Jim Webb Earth Day Statement

By: Lowell
Published On: 4/22/2006 7:17:03 AM

The Webb campaign sent out this statement for Earth Day, which is today.

Jim Webb Statement on Earth Day

Jim Webb, Democratic Candidate for United States Senate, released today the following statement in celebration of Earth Day:

+óGé¼+ôI would like to wish everyone a happy Earth Day.  As an avid outdoorsman, I feel that our nation+óGé¼Gäós public lands are an important part of our culture.  So on Earth day it is vital that we make protection of America+óGé¼Gäós public lands a priority. Today, a startling 88 percent of America+óGé¼Gäós federal lands are eligible to be used for gas and oil drilling, according to Field and Stream magazine. Since George W. Bush took office the Bureau of Land Management, on Bush+óGé¼Gäós orders, has changed the way they make decisions to prioritize drilling over other uses of Federal lands.  I understand the need for energy, but it is important that we also take into consideration the concerns of all Americans when they make land use regulations are considered.  Public lands are our most vital repository for recreation and should never be needlessly exploited.  I hope you get to spend part of your Earth Day outdoors.  The best way to celebrate the Earth on this day is to enjoy its beauty.+óGé¼-¥

Interesting statement, sounds a bit like Teddy Roosevelt - an avid outdoorsman himself and, arguably, the greatest conservationist President in US history - to me.  Now, here's Teddy Roosevelt himself on the subject:

The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem it will avail us little to solve all others.

I couldn't agree more with Teddy Roosevelt - or Jim Webb - on this issue.  Happy Earth Day; now, let's get busy preserving it for future generations.

Comments



The best line: (summercat - 4/22/2006 10:42:42 AM)
Public lands should never be needlessly exploited. 


Teddy Roosevelt was everything that W's administration is not... (Loudoun County Dem - 4/22/2006 12:44:27 PM)
Teddy Roosevelt was a military hero (the Rough Riders) that won a Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War (not starting as many wars as he could get away with).

As President, Roosevelt was a Trust-Buster and is responsible for the existence of the National Park system and was a great advocate for the environment. The teddy bear got it's name from an incident where Roosevelt (who was an avid hunter) refused to shoot a young bear that had been trapped and kept for him, he protested that there was no sport in that (one wonders how he would feel about Darth Cheney's "canned hunts").

I have a favorite quote of TR's on a T-shirt:

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

Do you think this man would feel at home in today's republican party?



Statement of criticizing the President. (thegools - 4/23/2006 12:19:19 PM)
That last quote was made in 1918 when America was actively fighting World War One.....I guess criticizing the President during a war is OK after all. (I though the Carl Rove machine said...)


I'm pleased to read this (Info_Tech_Guy - 4/22/2006 8:43:07 PM)
Jim Webb obviously has an appreciation for nature beyond its cash value on the market. This isn't unexpected but it's another aspect of Jim Webb to appreciate. I look forward to hearing him speak on these issues in the U.S. Senate. I don't think that Jim Webb will be shy about using the "bully pulpit" to chastise the business interests who have raped our national lands.


And in Virginia (Bubby - 4/22/2006 10:37:07 PM)
I have a few questions for candidate Webb:

What will he commit for the effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay?

What is his position relative to offshore drilling on the Virginia coast?

When can we expect energy policies that decrease America's growing dependence on foreign supplies?

Virginia air quality continues to suffer because of excessive pollutants from upstream coal fired power plants in Virginia, WestVirginia and Ohio.  Will he work to compel clean up technologies for those plants?

Will he work to support family farming and provide incentives to keep Virginia's farmland?

Will he support Governor Kaines efforts in land conservation?

What about the Shenandoah River?

What about intermodal freight?



Good questions... (Lowell - 4/22/2006 11:38:04 PM)
I'm also very interested in the issues you raise.


Send those questions to Webb himself. (thegools - 4/23/2006 12:26:05 PM)
Bubby,
  I would recommend sending those questions to the Webb campaign so they can research it and develop positions.
  Politicians can't know everything, but good ones will learn about the issues that matter to their constituent.

I sent some pointers and questions to Webb regarding environmental issues a couple of weeks back. (He hadn't yet spoken on the environment.)  They responded with an email thanking me, and now he is speaking on it....Is there a connection?