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Bush pushes ahead with North American Government

Plan will bypass and ignore existence of Congress, Constitution

If you're looking to understand what's behind the chatter about Bush's Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) as a possible prelude to a North American Union (NAU), similar to the European Union (EU),  read the 35-page White Paper published recently by the prestigious Hudson Institute called "Negotiating North America: The Security and Prosperity Partnership." This Washington, DC think tank is blunt and detailed in describing where SPP is heading.

Here's how Hudson defines SPP's goal: "The SPP process is the vehicle for the discussion of future arrangements for economic integration to create a single market for goods and services in North America." The key words are "economic integration" (a phrase used again and again) into a North American "single market" (another phrase used repeatedly).

"Integration" with Mexico and Canada is exactly what North American Union means, but there's a big problem with this goal. "We the people" of the United States were never asked if we want to be "integrated" with Mexico and Canada, two countries of enormously different laws, culture, concept of government's role, economic system, and standard of living.

Here's how Hudson explains SPP's process: "The most important feature of the SPP design is that it is neither intended to produce a treaty nor an executive agreement like the NAFTA that would require congressional ratification or the passage of implementing legislation in the United States. The SPP was designed to function within existing administrative authority of the executive branch."

Hudson explains further: "The design of the SPP is innovative, eschewing the more traditional diplomatic and trade negotiation models in favor of talks among civil service professionals and subject matter experts with each government. This design places the negotiation fully within the authority of the executive branch in the United States."

Indeed, SPP is very "innovative." The arrogance of SPP's "design" to give the executive branch full "authority" to "enforce and execute" whatever is decided by a three-nation agreement of "civil service professionals," as though it were "law," is exceeded only by its unconstitutionality.

The Hudson White Paper admits the problem that SPP completely lacks "transparency and accountability." Hudson freely admits "the exclusion of Congress from the process"; constituents who contact their Congressmen discover that Members know practically nothing about SPP.

Hudson states that, under SPP, one of the U.S. challenges is "managing Congress." Is Congress now to be "managed," either by executive-branch "authority" or by "dozens of

regulators, rule makers, and officials working with their counterparts" from Mexico and Canada?

The Hudson White Paper reminds us that the 2005 Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) document called "Building a North American Community" bragged that its recommendations are "explicitly linked" to SPP. The CFR document called for establishing a "common perimeter" around North America by 2010. Hudson praises the CFR document for "raising public expectations" about what SPP can accomplish. Hudson explains that, while immigration is not an explicit SPP agenda item, "mobility across the border is central to the idea of an integrated North American economic space."

"Harmonization" with other countries is another frequently used word. One of SPP's Signature Initiatives is "Liberalizing Rules of Origin."

The Hudson Paper reveals SPP's cozy collaboration with "some interest groups and not others." Translated, that means collaboration with multinational corporations, but not with small business or citizen groups. After the heads of state of the United States, Mexico and Canada met in Waco in March 2005 and announced the creation of SPP by press release, the North American Competitiveness Council emerged as "a private sector forum for business input" to SPP working groups. But, according to Hudson, it wasn't merely "private" because it was "given official sanction."

After the three amigos met in Cancun in 2006, Bush provided taxpayer funding for a think tank called the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to meet secretly and produce a report called "The Future of North America." That document's favorite catchword is "North American labor mobility," which is a euphemism for admitting unlimited cheap labor from Mexico.

The Hudson White Paper states that "SPP combines an agenda with a political commitment." That's exactly why those who want to protect American sovereignty don't like SPP.

Among the people who take SPP seriously is Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) who introduced House Congressional Resolution 40 opposing a North American Union and a NAFTA Superhighway, similar resolutions introduced into the state legislatures of 14 states, and Rep. Duncan Hunter's (R-CA) amendment to prohibit the use of federal funds for SPP working groups, which passed the House by the remarkable bipartisan vote of 362 to 63 on July 24, 2007.

The Hudson White Paper suggests that it might be "necessary" for SPP to change its name and acronym. It is unlikely that a change of name will silence the American people who are outraged by the SPP's goals and process.

Great Lakes Water Levels for Oct 12, 2007

Weather Conditions

Record warmth early this week was quickly ushered out of the Great Lakes basin by a series of strong cold fronts.  Temperatures fell from near 90 on Monday to the 40s and 50s by Wednesday, with many locations picking up significant rainfall. To date in October the Lake Superior basin has received precipitation each day and only the Lake Erie basin has a rainfall deficit. Seasonable temperatures are on tap for the weekend, with another storm system poised to bring more wet weather to the region early next week.

