The Problem With Principles

But his insistence on opposing all but the perfect means that under a Ron Paul presidency we might never get a chance to pursue the good too.

So let me get this straight--the guy who lost the senate primary is lecturing the 10-term congressman on how to win elections?

And the guy who is attracting phenomenal and unprecedented support from people who are enthusiastic about the ideals he represents is being advised to tone down on those ideals and embrace typical beltway dealmaking and compromises--regardless of what the Constitution says? And that would put more fire in the belly of his supporters how...?

Is that about the crux of it?

I guess if you allow the Club for Growth to be the arbiter of what is "good," they might have a point. But if "good" is defined as allowing government to assume undelegated powers just because they're doing your bidding, it should be obvious to all what a dangerous and destructive path that is. How much more evidence--aside from the sorry mess we're in now--do we need?

Perhaps they should change their name to the Club for Metastasization...?

[Via Snowflakes in Hell]

Unfettered 'Citizen Journalism' Too Risky

Too risky for what? Unfettered control by the Establishment?

Yeah, you propagandist frauds are doing such a bang-up job at government watchdogging, that's must be why I have an entire category of examples I don't even go out actively looking for under the "Authorized Journalism" heading. For you to talk about trust would be laughable if the consequences of your daily treason weren't so destructive.

This is like saying someone who carries a scalpel is a "citizen surgeon" or someone who can read a law book is a "citizen lawyer."

Oh, yeah, the equivalent training and requirements makes this such an apt analogy--Stand back: I'm a highly trained liberal arts major!

So without any real standards, anyone has a right to declare himself or herself a journalist.

Uh...yeah. Even ones who were disapproved of. And we became better and freer for it.

Put fetters on yourself, Hazinski. And a muzzle. And leave the rest of us the hell alone.

[Via JunkFoodScience via KCB]

A Gala Event

Hollywood stars Will Ferrell, Amy Brenneman, Jeffrey Ross, James
Whitmore and Peter Weller all turned out for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence event...

I never heard of Brenneman and Ross, Whitmore I've known about for a long time, but "Elf" and "Robocop" are disappointments, although not unexpected when you consider the universe-revolves-around-my-navel outlook of the elites.

I love the sensitivity of these Brady clods: they just get done talking about "Mary Read, who was tragically lost in the Virginia Tech massacre, " and segue right in to "Comedian Jeffrey Ross performed a hilarious routine at the end of the evening."

Ha ha.

Oh, and send money.

"The Sarah Brady Visionary Award." Good Lord.

Be sure and watch the video, too, just make sure you have a bucket near by.

[Via 1894C]

Saxby Sidelines Self on Sullivan

Len Savage reports Sen. Saxby Chambliss' aide, Charlie Harman has rejected any action on the Michael Sullivan confirmation with the following excuse:

We have some other issues we are working on. Obviously, there are others who are taking action that is agreeable to you. For now, since this bandwagon is full, we are going to be on the sidelines.

Nuh-uh, senator.

The request is made of you, not your doorman. Tell your impertinent butler or whoever this guy is that this is unacceptable, and your employers are expecting that you will take this expectation seriously.

"The bandwagon is full." Good grief, enough with the excuse-making, as if this will take more than five minutes of your time. You can't "be on the sidelines," senator, without abandoning your most supportive constitutents.

I'm hoping some Georgia gun owners will realize the implications of a continued "Maximum Mike" regime and apply the requisite pressure to let Mr. Chambliss know there will be a price for letting his public-paid servant dictate the agenda to his employers.

We're the Only Ones Happy Motoring! Enough

An off-duty Miami-Dade police officer has been arrested on a drunken driving charge.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Officer Jeffrey Janish was in police uniform when he was pulled over and arrested early Tuesday on one count of driving under the influence. He had been speeding in his police car on Florida's Turnpike, swerving from lane to lane, according to the FHP.

They didn't find boxing gloves in the car, did they? Maybe he was on his way to an "Only Ones" poster photo shoot...?

Thank goodness he's been suspended "with pay," what with the price of booze these days.

[Via Michael Hawkins]

We're the Only Ones Taking Off the Gloves Enough

Pennsylvania's former top cop has been busted for drunken driving.

Paul J. Evanko, a Lancaster County native who led a campaign against DUI during his eight years as state police commissioner, was charged with the offense Monday after a crash in suburban Harrisburg Friday night.

