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There can't be too many forums that would embrace the notion Bush's environmental policies are friendlier than Gore's; maybe this site ought to be renamed Free Rein.
Coincidence that this post appears the same week it was announced drillers would begin seismic testing this week in the Big Cypress Swamp? The Big Cypress Swamp, no less -- remember that place from travelogues that used to promote Florida travel in the 1950's? I doubt too many of today's Floridians have ever heard of it. People come to Florida today to experience Disneyland and go to the Orlando Civic Center -- what do they care about some swamp? On those topics, by the way, here's a rather dull subject: parking. Naw, let's not.
The Bush governorship, indeed, the Bush presidency, may be summed up in one word: oil. That's why the first thing Jeb did upon raking office was commence rollback of the Everglades Restoration (yes, that explains the current fanfare) and, the second was to torpedo the high speed train, an initiative that was put into place, by the way, by public referendum. Any idea of how hard it is to get a referendum through, especially in Florida? Now Jeb is going to put a measure on the ballot to repeal that referendum.
Before the celebration ended, another historic event occurred: Jeb's brother took the White House, and we got another round of energy interest legislation, only, this time the public began to balk, in large numbers. (Where's Dick Cheney, by the way? The guy's like a ghost. He didn't even show up through the fainting. At least he could send us a tape once and a while.)
Anyway, like I say, after a few months of President Bush, the public started to make some serious noise about this roughshod environmental team. It's in the polls, on the record. This all got Jeb back out with a brand new look.
Suddenly he emerged as not only the public school students' friend (another story) but a nature lover, as well. To sum it up, this guy's no Teddy Roosevelt.
Then, 9-11 came along; and the whole landscape changed.
In my opinion, the thing that hallmarks the Bush team more than anything else, and I think this could apply to New Right agenda, in general, is the absence of open discussion and debate before most of these things become done deals. It's gotten to the point where we just pick up the paper and read about what was done yesterday.