Blackfork notes that after many years of suggesting that pools kill far more kids each year than guns do, the federal government has actually started to regulate pools. I think we need to stop giving them ideas.
Category: Politics
The Pros and Cons of Being Everything to Everyone
There have been minor grumblings by some of the left about Obama’s cabinet picks and moderation on some issues post-election. But it’s rather quite shocking to see some of fury unleashed when he announced the man who will lead the Inauguration prayer. But it was Jim Geraghty’s comment that made me smile when thinking about Obama’s rhetoric and approach during the election versus the reality now.
Maybe this is a reflection of a disappointing second term for President Bush, but I’m more or less used to politicians disappointing me. The Right pushed hard to reelect the guy in 2004 because they didn’t want an economic liberal, and four years later we’re hearing, “I have abandoned free-market principles in order to save the free-market system.” Henry Paulson was supposed to be the most savvy treasury secretary in ages; now he seems to be making up the plan as he goes along. Two disastrous cycles for the GOP in Congress, and they keep the same leadership in both chambers. John McCain took only a few weeks to start complaining about unfair tactics from the RNC again. Every politician fails to live up to expectations in one form or another — even Reagan gave conservatives only one-and-a-half good Supreme Court justices out of three opportunities.
Yes, I do think that Bush has been responsible for quite a few conservatives being disappointed, disillusioned, or otherwise bitter about politicians. However, I also realize that Obama’s broad messages – not the few attempts at talking policy – were designed to allow voters to make of him what they wanted. They recoiled at our suggestion to look more closely at his background and actual votes because his message about hope and change was vague enough so that they could interpret it to match their views. It would be like telling them to question their own personal histories. In all honesty, even though he initially pledged not to run because he was too inexperienced, I really wonder if he didn’t have to run now in order to keep his record as short as possible so he could use such lofty ideals without being so easily called out on it.
But back to people being disappointed. They feel mislead. I would say it’s really their own fault, but I also view Obama’s message as similar to a very successful ad campaign. Since his base really hates that kind of stuff, they may just now be opening their eyes to see that while they weren’t actively lied to, they did buy into a message that left all the icky stuff out. And rather than hating themselves for not looking into it more closely, they’ll hate him for it. But I think most of them will get over it. I think we’ll see the farther left members of Congress do just enough to make them happy and they will forget about this affair. However, if Obama doesn’t come out as a strong advocate for their causes at some point (he was a community organizer, you know), then they may redirect their energy to the Congressional and state candidates who don’t leave them with less buyers remorse wondering, “Where’s the hopechange?”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Encourages Law Breaking
They are taking the Mayor of Pittsburgh to task because he won’t sign an illegal law:
For all the mayor’s good words to council, that statement to state lawmakers would have been stronger if the city’s highest elected official had affixed his signature to it. That would have been real leadership.
Is real leadership being demonstrated by Philadelphia? A city that’s running out money to such a degree that they are closing fire stations and cutting back on other essential services, but yet has the money to fight for worthless gun control measures in Pennsylvania’s courts with almost no chance of prevailing? That’s the kind of leadership you want to see out of Pittsburgh? I think Mayor Ravenstahl has demonstrated leadership, which the Post-Gazette wouldn’t apparently recognized if they were slapped in the face with it.
Gun Nutty Pittsburgh
Allegheny County, which is home to Pittsburgh, issues more licenses to carry than any other county in the state:
About one in 20 people in Allegheny County has a permit to carry a concealed firearm, state police records show. With 60,000 licensed gun owners, the county has more than any county in the state. Statewide, more than 800,000 people can carry a concealed weapon.
That figure for the whole state is a lot higher than previously reported. Could be wrong, or it could be we’ve had an increase in the number of people seeking licenses.
More on One-Gun-a-Month
NRA reports that the New Jersey one-gun-a-month bill was indeed pulled from a floor vote. It will remain a pending bill in the legislature for the next thirteen months remaining in the term, and could have a floor vote at any time. But NRA does mention:
While this legislation will remain in a position to be posted for a vote by the full Senate for the rest of the 13 months remaining in the term, this development can only indicate a softening of support for this dangerous bill. Overwhelming effort on the part of the grassroots networks of a variety of gun rights groups in New Jersey must be credited with this apparent reversal of fortune for the anti-gun crowd.
There are people who deserve credit for this. Scott Bach, who is an NRA Board Member and President of the Association of New Jersey Rifle Pistol Clubs, Andrew Jennison, who is the NRA state liaison for New Jersey, and probably more than a few other people who I’m overlooking. But really, none of these people are scary to politicians without grass roots who are involved and engaged.
This is a minor, and possibly short lived victory, but it wasn’t too long ago the anti-gun forces in New Jersey could steamroll us whenever they wanted to. That might be changing, but we must keep up the fight.
New Jersey Sportsmen Get Representation in Trenton
It looks like a few lawmakers have decided it’s still okay to publicly support hunters in Trenton.
New Jersey’s nearly 1,000,000 anglers, hunters and trappers are claiming a historic day. They are referring to the creation and first official meeting of the New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus (NJAHCC), a bipartisan assembly of political leaders and recreational outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to advancing the state’s conservation interests.
The NJAHCC was initiated and organized by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney (Democratic Majority Leader) at the suggestion, and with the cooperation, of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance. The Caucus is comprised of a total of 26 senators and assemblypersons.
Hopefully these lawmakers will also vote the right way on gun issues. I haven’t looked up their grades or voting records yet. If they aren’t gun-friendly yet, this is one way gun owners can approach them.
Unfortunately, gun owners in New Jersey have a long way to go because 26 lawmakers in both chambers isn’t very many when there are 120 legislators in total.
New Jersey One-Gun-A-Month Vote
The vote did not happen today in the Senate. At this point, that’s all the information I have about it.
Don’t Fly Your Flag in Philadelphia Court Offices
Attention New Jersey Readers
The New Jersey Senate is having a floor vote today on S-1774, which will ration folks in New Jersey to no more than one handgun purchase permit per month. Given New Jersey’s gun laws already require you to obtain permission from the police to purchase a handgun, a process that can often take more than a year, this is pretty ridiculous.
If you live in New Jersey, you should call your State Stenator now. Bryan Miller has graciously provided instruction on how to contact their office. Of course, you’ll want to tell him or to vote NO on S-1774, not yes.
Ed Rendell Says Obama Thinks We’re Stupid
Of course, we gun owners already know what Obama really thinks of us.
While doing an interview this morning, Ed Rendell said that Obama’s handling of the Blagojevich scandal indicates that he thinks the American people aren’t so bright as to understand why Obama’s people would need to talk to Rod’s people.
“They have never been in an executive position before,†Rendell said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.†“The rule of thumb is whatever you did, say it and get it over with and make it a one-day story as opposed to a three-day story. Politicians are always misjudging the intelligence of the American people.â€
He doesn’t stop there because Fast Eddie never does. Instead, he actually makes the very good point that the public would understand why he had an interest in who took the seat and talking to the Governor’s office would be a natural step in the transition. Of course, then he implies that Blagojevich “was the craziest S.O.B. in the world.” Gotta love our Governor.