The only hitch is that you will have to disconnect the "outraged
American citizenry" from its cable-TV umbilical cord, before it notices
there is a problem.

William Witt wrote:

>Good point.  What, indeed, is the rush?  Why drag a bad bill through a
>Congress of lame ducks, when come January the new Texuglican Congress can
>pass with impunity something far worse?
>
>The only danger, I suppose, is that the Fire Bill could get lost in the
>scramble to get the bulldozers and drilling rigs going in the Arctic Refuge
>and the chainsaws revving in the Old Growth (What am I bid for 10 million
>acres of the Tongass?  Better get that rainforest cut down before global
>warming turns it to tinder.).  But at least things won't get tied up in
>court anymore.  Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia clones will be pouring
>through the Senate in a veritable torrent of confirmation votes.
>
>But really, isn't this a small price to pay to see Ralph Nader's Grand
>Strategy realized at last?  Why, within moments of the first ANWR oil spill,
>millions will be flocking to the Green ranks!  They'll organize a shocked,
>outraged American citizenry!  The olden-time marches on Washington will look
>like village parades when Ralph marshals his legions on the Mall!  And come
>Election Day 2004 the Stooges of the Corporatocracy, Democrat and Republican
>alike, will be cast, howling, into the nether darkness, by President-elect
>Ralph Nader and his pure-hearted allies!
>
>Oh, I can hardly wait.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Philip W. Scott
>Sent:   Wednesday, November 06, 2002 3:15 PM
>To:     [log in to unmask]
>Subject:        Re: Bad Fire Bill in Lame Duck Session
>
>What's the rush? If it doesn't pass in lame duck, it will in January.
> Why try to hold your finger in the dyke when the tsunami has already
>passed over your head? And if you don't have scuba equipment start
>saying your prayers.
>
>Jane Clark wrote:
>
>>National Call-In Day on Bad Fire Bill - Tomorrow - November 7
>>
>>**It is critical to call both the key congressmen (below) and your own
>>congressperson, (202-224-3121 -- Capitol switchboard or call local offices)
>>and respectfully urge them to oppose H.R. 5319.
>>
>>Congressman Scott McInnis' bad fire bill is likely to be pushed for a vote
>>next week during the lame duck session of Congress. The McInnis bill passed
>>through committee before Congress broke for the election recess. Key
>>democrats including Mark Udall (D-CO) voted for the bill.
>>
>>The bill would drastically limit citizen watch dogging by shortening time
>>for review and appeal, eliminating consideration of alternative actions,
>>
>and
>
>>reducing time for judicial review to the point that it will be next to
>>impossible to effectively challenge ecologically destructive projects. The
>>bill also pushes provisions allowing trade of large valuable trees for
>>logging and other services.
>>
>>Negotiations on this destructive bill continue with other key democrats
>>
>such
>
>>as George Miller (D-CA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and moderate republicans
>>including Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). Congressmen Miller and DeFazio declined
>>to vote for the bill earlier but have indicated a deal is still possible.
>>
>>It is critical to call both the key congressmen (below) and your own
>>congressperson, (202-224-3121 -- Capitol switchboard or call local offices)
>>and respectfully urge them to oppose H.R. 5319 and specifically to:
>>
>>Oppose any expedited procedures for hazardous fuels projects. The Forest
>>Service is already abusing this program to justify old growth logging and
>>entry into roadless areas Additional discretion for the agency is likely to
>>cause additional harm to the forests. There is no justification for
>>expedited procedures because there is no evidence that conservationists
>>
>have
>
>>been stopping legitimate fuel reduction projects.
>>
>>Oppose goods for services stewardship contracts that create an incentive to
>>log old growth and other commercially valuable trees.
>>
>>Oppose any limits on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Without
>>alternatives, NEPA is essentially gutted. In this case, it will allow the
>>Forest Service to offer just one brand of fuel reduction projects
>>(industrial logging grade) with little or no analysis about the potential
>>environmental harm.
>>
>>Oppose any limits to judicial review
>>For more information or to review the bill.
>>
>>
>> Phone Fax Staff
>>Rep. Sherwood Boehlert  202/225-8772  226-0113  David Goldston
>>Rep. George Miller  202/225-2095  225-5609  Amelia Jenkins
>>Rep. Peter DeFazio  202/225-6416 225-0032 David Dreher
>>Rep. Mark Udall  202/225-2161  226-7840  Stan Sloss
>>
>>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT
>>to [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT
>to [log in to unmask]
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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>to [log in to unmask]
>
>