Op/Ed by R.T. Fitch – Author of “Straight from the Horse’s Heart“
Abbey Selection Ranks a #10 on the “Doink” Meter
Legacy of Secretary Ken Salazar
It’s Sunday, May 30, 2010 and thousands of barrels of oil are continuing to gush into the Gulf of Mexico while tens of thousands of native, wild horses are languishing and dying in concentration camp style pens out west. What do these two disasters have in common; Secretary of Interior (DOI) Ken Salazar and Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bob Abbey.
Since his Obama administration appointment, Ken Salazar has accelerated the deadly and cruel removal of our native, American wild horses from their congressionally designated public lands. This has all been accomplished while Bob Abby has sat as the team lead of the BLM and allowed his manager of the Wild Horse and Burro program, Don Glenn, to run covert round-up operations while lying to the public that such travesties would not occur.
Inconsistencies, ineptitude, corruption and violation of federal law runs amuck under Ken Salazar as is evident with the removal of the Director of the Mineral Management Service as the sacrificial lamb for Salazar’s lack of leadership and accountability.
So who does Salazar appoint to “repair” the MMS; Bob Abbey from the dysfunctional and malevolent BLM. Is there anything wrong with this picture?
President Obama and the vacant stare of his appointee, Ken Salazar
Wildlife advocates have been outraged with the blank stare, hollow words and lack of accountability of Obama’s Ken Salazar; his incompetence and ties to special interests has been an embarrassment to the reputation of the United States and most importantly to President Obama.
Now enter the BP oil disaster and the lack of engagement has been magnified exponentially. Instead of taking the lead and acting in a pro-active, professional manner Ken Salazar has engaged in a self-serving witch hunt where he has attempted to cover-up his own mistakes and disguise his incompetence by pointing fingers at others. Quick to say that everything that went south occurred prior to his appointment he fails to convince the American public that he has the best interest of the U.S. environment and wildlife front and center on his agenda. In the public’s opinion he has done nothing but bow to special interest groups and has sold our land and seas to the highest bidder. Ken Salazar needs to be removed from his “non-elected” position, immediately. Albeit it too late to turn the clock back we should recognize the cancer and cut it out before any further damage is done.
The final straw has been his selection of the master wild horse abuser, Bob Abbey, to “fix” an agency that is destroying our marine national treasure. Abbey has ruined our western public lands, how on God’s green earth would anyone expect him to fix a corrupt agency when he couldn’t even run his former agency with any degree of care, concern and compassion.
President Obama, if you are listening, we have had enough and we can’t stand anymore! Clean up your house and do it quickly as your appointees and administration are in the process of destroying our public land and seas and the buck stops with you!
Absence of leadership and accountability has shot a bullet straight into the heart of the United States of America. With the outcome of these disasters still unknown, let us all vow to never forget the assault that these men have made upon our fair country and all that they have stolen from future generations.
It is our most sincere hope that there will be a country left when it is time to stand before the ballot box and vote these abusers out; if only we, our country and our wildlife can survive their tenure.
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Categories: Horse News, The Force of the Horse, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Sylvia Baca , formerly with BP has been appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of MMS. She was with DOI in 2001 and went to BP and now is back at DOI. Read the latest Press release about her from http://www.theCloudFoundation.org Wild horse haters Abbey and Baca working for Salazar is really bad news . They all must go.
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So true!! We have had ENOUGH !! This is NOT the “change” America wanted, & if our leader, Pres. Obama, can’t “walk the walk”, as well as he “talks the talk”, then WE must take control of our future as well as our children’s, & future generations. Telling them doesn’t seem to be good enough, we MUST ACT on our own behalf, if we have any hope of saving our wild mustangs, & our oceans & marine life!
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What do all these people have in common? Not one of them cares one iota about wildlife or preserving ecosystems that maintain the health of our lands, seas and planet. Bob Abbey? C’mon. He’s been rounding up horses all his life and now he’s going to become the savior of the sea? Doubtful. Sylvia Baca? What are her credentials except the prerequisite disdain for the common good? President Obama is getting some really bad inner circle advice. He keeps appointing people responsible for messes to clean them up!! Get rid of Rahm Emmanuel. He is blowing your presidency and you are allowing it! You still have a chance to be a great President, but you have to have the courage of your convictions and buck the status quo.
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disaster after disaster, and same-old same-old, it just goes on and on—–it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and this whole farce is a prime example of that
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Time for NEW and HONEST Leadership. LIES, LIES, LIES…I have written letter after letter, signed Petition after Petition and things are getting WORSE! They are de-listing our endangered species and killing them, they are eradicating our Wild Mustangs from their homelands and now they are terrorizing our Coastal Waters. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We need an environmentalist in the Dept of Interior NOW!
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Don’t forget the wolves, who were just barely making it to viability after we wiped them off the map. Then Salazar came to town and re-opened hunting season on them again. Why? They bug the ranchers. What doesn’t bug the ranchers?
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“……What doesn’t bug the ranchers?”
(1) cheap fuel prices
(2) High meat export prices
(3) livestock subsidies
(4) free water and grazing
(5) Ken Salazar and Bob Abbey
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Isn’t the Bobster the fella what said “We’re the Bureau of LAND Management. Not horses. Not wildlife. It’s the LAND.” (loosely quoted) And wasn’t he (the Bobster) retired before being asked back to wreak havoc on Wild Equines?
Check ‘Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)’ web site.
Bob Abbey was investigated for violations and other nastiness when it came time to clean up Yerington, NV’s Anaconda Copper MIne, by circumventing EPA guidelines, harrassing & firing those who tried to comply or report those violations.
And wasn’t Ms. Baca HBIC (Head B**** in Charge) at BP before being annointed to her current position? The same Ms. Baca who was Rude with ‘Tude to Ginger Kathrens at a Wild Equine Symposium, stating in her professional opinion (of a picture of healthy, wild Calico Equines) “They look like they don’t have anything to eat” (or something along those lines)? ‘Cause working for BP would require an in-depth knowledge of the scope of Wild Equine health.
My head is spinnin’, mi compadres. The same faces getting recycled to the same (or related) jobs. Is there no broader gene pool in Washington?
Herein lies a lesson in in-breeding: without diversity, undesirable characteristics keep getting passed around.
The faces may change a l’il bit, but it’s still the same power-and-politic intestinal blockage (you know, full of….). And the DOI is badly in need of an enema.
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I think we need to get Ms. Baca removed by highlighting her tenure with BP. There is no excuse for her appointment.
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The reports are now saying it will be AUGUST before the oil is contained, if SAlazar makes it til then, that will be travesty compunded on catastrophe, it really is past time to get rid of these people who just keep on reshuffling the deck of disaster, if some big changes aren’t forthcoming soon, with hurricane season about to start, there’s going to be even uglier happenings in this country. DOI and DC evidently think Americans are as stupid as the people they keep putting in these posts. that we aren’t keeping track and doing our homework, well they need to wake up and soon, because AMericans, especially those in the Gulf that are losing everything, want to see something happen NOW to ALL the people responsible for this.
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From what I’ve been seeing and reading, there have been a number of ordinary Americans, small business people, and even O&G folks from this country (and other countries) who have approached BP with ideas to contain the flow of oil and help with the clean-up. BP won’t even have some underling meet with them or favour them with the courtesy of a reply. Seems the “experts” have the situation so well-in-hand they don’t need any outside suggestions or interference. SOUND FAMILIAR???
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There ya’ go!!!!!! more of the same old BS, just swap incompetents from agency to agency and meanwhile, look at the cost!!!! When is this going to END??? BP isn’t even an AMerican CO is it????? so how does it get to dictate????? August is their best guess for shutdown, do you know what the Gulf will look like by August??? after Hurricane season this stuff will be in Europe!!!! Bet BP won’t be calling the shots then!
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There’s an organization in San Francisco that gathers human hair and constructs booms out of it. Human hair is superb for catching and absorbing oil slicks.
But they were told no thanks, we’re better at this than you and we gotta PLAN.
