Posted on 08/26/2010 9:57:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
ABOARD THE FISHING TRAWLER BULLDOG - At about noon yesterday, at least 20 fishing vessels began circling Vineyard Haven’s harbor, blasting their air horns and displaying banners to protest President Obama’s restrictions on commercial fishing that fishermen say threaten their livelihood.
Two U.S. Coast Guard Zodiac boats intercepted the flotilla of protesters minutes out from the president’s vacation paradise, but were keeping their distance and have so far made no attempt to stop the fishermen either physically or by radio.
“We’re hoping we let him know we’re in dire straits,” said Richard Canastra, co-owner of the Boston and New Bedford Seafood Display and Auction. “We’re hoping his administration is bringing this to his attention. The whole thing comes down to jobs, jobs, jobs.”
But there was no sign along the sunsplashed holiday coast - other than the contingent of Coasties - that the president or the federal government had taken any notice of the protest.
The White House and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declined to comment. On a handful of pleasure boats out on a sunny day, however, civilian boaters gave the thumbs-up sign, waved and blew their air horns.
The protesters were armed with huge signs and flags expressing their outrage over the Obama administration’s fishing regulations.
One sign read: “Fishing families are working families.”
Other fishermen were waving “Don’t Tread On Me” flags, the Revolutionary War banner that also has been adopted by the anti-tax, anti-big government Tea Party movement. The fishermen said they aren’t part of the Tea Party.
But there were indications the fishermen were having trouble getting their message across. On shore, the protest drew small pockets of gawkers who wondered out loud what the hubbub was about.
The flotilla was expected to include 15 large vessels out of New Bedford, with still more joining up from ports in Gloucester, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, according to Tina Jackson of the American Alliance of Fishermen.
The protesters already have reeled in a couple of big fish: In the past few days, both U.S. senators from Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown and Democrat John Kerry, have spoken out in support of the fishermen.
“I have no problem with (Obama) protecting species that need to be protected,” Brown said. “But there’s been very little flexibility with (regulators) when they get new information that they’re wrong.”
The One does not care.
Hang in there fishermen—we’re all going fishing in November for ratfish. Plenty to be had and when they’re gone Bam gets to swim with the sharks for his remaining 1/2 term.
I say Right On!
You cannot disturb the Dear Leader and his wookie when they are buying shrimp!
The One is a Lightworker..Above mere mortals who need to earn a living. He has the highest IQ of anyone to ever inhabit the WH! We know all this because the media told us so.
Matters such as families eating should not matter...well, unless it is the Great One who is buying shrimp. He of course is so great that he gets to eat.
Can it get any more disgusting?????
Funny, I didn’t see any mention of this on ABCCBSNBCCNNMSNBC...
I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t deem a protest of Obama as not newsworthy, when 4 code Pinkos with 20 rented sign-holders drew Network Cameras by the gross under Bush.
Can You?
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