Bush has a great opportunity here. He talks about wanting to be a uniter and a healer, and protecting our environment is a great way to do that. But he's squandering it by putting these non-mainstream appointees in. Norton's selection has irked some Republicans as well. Martha Marks, founder and president of the Republicans for Environmental Protection, said she has been discouraged by Bush's approach to the environment, in particular with Norton's selection.
Conservation is conservative.
I think there's a tremendous political risk for Bush. His environmental team is not environmental, it's anti-environmental. You can't look at this team and say Bush is expressing any concern for conservation. While environmentalists across the country continue their anti-Norton drumbeat, some who have worked with her say she is not the monster they're making her out to be. But it's not just Norton environmentalists are worried about.