...in other news, Bill Richardson supports Cockfighting ban...

[wyldwolf]

... plenty of puns and comments on this forthcoming, I'm sure... or maybe not.

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jan/31/senate-majority-whip-takes-stand-against-cockfight/

[SaveElmer]

1. I've been to a cockfight...in Haiti...

It was horrific...far worse than I ever imagined...

Bloody and cruel...and in the United States it is always accompanied by illegal gambling and often drug abuse...

Should be a felony...as it is in many states!!!

[lies and propaganda]

2. its legal in my homestate of Louisiana as well..

I had no idea but I was visiting family in Oklahoma and met a whole group of traveling cockfighters ;) who went to Ruston every weekend for cockfights, fucking disgusting.

[DRoseDARs]

3. I'm wondering about the guy in the picture...

Is he choking his chicken or stroking his cock? :shrug:



Anyway, it's good that she's undaunted and keeps proposing this legislation on what is really a very unfunny matter, which can be even more vicious than illegal dog fights since often weapons are attached to the birds' feet.

[twilight_sailing]

4. There is still cockfighting in New Mexico

and I am with Bill on this, it's time for it to end.

We have television now. There is no shortage of grisly entertainment for any and all who desire such things. Hell, let them watch those "Saw" movies. ;)

[Virginia Dare]

5. That is a bold move..

alienating the cockfighting base...:wow:

[Spirochete]

9. Didn't it cost Steve Largent

the gubernatorial election in Oklahoma? He was way ahead in the polls, until he said he was going to outlaw cockfighting, then his numbers dropped like a stone.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. It's been controversial but it is now banned in all states but New Mexico and Louisiana

And yea Brad Henry supported cockfighting which helped him win the Governor's race. It's a despicable practice but as a credit to Henry's political wit, it did help him tap an otherwise Republican voting block.

[Spirochete]

10. Didn't that cost Steve Largent

the gubernatorial election in Oklahoma? He was way ahead in the polls, until he said he was going to outlaw cockfighting, then his numbers dropped like a stone.

[KenHodson]

6. make cocklove not cockfights! n/t

[dragonlady]

7. Sensenbrenner killed the cockfighting and dogfighting bill last session

In his infinite wisdom as chair of Judiciary, he decided it should be a state and local matter and the federal government shouldn't waste its time passing the bill. This when there were more than 300 cosponsors in the House and it could have passed in a voice vote in five minutes. It seems there really is an important federal aspect to it, since there is a fear that the fowl shipped interstate to fight could spread avian flu

[Hippo_Tron]

13. IMO, it should be decided by states but if it had 300 cosponors he should've allowed a vote

I'm not sure what the precedent for federal jurisdiction over animal rights is, but it seems like a decision that should be left up to the states.

[Tellurian]

8. Good Idea, Mr. Richardson..and if possible, dogs too-

We had been to a cockfight in the backwoods of Missouri. My determination not to sit close enough to really see anything was rewarded by meeting the little fella about 10 yrs old working for the establishment. His job was to keep pestering me to make a bet. I told him I wasn't interested. He returned again, this time with a cup of coffee in hand. Ma'am, would you like to place a bet? Again, I said, no thanks, but thanks for the coffee. Wondering if I would be able to endure the stay until the rest of my friends curiosity was satisfied, the little fella returned once more...And the same, Ma'am would you like to place a bet? Seeing my friends were milling around and looking like they had had enough. I reached in my pocket and showed the little fella a $10 bill. His eyes lit up like twin stars..his hands reaching up to take the money. I said, wait- I don't want to place a bet. He looked stunned. I said, no, this money is for you. Can you put it in your pocket? He said, he could. I asked him what he would do with the money once he had it? He said his mother's medication had run out, she had to buy food and couldn't pay for both....

This was my only experience with cockfighting. I guess, I was meant to be there for this little boy and his mother.

[Telly Savalas]

11. He'll face stiff opposition from Big Cock.

Lobbyists from the cockfighting industry are some of the hardest members of the K-Street organizations to deal with.

[frogcycle]

14. oh come now

[Boo Boo]

15. Sour grapes. /nt

[Tellurian]

16. Rather than getting in waist deep here..

Why is cockfighting such an issue with lobbyists?
My issue would be the cruelty to animals; they'res isn't.

Is this just about money? How much money is made watching chickens try to kill one another?

I googled, but didn't know what I was looking for.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cockfighting+lobbyists&btnG=Google+Search

[jcrew2001]

17. Its fun

I went to see a cockfight in a secluded neighborhood in Bali and it was cool. They stuck knives in the chicks feet.