One thing that has taken hold throughout this historic campaign is the slow rise of political art. Remember the McCain earrings and all the amazing DIY that was found at the DNC?

Art has played a huge role in the president-elect’s campaign. You only have to look at Shepard Fairey’s now ubiquitous Hope poster to see the affect. Political art and craft is just one way to stump for a cause, or show support for a president-elect.

Obama paraphernalia has been popping up all over the city. It is mostly cheap t-shirts and buttons and pins with the likeness of Obama and his family. But, I happened across this great “That’s my DJ” t-shirt. It is hand printed and designed by Sound College.

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On Monday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked President-Elect Barack Obama to waive the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements to help jump start the Nation’s flailing economy.

Schwarzenegger met with Obama last month in Philadelphia, where he urged the Federal government to invest in infrastructure. Something he’s been peddling alongside New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg since early 2008.

The Governor’s administration has identified four key areas where they “can work together” in stabilizing and expanding California’s economy: investment in infrastructure, energy security, stabilization of the housing market, and assistance to states to help meet the needs of the medically indigent.

>>More on Schwarzenegger’s environmental policy

During their meeting Schwarzenegger had identified $28 billion in infrastructure projects ready to break ground, that number is now $44 billion! The projects are in communities across California and include:

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President-elect Barack Obama wants to  aggressively follow a new and sustainable energy and environment policy. Green jobs, renewable energy, clean water and air are just a few of what he wants to create as part of our clean energy future.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how President-elect Obama’s Transition Team is approaching climate issues.

At a press conference in Chicago today, President-elect Barack Obama announced additional members of his economic team — nominating Peter Orszag as Director and Rob Nabors as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Analysts and congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle are calling the selections “excellent.”

The Washington Post calls Peter Orszag, Director-designate of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), “widely respected for his work on how Americans receive medical care… Orszag has carved out a niche as a leading international thinker on health policy.”

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In an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, his first since the election, President-elect Barack Obama talked about the economy, the housing market and how to create a sustainable auto industry. He said that the $700 billion bailout plan has done little to improve the economy so far, but he credited the Bush administration Sunday for working to address the global financial crisis.

“There’s no doubt that we have not been able yet to reset the confidence in the financial markets and in the consumer markets and among businesses that allow the economy to move forward in a strong way,” Obama said. “And my job as president is going to be to make sure that we restore that confidence. We shouldn’t worry about the deficit next year or even the year after. … The most important thing is that we avoid a deepening recession.”

The president-elect also said that not enough has been done to address bank foreclosures and distressed homeowners.

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Delivering quite a blow to both Gordon Brown and Britain, BP has dumped its plans to build out wind farms and other renewable projects in Britain for projects in the United States. The US government incentives for clean energy projects provide convenient tax shelter for oil and gas revenues - something BP is looking for with an estimated $8 billion earmarked for the initiative.

Convenience is another factor. BP, which has a representative on the ruling board of the British Wind Energy Association, said difficulty in getting planning permission and lower economies of scale made the UK wind sector far less attractive than that of the US.

>>More on wind energy in Europe

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First of all, congratulations on your resounding win! Many of us campaigned tirelessly for you, and we opened our doors and our hearts to join you in celebration last night. This is a great victory we will savor for years to come!

Americans have heard a great deal about hope and change during this election season. Together, those two words evoke a compelling vision for the future of our nation. Once the election is over, the questions for our policy makers (at all levels) will be how to move the nation towards this positive future, especially in the face of an economically challenged present.

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I voted by absentee ballot, as there are no polling places in my tiny, mountain community.  On election day, I was headed home from a quick trip to Seal Beach, CA.  In order to avoid traffic, my twelve hour drive home began at 4:30 am.  As I drove by McCain/Palin signs in Republican Orange County and the vast farm lands of I-5, I began to doubt an Obama victory. We listened to talk radio, from conservative to liberal stations on the satellite, before finally setting on the BBC.  Hearing callers from around the world share their excitement and hope that Obama would win, I was moved at how this man has reached out to the world with the same message of hope and change he has given the American people. 

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John Podesta is no stranger to politics. He was the Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2001 and he’s held countless positions as advisers to various other politicians. He’s also currently the President and CEO of the D.C. think tank, the Center for American Progress, which, just over a month ago, published the report “Green Recovery: A New Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy.“

It’s no coincidence, then, that Barack Obama has already tapped Podesta as the leader of his transition team to get a head start on getting this country back on track. And with Podesta’s appointment, it should be blaringly apparent that a Green Recovery — a Green Deal, if you will — is going to be the keystone of Obama’s plan.

In fact, Obama has already stated this in countless speeches, but his appointment of Podesta backs up his words with substance.

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