Braisted:

Sen. Corker has supported the President’s line 68% of the time [...]

Sen. Alexander isn’t far behind, with a record of supporting the President 65% of the time.

I guess I should say something about Palin’s resignation. Not really sure what to say. I will note that I have only seen the press try to destroy one other person as quickly as they tried to destroy her and that was Joe the plumber. It was really amazing to watch the press on Palin. Rumors about her grandson, her daughter, picking on her husband, misrepresenting her position on creationism in school, press digging through her trash in Alaska. And on and on and on. I mean, it’s not like she had a close associate who was bombing police stations or anything. Amazing. And they attempted this with rabid speculation. At the same time, she said some pretty dumb things on occasion. The press could have run with that stuff but opted for personal destruction through rumor and speculation. I wonder why that is?

Anyway, I’m not sure if she’s done with politics but I’d say politics ain’t done with her.

I’m with ACK. The way this Sanford guy handled the whole situation (from his family to his day job) was not cute.

So, it looks like the newest political pixie dust we’re having shoved upon us is fixing health care. The arguments presented by advocates are largely bogus because of the way they frame the debate. You see, they use terms like health care and health insurance interchangeably, which is misleading. The great thing about America is I have access right now to all the health care I can buy. Just Saturday, I got bit by a critter. Being a weekend and a holiday, my doctor’s office was not open. I went to a local walk in clinic, said how much, they told me, and I gave them money. They then gave me health care. Amazing. People will sell something that you’re willing to buy.

Now, someone comes along and says You’re just mean. Some folks can’t afford it. You’re right. Some folks can’t afford it. And I am mean. But just like some folks can’t afford houses and food and cars, some folks can’t afford to pay a doctor. That’s the way the world works, some times. But it does mean that, at least, you realize that we do have health care and the conversation you want to have is about who is paying for it. And you want me to. That’s the first step.

And, it turns out, we have a health insurance program in this country to benefit those who cannot afford it. It’s called Medicaid. And it’s broken. You want someone to take your silly give everybody free stuff and fluffy puppies pipe dream seriously, fix Medicaid. Because we can’t afford to pay for anyone else.

Meanwhile, a look at socialist health care in other countries.

Indefinite detention of terror suspects.

Insty:

I wonder if they’d use that term for more PC rights? I mean, polls pretty consistently show that about 3/4 of Americans think the Second Amendment gives them a right to own a gun, and the Supreme Court has said so, too. So how “divisive” is that, really?

As he would say, indeed.

Germantown aldermen to vote on banning guns in park

Of course it is. We’re picking up the tab for it twice:

There is a rich literature testifying to this phenomenon. A study last December by Milliman Inc., an independent consulting firm, commissioned by America’s Health Insurance Plans, found that underpayment by Medicare and Medicaid accounted for nearly an 11% increase in the health care costs of private plans. This means that on average a privately insured family is forced to pick up about $1,800 extra every year of the government’s slack. Private plans, all in all, are subsidizing government programs to the tune of $90 billion annually.

Kinda minimizes that claim about the percentage of dollars in Medicare that goes to care. Of course, Medicare doesn’t do R&D; deal with insurance companies; pay compliance costs; etc.

Meanwhile, free-marketers should support the public option? Only if you don’t know what a free-marketer is.

Lautenberg bill will harass gun owners, not terrorists

Ted Novin: The report, which NSSF is still reviewing, appears to be rife with error.

It looks like GAO may have hired a Violence Policy Center shill to write parts of it. Of course, it’s not like the VPC has anything else to do.

Lamar on my money:

“The audit? It’s a bad idea,” said Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, head of the Republican Conference in the Senate. “It’s a sorry day when the Congress superimposes itself on the Fed, nosing around in monetary policy. It’s bad enough we are nosing around with the car companies.”

No, it’s a sorry day when the guys who represent me don’t care about overseeing my money.

Aunt B.’s dad:

The second I realized I recognized almost every name going into his cabinet, I knew it was going to be business as usual.

Yup.

Obama abandoned they gays, after he got their money and votes. Their growing discontent lead to him extending benefits to same sex couples that are federal employees.

The return of the militia scare.

So, if I understand this correctly, Ahmadinejad is a right-winger because he supports right-wing ideas like wealth redistribution and class-resentment?

