Chance for a Change (EPA Whitman editorial by The Oklahoman)

The Oklahoman ^ | 23 May 2003 | The Oklahoman Editorial

[PhiKapMom]

Chance for Change

2003-05-23
The Oklahoman


THE RESIGNATION of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Todd Whitman couldn't come at a better time.

That's not speaking ill of the former New Jersey governor, who said she was leaving the EPA to return home and spend more time with her family -- the universal excuse for politicians for as long as there have been politicians.

Rather, her departure means the president has an opportunity to choose a new administrator who will be able to do more with the agency than conduct a drawn-out holding action against the environmental movement.

We don't know who President Bush is considering for the job; those mentioned as possible replacements include former Gov. John Engler of Michigan and others connected politically to the Bush administration.

But we hope Bush will find someone who is strong enough to avoid capture by EPA's liberal-leaning bureaucracy and brave enough to do battle with environmental activists who think the agency belongs to them.

It's also a good time for a change because it coincides with Sen. Jim Inhofe's ascendancy to the chairmanship of the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee.

There, the Oklahoma Republican is trying to change the culture, to create one that respects sound science and takes into account things such as cost- benefit analysis to its policy deliberations.

The same is needed at EPA.

Whitman wasn't part of Bush's inner sanctum and had some clashes with him over the Kyoto global warming treaty and other issues. Generally, she was a moderate Republican who could keep the environmentalists out of Bush's hair.

Now Bush has a chance for a new start at EPA. He should get a person who can control the agency's bureaucracy -- career employees who dislike Republicans and Bush.

From an Oklahoma viewpoint, Bush should select a person who will be committed to common-sense solutions to knotty problems, like the Tar Creek nightmare in Ottawa County, and who can work productively with Inhofe.

[PhiKapMom]

Another great editorial from The Oklahoman!

[PhiKapMom]

Looks like changes could happen at EPA with the right choice by President Bush!

So glad to see Whiteman LEAVE!!!!!!!

[Grampa Dave]

As your friend and a fellow GW supporter, (see my tag line), I hate to throw cold water on your enthusiasm.

Who ever is appointed by GW will be met by the Watermelon Jihadists career civil service employees who man EPA from the janitors to the top levels.

These Watermelon Jihadists hate America and everything that GW stands for. They will sabotage anything the new cabinet member tries to do.

They will release bs via their mediot friends without approval to embarrass GW and the new Cabinet member. The far right haters of GW will throw each and every lie in the media up as another example of where GW has failed.

The Watermelon Jihadists in EPA may be worse than the communists/socialists/Islamofacists that SOS Powell inherited at the State Department.

[Dog Gone]

I couldn't agree more. The EPA needs someone installed who can reform that agency and make some drastic changes.

Bush probably should be careful in his selection to replace Whitman. We don't need someone who would be an obvious lightning rod for the left as the election season begins. James Watt would be a bad choice, for example.

What we need is a stealth buttkicker.

[PhiKapMom]

I have faith that whoever is picked is going to be supported if not suggested by Senator Inhofe -- if anyone can help clean up that agency, he CAN!!!! The environmentalist groups protested when he was named Chairman with his common-sense approach! He is doing a great job in applying common-sense to EPA Rules.

But then my two Senators took the EPA to court when they tried to make OK use reformulated gas and they won. Maybe EPA wouldn't have gotten so bad if more Senators had stood up to them and said "NO -- NOT IN MY STATE!"

Senator Inhofe never learned the meaning of the word "NO" when coming to cleaning out bureaucrats from agencies. Want someone like SecDef Rumsfeld who has systematically been dismantling the Clinton regime at the Pentagon. Been around the military structure for years and never thought it could be happen but SecDef Rumsfeld is doing it!

Now on to EPA with Senator Inhofe's backing and I have hope!!!!

[PhiKapMom]

Couldn't agree more! Should be interesting!

[Miss Marple]

The Watermelon Jihadists in the EPA are determined, you know. I went to school with some of these types, who were horrified at any of us who went to work for mining or oil companies.

These folks were active participants in the first Earth Day, did papers on solar power and recycling, and generally are dedicated to having us all live in caves.

