Activists say environmental issues missing from campaigns

They can't actually be surprised that there's been nothing about the environment in the Alabama gubernatorial campaign. The state GOP is in the pocket of the business council of Alabama, so you know Bob Riley won't say anything. And Don Siegelman's whole campaign is based on his ability to get automakers to build plants in the state, so he isn't going to come out in favor of strengthening regulation.

I'd like to see someone try it sometime. I don't really believe that Alabamians don't care about the environment. I don't think that people in Birmingham like having trouble breathing. I know I didn't. I don't think people who've had experience with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management like having a state environmental authority made up of people gunning for jobs in private industry. I'm pretty sure if more people knew about that they wouldn't like it either. I think a campaign with some element of environmentalism could make noise. If nothing else it could make the Republicans at least pretend to care.

But nobody ever tries. It's depressing.