This Day in History: January 14

The Continental Congress, which was temporarily situated in Annapolis, Maryland, at the time, ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Prove YOU'RE Not a Racist

Even if Paul, as he claims, didn't write or utter one of the offensive words, or hold the sentiments, that are attributed to him, his odd mish mash of ultra conservatism and libertarian spoutings marks him as suspect.

Typical of HuffPo leftists, that is, statist collectivists: guilty until proven innocent. This is the kind of thought that always devolves into show trials when their ideological kindred, the communists, establish a monopoly of power.

Hey Earl, how come you're always so preoccupied with race--aside from the fact that you earn a handsome living stoking the fires? Do you ever write an article where it's not your central theme? Doing a bit of projecting here?

Well you and your racist fellow travelers haven't quite taken over yet, and conservative/libertarian throwback that I am, I still believe the accused should be presumed innocent. So being an equal opportunity exposer of loudmouths, liars and just plain idiots, regardless of race, color or creed, I'll give you the same challenge that all the other loudmouths, liars and just plain idiots have so far failed to man up to:

List all the quotes by him--along with a credible source--where Dr. Paul has written or spoken an unequivocally racist statement--and by that I mean a statement advocating that whites are superior and other races are inferior.

Find a statement by him where he advocates either an enhancement or reduction of liberty for individuals belonging to any group of people based on their ethnicity.

If you're going to publicly speculate about another human being's character and ethics, Earl, let's see what you've got to justify the damage that will do to his reputation among people relying on you as a source of truth.

Take the challenge, Earl. Put up or shut up. To do otherwise is immoral and cowardly, the work of a mere assassin, not a challenger.

And that goes for the rest of you irresponsible accusers, too. What do I have to do around here, start posting another daily graphic?

The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks

Anti-gun male Bernd Debusmann has been wronged, and it's all my fault.

It seems in Friday's post, I accused him of writing "a fluff piece comparing tyrant Hugo Chavez to a rock star."

Bernd shot me an email with this link under the subject heading "Fluff Pieces for Chavez?" Unable to hold his water and wait for a response, he also posted it in a comment.

Read, Bernd, read.

I didn't say "fluff pieceS," I said "fluff piece." It was a perfectly accurate statement for an article where your words called this thug "the political equivalent of a rock star." If you wrote another article critical of him, bully for you. But I still note you make an effort to include words of praise even there for this collectivist strongman--a courtesy you have not extended to American gun owners in your hit piece on us (you truly couldn't find any positive examples of gun use to balance out any of that "massacre" meme?). Apparently even your enablers at Reuters found the piece to be enough of an embarrassment to want to put some distance between their reputations and yours.

Your outrage is amusing, Bernd. You present "facts," conveniently neglecting to mention who paid for them. You present sources, conveniently neglecting to mention they are bought and paid for by the same anti-gun benefactors. And you present this all as reliable information.

But the one thing you glom on is I didn't research everything you've ever written about Hugo Chavez? Sensitive, aren't we? Well, sorry, Bernd. When I catch a "man" lying to me, I have a tendency to lose interest in anything else he might have to say.

Tell you what, though, I'm a pretty fair guy--just ask anybody. You'll find plenty of examples on this site of people disagreeing with me, and that's fine. If you still have a beef, feel free to post a comment. I'm sure more than a couple regulars around here wouldn't mind hearing your side of things, and maybe even having a word with you themselves.

UPDATE: Armed and Safe gives us a summary of gun blogs deeply concerned with ensuring Bernd's reputation isn't unfairly sullied, making sure it only reflects what he's done to it himself.

Packaging Lies at the Dayton Daily News: An Open Letter to Cox Newspapers

To: Jay R. Smith, President

Dear Mr. Smith,

In a stunning admission, the editors at The Dayton Daily News have admitted an agenda to exploit and misrepresent gun-related issues.

Recommending that "horrifically violent events" be exploited as "opportunities to be used," the paper essentially advocates dancing in blood as a way to shape public opinion.

"Proposed reforms can't be called 'gun control'," the editorial continues, "even though that plainly is what they are. Better to spin them as 'law enforcement.'"

They are telling their readers--your readers--they will not just present straight facts. They will dupe them, if they have to, in order to promote what they see as a greater good.