Evanko's blood-alcohol level was 0.183, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08...

I'd love to be able to get my hands on one of the posters produced during gRendell's Reign of Terror, featuring "boxing gloves and stern photos of Jones and Evanko with the headline, 'We’re taking off the gloves against DUI offenders.'"

Too bad he didn't take off his driving gloves.

[Via Chris Horton]

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

We're the Only Ones Delayed Pending the Outcome Enough

A man who signed on to become a Clark County sheriff's deputy accidentally shot his wife to death in Tualatin on Sunday, according to police...His first day of work was to be Dec. 19, but his hiring has been delayed pending the outcome of the investigation.

What, you mean there's still a chance they'll let him become an "Only One"?

[Via Robb Allen]

The Liberal Hour

On social issues, most Americans reject Republican dogma. They support early abortion. They oppose a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. They don't feel unsafe that the death penalty is used half as often as it was eight years ago and don't fear gun control.

Keep dreaming. Just try rounding up our guns.

Anybody who thinks George Bush is a "conservative" is just a mindless noisemaker anyway.

What you're misreading in your leftist fantasies are a couple important factors:

Most Americans rely on the establishment media for what information they do get, and while they may indeed form opinions, the strength of their convictions do not translate into the tireless activism needed to win the day for their positions.

Yet even with this, we see two-thirds believe in an individual right to own a gun.

I don't know where he gets the figures to back up his other assertions--they sound like wishful thinking--but I will say the ascendancy of Ron Paul, along with the enthusiastic support he's garnering, indicate a growing body of people hungry for solutions not from the iron fist of the state, what Andrew Cohen's neo-Marxist cheerleading urges us to embrace, and more toward innovative solutions possible only in a climate of individual liberty.

[Via Bruce Mills]

Toasting Jefferson's Ghost

WarOnGuns Correspondent TJH has some thoughts on alcohol and firearms, normally subjects that don't mix well, but do here in a thought-provoking manner with an interesting question: Does government have the authority to determine purpose?

He'd entered them as post comments. I didn't want to see them buried there and thought they deserved wider readership. They're in two parts, beginning here.

Quel Faux Pas!

What was the home owner's crime you ask? There was none. The SWAT team simply raided the wrong house...

The Pickle gives us extended commentary on some badly informed "Only Ones" and their ilk.

Early Release

California State Senator, Don Perata, is quoted as saying, "We are jammed up with this situation right now because we have fallen in love with one of the most undocumented beliefs: That somehow you get safer if you put more people in jail."

This is interesting since Perata is one of the leading gun banners in the state. Apparently he wants to let criminals roam free while simultaneously disarming law abiding citizens. It is worth noting that Senator Perata has a coveted CCW license which he claims he needs for self protection.

That is interesting, because the wretched Perata would have no problem putting a gun owner who defied his evil citizen disarmament edicts in the slammer, and was not above suggesting the Golden State apply ideological cleansing to rid itself of an Olympic shooting team.

Perata, incidentally, was the subject of one of our first GunTruths posters-- now residing as a ghost in the Internet archives.

This Day in History: December 19

These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

3rd Senator Puts Sullivan on Hold

From Ryan Horsley:

I just received word that another Second Amendment Senator has joined Idaho Senators in placing a hold on ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan's confirmation to Director. Senator David Vitter has announced that he is also placing a hold on Sullivan's confirmation.

Excellent. Please keep working on your senators.

Meanwhile, our leaders in Fairfax still haven't seen fit to acknowledge that this issue even exists.

More from the Ghost of Thomas Jefferson

The following was forwarded by Len Savage. The author, in the tradition of PUBLIUS, is unknown.

Once the Founding Fathers had broken the chains of tyranny they realized that what stood before them was a task unequaled in history. Civilizations have always risen and fallen, usually due to the enlightened or misguided paths the leaders chose. Having set the stage for a new civilization guided by the ideals of personal responsibility, honor, and freedom, the men who cast off the oppressors of their time found that creating a nation bound by laws that prohibited a government that set itself apart from the people was a task not easily accomplished.

To express the difficulty they faced to future generations so that their intent and desires would not and could not be questioned, they documented much of their discussions. The prime example is of course the Federalist Papers. Notes from the First and Second Continental Congress provide insight as well. Though these documents do exist and are exquisitely detailed as to the intent of the Founding Fathers, most American citizens do not know or understand what is contained within these historic pages. Sadly, while the technological knowledge base has increased over the centuries, the fundamental understanding of history and civic lessons of the past are being neglected, dooming the United States to follow other civilizations that fell to the burdensome weight of their governments. This lack of education is the leading culprit that places the United States in the dire position it now is.

