Notes For Tuesday, January 14, 2003

MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS ROLLING OVER IN HER GRAVE. "The [Bush] brothers have linked themselves to the everglades so often that Representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.) declared, 'The River of Grass is Bush country.'" (emphasis supplied.) Pure malarkey. The Sierra Club reports that "[w]hen selling the [everglades] plan to Congress, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers promised that 80 percent of the water would go the ecosystem. That language disappeared from draft regulations, leaving wildlife to compete with developers for water. The rules also lack binding interim goals to gauge whether plants and animals are benefiting. As written, the draft gives scientists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Park Services little influence over the project."

"Other scientists may also be edged out. Currently, an independent team from the National Academy of Sciences reviews technical aspects of the plan. But the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, a group with the state’s development interests at heart, is debating how to get rid of that panel and replace it with one more to its liking."

"And then there’s the mining. The Corps of Engineers envisions that in 33 years two mining pits will be turned into water storage tanks for the everglades, at a cost to taxpayers of $1 billion. In response to this wetlands destruction disguised as restoration, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups are suing the Corps for approving the mining permits without taking into account effects on water quality and wildlife, including the endangered wood stork."

9:03 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

GOV BUSH "RELUCTANT" TO EXECUTE INNOCENT PEOPLE. What a wonderful governor we have. It is said that "Bush is clearly reluctant to sign death warrants for people who may not be guilty . . . ." It is such a relief to know that Bush has second thoughts before killing "people who may not be guilty", .

In any event, the News Journal deserves applause for raising the death penalty unfairness issue; unfortunately, they are wasting their time on this issue. 8:50 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

ABOUT BOB. Graham "defends his turf" from Lieberman; sends sends letters to his contributors about a prez run. DeFede on the the Graham diaries. 8:39 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]