By Florida Bill
One of the great frauds being perpetrated on the public is the rapid fire polls which allegedly reveal the core feelings and preferences of a nation. I was reminded of this idiocy with the latest "survey" laid upon gullible citizens, designed to put down the new Republican President.
It was a "scoop" announced by CNN that a new survey has determined that more Americans trust CNN than they trust President Trump. That one was the product of Survey/Monkey which seems to specialize in the business of "tell us what you want" and we'll provide it.
Where was it taken and how many were polled and what were the questions. Why not take the survey in West Virginia or the Chicago suburbs. Those polls will show Trump to be extremely popular and climbing. Instead, the polls are being taken in Harlem and in San Francisco. Get the point.
These pollsters claim to have put their "stethoscopes" on the heart of the nation. Pollsters are like wild and hungry chickens after the scattered corn. They can find answers to any situation confronting the planet. So, if you want to know who is up and who is down and who is liked and who is a complete schmuck, ask the well-paid guys with the crystal balls, but let them no hows you are leaning. .
They say that they can tell just what is beating in the heart of a nation with 330 million persons. Give your questions to the professionals and they will have the answers (that you want) post haste. The wackier the need-to-know question, the better. And with today's anti-Trump frenzy, when you can sock it to the Republicans, its go-time for disingenuous members of the print and electronic media.
The Washington Post, which is not a fan of the President or of anything remotely connected with the word Republican, recently reported findings from a survey that "Trump's standing has been weakened since springtime." Another pollster screamed that the USA is "tumbling in the world's regard under Trump." Another reported that if a head-on-head with Clinton were held today, Trump would lose by seven points.
No so long ago, we were told that it has been determined that Hillary Clinton, a loser in the race for president, often labeled as "Crooked Hillary," was the most admired woman in the USA. And then, who is the most popular politician? Of course, it's Denmark-loving socialist Bernie Sanders, the "independent" senator from Vermont. Believe all that? Some do. But it has an odor.
I don't know how much these political surveys cost, but you can bet there will be no tag days for the polling companies. But I don't believe these merchants are going to make you waste your money. If you requested a survey concerning the actions of your opponent, you will not be disappointed. The deeper the wound inflicted, the greater the appreciation by the client.
How are shotgun surveys carried out--with its three per cent "plus or minus" accuracy factor. In principle, we are told that a public opinion poll taps into the heads of a "scientifically constituted" group of maybe 400 to 1,000 persons, and that this carefully selected sample must look and act like the larger population they come from in every important way.
Essentially, questions are drafted and asked over the telephone. We never hear much about the precise questions, or to whom they are put, etc. TV pundits are fed the conclusions which just happen to kick dirt on a Republican, and the media goes bonkers with excitement.
Reaching into political preferences is a manipulated activity in which telephone inquisitors go to areas where the answers are predictable. In the past election, the pronouncement by virtually every poll was that Clinton would decimate Trump. How accurate were those? Any "fake news" in these shotgun polls?
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By Florida Bill
The United States is truly an exceptional nation. But in its 200 plus years of existence--and I would bet that a lot of people do not know this--no one ever succeeded in making "English" the official language of the country.
Routinely, proposals for "Official English" are introduced in Congress. There is often a good deal of talk and predictions that it will become law, but ultimately the bill dies until its resurrection in a future session. It seems like it ought to be a slam-dunk, but it isn't.
In recent days and months, we have heard President Donald Trump point to the importance of speaking English. In one debate, he criticized a former governor for electing to speak in Spanish rather than in English.
"We will stop apologizing for America, and we will start celebrating America," Trump has asserted. "We will be united by our common culture, values and principles, becoming one American nation, and one country, under one constitution, saluting one American flag,"
Currently a bill seeking designation of English as the official language has been introduced by Iowa Congressman Steve King. A long-time proponent of English as the official language of the USA, King has importuned the new president to get behind the legislation. The bill is called the English Language Unity Act.
