...
the amazing C-Span wtf: TSA vs Anwar. i do a lot of cspanning. im watching,
or listening while i work really, to the jumble jamble of the house or
senate floors. [as soon as this seems boring skip to the last 3 sentences
-mfg] so this NY rep is introducing a straightforward law that would create
a more visible and effective redress process for misidentifications (thats a
key word here somehow) of citizens etc against the terrorist watch list.
essentially, there are burdensome delays when someone is delayed or denied
travel or certification papers due to their being misidentified as someone
on the terrorist watch list. there is a redress process (T.R.I.P.) currently
that is slow, ineffective, and scarcely known (even by the transportation
security agency). the bill seeks to augment it. with me so far?
so some guy (Rep Lungren - CA) gets up ‘in support’ of the bill. he’s just
blah blah blah … and the main issue we’re dealing with here is
misidentification. like misidentification of anwar and drilling in ANWR.
then he goes on to draw this terrible analogy like this - travelers:
terrorist watchlist database:: americans: no drilling in ANWR. now i have no
real opposition/support for drilling in ANWR, but just follow along since
energy is obviously this weeks message in the executive ballet.
then he went on to explain how anwar was originally set aside 28 years ago
for the purpose of drilling it in the future. actually, in 1960 it became a
protected area. then in 1980 (the episode to which he refers) the ANILCA was
passed that does “mandate studies of the natural resources of the area”
for 1/11th of the area, though the remaining 10/11ths are simply to have
their resources preserved.
but seriously, is he going to just get up on the floor, with a non-sequitor
no less, and flat out lie? more or less, just read the law itself and decide
if the law ‘set aside ANWR for drilling/speculation in the future’
“101. (a) In order to preserve for the benefit, use, education and
inspiration of present and future generations certain lands and waters in
the State of Alaska that contain nationally significant natural, scenic,
historic, archeological, geological, scientific, wilderness, cultural,
recreational, and wildlife values, and units described in the following
titles are hereby established. … (b) It is the intent of Congress in this
Act to preserve unrivaled scenic and geological values associated with
natural landscapes; to provide for the maintenance of sound populations of,
and habitat for, wildlife species of inestimable value to the citizens of
Alaska and the Nation, including those species dependent on vast relatively
undeveloped areas; to preserve in their natural state extensive unaltered
…
(d)… the designation and disposition of the public lands in Alaska
pursuant to this Act are found to represent a proper balance between the
reservation of national conservation system units and those public lands
necessary and appropriate for more intensive use and disposition, and thus
Congress believes that the need for future legislation designating new
conservation system units, new national conservation areas, or new national
recreation areas, has been obviated thereby. “
so (d) sounds like maybe theyre hedging their bets, but when you move to
actual administration, you’ll find in Title 14, under ‘Retained Mineral
Estate’ (1403) (c) “The Secretary is authorized, as necessary to withdraw
up to two times the acreage entitlement of the in lieu surface estate from
vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved public lands from which the Regional
Corporation may select such in lieu surface estate except that the Secretary
may withdraw public lands which had been previously withdrawn pursuant to
subsection 17(d)(1). [and then] “(D) No mineral estate or in lieu surface
estate shall be available for selection within the National Petroleum
Reserve Alaska or within Wildlife Refuges as the boundaries of those refuges
exist on the date of enactment of this Act.”
anyway, wtf of a non-sequitor; look at all the work it took to digest what
he was saying. why bother, right? i guess we should just accept Lungren’s
flimsy analogy as partisan energy messengermanship? then that allows this
pseudo-common sense meme of
[1980-designated-ANWR-for-drilling-under-Jimmy-Carters-approval] to enter
our minds.