It has preferred to ignore environmental problems instead of dealing with them. This is part of the Republican laissez-faire attitude toward business. It is also a mistake. Americans are becoming increasingly aware that the environment is an issue that is here to stay. The GOP does not yet realize this. It is absurd to call oneself a "conservative" when one has no interest in conserving anything except one's bank account.

The Iraq problem will go away eventually. The Al Qaeda problem will go away eventually. The environment problem will never go away.

The Republicans need to wake up to this critical issue.