Got an email back from one of my senators.

[snakehooked]

One of those lovely automated bits that basically tells me where I can put my opinions and views...

Below is a response to the recent comments I received from you
Dear Ms. Lewis,
Thank you for sharing your invasive species, and the invasive species, and the commercial trade of pythons. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Nonnative wildlife species, like Burmese pythons, could cause great damage to threatened species and their habitat because they have no natural predators. On February 3, 2009, Senator Bill Nelson (R-FL) introduced S. 373, which would amend title 18 of the United States Code to include pythons as an injurious animal. Furthermore, this legislation would prohibit pythons from being shipped or imported into the United States. S. 373 was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works where it awaits further action. Although I am not a member of this committee, I will work with my colleagues from the Florida delegation and the Department of the Interior to remove invasive species like Burmese pythons from Florida.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the great State of Florida in the United States Senate. I take great pride in being a native Floridian, and I look forward to the tremendous opportunity to better the lives of all Floridians. I assure you I will work hard to represent our state to the best of my ability in the U.S. Senate. If I can be of any further help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
George S. LeMieux
United States Senator

[Katie M]

wow... did they read ANYTHING you sent them?!?!

[morti]

LOL! Wanna write back and say "Thanks. Now I know for sure that I will vote for whomever runs against you in the next election."

[Vinny]

Thats awesome, at least we/you are getting somewhere

[Katie M]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Thats awesome, at least we/you are getting somewhere

are you kidding?!?!? did you read the response?!?!

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by Katie M

are you kidding?!?!? did you read the response?!?!

Ohh snap, my bad!! That is no good.. So ya do what Morti said!!!

[nxlude]

Dear Mr. Blair:



Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 373, which is currently pending in the United States Senate. I appreciate knowing your views on this matter.



In the Senate, this legislation falls under the jurisdiction of the Environment and Public Works Committee. While I am not a member of that Committee, I want to assure you that I will be following the progress of this bill and will keep your views in mind if this or related legislation comes before the full Senate for consideration.



Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope you will continue to keep in touch.



I hope all is well in Puyallup.


Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator



I got a slightly better response

[snakehooked]

Yeah that's better than the giant rude gesture LeMeiux sent me.

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by snakehooked

Thank you for sharing your invasive species, and the invasive species, and the commercial trade of pythons.

If you're thanking me for them as well as their collective impact on the U.S. economy - regardless of present circumstances blown wildly out of proportion by rampant and superfluous media sensationalism - and of course whose said impact pertains to a single region of a single state, then how is it that you justify this legislation being so far-reaching?

Originally Posted by snakehooked

I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond to your concerns.

With this automated indifference and bigotry.

Originally Posted by snakehooked

Nonnative wildlife species, like Burmese pythons, could cause great damage to threatened species and their habitat because they have no natural predators.

Yes, they can, and are, as well are Green and Yellow Anacondas, Reticulated and African Rock Pythons - the original and relevant species of the original bill - but not the infrequent, in-subsequent number of other smaller, much less dangerous species of this genus, nor those occasional Boa Constrictors found roadside after being set-loose by indifferent owners or having escaped from sub-par housing, yet tossed in to the collective as a measure of your seriousness regarding this issue, not the ambition to be titled the Horseman that took out the most baby-killers, because that certainly won't afford you a landslide victory brought to us by the middle-class community holding the most votes in whichever election will be nearest the fruition of this holocaust!

Originally Posted by snakehooked

this legislation would prohibit pythons from being shipped or imported into the United States.

Shipped or imported. Quite aside from those two verbs accounting the same action, what about export? What about interstate-transport? What about the states where it is infeasible that one of the aforementioned snake species could sustain an independent population? States where an escape of said species has NEVER occurred, where there are no snake-related deaths in the history of snake-ownership - to name a few alternatives?

Originally Posted by snakehooked

Although I am not a member of this committee, I will work with my colleagues from the Florida delegation and the Department of the Interior to remove invasive species like Burmese pythons from Florida.

...And every other state in this fine, backward nation of ours, as well as bankrupt thousands of small to medium-sized businesses and large-scale corporations and their affiliates such as Big Apple Herp, a major provider of many smaller Python species?

To limit the taxable freight of world-class carriers such as FedEx and UPS?

Originally Posted by snakehooked

It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the great State of Florida in the United States Senate. I take great pride in being a native Floridian, and I look forward to the tremendous opportunity to better the lives of all Floridians.

While snuffing out the livelihoods of countless others whose animals haven't so much as seen their owners' backyards.

Amazing how much wiggle room there is available in an ill-thought-out automated response.

[snakehooked]

It's ok, I should have a petition up at my local shop by the end of the week. We'll have a petition party. Ignoring me isn't even going to slow me down, someone will listen.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by AGActaeonia

If you're thanking me for them as well as their collective impact on the U.S. economy - regardless of present circumstances blown wildly out of proportion by rampant and superfluous media sensationalism - and of course whose said impact pertains to a single region of a single state, then how is it that you justify this legislation being so far-reaching?



With this automated indifference and bigotry.



Yes, they can, and are, as well are Green and Yellow Anacondas, Reticulated and African Rock Pythons - the original and relevant species of the original bill - but not the infrequent, in-subsequent number of other smaller, much less dangerous species of this genus, nor those occasional Boa Constrictors found roadside after being set-loose by indifferent owners or having escaped from sub-par housing, yet tossed in to the collective as a measure of your seriousness regarding this issue, not the ambition to be titled the Horseman that took out the most baby-killers, because that certainly won't afford you a landslide victory brought to us by the middle-class community holding the most votes in whichever election will be nearest the fruition of this holocaust!



