Save the Whales Part II?

Wow, I'd never thought that we in America would have to rally once again at our own government to Save the Whales. I remember well back in 1986-I was a left-leaning 25 year old angry at my government because they weren't doing the right things when it came to environmental preservation. It seemed like all of the great environmental strides that we accomplished under Democrats, Johnson and Carter and Republican Nixon would be the zenith in conservation acts. The Reagan administration just wasn't as interested in environmental protection-after all this was the time of the Sagebrush Rebellion and the New Right-a shift that began pushing moderate-conservation-minded Republicans to the side. But Ronald Reagan in 1986 signed two landmarks pieces of environmental legislation-one, the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Act (more on that later with my upcoming book on the gorge) and the other, the International Whaling Commissions (IWC)'s ban on commercial whaling. The slaughter at sea of our majestic sea mammals would finally end-well at least abate greatly-

Well-then again maybe not. So, here 24 years I was absolutely shocked when I saw a headline from Fox News that President Obama plans on lifting the Whaling moratorium. Surely that can't be correct-those right wingers at Fox just want to smear the president. Right? Well, maybe not- So I went over to Greenpeace, that seminal organization responsible for bringing the whaling issue (that and a Partridge Family episode) into my conscious. Yep-according to Greenpeace-it is true! Funny though how I can't seem to find much in the mainstream media about this-just like I had a hard time finding that the Obama administration has a worst record on protecting endangered species than George W Bush. Now, I'm not smearing the president. I'm just reporting some inconvenient truths. I commended the president when he signed into law last year an Omnibus Wilderness bill. Bravo Mr President-but you still have a long way to go convincing me that you are a conservationist. You are no Dick Nixon or Teddy Roosevelt or even Jimmy Carter (on the environment that is-one of Carter's few bright spots).

Oh yeah-Candidate Obama said in 2008, "As president I will ensure that the U.S. provides leadership... including strengthening the international moratorium on commercial whaling." You wouldn't break your promise now would you? Not like the one on having the most transparent government in US history? Nah-

Mr President, in case you need to hear why it would be a terrible idea to let the whaling moratorium lapse-I quote you Rich Lowry from the conservative magazine the National Review-

Why protect whales? They should be preserved as befits anything else that evokes wonder; they are the mammalian equivalent of the Grand Canyon or of the giant redwoods. They are also incredibly long-lived creatures with a sophisticated social structure, closer to chimpanzees than to cattle.

Besides, there’s no reason to kill whales. No one has needed whale oil to light lamps for at least a century, and blubber isn’t a necessary source of nutrition in a modern society. Yet Japan persists. It agitates against the moratorium and organizes international opposition to it at the same time it cynically defies it.

This would be one case for you Mr President and your administration to now be the party of "No!" That is NO TO WHALING! I hope I made myself clear.

(Picture from Greenpeace UK)

Build them and they will come (hike, run, walk and bike)

-but build them fast!

Although I am a fiscal conservative, let me be clear (to paraphrase our president) we can't spend enough money on parks, trails and nature preserves. I'm a utilitarian to some degree-believing in spending money for projects that do the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. Parks and trails fit the bill. As our population continues to spiral out-of-control and we continue to consume land for residences, industries, commercial establishments, roads, airports, power plants, wind farms, Walmarts, Costcos, etc,etc, etc-we are not keeping up with parks, preserves, open space, and trails. As American waist lines continue to expand and at ever younger and younger ages, we are not giving an increasingly large amount of them convenient access to trails and bike paths. We need to make the expansion of trails and parks a national priority. This administration is throwing around all kinds of stimulus money for roads, schools, rail lines, and God knows what else-and why I believe that some of this spending may be reckless, some of the projects being funded will indeed benefit the country. Expanding and improving our infrastructure is good. Our trails and parks are part of our infrastructure too for a healthy America. How about it, President Obama? Some money for parks and trails? And you governors? Insist on it! And the GOP-this is one area you don't want to say "No" to. Put this fiscal conservative on record. "I support spending more money on parks and trails--and I want to see it happen now!"

(Photo-Snohomish County's Whitehorse Trail. How much longer do we need to wait to run, hike, and bike this recreational treasure?)

George W Bush 11- Barack Obama 2

That's the number of endangered species that both presidents granted federal protection to in their first year of office. While George W Bush was perhaps one of our least environmental friendly presidents ever, Obama isn't exactly moving full steam ahead when it comes to endangered species and particularly wolves. Presidents Clinton and George HW Bush on the other hand were exceptional when it came to protecting endangered species-they averaged listing 58 (Bush) and 61 (Clinton) species each year while in office. Clinton had a wonderful environmental track record and so too (and much to the shock of many liberals) did the elder Bush. Read the full report here in Treehugger. I'm a little dismayed that many news outlets aren't carrying this story. My local paper did. But then again many newspapers were probably reluctant to carry this headline too. Sometimes the truth can simply baffle the perception!

