The Apollo Alliance is a great organization which put the message in a very positive, but serious context.  The energy bill is loaded with tax breaks for all kinds of polluting corporations that run this country on energy from the past.  The message of this reaction, that i like so much, is that there is great work being done on the state and local level.

I believe action on the local level is oftentimes a precursor to action on the national level, and I hope to see clean energy power our economy and provide jobs within it.  

The Apollo Alliance looks to be doing a good job of articulating a progressive vision for this country.

"The Apollo Alliance looks to be doing a good job of articulating a progressive vision for this country."

Unfortunately the actual proposals made by Apollo are very weak.  Their rhetoric is admirable though.

Maybe they can strengthen their plan as a reaction to this horribly rotten pork passed by those 76 craven, greedy senators.

It's hard to come up with adjectives harsh enough to adequately describe the lack of character of the  individuals who voted for this energy bill.

Now many democrats will be campaigning in '06 having voted for this travesty.  Not a good sign when any old GOPer can challenge them on their porcine vote.

By reviewing the Alliance's points and plan, I'm finding their articulation of energy issues to be an inspiring one.  Their incorporation of economic issues and appeal to actual decision makers makes this an especially strong coalition.

The coalition hasn't put forth any actual legislation (although there is similar legislation calling for an Apollo-style renewable energy future), but is aiming towards incredibly beneficial ideas of both increasing renewable energy use and our overall energy efficiency.  It is calling for both of those proposals with the strong focus of economic and environmental benefits.

I would be interested to know, though, what the weak proposals that you have found are.  The Democratic Party is going to have to be a vehicle for realizing a progressive vision, but it needs to take a much stronger stance that it already has in favor of clean and renewable energies.  

When looking at energy and environmental issues, Democrats consistently take a stronger positions than Republicans.  There are Republicans who vote good votes on environmental and other issues, but by and large the Democrats are a much friendlier folk towards economic and environmental issues such as energy than Republicans by and large.  While I think there is a lot of work to do with Democrats (Democrats in the Senate voted overwhelmingly for the Energy Bill while opposition in the House was strongly Democrat), the Party can be a great vehicle towards progress.

There will certainly be Democrats campaigning on their Energy Bill vote, but there are many who are supportive of a beneficial future based on renewables.  That wing of the party, along with progressive organizations, can actively articulate an energy future.  I don't think ann energy future can be realized without a Party in power that is friendly towards renewable and clean energy sources.  

thanks for the link, i'm reading through it now.