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Lame Duck Bush Administration Hastens to Weaken Environmental Protection Laws

Nov 2nd - 14:48pm | Kurt Repanshek

To those who found this post politically offensive, I think it should be pointed out that it also notes that President Clinton wielded his power much the same way as the current president.

Nov 2nd - 14:40pm | Betty H

Wake up people. If the government doesn't protect the environment and our great national lands, who will ? Big business just wants to exploit them for all the money they are worth without ever thinking about the consequences ! Thank you Bob. As long as some of us care, there is a chance !

Nov 2nd - 13:53pm | Greg

This is ridiculous. There are also those of us who love the amazing natural beauty that our country has been blessed with, but do not buy into this liberal political ideology of big government controlling our lives and our businesses in the name of protecting our resources. I didn't join this feed to hear this kind of bias, so I'm also leaving the feed because of this article.

Nov 2nd - 10:45am | Anonymous

Bob, your right on target with Bush's slash and burn environmental policies...rape,pillage and greed till the end! Hopefully, we can salvage are natural resources and heritage from Bush's macabre environmental policies. May the next president of this great country of ours have the wisdom, the tools and courage to do so. Keep hammering at the truth Bob. Wake up and smell the coffee Bentley!!!

Nov 2nd - 09:39am | Andrew Davis

I'm with Bentley. I love national parks and I've enjoyed Kurt's posts, but you've poisoned the feed. Goodbye.

Nov 2nd - 08:32am | Kirby Adams

Bob, Apparently Kurt's hoarding all those tax subsidies NPT gets and not telling you about them! I was going to call you out on the 1928 trivia until it occurred to me that Nixon was on the Eisenhower tickets. Nice stat.

Nov 2nd - 07:31am | Bob Janiskee

Let me make sure I understand you, Bentley, because you certainly have not made yourself clear. Are you saying that the Bush administration is not rushing to weaken environmental protection laws and regs, or are you saying that it's OK for him to do that? And what on earth do you mean when you say "taxpayer-funded"?

Nov 2nd - 06:23am | Bentley Whitman

Here we have yet another example of tax-payer funded liberal slant, just two days before we elect a new president ("Traveler trivia"?). Congratulations, Mr. Janiskee, you have destroyed my enjoyment and participation in an otherwise fairly informative feed.

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Nov 1st - 13:33pm | Anonymous

The Forest Service has some information on ginseng. They also issue permits for use in National Forests. Luckily, they insist on certain guidelines. Try the following link: http://www.wildgrown.com/index.php/Ginseng-Laws/State-Ginseng-Law/Tennes...

Bobcats Attack Two at Death Valley National Park

Nov 1st - 11:57am | zabriskibound

We were present at the attack, witnessed it, and can report that this woman was not feeding any bobcat nor did she have any food. My wife and I had been swimming at around dusk. As we got out of the water a nice couple from California asked us to join them at the fireplace where they had a roaring fire going.

Is Bush Administration Moving to Shuck Some Congressional Oversight on Public Lands Management?

Nov 1st - 09:16am | Anonymous

Osama Binladan couldnt have done a better job of raping our natuural resourceses our economy and bringing this country to its knees. I hope the Bush administration is proud.

Oct 31st - 10:33am | Anonymous

Bob, very cleverly put! But, my strong discontent for the man (too put it mildly) and his unconscionable disregard for the protection of our natural resources and heritage runs high. Maybe he isn't sipping but smoking foreign tobacco of some sort...it sure shows with his bizarre behavior over the past eight years.

Oct 31st - 09:39am | Bob Janiskee

As a reformed alcoholic, George W. Bush no longer consumes alcoholic beverages. Thus, while gazing out over the smoking ruins of his failed presidency may make him melancholy or vindictive or whatever, he doesn't laugh over, cry over, or do anything else with beer -- at least nothing stronger than the O'Douls (<0.5% ABV) depicted in some scenes of "W."

Oct 31st - 09:18am | Anonymous

I'm not surprised by Bush's political chicanery to remove public lands (within national parks boundaries) for more rape, greed and pillage. What precious resources we have left must not be exploited by this careless and reckless administration.

Oct 30th - 22:09pm | Michael Keenan

As far as federal lands go anything that is a energy or mineral resource is all being fast tracked (stolen) by administrative directives. The Bush Texas model, now the Colorado resource raid, and now what is left is now being handed away on a silver platter. Heck even the rents where recently reduce by 20%.

