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Saturday, September 29, 2007

BREAKING NEWS: NEWT WON'T RUN IN '08

Fox News has confirmed that former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will not seek the Republican nomination for a bid for the White House in '08.

According to Fox News' Senior correspondents Chris Wallace and Carl Cameron, Mr. Gingrich decided that it was unrealistic to expect to raise 30 million dollars in the final quarter of 2007, a feat that has never been accomplished in a three-month period.

Gingrich had flirted with the idea of throwing his hat into the ring this year and stated that he would run if he could raise 30 million dollars. The former Speaker was set to announce tomorrow the formation of an exploratory committee that would have set in motion the fundraising process.

However, Mr. Gingrich concluded after carefully assessing the lay of the political landscape that such a goal was much too lofty. In addition, his candidacy would have further split the conservative vote among Republicans, most of whom at this point indicate that they prefer Fred Thompson.

With Gingrich in the race, Rudy Giuliani stood to gain the most. A Gingrich candidacy would have meant fragmentation for GOP conservatives, with Giuliani clearly reaping the benefits.

A few national polls show Giuliani ahead of Fred Thompson by anywhere from 3 to 6 percentage points. Other polls show Thompson ahead of Giuliani by 3 to 5 percentage points.

However, when one considers state-by-state straw polls and early data indicating the voting preferences of those most likely to vote in the various Republican primaries, Fred Thompson is clearly ahead of the game. Ohio is the latest state to join the Thompson bandwagon.

Information we have been able to gather around the country shows that Thompson is ahead in Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri.

Had Gingrich entered the race, at least half of these states would be a toss-up between Thompson and Gingrich.

Giuliani is ahead in states that in recent years have tended to support Democrats, such as New York, New Jersey, California, and Pennsylvania. However, Pennsylvania is ripe for the picking for a strong conservative candidate such as Thompson, with the state's rather large GOP issues-oriented groups such as gun owners and social conservatives.

This means that Giuliani will need to begin showing strength in areas that are perfect for a candidate such as Thompson. So far, we do not see Giuliani winning a single primary in the South and Southwest, two areas he desperately needs in order to win the GOP nomination.

With Gingrich out of the picture, don't be surprised by a Thompson sweep of everything south of the Mason-Dixon and west of the Mississippi, with the exception of California.

Hillary's 'McGovernite' Plan to Buy Votes

How does a candidate who is dogged by high negatives in the polls and constantly brewing scandals gain an advantage in the race for the White House?

Promise free money to the masses.

In a speech delivered on Friday Hillary Clinton stated that she 'likes the idea of giving $5000 dollars to each baby born in America.' Hillary would like for the taxpayers to fund accounts for each baby born in the U.S. to the tune of $5000 a piece, so that when they graduate from high school they will have money to spend for college or other worthy endeavors.

I can just hear the uninformed masses 'oooo' and 'ahhhh' over that one. And they are being egged on by proponents of big government and huge tax increases.

The thing is, she probably bought herself roughly 10 million votes by simply rolling out the proposal.

In 1972 another Democratic Presidential candidate rolled out a similar proposal. George McGovern, the Democrats' choice to run against Richard Nixon, stated that the federal government should give $1000 bucks to every man, woman, and child in America.

Like Hillary Clinton, McGovern and his backers believed that big government can solve most if not all of the problems of life. All you have to do is to 'tax the rich' to oblivion, except the definition for 'rich' keeps changing.

In February of this year, the Democratic Presidential candidates claimed that 'rich' means millionaires. In seven short months that definition has changed significantly. Rich now means that you make roughly $90,000 per year, according to Democratic strategists who devise tax schemes to pay for mammoth government social programs.

The problem is that $90,000 is a far cry from one million. In fact, a bread-winner living in NYC with a family of four would only barely make ends meet on that salary.

Yet in order to pay for everything Socialists who run the Democratic Party want in terms of social programs, those making $90,000 and above should be willing to withstand a sharp increase in taxes. After all, it's 'for the children.'

This seems to be the rallying cry of the Democrats and their government programs. Claim it's 'for the children,' and you make it well-nigh impossible for an opponent to get away with criticizing it.

George McGovern's plan to give $1000 bucks to every man, woman, and child in America back in 1972 was met with derision, as were most of his ideas. He was trounced by Nixon in the general election. Back then, being a Socialist was not a good thing. Apparently in the intervening 35 years we have raised a generation of Americans who view Marxism, Socialism, and its close cousin, Communism, as attractive ideas.

Thus, Hillary Clinton is applauded for introducing a concept that would have been met with howls of protest and ridicule 35 years ago.

During the 1970s most Democrats distanced themselves from the ideas of George McGovern. To be considered a 'McGovernite' usually spelled disaster for a Democratic candidate.

Today, the McGovernites are alive and well. They run the Democratic Party and are to be found in places of leadership in universities, law schools, the clergy, and particularly within some economic sectors.

I would suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, that such persons are of mortal danger to this nation and its Constitution. Constitutional limits on the legitimate role of government are ignored by these purveyors of Socialism, and we are poised to elect one to the Presidency in 2008 unless the masses wake up to the tyranny.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Second Amendment News Roundup for 9/28/07

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Nicki at The Liberty Zone writes about Switzerland's shame in allowing a group of Leftwing nutcase Socialists to convince the Swiss Federal Assembly to take away all of the ammo for firearms in the country and store it in government facilities:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/this-makes-me-embarrassed-to-be-woman.html

Alphecca also weighs in on Switzerland's shame:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=451

Traction Control alerts us to a strange twist--exercising a legal right is now a crime at a state fair:
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=635

Pribek (Trouble Ain't Over) has this interesting post on Ahmadinejad at Columbia U.:
http://pribek.net/2007/09/25/propaganda-victory/

The Bitch Girls point to the stance of the Democratic Presidential candidates on a national smoking ban:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=7436

Snow Flakes in Hell blogs about the gun ban on American Airlines' overseas flights:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1603

Sharp as a Marble responds to an opinion piece in Seattle on guns and gun control:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/09/27/Not-quite-PSH.aspx

Say Uncle points to a Gun Blogger Rendezvous update:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/28/gun_blogger_rendezvous_update-8/

Red's Trading Post provides us with an important update on the retaliation practices of the ATF toward citizens and businesses:
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/09/retaliation-by-federal-agencies-not-atf.html

Of Arms and the Law posts Glenn Reynold's take on the D.C. gun case:
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2007/09/glenn_reynolds_1.php

Oscar Poppa says it's time to go hunting. The wild hog population in Texas is soaring:
http://oscarpoppa.us/?p=686

Mike McCarville reports today that those who hope to beat U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, in his re-election bid have already soiled their hands by commending Moveon.org's hate speech against General Petraeus:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/red-oklahoma-dochoc-goes-national.html

Armed and Safe requests suggestions from readers concerning his desire to build his own gun:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/any-suggestions.html

This is hilarious! Buck Nekkid? Blogonomicon writes about a group of people who want to stand atop the highest mountains in the world 'buck nekkid':
http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-it-to-die-but-to-stand-naked-in-wind.html

Gun Law News comments on yesterday's report, first reported by The McCarville Report, that Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, single-handedly stopped H.R. 2640 in the Senate:
http://www.gunlawnews.org/Federal-Politics/fc092707-2.html

Gun Owners of America issues this alert concerning Senator Coburn's stand:
http://www.gunowners.org/a092707.htm

The Buckeye Firearms Association is reporting today that Fred Thompson has won the Republican straw poll in Ohio, beating second-place Rudy Giuliani by 9 percentage points:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article3974.html

Disturbing Gun News From Switzerland

Despite the vehement protests from many of Switzerland's cantons (states), the lower chamber of the nation's Federal Assembly voted to strip its citizens of gun rights, not by registering or confiscating firearms, but by outlawing the storing of ammunition in the homes of the citizens.

According to The Liberty Zone, the move was led by Switzerland's small but vocal--and powerful--Socialist minority. And apparently it was a leading women's magazine who aided the Socialists in the cause.

Having failed at attempts to take the guns themselves from homes and store them in government facilities, the new law takes aim at ammo rather than the guns. The Swiss are still allowed to possess firearms; they simply will not be allowed to possess the ammunition to use them.

This is the backdoor method of disarming citizens, and it is very effective.

The ban also applies to the male citizens who make up Switzerland's time-honored citizens' militia. Even they will be required to keep their ammo at approved government facilities.

The fact that a Leftist minority group was able to convince a majority of representatives in the Swiss Federal Assembly to approve the measure is considered a major victory for Socialism and the push to strip individual citizens of the right to keep and bear arms.

In a stunning example of what Leftists can do when citizens are not paying attention, the Socialist ban on ammunition in the homes of the Swiss people should be a stark lesson for U.S. citizens who wish to preserve the right to keep and bear arms. Anti-gun groups do not have to register or confiscate firearms to win the battle.

Rather, the growing modus operandi of the gun control movement is to render a Constitutional right null, void, and useless by implementing legislation aimed at things such as ammunition rather than the actual guns themselves.

Within the U.S. the anti-gun movement does not even have to introduce legislation. A mere executive order by an Administration in the 1990s has been all it takes for a massive assault to ensue on gun shops, gun manufacturers, and other facets of the gun industry, to begin to gradually rob the citizens of their rights to keep and bear arms. This is presently being accomplished by a rogue arm of the Department of Justice--the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives--which has succeeded in shutting down 80% of the gun stores, and gun and ammo manufacturers, within the U.S.

The prevailing wisdom, similar to what we find in Switzerland, is to attack gun ownership by focusing on various facets of the gun and ammo industry rather than to directly attack the citizens' guns. This effectively renders useless any supposed right to own, possess, and use a firearm without addressing the firearms themselves at all--a perfect example of disarming the citizens using the backdoor method.

Switzerland has been the last bastion of real gun rights in Europe. Now even the Swiss have fallen to the sly and seductive ways of the Socialist anti-gun movement.

And if it can happen there, it can happen here.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Second Amendment News Roundup for 9/27/07

Scroll down for the news:

Images courtesy of A Human Right.

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Mike McCarville is reporting today that U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, is the one who single-handedly stopped H.R. 2640 dead in its tracks. McCarville has the scoop on Coburn's objections to the bill:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/coburn-stops-gun-control-bill.html

Armed and Safe reports that a store clerk in Chicago successfully defended himself in a robbery, and may well go to jail for it:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/chicago-store-clerk-successfully.html

Alphecca posts a few comments on the Democratic snoozer, I mean debate, last evening:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=450

Blonde Sagacity reports that the Far Left has finally found the perfect anti-war protester--a U.S. serviceman who is returning all his medals:
http://mobyrebuttal.blogspot.com/2007/09/they-far-left-found-their-guy-real-live.html

Cap'n Bob and the Damsel provide interesting commentary on the D.C. gun challenge, via Bob Levy in the Legal Times:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2007/09/27/the-dc-gun-challenge/

Of Arms and the Law has the story of a California councilman who breaks the state's gun laws and then discusses it on the radio:
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2007/09/councilman_brea.php

