via Why Sharks Matter on Southern Fried Science.
The link leads on to three nice related articles, of which this one is my favorite. John Fleck will probably like it too, since it mentions John as exceptional, something I agree with.
It argues against the Pielkian point of view,
Ultimately, politicians are useful [to conservation] because only they can make the important policy changes required to make the conservation movement’s goals a reality. However, they won’t do this unless there is overwhelming support from the public- the kind of support that merely publishing papers and speaking at conferences cannot possibly generate.
as does Senator Whitehouse: