Baker’s loyalty to Bush apparently knows some bounds

It wasn’t exactly a full-throated condemnation of misguided environmental policies, but James Baker clearly sounded more reasonable than normal yesterday in gently chastising the Bush administration on global warming.

Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, a close ally of the Bush family, broke ranks with the Bush administration on Thursday and called for the United States to get serious about global warming.

Baker, in a speech to an audience that included a number of oil company executives, said “orderly” change to alternative energy was needed.

“It may surprise you a little bit, but maybe it’s because I’m a hunter and a fisherman, but I think we need to a pay a little more attention to what we need to do to protect our environment,” he told the Houston Forum Club.

“When you have energy companies like Shell and British Petroleum, both of which are perhaps represented in this room, saying there is a problem with excess carbon dioxide emission, I think we ought to listen,” Baker said.

Sierra Club member? Not exactly. That said, anytime any Bush ally of Baker’s stature — the guy was not only Secretary of State, he oversaw Bush’s “win” Florida in 2000 — breaks ranks and suggests the administration change course on the environment, it’s an encouraging sign.

In the broader context, is it safe to say Bush isn’t having a good week with his fellow Republicans? Bill Frist wants to put off Bush’s Social Security scheme indefinitely, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said Bush’s private accounts “don’t have a lot to do with [Social Security] solvency,” Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum thinks Bush’s handling of “compassionate conservatism” is inadequate, The Weekly Standard is beating on Bush for opening the door to an increase in payroll taxes, and now Jim Baker wants Bush to start taking global warming seriously. And that’s just in the last four days.

Second terms sure can be tough, right Mr. President?