Quote of the Day

Rachel Lucas demonstrates how to refine the rant into a fine art:

Finally, regarding principles. I understand that some of you will not vote for McCain because of your principles, and I do not question your principles. I disagree with your conclusions about what will follow your application of them.

Rachel has been voting for as long as I have, since George H.W. Bush, and feels the same about her choices since then as I do.  Maybe I feel that way because I never got to vote for Reagan, but then again, I don’t think I really liked Reagan all that much either.

Trouble in Illinois

Looks like they are pushing the “Lost and Stolen” crap there too.  Sounds like they managed to get a 3/5th supermajority requirement in that goes into effect on June 1st, which will raise the barrier for passing more gun laws in that state, so if this can be stopped now, it might have a hard time passing at a later date.

UPDATE: Kurt updates:

I didn’t make that very clear. It’s not that we managed to get a 3/5ths requirement–it’s just that the deadline for the end of the spring session is May 31st. The budget is such a mess that they’ll almost certainly have to call special sessions during the summer, so they’ll keep meeting, but anything passed during a special session must pass by super-majority.

Damn shame.  Imagine how much better off we’d be if it took a bare majority to repeal a law but a supermajority to pass one?

Convention Center Boondoggle

Eric posts about a historic firehouse that’s being demolished in Philadelphia to make way for Ed & Mike’s Convention Mega Emporium.  It goes on to talk about the declining convention business.  Having just attended one of the larger conventions out there, I can’t imagine there are that many large events that make this kind of project a good investment.  Even after Philadelphia completes the expansion, I’d be doubtful that NRA would ever return of Philadelphia, given Mayor Nutter’s glowing love for the second amendment.  It’s hard to see how a city like Philadelphia can compete for convention business with a city like Las Vegas, or even a smaller city like Orlando.

Repealing Dog Breed Preemption?

Apparently a Pennsylvania lawmaker is looking to repeal state preemption of dog breed specific legislation because of one incident in his district.  This is a lot like gun control, where the solution is to punish irresponsible owners, not to try to control the species of dog.

Fighting the Free Market

New Jersey politicians don’t seem to want to allow oil companies to price gasoline differently in different markets.  If New Jersey outlaws zone pricing, the end result is going to be shortages of gasoline in some areas, and surpluses in others, which won’t get evened out through the price system.  New Jersey already regulates the frequency at which gasoline prices may increase, which causes prices to fall more slowly than in the rest of the country.

Maybe the oil companies should just take a lesson from Ronnie Barrett, and tell New Jersey that if they don’t want to have a free market in oil, then fine, they don’t get any.  Maybe then the voters there will have some motivation to change the smelly political diaper.

Democracy Worship Coming Back to Haunt Dems

I have to say, I think this is poetic justice, but I agree with Greg that the party is pretty much free to ignore primary results if they so wish.  The primary system was one of those progressive reforms to take the power of nominating candidates out of the proverbial smoke filled rooms filled with party bosses, but the party is still a non-governmental entity, and is free to choose to punish state delegations that don’t follow the rules.

We live in a society where both parties, but Democrats in particular, hold up democratic rule as our greatest aspiration.  To quote Barack Obama’s spiritual mentor, “The chickens are coming home to roost.”

Downstream Candidates in ’08

Keyboard and a .45 talks about the importance of downstream candidates for state and local races.  This can’t really be stressed enough.  Even if you completely hate McCain, and can’t bring yourself to vote for him, there are still a lot of candidates on the ballot who deserve support.  We’re seriously looking at the possibility of a fillibuster proof majority Democratic controlled Senate, and a Democrat controlled house.  That’s not even mentioning all the states that could go to the Democrats.   Remember in 2010 you have the census, which allows the resdistricting monster to rear its ugly head.  This is definitely no time to just stay home.

Something Republicans Need to Start Accepting

The whole gay cootie thing is a loser issue.  Republicans are going to need to find a way to appeal to religious voters without bashing on gays politically.  It’s one thing to be against gay marriage, even Democrats aren’t coming out in favor of that, but it’s another thing to suggest we need to change our constitution because of what the queers are doing to the soil.  If we lose the next generation of voters to the Democrats, we’re royally screwed, especially if they are going to keep nominating candidates like Barack Obama.

UPDATE: This doesn’t seem like a good idea either.

The Bullet Counters

Wyatt points out a rather good article in Townhall about police shootings.  This stuff applies to anyone who has to use a firearm in self-defense.  Police aren’t the only ones that get subject to 20/20 hindsight by people who don’t know much about these matters, so go have a read.

Microstamping in New York

Tom King, President of New York State Rifle and Pistol Assocation, has a post up debunking Microstamping, which is in real danger of passing in New York State.  They’ve been able to hold off new gun control in New York thanks to a Republican controlled senate, but after 2008, there’s a real danger of the state sinking into the gun control abyss if the Democrats regain control.  We briefly interviewed Tom at the Annual Meeting after Governor Patterson announced his “screw gun owners” legislative agenda: