To greens, men like John Shimkus-the chairman of a congressional body that oversees work to curb air, soil and water pollution-represent a special sort of bogeyman. Mr Shimkus, a Republican from rural Illinois, is not just staunchly pro-industry, anti-regulation and sceptical of claims that man's activities menace the planet. He also brings his Bible to work. At a hearing on greenhouse gases, he opened it and quoted God's words to Noah after the Flood. "Never again will I destroy all living creatures," God promised. This, said Mr Shimkus, was "infallible" proof that neither man's actions nor rising flood waters will destroy the Earth. So let's not worry too much about global warming.
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