In Brief - December 10th, 2007

Here is today's quick news digest:

In the Pacific Northwest

• At Blog for Oregon, Jenni Simonis has put together some very nifty maps which compare the votes for Measures 37 and 49 in Multnomah County. Oregon's most urban. Jenni's findings are very interesting: "In 2004, 69 of the county's 127 precincts voted for Measure 37 and 57 against (there is one precinct in the county with 0 voters)...Last month, only three of the county's precincts voted against Measure 49."
• A burn ban is in effect for King, Snohomish and Pierce counties in all fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves unless they are the only sources of heat. Outdoor burning of any kind is also off limits likely through Tuesday.
• If you missed him during his last visit to Seattle, you have another chance to catch Barack Obama in a more intimate and cool location this Tuesday night at the Showbox. General admission tickets are $100, while students get a break with $35 tickets. Come by to show your support for Barack... or just see what all the excitement is about.

Across the Nation

• Mike Huckabee seems to think that we will go the way of the Romans if marriage equality becomes the law of the land in America. So that is what brought about the downfall of prior Western civilizations...extending civil rights? Somebody needs a history lesson....
  
• The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy has defined a sensible progressive immigration policy and challenges the netroots to address the issue head-on. It's time for this topic to become a priority and the netroots are well suited to elevate the issue in the public discourse.
• Where will New Orleans hurricane victims go in May when FEMA closes its emergency trailer camps? More than half of the city’s population rented their home before the disaster, but there are not enough rental units to meet current demand and what is available is too pricey for many.

Around the World

• Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will join Chile’s president, Michelle Bachelet, as a female leader of a Latin American country when she is sworn in today as Argentina’s next president. This is the first time that two women have led Latin American countries at the same time, a landmark event in the traditionally male-dominated region. Could a female president of the United States be far behind?
• Al Gore uses the Nobel awards ceremony to offer strong words to the world on the threat of global warming. Regardless of who occupies the Oval Office in the future, he sees Americans as becoming leaders in solving the climate crisis. Let’s make that more than wishful thinking.
• President Vladimir Putin today endorsed Dmitri A. Medvedev, as Russia’s next president, almost guaranteeing his election. Two New York Times correspondents also answer reader questions on Russia’s future, including Putin’s role, economics and Russian youth.

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