In All Fairness. . .

I checked what was to be on the Diane Rehm show this morning - and it was to be a discussion of Global Warming. But what caught my eye was the word Giuliani - yes, the law firm of Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP, so I knew something would be amiss.

Sure enough, it was Jeff Holmstead, former assistant administrator for air and radiation of the Bush/Cheney EPA.

So I wrote to Diane:

Ms. Rehm,

In the spirit of full disclosure, your audience should know that Jeff Holmstead spent his years between Bush administrations at Latham and Watkins, working as a lobbyist for the polluting industries. His appointment and role at the EPA is often used as a key example of how the Bush administration appointed the protectors of industry to federal agencies where the mission was to tear apart the agencies' regulatory role.

Mr. Holmstead's greatest contribution at the EPA was to gut the "new source review" -- which was the chief enforcement tool of the Clean Air Act -- thus allowing his former clients off the hook.

According to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., noted environmental lawyer, the amount of once-illegal pollution at 70 industries under criminal investigation by the Clinton administration -- and immediately dropped by the Bush dminstration -- killed 5,500 Americans per year.

Diane, I know you bring both sides to the table is such discussions as the one this morning, and I appreciate that.

So, speak on, Mr. Holmstead. Let's hear what the side with blood on its hands has to say.