Environmentalists are rejoicing as Senate Rejects Bush Drilling Plan [Associated Press] but beware, it was only because Republicans couldn’t muster the 2/3’s majority necessary to break a Democratic filibuster. Administration spokesperson warns that the fight will go on, and the project will probably become a high-priority reality if the Republicans regain control of the Senate in the midterm elections this fall. [Guardian UK] Of course, the Administration’s incoherent rhetoric attempting to link energy independence to the War-on-Terrorism® aside, the fist-in-glove relationship between the Administration and the energy industry is blatantly obvious, as highlighted in this double dose from the April 20th New York Times:

Bush Policies Have Been Good to Energy Industry
High Administration Officials Have Links to Energy Industry

And here, highlighted by the New York Times as well, is an oxymoron if I ever heard one — the ‘Task Force on Energy Project Streamlining’ is headed by the chairman of the ‘Council on Environmental Quality’ at the White House. Especially in the Rockies, these administration lackeys of the energy conglomerates have their eyes on numerous other sites on public land for giveaways:

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska was not the only place where the Bush administration was hoping to find more oil. It is also encouraging drilling at more than 50 new sites in the lower 48 states, particularly in the Rocky Mountains.

The energy bill passed last year by the House includes a provision directing the administration to make it easier for oil and gas companies to obtain federal leases and permits to drill for oil and gas. That version will have to be reconciled with the Senate’s.

The Bureau of Land Management is considering dozens of projects across the West. In addition, President Bush set up a task force last May to examine how to streamline the permit and leasing process. In doing so, Mr. Bush said that the “increased production and transmission of energy in a safe and environmentally sound manner is essential to the well-being of the American people.”

Another reason to watch the midterm Senate elections carefully, if you had any doubts…