Recent passage of laws such as the misleadingly named Patriot Act and the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act has subtly eroded away the freedoms recognized in the Bill of Rights. The lack of public outcry to such travesties of justice and freedom is purely shocking.

The men who created this new nation knew that the right to express discontent to the Government was a paramount right that only existed if the ability to vocalize such redress of grievance was reinforced by the capability to physically prevent the Government from taking an action that the citizenry felt compelled to stop. This is the foundation of the recognition of the right to use force to defend life, liberty and freedom. The Founding Fathers outlined this in the Second Amendment with the clear intention, as shown by documentation of the period, to prevent a new dictatorship from occurring in the new United States.

A perfect example of the wisdom of the Founding Fathers in action dates back to the late nineteen-forties. Athens, Tennessee became a battleground when armed citizens prevented election fraud and the foundations of a local tyrant. Yet, how many civics textbooks used in the school systems in our nation have even a single sentence in reference to this small but historically significant event?

The men who stood against tyranny in Athens, Tennessee believed in the words and deeds of the Founding Fathers. Instead of kneeling to the iron fist of a dictator, these men risked their lives to uphold the belief that no man is above the law.

Unfortunately, the events in Tennessee were nearly a decade and a half late. During the nineteen-twenties, the first real nationwide push to dictate restrictions upon the citizens became real. Prohibitionists demonized imbibing of alcohol and successfully barred the practice by forcing their position on everyone, even those who disagreed. Two things of paramount importance happened with the passage of the Amendment. The first thing to occur was the willful disregard of the public to abide by the restriction. This set into motion a new view of the Government and laws in which were passed. The response by the Government was one that haunts the nation to this day. The creation of what would be considered one of the most hated agencies associated with the United States Government came into being. When Prohibition was abolished, instead of learning from the experience, the United States Government attempted to follow the same insane path by passing into law the 1934 National Firearms Act. The publicized goal of this law was to prevent access to machine guns and certain other arms by the criminal element that came to exist due directly to the failed attempt at banning alcohol. A database was created and a tax was imposed on the transfer of machine guns, silencers, and long guns with barrels shorter than a specific length. Though the law was highly unconstitutional, most people remained silent on the matter since the precedent had been set less than a decade before when the citizens ignored Prohibition. This silence was considered approval by a greatly misdirected Congress. A new department came into being solely designed to manage the database and to aid in enforcing the law. Within a few decades, this department would grow to become a vile example of tyranny within the borders of the United States.

When Congress passed the 1968 Gun Control Act, one of the worst blows to the Constitution occurred. A seemingly insignificant phrase contained within the new law set the stage for decades of horror. The law delegated to the Attorney General the power to determine the status of a firearm based upon its sporting suitability. The so-called sporting purpose clause allowed the Attorney General to unconstitutionally interpret the law recklessly and loosely. It wasn't long before the duty of determining sporting purpose was further delegated to the BATF with disastrous results.

Since that time, the BATF has repeatedly re-interpreted the sporting purpose clause to suit its needs of the moment leading to unjust prosecutions and unjustifiable deaths. Instead of addressing those seeking a redress of grievance, Congress has repeatedly ignored complaints from the public and professional firearms community. The result of this has been an emboldening of action by the BATF further infringing upon the rights and freedoms of citizens.

This has culminated to the point where the BATF has openly begun to operate outside the law. Ignoring legal mandate, the BATF is now repeatedly creating evidence using the sporting purpose clause to justify their actions. By using an undefined term called "readily restorable", meaning that a firearm can be made into a machine gun without setting standards for what defines readily, the BATF is now making determinations with no basis in scientific procedures or standards, leaving the public openly questioning what is legal under BATF mandate and what isn't.

To say that choices for Congress and the Presidency are lacking is an understatement. No longer do people of good character and upstanding moral qualities offer to sacrifice their time to perform the civic duty of becoming an elected official. Instead, those who would seek to increase their personal power and glory attempt to command the field. With this appalling situation the citizens must seek justice through the courts. When District of Columbia v. Heller was appealed to the Supreme Court, the possibility of justice prevailing became a possibility leaving the political spectrum behind.

