So anti-gunner Chuck Schumer is getting his catering to hunters on.

No real point in having a trial if he’s going to be detained even if acquitted.

The press likes to tell us she’s a dumb hick who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. So, I wonder why they spend so much time trying to demonize the woman. I mean, if she’s that dumb, why spend time digging up the dirt? Palin’s greatest attribute is her ability to drive the press and the left (but I repeat myself) insane. It amuses me.

A look at what congressmonkeys got in exchange for voting on the healthcare bill that will bankrupt us.

They were against it before their guy was for it.

Picking on media matters isn’t very sporting (too easy). But this is a good read. Hacks are all for big government when their guys are in charge.

A look at ‘exploding’ bullets.

I agree that as long as social issues are at the forefront of the Republican party, they will have a hard time being successful. People, generally, seem more concerned about government largess, spending, economy, taxes, and such than they do about gay cooties and abortion. And they largely like being left alone. YMMV.

No, I’m not talking about the Obama administration. I’m talking about the TeeVee show V. I watched that show and had quite a few belly laughs over how it’s tied to some current events. Some spoilers so don’t read more if you don’t want to know.

But the leader of the aliens, Anna, is a charismatic speaker who people get really into. Some characters compared the devotion to the visitors to religion and messiah figures. Anna spoke of hope and change. The visitors offered universal health care to the people. And the press agreed to ask questions that would not portray the visitors in a negative light. I don’t know if the writers of the show did that on purpose but a lot of the things were rather similar to criticism of Obama and some things were definitely similar to Obama. I laughed.

Update and bump: Also, seriously, 29 spaceships enter the atmosphere and hover above major cities. And people don’t bug out? If giant space craft landed over Maryville, me, the wife, and the kids would be hitting the back forty with lots of guns, skinning bucks, running trot lines, and doing other things from Hank Jr. songs. I wouldn’t be hanging around to see what happened.

Update: From Bitter, similar thoughts at the Chicago Tribune.

Dave Kopel calls last night’s elections Another good night for the Second Amendment.

The Foundry:

Congress is actually using your tax dollars to pay social scientists to find ways they can avoid actually talking to their constituents while improving their chances of reelection.

Turns out all those lawmakers being investigated for ethics violations, it’s because we’re all racists.

The only race the Democrats won was the one where there wasn’t a Republican candidate.

McDonnell takes VA. The AP calls NJ for Christie.

I’m glad a non-republican and non-democrat candidate is reportedly doing well in an election in NY of all places. I guess maybe politicos could realize that the people just aren’t happy that all races boil down to one guy who sucks and one guy who sucks more.

Of course, with two Democrats in the race (though one was called a Republican), that makes this even more hopey changey. The supposed Republican dropped out and endorsed the Democrat. I guess even more than party over country is two-party system over anything. Since the two parties have spent considerable time rigging the game.

Not found in a feel-good law.

Obama administration evokes state secrets. Again. In the name of national security and all.

And more ‘transparency‘.

Ya know, on the few things I thought I’d like about Obama (open government, putting bills on line, etc.), he’s been an abject failure.

I’d have tried out for ATF director.

Hope and change:

More than 40% of President Obama’s top-level fundraisers have secured posts in his administration, from key executive branch jobs to diplomatic postings in countries such as France, Spain and the Bahamas, a USA TODAY analysis finds.

Twenty of the 47 fundraisers that Obama’s campaign identified as collecting more than $500,000 have been named to government positions, the analysis found.

And that’s from USA Today who, unusually, has some harsh words for the president. It’s like the new president smell has worn off or something.

Republican Congressman Jeff Flake regarding his vote against H.Res.784, a bill “honoring the 2560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and recognizing his invaluable contributions to philosophy and social and political thought”:

He who spends time passing trivial legislation may find himself out of time to read healthcare bill

Well played, sir. Well played.

For serious:

On Friday, I’m taking part in a debate that will be broadcast on C-SPAN. Howard Dean and I will be crossing rhetorical swords with Dick Armey and John Kasich on the question “America’s Future: Can Capitalism Survive?” The event will be moderated by Joe Scarborough. I plan to make the point that what we have right now is not actually capitalism — it’s corporatism. It’s welfare for the rich. It’s the government picking winners and losers. It’s Wall Street having their taxpayer-funded cake and eating it too. It’s socialized losses and privatized gains.

Libertarianism at a high.

Some gun polls.

