Aunty-- Three points: my response was an answer to your question about what a REPUBLICAN (your caps) governor was doing to further recreational uses. Here was one example, and a big one in the eyes of California fishermen.

Point two: The "protection" of the California's coast was something instituted by Bill Clinton, and I'm guessing it was part of the political legacy he left as a bombshell for Bush, along with his last-minute declaration of roadless areas and other such things that he couldn't get away with until he was a lame duck in the last days of his presidency. If someone wants to blame a Democrat for this, there's Bill.

Point three: I don't know much about the RFA, but in the instance of the California bottom-trawl bill pushed by the UAC (I think) and UASC, both anglers' groups, we see how effective a united voice can be. There are some things coming up that will need the support of every sports fisherman and woman in the state, but if the RFA is a partisan "the Democrats are the only answer to environmental issues" group, then it ain't gonna happen. Look at how divisive political issues are on this board-- if some of the (fill in the blank) here were to get up and start the political spiel, you'd end up doing nothing but arguing about who was right.

My $.02,

Keith