Who knew birds read Karl Marx?
Whenever someone suggests changing the Florida state bird, the National Rifle Association takes aim at the new critter. Well, not really the NRA, but Marion Hammer, the group’s chief state lobbyist and a definite capital powerhouse.
This time the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asked schoolchildren to pick a new bird. More than 20,000 voted for the osprey.
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That didn’t impress Hammer, who loves mockingbirds. […] In 1999, more than 10,000 schoolchildren signed a petition to change the state bird to the Florida scrub jay. Supporters boasted about how it will eat peanuts right out of a person’s hand.Hammer was unmoved. “Begging for food isn’t sweet,” she testified in a committee hearing. “It’s lazy, and it’s a welfare mentality.” Scrub jays had lots of other bad habits that disqualified them to represent Florida, she contended. “They eat the eggs of other birds,” she told lawmakers. “That’s robbery and murder.”
So I’m to assume she doesn’t eat other animals either?
Stupid woman.
Mmmmm… Turkey is tasty! That’s a very good quality for a bird to have.
One caveat: wild turkey is very smart, but is also the logo bird for a brand of bourbon. The domestic turkey, the one we eat, is stupid beyond all belief.
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By that logic, you must love the bald eagle.
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Indeed. It was Franklin that suggested the Turkey. In relation to my above response, you should look up the arguments against the eagle.
I have been to Florida. The state bird is the mosquito. It’s not really a bird, but it is the size of one and it will suck the blood right out of your hand. …or off your back, or arm, or shoulder, or any exposed skin.
Odd that an NRA lobbyist would admire the (Operation) Mockingbird.
I would have thought that the state bird of Florida would be the flamingo.
[No, in South Florida it’s the plastic flamingo. – ed.]
I think this explains the decline of newspapers. They claim the NRA guy opposes changes to the state bird. The current proposal was the osprey, and they have no comments from Hammer against the osprey, just some support for the mockingbird. Then they throw in events from ten years ago.
Some nutter called Ben Franklin had opinions about the character of the bald eagle an it’s suitability.
I haven’t heard this sort of argument in many years, not since the debate over naming the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
Talk about a nasty bird…
With a 64% graduation rate and SAT scores below 1,000 I would think Florida has more important things to worry about.
I think it should be the hen because Florida is ripe with big breasted, tacky, wide thighed, loud and slutty chicks.
How about “The Bird” as the state bird?
Like, “He cut me off in traffic so I flipped him The Bird.”
Once again this points out that the morons are in charge. In this case, Marion Hammer. To being chairing such an influential lobbying group. And wastes her time (and ours!) objecting to what state bird is chosen, based on her faulty and distorted education. She applies human traits to creatures of nature. That aren’t subject to our laws and moral standards. Birds don’t murder!! Stupid cow. What does she do for Thanksgiving dinner? Eat veg-loaf? Bet not.
Interesting that she prefers the Mocking bird. A bird that has no song of its own. But mimics the songs and sounds of other birds, insects, etc. Very loudly, and repeatedly. So she likes THAT kind of bird, that has nothing to say of its own, but what it hears everything else saying. Much like most of the NRA members.