Oscar Poppa provides a very informative post today on concealed carry references:
http://oscarpoppa.us/?p=684

Surrounded by a gang of thugs. When you see the pic of the 'distinguished' Senators gathered around to praise ATF Director Michael Sullivan at his confirmation hearing, then you will agree with Ryan Horsley's assessment that this bodes ill for gun owners:
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/09/anti-gun-senators-praise-atf-director.html

Unbelievable. Say Uncle says it is now a felony for residents of Tennessee to cross state lines to buy tobacco to avoid the state's taxes. Buy some smokes, and go to jail. They even have such persons 'under surveillance':
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/27/buy_smokes_go_to_jail/

Sharp as a Marble posts the story of a handicapped man who fends off robbers with a gun:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/09/27/Come-on.-We-know-the-real-reason-you-have-a.aspx

Home invasions are some of the most frightening events in the world of crime. Victims are often shocked into a frozen state. But Sharp as a Marble posts this story of a man in Florida who defended his home against home invaders:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/09/27/St.-Petersburg-man-shoots-home-invader.aspx

This is a MUST-read. National Review shows us why biofuels is a dangerous solution to pollution and energy needs:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzBlOGRhNmI4MTZjNGE3ZGVhYjViYWI4NzU3OTY3ZDE=

Bob Parks of Black and Right gives this example of how Moveon.org directly influences the mainstream media, in this case MSNBC in an interview with U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee:
http://blackandright.mensnewsdaily.com/2007/09/27/msnbcs-shuster-hit-by-own-sandbag/

The Captain's Quarters says that the Norman Hsu-Democratic Party-dirty money scandal just keeps getting deeper and deeper. This time Nebraska politician Bob Kerrey, the Democrat who is expected to run for Chuck Hagel's seat, is implicated:
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/013845.php

You have GOT to see this one! Snow Flakes in Hell perfectly describes how most of us feel on the subject of blogging:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1596

The Bitch Girls blog on the systemic corruption of politics in New Jersey, corruption that has reached epic proportions:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=7432

The site 'ATF Abuse' has an excellent analysis on institutional perjury within the BATFE. This is well-worth the time and effort to read thoroughly. References are provided at the end of the piece:
http://www.atfabuse.com/atfabuse-1.html

In case you missed it, Mr. Completely has posted the complete schedule of events for the Gun Bloggers Rendezvous in Reno, Nevada coming up beginning Oct. 11:
http://mrcompletely.blogspot.com/2007/09/rendezvous-event-schedule.html

Nicki at The Liberty Zone blogs on the subject of Rudy on guns (along with an 'interesting' pic of Rudy in drag):
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/john-lott-giuliani-bobs-and-weaves-on.html

A Keyboard and a .45 writes about the safe handling of firearms:
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2007/09/handling-firearms.html

The French Connection and Iran's Nukes

Underscoring the danger of nukes in the hands of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the United Nations on Tuesday that nuclear power in the hands of Iran would bring the world to the brink of war.

Sarkozy wasted no time in heading for the jugular in his assessment of the threat posed by nukes in the hands of a state sponsor of terror that has expressed the desire for Israel's demise.

In stark contrast to the policies and rhetoric employed by the French under the leadership of Jacques Chirac, the Sarkozy government appears to take much more of a realistic approach to the Middle East powder-keg.

Ahmadinejad's saber-rattling has become a staple of his Presidency, and Sarkozy takes it seriously. Nukes in the hands of the Iranians not only would be a threat to Israel but to much of Europe as well.

Apparently the U.S. is in full agreement with Sarkozy's assessment. Sources close to the Pentagon state that the U.S. has been secretly drawing up plans for targeted air strikes against Iranian facilities suspected of building the bombs.

These strikes would not be an all-out invasion, nor would any ground troops be necessary to accomplish the mission of destroying Iran's ability to develop nuclear power. In addition, such strikes would send Iran a signal that the U.S. intends to address Iran's threat to the surge in Iraq.

By destroying Iran's nuclear power-plants and key military-industrial facilities, along with cutting off the supply lines of insurgents flowing from Iran to Iraq, the U.S. would make it clear that it intends to cripple and dismantle one of its key roadblocks to success in the Iraqi campaign.

The present climate in French politics provides a golden opportunity for the Bush Administration to repair the strained relations between the two countries as a result of decades of an adversarial Jacques Chirac.

Not only can the U.S. repair its relations with the French and reclaim France as a key ally, but the two nations can conduct a joint operation to address the Iranian threat. A successful venture in this regard could bring a return to the U.S.-French connection on the world stage.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Liberty Sphere Featured in 'Tulsa Today'

The Liberty Sphere's article on the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Columbia University is featured in the current issue of 'Tulsa Today' as its lead op-ed for its Wednesday online publication.

Tulsa Today features news and commentary of interest to persons living in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma. A variety of articles are presented that would be of great interest to persons living outside the Tulsa area as well.

Take the time to give it a look. The link to The Liberty Sphere article is found here:
http://www.tulsatoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1338&Itemid=2

Second Amendment News Roundup for 9/26/07

Scroll down for the news:

Images courtesy of A Human Right.

