@Turnip: As for Cheney’s role in the Klamath fish kill (the biggest ever witnessed in the West), it’s pretty extensively documented in the Washington Post’s Leave No Tracks articles, and I don’t think anyone’s disputed the information contained therein. His assaults on Clean Air/Water acts are also pretty well documented. This feels like a dead end from a debating standpoint; I believe the only real question is whether the AMFF should suffer a loss of support for inviting Cheney or not, which amounts to a personal choice.

Jean-Paul Lipton:
They could give a damn about the common man.If us brownliners had the deep pockets and silver spoons, you could damn sure bet the shoe would be on the other foot, and the AMFF and the industry would be following us around like a little puppy.But we’re not in it for the glory; we’re here to fish.

Exactly~

Lipton: 1
Turnip: 0

1st off I prefer to discuss without name calling, simply comparing someone or something to Hitler is neither appropriate nor mature and frankly a bit creepy. When one does not have much of an argument or point to make, they resort to name calling, nuf said……

Cheney, the last time I checked, was the VP in the Bush administration, who was the staunchest anti environmental regulation VP EVER. Nixon had more concern for the environment, and that is saying a lot.

Never rely on Fish and Game for 100 % non biased reporting, Department of Fish and Game falls under the Interior Secretary which was headed by none other than Gale Norton who now lobbies for Big Oil. She was on site and helped open the flood gates which drastically lowered water levels in a drought season and thus elevated water temperatures and killed the Salmon, end of story.

Just because Cheney fishes does not make him the appropriate speaker, especially @ a time when our sport is @ risk more than ever from water issues, deforestation, farming, ranching, global warming to name just a few.

Turnip Truck DriverI applaud your poster’s protests while laughing at their threats.

Why the hell should I support a museum that is based on an industry that largely ignores my style of fishing? I think this is a big step back for the industry, and like others mentioned before me, only supports the notion that corporate fly fishing does indeed still suck, and only supports the elite and privileged. They could give a damn about the common man.

If us brownliners had the deep pockets and silver spoons, you could damn sure bet the shoe would be on the other foot, and the AMFF and the industry would be following us around like a little puppy. But we’re not in it for the glory; we’re here to fish.

Until then, I’ll save my hard earned bucks for organizations that give a shit about our environment and don’t sway in the political winds. There’s plenty of them out there that really need our help. The Federation of Fly Fishers has done way more for our sport than the AMFF has and ever will, and that’s why they get my dollars.

The Hitler and book burning references were inserted to tease the commentators who whined their intentions to withhold visits and funds to the museum. If I were to say, I’ll never fish the McCloud because of Nancy Pelosi,” you would mock me also.
To me, she is the Eva Braun of Congress and tuna fisheries. By the way, I was not alone in referencing Adolf, see Mr. Lipton’s reply.

Last Spring I had the good fortune to visit with Jack Dennis, acclaimed fly fishing personality and a Wyoming resident, as Cheney. He has known Cheney for many years. The subject of fly fishing and conservation came up re: Cheney and Dennis could not have been more complimentary.

I applaud your poster’s protests while laughing at their threats.

Jean-Paul Lipton: I will not be patronizing the musuem when I’m in Manchester this summer.You can just as well leave that page of history off the book, unless you document the real,/i> truths.

JP,
shoot me an email, no way you’re coming all the way out here awithout sampling some of the finer carp waters the area has to offer- 40rivers@gmail.com

After all, I got to see the Klamath Salmon Kill unfold at close range, and Cheney’s role in that is undeniable.

He shouldn’t be honored by the AMFF (with the implied endorsement it represents) any more than Joe Camel should be honored at an American Lung Association fundraiser.

I stand on middle ground with no political affiliation (they’re all agenda-touting crooks in my book) and even I can see through this sham. I really can’t see what benefit Cheney has offered to the AMFF other than the negative press garnered on his selection as keynote speaker and likely a few $$ being tossed their way through croneyism. He has done nothing for the environment that wasn’t self-serving or benefiting his cronies or financial interests. I also can’t find his merits and contribution to the fly angling world other than the fact that he calls himself a “fly fisherman”.

My take on Cheney’s role of speaking at the AMFF: It’s like having Hitler address the crowd at a US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Yeah, he had a role in influencing policy affecting angling over the past 8 years, but is was not a favorable one. Or is this just really a big setup so that the AMFF and its membership can throw Cheney under the bus and tar and feather him out of town? My guess is no.

If this is the direction the AMFF wants to head with their fundraising, I will not be patronizing the musuem when I’m in Manchester this summer. You can just as well leave that page of history off the book, unless you document the real,/i> truths.

The museum is clearly trying to have it both ways – on the one hand, they’re saying that they “don’t get involved in politics,” as an excuse and an absolution for extending this invitation. And yet, on the other hand, the very reason, THE ONLY REASON, that they are choosing to honor Cheney is because of his political background – not because of anything truly constructive that he has done for our sport or the environment we need to protect in order to continue to pursue it.