Bush takes large bold steps towards energy independance to dismay of sniveling bleeding heart tree hugging liberals everywhere - Hiya Cherri!

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Bush opens up Rockies to energy explorers

FROM DAMIAN WHITWORTH IN WASHINGTON

THE Bush Administration has drawn up a blueprint for opening millions of acres in the Rocky Mountains to oil and gas exploration. A report for a White House energy task force has further antagonised environmentalists by recommending that huge areas that are now off-limits to drilling should be made available to developers. Among the lands in the West suggested for exploration are tracts of Montana’s Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Jack Morrow Hills of Wyoming.

The report suggests that the Administration is planning to seek new supplies of oil and gas in the Rockies because of the hostile reception on Capitol Hill to Mr Bush’s plan to start drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Mr Bush made opening up the refuge, situated in Alaska, the central plank of his energy policy during the election campaign but it has become clear in recent weeks that Congress will not approve the step.

The task force, chaired by the Vice-President, Richard Cheney, is considering proposals to open up areas that are off-limits but could have that status revoked by the Interior Department without the approval of Congress.

Mr Bush has long championed the need to construct a new energy policy for America under which more oil and gas would be extracted domestically so that the country is less reliant on foreign producers. He has said that he wants to change “a mentality that says you can’t explore and protect land”.

Mr Bush is facing criticism from environmentalists over a range of issues and a familiar refrain is that he and Mr Cheney are keener to please their friends in the oil industry, where they were both formerly executives, rather than protect wild areas.

Critics claim that wilderness areas would be irreparably damaged and the amount of oil and gas available that could be removed is in any case negligible.

Administration officials have said that there is enough gas under public land in the Rockies to supply the country for more than six years and that modern technology can ensure minimal damage to the environment.

Mr Bush is facing an onslaught from environmentalists after he announced that America would not sign the Kyoto agreement on cutting emissions of the gases which cause global warming and suspended regulations devised by the Clinton Administration cutting the amount of arsenic in drinking water.

In a letter to Time magazine this week Jimmy Carter, the former President, the scientist Stephen Hawking, the actor Harrison Ford and Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader, warned him that it was “time for action” on global warming. Both Mr Bush and his opponents agree that the problems with blackouts in California are just one symptom of the country’s energy crisis. They just differ wildly over how to solve it with environmentalists calling for greater conservation initiatives and investment in renewable energy sources.

In a separate political tussle — over the budget — both Republicans and Democrats declared victory last night.

In reality the budget passed by the US Senate was a setback for Mr Bush because it provides for a tax cut of $1.2 trillion when he was set on a $1.6 trillion cut. Nevertheless, Mr Bush put on a brave face and said that he was “really pleased” to report that a budget had been passed that “funds our nation’s priorities and allows meaningful real tax relief for the American people”.

The budget was passed by 65-35 after an earlier vote had seen a handful of moderate Republicans join Democrats to slash Mr Bush’s ten-year budget plan back by an even larger sum. Only after frantic negotiations did the figure creep up to $1.2 trillion; still far short of the amount Republicans wished to cut but more than most Democrats wanted.

Fifteen Democrats, in a Senate divided 50-50, voted with Republicans to approve the package. A similar Bill has been passed in the House and the two bodies will now get together to hammer out the details.

While both Republican and Democratic leaders were using the word “victory”, Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican, admitted that the deal was a blow to Mr Bush.

Bush takes large bold steps towards energy independance to dismay of sniveling bleeding heart tree hugging liberals everywhere - Hiya Cherri!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 07, 2001

Answers

Let the gnashing of teeth begin!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 07, 2001.

So you are saying that conservatives just don't give a fuck about anything???? How is trampling up our national parks a step towards *energy independance*??? jeezus, you really are full of it aint, I salute you...

salute for aint

-- guess which one (eieio@old.macdonlds.farm.com), April 07, 2001.


Ain't, It is my sincere hope that your grandchildren curse you for the fool you are, as they struggle for the air-water-food-freedom you, and your kind stole from them.

Not Cherri - but someone who is very tired of fools like you.

-- Not Cherri (as_if_I_would_give_it_to_you@yeah.right), April 07, 2001.


Mr Bush is facing criticism from environmentalists over a range of issues and a familiar refrain is that he and Mr Cheney are keener to please their friends in the oil industry, where they were both formerly executives, rather than protect wild areas.

Critics claim that wilderness areas would be irreparably damaged and the amount of oil and gas available that could be removed is in any case negligible.

Administration officials have said that there is enough gas under public land in the Rockies to supply the country for more than six years and that modern technology can ensure minimal damage to the environment. For less than a seven year supply of energy??? THIS IS NOT worth the price of damaging our National Parks! This is insane and this moderate conservative will not support this! Bush is a mistake, one that will be hard to fix. The sniveling you hear is your conservative thugs realizing the anger of the american people boiling up to stop this bullshit!

-- Rob (celtic64@inficad.com), April 07, 2001.


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