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Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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The President and the Pacific
January 06, 2009 6:40 PM
Environmental groups have complained for the last eight years that George W. Bush was hardly a “green” president. But he has now left a legacy in a bright shade of blue.
The three Marine National Monuments he created today collectively take up close to 200,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. They are larger than the state of California. They’re alive with coral, fish and seabirds. They include the Mariana Trench, a canyon whose bottom, more than five miles down, is the deepest part of the world’s oceans.
"For sea birds and marine life, they will be sanctuaries to grow and thrive. For scientists, they will be places to extend the frontiers of discovery. And for the American people, they will be places that honor our duty to be good stewards of the Almighty's creation," Mr. Bush said at the White House signing ceremony this afternoon. Full text of his remarks is HERE.
No President has ordered protections for as much of the world's seas as Mr. Bush has. In 2006 he created a 140,000-square-mile reserve in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.
Various insiders (take a look at the Washington Post version) say the President did hear one significant voice of opposition -- Vice President Cheney, "who argued that the restrictions would create a dangerous precedent."
But (see the L.A. Times) Laura Bush urged her husband to go ahead, as did James Connaughton, who chairs the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
The American Sportfishing Association objected to the President's having acted quickly, using the Antiquities Act of 1906 instead of sending out a proposal that would have required hearings.
"Unlike Yellowstone, unlike the Grand Canyon, where millions of people get to visit those each year, these are areas that will be set off permanently," said Mike Nussman, the association president in an interview with us. He said there is not, in fact, a lot of fishing in the newly-designated areas, but he objected that Congress cannot override the President's executive order.
But environmental groups did what they haven't often done in the last eight years -- they applauded the President.
"We and other parts of the environmental movement have certainly been at odds with this president over a number of issues related to the environment. But what's important is to look at this on its own merits,” said Josh Reichert of the Pew Environment Group. "The President did the right thing."
Dr. Michael Hirshfield, chief scientist of the group Oceana: "There are so few pristine places left in the oceans that any action that protects them for future generations is absolutely wonderful and to be commended."
Mr. Bush, at the White House this afternoon, was quick about announcing the new Marine Monuments, and spent much of his time at the podium talking about what he called his "common sense" approach to the environment.
"We have charted the way toward a more promising era in environmental stewardship," Mr. Bush said. "While there's a lot more work to be done, we have done our part to leave behind a cleaner and healthier and better world for those who follow us on this earth."
(Photo by Jim Maragos/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.)
January 6, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (20)
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"No President has ordered protections for as much of the world's seas as Mr. Bush has. In 2006 he created a 140,000-square-mile reserve in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands."
Bet you'll never hear the left mention PRESIDENT Bush's efforts to protect the oceans. In fact, you rarely hear the illustrious media refer to him as PRESIDENT BUSH instead of MR. Bush.
He is and always will be President Bush to those of culture and a decent education.
I am proud of his efforts.
Posted by: NPage | Jan 6, 2009 7:42:48 PM
Too little and much too late. It's laughable to place an area off limits to drilling thats 35,000 feet deep! It's like banning construction on the top of Mt. Everest...friggin' IDIOT!
I think it's finally sinking in with the Bushies that W will be widely judged as one of the worst Presidents this country has ever had. That's why they frantically and furiously pushing out fluff pieces like this as a desperate gasp of damage control. Too late. I couldn't believe Laura and Condi actually said that Bush will be thanked in the future...What in the world were they smoking that day?
Posted by: MBNA Joe | Jan 6, 2009 7:44:51 PM
That's it Bushie focus on the environment after 8 years in a pathetic attempt to salvage your legacy...a legacy of gross incompetence, arrogance, cronyism, fear and ignorance. No sense working on the economy, a REAL PRESIDENT has taken over and is doing YOUR current job something you are still being paid to do!
Posted by: Hege! | Jan 6, 2009 8:19:19 PM
WHAT! Did he buy his Royal Presence an island paradise there with intent to retire?
Posted by: Jordan | Jan 6, 2009 8:48:07 PM
Great! I'll even chip in a buck for a 2 ft
high memorial stone! Let them throw
in at the deepest part of this area with
his name on it! Cheney should put on
his scuba gear and go down there to
make sure it's not upside down.
