Senate Votes On Polar Bear Carcasses In First Roll Call Since September

washington.cbslocal.com ^ | 11/14/12 | ap

[ColdOne]

In its first roll call since September, the Senate voted 92-5 on Tuesday to debate a bill to ease restrictions on hunters and fishermen and allow 41 U.S. hunters to bring home polar bear carcasses trapped in Canada due to a ban on trophy imports.

[3Fingas]

Doing the most important business of the country...these partriots are.... /sarc

[USNBandit]

Focused like a laser on..........polar bear carcasses .

[Tenacious 1]

Now we’re saved.

[Tenacious 1]

Where has this kind of patriotic leadership been the last 4 years?

[Tenacious 1]

I wonder if those polar bear pelts might sell for $16 Trillion. That would certainly help the economy.

[Carriage Hill]

Well, there’s a real important piece of the Nation’s business future already on the docket. GMAFB!

[cripplecreek]

Hunter facing jail for polar bear he shot a decade ago

The guy was criminally charged for smuggling a polar bear mount from a legal hunt a decade before.

[I Drive Too Fast]

NYT headline: Courageous senators deal with bear market legislation.

[billorites]

First they came for the polar bear carcasses.

And I not being a polar bear carcass, I said nothing.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

These polar bear hunts are an important source of income for natives, who still (partly) live off the land. The hunts are well managed, and don’t harm the population of bears. Trophy animals are well past their prime reproductive years — they’ve already passed on their genes. Harvesting them simply provides mating opportunities for some of the younger boars.

[johnd201]

Wow! American democracy at its finest. Doesn’t it just make you proud to learn that the Congress votes on such important national issues as this when the country is fiscally going over the cliff. Where is that secession petition?

[cripplecreek]

If I recall, the guy in post number 8 legally bought a permit from the Canadian natives.

[faithhopecharity]

Thank Heaven this ship of fools isn’t interested in doing anything more important for the future of America than discussing a few polar bear pelts! They’d be positively dangerous if they tried to do any real work.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Yes -- I was just trying to point out the absurdity of the import (into the U.S.A.) ban. Most of the world's polar bears reside in Canada, and the population is not threatened. Of course, that doesn't fit the official narrative (global warming is gonna kill all the polar bears).

[billorites]

"Harvesting them simply provides mating opportunities for some of the younger boars."

Yes!!!

I knew there was an upside to the whole 'death panel' thing.

[cripplecreek]

It seems like a minor issue but I’m actually happy to see a little deregulation for once.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Have you got your eyes on Petraeus’ harem? Seems like you’ll need some stars on your shoulders to get anywhere with them.

[palmer]

Some of the harvests are up to 10% (5% legal and 5% poaching) See the polar bear study group for details. You are right that global warming is no threat at all. In many cases Arctic warming simply extends the season that the bears can get out, hunt and recreate. Only the southern and western Hudson Bay populations are struggling in those marginal environments.

The tags are given to the natives who can sell them for up to 50k. A managed hunt is worthwhile for all involved, except maybe the bear for a second or two.

[NormsRevenge]

It’s all about priorities, yaknow. bear carcasses.. lol That Harry.