Song Of The Day #409

Ranch Radio's Gospel song this Sunday morning is The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash.

The tune is on his 15 track CD American IV: The Man Comes Around.

Bellamy Brothers - Jalapenos

Here they are doing the Jalapeno song.

Murkowski Launches Write-In Bid; GOP Leaders Embrace Miller

The Alaska Senate race grew more interesting Friday night as GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced she is launching a write-in campaign for re-election — a last-ditch effort to retain the seat she has held since being appointed by her father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, in 2002. The announcement sets up a three-way race between Murkowski, Democrat Scott McAdams and Republican Joe Miller, who defeated Murkowski in the Aug. 24 primary by 2,006 votes and has the full support of the Senate Republican leadership. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) made clear that the Senate GOP Conference has moved beyond the primary fight and embraced Miller. But Murkowski was defiant. “Alaskans deserve a fighter in the United States Senate who will always stand up for Alaska, who understands our great potential and has the experience, the respect and the seniority to accomplish that,” she said. “I am that Senator.” Murkowski took a shot at Sarah Palin (R), saying she, not the former governor, is “one Republican woman who won’t quit on Alaska.”...more

The late Strom Thurmond is the only Senator to be elected by write-in (1954).

Lisa Murkowski hits up lobbyists

Less than an hour before Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski planned to announce a write-in campaign to retain her seat, her top aide e-mailed scores of the most prominent lobbyists in Washington to ask them to join a Saturday conference call with the senator. Karen Knutson, Murkowski’s chief of staff, emailed scores of top lobbyists in town and employees at some of the largest oil companies – including Chevron, Conoco Phillips and Marathon Oil – to ask them to join the senator on a conference call Saturday, according to a copy of the e-mail and a recipient list obtained by POLITICO. Knutson also sent the invitation to Democratic superlobbyist Heather Podesta – a clue that Murkowski could seek bipartisan financial support in order to fund her write-in campaign. Federal Election Commission records show Podesta has been a consistent and generous Democratic political donor and has never given to Murkowski before...more

Her true colors are showing.

California’s Jobs Terminator

What state ranks third in unemployment, second in foreclosures, has the nation’s worst credit rating, is running a $19 billion deficit – yet insists on spending billions on a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan that can’t possibly impact global warming? Yes, it’s California, land of the Governator, who signed a bill that may say “Hasta la vista, baby!” to perhaps a million jobs. Yet there’s hope the prosperity terminator can be stopped. The state boasts that the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, better known as AB 32, is “first-in-the-world.” It requires that by 2020 the state’s greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels, about 25-30 percent less than they’d otherwise be. It demands another 80 percent reduction by 2050. Four years ago California’s economy was booming, with joblessness a mere 4.8 percent. But now that the bear on the state’s flag has taken on new meaning and unemployment is 12.3 percent, even many that are convinced that global warming is a serious man-made problem are having second thoughts. That’s why the California Jobs Initiative, Proposition 23, got the signatures required to put it on the November ballot. It would suspend AB 32 until unemployment stays below 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters...more

Texas Chef Successfully Deep-Fries...Beer!

I sincerely hope the committee that hands out Nobel Prizes in the science fields have taken notice of one Texas chef who recently achieved a gastronomical breakthrough: deep-fried beer. That’s right. According to this report: The beer is placed inside a pocket of salty, pretzel-like dough and then dunked in oil at 375 degrees for about 20 seconds, a short enough time for the confection to remain alcoholic. When diners take a bite the hot beer mixes with the dough in what is claimed to be a delicious taste sensation. Zable will introduce the dish at a fried-food competition in Texas later this month. He’ll serve five of the ravioli-like bites for a very modest $5...more

You ain't supposed to eat deep fried food, you ain't supposed to drink beer - so this let's you kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

Sept. 17, Constitution Day

Choose Freedom: Ignore DC

There’s plenty of federal holidays for Americans to celebrate. On July 4th, there’s independence from King George’s England. On the first Monday in September, a holiday was dedicated to the “social and economic achievements of American workers.” Other days throughout the year celebrate autumn harvest, soldiers who died in the civil war and even a person who sailed to this continent nearly three centuries before the country was “founded.”

