A Shocking Breach

"This shocking breach undercuts the public's confidence in the security procedures at our airports," said Senator Susan Collins, R-Me... [More]

Susan, stop being an idiot, or at least shut up and stop letting everyone know you are one. Good grief, no wonder the Republicans are in such a mess, with pompous statist shills like you in the "leadership"

I remember one of the TSA goons screaming at passengers with his condescending "Come on boys and girls" bullying while trying to get my family through the gate in Kansas City some years back, and thinking to myself that under any other circumstances, the obnoxious incompetent would have been knocked on his ass in no time. And probably stomped in the groin, just because he was such a dick.

You don't think anyone with serious terrorist training is going to look on these parasites with anything but contempt...? Both for them and for a people who would put them in a position of such transparently unmerited authority...?

"The public's confidence..."

Looks Like Susan Collins is Coming Through

Based on all the outraged lynch mob comments over at her Twitter feed... [More]

Yep, just watched her live:

"Mr. President, I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh."

You'll Get No Argument from Me

From WarOnGuns Correspondent Jess, via email:

I read somewhere, a few days ago, that the reason that there were so many people to be interviewed at that congressional hearing last week, was so that no one could get a good grilling, particularly Chipman. Might I suggest that if the commie-dims try to pull that shit again, our side will automatically vote no on all the others and only question the turd that they really want to light up.Chipman, in this case. Of course this would first require a spine implantation for a number of those that are allegedly on our side.

The operative word being "allegedly"...

I'm waiting for Susan Collins to drop one in the punch bowl.

Logan's Run

 That's an email I got from "Swing Red" asking for donations, offering such meaningless platitudes as:

 Each and every dollar raised will go directly to defending President trump’s standing as leader of the Republican Party.

Forget asking "How?" I'm more interested in "Who?" Especially since he didn't capitalize "Trump."

The email has a physical address at the bottom that turns up a recent Staten Island realty listing. Nice digs.

Their website is no help. And Who.Is tells us nothing because everything is "redacted for privacy."

The FEC shows no money activity in its financial summary but we do get a name and address, just not as nice and not on Staten Island. Logan Kyle Russell's got a nothing internet profile (leaving out the middle name helps) and it's just not worth my time or money to buy an online report.

Are there really Republicans who are smart enough to use the internet and dumb enough to fall for this? 

My guess is probably, because there's no shortage of idiots who believe Rick Scott and the NRSC and donate not realizing money they think will help advance the Trump agenda also helps Susan Collins'.

With Friends Like These

 Republican Senators Marco Rubio, John Cornyn, Susan Collins, and Thom Tillis will attend a Thursday “summit” meeting hosted by the “American Business Immigration Coalition,” a pro-amnesty group consisting of big business donors, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as the George Soros-funded United We Dream organization. [More]

Thank goodness this has nothing to do with that "single issue"!

[Via Mack H]

A Scanner Darkly

ATF Agent Attempts to Illegally Scan Gun Owner Forms of Pac N Arms Multiple Times – Threatens to Revoke Dealer's License [More]

I was candidly surprised to see this.  I've been communicating with the guy since February on this, and his last correspondence to me on March 11 said:

Hello David, Still gathering information; my attorney in compiling info you will want. We will be in touch asap!!! Phil

I can't help but note:

In speaking to Mr. Chabot to confirm the situation, he referred us to his attorney, Penny Dean, who asked us to postpone an interview for a couple of weeks until they have obtained certain witnesses in the matter, which we agreed to do. Our desire is not to make it more difficult for justice to be brought to bear in the matter. However, Ms. Dean did encourage us to report on Mr. Chabot's letter to his Senator, Susan Collins, which is where the bulk of this article comes from.

That's one of the realities of sitting on a story for the purposes of corroboration, I guess. It will be interesting to see what the attorney finally says.

Reciprocity Never Intended to Pass‏?

This is what I've written so far on the Thune Amendment:

Nationwide right-to-carry bill prompts anti-defense hysteria
Does Thune amendment treat a right like a privilege?
Senate Rejects Thune Gun Reciprocity Amendment
Are those against nationwide concealed carry for states' rights?

