On Thu, 18 Apr 1996, Don Baccus wrote:

> Basically, the USFWS is getting their budget gutted.
>
> I hate to be partisan, especially given the past achievements of
> moderate and pro-environmental Republicans in the past (think
> Tom McCall), but in the current climate switching back to
> Democratic control of house and senate is the only effective means
> of stopping this shit.

OK, I'll bite and join in on this diatribe.

One of the reasons I joined the Democratic party was the incomprehensible
way which Helen Chenoweth (R, ID) approaches the government. Don is right:
Republicans *can* be good with the environment--consider the admirable
stances of most of the New England states' Republicans (I'm sure there are
exsceptions, there always are...). The fact is however, the ecologically
responsible Republicans are a *minority* in their party. We need to elect
people who care about preserving our resources, not converting them into
capital. Before 1994, this might've been a bipartisan concern. Now, the
environment is of no concern to Congress.

I'd love to have a Democratic president, but if I had to trade him for a
Democratic Congress, I'd do it in a flash! (Maybe we can work out a slimy
under-the-table deal with the Republicans...:-)

-Pat
scott931 at uidaho.edu