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Mike McCarville has late-breaking news this afternoon that the U.S. House has voted overwhelmingly to condemn the Moveon.org ad in the New York Times. And by the way Hillary Clinton voted 'NO' to condemning the ad in the Senate. Mike has the names of the Congressional Democrats who voted 'no' to condemning the ad:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/u-s-house-condemns-moveonorg-petraeus.html

A Keyboard and a .45 has a response to a comment made by a reader concerning the Castle Doctrine:
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-response-to-castle-doctrine-comment.html

Armed and Safe has great news about a young college student who truly 'gets it' concerning liberty:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/young-man-who-gets-it.html

Blogonomicon posts this vintage ad from 1947:
http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/2007/09/wednesday-vintage-gun-ad-1947-beech.html

Cameron Bailey notes the changing environment of the news as increasingly blogs are competing with the mainstream media:
http://www.cameron-bailey.com/2007/09/blogs-vs-mainstream-media.html

Alphecca reports the great news that a court has ruled against the Bloomberg attempt to move a lawsuit from Georgia to New York:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=446

Oscar Poppa has an interesting read concerning his younger days and a trip to the gun shop:
http://oscarpoppa.us/?p=680

Red's Trading Post reminds us of the Clinton legacy and its assault on the Second Amendment:
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/09/are-we-going-back-to-post-ban-days-or.html

Say Uncle points to a video news story he entitles, 'Babes with Bullets':
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/26/babes_with_bullets/

Snow Flakes in Hell points to some great gun porn:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1586

The Bitch Girls provide an update to the story of the man in Jacksonville, Florida who lost his job at an apartment complex for coming to the defense of his neighbor using a firearm:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=7423

The Liberty Zone provides commentary concerning Rudy's supposed grand awakening:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/rudys-epiphany.html

The War on Guns has this late-breaking commentary on the lockdown of St.John's University after a man was caught on campus with a gun:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/09/st-johns-campus-lockdown-man-with-rifle.html

Traction Control is also reporting some late-breaking news. The so-called 'Dream Act' amnesty plan is DEAD! Great news!:
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=630

John Lott says there has been a surge in concealed carry permits issued in Florida:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2007/09/surge-in-florida-concealed-carry.html

William F. Buckley, Jr. provides timely and insightful commentary on the 'English only' movement:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2M2NjIyYWI0ZDIxMGI3ZWFhOGZhNjQ5NTAxNzA4NmI=

Ohioans for Concealed Carry is getting ready for its big bash this coming weekend:
http://www.ohioccw.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=53

The Volokh Conspiracy takes a look at the 'right to arms' clause in the District of Columbia's proposed state constitution:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_09_23-2007_09_29.shtml#1190750734

What If: Thoughts on Dems' Campaigns So Far

To hear the pundits and major politicians call it, one would think the Democratic race for the Party's Presidential nomination is over. Both President Bush and Newt Gingrich, along with countless politicos, have stated definitively that Hillary Clinton will be the nominee.

Certainly this would be the most plausible scenario. From the very start the Democratic nomination has been Hillary's to lose. She has been planning for this moment at least as far back as the end of her husband's second term, and many claim this has been her dream since her days as a lawyer in Arkansas.

While we tend to agree with the conventional wisdom that Hillary will receive her coronation at the Democratic Convention next summer, there are some significant landmines that could blow up her face at any moment, thus sending the conventional wisdom downward in a deathly tailspin.

Several campaign finance scandals lurk just behind her in the shadows, the latest being the Norman Hsu-ponzi scheme to use the illegal 'pyramid' technique to raise millions of dollars that would be donated to Hillary's Senate and Presidential campaigns in the names of thousands of donors who would contribute nothing from their own pockets.

The thing that adds shock-value to the story is that Hsu had been a fugitive from justice for nearly 15 years--a decade and a half during which Hsu played cozy with the Clintons while developing further illegal schemes to pad their pockets with dirty campaign cash.

Further, a man by the name of Peter Franklin Paul, a former crony of Bill and Hillary Clinton, filed a civil fraud lawsuit against the Clintons claiming that both committed felonies in agreeing to a massive $17 million dollar deal in which the Clintons would promote Paul's entertainment company in exchange for stock, cash options, and large contributions to Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senatorial campaign.

Paul introduced a videotape which he claims is evidence that the Clintons engaged in illegal activity, which includes Bill Clinton allegedly destroying Paul's entertainment company in order to get out of the $17 million dollar deal.

The video also allegedly shows that Hillary Clinton had direct knowledge and input into a Hollywood fundraiser organized by Paul at which Hillary was seen and heard engaging in direct solicitation of campaign funds in excess of the $25,000 per person limit--a clear violation of federal campaign finance laws.

This particular case went to trial in the California Court of Appeals, Second Appellate District, two weeks ago. A ruling will be issued in 90 days.

The sleaze factor has always been a ticking time-bomb for Hillary Clinton, as any number of scandals both large and small have the potential for blowing up in her face at any moment in time.

So far she has remained relatively unscathed. If she continues to escape personal culpability in the scandals swirling around her, there is no reason to believe she will not sail to the nomination. The speculation begins at the point that one of these scandals torpedoes the Clinton campaign into oblivion. What then?

It would be much too easy to discount the strength of Barack Obama. While Obama's problems as a candidate begin to multiply if he makes it to the general election, those problems are no problem for most Democratic Party activists, who would likely hand him the nomination in the event that Hillary implodes.

He rings all the right bells for the Party faithful, particularly the powerful leftwing. He is anti-war, pro-abortion, anti-gun, and he has rolled out a trillion dollar tax increase to pay for socialized medicine and a myriad of programs that will vastly expand the scope and size of government.

If Hillary falters, expect the Dems to turn to Obama. If she prevails, he will likely be her running mate.

Cuban Communist dictator Fidel Castro knighted the 'dream ticket' last month as he gave his blessing to such a pairing, stating it would be good for America and good for Cuba.

If, however, Obama turns out to be the nominee, look for someone like Bill Richardson to be chosen as running mate in order to provide balance to the ticket. As it stands now Richardson is a long shot for the nomination, but his stock rises in the event that Hillary is forced to drop out of the race. The Dems could well turn to him instead of Obama, although at this point we do not see that happening.

