Kjackson,

I’m sorry if it appears as conjecture or omniscience. It’s neither. I spend some time occasionally with certain of the administration’s appointments to NOAA Fisheries. Bob Lohn has said point blank on more than one occasion that he would like to see delistings. Other NOAA Fisheries staff have told me they have heard Bush appointees indicate their preference to delist salmon and steelhead - sorry to be reporting hearsay, but it’s what they say. If they said different, I’d report different. I’ve directly observed Bob and others behave in ways that require one to infer meaning indirectly, rather than directly, that results in decreased protection of listed salmon. It might satisfy Grandpa to know that I’ve never heard any of them say point blank that Bush appointed them to their positions and sent them to the Northwest to delist salmon even if some of their actions are consistent with such a conclusion. But do you think that is what they’d say? I don’t. It would be bad politics, with an issue so regionally divisive and contentious as ESA listings of salmon. Unfortunately, Grandpa has his foil hat on so tight he thinks my views are colored by partisan politics. I still contend that my views are formed by evidence, both direct and indirect.

Ergo, my sources include my direct observations and NOAA staff hearsay reported to me of what they saw or heard.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.