Obama's EPA clears 42 of 48 new mountaintop removal mining permits

[ensho]

http://wvgazette.com/News/200905150759?page=1&build=cache


The Obama administration has cleared more than three-dozen new mountaintop removal permits for issuance by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, drawing quick criticism from environmental groups who had hoped the new president would halt the controversial practice.

In a surprise announcement Friday, Rep. Nick J. Rahall said 42 of the 48 permits already examined by the U.S. Environmental Protection had been approved by EPA for issuance by the corps.

-snip-

"Because it appears that EPA is unwilling to intervene, it is now imperative that the White House Council on Environmental Quality take immediate action to stop the bulldozers," Pope said in a prepared statement. "The Obama administration should take swift action to fix the flawed 'fill rule' that enables this type of devastating mining and should act decisively to save the mountains, rivers and communities of Appalachia."
-snip-
--------------------------


kiss the state of W. Va. goodbye. take photos of the mountains before they are gone.

long live the coal Barons. every town needs a coal sludge pit of their very own.

[iamthebandfanman]

1. truely sad for all of us

living in w. va and kentucky.

[denem]

2. No! "it is now imperative that the White House Council on Environmental Quality

take immediate action to stop the bulldozers. Stop whining. Do something - call, write, demand a review of the authorizations.

[Better Believe It]

3. More of that change we can believe in

[Baby Snooks]

113. No, no, no....

Obama knows what he's doing. Give him some more time. He may see to it that the remaining permits are approved as well.

We must have coal. It puts unemployed Americans back to work. And some unemployed illegal immigrants as well.

Never mind it ensures profit for Wall Street. And ensures destruction of an ecosystem.

[redqueen]

4. I think "kiss the state of W. Va. goodbye." is just a bit dramatic.

But anyway... here's a good article on the issue:
http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/05/power-politics-the-uphill-battle-against-mountaintop-removal.html

[ensho]

5. have you been thru W. Va. lately?

nt

[Buzz Clik]

8. Many, many times.

It's a beautiful state.

[RetroLounge]

98. Is there anything you don't defend or minimize

Really. What part of this is an Obama chess move?

RL

[redqueen]

100. Did I say it was a chess move?

No, I didn't. Try reading the thread *all the way through* one time, then get back to me.

[RetroLounge]

104. No thanks.

Your posts are all the same.

GOBAMA!

RL

[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RetroLounge]

117. No, nothing personal, really...

We've known each other here for 6 years or so.

I just see no point when every single thing someone complains about is called poutrage, or made fun of, or ganged up on by yuou and about 5 or 6 others every single time.

I voted for Obama, I supported him in the GE, and I am still glad he's pres and not McCain. That won't change.

But he's dissappointing again and again.

RL

[RetroLounge]

118. and I didn't alert on your message

There was no reason for it to be deleted...

RL

[redqueen]

120. I was wondering what rule I broke.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that other thread that got locked?

But I'm not trying to continue that flame war... just talking about it. Maybe that's off limits too.

[RetroLounge]

121. Weird, I didn't see any rule breaking either...

Oh, well.

peace...

RL

[redqueen]

122. Peace to you too...

and I'm sorry if I made you feel ganged up on. I know I agreed with a few others on that thread about the issue... but I really didn't mean to be ganging up on you.

[RetroLounge]

123. T'is cool...

:hug:

RL

[redqueen]

124. Aw... I'm so glad you feel that way!

:hug:

[redqueen]

119. I don't use the word "poutrage", and I haven't "ganged up" on you.

"Every single thing"? I criticized *one article* that you posted.

And if you recall, I treated the conversation seriously, as if you wanted to discuss it. But it soon became clear that you didn't actually want to discuss it.

[polichick]

6. Meet the new boss...

[ClarkUSA]

18. Yeah, I said the same thing when BushCo continued this practice after Pres. Bill Clinton.

[MessiahRp]

76. Clinton was a tool too...

Sorry but anyone who says this is okay deserves the scorn they receive for it.

Shameful.

Rp

[snowdays]

89. But Obama promised CHANGE. CHANGE CHANGE.

[ClarkUSA]

99. This is CHANGE; if left up to BushCo's EPA, all 198 permits would have gotten the green light.

[snowdays]

125. doesn't say about Obama when you compare him to Bush.

[Buzz Clik]

7. Damnit! It's annoying, but it wouldn't happen in my state.

We simply have no desire to have Indiana turned into a modern post-industrial cesspool.

