As predicted in this space back in August, the Bush Administration's plan to destroy New Mexico's Valle Vidal via coal-bed-methane extraction is proceeding apace.
I think that the fight over the Valle brings out an interesting conflict that's only going to get worse over the next four years -- people who engage in traditionally 'red state' activities (hunting, ranching, ATVing), or who belong to 'red state' organizations (the Boy Scouts) turning around to find their lifestyle and interests betrayed as 'their' guy in the White House continues to prostitute his administration to extractive industries at the expense of everyone else. I don't think it's a coincidence that northern New Mexico has a strong Democratic streak ...
(For an extra diddled-both-ways bonus for Californians who care about New Mexico, the article claims that the El Paso Corporation's primary driver in new exploration is to raise enough cash to pay back the $1.6 billion that they stole from us back during the 'energy crisis' of 2001.)
[Also see: Coalition for the Valle Vidal]
Posted by Kevin at March 19, 2005 12:12 PM