Joe Biden on the stimulus package utter failure to stimulate anything other than the pockets of wealthy campaign contributers:

everyone guessed wrong

No. Some folks got it just right. The Geek reminds you:

Some of us were at tea parties wearing Gadsden flags like superman capes, telling y’all that you’re wrong, wrong, wrong.

Good: Coburn and Thune are proposing the addition of an amendment promoting interstate concealed carry attached to hate crimes legislation.

Late yesterday, the few lefty blogs I read and the few lefty commenters I encountered were all saying the same thing about the holocaust museum shooter. They all said something to the effect of if only the DHS didn’t have to redact that report on right wing extremism, then everything would be all rainbow-farting unicorns and stuff. And I thought these guys are fast, it’s like they have talking points or something. Turns out, they do. It’s even called Talking Points.

Seems the guy pretty much hated everyone, including Christians, Jews, Neo-cons, and probably puppies. Narrative doesn’t seem to stand up all that well.

My opinion, seems like an 89 year-old with a 22 rifle is probably trying to commit suicide by cop and have one last hurrah for his crazy ideas.

Everything has an expiration date.

A look at the Virginia primary:

Here in the cold light of dawn (or mid afternoon) following the Democratic triumph of Creigh Deeds, I’ve been reading what some outlanders think of our little scrum. AP moved an analysis of the race, as has the New York Times and The Atlantic.

What’s striking about all three is just how wrong they are.

The Doc has some harsh (and deserved) words for a man who advocated raping conservative women:

I say, “put up or shut up.” Honestly, do you really think a pansy guy like this Guy Cimbalo would have the courage to get in a room with, much less actually rape any of these conservative women?

Barack Obama brings the Jesus more than Bush did?

Pro-gun Democrat Creigh Deeds takes Democrat primary in Virginia. Sebastian notes:

Moreover, it’s definitely a slap in the face to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including Ed Rendell and Mayor Bloomberg, who put so much on the line only to come out with an empty bag.

It’s amazing what happens when Democrats take the gun control off the table, eh?

You see Gingrich a lot more.

Seems Paul Helmke is a sad panda because Obama is not enacting more gun controls. Well, Paul, don’t you remember when Obama was wooing us gun owners and he said as much? I have to admit, I did not believe him. Here I thought I was being duped but, it turns out, he was duping The Brady Campaign.

Third notes it’s a trend: Obviously, as is his SOP, that includes throwing all those minorities like gays and gun controllers under the bus when his promises become inconvenient.

Anyway, not the first group to be disappointed with Obama. Seems the gay rights folks are feeling duped as well.

No, we can’t.

Confederate Yankee:

Denying terrorists the means by which to carry out their attacks is something we can all get behind on both sides, but I can’t find anything in King’s bill to suggest that Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad or Scott Roeder would have been effectively denied access to firearms even if King’s proposed bill was already established law.

Despite the US Government dumping $50B into a company that is too big to fail, GM is filing for bankruptcy. I would think that $50B was to, you know, pay your bills so you wouldn’t go bankrupt. And the best part is the .gov is going to shell out another $30B.

First, Glenn Greenwald, now Ted Rall:

Obama is cute. He is charming. But there is something rotten inside him. Unlike the Republicans who backed George W. Bush, I won’t follow a terrible leader just because I voted for him. Obama has revealed himself. He is a monster, and he should remove himself from power.

You know, I’m starting to think those two crazy kids just have a problem with authority. They’ll be buying guns and stocking up on canned goods soon.

The Black Panthers caught on tape intimidating voters will not be charged due to a request by the Obama administration.

In an odd shift, it seems that while the Democrat party leaders get it on the gun issue, the party faithful do not:

The poll revealed that while 92% of identified Republicans who responded say the U.S. Constitution affirms an individual right to own a gun under the Second Amendment, only 64% of those who said they were Democrats believe that.

So, while many of the party leaders and politicians are not keen on it, there is not quite that degree of support for gun rights among their voters.

Remember that promise made by Obama to post bills online. And to wait and review them instead of signing them in a hurry? Remember? Once again, not so much:

It seemed among the easiest of his transparency pledges and is entirely under his control, but President Obama is finagling his promise to post bills on the White House Web site for comment for five days before he signs them.