[Buzz Clik]

9. "every town needs a coal sludge pit of their very own." Well, about that...

Coal sludge comes from burning coal, not mining it.

[flyarm]

10. surprised?????????? naaaooooooooo

Obama Nominates Superfund Polluter Lawyer To Run DOJ Environment Division

President Barack Obama has nominated a lawyer for the nation’s largest toxic polluters to run the enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws. On Tuesday, Obama “announced his intent to nominate” Ignacia S. Moreno to be Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division in the Department of Justice. Moreno, general counsel for that department during the Clinton administration, is now the corporate environmental counsel for General Electric, “America’s #1 Superfund Polluter“:

Number five in the Fortune 500 with revenues of $89.3 billion and earnings of $8.2 billion in 1997, General Electric has been a leader in the effort to roll back the Superfund law and stave off any requirements for full cleanup and restoration of sites they helped create.

This February, General Electric lost an eight-year battle to “prove that parts of the Superfund law are unconstitutional.” One of the 600-person DOJ environmental division’s “primary responsibilities is to enforce federal civil and criminal environmental laws such as” the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Superfund.

Before General Electric, Moreno worked as a corporate attorney at Spriggs and Hollingsworth. Moreno’s name is found in the Westlaw database as an attorney defending General Motors in another Superfund case, the GM Powertrain facility in Bedford, Indiana:

Historical uses and management of PCB containing hydraulic oils and PCB impacted materials has contaminated on-site areas as well as the sediment and floodplain soil within Bailey’s Branch and the Pleasant Run Creek watershed.



SOURCE: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/15/ignacia-moreno-supe... /

\
ahhh and what does GE own?????? NBC,MSNBC,CNBC

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. Utterly disgusting.

Same ol', same ol'. :( :cry: :mad:

[glitch]

16. Utterly. There is absolutely no excuse for it. CHUMP Change. nt

[ClarkUSA]

12. Here's the EPA's reasoning (quote) -->

"Twenty-eight of the projects have two or fewer valley fills. Eleven have no valley fills at all. None have more than six."

"EPA's understanding is that none of the projects would permanently impact high value streams that flow year-round," the EPA said. "By contrast, EPA has opposed six permits because they would all result in significant adverse impacts to high value streams, involve large numbers of valley fills, and impact watersheds with extensive previous mining impacts."

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. Here's Hell Hath No Fury's reasoning -->

"Mountaop removal for coal is an unacceptable, environmentally destructive practice that has no place in 21st America."

[redqueen]

15. Did you read the piece I linked?

It's short on drama, but it does include stuff about why this is happening.

Which might help more in actually doing something about it... other than just handwringing and hyperbole.

[EFerrari]

28. Isn't West Virginia a swing state? That would be my reasoning. n/t

[MadHound]

14. And once more the EPA is talking out its ass and ignoring sound science

In order to please their corporate masters.

Saying that a mountain top removal has two or less valley fills is irrelevant. Even one valley fill is a death sentence for the ecosystem of that particular area, and for surrounding areas as well. Even if there aren't any valley fills, the environmental destruction done via mountaintop removal is immense.

You can kiss these areas goodbye, they will never be the same again, instead they'll be much worse. Not to mention what this will do to surrounding areas. Sure, there won't be "permanent impact", but frankly we won't see full recovery from the travesty in our lifetimes, or for that matter in the few hundred years.

So much for clean, green solutions, more of the "change" we can believe in.

[glitch]

17. Remember how happy we were when they went for review?

I am equally livid now.

[ClarkUSA]

26. It was a bad day when the Clinton administration "began to soften mountaintop removal regulations"

"Coal had done well under President Clinton--it was his administration that began to soften the mountaintop removal
regulations, and his MSHA that had been lax in checking up on the Big Branch Impoundment wall."

[glitch]

31. It's been a bad 29 years, and it doesn't look like we'll get a chance to correct our errors.

DAMN SHAME.

[redqueen]

33. No, this is another chance.

It's only been 4 months, and already the M$M is going full-bore with their divide-the-left strategy again.

Pity it's working so well, and so fast.

[glitch]

37. Right, it's the corporate media's fault that Obama has made so many bad appointments

in such a short amount of time.

Usually I am one of the first to jump on the corporate media = corrupted bandwagon, not this time. They are still corrupted of course, but there is a distinctly different and very real problem with Obama's corporatist appointments and the decisions they are making in his administration.

