More Bush administration tinkering with science

[Sauron]

Not that anyone should be surprised, considering that the goon who re-wrote the climate report now works for Exxon-Mobil. But this below is pretty brazen. Note especially red:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...7_graze18.html

Administration excised scientists' warnings in grazing report

By Julie Cart

Los Angeles Times

The Bush administration altered critical portions of a scientific analysis of the environmental impact of cattle grazing on public lands before announcing relaxed grazing limits on those lands, according to scientists involved in the study.
[...]
The original draft of the environmental analysis warned that the new rules would have a "significant adverse impact" on wildlife, but that phrase was removed. The BLM now concludes that the grazing regulations are "beneficial to animals."

Eliminated from the final draft was another conclusion that read: "The Proposed Action will have a slow, long-term adverse impact on wildlife and biological diversity in general."

Also removed was language saying how the rules changes could affect endangered species adversely.

"This is a whitewash; they took all of our science and reversed it 180 degrees," said Erick Campbell, a former BLM state biologist in Nevada and a 30-year BLM employee who retired this year. Campbell wrote sections of the report pertaining to impacts on wildlife and threatened and endangered species. "They rewrote everything. It's a crime," he said.
[...]
The new rules, published yesterday by the BLM, a division of the Department of Interior, ensure ranchers expanded access to public land and require federal land managers to conduct protracted studies before taking action to limit that access.

The rules reverse a long-standing agency policy that gave BLM experts the authority to determine quickly if livestock grazing is inflicting damage. The regulations also eliminate the agency's obligation to seek public input on some grazing decisions. Public comment will be allowed but not required.

[Petra]

You know, it's not really foreign terrorists that US citizens need protection from, but your own politicians and civil servants. They are the ones that are really threatening your way of life.

[natasha]

I have nothing to say, I'm too numb. Except that Bush, and his administration, are fucking idiot ignorant thugs and we should all be very, very afraid. And pissed as hell.

All I can do is call people on their stupid blind support of Bush at every turn. . .it just amazes me when people who've voted for Bush know nothing of what's going on. You mention things like this, Delay, Downing St. Memo, and on and on and on, and you just get this deer in the headlights look. Much of the time I get a "huh? Who/what's that?"

WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN WHO/WHAT'S THAT?! HAVEN'T YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? DON'T YOU FUCKING THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE?!

But never mind me, I don't want to get off on a rant here. . .

[Ari]

We should be pissed, but most people have been lulled into acceptance with words like "freedom" and "USA" and "God."

[Godwhacker]

I have this wish that the EU, World Court, or whatever will just name Bush and his gang war criminals. If nothing else, it would at least set the record straight on the world scene, and, maybe, in time, here as well.

[Farren]

And people decry comparisons to 1984? This is beyond absurd. How on Earth did these people get into power?

[Dingfod]

Over the past few months I've noticed something occurring with my pro-Bush coworkers: silence. Their arrogance has faded. I think they know they fucked up but don't want to admit it.