Category Archives: politics

Reading the polls is a perilous business for an enviro in this country, because Americans who talk to pollsters say they rate protecting the environment highly, but frequently fail to back up that concern  with their votes. According to a recent CBS/NY Times poll, nearly three-quarters of the country believes in global warming, and respondentsContinue reading “Pouring over the Polls, Obsessively”

The cartoon below captures the political moment with Tom Toles’s usual prescience. But it’s worth pointing out: On this topic, as on so many others (global warming, anyone?) the experts have been vindicated. The Bush White House, which seems to take pride in stubbornly refusing to face facts, as a consequence ends up just lookingContinue reading “Rove Repudiated: Bush Defiant”

"Big Lie" in the National Socialist sense of the term; that is, "a lie "so colossal" no one would believe anyone could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."" The award is named after Richard M. Nixon, the Republican who left the White House in utter disgrace, but had a long and veryContinue reading “Biggest Liars of 2006 Midterms: the Richard M. Nixon Award”

Believe it or don’t. It’s almost enough to make me feel sorry for evangelist Ted Haggard, who apparently while leading a vast congregation and leading the charge against gay marriage, was all the while cheating on his wife with a gay prostitute, aided by methamphetamine. What did Mark Twain say?  "Truth is stranger than fiction,Continue reading “Preacher Signs Global Warming Initiative, Therefore Deserves Ruination”

In a week’s time, the political climate in America will change–or so the experts tell us. Pollster Charlie Cook, "the Oracle of Washington," calls this a "wave" election, compares it to l994, and predicts the Republicans will lose "at least 20 to 35 seats, possibly more." In the LATimes, conservative historian Niall Ferguson compares thisContinue reading “Beyond the Sound Bite: Republicans for Environmental Protection”

In recent years right-wingers in this country, including the President, have scoffed at the idea of global warming, and ignored those who expressed concern and called for action. Now, even among Republicans and conservatives, the need to act to reduce the risks of climate change is looking increasingly like the new conventional wisdom. The obviousContinue reading “The Panic of A Denialist”

The political pundits haven’t noticed, probably because they habitually put the health of the planet at the bottom of their list of concerns, but  this week on national television David Letterman pointed out that the Current Occupant of the White House is trying to present himself as an Environmental President.

It’s a struggle, as you can see.

The salmon industry on the West Coast is dying. The Bush administration–and Karl Rove in particular, as this story from the Wall Street Journal shows–helped kill it. For more on what happened and what is happening, including pictures and audio links, see this great story from Mother Jones a couple of months ago. But what’sContinue reading “Bush Administration to Salmon, Fisherman: Drop Dead”

Yes, I exaggerated a little in the headline. In fact, the nation didn’t save the flag. (I’ll leave aside the question of how threatened it was.) Regardless, the "flag-burning" measure passed the House, has been given a head-nod by the States, and failed in the Senate by a single vote. The President said he wantedContinue reading “Save the Flag, Burn the Planet”

Irwin Seltzer, despite his prominent post among as house economist and contributing editor for the far-right Weekly Standard, is a good writer and not an ideologue. (Like Eric Blair, I find these two traits often go together.) Seltzer endorsed a carbon tax earlier this year, and told me in an email that "he felt thereContinue reading “Well-Connected Conservative Predicts Bush Administration Shift to Reduce CO2 Emissions”