[redqueen]

41. I just keep thinking of this statement by FDR. The "make me do it" guy.

"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the larger centers has owned the Government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson." - A letter written by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Colonel House, November 21st, l933

I think this is why he said "make me do it". I think the same thing applies to Obama. It's a pity that things have to get so damn bad that it's nearly unbearable before Americans will bother to get involved... but what can you do?

[glitch]

45. Agreed - accepting Obama's appointments and decisions w/o analysis is not how we "make him do it"

Fight for what you believe, or at least support the people who are fighting for what you believe.

http://www.google.com/search?q=mountain+top+removal&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[redqueen]

46. Is "kiss w va goodbye" analysis?

How about sarcastic crap like "more of that change we can believe in"?

Go through this thread and read the shit that's being posted by those who seem to have already given up, and who seem content to just whine, and not present any solution or plan of action other than whining.

I'm all for fighting for change... I'm not for whining about the lack of it, or acting as if it's all up to one person to get the change we want.

[glitch]

48. Not analysis, just venting. People need to vent, this is a good place for it.

Fairly safe. I wouldn't assume posting on DU is all that people do, and I don't expect them to post everything that went into any decisions they make on policy every time they post.

FWIW I don't consider righteous anger whining, I think calling it that is an attempt to trivialize it.

[redqueen]

51. It's defeatist IMO.

"kiss w va goodbye" doesn't convey the idea that anyone should bother to fight anything anymore.

It conveys the idea that since Obama hasn't made the problem go away, then it's all over.

If that's venting, then no, I don't think it's good, nor do I think this is a good place for it. It's demoralizing, and it fucking stinks and is good for absolutely nothing IMO.

[glitch]

52. Not really. Anger is human and has a function. So does disdain,

which is another way to quash dissent. Even more defeatist than anger. IMO.

[redqueen]

54. Anger has to be channeled to be useful.

If it isn't channeled into action which makes progress toward the desired goal, it's just wasted energy.

As for quashing "dissent"... hah. Shitty childish nonsense isn't "dissent"... first you tried to call it "venting" and sure that almost works... but now simplistic snark is "dissent"? Please.

[glitch]

57. Most disdainful. You're good at it. People are usually good at what they practice.

Disdain get a lot done for you IRL?

[Kalun D]

92. Spot on

I agree, the push has to come from the people

[EFerrari]

56. Bush's EPA was every bit as criminal as hs DoJ.

I'd be inclined to think this is just more transitional dust up while the new broom sweeps but Obama keeps saying "clean coal".

[tomp]

19. Change!!!!!? nt

[QC]

20. Don't worry about this!

[vaberella]

108. I love McCoy..he looks utterly lost. n/t

[asphalt.jungle]

21. Aren't the people of these states actually supportive of this crap?

That's their industry. Obama isn't ever going to do well in those Appalachian states because even 42 out of 48 isn't supportive enough. And they damn sure want people to be "pro-coal". They elect the people that support their way of life. If they wanted different they would get different. As long as these approved projects aren't damaging to the water supply let these states decide how they want to support their people.

[glitch]

34. No.

http://www.google.com/search?q=mountain+top+removal&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[asphalt.jungle]

36. So Appalachia isn't a Republican strong hold?

These are the types that hate "them San Francisca tree huggers sticking their nose in our business." A politician has to be "pro-coal" to win in those parts. You can be for "clean-coal" (whatever that is), but you can't be against digging up the damn thing and expect to get anywhere politically in those states.

[redqueen]

38. No, it isn't. WV is a blue state. (nt)

[asphalt.jungle]

44. Obama got crushed in WV

I can't call a state blue if Obama wasn't even competitive in it. do their two dem senators go against coal interests? and robert byrd ... not my cup of tea, but whatever if having a D in front is enough then ...

He wasn't competitive one bit in Appalachia as a whole.

[ensho]

115. and the voting was rigged

nt

[glitch]

42. You should go there some time, there are a lot of good people there.

Some of them have been fighting very hard to stop mountaintop removal. This is a kick in the gut to those good people and the environments they live in, and it's a disgusting move.

[X_Digger]

74. Seen the 20/20 special?

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=6845770&page=1

There are more clips in the series, they're all worth a watch (I grew up about 30 minutes from the town in the clips.)

[glitch]

78. No I hadn't, thanks for the link! nt

[Muttocracy]

81. thanks for pointing out those videos - trying to find full show

My ancestors for hundreds of years through my parents were in Appalachia.