Lake Level Conditions

Lake Superior has received persistent precipitation since the beginning of this month, causing it to rise substantially.  Lake Superior is now 2 inches higher than it was at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are 3 to 4 inches lower than last year�s levels, while Lake Ontario is 10 inches below its level of one year ago.  Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are expected to drop 1 and 2 inches, respectively, over the next month.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are projected to decline 3 to 5 inches during the same period.  Lake Superior is predicted to remain at about the same level as last year over the next few months, but the lower lakes are forecasted to remain below their water levels of a year ago.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions

Outflow from the St. Marys River is predicted to be well below average for October. Flows through the St. Clair and Detroit

Rivers are also predicted to be lower than average this month. In addition, flows in the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers are expected to be near average.

Alerts

Due to abnormally dry conditions on the Lake Superior basin up until this month, Lake Superior�s water level is still below chart datum and is expected to remain at or below datum over the next six months.  Lake Michigan-Huron is also below chart datum, and is also projected to remain below datum over the next six months.  Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings. 

Steelhead Hatcheries Cause �Stunning� Loss of Reproductive Ability

CORVALLIS, Ore. � The rearing of steelhead trout in hatcheries causes a dramatic and unexpectedly fast drop in their ability to reproduce in the wild, a new Oregon State University study shows, and raises serious questions about the wisdom of historic hatchery practices.

The research demonstrates for the first time that the reproductive success of steelhead trout, an important salmonid species, can drop by close to 40 % per captive-reared generation. The study reflects data from experiments in Oregon�s Hood River.

�For fish to so quickly lose their ability to reproduce is stunning, it�s just remarkable,� said Michael Blouin, an OSU associate professor of zoology. �We were not surprised at the type of effect but at the speed. We thought it would be more gradual. If it weren�t our own data I would have difficulty believing the results.�

Fish reared in a hatchery for two generations had around half the reproductive fitness of fish reared for a single generation. The effects appear to be genetic, scientists said, and probably result from evolutionary pressures that quickly select for characteristics that are favored in the safe, placid world of the hatchery, but not in the comparatively hostile natural environment.

�Among other things, this study proves with no doubt that wild fish and hatchery fish are not the same, despite their appearances,� said Michael Blouin, an OSU associate professor of zoology. �Some have suggested that hatchery and wild fish are equivalent, but these data really put the final nail in the coffin of that argument.� Even a few generations of domestication may have significant negative effects, and repeated use of captive-reared parents to supplement wild populations �should be carefully reconsidered,� the scientists said in their report.

Traditionally, salmon and steelhead hatcheries obtained their brood stock and eggs from fish that were repeatedly bred in hatcheries � they tended to be more docile, adapted well to surface feeding, and they thrived and survived at an 85-95 percent level in the safe hatchery environment.

More recently, some �supplementation� hatchery operations have moved to the use of wild fish for their brood stock, on the theory that their offspring would retain more ability to survive and reproduce in the wild, and perhaps help rebuild threatened populations.

�What happens to wild populations when they interbreed with hatchery fish still remains an open question,� Blouin said. �But there is good reason to be worried.�

Earlier work by researchers from OSU and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife had suggested that first-generation hatchery fish from wild brood stock probably were not a concern, and indeed could provide a short-term boost to a wild population. But the newest findings call even that conclusion into question, he said.

�The problem is in the second and subsequent generations,� Blouin said. �There is now no question that using fish of hatchery ancestry to produce more hatchery fish quickly results in stocks that perform poorly in nature.�

Evolution can rapidly select for fish of certain types, experts say, because of the huge numbers of eggs and smolts produced and the relatively few fish that survive to adulthood. About 10,000 eggs can eventually turn into fewer than 100 adults, Blouin said, and these are genetically selected for whatever characteristics favored their survival. Offspring that inherit traits favored in hatchery fish can be at a serious disadvantage in the wild where they face risks such as an uncertain food supply and many predators.

Because of the intense pressures of natural selection, Blouin said, salmon and steelhead populations would probably quickly revert to their natural state once hatchery fish were removed.

However, just removing hatchery fish may not ensure the survival of wild populations. Studies such as this consider only the genetic background of fish and the effects of hatchery selection on those genetics, and not other issues that may also affect salmon or steelhead fisheries, such as pollution, stream degradation or climate change.

