Fox Quits Henhouse Duty

Though the lady fox is a vixen, isn't she? I for one applaud the defection of your interior secretary Gale A. Norton, Bush, whose idea of protecting the environment seemed to be to hand it over wholesale to those most dedicated to exploiting or despoiling it. At the same time I worry that given your stellar record of choosing the wrong person for critical jobs, you'll find someone even worse to replace her. Do us a favor this time, Bush--and yourself, in your current weakened and unpopular position: appoint a person to whom you owe no favors, and who owes you none. A person whose passion is the conservation of our natural heritage, and its protection from the ravages of industry and other forms of human callousness and greed. Such an appointment would likely garner you a couple of points in the opinion polls. I have to admit, though, that I'm not holding my breath...