(picture courtesy of wikipedia- Northern Spotted Owl listed under the first Bush administration)

President Obama:

Stimulate This!

The Obama Administration is throwing around money like a trailer park hick who just won the lottery. And I pray that in a couple of years my country doesn't end up like that reckless hick-broke! (No offense intended for frugal hicks). Anyhow, needless to say I have mixed feelings on the current spending frenzy the Obama Administration is partaking in. But let me say this. If my tax dollars (and dollars that are just be printed out of thin air) are going to go to bailout bums, swindlers, hustlers, shysters, and morons-well can we at least get some of that money going into trails, parks, and recreation areas for we honest folk? It would be nice to send some of the manufactured windfall to help maintain and build new trails. Open and maintain parks. Add new parks. Employ rangers, naturalists and law enforcement officials. Build urban parks and greenways and rail trails and help get America's increasingly lazy and nature-deficit youth out running and hiking and biking in the great outdoors. How about it President Obama? Any money for worthy causes? If you are going to throw it out there, I'd rather my trails and parks receive some of it instead of GM, AIG, and God knows where else you are going to spend with reckless abandonment. And I thought that George W Bush was fiscally imprudent. Oy vey!

(photo-Snohomish County's Whitehorse Trail could use an influx of money to get its entire 27 miles open to the public)

Welcome Back to the Senate,

Judd Gregg!

I couldn't be happier to have Senator Gregg come back to the senate than to serve in the Obama Administration. Other than his terrible lack-of-judgement on the TARP funds, Gregg has proven to be a sound fiscal conservative-and an excellent conservationists too. A rare breed and one that our nation can be proud of. So, get back in the Senate and add a voice of reason to the insane Stimulus-pork spending special interest hand greasing free-for-all that Reid and Pelosi have crafted. And get back in there and continue to vote for good sound pieces of environmental legislation-like land protection in New Hampshire's White Mountains and Great Bay. And Senator Gregg, you said you weren't interested in running again for the senate in 2010. Could a presidential run be in the making for 2012?

(photo- Great Bay Land Preservation made possible by Senator Gregg)

Senator Gregg:

A Republican Rarity,

An Environmental Champion

It both pleases me and saddens me that Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire has accepted to be President Obama's Secretary of Commerce. It pleases me because I have nothing but high respect for Senator Gregg and I believe he is a highly capable person for the position. He is a moderate Republican and a politician that I have very similar views with. He's a fiscal conservative and a conservationist. He has been a true champion of the environment and there are few large protected tracts of land in my home state of New Hampshire that he was not part of-especially when it came to getting the funding for these lands. He has helped expand the White Mountain National Forest and created both the Lake Umbagog and Great Bay National Wildlife Refuges. The latter, is one of my favorite places in the Granite State, a place I visit every year and a place that I have written about. Perhaps no other politician has been so instrumental in helping to protect this ecologically important and beautiful natural area.

Okay, so why am I saddened about his ascension to the Obama throne? Judd Gregg is too good of a senator to leave the senate. He is a rarity- a moderate and a conservation-minded Republican. Fellow New England green elephants, Snowe and Collins from Maine have just lost a great ally. The Republican party is growing increasingly far right-leaving moderates and slightly right of center folks little choice. There aren't enough Blue Dog Dems yet to woo them over. What's a Teddy Roosevelt disciple to do? I also would hate to see Gregg's illustrious career go down in a thud- I have little faith in the Obama administration and this may be the end of Gregg's influence. If the Republicans are able to win back the senate-Gregg would be one of its most powerful members. That is not an option now. But I have one issue with Gregg-one I have with Bush and Obama too-while I admire Gregg on fiscal issues, he did vote to release the remaining $350 million of Tarp funds (a taxpayer ripoff for reckless banks and corporate bottom feeders!). Ouch. New Hampshire's newly minted Democrat senator Jeanne Shaheen voted against. Kudos to you senator Shaheen.

I wish Senator Gregg the best and I have only one word of advice for you before you join Obama's cabinet. I hope you paid your taxes! Warren G Harding must be laughing from his grave watching this administration being formed.

(Photo- Great Bay from the Sandy Point Discovery Center, a Judd Gregg legacy)

