Friday, April 26, 2013

Loons vs. Agenda 21

Our friend Zandra at Granite State Progress sent out an email today with a video that shows State Rep. Al Baldasaro testifying at a hearing on SB 189 , a bill to phase out and prohibit lead fishing sinkers and jigs. Why would we want to eliminate lead sinkers and jigs? Lead kills loons, as a study done by the Loon Preservation Committee found. As this graphic shows, half the loon deaths documented by LPC between 1989 -2011 were caused by lead fishing tackle. 



Those who are concerned about the loon population are supportive of this bill. Sadly, that's not everyone. As this AP story in the Portland Press Herald informs us:

Lead fishing tackle continues to kill loons at an alarming rate, supporters of tighter restrictions on the gear told a House committee Thursday, but opponents warned that such a move would make most fishermen's equipment obsolete and hurt the state's lucrative tourism industry.
and further
But changing tackle would be prohibitively expensive for many fishermen, said Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford.
Hmm. It seems to me that deliberately allowing a species of birds to die off might have an even more negative impact on the state's tourist industry. If we're really concerned about our tourist industry, we might invest in our state parks and re-open all of the closed rest areas. But - that's an entirely different rant. 

Back to Al Baldasaro.  Al has bypassed the loons altogether, and gone full on loony, as is obvious in this video

 Transcript: “If you take a look at other areas, uh, what’s going on around the country under Agenda 21, this isn’t get – the nose is already under the tent. This now is pushing the foot under the tent, to slowly get the fishermen off the lake. That’s what this is gonna do.” – Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry)

Agenda 21? For real? The UN wants to interfere in the tackle boxes of NH fishermen? The UN's nose is under your tent? Is that a euphemism?

Yoicks. 

The tinfoil tricorne hat brigade needs to get their message coordinated. Former State Rep. Norman Tregenza of Conway admits in this story from the Conway Daily Sun to being a Bircher (member of the John Birch Society). He brought movies and speakers about Agenda 21 to Conway. No one is wearing a bigger tinfoil tricorne than Norm. BUT - Norm is extremely concerned about the loons. The Sun asked Norman for his goals for the NH House if he were re-elected (he wasn't):

"5) A bill for the gradual phasing out the use of lead sinkers and jigs to protect the loon population. The bill would give three years to continue selling the lead, and then another three years of use. The lead is ingested by loons and it kills them. This gives businesses and fishing industry related folks time to adjust. Loons are a Threatened Species, a Carroll symbol, and, for two consecutive years, in decline.
Al Baldasaro invents his own facts every time he opens his mouth. I was at the hearing when he announced that the State of NH sells babies to gay couples - a statement he was later forced to retract. During a presidential debate when a gay soldier asked the candidates about the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the audience booed. Al Baldasaro, by then announced as a supporter of Rick Perry (told ya the guy has problems! ) said he thought the booing was great.  There's a video at the link that allows you to have the full Baldasaro experience. From the transcript:


KEYES: What did you make of that moment in the debate when they had the gay marine asking a question and there were a few in the audience who were booing him?BALDASARO: I was so disgusted over that gay marine coming out, because when he came out of the closet. Bob won’t say it because they’re scared to get in trouble, but their brothers and sisters – brothers especially- that are there, they’ll start getting away from him. They’ll start ignoring him. He doesn’t realize it, but when the shit hits the fan, you want your brothers covering your back, not looking at your back.KEYES: Did you have an issue with the audience reaction?BALDASARO: Oh no, I thought the audience, when they booed the marine, I thought it was great.

Al's a Marine. And a homophobe. And a legislator with a very tenuous grasp on reality. 












3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sigh. Loons are such a wonderful creature, one of the oldest species of birds. Where I lived until a decade ago, they flew over our home every day in warmer months, and never tired of their call.

To think we would not do everything in our power to protect them is beyond my ability to understand.

Unknown said...

I want to thank you for the compliments. Have you ever vied ICLEI, do a google search, read it, you may learn something. Read the section on natural resorces , you jusr may learn something new and check out the 3 NH towns and city that signed on.

AL

susanthe said...

Al - perhaps you can explain why YOU think that it's your duty to kill loons to defeat Agenda 21, but Norm Tregenza does not?

Norm's a member of the John Birch Society, who brought several movies about Agenda 21 to Conway, and speakers from the JBS. I promise, his tinfoil tricorne hat is just as tight as yours - so why does Norm care about the loon population?

What's more - why don't YOU? Why are you so willing to tell ME to learn something, when you aren't willing to do the same?

Oh, and Al? Try a google search on the definition of the word compliment. :)