This is not only a gross violation of accepted journalistic ethical standards, it is a betrayal of your subscribers, an insult really. Why not just tell them you consider them too stupid to just present facts to? Why not just explain you don't want them to form their own conclusions?

Once trust has been demonstrated unmerited like this, what are the safeguards to assure readers it's not just on the opinion pages, but in news accounts as well, where they can't be certain they're not being manipulated? When an editor publicly endorses being a propagandist, why is there a reason to believe anything he prints is unbiased and reliable? And when the journalists in the organization see this tone set by their leadership, what pressure compromises the integrity of their work in order to please their bosses?

I call on the leadership of Cox Newspapers to fire the editor of the Dayton Daily News and issue an immediate apology to their readers. It's really the only way such an egregious lapse of standards should be dealt with, and the only way to begin restoring public trust and a reputation that has perhaps been irreparably damaged by personal zeal to promote a pet crusade.

If you don't apply severe sanctions and repudiate this outrage, the signal you'll send to the rest of your newspapers is it's OK--regardless of the issue, they can exploit and spin with your blessing as long as it fits a greater agenda. They can go ahead and abuse the trust of your customer base and you'll watch their backs. That will be the reputation you'll ensure for your entire empire.

I'd ask myself, especially in today's competitive, evolving, and most importantly, shrinking newspaper market--if you can really afford to give up another point or two of market share because political activists on your payroll recklessly and needlessly blew off yet more public trust. That doesn't serve you, it doesn't serve your owners, it doesn't serve your advertisers and it certainly doesn't serve your readers.

I urge you to fix this--no spin, no manipulation--just make it right and do it now.

Sincerely,

David Codrea

[Via Blogonomicon]

Own a Broken Gun: Become a "Prohibited Person"

A drill instructor in the National Guard has been convicted in a Wisconsin federal court of illegally transferring a machine gun after a rifle he loaned to a student malfunctioned, setting off three shots before jamming.

WorldNetDaily reports on a story we touched on here.

Just more of the same from the administration of the "Vote Freedom First" president...

[Via Ryan Horsley]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/13/08

This is a harder finding game than "Where's Waldo?"

This Day in History: January 13

These men are continually harping on the great sin of our bearing arms, but the king of Britain may lay waste the world in blood and famine, and they, poor fallen souls, have nothing to say.

Open Message to Ron Paul Campaign

I just submitted the following to the Ron Paul campaign via their contact form:

The Bush DOJ just filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Distict in the Heller case.

It is imperative that Dr. Paul issue an immediate and unequivocal statement condemning this move and detailing what he would do if he were president.

This is a chance to get immediate attention from gun owners and once again set Dr Paul apart from the pack.

Don't let Fred Thompson beat you to the punch on this. Get this to the attention of campaign decision makers now.

More:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/01/vote-freedom-first-president-speaks-for.html

I know you people reading these are volunteers. Trust me, this is huge. Go right now and get this into the hands of someone who can do something with it.

Now what I'm hoping is that those of you in the Thompson and Mike Huckabee camps will actually take exception to this and do the same. We need all the political pressure we can muster, and it really is past time to separate the talkers from the doers.

Let's race.

I'm hoping Paul supporters will--right now--click on the contact form link and tell the campaign to get moving on this without delay. And spread the word.

A Clarification

I just wanted to take a moment to set the record straight regarding the quote that was attributed to me.

Ken Blumreich was misquoted. Here is what he really said, and what he really thinks.

It's always nice to come across the real deal. Thanks for sharing this with us, Mr. Blumreich.

We're the Only Ones Down Under the Influence Enough

A DARWIN policeman has been charged with drink driving after crashing an unmarked police car.

Maybe he was chasing Sidney Blumenthal?

The off-duty officer... the officer...The policeman...He...

What's his name, mates?

Looks like "Aussierized Journalists" give the same kid gloves treatment to "Only Ones" as they do here.

[Via Luke O]

Why Don't You Learn to Control Yourself First, Sidney?

Blumenthal, an unpaid senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, was arrested in Nashua on the eve of the New Hampshire primary and charged with aggravated DWI, according two members of the Nashua police force.

