Salazar, Servant of Industry

Remember how much Dirk Kempthorne sucked when he reluctantly listed the polar bear and left in the big loopholes to benefit Big Oil? Well, looks like Salazar is just as lame.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced this morning he'll keep in place a Bush administration rule that limits government scientists from looking at anything other than the habitat of polar bears as they develop plans to manage them as a threatened species.

So, basically, the feds can look at the disappearing sea ice but not at the causes.

Salazar did note that the White House budget released Thursday includes an increase of $7.4 million for polar bear conservation. Of that, $3.2 million will go to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The money includes a $1.5 million increase for the agencies that must be consulted before oil and gas projects go forward in polar bear territory. It also helps prepare for a Polar Bear Conservation Plan to guide U.S. and international work to conserve and improve the status of the species, Salazar said.

Effectively, the Obama Administration is handing out bandages for a planet that is hemorrhaging internally. It's insulting and irresponsible.

We're all polar bears. We're all on a melting ice floe. Our government isn't willing to do what it takes to save us.

Loud and clear.