Europe, it might be noted, has some 50 nations and each has its own official language, and I suspect that residents have pride in their homeland, as America does. Many Europeans actually speak more than one language which often includes English, but in their home territory there is an official tongue. In Spain it is Spanish; in France it is French; in Germany, it is German, and in Italy, it is Italian. The United Kingdom has declared English as its official language as have some surprising spots like Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Official English in many, many places---but not in the United States.
There are roughly thousands of spoken languages in the world today. The most popular tongue is Mandarin Chinese with 1.2 billion persons speaking that language. If you go to China and insist on speaking a language other than Chinese, and then try to demand government services in your foreign tongue, you won't get too far. What you will get is the China boot.
America is the world's most generous and exceptional nation, where everything is laid out in the Constitution and Bill of Rights--but no language is official. Thirty-two of the 50 sovereign states have enacted a law declaring English as its official and primary language inside its state lines, and five states currently have legislation pending toward that end.
So why isn't English the official language of the USA? American English is the language used for legislation, regulations, executive orders, treaties, federal court rulings, and all other official pronouncements so why not clear the table and have "English" receive its rightful and legitimate blessing. Then there would be something to back us up when we say to our legal (and illegal) visitors, "Learn English!"
Researchers tell us that around 90 per cent of Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, favor the declaration, yet the years pass and legislation is considered, but nothing ever happens. Somehow, with "political correctness" going full tilt, the idea of requiring immigrants to learn English is seen in liberal corners as a "tool of oppression," bordering on racism.
Former President Obama believed that immigrants ought to learn English, but he saw a declaration by the nation that English is its official language as sort of unsportsman-like to immigrants. As a senator from Illinois, Obama voted four times against bills calling for English as the national language. It's unfair to immigrants to face this language burden, argued Obama, who has suggested that instead, Americans just learn to speak Spanish and then everyone would be bilingual.
The late, Phyllis Schafley of Illinois, a prominent and conservative lawyer, was a critic of Senator and President Obama and a passionate proponent of the philosophy that when in America, you speak English. She often criticized President Obama for his negative voice against having English as the official language of the United States, and for his other liberal and anti-patriotic positions.
President Obama stood in real contrast to other presidents. One, in particular, Theodore Roosevelt, had plenty to say on the subject, as he extended a warm and friendly hand to immigrants, but there were caveats.
"In the first place," he said, "we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith and becomes an American and assimilates himself to us-- he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, is not an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Rep. King has been congress' fiercest advocate of official English in America and particularly when applied to immigrants. King has argued that establishing an official language like other countries would bring consistency and unity. With President Trump, whose patriotism and love of country is worn on his sleeve, and who has said that under his administration, "America will come first," there is optimism that "English" will at long last become the official language of the United States.
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By Florida Bill
In response to vote tallies which showed the new President had not won the popular vote after his surprise election last November, President Trump insisted that if only the legitimate votes were counted, he would have won the popular vote handily. He said that he intended to appoint a commission to investigate illegal voting, and he is following through on his promise.
Does the President have a point, or is he just blowing smoke to massage his ego?
The President's observation and those of his advisers and attorneys touch upon the fact that there are about 11.5 million persons residing illegally in the country and another 32 million immigrants who are permanent and legal residents by virtue of a visa or a green card entitling them to call America their home. But none of these 43 million persons are citizens and therefore none of them are eligible to vote. To President Trump, therein lies the problem.
There is plenty of speculation, from many corners, including opinions from election experts, that immigrants, both legal and illegal, have registered to vote. And it was with this in mind that the president created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. Some election authorities suspect that non-citizen aliens managed to register as voters and then did indeed show up and vote in the election. How many? Its any one's guess. The president says "millions." His opponents say "No Way--just a wounded Trump ego." Voter rolls change daily, but updating them and keeping them current is a difficult process. The names of voters who die often remain on the voter lists until a canvas, and even then, mistakes are made. With the use of absentee ballots, it is almost inevitable there will be fraud caused by "ballots from the grave" in elections, but overall, it amounts to virtually nothing, and has no impact on the results. So long as men are mortal, there will always be canvases before every election which unintentionally fail to remove all names of deceased voters. This is not the type of illegitimate voting of which the Republican president and his election advisers speak.
