Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 05/15/2008 3:37:20 AM PDT by fweingart
The Bush Administration named the polar bear to the “threatened species” list based on computer predictions of the anticipated loss of sea ice due to global warming Tuesday.
“Computer models predict sea ice is likely to recede in the future,” said Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. “They [polar bears] are in my judgment likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future, in this case 45 years.”
Kempthorne used a series of slides showing images of decrease polar sea ice while making his announcement. They are available here.
The polar bear’s classification as “threatened” is a step below “endangered”—a classification which would trigger massive environmental protections that would prevent energy and oil exploration in Alaska.
Officials said an “endangered” listing could not be made because there was not enough scientific evidence that greenhouse gas emissions where causing the sea ice to melt.
Kempthorne said, “Listing the polar bear as threatened can reduce avoidable losses of polar bears. But it should not open the door to use of the ESA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, power plants, and other sources.”
To prevent the environmental lobby from using this listing as a means to prevent domestic energy development Kempthorne proposed a rule to allow this type of activity in the area if it is permissible under standards dictated by the Mammal Protection Act.
This rule has not been adopted.
This decision was spurred by The Center for Biological Diversity, a group that sued the Department of Interior, along with Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council, to make a decision about listing the polar bear as “endangered” based on global warming concerns. The environmental lobby argues global warming has melted sea ice that polar bears walk on when hunting seals. Less ice, their logic follows, exposes the bears to drowning, cannibalism and starvation.
Their complaints come as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services reports the polar bear population is on the rise. FWS estimates there are currently 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears, up from a record-low population of 5,000 to 10,000 in the 1950’s and 1960’s
The Republican Party will cease to exist in a short time on paper. It no longer exists in actuality anyway.
Perhaps we can get the taxpayer to be added tothe endangered specie list sothey will have to take drastic action to protect them.
How do you sue and win when there is NO EVIDENCE that you have a case???? Easy, your opponent rolls over because he wanted you to sue so it would give him a political dodge with his base.
Bush, I'm sorry I voted for you; it was a huge mistake. I should have voted for a 3rd party candidate in 2004 because you were already showing your liberalness then.
Don't be surprised if polls drop into the single digits.
What freaking crap!! These Federal idiots bleed us dry to pay their inflated salaries and pensions and do nothing useful. They are useless and in this case very harmful.
Where’s Al-Qaeda with their nuke when you need them?
We have only two options to clean house. One won’t work.
I wonder if George Bush is aware of this decision. He might even approve of it....getting his kicks from watching conservatives go ballistic over these lousy polar bears
This decision is not as bad as you might think. It says “threatened,” not “endangered.” Big difference.
I’m really worried that had this been McCain, he would have no problem with the full “endangered” status...
And the GOP is scratching its head wondering what went wrong with those three recent congressional elections?
Lousy polar bears are not threatened. They kill more people than people kill bears via mythical global warming
I voted for Bush in 2000. I stood outside Cheney’s House against Al Gore. I’m sorry.
And what they got when they USED to call here looking for money, after the "presione el " 1" para el inglés".
I, for one, am getting sick and tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. McCainiac promises even more of the same!
Looks to me that the thieves are about to create the next financial bubble with the carbon cap and trade scam and steal hundreds of billions from Americans.
Computer models show that because of stupid moves like this the republicans will take a beating in the fall elections as Conservatives stay home.
Bush to the rescue!
When a former Republican governor from Idaho falls for this garbage, you might as well just cease operations as a party.
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