When there’s no federally-sanctioned holiday to call upon, protesters and activists across the political spectrum often pick “important” dates to schedule events to bring attention to their cause. We’ve seen protests on Tax Day, Independence Day, May Day, Earth Day, and more. And, in the past few weeks we saw great importance placed on days that doesn’t even have a letter in their name, 8/28 and 9/12.

But nowhere to be found on these great lists of “federal holidays” or “protest days” is a celebration of the document that defined the principles of liberty that this country was supposedly founded upon – the Constitution.

LIMITING POWER

The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and every year that date passes by with hardly a sound. Sure, now that it’s considered a day of “federal observance” you’ll find government schools around the country including it in their lesson plans. But these discussions generally focus on “Constitution Trivia” instead of what’s really important. While it may be good to educate our young on how many years a Senator serves, or how Supreme Court justices are appointed, it’s not enough. Seriously lacking in the public discourse is the actual purpose of the Constitution – its underlying principles.

When the Constitution was being considered for ratification, there was strong opposition from famous American figures that included George Mason and Patrick Henry. One major reason for this was a fear of too much power. The founding generation spent their lives toiling under a tyranny – a government without limits. But, when the Constitution was written, it was done to codify in law that the powers of government would be limited to those which had been delegated to it – and nothing more.

The entire system was created under the principle of popular sovereignty – that ‘We the People of the Several States’ created the government, and all powers not delegated to it, were retained. But that’s not something you’re likely to hear from politicians in Washington DC, political pundits, schools, or just about anywhere else. It’s generally not in their interest, either.

If politicians and their backers were promoting such crazy ideas as “originalism” and “limited government” they’d never be able to convince you that they have the power to tell you what kind of health care plan you’ll be getting, how big your toilet can be, what kind of plants you’re allowed to grow, where you’re allowed to exercise your “right” to free speech, whom you can buy and sell from, and even when you must send your children to die for them.

Read the entire article here.

Obama's Science Adviser: Don't Call it 'Global Warming'

John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, says that the term "global warming" is "a dangerous misnomer” that should be replaced with “global climate disruption." At the Environmental Protection Agency's 40th celebration of the Clean Air Act on Tuesday, Holdren said, "I think one of the failures of the scientific community was in embracing the term 'global warming'. Global warming is in fact a dangerous misnomer." And in a speech last week in Norway, echoing remarks he made at a 2007 speech at Harvard University, Holdren said the term "global climate disruption" should be used instead of "global warming."...more

Salvos Fly as Ethanol Ruling Nears

The Environmental Protection Agency has said it will rule by the end of this month on whether to allow gasoline retailers to sell a mixture that is 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent unleaded regular, a change from the current maximum of 10 percent ethanol. Coalitions have lined up — on one side, the corn farmers and ethanol producers, and on the other, the oil refiners, auto companies, manufacturers of gasoline-powered equipment and companies that use corn to raise livestock. Some opponents are raising concerns that are not important to the E.P.A. — for example, that putting more corn into the fuel supply will raise the cost of corn for feeding chickens or pigs. Another argument is that the ethanol could burn hot enough to hurt catalytic converters or eat away the seals in various parts of the engine, resulting in higher emissions. The auto companies maintain that the only way to know is to extend the testing of cars on the higher blend for several more months. Older cars are thought to be more vulnerable because they were not designed with ethanol in mind, whereas cars sold today are engineered for concentrations of at least 10 percent ethanol. So foes of the change are campaigning for a delay...more

No plan for monument,BLM chief tells crowd

The director of the Bureau of Land Management told a packed forum in northeastern Montana that there are no plans for presidential monument declarations in the region, but it did little to ease the fears of ranchers and many others that the federal government may sweep in and bar them from the land. Bob Abbey acknowledged to the crowd that he cannot rule out future discussions about land protections. However, he promised more than 1,500 people that descended from the area on the small town of Malta for the forum that local comment would be key to any future decisions. “Folks, there is no plan for a national monument in Montana. I want you to know that,” Abbey said. “I want to get the message right out front. There is no proposal for a national monument in Montana.” Ranchers, oil men and others have been very suspicious of federal plans since leaked memos revealed the Obama administration was considering 14 sites in nine states for possible presidential monument declarations. That included 2.5 million acres of northeastern Montana prairie land proposed as a possible bison range. Also included in the memo were sites in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Even after Abbey’s clarification that no plans are in the works, the large crowd remained unconvinced. “I know you said you don’t have any monument plans, but what does Obama have for plans?” said rancher Nick Schultz of Grass Range...more