I haven't been back to WV in a long time - I'm almost scared to go and see what has changed :( I can handle the scenes of poverty. Not sure I can handle the loss of the wild places.

[HopeOverFear]

85. re: thanks for pointing out those videos - trying to find full show

I can handle the scenes of poverty. Not sure I can handle the loss of the wild places.

There are so many things wrong with that sentence.

[X_Digger]

91. Ditto

Having grown up dirt poor in coal country, the sentiment makes me ill. I'm a humanist first, an environmentalist second.

[Muttocracy]

129. sorry, that didn't come out the way I intended

Posting when sleepy and distracted.

I meant that the scenes of poverty are familiar and not shocking to me, having seen them first-hand. One set of my grandparents died without an indoor toilet in the 1980s.

The environmental damage is something new to me - they didn't worry about their land and drinking water as much back then.

[X_Digger]

131. Ahh, gotcha. n/t

[Muttocracy]

128. sorry, that didn't come out the way I meant

Posting when sleepy and distracted.

I meant that the scenes of poverty are familiar and not shocking to me, having seen them first-hand. One set of my grandparents died without an indoor toilet in the 1980s.

The environmental damage is something new to me - they didn't worry about their land and drinking water as much back then.

[redqueen]

35. No... nearly 60% are against it.

The big money is for it though, and $$$ talks.

And yeah... big money has even corrupted *gasp* the EPA!

Shock! Horror! How can Obama not have fixed the EPA already?!

[asphalt.jungle]

40. are those 60% voting?

When I look at a state like Tennessee and the toxic sludge spill that happened not too long ago, I can't reconcile that with the douche bags they elect to represent them. Even the dems in West Virginia are the conservadems.

[redqueen]

43. True... but how do we know how supportive they were?

I'd love to have voted for Kucinich, myself... but he wasn't on the ticket. So much goes on before a candidate gets his name on the ballot. It's like with Obama... I'd rather have elected someone who'd support Kucinich's policies. But that person wasn't on the ballot.

So perhaps they would rather have had an anti-MTR legislator... but that person wasn't on the ballot.

I know one Dem in NC wrote a bill banning the practice last year. I'm sure it went nowhere. $$$$.

[X_Digger]

75. Dems are torn in places like this..

They're pro-UMWA on one hand, but they like their guns on the other. Having grown up in a coal town, folks mostly voted D in local elections (pro-UMWA) and R in national elections (pro-2nd amendment).

[X_Digger]

63. I'm from coal country and I'm ambivalent

I grew up in abject poverty in Grundy, VA. Unemployment is at about 15%, median income is $22k/year, 1/5th the population is addicted to drugs and/ or alcohol, and another 1/5 is on disability / SSI. The major employer is coal- mines, coke ovens, hauling, equipment maintenance.

The only flat land in the county is carved out from the mountain, or is flood plain. (google grundy 77 flood)

There is very little industry outside of the coal mines- there's just no flat land to build on. Satellite View of Grundy, Va

All of my fathers 7 brothers worked in or around the mines, my mother's family all worked in the mines or military, or both. M&Ms.. mines and military- those are the two choices for most.

Here's a picture of the house my uncle and aunt still live in


Here are the coke ovens that run 24/7


Here's the house my grandparents lived in until 2001

[X_Digger]

64. double tap. n/t

[CBR]

22. This is so disappointing. nt

[HopeOverFear]

23. I love threads like this. It makes it easier to know who to put on ignore.

oh and PS, Obama supports clean coal.

[QC]

24. In an Era of Responsibility like the one in which we now find ourselves

it is good to know who to ignore.

[EFerrari]

27. Which doesn't exist. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

87. Just ask a Coal Miner's lung if Clean Coal exists...

Then ask the lungs of every person who lives within the fallout area of a coal fired powerplant.

I'm sure you can guess what the answer is...

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

47. Deleted sub-thread

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[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

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[dionysus]

70. rofl

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

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[glitch]

32. Guess you missed the part about clean. Bye in advance. nt

[moodforaday]

79. You've put REALITY on ignore.

There's no such thing as clean coal. Dream on.

[cherokeeprogressive]

88. Oh, He does? Well then, I'm TOTALLY down with fucking up the environment to get it!

After all, if Obama supports it, it's GOT to be acceptable. He IS smarter than I. Sometimes I totally forget that.

O bam a O bam a O bam a O bam a

Is that your mantra?