As for the rest in the Democrats' field of candidates, for all intents and purposes they can fold up their tents and head home. We see no reason for hope at this point for Dodd, Edwards, Biden, Kucinich, or Gravel. And the time is growing short. January 1 will mark the beginning of the primary season in America.

Thus, it is do or die time. Unless one of the dark horses in the race exhibits a miraculous up-surge in support and campaign cash in the final quarter of 2007, we can look for at least five of these candidates to begin dropping by the wayside.

But there is still that nagging question concerning Hillary--what if?

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Second Amendment News Roundup for 9/25/07

Scroll down for the news:

Images courtesy of A Human Right.

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Gun Owners of America issues an urgent alert that the Senate is ramming through H.R. 2640, with Little Chucky Schumer leading the way. If you believe this is a bad piece of legislation, the time to act is NOW:
http://www.gunowners.org/a092507.htm

John Lott gives us reason to have hope for America's schools, at least in some quarters. We wish more schools could be like this class at this particular school:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2007/09/economics-and-american-government.html

Michelle Malkin has more info on the new amnesty push, along with an alert concerning the S-Chip government healthcare plan to cover children even in households making up to $80,000 dollars!:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/25/shamnesty-watch-s-chip-loophole-new-health-care-benefits-for-illegal-aliens/

Xavier Thoughts gives us a timely heads-up about proper etiquette for the handling of handguns by gun salesmen:
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/09/passing-guns.html

Traction Control minces no words concerning Ahmadinejad's appearance at Columbia U.:
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=624

The War on Guns says that Arnold could still use some encouragement from Second Amendment activists to use the veto, since he has not yet signed the microstamping bill in California:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/09/opportunity-knocks.html

Say Uncle has a GREAT post today on the anti-gun movement. This is a must-read:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/25/theyve_tried_it_and_failed/

Sharp as a Marble responds to an assertion by one of the dimmest watts in the package of bulbs:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/09/25/Its-all-about-the-penis.aspx

Nicki at The Liberty Zone counters the notion by a campus newspaper writer that guns don't belong on campus, not even with campus police:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/buffoons-and-computers-dont-mix-well.html

The Bitch Girls provide yet another example of Moveon.org's vendetta against the FIRST Amendment's provision of freedom of speech:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=7419

Snow Flakes in Hell stresses the importance in reaching out to soccer moms as a ripe resource for the gun-rights community:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1581

David Hardy at Of Arms and the Law announces the premier of his film, 'In Search of the Second Amendment' in Twin Falls, Idaho on Oct. 3-4, sponsored by Red's Trading Post:
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2007/09/premiere_of_my.php

Mike McCarville is reporting today that the Moveon.org ad in the New York Times has backfired, alienating the majority of voters:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/moveonorg-ad-alienated-majority-of.html

Alphecca poses another question for debate on his blog. Fred Thompson supporters won the first debate a couple of weeks back. The scenario he presents today is a most interesting one. It will be fun to see how this turns out:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=443

Armed and Safe alerts us to a victory for self-defense in Wisconsin:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/victory-for-self-defense-in-wisconsin.html

Blogonomicon reports that Rudy Giuliani is quickly becoming known across the country for his increasingly infamous 'cell phone technique':
http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/2007/09/saved-by-cell-phone.html

Cameron Bailey has a shocking and disturbing statistic that is a by-product of America's shameful 'war on drugs':
http://www.cameron-bailey.com/2007/09/locking-up-youth-of-america.html

Cap'n Bob says that he and the Damsel share targets when they go target shooting. Today he posts a video of that endeavor, and has some good results to share:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2007/09/25/sharing-targets/

Tamara K. at A View from the Porch has an interesting read today on the Colt Pocket Hammerless handgun:
http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2007/09/boomsticks-condition-is-everything.html

Unintended Consequence at Columbia University

The appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the campus of Columbia University revealed a profound unintended consequence: the 'outing' of Ahmadinejad as the bumbling but dangerous buffoon he really is.

Some would say that the Iranian President's remarks at Columbia on Monday make him look so completely foolish that no one will take him seriously any longer. That would be a big mistake.

No greater danger is posed to the free world than a fool in control of a nation with nuclear power who believes Israel should be blown off the face of the map. If anything, Ahmadinejad revealed to the free world just how how deeply his ignorance influences his values.

Columbia University could not have foreseen these consequences of a terribly ill-informed decision to give one of the faces of modern evil a reputable platform from which to spout his unique form of hate and bigotry. This is the campus that spurns the ROTC and that has withdrawn speaking invitations from major conservative spokespersons.

Thus, Columbia's insistence that its invitation was all about 'free speech' is largely disingenuous. The University does not routinely afford free speech to noted conservative voices, particularly those on the front-lines of the global war on Islamists.

The University is also known for giving a platform to extremist Muslims from which they can deliver the most despicable and vile attacks against Jews and Israel, while refusing to grant to major Jewish voices the opportunity to speak about the dangers of the global Jihad.

And this is totally apart from the fact that it is entirely inappropriate for an American university to provide a megaphone to one of America's sworn enemies during a war.

To be fair, Columbia's President told the ugly truth about Ahmadinejad calmly and systematically in his remarks to introduce the Iranian leader. He is to be commended for his careful, deliberative manner of enumerating the many reasons Ahmadinejad is to be considered a scourge to the world.

But this does not in any way absolve Columbia of its shame and guilt for giving such an individual an opportunity to bask in even more of the world's attention.

