EPA chief Whitman Submits Resignation Letter Christie Whitman, who has often been at odds with the White House over environmental issues, submitted her resignation Wednesday as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Whitman said in a letter to President Bush that she was leaving to spend time with family.

While the Bush administration's environmental record is hardly admirable, the blame rests more on the White House than on the EPA. With all the fear about ultraconservative Bush appointees and being in the pocket of industry, I've been pleasantly surprised by Whitman's handling of things, and she's done as well as I could expect any Republican to do. Which means I'm a bit concerned about who will be named to replace her -- there are few people in the GOP who would be better, and many who would be worse.