Justice department: black people are too stupid to know who to vote for unless we tell them.

Think we’ll see any accusations of racism here?

ACK: Tennessee is in for many years of Republican rule.

Good way to make a point.

Seems DVRs actually increase TeeVee viewership. But someone should tell them that people aren’t watching commercials.

Obama says he’ll end don’t ask don’t tell. But don’t ask when because he won’t tell you.

I really have nothing to say about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s so surreal I can’t even work up something snarky to say.

Senate hearing lead by Feingold to look at the constitutionality of Czars.

Props and photo-ops.

Via Bruce.

Kid’s pretty amazing:

CNN fact checks a Saturday Night Live skit. Are you fucking serious? How much further in the tank could they be?

So does Yahoo news.

Meanwhile, CNN hasn’t updated the recession watch page since 2008. What’s different?

Like I said of the Democrats just in 2006 (only I won’t use the retarded monkey line this time because some bonehead will call me a racist), just shut up. They’re doing everything for you. Keep your mouths shut until you decide you’re announcing in 2010 and the rest will take care of itself. People are paying attention. And not happy. So, just shut up. Because usually when you open your mouths, you say something stupid.

And if you win, you better live up to some requests people are making.

Michael on the Obama administration’s position on shield laws:

Boy, talk about alienating your base.

The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy is all, like, buying books and stuff. See, Clinton was right to start yammering about it again.

Seen at Michael’s:

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) declared in a radio interview that same sex marriage is part of a socialist agenda to undermine “the foundations of individual rights and liberties.”

Yeah, they’re the ones doing that. It was totally the gays who passed roving wiretaps; mandated two flush toilets; made it a felony to import lobsters in bags and not boxes; eliminated my right to choose which light bulbs I can use; mandated that all my banking transactions be monitored; and said I needed a proctological exam to board an airplane. That was the gays alright and not boneheads whose names start with Rep.

There had to be some way to make that song good:

Paranoia about paranoiacs.

Obama administration says dismiss suit seeking benefits for same sex couples.

Harold Ford, Jr.:

However, the actions taken over the past year have led to real and justified fears that such unprecedented government intervention will become the norm — that the government will just keep growing, with no way to pay for the increased spending.

I’ll start respecting the office when those who hold it start respecting it and the constitution. Until then, they’re all rightfully subject to scorn and derision.

We just had a big media to-do about one politico calling another one a liar. And the story was about how rude that was. Not whether or not the president was lying or not.

George W. Bush:

Look, I know this probably sounds arrogant to say,” the president said, “but I redefined the Republican Party.

Redefined or set back substantially? Tuh may toe. Tuh mah toe.

Congrats for turning both parties into big government, nanny staters.

The house rules seem to limit speech and representation.

Heh.

Meanwhile, good for Barack Obama: The president does not believe that the criticism… is based on the color of his skin

I will: Coke CEO calls Obama a commie.

Jimmy Carter’s decline is rather sad to watch, actually. Poor guy.

Update: Zing: Dissent is the greatest form of racism.

The market sometimes knows:

the $60 billion or so given to G.M. and Chrysler is likely to prove a bad investment for taxpayers (which may explain why no one else was rushing to invest in these companies).

And, of course, it may have been illegal.

Acorn involved in vote fraud.

Or why Obama seems to be a more effective campaigner and less effective actually executing specific things. Probably has something to do with the fact his entire career has been centered on getting the next job and not doing the current one. That’s tough when you’re at the top.

I only meant that stuff when I’m campaigning.

Some folks are worried that their little snowflakes are going to get a heavy dose of propaganda when the president speaks to their kids today. And they think propaganda should come from the home. Looks to me like he’s giving one of those stay in school speeches so I’m not that concerned. Not quite sure what all the hubbub is about, except partisanship.

Update: When Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings

The first rule of being a communist is never admit you were a communist.

It’s OK for conservative sorts to be anti-interventionist again.

Come and take it.

What color is that shirt?

Some bonehead politico in MA who supported a measure to hike the state’s taxes on booze was seen across the border in NH buying booze to avoid the taxes he voted to raise. Taxes, you see, are for the little people.

In a rather funny twist, one two-bit dictator wannabe doesn’t want another two-bit dictator wannabe pitching a tent in his state.

Seen at Phelps’:

If Americans could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, 57% would throw out all the legislators and start over again. Just 25% would vote to keep the Congress.