[Name removed]

25. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[redqueen]

50. From the piece I linked:

POWER POLITICS: The uphill battle against mountaintop removal

(snip)

Meanwhile, activists are also pressing Congress to take action by passing a bipartisan bill that would help limit mountaintop removal. The Clean Water Protection Act -- which has more than 100 co-sponsors in the U.S. House -- would strike the Bush administration rule change that loosened limits on the dumping of mountaintop removal waste into streams.

On a positive note, activists say they've noticed a change in the attitudes of federal lawmakers who they've visited in Washington to discuss mountaintop removal. For example, Gunnoe said that in the past Sen. Robert Byrd's (D-W.V.) office rushed them right out -- but this year his staff actually took the time to sit down and listen to their concerns.

That's why -- despite the uncertainty coming from the Obama administration and the coal lobby's resistance -- activists haven't given up hope for change.

"In order to fight this fight, you have to be hopeful," Gunnoe said. "You have to believe there will be an end to it. It's a matter of how many mountains will have to be sacrificed.

[depakid]

58. "It's a matter of how many mountains will have to be sacrificed."

Reminds me of how Clinton's Northwest Forest Plan was framed- until that is, he sold the envionmental and fishery constituents out via the Salvage Rider "logging without laws."

Most people don't recall how much grassroots support that (and similar actions) cost the Democrats in the 1990's. And in the end, Clinton and his DLC buddies got nothing in return.

[redqueen]

59. Yes, and what did that loss of support get us?

Even *more* RW crap.

[HopeOverFear]

61. Hey redqueen, does this have something to do with Obama's support of clean coal?

Just wondering.

[redqueen]

62. How do you mean?

That he's being soft on MTR because of his support for clean coal?


As for my personal reaction to this story... MTR is one of my 'pet' issues... so my being worked up over it has nothing to do with clean coal, no.

[HopeOverFear]

66. No snark meant, I was just wondering if MTR and clean coal were related?

[redqueen]

67. Well the lobbies for both would be mostly the same, I'd think.

'Friends of Coal' type organizations.

Other than that, not sure.

[HopeOverFear]

71. Oh okay.

[depakid]

72. It's a political dynamic- and like lots of phenomena like that- doesn't care what you think

or whether the results favorable overall. The fact of the matter is that it's foreseeable- and will likely occur if the current course is any indication.

The Democrats and the admnistration operate that way at their peril.

To simply say to folks "no, you can't stay home- or support a 3rd part" isn't just unrealistic in real world sociological terms- it's downright delusional and ignores how people actually behave.

As opposed to how one wants them to behave. Or thinks it might be in their best interests to behave.

[redqueen]

73. I know.

I know how this party originally got worker-friendly planks... losing votes to the Progressive party.

But that tactic didn't work in the 90's... or in 2000 either. IMO it backfired quite badly.

Do you think it'll work if we try it again?

[depakid]

77. Won't be a matter of "we trying it" -it's just a deal that happens

There's a certain (largely corrupt) element in the Democratic party that thinks: hey- there's no where for "these people" to go, so the party can pander to the right with little or no consequences.

Fact is, it doesn't work that way- people don't necessarily need to go anywhere (though with a charismatic voice in a 3rd party, they sometimes do actively oppose- in significant numbers). No, all they need to do is become disillusioned and stay home.

I mean think about it- who after looking at a credit card statement with a 30% interest rate (at which rate, they may never pay it off) who's going to get fired up to go out and campaign for Senator Patty "I support usury" Murray in 2010?

I know if I were in their shoes, I wouldn't. Now multiply that by dozens of other instances- and 10's of thousands more people.

There go the campaign workers and the GOTV.

[redqueen]

105. Doesn't matter why or how... all that matters is the result. (nt)

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. Well that sucks

[Kaleva]

65. It's good to make mountaintops handicapped accessible

[dionysus]

69. why is it that you seem to be implying the obama personally is all about mountaintop mining?

[SeattleGirl]

83. Because there are some folks on this board who have apparently

annointed Obama King of the Fucking Universe, and so from the moment he was sworn into office, nobody but Obama has any responsibility for anything.

At least that seems to be their thinking.

Personally, I see him as a human being with strengths, weaknesses, and yes, some faults.

[dionysus]

96. they have to think he personally signs off on every single government decision the entire government

makes, down to the dog catcher level...

i bet somewhere obama is rubbing his hands together, and cackling "muahahahahaha...... coal...."