Mr. Obama last week signed four bills, each just a day or two after Congress passed and sent it over to him.

Tam wonders why we’re all shocked about Sotomayor being anti-gun when she would replace someone who is, err, anti-gun. Quips Tam:

If we’re lucky, their feelings towards firearms will only be mild antipathy rather than active loathing.

We Win, They Lose. Now, Let’s Get To Work. – Paul Helmke on the November Elections

The Washington Times discusses those shills of the NRA: The Democrat Party:

Democratic leaders in Congress tend to support more restrictive gun laws but have yielded on the issue since a majority of their rank-and-file members increasingly side with the National Rifle Association (NRA) when votes involve the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Gun-control groups blame the Obama White House for the setbacks, saying the administration kept mum on firearms issues even when shooting incidents killed six at a North Carolina nursing home in March and left 13 dead at an upstate New York immigration center in April.

Well, they ran as pro-gun.

At the WaPo, summing up Sotomayor

The courts: where policy is made. Odd. I thought we had another branch of government for that.

And: I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life

White and a penis = bad decisions?

Looks like Sonia Sotomayor is the SCOTUS nom. Because she has a vagina. At least, that’s why they tell me should be the pick.

About all I can find on her regarding the second amendment was that she was a judge in Maloney v. Cuomo, which is the nunchaku case in NY where the court said the second amendment doesn’t apply to the states.

Update: In addition to the vagina, she’s also got brown skin. Apparently, these are two important traits in a justice. Because that’s what people are focusing on.

Barack Obama:

Well, we are out of money now.

Obama will sign a pro gun bill into law today. Sadly, it’s attached to the stupid credit card reform bill. But it’s a bit odd to see Obama doing something pro-gun. Even if it’s for the wrong reasons.

Remember that? Paul Helmke said it about passing more gun laws after the November elections. He could taste the coming gun laws. But, you know, a funny thing happened. Not a whole lot.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel: your Right to Keep and Bear Arms is CANCELLED

That’s how some in the press are referring to Mitt Romney with respect to his relationship to NRA. Mitt Romney has spoken at the last two conventions. He hurriedly joined the NRA on the presidential campaign trail and has tried to pick up the gun vote. Trouble is that Romney’s record on guns isn’t good. As governor, he never saw a gun control bill he didn’t like and he signed into law the state’s ban on weapons that look like assault rifles. No thanks.

Via David.

Heh! Dude, you’re famous on the internet.

LaPierre on Mexico. A freighter full of AKs that didn’t come from Texas.

Bane has thoughts on the political outlook on guns.

CrimsonTrace makes laser grips for the Bersa.

Big Government or Big Government with a side order of Jesus?

Meghan McCain on popping some caps:

In the days after my dad lost the election, my brothers and I went to shoot rounds at the local shooting range. Partly because—as anyone who knows how to use a rifle and can do so safely understands—doing so is hugely stress-relieving, and partly because, we half-joked, it might mark the beginning of the end of our Second Amendment rights under the Obama administration. Now I admit we probably thought as much because our emotions were running so high following the election, but the fact remains: The right to bear arms, and specifically the idea of it being taken away from me, is one of my biggest concerns.

A couple things. One, the candidates were asked at one of the debates if they owned guns. Your dad did not answer in the affirmative. Two, looks like she’s getting put upon in comments.

Heh.

Top-notch and credible news source prison planet reports that Gillibrand will introduce an assault weapons next week. It’s based on this article in which McCarthy says she’ll introduce one. And by she, McCarthy means McCarthy. And McCarthy is in the house and Gillibrand is in the senate. So, don’t put too much faith in the crack reporting from Alex Jones’ minions. Granted, Gillibrand has been a disappointment to gun owners. Wonder how NRA will grade the A-Rated senator in the coming years?

Ya know, Wanda Sykes is usually funny. I liked her shows. They were funny. Unfortunately, I was one of the only people who thought that. But the kidney and terrorist jokes were not funny.

And the truth in a joke: Most of you covered me; all of you voted for me.

While we’re discussing things easy to make fun of, I don’t understand why it’s a big deal for Obama to put Dijon mustard on a burger. Nor why people are getting bent out of shape for mocking the mustard.

