The same whiners who blamed declining salmon stocks on environmental issues and habitat degradation are now saying that the overewhelming rebound of salmon to our coastal areas and rivers is a fluke....a lucky break thanks to the environment. Most of the rhetoric is coming from the Bush haters because GW and other Republicans are visiting here and mentioning the tremendous amount of money that has been and will be poured into the salmon-saving cause here in the Northwest. When some of us argued that the ocean conditions contribute to salmon survival these folks whined that it was the evil doers ruining our habitat that caused most of the salmon population's decline. Now the same people acknowledge the effect of favorable ocean conditions and go so far as to pin the entire rebound we are seeing on that and dismiss the efforts by so many in so many diverse areas...I am not saying that I agree with any politician taking credit for saving salmon...If Gary Locke were running for re election I'm sure the salmon recovery would be his doing. I actually think the sports fishermen have alot to do with the direction things have gone in recent years.

So if any of you Bush haters out there ( the ones holding banners over I-5 that say "Bush Lied") are fishermen I hope you can see the change for the better in our fisheries here in Washington...Lots of efforts left to come and it will be a long road to recovery but if this season is any indication I think we have reasons to be optimistic. I think the trip out West by the president and others this week may help to maintain and even increase funding for salmon recovery. Maybe I'll stand next to the idiots on the overpasses and hold a banner saying"Bush Helped"....Oh Geez I can almost hear the cockroaches scurrying out from under the rug.....