The Struggle Not Over

[ness]

Good article -- thanks for sharing. Interesting to see the behind-the-scenes stuff that went on. I've always loved lobbyists! The article sure adds credibility to the argument that our voices were heard!

Kudos to the Conservation Federation, Columbia Daily Tribune, Jefferson City News Tribune, Kansas City Star, The Missourian, Phil Lilley, Lilley's Landing, Brent Frazee, Brandon Butler, Andrew Blunt, Britt Graham, John Gotti III, awhuber, drew03cmc and all the rest.

[Old plug]

I worked in congressional lasation at one time. Some legisators will introduce bills they know will never come up just for no other reason than to make it look like they are working for their constituants. I also helped lobby for a interperter bill for the deaf in Jeff City years ago. I will never forget this one senator coming into the hearing room and slaming his chair agianst the table and storming out. Becaise he did not think the bill was needed. A few of us went back and ask him what the problem was. He said " Do not worry you have my vote". They do so many underhanded things it is unbelievable. They trade votes as well. Writing your senator or congressman is OK. But if you really want to get their attention git the press amd media on them.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Ness, I have to most respectfully and vigorously disagree with your assessment of Ron's postings.

I don't think he was crying wolf so much as he was keeping us all abreast of latest happenings and WHAT COULD HAPPEN if we did not use our constitutional right to voice our concern.

To go along with the analogy of crying wolf, ask a tornado survivor if they will ever dismiss the sirens blaring? Luckily in my lifetime I have never had to endure a tornado personally. But every time those warnings come on the television or the sirens go off I am acutely aware of what is going on and I stay abreast of the latest news. Is the weatherman crying wolf? I don't think so. I think he just tells me everything he knows. And who was the first one in trouble if they wouldn't post a tornado warning and one popped up? The Joplin tornado was not supposed to happen. And for the first two or three years afterwards, they were still dogging on the weatherman for not predicting it and warning them. Well sometimes there is just not time.

Thank God for people like Ron that diligently and tirelessly let everyone know what is going on when it comes to our legislators and our beloved outdoors. I to at one time was posting a lot of these bills coming up and I stopped because nobody here seem to care and I thought I was wasting my time. And about that time Ron showed back up on the forum here and I am ever so glad he did! He has taken the lead and taking charge on passing along this vital information.

Again Ness, I mean no disrespect. I'm just offering my side and my view of the circumstances and situations.

And I thank you again for mentioning my name even though I like the newspaper they got it wrong. But it's the loving thought that counts.

[ness]

Heck, Chief -- we're essentially in agreement.

The only nit I picked was that the the ability of Mudslinger and other legislators to drive their bills to a vote was overstated, and the deer mess was always used as proof of what was going to happen. Committees recommend bills for a vote, the leadership decides what gets voted on, then the other chamber has to vote on it too, then the governor has to sign off. It's not easy to get one through, and the crazier it is the less likely they are to go. Heck -- two legislators said they were only trying to send a message and really didn't intend for the bills to progress. None of the bills moved forward. Was the risk zero percent? Of course not. But it was quite a bit lower than the threads would lead you to believe.

The responses above show this very well: Some folks can't read my criticism without jumping to the conclusion that I think nothing should be done. My point: The message will register better if the hyperbole is left out. The 'messenger' would do best not to publicly call out MSA and their leaders because they didn't sign up for 'whatever day' as quickly as he thought they should. A PM would have gotten it done. And, the messenger would do best not to post a tirade when somebody has a little constructive criticism. Cut the crap out and people will listen.

[ozark trout fisher]

Heck, Chief -- we're essentially in agreement.

The only nit I picked was that the the ability of Mudslinger and other legislators to drive their bills to a vote was overstated, and the deer mess was always used as proof of what was going to happen. Committees recommend bills for a vote, the leadership decides what gets voted on, then the other chamber has to vote on it too, then the governor has to sign off. It's not easy to get one through, and the crazier it is the less likely they are to go. Heck -- two legislators said they were only trying to send a message and really didn't intend for the bills to progress. None of the bills moved forward. Was the risk zero percent? Of course not. But it was quite a bit lower than the threads would lead you to believe.

The responses above show this very well: Some folks can't read my criticism without jumping to the conclusion that I think nothing should be done. My point: The message will register better if the hyperbole is left out. The 'messenger' would do best not to publicly call out MSA and their leaders because they didn't sign up for 'whatever day' as quickly as he thought they should. A PM would have gotten it done. And, the messenger would do best not to post a tirade when somebody has a little constructive criticism. Cut the crap out and people will listen.

I did not post a "tirade". My first response to you was respectful in the extreme, though obviously we had a disagreement. When you started referring to my posts as "flowery bs" every 2nd line (and asking me "do you ever read your posts"), you were making this personal.

To quote you, how am I supposed to respond to that? That "it sounds like you want to sit it out anyway" comment was probably ill-advised, but also less than a 1:1 response to a pretty fierce personal attack.

[ness]

I did not post a "tirade". My first response to you was respectful in the extreme, though obviously we had a disagreement. When you started referring to my posts as "flowery bs" every 2nd line, you were making this personal.

To quote you, how am I supposed to respond to that? That "it sounds like you want to sit it out anyway" comment was probably ill-advised, but also less than a 1:1 response to a pretty fierce personal attack.

Sorry, but I wasn't talking about you OTF.

[ozark trout fisher]

Okay. Still needed to say that, though, so I'm glad you (accidentally) gave me the opening.

[fishinwrench]

In regards to the tornado siren analogy.... I survived one, and still get pissed when they set them off every time the sky gets dark.

It desensitizes the meaning of a siren if they set it off all the time. Nobody pays attention to it because it goes off all the time for no good reason.

The one time the threat was real the siren didn't work....so now they sound it off every chance they get.

[ness]

In regards to the tornado siren analogy.... I survived one, and still get pissed when they set them off every time the sky gets dark.

It desensitizes the meaning of a siren if they set it off all the time. Nobody pays attention to it because it goes off all the time for no good reason.

Every Wednesday at noon they test them. If God wanted to have a chuckle, well, I don't want to give Him any ideas.

[fishinwrench]

Oh I think "God" gets to do more than his share of chuckling every day when y'all chant about being the one nation under him.