Andy Barniskis has been sending me email updates on another angle altogether. As some of you know, I've been really pressed with personal issues lately, and have not had time to do more than just copy and paste on this, so forgive the lack of formatting or input, and just focus on and discuss the content.

I'd like to explore what they're saying. NRA management defenders are welcome to comment if you think anything is unfair or misrepresented.

1st email thread sent to me:

David:

Here is the original email and a couple follow-ups I received from
other people.

--Andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Reciprocity never intended to pass

Correspondent writes:

Andy,

You may remember me. [My spouse] works on the hill. I still
follow your writing when I can. You are right more times than
even you know. ;-)

You missed something this time.There never was any intention on
the R side for the Thune amendment to pass. The vote was
orchestrated to have just enough R votes to fail, but to give
the party a shot of pro-gun image for 2010. The NRA knew that.

Yes, they talked about the future necessity for legislating
permit standards if this kind of legislation passed. But they
didn't care about that enough to want it to pass. Yet.

+++++++++++++

Subject: Re: Reciprocity never intended to pass

> >You missed something this time.There never was any intention on
> >the R side for the Thune amendment to pass. The vote was
> >orchestrated to have just enough R votes to fail, but to give
> >the party a shot of pro-gun image for 2010. The NRA knew that.

[Name suppressed--DC] writes:

Actually, I'm pretty sure Andy and most others on the list
knew that.

If you look at every Republican hot button issue, they always
seem to miss by just a few votes. And those votes are almost
always Republican votes. They missed by two votes. And again, two
Republicans voted against. Also, it's important to note that they
managed to move those two votes around this time. It's almost
always Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe who vote with the Dems.
This time it was the other two old reliable Hyphenated
Republican-Democrats (Yeah, I know that's redundant), Voinovich
and Lugar.

What I'm saying is that we may have been born yesterday, but it
was pretty early yesterday.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Andy comments:

The thing that WAS ambiguous was whether the Rs might want it to
pass because of its long-term anti-gun effect of bringing the
feds into managing CCW requirements, or whether it was just a
pre-election year (2010) "brand identification" charade. Turns
out it was "B," a charade. Of course, if BOTH parties weren't
in on it, you might have expected more Ds to have voted for it
because of its potential for anti-gun exploitation.

Whichever faction wins in 2010, there will probably be a better
chance of something like this passing after the election, and
then the only question will be how fast the feds exploit the anti-
gun potential contained in it; and which party will be most
responsible for that legislation. "Uniformity" does sound like
a mantra the enforce-existing-law "conservatives" could get on
board with.

--Andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: Reciprocity never intended to pass

> >The thing that WAS ambiguous was whether the Rs might want it to
> >pass because of its long-term anti-gun effect of bringing the
> >feds into managing CCW requirements, or whether it was just a
> >pre-election year (2010) "brand identification" charade. Turns
> >out it was "B," a charade. Of course, if BOTH parties weren't
> >in on it, you might have expected more Ds to have voted for it
> >because of its potential for anti-gun exploitation.

Correspondent writes:

Andy,

Another thing pointing to it being a republican charade and that
it never was intended to go anywhere was that GOA supported it.
Everything else being equal I would have expected GOA to take the
obvious position that it would lead to expanded federal
intrusion on carry permits. That they never entertained or
addressed that issue for a second indicates they were
participating in a Republican charade, which we all know they are
not above doing.

> > Andy: Especially when their owner Richardson starts plucking his
> > puppets' strings. All to God's Glory, of course.


++++++++++++

Subject: DC DUPLICITY

[Name suppressed] forwards:

The Washington Post piece below appears to confirm the contents of this
note I saw earlier:

"There never was any intention on the Republican side for the Thune
amendment to pass. The vote was orchestrated to have just enough
Republican votes to fail, but to give the party a shot of pro-gun image
for 2010. The NRA knew that. Yes, they talked about the future necessity
for legislating permit standards if this kind of legislation passed. But
they didn't care about that enough to want it to pass. Yet."

> > Andy: It's times like these I wish I was a "real" journalist. I'd
> > have scooped the essence of the story by several hours -- though
> > thanks to the Washington Post for filling in the details, which
> > my source had not.

Gun-Shy
By Dana Milbank
Columnist
The Washington Post
July 23, 2009

How do you outgun the NRA? Very, very carefully.