As for Ahmadinejad's remarks, perhaps he succeeded in driving a nail into his own coffin by simply opening his mouth at Columbia. He refused to answer directly a question concerning his prior remarks that the Holocaust never happened, that Israel has no right to exist, and that he intends to build and use nuclear bombs to back up his rhetoric.

But perhaps the most telling feature of all was Ahmadinejad's claim that, 'We have no gays in Iran.'

Of course not. When you are the leader of a country that has outlawed homosexual behavior, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the Press, and freedom to assemble; where women are subjugated to the status of a dog--a mere possession of a man; and where liberty itself is considered evil and contrary to the laws of Allah; it is too easy to assume that when you look out the window over your fiefdom you see nothing but purity and harmony.

Vile and despicable human beings who dissent in public or decide to become Catholic, and shameful, godless women who speak their minds, are nowhere to be found.

Detractors, dissenters, and protesters have either been killed or imprisoned. The rest have either fled for their lives or gone underground. But in no way does this mean they do not exist.

Thus, perhaps in some odd way Columbia and Ahmadinejad did us all a favor. We were afforded a rare opportunity to see the backwardness, and the danger, of the mind of a Jihadist at work.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Second Amendment News Roundup for 9/24/07

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Mr. Completely has the latest complete update on the Gun Bloggers Rendezvous, as of Friday:
http://mrcompletely.blogspot.com/2007/09/gbr-ii-news-update.html

Cap'n Bob reminds us of the importance of the cleaning process to maintain the effectiveness of a firearm:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2007/09/23/cleanliness-is-next-to-gunliness/

JR at A Keyboard and a .45 provides a timely reminder of the history and objectives of the Brady campaign and the gun control movement:
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2007/09/just-little-reminder.html

The Volokh Conspiracy further elucidates the objectives of Brady and provides an assessment of the the next step in the Brady campaign's push to disarm American citizens:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_09_16-2007_09_22.shtml#1190402417

The Buckeye Firearms Association is reporting that today its Chairman, Jim Irvine, was interviewed by Fox News for a story it will present on its cable news network concerning Mayor Frank Jackson's new proposal for a statewide gun control law. The segment may begin airing on FNC as soon as today:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/index.php

Michelle Malkin has breaking news as to one of the key reasons Columbia University allowed Iranian dictator/madman/Holocaust denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at the University:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/24/mahmoudapalooza-the-madman-comes-calling/

Malkin also reports that the vote on the 'Dream Act,' a backdoor, under-the-table amnesty deal for illegal aliens, has been put off until this week:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/21/shamnesty-watch/

Cameron Bailey points to the Obama proposal for a trillion dollar tax hike (no wonder Obama and Hillary the Hutt are like two birds of a feather):
http://www.cameron-bailey.com/2007/09/obama-tax-em-and-spend-like-crazy.html

Xavier Thoughts posts an interesting read on the early-20th-century Colt revolver:
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/09/pre-python-colt.html

Mike McCarville reports that U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, has added Internet campaigning to his run for re-election. Inhofe is known throughout the country as being an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/inhofe-on-cutting-edge-again.html

Mike also has some great personal news concerning his grandson's return home from Iraq and the unique honor he bestowed upon Grandpa Mike:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-prized-possessions.html

The Jet Pilot alerts us to some neat-looking Second Amendment ribbons that are available for purchase online:
http://ajetpilot.blogspot.com/2007/09/second-amendment-ribbons.html

Alphecca provides some great advice today on how to write to Congress in such a way that gets results:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=440

Armed and Safe weighs in today on a formerly unknown benefit from the gun 'buy-back' programs:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/now-thats-smile.html

Indulge me for a moment while I go off on a tangent about one of my favorite things. Most of you know that I love the pure high quality tobaccos that accompany pipe and cigar smoking. I can't help myself. It is not politically correct. But I still love it. And those who don't like it can kiss my ass. Ahem. But here is Blogonomicon's latest vintage pipe ad from 1932...enjoy:
http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/2007/09/sunday-vintage-pipe-ad-1932-kaywoodie.html

Of Arms and the Law gives us an important update on the Supreme Court case, Watson vs. The United States:
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2007/09/supreme_court_c_2.php

Oscar Poppa says it like I like it about San Francisco! Yeah, what he said!!:
http://oscarpoppa.us/?p=677

Oscar Poppa also has the cartoon editorial of the day, and it's a good one:
http://oscarpoppa.us/?p=676

Say Uncle asks the question, 'What if I'm wrong about Giuliani?' This is a good read:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/24/and_what_if_im_wrong_about_giuliani/

Say Uncle also says that the push for a ban on assault weapons has returned:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/24/assault_weapons_ban_push_returns/

Sharp as a Marble wants to know if anyone has some insight into air travel and carrying a handgun:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/09/24/Delta-and-my-personal-arsenal.aspx

Nicki at The Liberty Zone shows us what happens when one of the 'only ones' elitists hits a citizen whose vehicle was broken down in the expressway in Boston:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/she-should-have-known-better-than-to.html

Traction Control points to the ridiculous comments of school administrators after a gunman walked into a school and chased a few around:
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=621

The Bitch Girls blog on the difficulty of getting adequate relief from allergies and sinus problems, due to our government's unreasonable vendetta against illegal drugs, even to the point of depriving law-abiding citizens of needed remedies:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=7412

Snow Flakes in Hell posts this assessment of the GOA's opposition to H.R. 2640. It would be great if Larry Pratt would agree to a dialogue over this, since obviously Sebastian believes that Larry has it wrong. Many of us oppose H.R. 2640 but not necessarily for the same reasons the GOA does:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1575

New York Times Comes Clean on 'Betray-Us' Flap

In a stunning admission of sorts, the New York Times has come clean about the now-infamous 'General Betray-Us' ad it ran in the paper from Moveon.org. Without outright admitting to mistakes, the newspaper's ombudsman stated the Times had 'apparently' violated its own internal rules and standards about refraining from running personal attack ads.

Further, the newspaper admitted that it may have 'crossed a line' when it gave Moveon a massive discount for running an ad that was obviously purely political in nature.

According to news sources Moveon.org paid the Times a mere $65,000 for a full-page ad. Under normal conditions such an ad would cost roughly $70,000 more.

Moveon.org immediately responded to the ombudsman report by stating it would sent to the Times the extra $70,000 for the ad, plus an additional lump sum for whatever reason Moveon thinks it necessary to try to amend its reputation.

Obvious troubling questions arise from the 'Betray-Us' flap regarding the mainstream media's complicity with leftwing political causes, including but not limited to an examination of possible violations of federal law. Campaign finance reform supposedly addressed issues such as unfair advantage. Yet the Times clearly provided such an advantage to Moveon while refraining from offering such sweet deals to conservative groups.

Another glaring question revolves around yet another example of media bias exhibited in this latest furor created by a mainstream media outlet that was caught red-handed in engaging in the very practice for which it denounces radio talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

For example, is the Times willing to provide, say, the NRA, a full-page ad for $65,000 on the very day that the U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision on Heller vs. D.C., the case on handgun rights which the District appealed to the high court?

Such an ad would appear when pigs fly. Yet the Times exhibited no hesitation to run such a personal attack ad on the very day that a highly respected and trusted U.S. General gave his testimony before Congress on the progress of the surge in Iraq.

Over the past two decades the Times has disintegrated into such an obvious leftwing political rag that it bears no resemblance to its former glory as the definitive news source in America. No wonder Rupert Murdock wanted the Wall Street Journal along with Dow Jones. The Big Apple needs some balance in its news sources.

A further significant development on Sunday was Hillary Clinton's Sunday morning news talk show blitz to defend her vote in the Senate against condemning the Times ad. Her excuse that she wishes to 'debate the War in Iraq and not some newspaper ad' is stunning in its irrationality.

How does voting to condemn a personal attack on General Petraeus in the New York Times prevent Hillary Clinton in any way from debating the Iraq War?

The fact that the mainstream media failed to ask this question, allowing Hillary's statement to get by without as much as a flinch on the part of most reporters and talking heads speaks volumes about their bias.

Hillary's Democratic colleagues in the Senate, many of whom voted to condemn the ad yet who are highly critical of Bush's handling of the War, do not seem to think their vote takes them away from debating the subject of Iraq one bit.

So why is Hillary going out of her way to steer clear of any criticism of Moveon's ad or of the New York Times for running it? Simply put, she knows on which side her bread is buttered.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Erin McLean Saga: More Than What Meets the Eye

When one takes a mere passing interest in the saga of Erin McLean, the Knoxville mother of two whose husband shot to death a teenage high school student due to an affair between Erin and the boy, it is far too easy to dismiss the story as another example of a 'sex-crazed' young woman on the prowl.

There is much more here than what meets the eye.

Granted, there should be strict standards regulating teacher/student relationships, insuring that only the highest standards of professional conduct are followed. Parents have a right to know that when they send their children/teenagers to the nation's public schools they can reasonably expect that their young are protected from sexual predators.

In such cases the easiest thing to do is to throw the book at such persons, lock them up, and throw away the key. And if crimes are committed, that is, the victim is below the legal age of consent, then there is a debt that is owed to society, and such perpetrators should serve time.

Sean Powell, however, was 19 years of age, over the legal age of consent. Erin McLean broke no law. The thing that was broken was the professional standard of conduct between teachers and students.

Yet, it is obvious that the young woman is deeply troubled. Living with the knowledge that a young man is dead and that your husband has been charged with his murder, all because of your own behavior, is a heavy load to bear.

Shortly after Erin's move to Nashville she attempted suicide and spent some time in a medical facility. Her attempts to gain employment have been met with resistance in one form or another because of the baggage she carries from the tragic events surrounding her in Knoxville. She was fired from a job at a private school in Nashville because a few parents complained that she was 'attempting to seduce students.'

Was such a claim based upon actual evidence or upon nothing more than the hysteria produced by a previous incident that the parents read in the newspapers?

So far, we don't know.

Shortly after being fired from her teaching position in Nashville, Erin spent more time in a hospital suffering from emotional instability.

And then, suddenly and without warning, she disappears with her two sons. Sources close to the incident state that Erin climbed out of the back window of her parent's home in Nashville so that she could flee with her children undetected. Some say that she may be headed to California to meet up with a man she met on the Internet.

All of these behaviors are indications of a very deeply troubled young woman who needs long-term counseling and psycho-therapeutic medications.

A key question for modern American society is whether or not we feel such a person can be salvaged. Is she worth salvaging? Is it worth the time and effort to look beyond the symptomatic behaviors to the inner person and seek to know why this individual acts in this manner? Is a human life worth our time and effort to help?

Certainly Erin McLean holds the key to many of the answers. Others can help only to the degree that they are allowed. And Erin must decide if she wants help.

Erin McLean Skips Town with Two Sons

Erin McLean, the Knoxville, Tennessee teacher intern from the University of Tennessee whose alleged affair with a teenage high school student ended with the student's murder, has fled Nashville where she was living with her parents.

McLean's sister filed an official missing persons report with the Nashville Police Department.

According to Attorney Bruce Poston, who represents Erin's estranged husband Eric, the McLean woman fled Nashville with her two sons allegedly to meet a man in California with whom she had been chatting on the Internet.