Inaugural Thoughts

Like many in America I too am glad to see the end of George W. Bush's presidency. I never voted for him. But I don't think he is the devil incarnate, just not one of our better presidents. Probably one of our worst down there with Carter, Buchanan and Pierce. Lost opportunity is best how you can sum up his presidency. However, while I look forward to the post Bush era I am part of the 46% of the electorate that didn't get swept away with Obamamania. I never jump on bandwagons. I analyze and don't get swept away with irrational exuberance. This pragmatism has protected me from the Tech Bubble and the Real Estate Bubble and all the worthless crappy fads that are thrown at us every year to part with our money. There are things about Barack Obama that I admire. I think that he is intelligent, articulate, and genuinely a decent person. However, his politics leave me with much to desire. He talks well and has reached out to the other side and that is admirable. But, what does he really stand for beyond "hope and change?" We'll soon find out. It is wonderful that our country has overcome the racial divisions of the past, yet at the inauguration Rev Lowry delivered a racially tinged insulting "sermon." Reverend Warren's sermon however was enlightening and it is nice to see that Obama is not afraid to wear his spirituality on his sleeve. After all, Abe Lincoln, Obama's inspiration was one of our most religious presidents-and one of our best. Secular progressives must have had to swallow hard all of the references to God yesterday. But it is going to take more than God to get us out of the economic mess that we are facing. Spending our way into massive debt won't be the answer. This is what Bush tried to do and Obama is following suit- hardly change. Its good to see that if Republicans won't hold Obama to task on bailoutmania at least the Blue Dog Democrats will. Keep your eye on Heath Shuler-he's the type of Democrat that can lure me back to his side of the aisle. On environmental issues, there is clearly much to celebrate. One of the reasons that Bush never got my vote was his overt hostility on environmental issues. Under Obama I feel confident that conservation issues will at least get a better hearing- but I'm still worried about radical environmental initiatives. They have the unintended consequences of bringing in reactionary counter measures later on. Stick with the book of Teddy- Not the book of Al. And finally, I end this musing on a lighter note. Bring back Robert Frost. Was that the absolute worst poem at an inauguration you have ever heard or what? It was downright painful and another reason why most poets deserve to stay in darkly lit bohemian coffee houses. Praise song for my indigestion! Good Luck President Obama- I wish you the best. My nation and my future are counting on you.

A Carbon Footprint You Can Believe In!

This from David Harsanyi of Real Clear Politics:

The carbon footprint of Barack Obama's inauguration could exceed 575 million pounds of CO2. According to the Institute for Liberty, it would take the average U.S. household nearly 60,000 years of naughty ecological behavior to produce a carbon footprint equal to the largest self-congratulatory event in the history of humankind.
The same congressfolk who now are handing out thousands of tickets to this ecological disaster mandated only recently the phased elimination of the incandescent light bulb -- a mere carbon tiptoe, if you will. The whole thing seems a bit unfair.

And I may add hypocritacal and absurb. Once again it so evident that the people who scream the loudest about the impending doom of the planet do nothing about it-in fact they do more that counters what they believe that YOU and I should be doing! This is all pure insanity. And it would be laughable if it wasn't so detrimental to our country's economy and our individual liberties. I look forward to a climate change back to sane and rational thinking. God help us!

Red, Blue and Purple!

Okay time for some fun (and parody and some sarcasm) with the election. After analyzing the 2008 Electorate map its time to announce the reddest, bluest, and purplest states in the nation. Of course some of the bluest states are actually our reddest (that is socialist red)-like Vermont-with its far left senator Barnard Sanders who when mayor of Burlington wore well on his sleeve the city's nickname of the Peoples Republic of Burlington. And some of our reddest states are actually the bluest (like depressed blue) because these states like Wyoming and Oklahoma are now clinging to their guns hoping the new administration won't take them away! And the most purple state is Missouri-right dab in the middle of the country just like most of us-in the middle. So the heck with states like Wyoming and Vermont (incidentally the two least populated states) anyways- who needs em? Well- maple syrup lovers and people who fuel their cars with gas actually-

Okay, lists please-

The Reddest States-places where Sarah Palin can go hunting anytime she durn shootin well pleases

1. Oklahoma (66% McCain - 34%- Obama)

2. Wyoming (65% McCain - 35% Obama)

3. Utah (63% McCain - 34% Obama) the other 3% to Marie Osmond perhaps?

4. Alaska (62%- 36% Obama) the other 2% to Tina Fey?

5. Idaho (61%- 36%) the other 3% to Pedro?

The Bluest States-places where Joe Biden can get a J-O-B or at least learn to spell

1. Hawaii (72% Obama- 27% McCain) the other 1% to Keanu Reeves?

2. Vermont (67% Obama- 32% McCain) the other 1% to I have a scream Howard Dean?

3. Rhode Island (63% Obama- 35% McCain) the other 2% to Peter Griffin?

4. Massachusetts (62% Obama- 36% McCain) the other 2% to some Kennedy?

5. Illinois (Obama 62%- 37% McCain) the other 1% to Bill Ayers?

The Purplest States-Least divided or most?

1. Missouri- McCain by a hair!

2. North Carolina- Obama by a slightly longer hair

3. Indiana- Obama by two hairs

4. Florida - Obama by two hairs and a few chads

5. Ohio-Obama by three hairs and a few plumbers angry at Joe.

And one final note- that purple state Missouri-where the race was the closest is the home state of one of my political heroes- Harry S. Truman! It's been hell, Harry!