Where is the True Conservative?
Click here and watch this. It’s great commentary on the Delaware senate race. (Link stolen from @Collins_Joe.)
Sep 14, 2010
Sep 14, 2010
Single-Issue Voters: For Wine?
Hey, people get passionate about their drinks – especially when those drinks are restricted at the hands of a state monopoly that jacks prices up. Not to mention, the selection sucks and if you try to buy out-of-state, you are committing a crime.
In his August newsletter, Keith Wallace of the Wine School of Philadelphia made a pitch for Tom Corbett. As he says, “… I have gained assurances that Gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett will make reforming the PLCB an element of his administration.”This is significant because, besides being a well respected person amongst the wine circles in the Philadelphia area, he also isn’t your expected Corbett supporter. “After all,” he says, “I am a former NPR journalist and Democratic operative [originally] from Massachusetts.”
This shows two very important things. First, the PLCB is a significant enough of an issue to get people to be a one issue voter across party lines. Second, while there is the debate between both sides on where the line is drawn on the appropriate role of government, the PLCB crosses that line for many people.
I would love to be part of the wine vote coalition. Our state rep already knows that we’re all about the guns and letting our wine & beer run free. (Although getting rid of our stupid beer laws will be another tough sell, and much harder to do.)
Sep 14, 2010
Today is Delaware’s Primary
And we’ll find out just how nuts NRA is for endorsing Christine O’Donnell in the primary. My instinct would have been to sit this one out. Not because Mike Castle is our best friend, but because this strikes me as a risky bet. Some polls have shown the race between O’Donnell is close, and turnout is expected to be low. NRA would, no doubt, like to be able to send the message to Castle, and by contrast all the other Republicans, that they can end the political careers of intransigent Republicans (hear that Lindsey Graham?).
But to send that message, you have to win, and we’ll see how O’Donnell does after tonight when the results start to come in. The end result, either way, is likely going to be that seat remaining anti-gun. If Mike Castle wins his primary, he’s polling well for November against Chris Coons. If O’Donnell wins, the Democrats are very likely to hold that seat. These party concerns can’t and shouldn’t be a concern for NRA, but it’ll make November interesting. O’Donnell, to put it mildly, is nuts. I don’t see any scenario where she wins in Delaware, with the Democrats holding a significant registration advantage, and where Independents tend to like more moderate candidates. I think Delaware could support a better conservative than Mike Castle, especially this election, but I don’t think it can support someone as far right as Christine O’Donnell. This seems to be a frequent mistake being made by the Tea Party movement.
Sep 14, 2010
More on the Mexican Gun Canard
Common Gunsense is a blog run by a Brady board member (their board positions, much like the NRA, are uncompensated, so not a Brady employee), and we once again get the narrative that all the guns in Mexico are coming from the United States, and discusses this situation:
Her remarks were discussed while listening to a Colombian mother and her two daughters talk about the tragic story of watching their husband and father assassinated by a gun before their very eyes. They were in their home when members of the para military came to their door wielding weapons. This man was an elected official in his small town in Columbia. The woman and her two daughters escaped but the situation in Columbia was too dangerous for them. They sought political asylum in the U.S. and are now living in a suburb of Minneapolis. They were brave enough to stand before us and share their tragic story.
They weren’t assassinated by the gun, Ms. Japete, they were assassinated by narco-terrorists wielding guns. And what purpose does it serve for only the corrupt government, and narco-terrorists being the ones that are armed? What if instead of running, our Colombian friends had the ability to shoot back? How many narco-terrorists would they find willing to make housecalls like this if they knew there was a high likelihood several of them wouldn’t make it back? These are unpleasant thoughts, to be sure, but when you have armed people showing up to your home willing to you harm, you’re out of pleasant solutions, you have before you a choice of evils.
But even aside from that, Ms. Japete needs to explain how this was purchased legally in the US. Or how these guns were purchased legally in the US (have you ever seen anything like this at a gun show? Or at a shop? I sure as hell haven’t). I’d also, using this same article, ask her to go through this mental exercise:
Monterrey is Mexico’s wealthiest city, its third largest, and until a few years ago, one of its safest. But in the last six months the metropolis has been turned upside-down. Drug gangs have set up scores of roadblocks on major highways, murdered the mayor of a prominent suburb, intimidated the media, and taken control of many neighborhoods. The military, federal police, and local police are everywhere but are almost as feared as the gangs. Systematic police and mayoral assassinations are causing entire towns to go dark.
Take this out of Monterrey for a minute and try to imagine what would happen in Texas or Arizona if drug gangs were trying to take over whole inhabited towns and the government and police stood by and did nothing. Do you think the narco-traffickers have a large enough supply of thugs to keep manning those roadblocks after a few of them get picked off from a distance every night? Is anyone going to be willing to take the job after the first few nights? If you think Texans or Arizonans wouldn’t do such things, you don’t know Texans or Arizonans very well. Hell, I don’t even think Californians would take it for very long.
