jfranke’s Recent Comments

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  A clarification

  That cheap shot at Salazar and his hat is mine, not that of the Center for Biological Diversity. Their statement starts at the date. On Obama touts new green energy economy while introducing green team posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 3 Responses

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  Salazar and Vilsak not so much

  Sorry, but Obama's intention to not abandon the old model of the west as a sacrifice area for the extractive industries is apparent in his appointment of Salazar and Vilsak. Please see this communique from the Center for Biological Diversity:

  Call your Senator and tell them to oppose Salazar. I don't know what Obama owes that little Stenson-clad Colorado cowpie, but Obama's grace period was over when he attempts to appoint somebody that pro-industry to what is one of the most deeply Bushco compromised of all the government agencies. Vilsak, who Obama wants as the head of USDA is no great shakes either. He knows a lot more about hog bellies than he does about restoring the Forest Service to some semblance of respectability.  

  Please pass this on.

  Statement on Salazar Appointment by the Center for Biological Diversity)

  December 16, 2008

  Contact Kieran Suckling , executive director, (520) 275-5960

  Ken Salazar a Disappointing Choice for Secretary of the Interior

  Stronger, More Scientifically-Based Leadership Needed to Fix
  Crisis-Plagued Agency

  Strong rumors are circulating that President-elect Barack Obama has
  selected Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) as the new Secretary of the Interior.
  As the overseer of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land
  Management, the Mineral Management Services, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  Service, and the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary of the Interior
  is most important position in the protection of America's lands, waters,
  and endangered species.

  The Department of the Interior has been rocked by scandals during the
  Bush Administration, most revolving around corrupt bureaucrats
  overturning and squelching agency scientists as they attempted to
  protect endangered species and natural resources from exploitation by
  developers, loggers, and oil and gas development. Just yesterday, the
  Interior Department Inspector General issued another in a string of
  reports http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=305942& ...
  finding that top Department officials systematically violated laws and
  regulations in order to avoid or eliminate environmental protections.

  "The Department of the Interior desperately needs a strong, forward
  looking, reform-minded Secretary," said Kieran Suckling, executive
  director of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity,
  "unfortunately, Ken Salazar is not that man. He endorsed George Bush's
  selection of Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior, the very woman who
  initiated and encouraged the scandals that have rocked the Department of
  Interior. Virtually all of the misdeeds described in yesterday's
  Inspector General expose occurred during the tenure of the person Ken
  Salazar advocated for the position he is now seeking."

  While Salazar has promoted some good environmental actions and fought
  against off-road vehicle abuse, his overall record is decidedly mixed,
  and is especially weak in the arenas most important to the next
  Secretary of the Interior: protecting scientific integrity, combating
  global warming, reforming energy development and protecting endangered
  species. Salazar

  - voted against increased fuel efficiency standards for the U.S.
  automobile fleet

  • voted to allow offshore oil drilling along Florida's coast

  • voted to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to ignore global warming
    
  impacts in their water development projects
  • voted against the repeal of tax breaks for Exxon-Mobil

  • voted to support subsidies to ranchers and other users of public
    
  forest and range lands

  - Threatened to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when its
  scientists determined the black-tailed prairie dog may be endangered

  "Obama's choices for Secretary of Energy and his Climate Change Czar
  indicate a determined willingness to take on global warming," said
  Suckling. "That team will be weakened by the addition of Ken Salazar
  who has fought against federal action on global warming, against higher
  fuel efficiency standards, and for increased oil drilling and oil
  subsidies."
  In addition to his misstep on Norton, Salazar endorsed the elevation of
  William Myers III to the federal bench. Myers was a former Interior
  Department Solicitor and lobbyist for the ranching industry. Senator
  Leahy called him "the most anti-environmental candidate for the bench I
  have seen in 37 years in the Senate." Bizarrely, Salazar praised Myers'
  "outstanding legal reasoning" regarding endangered species, Indian
  affairs, federal lands and water, timber, and fish and wildlife issues.
  The American Bar Association rated Meyers as "not qualified." Salazar
  later supported Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General, introducing him
  at his Senate confirmation hearing.

  "One of the most important jobs of the Secretary of the Interior is to
  help pick dozens of critically important political appointees to oversee
  America's conservation system. His past misjudgments of Norton, Meyers
  and Gonzales give us little confidence he will choose wisely in the
  future.On Obama touts new green energy economy while introducing green team posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 3 Responses

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  Now hold on there, pard

  The honeymoon's over as far as I'm concerned. Salazar is just a God-awful choice. If after reading the CBD's notice on the appointment below you agree with their assessment, call your Senator and ask them to oppose the appointment.