This possibility concerns the BATF greatly. Congress has made itself an accomplice to the illegal actions of the BATF by refusing to address the illegal actions of the agency and when it invoked "National Security" to conceal the committee hearings regarding the confirmation of Mr. Michael Sullivan to the position of Director of the BATFE. Instead of addressing the concerns of the people, Congress has decided to separate itself from the people even further. BATF has for many years lobbied Congress, though highly illegal, for its own ends. Without an opportunity to lobby the Court, the BATFE must now decide on how it will address future issues should it survive intact after the District of Columbia v. Heller decision comes down.

The conduct of the BATFE will most likely be of concern to the Court in their decision making process. At least one Justice is familiar with the process required by the BATFE regarding the NFA. Documentation available through the Congressional Research Staff and other documentation available on the internet regarding the less than appropriate conduct of the BATFE and the unprofessional actions by employees of the BATFE in court and during professional contact with the firearms industry should have a great impact on the Court.

Would the Founding Fathers approve of the nation as it rests today? That is something every citizen must ask. It is not time to water that famous tree while hope still exists. Should that change, undoubtedly the citizens will come to understand what their forefathers knew at Concord, Lexington and not so long ago in Athens.

With warmest regards-
The Ghost of Thomas Jefferson

[More from Jefferson's Ghost]

The Loyal Opposition

Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president — Bush's son, George W. Bush.

Right.

Clinton is a devotee of Carroll Quigley. He, Hillary and the Bushes exemplify the maxim of "Tragedy and Hope":

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy.

Anybody who thinks they won't get more of the same with any of the anointed Establishment candidates from either party is willfully deluding themselves.

How much more clearly do the masters need to spell it out?

Yep, Desperate

Today, I challenge the Presidential candidates to...stand up and support meaningful action to reduce gun violence in America.

Yeah, Paul Helmke. That's why they're tripping all over themselves to reverse their records and let gun owners know what pals they are. That's why even Hillary is slamming Obama for being unelectable on guns, and handguns at that, you know, as in Handgun Control...

Must be tough to know the nag you're riding is such a political loser. So how many candidates have presented themselves for an obligatory bend-and-spread-'em at a Brady Center national forum again?

And what's with you and Kristen Rand playing tag team sob sisters?

UPDATE: Looks like Sebastian had the same reaction.

It's Not Quite That Black and White

It’s arm against blacks, or disarm them, though few will admit it...

That no doubt drives much of the debate, but there are some of us who want all to claim their birthright.

But we also want to take care of that pesky elephant.

VPC Sounding Desperate

The overwhelming historical evidence and weight of judicial precedent support the position that the Second Amendment was intended and designed to protect a militia-based right.

Well gee, Kristen Rand, I repeat the challenge. If what you say is true, you should have no problem producing reams of quotes from the founders supporting your contention.

There is also strong scholarship to support the argument that James Madison wrote the amendment primarily to allay southern fears that Congress would undermine the slave system by disarming the militia - thereby denying the southern states an effective means of slave control. Under this longstanding interpretation of the amendment, the district's handgun ban would survive.

Yep, no doubt about it--the historical affinity for keeping blacks disarmed by the establishment would be affirmed. Why don't you just come out and say it, instead of making it sound like you have some kind of noble purpose?

You're getting desperate, Kristen. And as for making DC the model for the rest of the nation, you just aren't paying attention to public sentiment, are you? Or maybe you are, and that's why your yappings are becoming more urgent, more shrill...

Help Wanted

From CCRKBA:

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has two positions immediately available at their National Headquarters in Bellevue, Washington.

The first position is for a full-time Projects Director. Read the complete job description and application instructions [PDF].

The second position is for a part-time Administrative Assistant. Read the complete job description and application instructions [PDF].

Places of Refuge

Both of Alaska's U.S. senators have signed a letter asking the Interior Department to repeal federal gun rules for national parks and wildlife refuges, saying that the existing guidelines are "confusing, burdensome and unnecessary."

How about unconstitutional, tyrannical and evil...?

If the letter doesn't work, this outrageous and stupid prohibition ought to be the next lawsuit after the DC ban is struck down. If the DC ban isn't struck down, well then, the nature of the game will become more complex.

Hey, as long as these senators are in RKBA promotion mode, I've got another opportunity to show it...any Alaskans care to ask 'em?