In my last post I spoke of republicans being “whiny-ass, lying hypocrites.” I’d like to append that statement; they are “greedy, whiny-ass lying hypocrites.”

Mark Rey’s critics say talk of “treatment” and “thinning” is code for Rey’s real goal: cutting more trees in service of his former timber industry cronies.

Environmentalists routinely denounce Rey as the “Karl Rove of the forest”: a Machiavellian figure who serves as the brains behind the Bush administration’s aggressive effort to reverse Clinton administration policies that sought to rope off broad swaths of forest land for preservation. One group even declared Rey “Public Lands Enemy No. 1″ after he proposed a failed plan to sell surplus forest land to private interests.

“He’s tried to oversee a radical dismantling of the safeguards that the public really wants for its public lands,” said Doug Heiken, conservation coordinator for Oregon Wild, an environmental group.

It’s good to see that it’s all one big f*cking joke to Rey:

“I’m not sure forests need Karl Rove,” Rey said, laughing.

Josh Kardon, chief of staff to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Rey revels in his notoriety.

“Mark has always enjoyed a good joust and likes reliving those battles while he sips wine and strokes that legendary goatee,” Kardon said.