While booms made of human hair won’t do sh*t for the stuff pumping out of a hole in the ocean, they could very well have stemmed the slick enough where it wouldn’t be poisoning & killing wildlife for the next 20 years.
But we’re a high-tech society, and, boy, if you can’t spray chemicals on it or set it on fire or plug it with golf balls and garbage (that is the truth – my hand to God), it couldn’t possibly work, could it.
This is hubris on a biblical scale. And it’s going to be hurting those who live and work around the Gulf for a long time to come.
Someone needs a stranglin’. (For you enemy-of-the-state seekers, that was sarcasm, ‘k?)
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I guess BP has been taking ideas, but not responding because there are so many to “wade” through. I sure hope they don’t go for the increasingly popular “ATOMIC BOMB” option – YIKES!
Found this on the CNN website:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/05/06/oil.spill.pet.hair/index.html
It may be a good idea, but can you imagine adding wet pet hair to all the other smells? Personally, I’m voting for peat moss. At least it’s biodegradeable.
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Oil spill in the Gulf and Ken Salazar
Horses trapped in pens and Ken Salazar
Hmmmmm common denominator.
Get on the phone to Obama– request that he change the BLM and the DOI and anything else that can be changed before the Gulf is dead– before every wild horse ( and burro) is dead. What good are the laws and protection acts if Salazar doesn’t have to respect them? Tragedy/catastrophe —
I hope Malia knocks on daddy’s door and asks ” What did Ken Salazar do with all the wild horses?”
Let’s get rid of “cute” and save the horses and the Gulf.
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(off topic,) these 2 youngsters were saved off a feedlot last week, filly is not feeling well. they are posted on alexbrown website and are under good care now. off topic, does anyone remember seeing this filly and colt in any blm round-up or herd watch mustang pictures? if so please help on alix brown site thanks.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q34/locarumo/P1010136.jpg?t=1274479051
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hoping people who see/photograph a lot of mustangs take a look at these 2, or anyone who could please send the picture to others who would know. they have unique markings and I am not sure but look like they could be from some recent round-up. they act feral, yet hooves to good for some breeder dumped youngsters. they were at a slaughter feedlot. the b/w one may need to be euthed soon, shes in pain.
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Took a look at the photo, but couldn’t find the post on the AB website. As to the hoof trim, that may be precisely the cause of her pain. We lost one good horse and have spent months rehabbing several others that received “corrective trims” from a “highly educated” farrier. He used to be good, but is now in it for the $$$. Kicked him to the curb, and have found a wonderful guy who does natural balance. Haven’t had one sore horse in the six months he’s been coming out!
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They failed with that wild idea of stuffing golfballs and shredded tire pieces!! for gods sake now we will have golf balls and tire shreds killing marine animals and washing up on beaches forever.
watch the BP webcam and garbage is shooting off everywhere. what a mess they made !!
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Birnbaum was fired/resigned and has been with MMS for a very short time (I believe). Abbey has been in the corrupt and morally bankrupt BLM FOREVER!!!! (Different monkey, same tree?)
If there is any silver lining in the stupidity of Salazar appointing Abbey, the ongoing ineptitude of the Gulf disaster and the anger exhibited by many organizations and citizens re:environment/wildlife/DOI, it will be that someone in the press or Congress or White House? will latch on to the OVERALL DISEASE that is being incubated and spread by DOI.
And Rahm Emmanuel needs to go NOW! One of the worst gate keepers on record; he has squandered Obama’s good will feeling with his supporters and given the ‘Bama bashers more ammunition..
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And rumor has it in MY neck of the woods that Emmanuel is slated to be next Mayor of Chicago. We just recycle here in America, unfortunately for the people, wildlife and envirionment, we are recycling the wrong things!
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Yes. When Obama started to hit speed bumps some months ago (Dems loosing Kennedy’s seat, healthcare, Congressional gridlock, terror trial in NYC, Guantannamo, etc), the rumor mill started that Emmanuel was going to run for mayor. In all fairness, that Chief of Staff job has a high and fast burn out rate. But still, he is not serving his boss well.
