'The greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people'

is being perpetrated on the European people too.

Last autumn-winter season was Europe's warmest for more than 700 years, researchers say.

The last time Europeans saw similar temperatures to the autumn and winter of 2006-07, they were eating strawberries at Christmas in 1289, according to Jürg Luterbacher at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and colleagues.

It is against this backdrop that the Republicans watered down the energy bill just passed by the Senate. Sure, automakers are required to make modest increases in fuel economy, but the GOP blocked even greater increases, as well as taxes on the oil industry (you know, the one that has been enjoying the biggest profits in American history over the last few years) to support renewable fuels, energy efficiency and clean energy programs.

And even this pale reflection of what the world desperately needs is likely to be vetoed by George Bush because it contains a price gouging provision "that make it unlawful to charge an 'unconscionably excessive' price for oil products, including gasoline. It also gives the federal government new authority to investigate oil industry market manipulation."

Apparently Bush favors price gouging and wants to protect Big Oil's ability to charge unconscionably excessive prices.

That's leadership, GOP style. When people say "conservatives can't govern," this is what they're talking about.