[vaberella]

109. good point...it looks like an EPA decision. n/t

[bigwillq]

80. Terrible.

:mad:

[progressoid]

82. Sean Hannity would love this.

I just heard him say how we need more coal production in the US. But he won't love it, he'll rail against it (for all the wrong reasons).

The right would cream in their jeans if this were done by a Repub president. But even when a Democrat does something centrist or even right of center they still fight it. Idiots.

[TheKentuckian]

84. One thing is sure

Continued scratching and gouging at the earth for carbon is not the answer. Obviously, these despicable wounds on the land need to stop yesterday but we need to really hunker down on moving in a new direction for energy today, at the latest.

I know this can't happen overnight but I would think this practice of raping the land would be a very early casualty of an energy policy revolution taking its first steps.

Clean, abundant, renewable energy is the ultimate rising tide, a societal game changer. The status quo is by the same token the ultimate anvil tied to the ultimate anchor. This is the one thing that if we don't deal with it now that any and everything else we do right will be rendered moot.

We can't continue as we have and an excellent place to start would here.

[omega minimo]

86. Hell, whadda mountains need "tops" for anyways?

unless they're "high value" tops that affect "high value streams that flow year-round' how the hell are ya gonna QUANITIFY the INTRINSIC value of the ENVIRONMENT at ALL?

[uponit7771]

90. Is there any middle ground on the issue that you think Obama would take?

On the face of this I'm disappointed, I know Obama isn't king but he has great influence and on this issue he's not using it.

Is there a middle ground to this issue that he could lean to that he's leaning away from?

Thx in advance

[redqueen]

107. Somehow the EPA is ending up with test results indicating the plans are no big threat.

Seems to me the next step is challenging that information.

And also supporting the Clean Water Protection Act.
http://www.ilovemountains.org/clean-water-protection-act/

[uponit7771]

126. Thx!!!

[KoKo]

132. Sorry to hear this....hope some proper legal action can be taken to stop or minimize this...

:-(

[ColbertWatcher]

93. We are supposed to make him do the right thing.

When was this up for public comment?

How can we make him do the right thing when we hear about things only after they're done?

[cali]

94. Go here and comment.

this is important. we can put pressure on the EPA and Obama and we damn well should.

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/comments3.htm

[polichick]

95. Members of environmental groups have been commenting on this for weeks...

...I've sent countless emails and made calls. Multiply that by millions of members (several different groups) ~ this admin. puts corporations over the environment.

[Karenina]

133. And will continue to do so until Americans get up off their butts.

WHERE is the MARCH ON THE EPA??? WHERE are the people willing to surround the EPA and REMIND THEM that the citizens of Appalachia have "issues" with this decision? WHERE? Sitting behind keyboards, blaming Obama while deluding themselves that some electronic communication will do the trick? :shrug:

[QC]

97. No we're not. We're just supposed to bask in his warm glow and imagine him with his shirt off.

At least that's the impression one could get around here.

[ClarkUSA]

101. Really? I thought we're supposed to bash him 24/7 and imagine him as BushCo reincarnate.

At least that's the impression one could get around here.

[ecstatic]

103. very mature

:eyes:

[RetroLounge]

102. The man is brilliant

another amazing Obama chess move...

Smartest MoFo in the room, yup.

Nice puppy

RL

[vaberella]

110. I thought this was an EPA decision. n/t

[Celeborn Skywalker]

116. This is EPA.

Not Obama.

[GreenPartyVoter]

127. There's a chess move called "Needlessly raping the environment?" Who knew!

[Shireling]

111. I am heartbroken!!!

I just visited Appalachia this past weekend for a get-away. It is sooooooo beautiful. The forests are enchanted with Hemlocks, Rhododendron, ferns, moss-covered boulders and tree trunks, clear white-water streams. In many ways, it rivals the Pacific Northwest. AND I KNOW NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON STATE WOULD NOT WANT THEIR MOUNTAINS BLOWN UP!!!

THESE ARE 300 MILLION YEAR OLD MOUNTAINS!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!!

We need GANDALF's help to save RIVENDELL!!!

IF Obama doesn't replace the EPA with better people, I have lost my respect for him!!!!

[redqueen]

112. Welcome to DU.

[Shireling]

114. Thank you Redqueen

This is an issue that is dear to my heart.

[Political Heretic]

130. Every time I read a new headline its this administration doing something I oppose.

I just can't believe it.

[Krashkopf]

134. That's not CHANGE . . .

that's more of the same! - Joe Biden