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Originally Posted by dc_dux
Ace...it is far more common for those lobbyists and trade associations (API in this case) that have money to have influence than those public interest associations and environmental groups that dont make political contributions.
I agree that there is a "legitimate role for lobbyist and "experts" in our legislative processes." My issue with the Cheney energy task force is that the only "lobbyists" and "experts" invited to participate were representatives of the oil industry (as many as 40 times according to records released on FOIA requests). Environmental groups were invited to meet with task force staff (not w/Cheney or task force members) once after the public disclosure that they werent included in the process and after the task force report had been drafted.
I dont believe that was "right for the nation."
I would hold any administration to the same standard.
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I define what is "right for the nation" by the end result rather than the process. In my mind I can see many circumstances where I would more or less spend more time listening to one group over another group. In this case, it should not surprise anyone that Chaney would spend more time with industry groups over environmentalists. One of the reasons I voted for Bush/Chaney was because I believed they would take a harder stance against environmentalists. I am betting those with the opposite view voted, at least in part, against Bush/Chaney for the same reason. Isn't that the issue for the American public? What are the fundamental beliefs of the people we elect.
I think you are suggesting Chaney did something wrong relative to what we knew he would do. If we elected a more "environmentalist" type President/Vice President I would expect they would give environmentalist groups a more predominant role in making policy. Except for Al Gore, I am not sure why he wasted his 8 years as VP, he could have had a bigger impact on his current concerns over global climate change as VP. I guess it is one of those principle or convictions things. Bush/Chaney are consistent with what they do compared to what they say, Gore was not.