And, yet, incumbents are still re-elected about 95% of the time. If you want to throw the bums out, you gotta start with your bum first.

Acting Locally, Thinking Nationally

Will Wilkinson:

It ought to be less embarrassing to have been influenced by Ayn Rand than by Karl Marx.

It is.

Michael C. Moynihan:

doesn’t good taste dictate that ObamaCare advocates wait at least one business day before using Ted Kennedy’s death to agitate for health care reform?

As Wellstone’s untimely death showed, never waste a tragedy.

Corker says he’s for health insurance reform. However, I think he and those that oppose nationalized health insurance should keep making that distinction. One of the more effective bits of propaganda from the socialized medicine crowd is to label it health care reform. It has as much to do with health care reform as arguing over who pays the tab has on the quality of your dinner.

A look at how how MA chooses a successor. Interestingly, the law was put there in case Kerry won. And Kennedy recently tried to change it back.

Party above all.

I’ve often said I don’t want the people who spend $900 on a hammer anywhere near my medical decisions. Smijer points out other great moments in government intervention.

Is this a news piece or a propaganda piece?

Update: It’s like there’s a well-orchestrated campaign or something?

Secret service temporarily confiscates cell phones of patrons when Michelle Obama goes out for a burger. My first thought was I would not comply with the request. Apparently, I’m not the only one.

ACK: Why conservative blacks seldom become conservatives

Patrik Jonsson:

Did rifle-toting Obama protester help or hurt gun rights?

The press coverage of threats to Obama compared to threats v. Bush.

Heck, the press is covering non-threats more vigorously.

Via Tam.

Looks like there’s some sort of protest scheduled in Knoxville. The Blount County Democrats (both of them) plan on counter protesting.

Oh, internets, is there anything we won’t argue about, no matter how stupid. Such as why your guy more closely resembles a Nazi than my guy.

* That verbal gag sounded better in my head than when I wrote it.

The White House supports civil rights:

White House Backs Right to Arms Outside Obama Events

Armed men seen mixing with protesters outside recent events held by President Obama acted within the law, the White House said Tuesday, attempting to allay fears of a security threat.

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. “There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally,” he said. “Those laws don’t change when the president comes to your state or locality.”

I guess this had one of the desired results.

Dissension in the ranks!

A black man lawfully carries his AR-15 at a political rally. The press loses its collective shit, tossing it over in the corner with its objectivity. And the reactions from the pro-gun side are varied. I’m on record as saying it’s a poor marketing decision. Some say it’s good. Others say it was a bad thing. First, the scenario:

those open carry advocates at yesterday’s event in Arizona arranged for a police liaison the day before the event, and were constantly afforded security by the Phoenix Police Department and had at least one known Secret Service agent shadowing them to assure they were following the law. These citizens were never anywhere near the President, nor did they attempt to go anywhere near the Secret Service’s security perimeter that cordoned off the event and the building in which it was held.

A rather different picture than the one painted by the press who acted as though the situation was out of control. The press never tried to interview the guy. Rather, just displayed their ire and distrust of a black man with a gun.

Several gun bloggers also thought it was a bad idea:

Sebastian: part of breaking down stereotypes and misconceptions about gun owners being deviant or abnormal is to act normal. Normal people do not walk around with AR-15s slung over their shoulders

Jeffy Weffy: I have to waver, though, on slinging on a rifle as you protest an event — regardless of who the speaker is — because it naturally coarsens the conversation and serves no justifiable purpose other than to attempt, by visual means, to silence the other side by an implied threat that you will use whatever means possible to achieve your side’s goal.

David: I can’t say as I’m fond of the idea — the media is quick to portray gun rights activists as menacing or intimidating, and there’s no reason to set the stage for just that.

Conversely, other gun bloggers disagree. Commenter Steve says: How long will it be before the public starts to think, “Wow, this is about the tenth/hundredth/millionth time somebody wore a gun to an event……AND NOTHING HAPPENED!!! It’s news because it’s unusual. Once it’s usual, it will stop being news.

Well, it just takes once. Robb addresses the marketing aspect: THE MEDIA HATES US. Get used to it. We will never get good, national coverage. To worry about how the media is going to portray us is asinine. Because of their inability to remain objective, more and more people are no longer trusting the MSM, but that’s still going to be a thorn in the side of gun owners for decades to come.

Linoge brings the civil rights analogies.

