My one real complaint about the Obama Adm.

[leftyladyfrommo]

I wish he had been a lot more proactive on animal rights issues - like the protections for the wolves and all other endangered animals. I just don't feel like he has much interest at all.

Am I wrong?

[bhikkhu]

1. It would be difficult, as "game management" has always been a state issue

except where the endangered species act comes into play.

I wouldn't be in favor of using that act to take management away from states for animals that aren't endangered. I also wouldn't be in favor of using the act to promote a "kindness" agenda, to minimize harm to animals in general. Simply put, legally and in principle, its a state issue, not a federal issue, and it should remain that way.

[MineralMan]

2. I think he has larger issues to deal with, and is leaving that issue

in the hands of others. While animal rights issues are important, public opinion varies widely on the priority level of those issues. You mention the wolf issue, for one. Fish and game management is primarily left to the states, with the federal government primarily involved in the issue through declarations of endangered species status. Minnesota, like some other states, has made wolves a game animal, and is engaged in managing wolf populations through quota-based hunting.

I disagree with that policy, but also understand why it is in place, since much of Minnesota's north country is sparsely populated and agricultural. Wolf depredation of livestock has been an issue in those areas, and control of wolf populations has been a hot-button topic for the agricultural community. Minnesota instituted a quota-based hunting program to attempt control of wolf populations in areas where wolf depredation was a problem. It's only been in place for two years, now, and the results are being studied.

Like many specialized issues, the President normally plays a very small role in this. He has no particular expertise in wildlife management, so he relies on advice from those who do, I suppose.

If the issue is important to you, as it is to many people, then lobbying for your position, through organizations, is the best way to approach this. But, President Obama is probably not the best target for that lobbying, since it is not a high-priority item on his agenda. He cannot make every issue a high-priority personal issue.

[G_j]

5. ah.. he appointed Ken Salazar Secretary of the Interior

that speaks boat loads!

[rock]

3. Yes, you are wrong. The correct answer is

they really need a classier bunch in the opposition. (joke)

[hfojvt]

4. I'd say you are wrong

to make that your only real complaint.

I'd be more concerned about his polcies which increase income inequality, and his lies justifying the same.

But that's just me.

[G_j]

6. he doesn't. nt