If an individual is registered to vote, and his name is in the binders on election day, he will be permitted to cast a ballot. So how does an individual register to vote and what credentials does he need for that process?
It varies from state to state, but in general, there are three requirements for any applicant who wishes to register and become a voter in federal and state elections. He must be a citizen, at least 18 years old on the day of the scheduled election, and he must be a resident of the jurisdiction where the election will be held, and be able to prove it. Once an applicant meets those basic requirements, his or her name is included in the binder that lists voters in the precinct where he will be voting.
To prove citizenship in most jurisdictions, although there are always some variations, the applicant in some jurisdictions needs only to "affirm" the fact that he is a citizen, and he accomplishes that by putting an "X" in the appropriate box. So, hoodwinking the registration process is not terribly difficult, and permanent resident aliens may actually believe they have citizen's rights and are entitled to vote, when in actuality, they are not.
Also, there is speculation that some aliens intentionally misrepresent their status on the application for registration when applying in person at a government office, or, when the process is available, on the Internet. Once registered, the voter will not be challenged except for residency requirements if there has been a change of address. Residency challenges occur when the name of the person seeking to vote is not on the voting list. Generally, these challenges are investigated immediately and if legitimate change of address has occurred, the individual will be permitted to vote. As a general rule, citizenship is never challenged once registration has taken place.
It is President Trump's opinion and belief that immigrant voters who are in the country legally and illegally have registered and voted for Mrs. Clinton because of their Democratic party affiliation, and for their belief in her promises to provide free schooling and medical care and a road to citizenship for legal and illegal residents. When all of these points are taken into consideration, the aim of the new commission is to determine the extent, if any, of illegal voting by non-citizens and its impact on election numbers is a legitimate inquiry.
At last count, more than 40 states have declined to cooperate with the Integrity Commission and provide detailed voting records. Officials in these states assert that allowing scrutiny of records would amount to a gross and unnecessary snooping into the privacy of voting Americans. Federal authorities are promising to protect that privacy and are meeting with state election officials seeking a compromise of some sort. An impasse would probably lead to litigation.
President Trump was elected president on Nov. 8 of last year, receiving a majority of the electoral college votes, 304-227. He lost the popular vote to Mrs. Clinton who received 65.8 million votes to Trump's 62.9 million, a difference of about 2.8 million.
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By Florida Bill
A whole army of Trump-hating Democrats is castigating the President for the tweeting insults he fired at Mika Brzezinski of the "Morning Joe" show.
After she accused Trump on television of "destroying America" with his "teensy" hands, as well as being mentally unbalanced, Trump came back hard the following day tweeting that Mika was a "psycho" and when she visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort last New Year's Eve, she was "bleeding badly from a face lift."
Maybe the tweeting Trump was too rough on the 50-year-old Mika who no doubt had whooped it up on New Years Eve at the Southern White House where there was dancing, caviar and champagne, compliments of the president-elect. Mika's cosmetic surgery to tighten her sagging chin apparently did not slow down her celebrating in what some call the Trump castle.
Mika and Joe Scarborough host a morning talk show on the far left MSNBC station and their banter often rips the Republican president. Making jokes, calling the president mentally unbalanced and dangerous to America, is commonplace, and it plays well to the liberal fans of the station Trump often denounces as a "fake news" outlet. A few days ago, she and her co-host and fiance roasted the president as a dangerous mental case and a "schmuck." She added what she surely thought was a cute story of visiting Mar-a-Lago and noticing wall pictures of a fake Time magazine cover with the president's photo. She sniped that his hands were too "teensy" to be seen. It was a witty remark for the blonde host, and it drew laughs and cheers from management as well as Trump-hating colleagues. Mika's reference to "teensy" hands allowed viewers to recall one of the low points of the presidential debate, when Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida implied the billionaire candidate's small hands were a tipoff that he had less than an adequate male organ.