And Oleg offers: Showing up with openly carried arms took bravery and preparation. I am sure that the people using their Constitutional rights would have been molested had it not been for the media and individual attention. The admission by the various reporters that open carry is legal in many states is the payoff from the calculated risk taken by the demonstrators.

Sebastian rounds up reaction.

As for what I think? It’s good and bad for the reasons outlined above. The question is was it more good than bad? Frankly, your average non-gun-nut that I have discussed this with seems unconcerned by the whole idea. And, as long as there’s no violence, will remain unconcerned. Seems like a win to me.

Nazis, lunatics, racists, and lynch mobs. Oh my.

The president of Whole Foods proposed some health insurance reform ideas that did not involve rainbow farting unicorns or pixie dust. So, the hand-wringing and righteous (odd qualities when asking for free federal money) call for a boycott.

We don’t have those around here. But if we did, I’d probably shop there.

Rivrdog:

We’re just at the upper end of the Soap Box, and the Obama-bots are screaming as if we were up to the Cartridge Box.

A potential domestic terrorist speaks.

Because they’re apparently winning:

New Gallup poll shows town hall protests winning over independents?

Obama embraces free market – for once: ‘It’s the Post Office That’s Always Having Problems’

Well, the USPS is losing money. So, sell it to Netflix. Lysander Spooner would be proud.

Per an poll at CNN, 55% of it’s readers say town-hall protests over health care are being orchestrated by lobbyists. This tells me the average CNN reader couldn’t find his own ass with two hands and an ass map.

Meanwhile, here’s an actual craigslist ad:

DEFEND President Obama’s Health Care Plan over August Recess! $500+/wk (Capitol Hill)

But dissent is supposed to be patriotic? And bonus Nazis!

Mapped out for ease of use

It’s a former board member of the Joyce Foundation.

Jefferson guilty.

Or Chuck Norris will kick your ass.

I was lied to. I was told all our problems would be solved by a rainbow-farting unicorn. It’s a rainbow-farting terrier.

NRA to score votes on Sotomayor’s confirmation.

I laughed: It took President Obama six months to pick a dog for the White House, but he wants Congress to pass a massive health care reform bill in two weeks!

By fact-checking me on health care reform.

Plus what we can learn from the debacle that is TennCare.

Apparently, in yesterday’s reciprocity vote, a number of senators voted yes because they realized the bill would not pass and wanted to better their pro-gun record. Pathetic.

Apparently, Obama is going to get on the prime time TeeVee and tell us all about how he saved the economy:

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told The New York Times Obama intends to use the news conference as a “six-month report card,” to talk about “how we rescued the economy from the worst recession”

Followed by why we need to pass energy, environment, and health care bills.

Meanwhile, those of us here in the real world who notice that our payroll is running about 50% what it was last year and margins and volume are down will have questions. And be told that You’re going to destroy my presidency.

Update: Michael in comments: Mission Accomplished!

I always said, despite his faults, Harry Reid is a friend to gun owners.

The NRA lets us know that today Senators John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) will offer an amendment this week to provide for interstate recognition of Right-to-Carry permits. They encourage you to contact your senators. And here’s a handy form to show you how to contact them.

The latest Brady fundraising request err action alert says: Keep Sarah Palin’s Gun Laws in Alaska

I have a feeling we’ll see more of the Palin bogeyman soon.

Ron Paul still affecting politics, even locally.

There’s a bill to propose just that. Sebastian has a look at it. Anti-gunners and editorial boards (but I repeat myself) are already soiling themselves. Sensibly Progressive:

I did not imagine the day when we could get such a bill out for a full vote in either house, particularly with the current make-up of Congress, was already here. Even if it doesn’t pass, we seem to be doing very well at the moment — which could change at any moment, of course.

Schumer is threatening a filibuster.

Rich:

If the healthcare system proposed by Democrats in Congress is so good, why are they exempting themselves from it while forcing it on the rest of us?

Because they’re better than us.

With all that’s going on these days, I should apparently concern myself with the fact that the most powerful man in the world throws like a girl.

Sotomayor reluctantly discusses Heller.

I’m not sure if it’s dry wit or the continued love fest either.

Obama’s science guy is scary.

Seems that Barack Obama’s new president smell has kinda worn off and people aren’t so happy any more. Heck, the guy lost Greenwald and Rall among others. Jon Stewart is making fun of him. And left leaning bloggers have categories about the hopey changey.