Supreme Court Again Rejects Injunction in Asian Carp Case

[Coventina]

Source: New York Times

The Supreme Court denied today for the second time a request to temporarily close Chicago-area waterways as the justices decide whether to dive into the interstate lawsuit over invasive Asian carp.

The decision to reject Michigan's renewed injunction request was announced without comment this morning as part of the court's first set of orders since returning from recess. The justices considered the request at a private conference Friday.

Michigan's request, submitted last month after new test results detected Asian carp in Lake Michigan for the first time, was a last-ditch effort to force the closure of the locks after the Obama administration declined to take that action. In an Asian carp response framework released last month, the administration pledged to spend $78.5 million preventing the fish from entering the Great Lakes but did not commit to lock closures, which have been fiercely opposed by Illinois' shipping industry.

Supporters of the lock closures say the structures -- the O'Brien Lock and Dam and the Chicago Controlling Works -- would provide the most effective additional protection against the short-term spread of the ravenous fish, which could threaten the fishing and recreation industries in the Great Lakes if they manage to establish a permanent population.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/03/22/22greenwire-supreme-court-again-rejects-injunction-in-asia-55113.html

[LisaM]

1. This makes me furious

In the opinion of Michiganders, this is Obama taking a stance with his Chicago and Illinois business cronies against the health of the Great Lakes. Please call the White House on this issue today (I did - will you?)

The administration is WRONG on this.

[blue_onyx]

7. I completely agree

Obama is wrong. He's the President of the US, not President of Chicago. Protecting one of the country's most important natural resources is very important. He may regret this decision in 2012.

[Chulanowa]

10. Then Michiganders are fucking stupid

Do you see Barack H. Obama in there anywhere? 'Cause I sure as shit don't. I'll bet most Michiganders don't, either. Maybe it's just you and a few wishful thinkers wanting to blame the wildest shit on Obama?

[blue_onyx]

11. I don't think it's Michiganders who are stupid

"Michigan's request, submitted last month after new test results detected Asian carp in Lake Michigan for the first time, was a last-ditch effort to force the closure of the locks after the Obama administration declined to take that action."

Maybe you should read and understand the issue before you go making yourself look foolish again.

[Chulanowa]

14. Obama does not control the Supreme Court

This seems to be the thing you're missing.

You know, for a bunch of people who keep insisting he's "weak" and "ineffective" and "incapable of showing leadership" you still manage to insist that he's the kingpin of every single thing you personally dislike, a shadowy mastermind manipulator and deal-maker, controlling every organization across the nation and each state.

In other words, you're being paranoid and ridiculous.

[blue_onyx]

16. Do you know how to read?

It was Obama's decision that lead to the court case. Obama decided to not close the locks so MI went to court to force the closure.

I never said Obama was weak or ineffective. He is, however, WRONG on this issue.

Clearly your blind loyalty to Obama is making you incapable to understand his role in keeping the locks open.

[Chulanowa]

18. What isn't he wrong on?

You want to talk about reading? Go take a look at the constitution, where it talks about hte branches of government.

The Supreme Court is separate from the Executive branch. The court decided to not hear the case. Obama did not make them dance like puppets to come to this decision to favor his evil black self and his evil rich buddies.

[blue_onyx]

19. HE WOULDN'T CLOSE THE CHICAGO LOCKS!!!

That's what he's wrong about. That's what lead to the lawsuit. I included the quote in a previous comment that said that the lawsuit occurred because "the Obama administration declined to take that action" to close the locks.

Apparently you ignored that part of the article. There's more to a news article than the headline.

[derby378]

2. Serious question: are Asian carp good eatin'?

If so, I wonder if a tax incentive for local fishermen would work. Find a bait that the Asian carp likes, buy a ton of it, head up to the Great Lakes at fish, fish, fish to your heart's content with the blessings of Uncle Sam - and a bonus for next year's 1040.

[AngryAmish]

4. There is a bait they like, but you have to have really small hooks

Plankton. They are filter feeders.

On edit: Some people eat them, but filter feeders fom fresh water are pretty yucky/mealy for most folks.

[derby378]

5. If there's an efficient method for fishing them, however...

...with the right seasoning and cooking technique, I'd be willing to give them a shot.

I'm just trying to think of a market-based approach that motivates people, temporarily boosts our food supply, and causes no further detriment to the environment.

[TheMadMonk]

9. My experience is throw a hook in the water. But really are a muddy fish.

Need to be purged in a bathtub full of clean water for a few days and work better in chowders/stews than as fillets or steaks.

But really best thing you can do with a carp is to smack it with a hammer and turn into fertiliser.

[Heywood J]

15. The same can be said about some people's children,

but we don't do that either (much as we might like). Some of us do keep them in ponds.

That being said, since Illinois created the canal, Illinois needs to take responsibility for any damages it causes to the surrounding area. They don't get to freeload at the expense of their neighbors - socializing the risks while enjoying the profits.

[zogofzorkon]

17. You keep your children in ponds?

Don't they get wrinkled?

[harmonicon]

3. and capitalism beats out ecology again!! ugh... (nt)

[tritsofme]

6. 7 million tons of goods flow through these locks annually.

Sorry Michigan, Chicago isn't going to be taking this one in the teeth.

[LisaM]

8. It's not just Michigan. Wisconsin and Minnesota are complaining too

Chicago has no right to turn their back while this invasive species destroys the Great Lakes ecosystem.

It was bad enough when Bill Richardson wanted to truck Great Lakes water down to New Mexico (remember that?) Now this.

[Demeter]

12. Chicago perverted nature in the first place

The canal is man-made where no water ever flowed. The Govt. forces people to take down dams to protect the rivers, and this is the same dam thing, only much larger.

[tritsofme]

13. I've always thought of it as an example of man's ingenuity

Closing the locks isn't going to stop the carp, it is just going to cost Chicago thousands of jobs.