Michigan came off pretty well; however, neither of our Senators signed. Neither did the rep’s for the urban centers. Some of the suburban reps signed, some did not. All the reps for rural regions signed.

The downside? Rep. Sander Levin, my representative, didn’t sign. He’s been in office for nearly as long as I’ve been alive. I doubt this will put him out, but it might happen…

And his brother Carl is up for re-election in the Senate. They must not have kept the Bill of Rights in their copy of the Constitution.

As far as the Vice President…what most people don’t seem to realize is that the Vice President is not a part of the Executive branch. He holds no policy-making power in the administration. As the President of the Senate, however, he is a part of the Legislative branch.

It’s very clear in the Constitution. The VP holds no executive power at all unless, through virtue of succession, he BECOMES the President. The only powers granted to the Vice President are legislative in being President of the Senate and having the tie breaking vote there.

Of course this could also be nothing more than political machinations…Bush/Cheney working in concert to walk both sides of the fence. Bush takes the statist stand by supporting the Solicitor General’s Brief and Cheney appeases the “gun nuts” by signing onto the Congressional Amicus brief. I think, most likely though, that this is a true case of disagreement between them.

Bush has never been a true friend of gun owners. He made all the right noises, but when it came down to brass tacks…he pledged to sign a re-authorization of the AWB if it hit his desk. Many wrote that off as a political move that he made only because he knew the bill wouldn’t get past congress. I’m not buying. Gun control is too much of a deal killer in our political climate. I think he really supported the AWB and I believe he supports the Solicitor General’s Amicus. Bush is a statist and always has been and he’s no friend to gun owners. Cheney’s probably a statist too, but I don’t think he supports gun control and I’m convinced that they just disagree on this issue.

Sorry for the filibuster…I’ve really gotta work on my brevity.

First it’s the low Brady score, now both Senators and all five Representatives (one a D!) signed in support of the good guys.

Wow.