Obama Defends Bush Rule; Judge Slaps Forest Service

Environmental activists are unsure of what it will take to convince the Forest Service that it can't simply brush away the over-riding requirements of the federal laws that outline forest management. Conservation advocates who had hoped that the Obama administration might turn the agency around have been disappointed so far. Under Obama, the Forest Service pursued the very same arguments in the planning rule case as it did under Bush. That's worrisome to Andy Stahl, who heads up Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. The group is comprised of former and current agency employees who watchdog the agency and protect whistle-blowers. “There's two options,” said Stahl. “One, There's nobody in charge,” he said, referring to the lack of an appointment to a key position in the Agriculture Department. Under that scenario, the agency might simply be following the momentum set by previous officials. The other alternative is more ominous, according to Stahl. “Two, whoever is in charge is no different than the previous administration,” he said. One hint might be the appointment of Doug Crandall, a senior-level Bush administration official, to the position of Forest Service legislative affairs director, or chief lobbyist for the agency. Stahl said Crandall is a former timber lobbyist. Rocky Smith, who analyzes Forest Service policy for the conservation group Colorado Wild, said Crandall is known for his support of “industrial recreation” on national forest lands. “I don't think the National Forests are all that important to Obama. I think his administration sees them as places to spend federal stimulus dollars and for energy production,” Stahl said...

Many felt the same way when the Bush Justice Dept. defended Clinton rules.

The thing to note is this: the government is out to defend the government, and little things like national elections don't change their number one priority.