Erin McLean has been in the news frequently this year after allegations of an affair with one of her students at West High School in Knoxville went public. Eric McLean allegedly shot teenager Sean Powell to death outside the McLean home after the student had spent several nights in his car outside the home in an attempt to talk to Erin.

Following Eric's arrest, Erin took the couple's two boys with her to live with her parents in Nashville. Shortly thereafter, Erin was rushed to a local Nashville medical center after an apparent suicide attempt using a drug overdose.

Following her suicide attempt, Erin was reportedly fired from a position as a teacher at a private school in Nashville after parents complained that she had tried to seduce students at the school.

According to Attorney Poston, Erin's family fears for her safety and that of her two boys.

Meanwhile Eric McLean is out on bail awaiting his trial and his request for custody of the couple's two children.

A Work in Progress: Updated GOP Assessment

With slightly over three months to go until the crucial GOP primary season begins, we have noted some changing trends that have led to an update in our assessment of the various candidates' chances at gaining the nomination for President.

First, it is important to consider the two wild-card variables that have changed the complexion of the race.

Fred Thompson seemed to come out of nowhere in the Spring to announce on Fox News that he was considering a run for the White House. Thompson finally entered the race in September with a big bounce in the national polls.

But as Mike McCarville points out at The McCarville Report, Thompson's bounce seems to be over. His poll numbers have settled to slightly above that of Rudy Giuliani; still on top but sliding a bit.

The question is, has Fred been able to live up to the hype? A shift downward in poll numbers is common when a candidate experiences a sudden, sharp hike. Thus, the slightly lower poll numbers for Thompson may indicate nothing.

Yet media reports from around the country have tended to give Thompson mixed reviews. Many of these were unwarranted and unnecessary, such as the reporter who painted a highly negative picture of the candidate because he perspired profusely and gave out of breath while campaigning outdoors in the searing heat of central Florida.

Such reports are simply not helpful and tend to tell us more about the bias of the reporter rather than the quality of the candidate.

Other reports have given Thompson rave reviews, such as when he exclaimed before a crowd last week, 'My wife will make a much better First Lady than Bill Clinton.' The crowd roared with laughter. And this is not to mention the fact that Thompson has been picking up the support of voters from Florida, to Iowa, to New Hampshire by visiting gun shops, county fairs, and community festivals, and engaging in simple, straight talk about the issues.

Second Amendment supporters have liked what they've heard, and Thompson has stayed on message even in the face of tough questions about gun rights.

We still believe that Thompson is the man to beat, IF conservative GOP voters can get over the fact that he is not Reagan. There will never be another Reagan, and it is unfair to expect Thompson to be anyone but Thompson.

The big question that looms over the Thompson campaign is, has his initial bounce lost so much of its luster that his campaign is beginning to run out of steam? I doubt it, but apparently Newt Gingrich seems to think so.

And this brings us to the second wild-card in this race, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Gingrich had stated prior to Thompson's announcement that he would enter the race only if he detected a faltering Fred Thompson.

Gingrich told reporters last week that he would run if he had 30 million bucks.

Does this mean he sees Thompson running out of steam? Or was this his plan all along?

As we have stated many times before on The Liberty Sphere, while Gingrich has many attractive ideas as a candidate, we fear his negatives among the general populace. His negatives in the polls rival that of Hillary Clinton, and frankly, I have reason to doubt his ability to beat her in the general election.

In spite of the fact that Gingrich is known as a conservative on most issues, he nonetheless supported measures in the House that ran counter to the right to keep and bear arms. Gun Owners of America, for example, gave Gingrich a grade of 'D' on gun rights, while Thompson had a grade of 'B.'

If Gingrich enters the race I see a needless split of the conservative GOP vote between him and Thompson. He is better off staying put and forgetting about running.

Second, what about the rest of the field of candidates?

Mike Huckabee has made some inroads. He is humorous, articulate, likable, energetic. Yet at this point we feel he would make a better choice as a running mate than as the GOP standard-bearer.

Tom Tancredo is another good option for a running mate, but at this point we do not see a chance for his gaining the nomination.

Duncan Hunter was always our first choice as a candidate. He is consistent, solid, focused, articulate, and probably knows his way around Washington better than anyone. Yet his campaign never got off the ground, we are sad to say. This is truly America's loss.

Ron Paul is certainly always an option. While his poll numbers have remained fairly consistent, he could well emerge as a force with which to contend if the others fail to garner widespread support. He would certainly bring to the GOP table a large segment of the population that opposes the War but that also supports the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Giuliani and McCain are problematic as always. If we had to choose between the two, it would be McCain, but only because he is a genuine American war hero. And, despite what some conservatives claim, either one would be MUCH better than Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

That leaves Mitt Romney and Sam Brownback. Romney is unlikely to win no matter how much of his own money he spends on the campaign. He has simply waffled too much on too many issues. And as for Brownback, for all intents and purposes his campaign is over. 2008 is not his year.

Thus, the race for the GOP nomination is still wide-open for four announced candidates--Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Ron Paul. Newt Gingrich can be added to this list if he announces.

Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo, and even Duncan Hunter would be excellent choices for the GOP running mate, with the odds tipping toward Huckabee due to his 'rising star' status in the Party and his colorful stump speeches. Huckabee would help the GOP Presidential nominee more than any of the rest, in our opinion.

As we approach the primary season in just over three short months, it is important to bear in mind that in looking over this field of candidates, ANY of the ones named above would be preferable to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Both have stated positions against the Second Amendment, free speech, American free enterprise, and our Constitutional Republic.