He’s crying because the Obama administration did not remove the Tiahrt language from the budget bill. You know, that bill that Paul always lies about with respect to gun traces.

Well, the press has been taking dictation from the anti-gun lobby for years. Why not take dictation from the administration? They’re both paid for by the Joyce Foundation.

Obama To Fire His First Gay Arabic Linguist

Vote fraud by ACORN? No way.

Next week. Claims it’s a test for Gillibrand, who, despite an NRA A rating, has been a disappointment to gun owners.

At dinner last night, my non-gun-nut father in law said something like: I’m guessing that the record increase in sales of firearms and ammo has sent a message to Democrats in congress and the administration that the public is not convinced they’re not going to take guns away.

Arlen Specter will apparently do anything to stay in power. He has switched parties. Will his gun votes change too? He is A-Rated by NRA. This could give Democrats the magic 60 to be filibuster proof.

He says the Republican party moved too far right. Really? When? Seem to be headed the other way to me.

Interesting times.

So, Memphis and Nashville make the national list of most dangerous cities. I’m surprised Nashville made the list but keep waiting for Memphis to finally crack the top spot. This bit of information causes Aunt B. some pause:

And, frankly, it’s for this reason that I’m opposed to any gun control in Tennessee.

When you listen to why people in the State want guns, they’re saying a lot of things that we Democrats need to hear. Why do people want guns?

More Democrat bloggers like this please. Instead of prominent state Democrat bloggers who parrot the Brady Campaign.

If there’s one thing that’s been blown way out of proportion, it’s Texas Governor Perry’s implication about secession. It does amuse me though that his comment was about Texas independence (not actually declaring independence but that Texas is a pretty independent place) and he goes and asks the feds for flu vaccine.

Via Guav, who wonders about other federal largess that heads to Texas like That $200 billion Texas got in defense contracts between 2000 and 2007? Well, I guess the nation of Texas would need it’s own defending.

Actually, I’m amused by all the secession talk lately as a mental exercise. No one who is taken seriously advocates secession but could it be done? The SCOTUS ruled that leaving only happened “through revolution, or through consent of the States” and secession was a no go.

Failure Jimmy Carter says the only reason to own weapons that look like assault rifles is to kill police and engage in mass murder:

But none of us wants to own an assault weapon, because we have no desire to kill policemen or go to a school or workplace to see how many victims we can accumulate before we are finally shot or take our own lives. That’s why the White House and Congress must not give up on trying to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, even if it may be politically difficult.

Update: From Les Jones in comments:

An old-fashioned shotgun is all a fella needs to kill his sister-in-law’s cat, as Jimmy found out.

Wow.

Update 2: A cry for help.

When campaigning, Obama said he’d not rush to sign any bills. He’d put them online for five days, review, and make them open to the public. So far, he’s 1 for 11 on that promise.

So, Limbaugh is a spokesperson for the Humane Society US. Humane Society is anti-hunting. He’s supposed to speak at the 2010 NRA convention. So, what will NRA do?

Tiahrt says to Holder: Read the bill and stop lying about it.

Step one was force folks to take TARP money. Step two is dictate what those who receive it have to do. Then, more control. And to keep it up, refuse repayment of TARP loans.

Hope and change.

Remember those 10 signs you’re living in a Banana Republic? Well, if there were 11, it would be that the new governing power prosecutes the former governing power. No good can come from this:

President Obama left open the door Tuesday for charges to be brought against Bush administration lawyers who justified harsh interrogation techniques, though he continued to argue that CIA agents who used those tactics should not be prosecuted.

Update: It does occur to me (based on Nomen’s comment) that there are instances in which prosecution may be acceptable. But it’s a line that, once crossed, can lead to all kinds of bad.

Bad move: President Obama has nominated Mothers Against Drunk Driving CEO Chuck Hurley to head up the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A life-long anti-alcohol activist.

She and Schumer are calling for the repeal of federal policy requiring records of gun background checks be destroyed after 24 hours. Seek to return to the 90 day limit.

FactCheck.org, which is ordinarily in the tank for Obama, comes out and says that the 90% of guns in Mexico come from the US that the administration parrots is false:

But is it true as President Obama said, that “More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States?” No, it’s not.

The figure represents only the percentage of crime guns that have been submitted by Mexican officials and traced by U.S. officials. We can find no hard data on the total number of guns actually “recovered in Mexico,” but U.S. and Mexican officials both say that Mexico recovers more guns than it submits for tracing. Therefore, the percentage of guns “recovered” and traced to U.S. sources necessarily is less than 90 percent.

Furthermore, the 90 percent figure is based on a badly biased sample of all Mexican crime guns. Law enforcement officials say Mexico asks the U.S. to trace only those guns with serial numbers or other markings that indicate they are likely to have come though the U.S.

Fox News has put the percentage at only 17 percent, but we find that to be based on a mistaken assumption that throws its figure way off. We can’t offer a precise calculation because we know of no hard information on the total number of guns Mexican officials have recovered. But if a rough figure given by Mexico’s attorney general is accurate, then the actual percentage of all Mexican crime guns traced to U.S. sources is probably less than half what the president claims, and more than double what Fox news has reported.

If I had to guess, I would say that the majority of handguns likely do come from the US. But not 90%. I would also say that hardly any of the machine guns, rocket launchers, and anti-aircraft guns the press likes to parade in photo ops comes from the US.

After pledging support for international gun control, Obama was asked about the ban on politically incorrect self-loading rifles. The press says that Obama won’t seek a ban on the most popular rifles in the country. But did he really say that? No, he did not:

Now, having said that, I think none of us are under any illusion that reinstating that ban would be easy.

He wants the ban but realizes it would cost the Democrats. And, of course, a lot of the Democrats will not sign on anyway. Obama rambled on about tracing. I’m not sure what he was trying to get at there but it seems to be a reference to the Tiahrt amendment. And, of course, he misrepresents what it does.

Story kinda broke yesterday but, being at my secure and undisclosed location, I wasn’t able to blog about it. Sebastian did the heavy lifting. Anyway, it looks like Barack Obama has pledged his support for a treaty that will advocate restricting gun rights:

In addition to making illegal the unauthorized manufacture and exporting of firearms, the treaty calls for countries to adopt strict licensing requirements, mark firearms when they are made and imported to make them easier to trace, and establish a cooperative process for sharing information between national law-enforcement agencies investigating arms smuggling.

No thanks. There’s enough in there to really rile up gun owners though. You watch. Meanwhile, NRA issues a statement:

The NRA is well aware of the proposed Organization of American States treaty on firearms trafficking, known by its Spanish initials as CIFTA. The NRA monitored the development of this treaty from its earliest days, but contrary to news reports today, the NRA did not “participate” at the meeting where the treaty was approved.

More on the specifics and a copy of the treaty here.

Seen at Krumm’s:

These people are advocating less government, restraints on federal power, and a return to “constitutional government.” Social conservatives who seek expansion of state power on issues from abortion to support for faith-based programs may find themselves at odds with a newly invigorated movement to shrink government and enhance individual liberty.

Well, one can hope.

As Krumm notes: they were a warning to the Republican Party: Leave us alone, or we’re leaving.

We must protect gun rights by giving up gun rights?

So, Obama flew a pizza guy to DC?

Update: Turns out, not as bad as reported. Still, seems a bit excessive.

DiFi not so keen on gun control: The National Rifle Association essentially has a stranglehold on the congress.

Meanwhile, Tom Diaz of the Violence Policy center laments the death of gun control as a movement:

The guys with the guns make the rules. Get used to it.

I’d almost feel bad for the guy. I mean, if he wasn’t some ideologue trying to trample the bill of rights, that is. As it stands, I’m amused.

Via SIH.

And, lastly, It must really suck to be on the other side

Politico:

Attorney General Eric Holder is signaling that the Obama administration is not interested in getting into a major political battle …

… to pass sensitive gun control legislation, such as re-instituting a ban on assault weapons or requiring background checks at gun shows.

On Good Morning America:

And we are just going to have to work together to come to some resolution because the court, in the meantime, in recent months, the Supreme Court has ruled in a very- in a direction that gives more opportunity for people to have guns. We never denied that right. We don’t want to take their guns away. We want them registered. We don’t want them crossing state lines…

First of all, you have denied that right. Next, you do want to take guns away. Anything used to justify registration can be accomplished through other means and all registration does is make a list of gun owners. And you don’t want guns crossing state lines? That’s a new one. What about people who hunt or participate in competition out of state?

No thanks.

Hope and change.

A round up of cheery news. Or The I wish it was April Fools post.

Chrysler is toast.

Corker, so far, is the only Senator I’ve seen who gets it:

“I think for all of us who believe in free enterprise, this is the crossing of a major threshold, and it actually should send a chill to people all across the country,” Corker said.

“You know, we have become numb to all the bailouts that are taking place,” he added. “And yet yesterday this administration decided that they know best as it relates to this industry – they’re going to be making decisions about which plants close, which plants stay open.”

Odds the closures go to red states? Well, yeah. Create a dependency class that will vote for you.

The Government to back GM and Chrysler warranties.

Government in your wallet:

The new legislation, the “Pay for Performance Act of 2009,” would impose government controls on the pay of all employees — not just top executives — of companies that have received a capital investment from the U.S. government.

Senate raising FDIC borrowing.

Cheery, eh?

White House still not touching gun control despite claims from other administration officials:

I think the problem the Democrats are facing is that they’ve been used to being able to sing platitudes about banning assault weapons with little or no consequence. Now every time someone well placed in the Administration opens their yap about assault weapons, Bushmaster gets another couple of months of backorder, and NRA no doubt signs up a lot of new members. That has to scare the hell out of the White House.

Alberto Gonzales (you remember him?) advocates a Southern Strategy (RACIST!!!) to keep Mexico secure. Blames the nonexistent gun show loophole.

The other biased Washington paper says that Hezbollah is using the same routes as Mexican drug gangs. Scary, if true.

ATF testified that the case of assault weapons flowing into Mexico was overstated. Now, a few alerts issued by the ATF notes that it’s mostly handguns. Well, yeah, those tend to be preferred by criminals. Hard to store an AK in your shorts.

The administration doesn’t seem to be at all on the same page about the ban on weapons that look like assault weapons.

Not matter how often this canard is dispelled, it’s parroted over and over in the press and by politicians.

You know what would secure Mexico from US guns? Border control. But they’d still have weapons because a lot them (namely the military hardware) is coming from their south.

BBC:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is pledging further effort to help Mexico in its anti-drugs campaign.

Mrs Clinton said the use of military-style assault weapons was a particular concern, and she would discuss reimposing a ban on their sale.

A previous US decision to lift a ban on such sales had been a mistake, she told the NBC television network.

Interesting. A commenter notes:

Cam Edwards just quoted Clinton in Mex saying she supported the 1994 AWB but it had an expiration date.

Hearing this I thought hmmmm, did the Mex Murder rate jump in 2004?

turns out yes it did.

2000 14.11
2001 13.94
2002 13.04
2003 17.5

2004 11.1

2005 10.6
2006 10.8

Raids of medical marijuana producing facilities continues.

That will teach those potheads.

A few dated articles from Second Amendment Democrats but relevant today:

Don’t Think of an Assault Weapon! Terms of the Debate on Semi-Automatics

Top 10 Myths about Semi-Automatic Firearms and the 1994 Ban

More Democrats like this please.

Me neither. But they talked the talk when they were out of power. Any way, remember Bush’s record deficits? Ain’t seen nothing yet.

They all look the same, you know.

BTW, if Bush had done this, it’d be front page everywhere. Now that it is the chosen one, not so much.

We don’t need no stinking constitution:

The House has voted overwhelmingly to enact an ex post facto fine masquerading as a tax, a bill of attainder, and a taking without just (or even unjust) compensation rolled into one.

This is dangerous, folks.

Pro-gun Democrats say no to the ban on weapons that look like assault weapons:

Sixty-five House Democrats said Wednesday that they would oppose any attempt by the Obama administration to revive a ban on military-style weapons that President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1994 and President George W. Bush let expire.

The pro-gun Democrats, led by Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., wrote Attorney General Eric Holder that they would “actively oppose any effort to reinstate the 1994 ban, or to pass any similar law.”

Good. More like this please.

Meanwhile, some sympathy for the Brady Bunch, which cannot get any traction.

Oh, Wesley, how far you have fallen:

I think we need to re-institute the assault weapons ban in the United States. If people want machine guns, let them join the military.

The assault weapons ban has about as much to do with machine guns as it does with monkeys. Regardless, Clark’s comment sounds familiar for some reason.

So, while I was out, DoD decided to end sales of once fired brass to ammo manufacturers, which would put people out of jobs and be seen as a big finger snub of gun owners by the Obama administration. Also while I was gone, a couple of Senators got wind of it and put a stop to it. Thanks to Senator Tester and Senator Baucus.

yada yada.

Gene Patterson notes that while TN’s congressmonkies talk down the stimulus and earmarks, they’re also the ones bringing home the pork:

No one is questioning the need for these particular projects (at least not that I’ve heard), but isn’t it an odd stretch to vote against a spending measure because of the pork and still manage to make sure your district gets its share of it?

Actually, I’m questioning them because they’re an unnecessary waste of my money. But good point.

Presidentin is hard.

Michael Steele on assault weapons: Then and now.

On signing statements, meet the new boss.

Curt on The American Hunters and Shooters Association:

In other words, they’re abandoning their support for individual gun control proposals (actually, more accurately, they are leaving the support of individual proposals to their sister organizations, the VPC, Brady Campaign, et al…) and are focusing on endorsing and getting anti-gun candidates elected into office.

Actually, it’s less nefarious than that, I think. I think their goal is just to get Democrats elected. Nothing more. And it doesn’t matter if those Democrats are pro-gun or not. AHSA wants them elected.

Seen at Guav’s, an open letter to Republicans from an ex-Republican:

You combined the failed ideologies of the Religious Right, so-called free market deregulation and the Neoconservative love of war to light a fire that has consumed America.

I doubt that bit of bolded word play is intentional. But if it is, bravo. If, as I suspect, it is not, then obviously you’ve not paid a great deal of attention to Bush’s deregulation.

So, if I understand the exchange correctly, the paper of making up the record asked Obama if he was a socialist. And Obama responded with Bush is.

Ok, then.

In NV: Sen. Reid tossed a big wrench in the machine when he said last week he would oppose any renewal of the poorly named and poorly designed Assault Weapon Ban. This should not surprise Nevada gun owners who have followed Reid’s record supporting our Second Amendment rights. Reid consistently voted no on that gun ban, no in 1994, no in 2004, and now no again following Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that renewing the ban was a promise of the Obama campaign.

Heh.

Heh: Only 5 weeks removed and boy, do I miss the fiscal restraint of the Bush administration.

Kirsten Gillibrand denies that she has flip-flopped on the issue of gun rights:

gun rights advocates say Gillibrand “flip-flopped” on guns because they believe she’s changing her position for political convenience. Gillibrand’s office says she’s not changing her position at all.

And her statement:

“I have always supported law enforcement having access to all of the information they need to keep us safe, fight against gun violence, and keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

“While there is language in the Tiahrt Amendments that specifically says that it will not limit data sharing for law enforcement purposes, Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Kelly, and others have made clear that the law does on occasion obstruct information sharing for law enforcement.

“Therefore, I believe the law needs to be fixed so that it does not limit the ability of law enforcement to gather data needed to identify the gun traffickers that are supplying criminals with guns.

“While I am and always will be a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights, I have also always believed that law enforcement must have all the tools necessary to protect the public from gun violence.”

Either she doesn’t understand the issue or she’s playing both sides.

The Blue Dogs stand up:

Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester have a message for the Obama administration: they will oppose any gun restrictions the new administration may be considering.

In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the two Democrats said the Justice Department should enforce existing laws rather than propose additional laws they said could infringe on Second Amendment rights.

More like this please.

US banks were forced by the .gov to take the bailout money. Of course, they need you dependent upon them.

Cheerful banking news, including: FDIC’s Bair Says Insurance Fund Could Be Insolvent This Year

Lamar Alexander votes against bill that strips earmarks and for vote-buying.

The solution is what is working so well in California.

I love this hope and change.

Some have pull:

Democrats may be running the House, but the National Rifle Association (NRA) can still stop a bill in its tracks.

House Democratic leaders on Tuesday pulled legislation from the floor that seemingly had nothing to do with guns because the NRA disliked it.