In case you considered this a Total loss

I have my doubts about this, but since I was instrumental in introducing and working for the first bill to protect endangered species, I am glad that something is happening positive from these past eight years.

A Monumental Decision
George W. Bush becomes the conservation president, at least at sea.

The Mariana Trench Marine National Monument includes 21 active underwater volcanoes, geothermal vents and the Mariana Trench. James L. Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, noted during a media call yesterday that the trench is five times longer than the Grand Canyon and deeper, at its deepest point, than Mount Everest is tall. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument encompasses five widely dispersed reefs, atolls and islands that are home to seabirds, migratory birds, turtles and an abundance of predatory fish, such as sharks. And, according to Mr. Connaughton, the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in American Samoa boasts "some of the broadest extent of live coral cover on the Earth."

The ecosystems and geological formations that will now be protected from exploitation or disturbance will preserve the environment and some species that are disappearing in other parts of the world. Equally important, the national monuments will provide a platform for scientific discovery, particularly as the impact of climate change on the oceans becomes more apparent. "These locations are truly among the last pristine environments on Earth," Mr. Connaughton said. And thanks to Mr. Bush's action today, they will remain that way.

As I have never seen the cretin in chief do anything for the public interest, I would be very glad that the expense of his eight years would not have been a complete debacle. But as I said, I have my doubts.