Change, audacity of hope, transparency my ass!
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I truly believe the wild horses will be here long after the moral majority, soon to be the minority, and their descendents are gone. The up and coming new “majority” will be unable to maintain the American way of life and will descend into further levels of greed and deceit. We are already losing our world power status due to these American “values.” The immigration issue, which is tearing this country apart, will result in more, not less, government dependents in the end who are unable to sustain themselves. How much longer can America control foreign governments given our economy and internal problems which we cannot or will not resolve like the Gulf oil spill?
I watched a movie on TBS last week titled Mary, Brave Woman about our governments complicity in the crime and poverty of the Oglala people during the 70’s which helped me gain a different perspective. The battle cry for justice for the people of Pine Ridge was answered by AIM via armed confrontation and putting their lives on the line. Today, they would be wiped out by the ATF and FBI as the Branch Davidians were under the Clinton Administration. Don’t get me wrong – life is no better for the Oglala now than then. Their land is leased to local ranchers and miners; they have no control. Recently, the horses of their elders were confiscated and that battle will be fought in court. But they took a stand and are as resilient as our wild horses. Wild horses and the Oglala will prevail long after the Wasichu’s are gone, including President Obama, Chief Wasichu, Salaczar and the likes of Sylvia Baca and the bastards at the BLM.
If you do not like Rahm Emmanuel (sp?) then leave Chicago and begin anew in any other city. It is bound to be less corrupt! Chicagoans do not have the right to defend themselves and the criminal element is winning anyway. Recently, it has gotten so bad they were going to call in the National Guard! Get out while you can!
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It seems the more inept you are at your job the more promotions you get. There was a book years ago called the “Peter Principle” that stated exactly that–you do well or kiss the right butts and you get promoted and promoted until you find yourself in a position that you are completely unable to perform and then you start getting switched around from department to department ruining each one as you go. Sound familiar ladies and gents? While the majority of Americans are disgusted with this oil spill I think the vast majority are just glad the oil is not coating them and that the Feds who set up the prior events that allowed this inevitability, will somehow fix it. Not with SalaAbbey at the helm. What I see in the “leadership” here just mimics what we all are way too familiar with already. I’m not a violent person but every time I see Salaczar’s face I just want to smack it to see if the lights come on.
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In the “Peter Principal” what you described was called your “Level of Incompetence” after which you moved sideways. Both Salazar and Abbey hit their Levels of Incompetence long ago I think. So there they go, round and round and where they stop, nobody knows.
According to what I read, Abbey is still head of the BLM. This Poole guy is just temporary. I don’t see how that can work, but that’s nothing new after all.
I know what you mean about Salazar and the blank stare. What would it take, I wonder, to get some expression on his face?
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Will somebody please clue me in on current cowboy hat etiquette? My husband’s dad & grandad were never without their Stetson’s, but always took them off indoors.
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So what are you gonna do about it?I am from Europe where people get into the streets and stage huge marches and even riots-hence:politicians take them much more serious!American people are too complacent.I have called into our local talk radio to talk about Ken Salazar and was able to say a few sentences when they cut me off.But if more people would do that,it would eventually get out.Write letters to your local newspapers,hold rallies at your local news outlets or TV stations…so many possibilities!
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Just Friday night, one of the late night radio shows (used to be Art Bell) that talks of IFO and ET’s, did a whole 15 minute section on the Calico affair. They brought in the humane side and how terrible it was that the BLM was allowed to do such things. They quoted the number of deaths and abortions.
More media should ge gotten to feature this.
I am so discouraged, but I will keep on ‘doing’.
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That was George Knapp on CoasttocoastAM. He is the investigative journalist for klas tv in Las Vegas and a great wild horse advocate. You can see his interview of Suzzie Sunshne on Cindy MacDonald’s blog http://www.americanherds@blogspot.com/ along with lots of important info.
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Timber Industry in oregon saddened by the “loss” of Bob Abbey..what does that tell you?
http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Timber-industry-sorry-to-see-BLM-chief-go/qQFQ6j8920-bJGc-XtkCRg.cspx?rss=191
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