Interesting story developing today that says a lot about the sad state of regulation under the Bush administration.

This morning, a lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco against the EPA to stop the continued use of a pesticide called endosulfan, which has already been banned by the European Union and 20 other countries, according to Kathryn Gilje, director of the Pesticide Action Network.

The suit, which was brought by a coalition of farm worker, public health and environmental groups demands that the EPA ban endosulfan, which is a DDT-like organochlorine. The groups charge that endosulfan is persistent in the environment and poisons humans and wildlife both in agricultural areas and in regions far from where it was applied.

"This dangerous and antiquated pesticide should have been off the market years ago," said Karl Tupper, a staff scientist with Pesticide Action Network. "The fact that EPA is still allowing the use of a chemical this harmful shows just how broken our regulatory system is."

Acute poisoning from endosulfan can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and in extreme cases, unconsciousness and even death.

Seattle P-I

The American People are being hoodwinked.

Republican plans to open up new oil drilling leases in Alaska or the Outer Continental Shelf will do nothing to help reduce the price of gas for American families.

Don't believe me?

While the U.S. oil industry wants access to more federal lands to help reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries.

A record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007. Shipments this February topped 1.8 million barrels a day for the first time during any month, according to final numbers from the Energy Department.

Reuters

Today the news will become official during a press conference with the EPA.

The Bush administration plans to do absolutely zero about global warming during its final days, even under order from the Supreme Court to get on the ball.

WashPost has the first of many stories we expect today on this subject.

This Labor Day, why spend the weekend burning things to relieve stress in a pristine desert playa?

Why drive an RV across the country just so you can stay cool in the 109-degree days that are typical in a Nevada Desert this time of year?

Why wait all year to break out of corporate chains to make an "Alternative" temporary city?

Join us for a new tradition...

Drinking Man 2008 - at your local pub.

The jig is up.

We are occupying Iraq from now on.

Our soldiers will never come home.

We're off to see Wall-E.

Just because conservatives hate it so much.

Then back home for a quiet night.

They really detest this man.

This man who is the Republican candidate for President of the United States.

McCain followed the Times' strategy to a T. He called Jerry Falwell an "agent of intolerance." He called the Swift Boat Veterans "dishonest and dishonorable." He has denounced every Christian minister who tries to endorse him. Over the years, McCain has ostentatiously attacked every issue of importance to conservatives and embraced every crackpot liberal idea, including the left's latest plan to exterminate the human race, called "global warming."

yahoo

Hmmmm.

Down right Vice Presidential of her.

Finally, a little decent news out of our lackluster Congress.

WASHINGTON - A nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill passed the House Wednesday as lawmakers rallied around an alternative for travelers saddled with soaring gas prices. The bipartisan bill, which passed by a veto-proof margin of 311-104, would authorize funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money would go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service.

Need a handy list of people who are digging in and refusing to address global warming?

Use the Nay's list below.
What you do with this info is up to you.

Here is the news.

Vote on climate bill is blocked in Senate
By H. JOSEF HEBERT – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases, pushing debate over the world's biggest environmental concern to next year for a new Congress and president...

"It's just the beginning for us," proclaimed Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., a chief sponsor of the bill, noting that 54 senators had expressed support of the legislation, although that's still short of what would be needed to overcome concerted GOP opposition.
AP

Libertarian Candidate for President Bob Barr is quickly becoming a huge pain in John McCain's ass.

For example, this...

Barr Calls for Debates with McCain, Obama: Include Libertarian Party, Nominee Demands

Our nation faces critical challenges in the years ahead. We can no longer accept "the tyranny of the status quo," says Barr. The American people deserve to know that they have a real choice come November. "Let the debates begin!"
Third Party Watch

Political observers are seeing trouble for McCain.

Does Obama insist on Barr’s participation — as Bill Clinton insisted on making Ross Perot part of the ’92 debates with George W. Bush?

I talked with one strategist earlier today, before this topic came up. He said the Democratic campaign is quickly coming to realize that Bob Barr is Barack Obama’s best friend.

http://www.ajc.com/...

This clip speaks for itself.

And since Chuck is such a hottie, why not?

I know this is not a diary.

Sorry.

UPDATE: Johnson Stonewalls House Committee Investigating White House Meddling with EPA Decisions

WASHINGTON -- The top U.S. environmental regulator had planned to allow California rules regulating greenhouse-gas emissions from motor vehicles to go forward in some form but reversed course after meeting with the White House, according to a document released on Monday by a congressional committee

WSJ

Seems the wingnuts have a bit of a blame game disconnect brewing over the decision by the California Supreme Court to allow gay marriage yesterday.

The decision was made by Republican judges.

But this simple fact won't stop the right wing windbags from bloviating.

OMFG. Check out Terry's latest.

"Clearly it has been a biased media, no question about it," McAuliffe said on Fox News. When asked how much of the mainstream media is "in the tank" for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), who leads Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination, McAuliffe estimated that about 90 percent of the media favor Obama.

"It is what it is. We’re not complaining," he stated. "We have to deal with the hand we’re dealt with."

Figuring the Bush (free beer) economic stimulus package was no more than a pittance considering what my family has spent on his damn war, we traveled overseas for the last few weeks and spend our bonus moola in the EU.

And what reward do I get for spreading the love?

Complete hassle to get back into the country.

Anyone else finding passport/border control a bit overbearing these days?

Wondering what the rest of my fellow eco-kossacks think about this news?

It kinda turns my stomach, but I could be wrong.

What do you think?

Discuss.

Mayor Bloomberg's innovative plan to create a congestion pricing zone on private vehicles in NYC, which would have raised millions for public transit and reduced air pollution, (just like the successful program in London) died last night in Albany.

The non-vote after days of closed-door negotiations means the city will forfeit $354 million in federal money for kick-starting the initiative. The Legislature faced a Monday deadline to act on Bloomberg's proposal.