Henry Waxman (anthem below)* is so passionate about saving us, and our tainted air, from ourselves that he will brook no opposition. Every cause needs its Savonarola (Republicans=evil Medici)-why not our melting globe? Yet do we sense a blackening effluence emanating from the pure, unstained wholesomeness of his commitment to a clean cool planet? Why, yes we do: Mr. Waxman is engaging in some serious greenhouse-gas cattle trading in order to get his global-warming package through Congress. The scourge of polluters is offering Democratic lawmakers, who have thus far been reluctant to sign on, “allowances” on carbon dioxide emissions in exchange for their votes on the bill. Well, “That is what the Republicans are saying,” Mr. Waxman sniffs, “but that is not accurate.” But Democrats, like Gene Green of Texas, whose districts house some of the worst-offending oil refineries, confirm he’s wooing them: “We’ve been talking,” Green said, referring to a meeting he had with Waxman on Tuesday night. “To put together a bill that passes, they have to get our votes, and I’m not going to vote for a bill without refinery allowances.”
