Dirk Kempthorne, burdened by the Endangered Species Act

Oh boy. Did Kempthorne really say this?

What an asshole!

He's clever though. He quickly added "Or fortunately." He also took the opportunity to point out his previous attempts to "reform" the Endangered Species Act, which would have presumably undone such silliness as listing threatened species. Silly, silly requirements of the federal law. We don't really have to follow those anymore, do we Mr. Chertoff? Quick, someone write Dirk a waiver!

Hey, and if a "litigation nightmare" were all we had to worry about with this listing, we could count ourselves as lucky. Instead, we also have to worry about the effects of global warming, coming soon to a habitat near us. The polar bear is just the tip of the iceberg. (Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

And, anyway, what did he mean?: "That's what the Endangered Species Act is about."

The ESA is "about" a litigation nightmare?

Not so much, nope. Not really. It's about saving species on the brink of extinction, providing a safety net, if you will, for plants and animals whose lives and habitats are threatened by something man-made. The litigation nightmare comes from failing to do so, Dirk. You, of all people, should know that.