New email thread:

Correspondent writes:

Here is what a source in washington told me about the question I asked
regarding why there was a need for 60 not 51 votes on the Thune Amendment on
national concealed carry.

> it was a pre-agreement between the parties: amendments on the defense
> bill would need 60.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Andy comments:

Nothing suspicious about THAT -- No, not at all.

Actually it sounds like a change of the rules that may have been intended
to cover more than one charade, and not just the "reciprocity" charade.

It allowed the vast majority of either party to vote for something for
purposes of "brand indentification," without the danger of it actually
passing.

As [Name suppressed] wrote, most of us may have been born yesterday, but some
of us were born EARLY yesterday. (Just not enough of us.)

The day I can't still find humor in these charades -- and the way the
vast majority of people fall for them -- well, on that day, look out
baby!

--Andy

New email:

Correspondent forwards:

Gun Rights Heros, I Have A Present For You

New email:

Friends:

This blog is by the same guy as the "gunwrites" blog that I forwarded
yesterday. It's a pretty good follow-up.

--Andy

+++++++++

Correspondent forwards:
A Floor Beneath Our Rights

New email thread:

Correspondent writes:

A source told me a failure was certain so that is why the vote was held.
Senators were told to vote however they needed to for that reason.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Andy comments:

That does not necessarily conflict with my source's contention that
it was never INTENDED to pass in the first place, and that it's sole
intent was for Republicans to use for "brand identification" in
preparation for 2010. Since we seem to be reliving 1994 to the last
jot and tittle this year, watch for a lot more brand identification
yet this year -- coming soon to a Tea Party or Gun Rally near you!

If anyone, say the NRA, had really CARED about this legislation, they
would have held every senator's feet to the fire, even in the face of
certain defeat of the legislation. Then they would have beat the
living hell out of ANY "no" vote, come next year.

Watch, and mark my words -- If the NRA refers to this reciprocity
issue AT ALL next year, they will focus on those Republicans who
are safe to always blame and to refer to as "RINOs" -- even though
they play a key role in the ongoing charade.

--Andy

New email:

Correspondent forwards:

The sham vote on 'Thune Amendment' for national concealed carry

Before thanking the 39 Senators who voted for national concealed handgun
reciprocity via the failed "Thune Amendment," gun rights supporters should
understand that the amendment's failure was pre-ordained, demonstrating
that, as Mark Twain opined, "It could probably be shown by facts and figures
that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."

The sham vote on national concealed carry 'Thune Amendment' [Note--this is by Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner Paul Valone--DC]


New email:

"NRA loses a round in the Senate, thanks Reid anyway"

> Andy: Both parties profited from this charade.

Correspondent forwards:

NRA loses a round in the Senate, thanks Reid anyway

That's what I've got so far--I apologize for the lousy formatting/lack of edits, but was faced with the choice of presenting the information or not, because I just don't have time to make it pretty.

Hopefully some discussion will follow.

Strictly Speaking

 By including “strict scrutiny” language, lawmakers close the door on future policymaking and threaten current safeguards. [More]

Who does Evan Mantler think he is? "Conservative" Hugh Hewitt? (WarOnGuns Correspondent Andy M tells me Hewitt "Referred to himself as a Romney Republican and on domestic policy,  a Susan Collins Republican.")

[Via Michael G]

#FillTheSeat

 Republicans and Trump voters want Republicans and Trump to fight. The best way to demoralize Republican and Trump voters is to not fight for this. [More]

I don't know if I'd give that much credit to generic "Republicans." They don't call 'em The Stupid Party for nothing.

I'm waiting to see who else joins Murkowski.

Tell me Susan Collins surprises anyone. 

[Via Michael G]

Roster of Shame

Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) John Barrasso (R-WY) Roy Blunt (R-MO) John Boozman (R-AR) Richard Burr (R-NC) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Jeff Chiesa (R-NJ) Dan Coats (R-IN) Tom Coburn (R-OK) Thad Cochran (R-MS) Susan Collins (R-ME) Bob Corker (R-TN) John Cornyn (R-TX) Lindsey Graham (R-SC) John Hoeven (R-ND) John Isakson (R-GA) Mike Johanns (R-NE) Ron Johnson (R-WI) Mark Kirk (R-IL) John McCain (R-AZ) Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) John Thune (R-SD) Roger Wicker (R-MS) [More]

Thing is, they won't feel it unless you make 'em.

