or tied during July.” Andrew Freedman in Climate Central. How droughts will reshape the United States: wapo.st. Crops will get a little relief from the drought over the next week. “Little change in midday weather forecasts were noted for the drought-stricken U.S. Midwest crop region with some relief still expected from showers and cooler temperatures over the next week to 10 days, an agricultural meteorologist said on Wednesday. However, meteorologists also said that a turn to wetter and cooler weather did not mean the drought was over…Nicholls said 0.25 inch to 0.75 inch of rain, with locally heavier amounts, was expected in roughly 75 percent of the Midwest from Wednesday through Friday morning, and a similar weather system is expected next week.” Sam Nelson in Reuters. The drought won’t have much effect on consumer food prices. “The U.S. drought is going to drive up food prices next year, the Agriculture Department says. What exactly will that mean for consumer budgets? We did the math. The answer: Not that much. Americans, on average, will spend an additional $32.76 on food next year than they would have if the drought had not occurred, according to our back-of-the envelope calculations. That comes out to $2.73 a month…Economists point out that, given the fragile state of the economy, even a modest increase isn't welcome. Still, the price increases aren't expected to have a major effect on overall growth, since food only accounts for about 14% of consumers' daily living expenses, and given that prices for other items are falling or subdued, bringing down inflation overall.” Josh Mitchell in The Wall Street Journal. Friday’s grain statistics will be a moment of truth. “Hundreds of hedge fund managers, commodity merchants, government officials and farmers will have one thing on their mind when they turn on their computers on Friday: US grain statistics. The release of this specialised report from the US Department of Agriculture has acquired huge market significance this year as the worst drought in half a century shrivels crops in America's farm belt. It will influence trading for days and weeks to come as well as possible government decisions on biofuels and feed exports…Friday's USDA crop production report will contain this season's first national surveys of domestic corn and soyabean fields. Both crops have suffered the worst in the drought.” Gregory Meyer in The Financial Times. What we know about climate change and drought: wapo.st.

To: JohnM who wrote (196150)	8/9/2012 12:20:39 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 540781

Biden vs Ryan would be a lot of fun. "He doesn't get mad," No; he's a whiner. Paul Ryan’s whining about President Obama’s broken promise is wrong on several counts blogs.e-rockford.com Rep. Paul Ryan whines about Gingrich calling his Budget 'Right Wing Social Engineering" crooksandliars.com Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), a leading advocate of shrinking entitlement spending and the architect of the plan to privatize Medicare, spent Wednesday evening sipping $350 wine with two like-minded conservative economists at the swanky Capitol Hill eatery Bistro Bis. tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com