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Bo bends House to her will * Updated x1 *

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A couple of years ago, faded sexpot Bo Derek came to town to lobby the Illinois Senate to pass a bill banning horse slaughtering. The bill zoomed out of the chamber as star-struck members drooled all over the occasional actress.

But when it got to the House, the bill was voted down, mainly on its merits.

This time, Derek came to Springfield and lobbied the House, with predictable results…

The Illinois House voted Wednesday to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, answering a two-year lobbying push by actress and animal-rights activist Bo Derek. […]

“This bill is more about celebrity, headlines and being fashionable than it is about the nuts-and-bolts issue about what the bill should address,” said Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville).

Backers of the measure said slaughtering horses for consumption overseas is inhumane, particularly given that state law recognizes horses as a “companion animal” like dogs or cats.

After the vote, legislators flocked to a reception held in Derek’s honor. I was in the building for another party, but did manage to sneak a peak. Count me as not impressed.

*** UPDATE *** I should have mentioned this before but I forgot. Bo also spent some time in Gov. Blagojevich’s office yesterday. The governor, impressed with her presence, picked up the phone and called several legislators to ask them to vote for the anti slaughtering bill.

I know I sounded a bit cynical above, but her presence was truly magical. When was the last time the governor ever did that?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 9:02 am

Comments

“Count me as not impressed.”
C’mon Rich, she’s 50.

Comment by Frank Booth Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 9:31 am
Frank, That’s Jailbait!

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 9:53 am
Not impressed by the behavior of the legislators? Or by Bo Derek? Or the tactic for pushing the bill?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 10:02 am
I’m a blown out over age 40 person with no fame factor so would I be able to walk in and give my opinion on any subject up for vote? Would anyone care about my message? Actually, my opinion is that, if the animal is old and/or sick enough that it would be put down anyway, then let the French eat it. We could send them all of our road kill too. Now can we get back to something more important as the budget, to tax or not to tax more things, or to continue to have blown out budgets from too much pork?

Comment by i d Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 10:11 am
“slaughtering horses for consumption overseas is inhumane”

If “inhumane” is going to be our food standard, we all better just order the salad. We should do what we can to make the slaughter of animals for food less inhumane, i.e. eliminate unnecessary suffering, but it killing something to eat its flesh will always be inhumane.

– SCAM

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 10:14 am
If people overseas want to eat horses maybe they can raise them over there for that purpose.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 10:58 am
I’d have no problem with my Belgian friends eating horsemeat IF there were regulations in place to ensure their humane slaughter–which I do not believe is an oxymoron. USDA rules ensure humane slaughter of pigs and cattle, but for some reason left off poultry & the next thing you know you’re hearing about a chicken being flung into a wall 27 times to ready it for the fryer. With horses being classified as companion animals the regulations certainly don’t cover them. Even the way they’re transported to slaughter strikes me as very cruel.

I also wonder if it’s wise to sell meat that might be contaminated with veterinary medicines.

Comment by yinn Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 11:03 am
Many equine athletes, followed by this sinful man and placed in his investment portfolio, should have been treated as humanely by knowledgeable practioners - like the associates of Jaynes Brothers.

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 11:39 am
In states where this ban has been passed into law, there is a surplus of horses that are abandoned. What do you think happens to them? They are put down! What’s the difference?

Comment by blogman Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 12:18 pm
It is either food for the Euros or soap. I can’t figure out why they like horses so much more than cows or pigs.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 12:25 pm
‘Bo also spent some time in Gov. Blagojevichâ€™s office yesterday. The governor, impressed with her presence’

Guv - Widow Derek, and I am truly sorry for your loss, I need to convince legislators from both sides of aisle why this legislation is vital to interests of the People of Illinois - Bill, take these down - Widow Derek give me Ten Good reasons to give our legislators - That’s TEN!

Bo - One - for what? Oh, him; thanks. Horses are pretty.
Bee - they look great on the Beach with someone who looks good riding them

Four - Mean People Suck

D - Is there buzzing sound in hear or am I crazy?

ATE - Does Barack ride horse?

Nine - It;s not Ten

Last - horses are pretty Why is that Bill, man, giggling - Mean people suck!

