bad news for the earth

As I'm sure you know, yesterday the US Senate voted 51-49 on a resolution that begins to clear the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Five decent Republicans crossed party lines to vote for the resolution (i.e., against drilling): Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Senators Collins and Snowe, both of Maine, Smith of Oregon and Arizona's John McCain.

And three indecent Democrats sold out: Senators Akaka and Inouye, both of Hawaii, and that scumbucket Landrieu from Louisiana.

Arctic drilling is still not a done deal. To become law, the Senate budget bill must be reconciled with the House budget bill, which Congress has been unable to do in recent years. So the fight is still on to delete Arctic drilling from any budget that actually winds up on W's desk. But there's no way to soft-soap this. It's bad.

polar bears
It's especially bad for these guys.

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