A Bipartisan Measure

You  know, Mark Kirk and Susan Collins are on board with it. [Read]

Who Will Guard the Guards

Hey, it was a youthful indiscretion. [More] 

Now that he's more fully indoctrinated matured, he makes much better choices (and don't you think "progressive" Snopes would have rated the Islam allegations "False" if they could, instead of resorting to a lame Bart Simpson defense?

This is like a bad goddamn joke.

And these are the "Republicans" who helped. Oh, look, along with Lamar Alexander, Richard M. Burr, Daniel Coats, Tom Coburn, Susan Collins, Bob Corker, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham, Orrin Hatch, Mark Kirk, John McCain and Marco Rubio, I see Lisa Murkowski also voted to put this guy in charge of foreign intelligence, rather than lead in the fight to expose him for what he was and is.

I wonder if Joe Miller can get any mileage out of that?

The Lone 'Republican'

 Becerra, who also previously served in the House of Representatives, was confirmed 50-49, with Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins joining Democrats in voting for him. [More]

Well, there you go. And there you go.

About the only good thing I've ever seen Becerra do is getting into a bitch fight with "The Hero of Medicine," but even there I'm thinking his motives must be to bury some inconvenient truths.

[Via Mack H]

A Democrat by Any Other Name

 Republican Maine Rep. Susan Collins voted with all 50 Democrats to confirm Clarke. [More]

I like to think of her as the perennial turncoat...

[Via Michael G]

The Elephant's Graveyard

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and others are ready to support gun control proposals if those proposals are framed in the language of terrorism. [More]

Cancer needs to be eradicated, cut and driven out. Lesser measures will prove terminal.

[Via Matt F]

With Republicans Like These, Who Needs Democrats?

 The five Senators who voted to table Paul's point of order were Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), per Axios. [More]

And Portman just sounds like he's being Portman again.

Why Not Turn the Volume Up Instead?

Scalise Responds to Attacks on Susan Collins: Dems Must Condemn 'Violence and Threats From the Left' [More]

Why would they deviate from plays that are working? And if any did decide it politically expedient to feign moderation, who would be dumb enough to believe them?

Why wouldn't we want to see more "normals" having epiphanies?

[Via Mack H]

The Greenest RINOs

Now let's see how red they are. [More]

I'm not going to go through a run-down on all of them here, but you can feel free to.

I will note accepting "Close the gun show loophole/criminalize political speech/amnesty" John McCain is as much a reason Obama won as any.

Illinois gun owners were warned repeatedly about that weasel Mark Kirk and as far as I can tell, none of them did a thing about it. As far as I can tell, I'm the only one who cared, and I don't even live in his state.

Susan Collins has an F from GOA--that's all I need to know about her.

And what more can I say about Arnhole?

With 'Republicans' Like These...

 Several Republican Senators Roy Blunt (MO), Richard Burr (NC), Shelley Moore-Capito (WV), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), John Cornyn (TX), Joni Ernst (IA), Lindsey Graham (SC), Chuck Grassley (IA), Jim Inhofe (OK), Ron Johnson (WI), James Lankford (OK), Mitch McConnell (KY), Jerry Moran (KS), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rob Portman (OH), Mitt Romney (UT), Mike Rounds (SD), John Thune (SD), and Thom Tillis (NC) all voted to confirm Garland. [More]

Well, that doesn't bode well for freedom. So much for "pro-gun" creds that got several of these frauds elected. I'll be interested in seeing how many got "A" ratings from NRA, and what their NumbersUSA grades are. 

And it looks like he'll be directing  DOJ focus on targets other than the communists occupying "autonomous zones" in American cities. Establishment" GOP support for him means they are counting on a government discrediting campaign against Trump agenda supporters.

At least GOA "scored the final vote in favor of the confirmation of Judge Garland as an anti-gun vote." 

[Via Mack H]

None Dare Call It Treason

GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Susan Collins (Maine), Mike Lee (Utah), Jerry Moran (Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Ky.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Mitt Romney (Utah), Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.) voted to end the president's declaration.  [More]

And they don't want to block the foreign invasion because...?