Shipped or imported. Quite aside from those two verbs accounting the same action, what about export? What about interstate-transport? What about the states where it is infeasible that one of the aforementioned snake species could sustain an independent population? States where an escape of said species has NEVER occurred, where there are no snake-related deaths in the history of snake-ownership - to name a few alternatives?



...And every other state in this fine, backward nation of ours, as well as bankrupt thousands of small to medium-sized businesses and large-scale corporations and their affiliates such as Big Apple Herp, a major provider of many smaller Python species?

To limit the taxable freight of world-class carriers such as FedEx and UPS?



While snuffing out the livelihoods of countless others whose animals haven't so much as seen their owners' backyards.

Amazing how much wiggle room there is available in an ill-thought-out automated response.

That should be copied and pasted right back to them IMO..

[DaveDragon]

Originally Posted by morti

LOL! Wanna write back and say "Thanks. Now I know for sure that I will vote for whomever runs against you in the next election."

I plan on doing that anyway!!! Vote out all the corrupt incumbents!!

[Stargazer]

Originally Posted by morti

LOL! Wanna write back and say "Thanks. Now I know for sure that I will vote for whomever runs against you in the next election."

Do it. Except it's "whoever" and not "whomever". Although I doubt they will even notice, seeing how they treated your first letter.

[Snakemaster]

Got to love those automated responses They keep repeating what the bill does along with the blah blah . Like we did not already know what the bill was about too bad the senators do not know the grand effects and far reaching scope of this bill.

[RayRay]

Take Morti's suggestion and hit him below the belt by telling him he isn't worth voting on. That always gets them frazzled.

[snakehooked]

Retort;

In response to your intentions to ignore the wishes of your constituents on the subject of the "Python Ban", I regret to say that my colleagues, family and I have decided that it is in our best interests to support your oposition in the next election.

Thank you.

[Byron]

'hooked... sorry to inform you, but my gf got the exact same letter. here is her reply to the bot email sender...

I am wondering what "threatened species" you are referring to? In a natural environment such as the Everglades the Burmese pythons would most naturally be feeding on small mammals such as shrews, moles, rats, squirrels, mice, muskrats, rabbits, fox, skunk, otter, cats, dogs and other miscellaneous small mammals. Its is highly unlikely that given the thousands of small mammals available to them that a Burmese python other than in its defense or by mistake would kill one or both of the endangered mammals in the everglades, the Florida panther or the manatee. Given their status of endangered or threatened and their similarly small numbers the minute chance of a python killing one of these animals is one in a million. Your "theory" is flawed and only perpetuates the witch hunt on these creatures who themselves did not ask to be a part of our environment. Punish the careless breeders and handlers of the animals, not the entire population. Require a large snake permit, create jobs in Florida by inspecting reptile (or any and all) breeders of animals... do something to HELP the issue. Banning animals is like banning drugs. The problem doesn't go away... it goes underground and creates undesirable situations that law abiding citizens must become a part of in order to maintain their livelihood. I am disappointed in your response and ashamed to call myself an American if this is what your America is becoming.... nothing more than a police state in which the loudest most profittable voices get heard. Shame on you, Mr. LeMieux.

[morti]

Originally Posted by grnxnam

'hooked... sorry to inform you, but my gf got the exact same letter. here is her reply to the bot email sender...

If the senator were actually interested in replying, he would tell you about the one burm that they found on Key Largo with an endangered Key Largo Rice Rat in its belly.

[snakehooked]

Originally Posted by grnxnam

'hooked... sorry to inform you, but my gf got the exact same letter. here is her reply to the bot email sender...

Yeah I love the canned letters you get sent. I've seen all kinds, from "Thank you we're listening." To " Cram it in your cramhole." Apparently LeMieux is fond of the "cramhole" strategy.

[snakefreex]

well, Believe it or not I got the same form letter back from him as well, and also this one from Ginny Brown-waite - member of congress ..

******************
The issue of non-native wildlife is one not to be treated lightly. In the Florida Everglades alone, there are over 5,000 Burmese Pythons. These snakes from South Asia can be as long as 20 feet, weigh up to 200 pounds, and are a dangerous threat to all wildlife in the Everglades.



Such invasive species are not a rarity. Too often, people buy these animals as pets, then release them into the wild when the animal grows too large. Yet, any legislation addressing the issue must be well-balanced. Otherwise, the law could potentially cover common household pets, such as cats and dogs. As a dog lover myself, I could never support legislation that would forcibly separate dogs from their owners.



Introduced by Delegate Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), H.R. 669, the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, seeks to prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health. While the bill only covers species imported into the United States, it could potentially ban the importation of pets like the Portuguese Water Dog, which is the breed of the Obama family's new dog and comes mainly from Portugal. While that may not be the intent of the bill, Delegate Bordallo has unfortunately left most of the decision making to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Congressional outsourcing of decision-making to the executive branch leads to unintended consequences, and it is my duty as your Representative to ensure that is the voice of the people rather than bureaucrats who make law.



H.R. 669 is currently awaiting further legislative action before the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife. Although I am not a member of this committee, rest assured that should this bill come before me on the House floor, I will keep your thoughts in mind.



Throughout my tenure in public service, I have always kept an open door and an open dialogue with my constituents. As Congress addresses the many challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. Accordingly, I encourage you to visit my Web site at Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite to email me and find useful information about our 5th Congressional District.

Sincerely,

Ginny Brown-Waite
Member of Congress