Fairweather

For good policy! Hope the folks down at Mount Hood RD are listening to that.

I still prefer the fuc over the Hummer.

Some modern economists now believe that FDR's policies may have prolonged The Great Depression.

Here's something you probably don't know about the Bush Administration: (You won't read about it in Slate, or Salon.com) EPA Issuing Tough New Diesel Rules Harmful Emissions Curbed In Bulldozers and Tractors By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, May 11, 2004; Page A03 The Bush administration announced tough new rules yesterday to curb harmful emissions from off-road diesel-powered vehicles, pleasing environmentalists after brokering a compromise with industry on deadlines. Off-road diesel-powered vehicles, such as bulldozers, tractors and irrigation equipment, are among the largest sources of pollutants that scientists have linked to premature deaths, lung cancer, asthma and other serious respiratory illnesses. The regulations, which Environmental Protection Agency director Mike Leavitt will sign today, would reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxide and other pollutants from diesel engines by more than 90 percent over the next eight years. "This is a big deal," Leavitt said, standing outside the White House after he briefed President Bush on the matter. "Nearly everyone will remember when we took the lead out of gasoline. We are now going to take sulfur out of diesel. The black puff of smoke will be a thing of the past." Although the administration usually comes under criticism from environmentalists, yesterday's announcement brought plaudits from members of the green community, who said the rules would protect public health by preventing deaths, heart attacks and asthma-related emergencies. "It's remarkable that these strong rules come from the same administration that has otherwise turned back the clock on 30 years of environmental progress," said Emily Figdor, a clean-air advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "It's great to see science win out over the special interests for a change." In recent years, scientists and environmentalists have focused on the dangers associated with high sulfur levels in non-road diesel fuel, which produce microscopic particles that invade the lungs and can cause cancer, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. EPA officials predict that within 30 years, the new regulations will prevent more than 12,000 premature deaths and will save billions of dollars in hospital and medical costs. The new rules require oil refiners to reduce the sulfur in non-road diesel fuel by 99 percent from its current level of 3,400 parts per million to 500 parts per million in 2007 and to 15 parts per million in 2010. It allows a slightly longer timeline for locomotive and marine engines, reducing sulfur to 15 parts per million in 2012. Figdor and other environmentalists criticized this delay, saying it was the one area in which the administration bowed to industry's wishes. "With an opportunity to score a slam-dunk, at the last minute the Bush administration committed an unnecessary foul," said Frank O'Donnell, executive director of the Clean Air Trust. "It caved in behind closed doors to political pressure from oil companies and delayed cleanup for fuel used in marine and train engines." For the most part, public health advocates and environmentalists embraced the administration's move. "This rule will help protect seniors, children and people with lung diseases including asthma, who are the most vulnerable to the harm from air pollution," said John L. Kirkwood, chief executive of the American Lung Association. "According to the American Lung Association State of the Air 2004 report, more than one in four Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of particle pollution. Exposure to particle pollution leads to premature death." Leavitt said the health benefits resulting from the regulations are worth $80 billion a year, "nearly 40 times the cost" of compliance. Diesel industry representatives voiced guarded praise for the policy shift. The National Association of Manufacturers praised the EPA for engaging in "a collaborative process with interested parties." "While the rule has some problems, including stringent locomotive and marine fuel limits, blended fuel transportation and storage obstacles, and problematic compliance dates, the overall rule is a testament to how collaboration among affected parties can lead to a better way of achieving air quality reductions," said Jeffrey Marks, NAM's director of air quality. Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry advocacy group, said that despite challenges ahead in meeting the new requirements, "there is no question about industry's commitment to meet these aggressive standards." The administration left some questions unanswered yesterday, however, such as what changes locomotive and marine engine manufacturers would have to make to comply with the new rules. © 2004 The Washington Post Company

Huh????

I think this is one of the stranger ideas you've put forth. Clearly Clinton did try to bring the North Koreans into the world community, but the agreement that he and Carter inked with the "dear leader" was based entirely on trust. Trust that the North would stop its nuclear ambitions in exchange for food, fuel oil, and a light-water nuclear reactor. They took our good will and SPIT on us. Additionally, Clinton and Albright were so fucking dumb that they "forgot" to include uranium enrichment bomb production methods in the agreement. Clearly the North K's knew the intent of the deal and went forward with their entire program anyhow! You say that Bush "threw it out the window"??? I say he's been pretty patient. If China won't control their rabid neighborhood dog, I say we shoot that dog.

They ARE terrorists. "Eco-Warriors", MY ASS. Let 'em rot.

Sounds like a locomotive ...or a U-Boat! How would you generate the electricity for the motors? Diesel? I've recently read an article that diesel/bio diesel soot has been found all over Greenland's icecap and may be more responsible for it's annual loss than global warming. (I'll see if I can find a web-version of the story.)

The Audi A4 is one nice ride! I see it comes in convertible now too. If my employer takes my company car away and goes the 'milage payment' route, I'm looking at the Acura RSX. Great milage and a little power too. No catalytic converters on cars in France?? I had no idea. Certainly not a picture of progressive society. How you been, Matt?

That Hidden Valley/tent picture is awesome! Nice color too. Film or digital? (Not that it matters on my shitty CRT monitor.)

Of course you NEVER see a wealthy Seattle liberal driving a Volvo VX XC 70 wagon or a Subaru wagon, or a mega-polluting 1970-80's era VW mico-bus. Oh no! Marketing/image has NO EFFECT what-so-ever on the 'educated' metro-dweller.

