MattKirby’s Recent Comments

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  Other Polls Show Different Results

  These polls are unfortunate and present an unfortunate reality.  Yet they still must be taken with a grain of salt.  As the original post points out, the way the questions are framed is often arguable.  In a new poll commissioned by the League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, the results are staggeringly different.  When given all the options (renewable energy vs. increased drilling), Americans overwhelmingly favor increasing investment for renewable energy.  See my post about it here:
  http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlegacy/blog/2008/08/america ...

  Read the poll here:
  http://www.lcv.org/polls/gqr_energy.pdfOn Nearly two-thirds of Americans support offshore drilling, says poll posted 1 year, 3 months ago 13 Responses

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  We shouldn't worry too much. . . yet

  This is a terrible move, no doubt, but it is worth noting that it doesn't necessarily negate the California ruling that reinstated Clinton's rule.  They are two competing courts and no one has authority to overturn the other.  And the California ruling was made first.  Mike Anderson, an attorney at the Wilderness Society, is quoted in an AP article as saying that in his opinion, the California ruling is still in effect:

  "It is not in any way overturned or compromised by Judge Brimmer's decision in Wyoming today. What it does do is create two conflicting court decisions in different federal courts, different states, both issuing decisions with nationwide impact."

  Right now it's just important that we make sure to protect these places that provide vital habitat and crucial waterways until there's more legal clarity.

  http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlegacy/blog/index.aspOn Roadless rule shot down, again posted 1 year, 3 months ago 7 Responses

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  Haha Good Point

  Although remembering back to the last government shut-down, Clinton came out of that ordeal looking every part the hero.  The President had stood up to a Republican-dominated Congress and was not about to allow them to pull a fast one.  There is the off chance that the same could happen to the Republican cause if Bush were to use a veto against a Democrat-controlled Congress (especially since this is an issue that a terrifyingly high number of Americans support.

  But god I hope not.

  httP:/www.sierraclub.org/wildlegacy/blog
  On Republicans too sissy to shut down federal government over drilling posted 1 year, 3 months ago 1 Response

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  A Last Gasp from a Failed Administration

  One more example of the administration trying to avert current laws through backdoor means.  The largest overhaul of the ESA since 1988 and a 60-day public comment period is expected to be sufficient?  Yes, sufficient enough to finalize the plans before the new administration.

  http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlegacy/blog/2008/08/endange ...On Bush admin tries sneaky attack on endangered-species protections posted 1 year, 3 months ago 8 Responses

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  Conservation Reserve Program safe at leasts

  Thanks for the great article, Tom.  It provided a very sound and clear analysis for a topic that is not widely understood.  Thankfully, at least, the Bush administration has stopped their plans to let farmers out of the Conservation Reserve Program.  What with food prices being so high, farmers have an incentive to plant their lands rather than have them lay fallow under the program (even though they receive payments from the federal government for doing so).  Too bad the only reason the incentive to farm those lands exists is because of the ethanol mandate.

  http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlegacy/blog/2008/08/conserv ...  On World Bank finally releases 'secret' report on biofuels and the food crisis posted 1 year, 3 months ago 65 Responses