Sounds of Silence

Pretty cool.

We'll all be able to get one, right?

[If somebody sent me this link, sorry, I can't find the email and give you proper credit]

Parade of Fools

Progress is occurring, however.

If you understand that "progressive" is a code word for Marxist, then yeah, I guess it is.

Funny how this section is titled "Intelligence Report," as it contains so little.

Parade Magazine has long been an insidious source of "authorized journalist" subversion that manages to ooze into American household every Sunday--from mindless celebrity worship to political manipulation, they rely on a readership dumb enough to embrace a "benevolent" state that leaves them just enough left over to blow on overpriced mail order collector plates. That formula has made it "America's best-read, largest circulation magazine."

They gave Warren Burger a national forum to promulgate the collective rights and sporting purposes lies into the public consciousness.

I wrote a short piece for a pro-gun newsletter I published back in 1996 based on a quote from a fawning "profile" Parade did to convince everyone what a great guy the head of BATFU was:

Tarzan's Ape/English Dictionary

"I'm not going to interpret the Second Amendment. The ATF is simply in the business of enforcing and regulating existing law."- John Magaw, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Translation #1: Yeah, yeah- I know I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and defend it from all enemies, foreign and domestic, but jeeze, it's just a ritual- you don't expect me to actually consider the intent of the words I hope...

Translation #2: Ve vere only following ORDERS...

Translation #3: Oooh-oooh-oooh-oooh eee-eee-eee! (ooops, sorry, that means "Cheetah want banana!")

I recall they had a bumper sticker contest shortly after that, where they asked readers to send in pictures of what they had on their cars. I got a few readers to send in Polaroids of theirs with the one that says "Ted Kennedy's Car Has Killed More People Than My Gun," just to mess with them.

And, of course, Parade was the source for that quote I used to demonstrate what a weakling that wretched global disarmament advocate and UN "Messenger of Peace" Michael Douglas is, leaving no doubt why he so resents people who can control themselves.

It'd be nice if more people got the message that Parade is a source of fascist manipulation and propaganda that cannot be trusted to do more than line the birdcage--and that we could track its demise and note "progress is occurring."

[Via Bounty Hunter]

Adventure Outdoors a Class Act that Deserves Our Support

From Chris Horton:

Just sent off a thank-you to Jay Wallace of Adventure Outdoors.He sent me a cool little RUKO folding knife for supporting his fight against Bloomberg Inc. It's got A.O. engraved on it with thank-you for your support.Bloomberg Fightback Fund. VERY sharp as well!! I told him it wasn't necessary,but greatly appreciated,and that we all must stick together in this important fight for our 2A rights and RKBA.

We need to support businessmen like Jay and like Ryan Horsley, who aren't afraid to shoulder the risks and the burdens of standing out as leaders. I'm serious: look how we grouse about dealers who folded and settled--there simply isn't enough profit margin in a gun shop to withstand a legal assault from the City of New York--they cannot do this without our help, and we shouldn't expect them to march to the battlefield alone.(And don't expect a freebie just because Chris got one.)

Sticky Wicket, What?

An argument between several Indian men during a cricket match in Orlando led to an on-the-field shooting that seriously injured one of the players, according to police.

It's great that charges weren't filed, and Sgt. Spike Hopkins, who publicly acknowledges a bat is a lethal weapon and that people have a right to defend themselves, gives me hope. But unless he considers carrying his own sidearm around wherever he goes "odd," he's still trending towards "onlyoneism," and we need to point that out when it happens .

[Via WmH]

Fincher Update: Feds Invoke Thought Crimes

Calvin Turner didn't tell the Feds Hollis Fincher made machine guns. Turns out that's a crime.

Turner pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday. He waived grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty to information from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Turner is the first person other than Fincher to be charged in connection with Fincher and his militia buddies building and possessing machine guns.

According to court documents, Turner knew Fincher had made and possessed machine guns but he "did conceal the same and did not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority."

I know they can get you for lying to "authorities," even though "authorities" are free to lie like hell to "We the People," (you know, the legitimate Constitutional authorities), but I guess this is just another snare they can use against us homegrown terrorists. Boy, we get more like Stalinist Russia every day, don't we?