When you start to understand this, you understand why this violence is only peripherally spreading into the United States. I am not at all suggesting that the availability of your average person to arm themselves is the only variable at work here; a fairly uncorrupted police and military force is still our primary line of defense, but Mexico is the prime example of what happens when you disarm every day people so that they can be properly terrorized. Whether that’s by government or criminal thugs is of little matter. The people of Mexico have two choices. Submit or die. North of the border, there is at least a third option.
Sep 14, 2010
That Has to Hurt
Alan Gottlieb, on our victories in McDonald and Heller:
Gottlieb attributes the rapid turnaround in part to the brazen overconfidence of gun controllers. If Washington, D.C., had not challenged the March 2007 appeals court decision overturning its highly restrictive gun ban, the Supreme Court would not have had the opportunity to declare in Heller that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to arms. If Chicago had not insisted on maintaining its gun ban after the Heller decision, there would have been no McDonald, and the question of whether the Second Amendment binds states and cities would have remained unsettled. “We needed a little luck, and the other side gave us that luck,” says Gottlieb. “Our opponents are our biggest supporters.”
Read the whole thing.
Sep 14, 2010
Earning the Brady Love
Apparently Obama can find some room to praise Texas Christian University’s shooting team, and mentions he shoots with the Secret Service (color me skeptical on that one). Either way, this likely is an indication he still does not want a fight. After the EPA incident, he’s looking to back away from the issue visibly, and calm nerves.
That’s not to say I’d trust the guy. He’s still going to nominate anti-gun Supreme Court justices, and for that reason he has to go, but he’s definitely no Bill Clinton. At least not yet.
Sep 14, 2010
Only in Josh Horwitz’s World …
… would an ad that explicitly mocks and cheapens the “insurrectionists” among us, and encouraging people to change things through the ballot box, be taken that NRA “now appears to find its advocacy for insurrectionism humorous.” But that’s just how Josh Horwitz is trying to spin it. If the Bradys are good at polishing turds (a high art, it would seem), Horwitz is talented at knocking over the lego set and storming off to tell mom.
He then goes on to list the ways that Norris buys into the “insurrectionist theory” of the Second Amendment. Truth is, I think most people believe in an insurrectionist theory at some point. The question is where you think that point is. If Horwitz would seriously be the kind of guy that would have sat idly by and let the SS haul off his neighbors in cattle cars, I have to question his dedication to humanity. It’s perfectly fine to argue that there are many who draw the line too soon. It’s quite another thing to argue there’s no line to be found at all.
Sep 14, 2010
Obviously, we did eat more than just these places. Oh, and Sebastian was introduced to the wonderful varieties of macadamia nuts thanks to my grandmother. He loves them. If you ever want to know, Mauna Loa Honey Roasted are superior to Hawaiian Host Honey Roasted. But neither of us turned down either of the bags offered to us. And if you aren’t walking it all off, then you aren’t doing Hawaii the right way. :)
Food of Hawaii
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much tuna and other seafood in my life. And you know what? It was delicious. Here are my thoughts on our culinary tour of Hawai’i in no particular order:
- Coconut makes everything more delicious. I knew this before we left, but my belief was confirmed. Coconut pancakes topped with coconut syrup? More please! (Diamond Head Market & Grill) And Starbucks has a Mocha Coconut Frap that you can supposedly only get in Hawaii. It’s like a Mounds slushie.
- Never, ever, ever miss this if you visit the island of Hawai’i: Tasting or luncheon at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company. Follow their directions, not Google’s. Trust me. But get there and get there fast. The tasting is actually about 3/4 of a meal, or a full lunch if you had an early breakfast. Delicious and divine. We bought several items in the store and plan to replicate most of their recipes. Sugar/vanilla/spicy crusted pecans? Check. Vanilla caramelized onions to top some brie warmed in pastry? I’ll host dinner for guests just as an excuse to make it. Vanilla balsamic vinaigrette? Bought it & already opened it up for dinner last night. Vanilla bean lemonade? I’m all over that one. Also free: tips on mixing vanilla with booze & how to best use said booze in food. This will be an “every future trip” stop for us any time we hit the Big Island again. Best $25 you can spend on food.
- Are you an atheist looking for proof of a higher being? Proof that there is a God and he loves us is found in a plate of Shrimp Scampi from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. It was so good, we visited both locations the two days we were up on the North Shore.
- Best unexpected find? Ilikai Bar & Grill. Sit outside at the bar, enjoy the sounds of the harbor and take advantage of the good company behind the bar – particularly a bartender named Sarah. She was great – so was their coconut shrimp appetizer. I kept reading complaints that the property was dated, but I didn’t think it was in a bad way. The atmosphere was great.
