[WFTR]

The sadder reality is that President Bush will not receive any political benefit from doing the right thing. Increasing timber production may save a few jobs in the timber industry, but those jobs don't compare to the number of votes controlled by pencil-pushers in the cities who couldn't care less about jobs in the timber industry. As far as the pencil-pushers are concerned, the timber workers can give up the nice pay and benefits of their current jobs and become telemarketers.

Resolving for 2004
Bill

[meenie]

Bush could strike a compromise and turn the forests over to the states as they see fit. I question whether the Federales have any Constitutional jurisdiction over federal lands within a state other than for roads, and military bases. Clinton didn't have any problem reserving lands for national monuments without congressional action. Just reserve a monument for each state and let them take care of it.

[goody2shooz]

The voters holding those timber-related jobs vote Democrat. I know. I live in a town literally dependent upon timber harvesting. A great many are out of work and stupidly continue to vote for Democrats.