I emailed "authorized journalist" Ron Wood:

"Buddies"?

Seems pretty dismissive and disrespectful, either that or intended to convey hick imagery--or do you routinely use that word in other news stories describing friends, acquaintances and associates?

Notice he also tells his readers Fincher "didn't testify before the jury," but conveniently left out that he wasn't allowed to...

Sure glad we have a watchdog press out there guarding our rights against government abuses. Why, they make the need for bloggers almost redundant...

UPDATE: Reporter Wood responded to my inquiry:

I use it all the time.

Cool. But while I hate to be distrustful and all, I do find it curious that a search for the term "buddy" or "buddies" produces ony one hit in relation to his name on The Morning News site, and the same holds true for a Google search, whereas that search engine turns up multiple hits where he used the word "friend." Not to split hairs or anything...

[Via Paul W. Davis and Connie Fields]

Red's Update

From Ryan Horsley:

Several have already jumped the gun but that is ok, here is my post:
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/11/national-report-atf-abuse-day.html

This will at least be an every year event that we have to start, this continuing cycle of the ATF getting out of control and then reigning them back in every couple years does not work, they continue taking more liberties and our rights continue to dwindle.

Also in my ongoing quest to find where Presidential Candidates stand on ATF abuse, todays blog features Fred Thompson:

http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/11/fred-thompson-on-atf-abuse.html

Thank you again,

Ryan

P.S. With Sullivan's confirmation hearings coming up this will give our Senators alot of questions to ask.

I was one of those guilty of jumping the gun. Here's my email to the OIG:

From: dcodreaAThotmailDOTcom
To: oig.hotline@usdoj.gov
Subject: Glenn Fine--Investigate BATFE Abuse
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 15:21:16 -0800

Mr. Fine,

I for one am sick of these unelected bullies and their arbitrary standards designed to harass honest gun shop owners out of existence.

If you want to see some examples of what I'm talking about, just click on the following link. I have publicly designated them as BATFU, because that exemplifies their attitude better than anything else I can think of.

Shame on the Bush administration, which was put in power in hair's-breadth elections TWICE by gun owners, to allow this abuse of power to happen on its watch.

David Codrea
[Phone and Address]
The War on Guns

Would those of you who tell me you get value from this site please send your email today?

Against Ron Paul

Let me start by saying I agree with Ron Paul on virtually all of his platforms, domestically. But when it comes to Paul's ideas of foreign policy, a policy of non-intervention, a policy of letting the chips fall where they may, is an even greater blunder than invading Iraq with no clear post-war plan with too few troops.

Free Constitution fisks my post supporting Paul. I'm not going to do a detailed rebuttal because I just don't have the time, but I will come up with something general over the next day or so, dealing with the specific concerns of national security, foreign policy and overseas military deployments.

Suffice it to say we have been given an opportunity--unprecedented in my lifetime--to select a man who actually believes what he says. Because some among us reject that for the myriad of objections they raise, I believe based on current trends that the GOP nominee will be Rudy Giuliani, or possibly Mitt Romney.

If that's what pans out, even though he's said he has no interest in doing so, I will urge Rep. Paul to run as a third party candidate. As friend Russ Howard points out, if Ross Perot can get almost 20% of the vote, there's no reason why Paul--who actually stands for something--shouldn't be able to compete in a 3-way race. It's not my ideal scenario, but it beats the alternative.

Anyway, go read what Stan has to say and consider his arguments. Ain't no law says you have to agree with me...

This Day in History: November 8

Chase to Ox Swamp:
Upon learning from a Tory spy that General Marion slipped back east of Jack’s Creek, Tarleton gave chase with the Green Dragoons. Marion, staying just ahead of the dragoons, and fighting a series of delaying actions with his rear guard, rode to the head of Jack’s Creek, then down the Pocotaligo and finally slipped away into Ox Swamp. Here Tarleton gave up the chase and said “as for the old fox, the devil himself could not catch him.” Thus, General Francis Marion became known as the “Swamp Fox”. Marion and his men continued east to Benbow's Ferry on the Black river where he had established the ambush for the British.