Posted by: spacerook1 | Jan 6, 2009 9:02:20 PM
Good move by President Bush. One question though. How does every act that this man makes devolve into an argument about his presidency? The precedent that has been set in recent years for questioning presidential power and decision-making is a dangerous threat to the future of America. Let's wait some time before placing this president into historical context and hope that all presidents act in the best interest of all that elect them instead of following a mob mentality. We desperately need to avoid crucifying President-elect Obama in the same light.
Posted by: kevin | Jan 6, 2009 9:10:08 PM
You Bush haters have a big suprise coming. Clinton was disgraced and impeached. Bush is not. Case closed
Posted by: Kirk | Jan 6, 2009 9:47:50 PM
@Kevin "We desperately need to avoid crucifying President-elect Obama in the same light."
Unfortunately, that is not how it will go. Those who oppose Obama's policies will use the very same tactics the left has used on President Bush. The left has become so unhinged in their hatred that they have forgotten that they only make up 20% of the population and will need conservatives and moderates if Obama is to have any chance to succeed. Their tactics have made that support very unlikely over the long run.
Posted by: James | Jan 6, 2009 9:52:17 PM
It's way too late!!
Posted by: Chris | Jan 6, 2009 9:54:58 PM
Bush has some ulterior motive guaranteed!
Posted by: Ford Fairlane | Jan 6, 2009 11:02:13 PM
@Kevin "We desperately need to avoid crucifying President-elect Obama in the same light."
I appreciate the sentiment, but after 8 years of being smeared as "Nazis" you better believe there's some payback coming.
Posted by: tony | Jan 6, 2009 11:13:28 PM
If he had done this in the first couple years of his presidency I would have been impressed.
Posted by: zeep | Jan 7, 2009 12:16:03 AM
have the fish been making donations to the RNC?
Posted by: HRPuffinstuff | Jan 7, 2009 12:22:25 AM
tony: " after 8 years of being smeared as "Nazis" you better believe there's some payback coming."
It is documented fact that President Bush received unprecedented supportive press and the most compliant congress since FDR (note the incredible lack of Bush vetos). President Bush was not "smeared" until he earned it through poor leadership. It's just another Big Lie to say Bush did not have Congressional support and a friendly press that greatly aided his Iraq agenda.
Posted by: jhw539 | Jan 7, 2009 12:54:36 AM
Hey Kirk, Clinton lied about a bj , Bush Lied about WMD's and now 5000 men and women are dead because of his lies . You rebublicans are so blind to what GWB has done it's sad .....
Posted by: Rick M | Jan 7, 2009 1:55:50 AM
too funny, so Bush passes a bill that protects gigantic sections of ocean but has no plans on how to physically protect them.
Bush will be known as 2 things, an idiot and war criminal.
Posted by: truthhurtsdontit | Jan 7, 2009 6:53:11 AM
I can't believe you're pushing this outright lie.
We've just had a TVA dam collapse and spill tons of arsenic on a town. It's perfectly all right for the Navy to do their thing and confuse the whales into grounding themselves and dying but, oh look, if they can just make it to the trench and if the Navy stays away they can live.
Endangered animals have been taken off the endangered list.
Every single environmental regulation has either been unilaterally relaxed or signed out of existence without notice from the media.
Attacks on the north slope have been unceasing and I expect him to take one last stab at it before he leaves the office.
The list of anti-environment laws he and the GOP have pushed and passed are endless but now you want to call him the environmental president? Please tell us how stupid are we supposed to be so that we can live down to your expectations.
Posted by: jan | Jan 7, 2009 7:02:01 AM
Is he crazy?
He is just doing something useless currently.
Posted by: Bob | Jan 7, 2009 7:04:39 AM
He's still the worst president in US history. One token act will never balance the ineptitude of Mr. Bush.
Posted by: steve9337 | Jan 8, 2009 6:11:20 AM
There are questions about the effectiveness of marine sanctuaries. "Going green" is certainly a generous description of this action.
Posted by: cturple | Jan 8, 2009 9:16:12 AM
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