...and less freedom too. Does that factor into your equation? Fuck Western Europe. Fuck Chirac too. The power hungry bastard is simply trying to make the UN and EU his personal imperium. The newly liberated euro "east-siders" appreciate our freedoms more anyhow. Surprisingly, I don't disagree with this part of your post. FTR, I drive a 2WD 1996 Toyota T100 3.4ltr V6 pick-up truck that gets about 22mpg on the hwy. When I finally get around to replacing it someday, I'll get a higher mileage vehicle, for sure. Maybe a Toyota Tacoma Quad cab (4cyl) @27mpg, or one of those Honda Elements ... roomy and get about 28mpg hwy. 30 mpg should be the goal, but ultimately the free market will decide. I don't think the "shaming" of SUV owners that is constantly being dished out by the left has been successful at all.

Ok. Even though I don't like your enviro-politics, and your desire to lock me out of MY mountains is an outrage, I can't help but offer you my last experience on this route.... My brother and I did the traverse in one day car-to-car on July 1, 2001. From my log book: It took us 3 hours to reach Upper Lena which was thawed out, but had some snow around the shores still. A sign directed us to Scout Lake, but the trail was soon lost in snow. The sheer mass of Mount Bretherton is revealed from the ridge traverse. It's huge! After a couple of minor off route adventures, we arrived at Deerheart Lake, a beautiful little tarn that looked like it would provide some good camping for overnighters. We soon dropped down some, and arrived at the so called "difficult traverse". Class two or three, but nice tree roots to hang on to. It would have been more difficult with heavy packs, but only the most timid would have any trouble at all. (No rope required) Scout Lake is visible below this point, but it is quite a bit off of the route. We regained some altitude and picked our way through the trees back up to the ridge line. The "Stone Ponds" were completely snow covered, but avalanche lillies were begining to bloom around the edges of meadow areas. Saint Peters Gate was plainly visible ahead. A large perennial snow field that descends from Mount Stone was crossed here and a huge square block of rock the size of a small house was passed en route to the pass. Nice step kicking, not too steep, no rope needed. (Ski poles or axe advised. DO NOT go to the left "pass". St Peters Gate is the obvious u-shaped notch...Don't second guess yourself here!) We arrived at St Peters Gate...7 1/2 hours from the car. Lake of the Angels below still 90% snow covered, but dry terrain down climbing (easy class 2...if even that!) on this side of the pass to snow just above the lake. We could have bypassed Lake of the Angels and saved some time, but this is one of my favorite mountain places, so we hung out here for half an hour. Hiking down from the lake the trail was almost immediately snow free. I slipped backwards on wet tree roots, instinctively threw my ski poles back, and listend to one of them snap as I fell hard to the ground, landing on my tailbone. Shit! The hike out the Putvin Trail was uneventful. (Dont worry about the "difficult section" here either. Just watch your step and use dry tree roots to llower yourself down one easy move.) We had stashed mountain bikes at the trailhead, and rode them back to the Lower Lena trailhead for a round trip time of about 12 hours. I have a friend who did this trip last year, but continued on to Gladys Divide and Flapjack Lakes. He said the section beyond Mount Skokomish involves much elevation loss and moderate to heavy bushwacking. PM me if you need more info. I'll post pictures if can ever get my slide scanner to work again with Windows XP! Oh yea...thank me by supporting the reopening of The Dosewallips Road! Brian

Without giving it a whole lot of thought...George Bush Sr. He has lived an incredible life from WWII dive bomber pilot, to CIA director, to China Ambassador, to President and IMO was a true moderate. Clean Air Act, a case in point. I sincerely believe he deserved a second term. BTW....Clinton didn't receive 50% either.

I can't believe you guy's buy into this shit. First he's just a willing dupe for Cheney and Rumsfeld, and now he's a paranoid power hungry mad-man! Well, which is it? Off White. Shall I add your name to the black helicopter club too?

Ruth Bender Ginsburg is here and wants to discuss an upcoming case with a NOW representative right here on cc.com. Something about a speaking fee too. It's OK though, because everyone knows that liberals like RBG answer to a higher calling than those low-life republican conservatives. When she breaks protocol it must be for a very , very good reason.

Pope has become quite the JFKerry cheerleader. I think that in the spirit of full disclosure, he should state - for the record - whether he is a paid campaign-Kerry official or on the payroll of the Wa State Democratik party. If he isn't, he should just stop trying to relive his college-activism days and grow old gracefully. Actually...I voted for Kerry...right before I voted against him. Gotta go! Teresa's here with the SUV and wants to get back to our multi-million dollar estate so she can ship some more Ketchup manufacturing jobs overseas before the sun comes up in China.

True, but legal. Besides, the only 'evil' lobbyists belong to the 'other side'.

I would celebrate the passing of Yasser Arafat. Nobel Peace Prize...my ASS!

I think you give them too much credit. Fringe right-wing christian groups are mostly balanced out by moderate-to-liberal Catholics, and mostly-liberal black Southern Baptist churches. Regardless, as long as any group works within our system of laws, I have no problem with them. The 'checks and balances' of our secular republic remain in effect.

In all fairness, you have to really measure all these guys against their era. In effect , you could consider Lincoln a racist today, since he didn't really support abolition until it seemed nescessary to hold the union together. One of Teddy's big accomplishments was stemming the tide of big business gaining more and more power. Unfortunately the trend seems to be reversing today... Lincoln was an abolishionist all along. This is (mostly) why the south hated him so. He just didn't issue his emancipation proclamation as law until it became politically expedient to do so.

Teddy was a conservationist, but I doubt he would submit to the label, environmentalist.

"Progressive" only by the standards of his day. Certainly not a liberal by standards applied then, or now.

Theodore Roosevelt. Most "moral" president: Jimmy Carter

A nice quotable! And how true.