This is from the Casper Star Tribune. By Brodie Farquhar.
It is important to note that so far all we have seen is the government’s news release. The actual delisting rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
Does anyone know how long and difficult the re-listing process is? I am wondering if a democrat is elected and 08, how many of these environmental wrongs from the past 7 years can be corrected…
Relisting will be slow, but greatly facilitated if the Democrats control all levels of government.
One problem is many Western Democrats still think they have to play cowboy to win. I suspect the Democrats would do much better electorally in the West if they dropped this and emphasized the inherent incompatibility of the interests of the average Westerner who lives in the city, lacks medical insurance, has a boring, low paying job, and has little time to take a vacation, with the tiny elite of Republican rural country squires.
If I had $10-million or so dollars for media, it would be fun to try new rhetorical devices and see if Western politics could be remade.
Ralph, I think there’s a lot in what you say above. Watch Bill Richardson, a middle-of-the road, business friendly Democrat who nevertheless has supported such causes as protecting Otero Mesa from rampant gas drilling, banning cockfighting, and a number of other issues not necessarily dear to the hearts of old style Western politicians. He was re-elected with a huge majority and is in the process of getting a large chunk of his agenda through the New Mexico legislature.
Janet Napolitano in Arizona, while not as active as Richardson on environmental issues, has nevertheless carved out an independent record–not just following the traditional cowboy politics line. These Western states are actually highly urbanized, but the politics haven’t always caught up with reality. Perhaps the Southwest will lead the way. ^..^