I think Dog Gone is right. We need someone who can maneuver these people in the EPA into thinking they are succeeding, when they are not. Maybe some wealthy Republicans could form a new environmental foundation and hire them all away from government. Even for environmentalists, money talks.

[Dog Gone]

Maybe some wealthy Republicans could form a new environmental foundation and hire them all away from government.

What a sneaky thing to do. Outstanding idea!

[Grampa Dave]

MM, this sounds like a great strategy. Money talks really big to these EPA type rats; "Maybe some wealthy Republicans could form a new environmental foundation and hire them all away from government. Even for environmentalists, money talks."

[CedarDave]

Whoever is chosen will be a lightening rod for the watermelon groups. If there he/she has any type of background in the private sector, the groups will seek out any malcontents they can find and bring them forward to "demonstrate" how insensitive that person is to the birds and bunnies. I'm sorry to be totally negative about this, but these groups have tremendous clout and their ability to spin lies about any nominee is boundless. The only way we can win this battle is for the President's popularity in other areas to overcome and offset the environmental tidal wave that will arise come election season.

[Dog Gone]

I agree with you, but Bush shouldn't make it any easier for them than he has to. Selecting someone who works at ExxonMobil for this position would be ill-advised, for example.

[CedarDave]

ChevronTexaco then? ;>)

[BOBTHENAILER]

brave enough to do battle with environmental activists who think the agency belongs to them.

The quote of the day for this article. I agree, your Senator Inhofe will be a great head of this Committee. A Rumsfeld-like cleaning of the stables is long overdue. A stealth elimination of the bad seeds would be wonderful. Same at State Dept.

[Grampa Dave]

We are aware of the snake pit that EPA is. Hope will get you killed or maimed if you go into a snake pit armed only with hope.

Dog Gone is correct about the choice. He/she has to be a green capitalist.

EPA, State, Justice and whatever Federal Department/service are virtual snakepits that are populated with life long left wingers who hate America, Americans and in particuliar President Bush.

[Miss Marple]

Well, here is a good way the Crown Prince of Bahrain could help out.

"The Crown Prince of Bahrain is pleased to announce the formation of the Royal Bahrain Envornmental Foundation, with the aim of finding environmentally sensitive ways of solving the world's energy and agricultural problems. Drawn from the highest levels of expertise in their field, members will be given a large research stipend and living quarters in the kingdom, in order to develop new methods of combatting the planet's environmental crisis."

It would be a handy way to get them out of the EPA AND out of the country.

[eBelasco]

What do we need the EPA for anyway?

[RAT Patrol]

I love that paper.

[VOA]

Now Bush has a chance for a new start at EPA. He should get a person who can control
the agency's bureaucracy -- career employees who dislike Republicans and Bush.

I'll take the middle road.
I know two EPA employees; they and I earned our bachelors degrees in chemistry
at a conservative college.

Dubya has an opportunity to give encouragement to EPA employees like my friends...
and let the irrational enviro-wackos that are insinuated in the EPA know that they
don't totally run the show anymore.

If Dubya will display in this arena the same bravery he displayed at his speech at the
Coast Guard graduation where he blasted the Europeans for starving Africans by
their boycott of biotech crops...
the EPA may yet return to the proper place as an agency that protects the USA (and our
neighbors) from pollution while finding intelligent ways to allow industry to grow.

So that we have a sufficiently vibrant economy to allow us to afford...
The Environmental Protection Agency

[WFTR]

I think the editorial is good, and I hope that the change will be positive for the country. I don't agree with all that is being said about the characteristics of the next choice. I don't want to see a big fight over environmental issues right now, but if we want the country to go in the right direction, there must come a time when a president rallies the country to tell the liberals that their policies are wrong and that as long as they advocate those policies, they aren't particularly welcome. We can argue about whether this is the right time, but true positive change cannot come without slapping Katie Couric and her type in the face (figuratively speaking) and telling them to shut up. You can't make everyone happy, and you can't move the country in the right direction anytime you are making the liberals happy and conservatives unhappy.

WFTR
Bill

[Dog Gone]

I knew you were smart, but I didn't realize you were so devious.

It could work.