Take the Interstate to One of the Largest Units in the National Park System

Nov 1st - 07:48am | VINK80

Take spare gas if you want to explore the preserve.-- we did and it is a fantastic area. We found no gas between I 40 and I 15 and there is plenty of trails to use it on.

Oct 31st - 16:29pm | JimB

Fred - Thanks for the comment! Sounds like you're an "alumni" of Nellis AFB. I spend several years at Lake Mead, so have some appreciation for that part of the country as well - at least the portions away from Las Vegas :-)

Oct 31st - 12:56pm | Fred Miller

I used to be stationed near here when I was in the Air Force. This is an incredibly beautiful landscape. It is a very worthy addition to your travel plans!

Pruning the Parks: Millerton Lake Recreation Area, 1945-1957

Nov 1st - 05:57am | Recreation Parks

Your article was very informative. I usually come to California during the summer and love spending my time at public parks. Your article really gave me a perspective of how beautiful Millerton Lake State Recreation is. I also have a website that focuses on public parks. Hope you have the time to check the site out.

Thanks to the California Desert Protection Act, Death Valley National Park is the Biggest Park in the Coterminous U.S.

Oct 31st - 16:43pm | JimB

It's interesting that The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 not only resulted in Death Valley becoming the largest NPS unit in the coterminous states, it also added the 3rd largest unit in Mohave Nationa

Traveler's View: Concealed Weapons Have No Place In Our National Park System

Oct 31st - 14:39pm | Anonymous

Gun haters are so intolerant.

Rockefeller Family Turns Over More than 1,100 Acres to Grand Teton National Park

Oct 31st - 03:02am | jsmacdonald

Beamis and I often have very fundamental disagreements in the past; however, I can't agree more with the sentiment that we need to be consistent in our ethics. I think the discussion on the other thread that I linked to says quite well why I think so. Conservation at all costs is not actually pragmatic at all.

Oct 30th - 18:37pm | Anonymous2

Last time I checked, this article was about Grand Teton, not the economic policy....

Oct 30th - 18:27pm | Anonymous

Bravo Mr Mcdonald you have once again put your anarchy stamp on yet another story here at Traveler.

Oct 30th - 18:16pm | Rick Smith

Sorry, Bemis, but I don't buy your bleak assessment of the world or the US. Nor do I agree with your characterization of the two candidates as a socialist and a fascist. Your unremitting pessimism is hard to read. For you, apparently, the glass is neither half full nor half empty; it's empty. It must be hard to get up every morning. Rick Smith

Oct 30th - 18:05pm | Lepanto

Jeepers, Beamis, there's not much grey area in your conception of the world, is there? So, our immorality exceeds all other's, and this comic book version of history you would install in place of any kind of real understanding of how things are, and how they work?

Oct 30th - 13:04pm | d-2

Well, Jim, it is fine to be a contrarian in the abstract, and it is hard not to be affected by the American romantic anarchistic or libertarian vision, but the bottom line is getting the critical mass of support to make the differences we need NOW. Pragmatism is also an american virtue.

Oct 30th - 12:39pm | jsmacdonald

Rick, I agree wholeheartedly with you on Kempthorne's announcement regarding the bison advisory group.

Oct 30th - 12:22pm | Rick Smith

Jim--

Oct 30th - 12:00pm | jsmacdonald

Rick,

Oct 30th - 11:45am | Rick Smith

I don't buy Jim's rant about the Rockefellers either. I suspect it isn't "sour grapes" but Jim's contrarian view about lots of issues. It's always good to have contrarians around as they keep us on our toes and prevent us from getting too smug about long-held beliefs. And no matter how the land was acquired, Grand Teton is one of this nations premier national park areas.

Oct 30th - 11:44am | jsmacdonald

Sour or not, as I said in the other post, the discussion can go forward when someone shows why my own reasons for arguing as I have are contradictory.

Oct 29th - 21:59pm | Tmblwd_92

Teton Cowgirl, I agree with your comment in whole. It is Very well stated. Sounds like Mr. MacDonald's comment is "sour grapes." I too 'salute such visionary, grand-scale philanthropy' of the Rockefeller family. Thank you Rockefellers.

Oct 29th - 14:52pm | jsmacdonald

My reasons for this are discussed at great length elsewhere on this site at /2008/02/park-history-grand-teton-national-park

Oct 29th - 12:36pm | Betty H

Thank you Rockefellers ! Thank you for our Grand Teton NP. I, too hiked the trails and enjoyed the views and wildlife. I also saw "my first" hybrid vehicle reserved parking spaces at the L Rockefeller Preserve. Forward thinking. The Preserve seems to be a safe, quiet place to hike and enjoy. At least this rich family gave something back to all of us.

Oct 28th - 14:42pm | Teton cowgirl

I disagree entirely with Mr. Macdonald and question his sources on the "swindling," - an easy word to throw out, but does he have any hard evidence of illegal practices? Or merely landowners who, in hindsight, wish that they had held onto their land? Nobody forced them to sell - they cashed out. The Rockefellers don't owe you anything, Mr. Macdonald.

How About Some Economic Stimulus for the National Park System?

Oct 30th - 21:32pm | JimB

Funding for projects such as the mass transit systems that have been mentioned would be a great thing. However, let's not be entirely negative about funding badly needed repairs for existing roads.

Oct 30th - 20:15pm | Kurt Repanshek

It certainly wouldn't hurt if some of that money were put into a mass transit system for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon....the one Congress has looked into in the past only to conclude it's too expensive.

Oct 30th - 17:52pm | Bugsyshallfall

d-2 I agree

Oct 30th - 11:26am | d-2

This is an excellent time in the United States to fund park infrastructure and enhance visitor facilities in National Parks.

Updated: Bush Administration: "A Legacy of Failure for Our Public Lands," Claims Congressman Grijalva

Oct 30th - 17:48pm | Shannon

How depressing - we can only hope that the next president makes a concerted effort to reverse some of these dastardly assaults on our public lands.

How Will the Next Administration Deal With the Environment?

Oct 30th - 10:36am | Random Walker

From audubonmagazine.org The Presidential Candidates Face-Off

Oct 30th - 07:21am | Bob Janiskee

A recent issue of Audubon magazine, probably the current one, has an excellent article on the candidates' positions on environmental issues, including the national parks. In this interview article, Obama and McCain respond to the same ten questions about environmental issues and alternatives. I'd love to report the gist of it, but I no longer have my copy of the magazine.

It Breathes

Oct 30th - 06:21am | Anonymous

Elvis?

At Big Thicket National Preserve, a Combative Drug Dealer Changes His Mind When Ranger Stafford Shows Him His Taser

Oct 29th - 15:10pm | mitch

What an ingenious thing to do! It looks like we don't need sophisticated techniques to compete with drug dealers, they can be tricked just like little kids. If only this would be true in all cases perhaps my little brother wouldn't be now in a drug treatment center recovering from drug addiction.

Just Another Snake Story

Oct 29th - 10:59am | JimB

I'll yield to your expertise on whether or not these snakes are a major threat to humans. They do have the potential to wreak havoc as an introduced species in this ecosystem. Its unfortunate so many people think they want snakes or other animals as "pets," and then just discard them into the wild when they become too much trouble to keep at home.

Oct 29th - 06:58am | babybaby91

these snakes are'nt that bad. many think that they are agressive (exspecially burmese pythons) but they are actually gentle and are very relunctant to bite a person because they do not see us as a food prey. i own a ball python (i know ur probably saying its small compared to burmese) but burmese pythons (like the one featured in the picture) are actually pretty docile in nature.

Skyline Drive Designated as a National Historic Landmark

Oct 29th - 10:45am | dapster

Frank_C, Thanks for your kind comments! It was a beautiful day and the foliage cooperated, giving us gorgeous views the entire drive. If you're ever in that part of the country, do take the trip. It's an eye-opener for certain.

National Park Quiz 25: Threatened and Endangered

Oct 28th - 18:24pm | Bob Janiskee

So, Nannette, does hubbie Jim score as well as you do? I'd be interested to know whether there's a wager involved here. :-)

4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Oct 28th - 13:45pm | Michelle

I just returned from a trip to the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful and breathtaking site. However could not help but notice the dozens of people standing too close to the edge to get that perfect picture or climbing over and beyond the railings. One person climbed all the way to the tip of a rock cliff with a drop of about 300 to 400 ft. while onlookers stood by and watched.

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