Blouin cautioned that these data should not be used as an indictment of all hatchery programs.  �Hatcheries can have a place in fisheries management,� he said. �The key issue is how to minimize their impacts on wild populations.�

This research was conducted through use of 15 years of DNA tracking technology of fish breeding in Hood River, a mountain stream that flows northward off Mount Hood into the Columbia River. DNA analysis with scales was done with about 15,000 fish since 1991. This research has been supported by the Bonneville Power Administration and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Avoid the six most common Winterizing mistakes

Free BoatU.S. Winterizing Guide Available

With winter approaching BoatU.S. Marine Insurance has reviewed its claim files and reports the following six most common mistakes made when winterizing a boat:

1. Failure to winterize the engine: Freezing temperatures occur in all 50 states and while they are taken seriously up north, it�s the balmy states of California, Florida, Texas, Alabama and Georgia where boaters are most likely to have freeze-related damage to engine blocks. It routinely occurs to boats stored ashore here. Boats left in a slip are less susceptible to sudden freezing as the surrounding water retains heat longer than air.

2. Failure to drain water from sea strainer: If your winterizing plan calls for draining the engine, the seawater strainer must be winterized or residual water could freeze and rupture the watertight seal. Sometimes you won�t know it�s damaged until spring launching and water begins to trickle in.

3. Failure to close seacocks: For boats left in the water, leaving seacocks open over the winter is like going on extended vacation without locking the house. If a thru-hull cannot be closed the vessel must be stored ashore � the sole

exception are cockpit drains. Heavy snow loads can also force your boat under, allowing water to enter thru-hulls normally well above the water line.

4. Clogged petcocks: Engine cooling system petcocks clogged by rust or other debris can prevent water from fully draining. If one is plugged, try using a coat hanger to clear the blockage or use the engine�s intake hose to flush anti-freeze through the system.

5. Leaving open boats in the water over winter: Boats with large open cockpits or low freeboard can easily be pushed underwater by the weight of accumulated ice and snow. Always store them ashore.

6. Using bimini covers as winter storage covers: A cover that protects the crew from the sun does a lousy job protecting the boat from freezing rain and snow. Unlike a bonafide winter cover, biminis tend to rip apart and age prematurely by the effects of winter weather.

To get a free copy of the Winterizing Guide go to: http://www.BoatUS.com/Seaworthy  and click on �Winterizing Your Boat,� or call 800-283-2883.

Clean air settlement to cost AEP over $4.6 billion

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It will cost giant utility American Electric Power more than $4.6 billion to comply with a settlement with the U.S. government to reduce harmful air pollution from 16 coal-burning power plants, the Environmental Protection Agency said last week.  In what the EPA called the single biggest environmental enforcement  settlement in U.S. history, Ohio-based AEP agreed to end an8-

year lawsuit brought by the federal government for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.

AEP also agreed to pay $15 million in civil penalties and $60 million in pollution cleanup costs to end the "new source review" case brought by the feds in 1999.

Bass Pro Shops opens in Pearland, Texas Oct 18

Bass Pro Shops will celebrate its 46th store�s Grand Opening

October 18 at Pearland, TX.  The new store is located at the crossroads of two major freeways�Beltway 8 and 288.

State sites opening for youth waterfowl hunting seasons

Youth hunt weekends precede start of regular waterfowl seasons in each zone

SPRINGFIELD, IL - A number of Illinois state parks, fish and wildlife areas, conservation areas and recreation areas will be open to youth waterfowl hunting during the 2007 North, Central and South Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunts, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today.

At most sites, regulations that apply during the regular waterfowl hunting season apply during the Youth Hunt (hunters should check for site-specific regulations, including changes in legal shooting hours).  During the Youth Hunt, the bag limits are the same as during regular seasons.

The youth hunt is also open on all private land or waters where a hunter has permission from the landowner or tenant to hunt.

As part of the Youth Hunt, hunters age 15 or younger may hunt

ducks, geese, coots and mergansers as long as they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. The accompanying adult cannot hunt these species, but may participate in other open seasons.

Youth hunters must have a hunting license. The youth hunter or his or her accompanying adult must have a valid FOID card. The supervising adult does not need to have a hunting license if they are not hunting other species. Youth hunters age 15 or younger are not required to have a state or federal duck stamp.

All waterfowl hunters, including those participating in the Youth Hunt, are required to register with the Harvest Information Program. In order to register with HIP, hunters will need to have their hunting license number available. Hunters should register for HIP at the license vendor when they buy their hunting license or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648) or online through the IDNR website at http://dnr.state.il.us .