This brought out the most aggressive side of Trump's always pugilistic personality, and he counter-punched in a style reminiscent of his campaign. Nowadays, he is presidential most of the time, but here he reverted to "gut" fighting, explained former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
And why not? It was this tendency towards "street fighting" and his love of "gotchas" which won him the approval of millions in the past. So, after Mika and Joe cut him up, and touched a sensitive spot, the President responded with a tweet:
"I heard poorly-rated Morning Joe speak badly of me (don't watch anymore). Then how come low IQ crazy Mika and psycho Joe came to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Years and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face lift. I said no."
That did it. Liberal Trump haters opened up. "Unpresidential"...a bully.....and a "liar", they charged, accusing him of yet another blood-related anti-feminist comment like the one that set off the earlier attack on Meghan Kelly. One CNN woman panelist excoriated Trump as a misogynist who resents women, especially successful ones. It is ridiculous to believe that Mika would go out following plastic surgery with blood oozing from cuts to tighten her sagging facial skin, she insisted.
One frequent listener to "Morning Joe" observed that Scarborough, a former Florida congressman, had in the past given the impression that he was a good friend of Trump's, and it was reported that the President offered to marry Joe and Mika in a White House ceremony.
The status of the "Morning Joe" show is in dispute. President Trump predicts that its ratings are down and that it is headed for extinction. Others say the opposite.
Brzezinski is the daughter of Zbigniew Brzezinski who served as an adviser to President Johnson and later was National Security Adviser to President Carter. His solid credentials as a Democrat have passed to Mika, who is viewed with affection by NBC and MSNBC.
In response to the Trump tweet about her "bleeding badly from the face lift," a full make over was denied, but Mika has acknowledged that a "little skin under her chin was tweaked." Responding to the President's tweet, Mika said Trump was a mental case with a "fragile, impetuous childlike ego... He attacks women because he fears women."
Kelly Conway, an adviser to President Trump and Sarah Huckabee, a deputy press secretary, said that it is a simple case of Trump fighting back. You can hardly ridicule someone's mental health in public and then act surprised and offended when he defends himself, said Conway.
To make the whole brouhaha even tackier, the two radio hosts' illicit affair and subsequent messy divorces, along with the threat of a tell-all story in a supermarket tabloid, have been dragged into the melee.
Trump says Scarborough wanted his help in stopping the National Enquirer from publishing the sordid story, but Trump declined to do so.
Scarborough insists associates of Trump urged him to call the president and apologize for their attack on him on the show, and the president would use his influence with the National Enquirer to get the story deep-sixed. Trump says no way.
Trump's two-fisted responses to attacks on his character and policies are well known. During the Republican debates and primaries, he tweeted regularly and fought with his opponents despite warnings that he was destroying his candidacy with his unpresidential behavior. He never changed and went on to win most primary elections, and was elected president on Nov. 8.
Trump is Trump, said Speaker Gingrich, who predicts that the Trump presidency is "historical" and will be remembered for vast accomplishments for America.
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By Florida Bill
Reserve a spot for former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch before the grand jury being assembled by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller. If she does not get nailed for her improprieties, you'll know something is wrong.
The controversy involving President Donald Trump and fired FBI director, James Comey, has made it quite clear that the 58-year-old crony of President Obama is more than a little involved in a whole lot of questionable activities. Comey testified recently before a Senate Intelligence Committee and revealed himself to be a prevaricator and a "leaker" to the press of privileged documents. He also acknowledged that President Trump is not now, and never has been under investigation by the FBI, accused of some sort of criminal hand-holding with President Putin of Russia.
Comey, allowed the nation to believe that fantasy for some 15 months, and he apparently watched with satisfaction, as the left wing media invented and distorted stories and beat up on the Republican President. Comey never said a word, although he told President Trump in three one-on-one conversations that he was not under investigation, but he declined to let the nation know. That is known as lying by omission. And of course, Lynch who was Comey's superior, is also culpable since she was well aware that the President was being maligned with allegations of misconduct with the Russians.
Along with his anti-Trump diatribe before senators, Comey disclosed that the incompetent Lynch, was a manipulator who clandestinely met with former President Clinton while his wife, the Democratic nominee for president, was under criminal investigation by the FBI. Comey found that conduct "disturbing," but never mentioned it on July 5 of last year when he gave Clinton her "get out-of-jail-free" pass.
Lynch, had been appointed Attorney General in 2015 by Pres. Obama, succeeding Eric Holder. Lynch, Holder and Obama are tight friends, all alumni of Harvard law school. Lynch and Holder worked together for years in the Department of Justice. Under President Clinton, and later under Obama, she served as U.S. Attorney from the Eastern District of New York.
Some observers say that Comey has thrown the partisan Lynch "under the bus," aware that he was subordinate to her while supervising the investigation into Hillary Clinton's handling of classified emails, and she was calling the shots. Knowing that Lynch had lost all credibility, Comey agreed to take her place, usurping her authority, and in a highly publicized news conference recommended against Mrs. Clinton's prosecution. An experienced attorney, Comey knew that Clinton's culpability was without doubt, but he exonerated her knowing that Lynch wanted that outcome as she was providing cover and protection for Mrs. Clinton with the approbation of President Obama. At least one email outlining that arrangement has been found in the DNC documents made public by Wikileaks. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa has confirmed the existence of that document.
In his committee testimony, Comey said that he was directed by Lynch to refer to the Clinton investigation as a "matter." "Why should I do that?" Comey asked Lynch, explaining that it was not a "matter," but rather it was a "criminal investigation." Nevertheless, he acceded to Lynch's request, and spoke of the criminal probe as a "matter." He explained further to the committee that Lynch "gave the impression that the FBI should align its work in the unimportant manner that the Clinton campaign and the media were describing it."
The entire Trump-Comey controversy and alleged Trump-Russian ties, is being investigated by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, a former FBI Director, who is said to have a close relationship with Comey, which some lawyers find troubling and have asked President Trump to dismiss him because of a conflict of interest. Nevertheless, Mueller is said to be respected by both Democrats and some Republicans for his independence and integrity.
Special Prosecutor Mueller has moved to the head of the line as the primary investigator, but he will be exchanging information with Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who announced on January 12 that he would assess the performance of James Comey to determine if he was guilty of any misconduct in his email investigation of Mrs. Clinton, and if the FBI improperly disclosed privileged documents.
The Intelligence committees of both the U.S. House and the Senate also are investigating assorted allegations of wrongdoing by various persons, including Comey and Lynch. Trump has said that accusations that he and members of his team colluded with Russians is a giant "hoax," promoted by Democrats bitter that "Crooked Hillary" was not elected.
Mueller's investigation is wide ranging, and is expected to encompass allegations of corruption in the operation of the billion dollar Clinton Foundation by Mrs. Clinton and her husband. While Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton approved the sale of 20 per cent of the country's uranium reserves to Russian investors under control of the Kremlin, and grateful recipients promptly made a donation of $145 million to the foundation. Also, former President Bill Clinton was paid $500,000 for a single speech in Moscow, and that generous honorarium was provided by a bank with ties to the Kremlin.
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By Florida Bill
I think that Kathy Griffin always wanted to be known and talked about by everyone as a fabulous comedian, and now she has seen her deepest dream come true. But, unfortunately for her, about 99 per cent of the comments about her are negative in which she is regarded as a blockhead, or, using her own unrefined vernacular, a true "horse's ass." Several days ago, the 56-year-old Griffin put together what she must have considered a hilarious and memorable script attacking President Trump. She had a fake, severed head created topped with bright red hair and with simulated blood oozing from the mouth, nose, eyes and ears. She held it by the hair from an extended right arm and arranged for a photo and video which was then made and distributed.
She anticipated laughs and kudos and pats on the back for her ingenuity and wit, and her attack on President Trump. Everyone on TV has been making funnies about Trump, and she figured that her needling would place her in the limelight--putting her in the front of the line. But whoa. She got hammered and carved up by friend and foe alike-- from what you might call both sides of the aisle.
Her scheduled shows in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and California were canceled. A theater in Williamsport, Pa., posted a note on its website that her show had been dropped due to the Griffin controversy and concern for safety and security of patrons and staff.
Democratic airhead and former SNL star Sen. Al Franken "disinvited" Griffin from an event promoting his new book. Too many Minnesotans were "rightfully offended" and what she did was "inappropriate," said Franken.
The Secret Service flagged the incident for investigation as a possible threat on the President in accord with a federal statute.
Even "Squatty Potty" (whatever that is) said she is too crude for toilet commercials.
Her really close friend, Anderson Cooper, CNN's poised, left-wing anchor, dumped on her for the macabre photo shoot. "Disgusting," he said. CNN which has employed Griffin and Cooper since 2007 for its annual live televised New Year's Eve celebrations announced that she was finished with hosting that gig.
But with all that mud in her face, Griffin had a solution: a news conference in the offices of feminist lawyer, Lisa Bloom, where she would make her case and show that what she did was a funny parody and she is a comedian with every right to criticize Pres. Trump.
The conference was packed with reporters and cameras and Griffin's hands were shaking. She apologized, but then kind of took it all back as she wept and blamed the President for being a "bully," and now was destroying her career. The entire Trump family is out to ruin her. She added that, nevertheless, her criticism of the President will certainly continue.
She said that the severed head was a kick- back at President Trump because of remarks that he had made during his spat with Megyn Kelly. Kelly had asked Trump during a debate why he referred to women as "pigs and disgusting animals." He reacted angrily and said Kelly was out to get him and that there was blood coming out of her eyes and "coming out of everywhere." Feminist that she is, she explained that she was just leveling the playing field with what she termed a "parody." Never mind that it was a year late and more reminiscent of a terrorist beheading.
Instead of rallying the media behind her and joining in the hilarity, Griffin got squashed and slammed by everyone. A rare exception was actor Jim Carrey who seemed to think that as a comedian she had a right to cross the line and has nothing to apologize for. Trump antagonist Alec Baldwin readily agreed with Carrey.
So Griffin is now licking her wounds, weeping into the cameras and explaining that she is the real victim.
The reality of all this is that the Griffin behavior, unforgivable as it was, will be forgiven and forgotten as time passes. There are many examples of entertainers and pundits who tripped and went down with a thud, but then bounced back behind a mike. Lying Brian Williams and NBA announcer Marv Albert are good examples.
In time, Griffin will be back in her role as a vulgar, D-level comedian, repeating her denunciation of the President as a "piece of s...". And CNN will take her back --you can make book on that.
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By Florida Bill
Tip your hat to the hunter extraordinaire: the Cairn terrier. The little dog with the big personality.
The feisty Cairn, almost always wheaten or black in color, though maybe a blend leaning slightly to toward rouge, is a descendant of a wolf, believe it or not, and gained its fame and reputation as an aggressive hunter in the fields and underground tunnels of beautiful Scotland. Some say it was in the Isle of Skye. They were commissioned to examine rocky piles known to farmers as cairns and to rid them of any interlopers such as mice, rats, snakes, rabbits or squirrels or any other unwelcome critter hanging around.
In fact, it was said these hunters would "go to ground," in search of such critters, and there are still competitions where terriers are sent into tunnels with caged rats and timed on how quickly they reach the prey and for how long they perform: barking, baying, scratching or staring intensely.
With a determined nature and guided by a nose which can always detect a foreign critter hiding where he does not belong, the sturdy Cairn would do his work and provide for the farmer, his friend and mentor, a rock pile as free and as sterile as a rock pile can be. Unwelcome visitors are dispatched by the Cairns by grabbing them by the neck and delivering some mighty shakes.
