THE FEEDBACK MIGHT BE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Comments Worth Repeating, 2007

By Bill Schneider, 4-12-07

I’m feeling sort of proud of myself this morning because I realized I might have done something nobody else has been able to do. If I’m wrong about this, I’m sure I will hear about it, but I think I’m the only person on earth who has read every word of every comment on every article I’ve posted on NewWest.net. That’s hundreds of articles and thousands of comments, some short, some not-so-short, but all adding value to the original article and appreciated.

Last year, I realized this was a problem. These comment sections have some hidden gems hidden deep within, but not many people, if anybody, has the energy, time or incentive to mine for them. To solve this problem, I published a column in December entitled, 2006 Comments Worth Repeating, which included tiny bites from my favorite comments from 2006.

This year I’m more organized. I’m keeping an open file and add choice comments to it as they come in, but now I’ve run into another problem. I have so many favorites that if I wait until December, this would be so long that it might bring down our website, so I’ve decided to post several collections of comments worth repeating during 2007. Here is the first. Read on, and thank you everybody, for your insight and engagement.

Idaho Governor Declares Wolf Public Enemy Number One

“We can only hope that (Governor) Otter goes wolf hunting with Dick Cheney.” (Pronghorn)

Enviros Have Serious Image Problem

”As we work less together for our common good, we will only create more enemies.” (schreinervideo)

“This country is based on a secular worship of individual freedom, choice, (yes I am), and ability to control one’s individual self in pursuit of liberty and happiness. Until the greens reconcile with our basic tenets and reject the far left’s authoritarian agenda, they will remain the enemy.” (noodly appendage)

“Seeing a wolf in the wild makes our hearts race. It gives us hope. Watching them in the background running and playing among the trees and the snow is what makes us appreciate what we have and could lose in the future. The thrill you get when you watch them is so surreal. They are the backdrop of the beauty we see in places only many dream of going to. The wilderness would be empty without our wolves. They are responsible for making the wilderness come alive once again.” (Cynthia Minde)

“Overrun the countryside with wolves as agents of urban tyranny over rural lands, and you lose in the long run. Common sense says there is a finite wolf number, but nobody is informed or brave enough to even suggest what that number is or might be” (Bearbait)

Wolf Delisting Plan Due Next Week

“It is not the wolves I hate, it is the idea that bunches of people from safely far away dumping their dream on a few others and then tell us we have to pay all of the costs for their entertainment.” (Marion)

Why It’s Hard to Hail Wolf Delisting

“Wild Bill, I thoroughly enjoy your stories in general and this latest story about delisting in particular. My wife and I have a cabin where we spend every weekend on the east slope of the cascades not far from the Alpine Lakes wilderness area of Washington. During this latest elk season we had fresh snow one morning and while cruising a ridge at day break I suddenly felt that I was being watched, looking to my left 50 yards away stood an almost pure black wolf and smaller gray (female I assume). I’ve kept this sighting between myself and my wife to this point as all my quad-riding, hunting-cabin neighbors brag that they would SSS if they ever saw a wolf in the area. It is a pleasure to know that there are other hunters out there who believe that we can live in harmony with our predator neighbors. Keep up the good work! (eff Martin)

Wildest Bill on the Hill Coming Soon

“The government timber program costs real money. If you can’t understand that look at the taxes you pay and the government’s budget deficit. A multi-million dollar money-losing timber program has never subsidized hiking. Losing money doesn’t pay for anything.” (Michael Garrity)

“The U.S. Forest Service land uses sun, atmospheric gases, water, and micro nutrients from the soil, creates vast volumes of wood fiber and you don’t want it used, just looked at or burned. What kind of world view is that?” (bearbait)

NRA Destroys Long-time Friend

“Power corrupts and the NRA’s power has made it a sick and twisted organization. The only silver lining in this story, if there is one, is that evil eventually always overreaches itself, eats its own young, and thereby destroys itself from the inside out and, if these so-called hunters and shooters turning on Jim Zumbo isn’t a horrific example of this process in action, then I can’t imagine what would be. I can only hope that Zumbo survives this treachery, stronger and more influential than before, and remembers that revenge is dish best served cold. The NRA needs to be beaten back to where it now belongs, in the dark and sleazy shadows along with its sister institution, the KKK.” (Mike)

“By the way, I am a democrat, I own and use many guns (typical hunting weapons), I hunt, fish, drive a truck and so on. I also cannot stand the NRA. 692 days 18 hours 27 minutes and 11 seconds until Bush leaves office as I write this.” (elfman)

The Zumbo Affair, Afterthoughts

“Hunting is just a byproduct of the second amendment, not the reason for it.” (DonP)

“What have we learned from this Zumbo (not Dumbo, Zumba. etc) affair?  I have read a large number of comments over the last two weeks. Everyone seems to be from a gun owner, most were hunters. No one wanted to eliminate guns, yet the vitriol that has been spewed against fellow gun owners and hunters has given me pause. The divide is as wide as the Grand Canyon and this is with two parties that agree on the major points—amazing! (Charles Malen)

“Hey guys. Zumbo screwed up, lets get over it! As one personally scarred from political battles with the anti-gunners I live by and believe the saying ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ Zumbo is one of us and our friend. If we let the antis split us up we will lose. Remember there are about 80,000,000 (legal) gun owners in the US and only about 5,000,000 belong to the NRA and other actual pro 2nd groups. Lets oppose the gun grabbers, not go off ‘half cocked’ and destroy OUR OWN.” (Nick Rust)

“No one here seems to care what happened to good ol’ Mr. Zumbo. At the age of 67 losing his TV show, the sponsors for all of his once-in-a-life-time hunting trips, magazine articles and public appearances. After 40 years of hunting, Mr. Zumbo was forced to retire. What do you if you’re a big game hunter forced into retirement and have to get real a job?” (Matt W.)

“You can bet your rear that if my firearms are taken from me because of hunter apathy and I live through the encounter, I am going to spend every election supporting candidates who vow to outlaw hunting.” (John)

“Since when has ‘need’ had ANYTHING to do with what free people in a free society can purchase, own and use? That aside, I NEED to own semi-auto rifles for the same reason I need all my guns--in case I need to shoot something! I WANT certain semis because I have determined that they usually have the best combination of features that allow me to fulfill that need. I NEED semi-autos because it is too hard and too $$$ to get a full-autos. Get it now?” (shield20)

“Hi all! Best site on the web www.newwest.net! Bye.” (incebrot)

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