Obama’s government transition web site

Change.gov–

We have been talking a lot about the new government, and today the government transition web site appeared.

Maybe your ideas and objections can be sent there. APPLY FOR A JOB IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION !

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Updated (11-7). Transition Site Echoes Campaign Pledge of Open Government. Personal Democracy Forum

Time to Codify the Roadless Rule

This may be a good idea-

In New West, Bill Schneider wrote: “We Americans have high expectations for President-elect Obama and the bluer-than-ever Congress, and a good way for them to convince us we did the right thing is immediately codify the Roadless Rule.”

Rest of the story. Time to Codify the roadless rule. New West

Schweitzer: Don’t Read Too Much Into GOP Legislative Victories

Since we’ve been talking about Schweitzer and his setbacks in the legislature-

Schweitzer: Don’t Read Too Much Into GOP Legislative Victories.  By Robert Struckman. New West.

Democrats swept the elective state offices, but the Republicans have now claimed both chambers of the Montana legislature.

Democrats won governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor and superintendent of public instruction. Like many Western states, these officials make up the powerful Land Board.

Local environmental groups ask a federal judge to halt the expansion of phosphate pit mine on Idaho/Wyoming border

This is a big issue in Pocatello and the southern part of the Greater Yellowstone-

Environmental groups want E. Idaho mine injunction. AP. Idaho Statesman.

It’s a classic jobs versus obvious, long lasting environmental damage spread over a wide area issue.

The major environmental issue is not the pit but the spreading leakage of selenium poisoning in the Snake River watershed. This potent toxin is already directly killing fish in and downstream from the SE Idaho phosphate field.

A fair number of good paying jobs in Pocatello (my home) depend on Simplot’s Smoky Canyon phosphate mine.

I have had the conservation viewpoint on my blogroll for some time. Caribou Clean Water Partnership.

Wyoming influence in Washington reduced as former rodeo queen beats back Democratic challenge

Lummis Beats Trauner for Wyoming Congressional Seat–
By Charles Pelkey and Reese Jenniges, WyoFile.com

Democrats had their best shot in 30 years at winning Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat, but Dick Cheney showed up and helped Cynthia Lummis hold the seat for the GOP (the seat was once Cheney’s) as unpopular Republican Barbara Cubin retired.

Ironically, Cheney also took the occasion to endorse John McCain which probably gave a last minute boost to Barrack Obama (they quickly made Cheney’s endorsement into a campaign ad).

So Wyoming has only Republican representation in Congress and Dick Cheney will be retired. Cheney won’t be around to intervene on Cody’s perrennial efforts to turn Yellowstone Park into a mere cash register for the right wing town.

Follow-up. Let Obama’s transition team know, no Governor Freudenthal as Secretary of Interior.

I don’t think he has much of a chance with Wyoming voting the second most Republican state in the U.S., but rancher US Senator from Colorado Ken Salazar is promoting the anti-wolf, anti-environment Democrat for Secretary of Interior.

There could hardly be a worse pick. Will gov get look for Cabinet? By Chris Merrill. Casper Star Tribune.