The Scum at the Top

Commentary on the Rats in Washington



Greenpeace Responds to Christine Todd Whitman's Resignation

by Greenpeace
© May 21, 2003

Calls for Gordon Durnil, a Former Bush Sr. Appointee, as a Possible Replacement

Washington, DC, May 21, 2003 - The persistent rumors of Governor Whitman's resignation as head of the Environmental Protection Agency have finally born fruit as she officially resigned earlier today. Greenpeace sees this as a sign that Governor Whitman may have finally heeded the advice of Winston Churchill, who warned us not to accept responsibility without authority. In a bizarre twist of fate, Whitman concluded her career defending anti-environmental decisions while representing the world's largest environmental agency.

In Greenpeace's estimation, Governor Whitman was a dim bulb in an otherwise dark room. Under the Bush Administration, Whitman has overseen more erosion of environmental laws and initiatives than any other EPA Administrator. She has defended policies designed to protect industry and not the environment. More specifically, since her appointment two years ago Whitman has given voice and support to: the U.S. withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol global warming treaty; the weakening of the National Environmental Policy Act; and the dilution of pollution standards for power plants under the Clean Air Act.

As Whitman steps down, President Bush owes the United States a truly visionary environmental leader such as Republican Gordon Durnil. In 1989, President George W. Bush appointed Durnil as U.S. Chairman of the International Joint Commission, a transboundary U.S./Canada body charged with implementing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. He was also the Chairman of the Indiana Republican Party during the Reagan years and is the author of the book The Making of a Conservative Environmentalist. In many ways, Durnil embraces the Teddy Roosevelt tradition of environmental protection, and he may be able to help President Bush clean up the dangerous environmental mess he has created for our nation.




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