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In A Word: Rebellion: You only push so far, then someone pushes back. Take Congress for example. Gerald Eisman Gerald Eisman July 25, 2006 In A Word: Rebellion: You can only push so far before someone pushes back. Take Congress for example. Rebellion: An act or a show of defiance toward an authority or established convention. There is a beautiful, pristine area in New Mexico called Valle Vidal. It is a largely unblemished 100,000 plus acre tract of land where one can see conifer forests, open meadows, wildflowers and wild animals. However, if the current Bush administration has its way, you may also see men engaged in oil exploration skulking through the landscape. That is because the land was donated to the United States government in 1982 by the Pennzoil Corporation and it was then opened to the public. Now the Bush government is trying to open the Valle Vidal to oil and gas exploration and drilling as it has already done to 85% of the federal oil and gas reserves in the five major energy basins of the Rocky Mountains. Based on increased prices and demand, the Bushies have issued almost double the drilling permits in 2005 than the Clinton administration did in 2000. Now, Valle Vidal is a pawn in the tug-of-war between the government and a coalition of hunters, fishermen, environmentalists, residents and ranchers, plus, and this is the unusual part, politicians from across the political spectrum. This unusual and growing grouping is organizing to resist the onslaught of man and machines in the pursuit of profits. No one can predict what success they may have, but their amalgamation and resistance has introduced a new dynamic to the equation. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) sponsored legislation to make Valle Vidal off-limits to oil and gas drilling and to protect hundreds of thousands of acres in California, Idaho and Oregon. "There's clearly a headlong rush into opening up these areas, but there's a recognition that there's precious areas, beautiful landscapes that people appreciate and love," Udall said. "In those cases," he continued, "the equation swings over to protection." The House unanimously approved Udall's bill and passed the bill over to, and for consideration by the Senate. "Something is happening here," said Chris Wood, vice president for conservation at the advocacy group called Trout Unlimited. "What we're seeing is the emergence of a powerful new voice in conservation. It's not your garden-variety environmental groups. It's hunters and anglers and outfitters and guides that are helping convince Democrats and Republicans alike of the need to protect these places." On another front, Bush was forced to retreat from his politically staged veto of the stem cell research-funding bill. A statement issued by the White House said that Bush does not consider stem cell research using human embryos to be murder. That was a 180-degree reversal from his harsh words uttered just the other day while vetoing the bill. White House press secretary Tony Snow admitted he "overstated the president's position" during a briefing. He went on to tell the media "he (Bush) rejected the bill because he had objections to spending federal monies on something that is morally objectionable to some Americans. Some, yes, but the majority of Americans see such research as a possible tool in the "war" on chronic diseases. It is inconceivable how one man (Bush) can defy the majority opinion of the citizens he has been elected to govern and protect. Snow retracted his statement and apologized for making it. "I overstepped my brief there, and so I created a little trouble for Josh (Bolton) in the interview and I feel bad about it." The interview referenced was between Tim Russert, host of NBC's Meet the Press and White House chief of staff, Joshua B. Bolton. Here, as in so many other areas, Bush is being forced to retreat from his own words based on polls and the need to not alienate the voting public further than already done. In the last two weeks, Bush has, backed off from his rhetoric concerning embryonic stem cell research and courted the black vote by, as NAACP president Bruce Gordon said, "he (Bush) said exactly what he should say." The upshot of all this hullabaloo is that George Bush is beginning to unravel and his cohorts are getting restive. Since Bush's veto, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), loaned $150 million dollars in the form of grants for stem cell researchers and Rod. R. Blagojevich (D-Il) offered $5 million for similar grants in his state. Several other governors including M. Jodi Rell, Republican of Connecticut also denounced the veto. "I think with one stroke, the president energized the program," said Zack W. Hall, president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Are you listening, Mr. President? If not, you ought to be! You've got the beginnings of a rebellion on your hands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn