Sunday, May 27, 2012

Senators Move to Make Bison "National Mammal"

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Observe south end of bison heading north for glimpse of big, steaming pile of Congress


I think I know now what they mean when they say ignorance is bliss. Ever since I heard this, my head started hurting!
There's a push in the U.S. Senate to make the bison, which is commonly known as the American buffalo, the official national mammal.

Wait! The Senate hasn't passed a budget in over three years, but more than one of them thinks we should be focusing on an appropriate national mammal?? Exactly how many years has the Republic survived without a "national mammal"? When was the last time you stood in a grocery store or unemployment office line and overheard someone bemoaning the fact the the US didn't designate a national mammal?

Is there some new bison crisis we haven't heard about? What exactly would this designation do for the bison?

The National Bison Legacy Act introduced in the Senate is backed by lawmakers from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Rhode Island.

The largely symbolic measure would provide no added protections for the estimated 20,000 wild bison in North America. And the bald eagle would still hold a somewhat loftier role as the national emblem, as declared by the Second Continental Congress in 1782.

But supporters said the bison legacy bill would afford overdue recognition to a species that has sweeping cultural and ecological significance. Bison — North America's largest land animal — already appear on two state flags and the official seal of the U.S. Department of Interior.
(Emphasis mine)

So, instead of focusing on unemployment, or the Constitutional required budget, or energy self sufficiency, Guantanamo, the War of Terror or any of the other problems pressing our nation today, the Senate wants to waste time on a symbolic gesture, designed to bolster the bison's self esteem?????

It won't make two hoots in Hades 100 years from now whether or not we had a national mammal. It might make a difference 100 years from now, whether or not we still have a country, not passing a national budget.

Priorities, people! Do the heavy lifting first, then sit around in your comfortable chairs as to how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or how many pin heads it takes to pass a national bison legacy.

Update : Maybe they could just name a street after them. It worked for Pelosi!

UpdateII : A commenter inspired me to look. In California we have a:
State Animal
State Bird
State Color
State Dance
State Fife and Drum Corps
State Fish
State Flag
State Flower
State Folk Dance
State Fossil*
State Gemstone
State Gold Rush Ghost Town
State Grass
State Historical Society
State Insect
State Marine Fish
State Marine Mammal
State Military Museum
State Mineral
State Motto
State Nickname
State Prehistoric Artifact
State Quarter
State Reptile
State Rock
State Seal
State Silver Rush Ghost Town
State Soil
State Song
State Tall Ship
State Tartan
State Theater
State Tree

Because California is solvent and has no troubles whatsoever of importance to deal with!

*May or may not be Jerry Brown!

Cross posted at LCR, Say Anything.

14 comments:

  1. The largely symbolic measure would provide no added protections

    Good... When I saw the headline I was hoping that didn't mean we had to stop eating them...

    ReplyDelete
  2. They can't manage to pass a budget, but they can waste time on this? Clearly, the Senate is trying to "buffalo" the American people.

    So what's next? Hey, how about debating which snack food should be the Official Snack Food of the United States? I hereby nominate Cheetos, Fig Newtons, Corn Nuts, Cracker Jacks, and Hostess Sno Balls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you on the waste of time, but I should have been the one with the "buffalo" pun!

      As far as snack food goes, there's really no debate: If it doesn't turn your fingers orange, it's not snack food.

      Delete
  3. Yeah, what's up with that?

    It appears that they are incapable of passing any worthwhile legislation, so they've chosen the path of least resistance, and soon it'll be summer vacation. Since they're "playing possum", maybe they should reconsider and choose that instead of the bison. I'm glad they have nothing better to do with their time and our tax dollars.

    Okay, then it's a toss up between Doritos and Cheetos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe it's time we elect some adults to Congress? And, yeah, I go back and forth between Doritos and Cheetos, too. If I think of that Ali Landry ad vs. Chester Cheetah, Doritos wins every time!

      Delete
  4. I was thinking since we have an eagle and a bison, now they need to work on a "National Fish".

    Wasn't Ali Landry married to Mario Lopez for about 15 minutes? He's nailed his fair share of women - but he absolutely prefers the gents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think California has a state mollusk.

      Mario Lopez? Couldn't tell you. I don't keep track of who the ladies see when they aren't with me!

      In CA we have a:
      State Animal
      State Bird
      State Color
      State Dance
      State Fife and Drum Corps
      State Fish
      State Flag
      State Flower
      State Folk Dance
      State Fossil
      State Gemstone
      State Gold Rush Ghost Town
      State Grass
      State Historical Society
      State Insect
      State Marine Fish
      State Marine Mammal
      State Military Museum
      State Mineral
      State Motto
      State Nickname
      State Prehistoric Artifact
      State Quarter
      State Reptile
      State Rock
      State Seal
      State Silver Rush Ghost Town
      State Soil
      State Song
      State Tall Ship
      State Tartan
      State Theater
      State Tree

      Because California is solvent and has no troubles whatsoever of importance to deal with!

      Delete
  5. A "commenter"? Now I'm just a "commenter" - hmmph!

    Don't be so hard on California - it gave us the La Brea Tar Pits, Isamu Noguchi, beach party movies, clementines, and apparently - surly bloggers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't get your hmmph all in a hmmph! The readers of this blog know exactly who you are. The two other places this is cross posted, you are not quite so...infamous! I mean, well known! Heh.

      Delete
    2. Apology accepted. * gives you the side-eye *
      By the way, the shadow outside your bedroom window last night was me.

      Now I have to Google the State Tartan of California.....

      Delete
    3. I'm so relieved! However, you might want to check your "Stalker's Map to the Stars". My "bedroom window" is really more of a "French door". (I've always been partial to all things French!)
      So, I'm not sure whose house you were at last night!

      Delete
    4. CA State Tartan: http://www.library.ca.gov/history/symbols.html#tartan

      Delete
  6. "I've always been partial to all things French!" * holds heart *
    I'm no stalker, I see myself more as an "interested party".

    I checked out the State Tartan and the bio of John Muir - really interesting, I had no idea that the Sierra Club has been around for so long or that preservation efforts existed in the late 1800s.

    ReplyDelete