  Statement on Salazar Appointment by the Center for Biological Diversity)

  December 16, 2008

  Contact Kieran Suckling , executive director, (520) 275-5960

  Ken Salazar a Disappointing Choice for Secretary of the Interior

  Stronger, More Scientifically-Based Leadership Needed to Fix
  Crisis-Plagued Agency

  Strong rumors are circulating that President-elect Barack Obama has
  selected Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) as the new Secretary of the Interior.
  As the overseer of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land
  Management, the Mineral Management Services, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  Service, and the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary of the Interior
  is most important position in the protection of America's lands, waters,
  and endangered species.

  The Department of the Interior has been rocked by scandals during the
  Bush Administration, most revolving around corrupt bureaucrats
  overturning and squelching agency scientists as they attempted to
  protect endangered species and natural resources from exploitation by
  developers, loggers, and oil and gas development. Just yesterday, the
  Interior Department Inspector General issued another in a string of
  reports http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=305942& ...
  finding that top Department officials systematically violated laws and
  regulations in order to avoid or eliminate environmental protections.

  "The Department of the Interior desperately needs a strong, forward
  looking, reform-minded Secretary," said Kieran Suckling, executive
  director of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity,
  "unfortunately, Ken Salazar is not that man. He endorsed George Bush's
  selection of Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior, the very woman who
  initiated and encouraged the scandals that have rocked the Department of
  Interior. Virtually all of the misdeeds described in yesterday's
  Inspector General expose occurred during the tenure of the person Ken
  Salazar advocated for the position he is now seeking."

  While Salazar has promoted some good environmental actions and fought
  against off-road vehicle abuse, his overall record is decidedly mixed,
  and is especially weak in the arenas most important to the next
  Secretary of the Interior: protecting scientific integrity, combating
  global warming, reforming energy development and protecting endangered
  species. Salazar

  - voted against increased fuel efficiency standards for the U.S.
  automobile fleet

  • voted to allow offshore oil drilling along Florida's coast

  • voted to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to ignore global warming
    
  impacts in their water development projects
  • voted against the repeal of tax breaks for Exxon-Mobil

  • voted to support subsidies to ranchers and other users of public
    
  forest and range lands

  - Threatened to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when its
  scientists determined the black-tailed prairie dog may be endangered

  "Obama's choices for Secretary of Energy and his Climate Change Czar
  indicate a determined willingness to take on global warming," said
  Suckling. "That team will be weakened by the addition of Ken Salazar
  who has fought against federal action on global warming, against higher
  fuel efficiency standards, and for increased oil drilling and oil
  subsidies."
  In addition to his misstep on Norton, Salazar endorsed the elevation of
  William Myers III to the federal bench. Myers was a former Interior
  Department Solicitor and lobbyist for the ranching industry. Senator
  Leahy called him "the most anti-environmental candidate for the bench I
  have seen in 37 years in the Senate." Bizarrely, Salazar praised Myers'
  "outstanding legal reasoning" regarding endangered species, Indian
  affairs, federal lands and water, timber, and fish and wildlife issues.
  The American Bar Association rated Meyers as "not qualified." Salazar
  later supported Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General, introducing him
  at his Senate confirmation hearing.

  "One of the most important jobs of the Secretary of the Interior is to
  help pick dozens of critically important political appointees to oversee
  America's conservation system. His past misjudgments of Norton, Meyers
  and Gonzales give us little confidence he will choose wisely in the
  future.On Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar picked to head Interior Department posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 7 Responses

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  Used again...

  When will we ever learn... remember when Al Gore (perhaps acting as a stalking horse for Clinton) needed us, he came calling with a bunch of flowers and that insincere look on his face? The Dems are about to use us like cheap whores again, but this time it's Hillary who's come calling. With Energy Committee Dems Landrieu and Akaka voting to drill in Alaska, and with the pathetic showing that they've made on energy policy lately, why should we trust these people at all? Because they can count on our votes, given that there's no real alternative. Will there ever come a time when we won't just get used and tossed to the side once these people get what they want? On Hillary Clinton joins the pack in calling for greener energy policy posted 4 years ago 4 Responses

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  Exactly

  There you have it - these people can't even keep their reputations greenwashed for a week before their interest in profit uber alles becomes completely apparent once again. If they can't find it in their black little hearts to take care of their employees here in the States, does anybody honestly believe that they give a damn about working conditions in China?

  I'm sorry, but you really can't shine a turd.
  On Makower thinks the retail giant might just be turning over a new leaf posted 4 years ago 10 Responses