An interview with BLM director Abbey

Bob Abbey, director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, said no "serious discussions" of creating a grasslands national monument in northeastern Montana have occurred within the Interior Department, despite "rhetoric" about a paper he authored on land protections for sensitive public lands. "I just want to put to rest the rumors and address the issues head-on," Abbey told the Tribune in an interview Thursday morning in Great Falls before departing for Malta, where he spoke from 7 to 9 p.m. at the high school. At the same time, Abbey added, grasslands contain unique values "and we need to be smart" in managing them. Abbey, who authored what he described this morning as a "concept paper" called Treasured Landscapes, said he's not ashamed of what's in it and welcomes the opportunity to discuss it with Montanans. Abbey said he used the paper to cite areas that have special characteristics worthy of consideration for additional management protections...more

Kind of funny he would get out from behind the desk and assure everyone it was just a "concept paper", about which there had been no "serious discussions"...right before an election.

Nice try Mr. Abbey, but everyone knows this will be hanging over their heads until the last day of the Obama presidency.

Rehberg Proposes Endangered Species Act Amendment

Montana congressman Denny Rehberg says Montanans are steamed about a federal court decision to relist wolves and he’s proposing changes to the Endangered Species Act. Rehberg's written a bill that would prohibit the “endangered” designation for Grey Wolves in Montana and Idaho. First, however, Rehberg wants the public to look at the bill and offer possible changes. Rehberg’s challenger in the general election generally agrees with the congressman’s idea but he would add language providing compensation to ranchers who lose animals to wolf depredation. Dennis Macdonald says Montana has a good management plan. He says the state is being held hostage by Wyoming’s failure to develop an acceptable plan. [link]

The draft Rehberg bill states, "Any Rocky Mountain gray wolf in Idaho or Montana shall not be treated as an endangered species" and "Each of the States of Idaho and Montana shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the management of Rocky Mountain gray wolves within the borders of that State."

Look how far we have come from the vision of our Founding Fathers of a small federal government with limited and delegated powers to a situation where States can't even management wildlife within their borders unless "permission" is given by the feds.

ESA requires real repairs

For the past year and a half, Congress and the Obama administration have become the Mr. Fix-its of politics. They've strapped on their legislative toolbelts and gone to work in the name of "change." They fixed health care -- even though it wasn't needed -- and they fixed Wall Street just in time for those fat executive bonus checks to go out. But one law that is profoundly broken -- and has been since Richard Nixon signed it in 1973 -- has been totally ignored: the Endangered Species Act. The ESA doesn't accomplish its stated goal -- helping to bring back species from the brink of extinction. Since it was passed, 25 species of plants and animals have been delisted -- most because they were put there by mistake. In all 1,375 plants and animals have been put on the list as threatened or endangered. But not helping endangered species is the least of the act's shortcomings. The ESA is the Gordian knot of laws. It creates problems that cannot be solved. In the Klamath Basin, the Columbia and Snake rivers, the Sacramento Delta, and the forests, rangeland and farms of the West environmental extremists use the ESA as a blunt legal instrument to stop economic activity...more

Though the excuse used by the extremists and their lawyers is to "save" salmon, suckers, smelt, wolves, owls, sage grouse and worms, the real, albeit unstated, goal is to stop economic activity they don't support or to shake the federal money tree, or both.

Plan Proposed to Change Federal Land

Eighteen counties in Western Oregon have proposed federal legislation they say would preserve over a million acres of old growth forest, while selling a million acres of less ecologically sensitive federal land. The proceeds would create a permanent trust to replace the money counties came to rely on from timber payments. It would also help fund a 10-year reauthorization of The Secure Rural Schools and County Self Determination Act -- set to expire next year. But the proceeds from the sale would only cover half that bill. Congress would have to come up with the rest. Doug Robertson represents the counties behind the plan. He says for years elected officials have grappled with the question of what to do with these particular lands. He says they have a different legal standing than other public lands. Robertson says study after study was commissioned but in the end little was done...more

HAPNER v. TIDWELL

No. 09-35896.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted February 4, 2010—Seattle, Washington.
Filed September 15, 2010.

OPINION

W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judge.

The United States Forest Service (the "Service") proposed the Smith Creek Project (the "Project") in the Gallatin National Forest to reduce the risk of severe wildfire, to reduce the risk of insect infestation and disease, and to promote habitat diversity. Sharon Hapner, Alliance for Wild Rockies, and Native Ecosystems Council (collectively "Plaintiffs") challenged the Project, contending that it violated the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") and the National Forest Management Act ("NFMA"). After a remand, the district court granted summary judgment to the Service on all of Plaintiffs' claims.

We affirm the district court in almost all respects. We reverse on only one claim, holding that the Project violates NFMA by failing to comply with the elk-cover requirement contained in the Gallatin National Forest Plan...

Read the entire opinion here.

Wolf-Watching Range Rider Quits

The man who garnered international attention for patrolling on horseback for conflicts between wolves and cattle in eastern Oregon, has left the job. The image of Jason Cunningham on a horse warning ranchers about wolves was featured in newspapers around the Northwest. Film crews from as far away as Australia profiled him, too. Cunningham started as Oregon’s first range rider in July. He quit last week. Neither he nor his boss – a Wallowa County rancher – has returned calls asking for explanation. State officials say that his departure isn’t significant, since someone else is taking his place – and the job of mediating wolf-livestock conflict continues. But multiple sources told OPB that Cunningham was forced out for not being anti-wolf enough. One of the environmental groups raising money to pay the range rider’s salary -- Oregon Wild -- says ranchers kept Cunningham from speaking at a recent meeting the group held on wolf eco-tourism. But Oregon Wild says it still supports the range rider program. OPB

NM outstanding water proposal comes under fire

New Mexico regulators are continuing to hear testimony from environmentalists who are backing a proposal to give special protection to headwater streams, lakes and wetlands in wilderness areas across the state. The New Mexico Supreme Court cleared the way for the hearing to begin in Santa Fe earlier this week, but critics say the court has yet to issue a final ruling on whether the state's petition to designate the streams and lakes as "outstanding national resource waters" meets regulations. Attorney Dan Dolan, who represents a statewide ranchers' group, says the court has given him until Sept. 24 to file a response. He's hopeful that means the court will look closer at the petition. Supporters of the petition say it would be "quite the injustice" if the court halted the proceedings now. AP

World's Smallest Cow is a mere 33 inches tall

A minuscule cow with a taste for contemporary music has been named the world's smallest by the Guinness World Records book. Guinness says the sheep-sized bovine from the West Yorkshire region of northern England measures roughly 33 inches (84 centimeters) from hind to foot. The 11-year-old cow is named Swallow and her owner, Caroline Ryder, said she would spend Thursday either grazing with her herd or listening to BBC radio in her cowshed. Swallow is a Dexter cow, an Irish breed known for its diminutive stature, but is small even by Dexter standards. She already has nine regular-sized calves and is pregnant with her 10th. Guinness said her youngest calf has already grown larger than she is. [link]

Horse and mule sale attracts international buyers and sellers

Buyers and sellers are at the Boone County Fairgrounds this week for one of the biggest horse and mule sales in the country. The Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale offers everything from saddles to stallions. Some of the best horses and mules in the world are up for grabs at this sale. People from all across the United States are looking for bargains on some of the world’s best teams of draft horses. This is the only American sale where Canadian Rancher Norman Nikkel sells his horses and mules. Nikkel has been raising horses for three generations on his ranch in Manitoba with some of the top bloodlines in Canada and the United States. “We have a lot of satisfied customers down here," Nikkel said. "We really appreciate them. We really enjoy them. We get to see a lot of our horses that we’ve sold in the show ring. It’s a real pleasure.” Many Amish horse owners from across the country come to the Boone County Fairgrounds for this semi-annual auction. This is the 21st year for the Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale. The event gets bigger every year...more

Song Of The Day #408

Ranch Radio will close out the week with a double dose of country.

First up is a song you won't hear everywhere, the 1957 recording of I Want Her Blues by Bob Gallion.

That's followed by a warning to all you Weekend Warriors from Johnny Bond in his recording of Put Me To Bed.

Gallion's tune is on his 20 track CD Out Of A Honky Tonk.

Bond's song is on his 30 track CD Put Me To Bed.