- A great hidden gem: Liliha Bakery. We were the only rental in the lot – that says a lot right there when every other customer in the packed joint was kama’aina. The haupia cake – oh, be still my heart. It was so simple and mild, just what I love about it. Not too sweet, not overpowering, and wonderfully moist. The coco puffs are a delicious treat, and it’s worth picking up some cinnamon donuts for breakfast. There’s a reason they’ve been in business longer than Hawaii has been a state.
- Looking for the tiki bar vibe? Hit up La Mariana Sailing Club on Oahu. The drinks were a bit weak, but sitting on the water and enjoying the harbor sunset made up for that.
- Kona Brewing Company was worthy of three stops (two on Oahu because it was the only place outside of Waikiki we could find that was open at a reasonable hour and one on Hawai’i when we stayed in bumf*ck no where and had to drive to Kona for dinner). I strongly recommend the roasted garlic appetizer.
- Luau: Most people will tell you not to waste your money on a commercial luau. I can somewhat sympathize because, from what I have read, most have terrible food and many are pretty damn expensive. But, Sebastian was up for a luau, and I read there are only two worth seeing according to residents & frequent visitors: one on Maui & one on the Big Island. We were on the Big Island, so we ended our trip with the Polynesian luau hosted by Kona Village Resort. At just over $100/person (adding tax & extra drinks), it isn’t cheap. But, for a multi-hour dinner show & bbq with a buffet that definitely qualified as filling & good, it was a reasonable price. It was a great last evening for a trip to the islands. Also, the fire dancer on their website – totally hot in person.
Obviously, we did eat more than just these places. Oh, and Sebastian was introduced to the wonderful varieties of macadamia nuts thanks to my grandmother. He loves them. If you ever want to know, Mauna Loa Honey Roasted are superior to Hawaiian Host Honey Roasted. But neither of us turned down either of the bags offered to us. And if you aren’t walking it all off, then you aren’t doing Hawaii the right way. :)
Sep 13, 2010
Aside from meeting another couple from our area in the introductions, it was a useful excuse to say that a hobby and passion of mine was target shooting. At dinner, two other couples came up to talk to me about shooting – one a recreational & occasional shooter and the other a hunter. Suddenly, the number of people who actually shoot or who were fine with guns in the home was now the majority on the bus. Anyone who might have been uncomfortable with it before now had to deal with the fact that they were in the minority opinion in the group. The hunter and I even talked about the various species he and his family members harvest and the deer numbers of northern New York. We created a casual atmosphere for other shooters to come out of the closet and talk about their sport like it was any other hobby or interest rather than a contentious political subject.
Making Shooters the “Norm”
I have a habit that I know sometimes annoys Sebastian. I talk about the Second Amendment and shooting, preferably in places where it is unexpected and might even shake a few people out of their comfort zones. However, as he has learned by now, I’m very good about putting it into a context that people can understand so that they aren’t venturing so far out of their comfort zones that they want to run in the other direction. (That’s what we call counter-productive, not “cool” or something to take pride in.)
Our first adventure on Hawai’i was the Mauna Kea Summit & Stars tour (worth every penny). Since we would be on a bus & exploring the top of a mountain together for 8 hours, our tour guide asked us to introduce ourselves (the tours are small) and tell everyone else where we were from and one passion or hobby. Aha – my bright idea bulb goes off. (Poor Sebastian was too busy taking landscape photos to see the look that would have warned him what was to come.)
Aside from meeting another couple from our area in the introductions, it was a useful excuse to say that a hobby and passion of mine was target shooting. At dinner, two other couples came up to talk to me about shooting – one a recreational & occasional shooter and the other a hunter. Suddenly, the number of people who actually shoot or who were fine with guns in the home was now the majority on the bus. Anyone who might have been uncomfortable with it before now had to deal with the fact that they were in the minority opinion in the group. The hunter and I even talked about the various species he and his family members harvest and the deer numbers of northern New York. We created a casual atmosphere for other shooters to come out of the closet and talk about their sport like it was any other hobby or interest rather than a contentious political subject.
Shooting became the norm on that bus headed to the top of Mauna Kea. Mix that with the fact that Sebastian was the only one taking decent shots of the stars (real photos to come later) with everyone wondering how to do it, and some friendly conversation over dinner, and we gave guns a happy, human face.
Sep 13, 2010
Polishing the Turd
The Brady folk have an annual report out. Joe Huffman notes that their main theme seems to be declaring victory because they didn’t lose everything. I do have to admit, they say you can’t polish a turd, but the Brady folks are very good at it, reading over their report. Comparing to previous years, they seem to be doing a bit better raising money from new members than in 2007, but worse than 2008. In addition, they seem to be doing a really poor job of keeping members, based on renewal income continuously dropping, despite general contributions to both the Campaign and the Center being up in 2009 over 2008. It’ll be interesting to see their 2009 Form 990s, when they become available.
