The first email has arrived - this one from The Wilderness Society - and I'm sure my inbox will be flooded over the next couple of days with more. Just a week after his big speech in which he talked about America's addiction to oil and the need to develop energy alternatives, Mr. Bush has submitted his budget request to Congress. In it he asks for funding to - you can probably guess this one - drill in the Arctic National WIldlife Refuge. WTF?

I just don't get it. Is there a test given to Republicans who run for office and they are asked if they understand the word "no"? And if they reply in the affirmative they are not allowed to run?

Ever since Jimmy Carter established the refuge the Repugnants - led by tha old dinosaur Senator Ted Nelson of Alaska - have been trying to push this through. And every time they get swamped with calls and letters, hounded by lobbyists, and, when the American people are asked in polls, ignore the something like 70% who keep saying "NO!" Whatever happened to the "will of the people" in such matters?

The part that makes me laugh is that anyone with half a brain would realize that, even if it were to pass, millions of dollars will almost certainly be spent by the Justice Department (courtesy of taxpayers like you and me) defending against the spate of lawsuits that will be filed (either jointly or individually) by every environmental group from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Millions of dollars that would be better spent in the search for alternative energy sources. What a concept.

With that in mind I have a couple of requests:

First, contact your Senators and Congressperson and tell them you don't want a provision for drilling in ANWR in any bill they pass.

Second, do not purchase products from Exxon/Mobil. They are the only major oil company that currently supports Arctic Power, the lobbying group that keeps pressure on Congress to drill in the refuge (among a multitude of other sins committed by Exxon/Mobil). If you need more reasons to avoid this company visit the ExxposeExxon website.

Thanks!

(This is such a hot issue with me that I've posted it in on both blogs . . . )