The Last Frost

The Bush administration urged the court not to hear this case, but thank goodness they did anyway. They will challenge the decision by the EPA to not regulate tailpipe emissions on the grounds outlined below.

"The EPA said in 2003 that it wouldn't regulate emissions from new cars and trucks, pointing to 'substantial scientific uncertainty' about the effects of climate change on human health and the environment and about the best means to address the issue." [Bloomberg.com]

Good to know our president as well as the Environmental Protection Agency is doing their best to ensure we do not protect our environment or people's health!

US Supreme Court To Consider Requiring Greenhouse Gas Rules » [Bloomberg.com]

Bush did a good thing, he has declared the Northwestern Hawaiian islands a national monument. This will be the largest national monument in the world. Over 140,000 square miles, bigger than 46 of our 50 states. This is great news for the wildlife that calls this stretch of land home. 

Here comes the cynicism.

The only problems with Bush's declaration is that for one, it's clearly a publicity stunt to put some polish on his otherwise appalling environmental record. But we can overlook that, the end result is still good, the real problem is that Bush has trouble admiting global warming is a real problem. He just doesn't believe it's happening, or at least he isn't willing to admit it. The problem is that just a little over a week ago scientists have concluded that this same sancuary may be submerged by 2100 due to rising sea levels from global warming. 

So Mr. Bush, if you're so concerned about this swatch of land, why don't you address the concerns of global warming so that you can really protect it? Oh wait, they will be submerged after 2008, guess he doesn't need to worry about it then. 

Bush has been talking a lot lately about the US addiction to oil. He touts homegrown alternative fuel sources as a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, when asked if he will see Al Gore's new movie An Inconvenient Truth, he replied that he 'doubts it'. It's good to know the leader of the free world is capable of considering an argument that disagrees with his gut, oh wait, no he isn't. 

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