DEC Closes Fishing on the West Canada Creek due to Drought Conditions

Because of dry conditions and low water levels in Hinckley Reservoir, flows into West Canada Creek have been reduced to record low levels. As a result, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be issuing emergency regulations closing this renown trout stream to all fishing from its mouth (the Mohawk River) upstream to the dam at Trenton Falls.

The regulations affect a 28-mile section of the Creek, take effect immediately, and run through Nov. 30, the end of the regular season. However, catch-and-release fishing will be allowed beginning Dec. 1 on a stretch of the creek beginning at Trenton Falls Dam and running downstream for 2.5 miles to the Cincinnati Creek.

The low flows impact West Canada Creek's important trout

fishery in many ways. Chiefly, low water in the riffles impede fish passage and, as a result, trout and other fish are forced to concentrate in deeper pools. This makes them vulnerable to stress related to too-warm water temperatures, reduced food supplies and, potentially, low oxygen levels. The trout population would also be subjected to increased levels of angler catch rates and harvest.

It is hoped fall rains will relieve the low water conditions in Hinckley Reservoir and allow discharges into West Canada to be returned to normal, higher levels. The emergency regulations are designed to protect the trout fishery through the current stressful conditions, which will ensure a return to quality angling next spring and summer. DEC fisheries and law enforcement staff will be on the river beginning this weekend to advise anglers of the emergency regulations and suggest alternate fishing locations.

Fall firearms deer season making a difference

HARRISBURG - The Commonwealth's October firearms antlerless deer seasons - early muzzleloader season, Oct. 13-20, and special firearms for junior and senior hunters, Oct. 18-20 - are just around the corner and many hunters are spending more time afield to prepare for them, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

"It's been seven years since Pennsylvania held its first October antlerless deer muzzleloader season; six for the special firearms antlerless season," said Calvin DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. "Both have been warmly received by tens of thousands of deer hunters, because they have created additional hunting opportunities and a chance for more hunters to get some venison in the freezer before Thanksgiving.

"There is no doubt these seasons provide Pennsylvanians more ways to fit deer hunting into their busy schedules, and offer a more relaxing hunt to people who dislike cold weather and woods filled with large numbers of hunters."  But the October firearms seasons are so much more than another time and another way to hunt deer, emphasized DuBrock.

"These October firearms seasons are part of our deer management strategy to stabilize whitetail numbers in most areas of the Commonwealth, and in the process, improve forested wildlife habitat and deer health, and reduce crop damage and other deer-human conflicts," DuBrock said.   "Although the October antlerless seasons increase hunting

opportunities, their harvests still are controlled by antlerless deer license allocations, which are set to remove a pre-determined number of antlerless deer from a Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).

"These October seasons contribute to a balance Pennsylvania has long-strived for, but only recently realized through deer program changes. Today, Pennsylvania is better for it. And tomorrow, it will be better yet."

Hunters heading afield for the October firearms seasons should find fair to good numbers of deer in most areas, but others will support substantially less or more, depending upon how close you are to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, or if you hunt exclusively on crowded State Game Lands or other lands open to public hunting. Agency field officers are offering their observations - even some where-to-go information - in the Game Commission's "Field Officer Game Forecasts," found on the agency's homepage at www.pgc.state.pa.us . Visit for a closer-to-home overview of what is going on afield.

Last year, hunters took 12,300 deer in the early muzzleloader season and 8,500 in the special firearms season, based on the agency's Game-Take Survey. Those figures compare with 12,200 in the 2005 October muzzleloader season and 6,400 in the special firearms season. The combined total of both October firearms seasons comprised less than 10 percent of the 2006 antlerless deer harvest, which was 226,270.

Spotted muskies to be stocked in Green Bay, Winnebago system

GREEN BAY � Wisconsin�s effort to reintroduce Great Lakes strain muskellunge to Green Bay and the Winnebago system already has anglers catching bragging-size muskies, and those popular fisheries will get a boost this week as nearly 900 large yearling fish are to be stocked at about a dozen sites.

The musky, also known as �spotted� musky, will be stocked in the Fox, Menominee, and Peshtigo rivers, in Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, and Sand Bay. Little Sturgeon Bay, Suamico,

Little Lake Butte des Mortes, and Pensaukee, Poygan, and Butte Des Morts lakes, according to Mike Donofrio, Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisor at Peshtigo.

The fish are 20 to 24 inches long, having grown bigger at the old Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery while awaiting the green light for stocking. They were originally planned for stocking at a smaller size in spring 2007, but were kept at the hatchery longer to assure they were free of a new deadly fish disease, viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS.