Friday, December 11, 2009

Beyond E.J. Dionne's Absurdism

The National Rifle Association wields power that would make an Afghan warlord jealous because the organization is thought to command legions of one-issue voters ready to punish any deviationism from the never-pass-any-new-gun-laws imperative. [More]
Dionne impresses me as being just ignorant and insulated enough to believe that.

As for the Luntz poll, the argument seems to be we can believe it because he's a weasel-wording republican tool.

Right.

We've seen the fraud of the "terror watchlist" for what it is. What seems clear is neither Luntz nor any in his poll supporting it are so informed.

The other thing we haven't established? How did Luntz confirm any of his respondents actually are NRA members? After all, as long as we're talking pollsters:
Roughly 20 Million Americans Align Themselves With NRA

Polling data indicates that 10% of households claim to have an NRA member. That means roughly 20 million Americans align themselves with NRA. This number is obviously higher than actual NRA membership and is explained by the fact that many people who identify with NRA consider themselves members even if their membership has lapsed. (Zogby International, 2000)
I note the new poll was sponsored by Mayors Against Guns. Y'know, if they spent more time making sure their members weren't dipping into the poor box...

[Via William T]

4 comments:

TJP said...

I'm trying to find evidence that the NRA requires a $500,000 payment in exchange for passage through Fairfax unmolested by the Taliban.

So far no luck.

I believe a more favorable comparison lies with those who insert themselves between a man and his absolute right to defense, so that his actual safety is a privilege extended on the condition that he offers payment or favors to those who offer violence as an alternative.

Crotalus said...

Well, I would expect nothing else from the Washington Pest.

Dimwit suggests that the NRA is fearmongering when they talk about the slippery slope, but the gun grabbers always tout their latest assault on the 2A as a "good first step", to which I reply, "First step to
what? What is the end goal here?" We know what it is, of course, and it bugs the hell out of them when we no longer "compromise".

straghtarrow said...

There is a world of difference between compromise and incremental surrender. Compromise of principle is incremental surrender.

Crotalus said...

Thanks, SA. I was looking for a better description of what the gun grabbers call "compromise".