In America and much of the world, the tough little Cairn has become a respected and beloved pet in tens of thousands of homes. They love their owners and the kids and other dogs--well, most of the time, when it comes to other canines. They do a good deal of barking and they will sound off mightily at footsteps, even those dropped by a squirrel or bunny. Some owners will laughingly say their Cairns bark at the sound of a leaf dropping.
They are powerful and dominating when it comes to rodents and the unlikeable critters are never too much for the determined Cairn. According to canine expert Stanley Coren, he learned of a terrier named Tiny who was said to have polished off some 5,000 rats in his lifetime. That's dedication.
Recently, I saw on a social media site an inquiry and concern from a Cairn "mom" that her pet was an overly aggressive hunter of little critters, and that perhaps that was a negative quality which her Cairn possessed. Somewhat distressed, she invited comments from other owners on what she perceived as an unwelcome trait which she was not fond of.
The answer is that the instinct to hunt is in the canine genes. For me, also a Cairn booster, I look upon their talent to ferret out the intruder with admiration--a Cairn doing what a Cairn was meant to do.
Not too long ago, our male, Andy, a handsome, wheaten colored Cairn weighing in at about 16 pounds, left our back door and raced to the far end of our fenced one-acre yard. He seemed to be on a mission. Minutes later I saw him furiously shaking a black "rope" in his mouth. It wasn't a rope, it was a black garter snake about three feet long. Most interesting was that Andy seemed to know that the alien was there. He made quick work of the intruder. How? What tipped Andy off? Just a couple of days ago, our 7-year-old black Cairn, Wendy, declined to answer our whistle and call which was completely unlike her while inside our home in South Florida. We went to look for her and found her staring at a closed closet door. It was the unmistakable Cairn "death stare," with her nose inches from the tiny slit under the door. No question, but there had to be something inside the closet where we have boxes stored with Xmas decorations and other items and some luggage. We were hoping that a mouse had not gotten into the house.
Opening the door, Wendy shot in without hesitation. She nosed around items piled on the floor and darted under the shelf housing the air conditioner. Presto, within seconds, she exploded out with a large Palmetto bug--an unpleasant fact of life in Florida--in her mouth, zoomed to another corner of the house, and then dropped the lifeless meddler onto the floor. Thanks, Wendy. We cleaned up the remains, and Wendy then went about her business.
Niki, another female cairn of ours back in our Chicago days, would suddenly stake out a pantry or closet and we knew it was time to buy a mouse trap.
The search by the young and middle aged Cairn is never ending. Maybe age will slow them down, but just a little. The cairn does not discern which intruder might be a more or less welcome addition to the terrain. They are all prey. Here in Florida, and perhaps elsewhere where there is an abundance of sun and showers, we need to keep an eye on the inquisitive Cairn lest in his instinct to hunt, he comes upon the dreaded Bufo toad, which will react to danger by exuding a substance on its skin which is poisonous to dogs and can even be fatal. When the Cairn sees the toad, he attacks and most large toads cannot move fast enough to escape. If it happens, which it has to us three times, we wipe out the inside of the dog's mouth with a wet rag and then rush the little fur head to the vet for immediate treatment, which will save the dog if the action is timely enough. Anyway, be on guard against these dog menaces. Bufos are ugly looking dudes whose size can match a dessert plate.
Is the cairn a dedicated hunter? I would say, yes, absolutely. We sometimes fear ours got an overabundance of terrier genes. So, what is it about an unwelcome critter which draws their attention? What do they hear? What do they smell?
The dog's nose is, according to some experts, about a million times more sensitive than man's ability to smell. In one experiment I read about, a tiny mouse was placed in the center of a one acre field of grass, and the dog--I like to think it could have been a cairn--was released to hunt. Within minutes, the proud dog returned, mouse in tow. That was all nose. It was the hunter, home from the hills.
The Cairn terrier has a tradition to uphold. Hunting is what he does and what he has always done. His people and the unconditional love which he bestows upon his owners of course comes first. But intruders and aliens are definitely not welcome in Cairn territory. So do not be concerned. Enjoy your Cairn. There is no other dog like yours in the world!!!!
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