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 12:36 pm
why isn’t the talk here geared more toward the fact that our Gov won’t take any meetings, makes rare public appearances, hasn’t talked to the press but yet wait he will take a meetnig with Bo Derek and actually call legislators for her - not for anything else as he rarely participates in springfield activities but he will go there for her! EXPLAIN!

Comment by annoyed all the time Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 12:39 pm
“celebrity, headlines and being fashionable”

Doesn’t this about sum up why many politicians are attracted to run for their positions? And why so many of them kiss up to people of power, wealth and fame? Politicians identify more with the people of the class they are either in or strive to be in than they do with the common man. So, naturally these celebrities will have a voice much bigger to the politicians’ ears than any single voter can muster. More rule by the ruling class.

Comment by vole Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 12:46 pm
‘. . . but yet wait he will take a meetnig with Bo Derek and actually call legislators for . . .’

BUT YET???????

Because Bo is Fine, My Brother! Are you nuts! If he didn’t make such meeting he should be impeached! Bill, throw a net over this Goo-goo nut-case! Call the short yellow bus! But Yet!

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 12:49 pm
Actually he took the meeting because of her work in Tommy Boy

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 1:14 pm
There, you see? High Art meets High Hair!

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 1:22 pm
not one to deny the Gov a chance to meet with bo, and be able to sit with a beautiful person, just in addition critiquing the fact that he meets with no one else no photo ops with anyone else who jsut wants a quick photo with the Gov with an award they won, not any other movement with him to talk to legislators… i don’t need a yellow bus just would like to see the ‘others’ get a chance too and for him to actually to other work!

Comment by annoyed all the time Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 1:24 pm
ok guys….this late 40’s, married, working mom wants to know, how does she really look?

Comment by anon Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 2:53 pm
You guys are so jealous.
The idea that Bo Derek can show up and get the governor’s support, the House to pass her legislation, and end up accomplishing what she needed to is just driving you guys nuts, isn’t it?

Get over it.

Anyone willing to slaughter horses, or eat/sell them to be eaten has no experiences with horses. You are a sad, pasty, pidgeon-chested, girley-man if you don’t understand how we depended on horses to build our current world. Horses are smarter than most politicians, vegetarian, strong, competative athletes, hard working, and look better naked than you do.

We do not eat horses. Cowboys do not eat horses, cowgirls do not eat horses, even rodeo clowns don’t eat horses. Stop salivating or justifying that we do, or I’ll reaquaint you with my cattle prod.

Bo Derek is right. Now let’s saddle-up and show these Toyota Pious drivers how to act like men.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 3:03 pm
It is also no surprise that a John Wayne loving governor like Blagojevich would understand. John Wayne didn’t eat horses.

Oh, and did I say that they look better naked than he does? Talk about testicular virility, Rod salutes Mr. Ed.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 3:08 pm
Bo is still hot!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 3:26 pm
Rod and Bo in the same room. I wonder if their collective IQ’s broke 100?

Comment by Papa Legba Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 4:46 pm
Pops,
No one cares about Bo’s IQ.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 4:55 pm
Fabio could not have said it so well, William! That one fine Mensa member! PETA not withstanding.

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 5:05 pm
I’m sure cowboys and cowgirls did eat horses, mules too when pressed. As a species, we’ve eaten pretty much anything that couldn’t run away from us. I wonder how many actual farmers oppose horse slaughter? Is it only movie stars and suburban horse fantasizers….

Comment by NoGiftsPlease Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 6:58 pm
It is sometimes disheartening to read what is written on the internet, such as humane laughter is not an oxymoron (that’s what Yinn said - Yinn, please go back to school) or that old, sick horses are being slaughtered, or that there will be herds of horses roaming the United States if we end this barbarism.

I truly wish people would educate themselves, before spewing absurd statements and that includes all of the above.

If you’d like to know the truth about horse slaughter, please go to: http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/index.php

This site was put up by a group of veterinarians who oppose horse slaughter based on the brutality and cruelty of this practice. You can also view the process right on their site!

Please read, then come back and say something intelligent.

Comment by MJNYC Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 8:48 pm
correction, typo on my post - it should have read: “such as humane slaughter is not any oxymoron”, etc.

Comment by MJNYC Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 9:21 pm
They keep bringing Bo Derek to town, but the women want her to bring her boyfriend, John Corbett, along next time. Come on, bring the really hot one of the couple to town.

Comment by Bring him along too. Thursday, Apr 19, 07 @ 11:59 pm