The EPA says it's not going to take any action on global warming. Our Environmental Protection Agency says it needs to do a bigger assessment of the economic implications of corking carbon emissions. So says the AP:

The government made clear on Thursday it will not be rushed into deciding whether to regulate emissions linked to global warming, as the Supreme Court directed nearly a year ago 

Such action "could affect many (emission) sources beyond just cars and trucks" and needs to be examined broadly as to other impacts, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency wrote lawmakers.

Stephen Johnson said he has decided to begin the process by seeking public comment on the implications of regulating carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, on other agency rules that cover everything from power plants and factories to schools and small businesses.

That process could take months and led some of his critics to suggest he was shunting the sensitive issue to the next administration. 

As Rep. Ed Markey adds, it's "the latest quack from a lame duck," administration.  Hopefully that duck will find a flooded Washington, DC a nice place to waddle and wade.

So, more "public comment" it is, eh? I guess the coal industry's hourly ads on CNN aren't public enough.  Now they'll get to fill the public record with more of their greenwashing and the EPA will subsequently declare a few months from now the need to have more debate and assessment based on the comment added to the public record.  What began in Vice President Cheney's private energy meetings in 2001 will carry on in 2008 in public fora - obstruction, obstruction, obstruction.

In saying that the EPA has to assess other implications of stanching carbon dioxide emissions, it is artfully kicking the can down the road.  What this basically amounts to is the statement that "because there might be other cracks in the dam, we're going to ignore these leaks we can see right here."

And to that, I say, "Glug, glug."