Aggravated drunk driving? Isn't that an issue of self control?

And naturally this control freak directs his energies outward:

The "promising idea" identified by Blumenthal involved filing massive product liability and negligence lawsuits against major handgun makers, "the opening salvo in a campaign against the gun industry by an alliance of anti-tobacco attorneys and local governments," wrote The Los Angeles Times. According to one of the lawyers involved in the lawsuits: "We are going to do to [the gun industry] what we did to tobacco. It's going to be a very large war."

And

Mr Blumenthal said: ''We will be advocating a whole new set of gun laws.

''It's clear that while there are many other causes behind this tragedy, the availability of guns is key. If we can limit the availability of guns, we can limit the number of these horrific incidents.''

Control yourself, Sidney. Leave us the hell alone.

Ron Paul is No Racist!

There is now underway a full-blown smear campaign to paint Ron Paul as a racist. First, there was the lame attempt at guilt by association, with a mere campaign contribution by some red neck racist being touted as “proof” that Ron Paul is racist. And then there were equally stupid Kevin Baconesque degrees of separation attempts to connect Ron with various so-called “hate groups.”

Now the muckrakers are dredging up ancient, obscure newsletters written by some equally obscure ghost writing employee(s) of Dr. Paul’s way back in the early 1990’s. This only tells me that Ron Paul is a real threat to the political establishment, and they are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to stop the Ron Paul Revolution.

Excellent commentary by a proud American of Mexican/Indian heritage who worked for Ron Paul.

I keep promising to get to this, but Stewart Rhodes has written an important piece that says much of what I would have. Paul supporters should forward the title link that goes to his complete article far and wide to help combat the evil lies that are being spread about a decent man.

The level of hatred and vitriol shown to him by some in the supposed "gun community" is simply shameful. Debate the issues. This has no place in the debate, and anyone employing it is either a willful fool or a knowing liar.

Anyone.

And here's how you can prove it for yourself: Paul's public record spans decades. Have his bloviating accusers list all the quotes by him--along with a credible source--where Dr. Paul has written or spoken an unequivocally racist statement--and by that I mean a statement advocating that whites are superior and other races are inferior. Find a statement by him where he advocates either an enhancement or reduction of liberty for individuals belonging to any group of people based on their ethnicity.

If they can't, just remember your Shakespeare: "[I]t is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing."

Here's my bet: Anything they come up with will be so indirect, or out of context, or possibly even true, just politically incorrect to admit in today's environment of conditioned Nazi-like sensitivities, that the reaction by anyone of fair and open mind will be: Is that all you've got? That's it?

Let's see what you've got, loudmouth saboteurs. Give us all the naked ugly racist remarks Ron Paul has made over the years. You've got a free forum in the comments, below. Put up or shut the hell up.

And if you had an ounce of integrity, you'd publicly apologize.

"Vote Freedom First" President Speaks FOR "the Record"

Quick read: Gov't says, yes, it's an individual right. BUT we join with DC in asking Court to reverse the DC Circuit, because it applied strict scrutiny to the DC law. It should only have applied an intermediate standard. That is, the legal position of the US is that DC Circuit was wrong, a complete ban on handguns is NOT per se unconstitutional, it all depends on how good a reason DC can prove for it.

And this is filed in the name of the Solicitor General. [More]

The brief is here.

I trust no one is surprised by this fraudulent neocon pawn in the White House? You shouldn't be. They made their position crystal clear back when then-Solicitor General Ted Olson submitted briefs arguing that "the Second Amendment [is] subject to reasonable restrictions designed to prevent possession by unfit persons or to restrict the possession of types of firearms that are particularly suited to criminal misuse."

And naturally, government--the body the Second Amendment was intended as a people's check and balance against--is the arbiter of who and what. We've just seen the path for half of the pincer cleared--this is the other. They've been telegraphing their moves while we squabble over arcane details.

Anyone surprised by this latest rape attempt hasn't been paying attention. Republican Kool-Aid (who else you gonna vote for?) has a tendency to blur the vision and hearing. Mix that with a preponderance of denial and just about any sleight of law is possible.

Think about the language: "types of firearms that are particularly suited to criminal misuse." That was what they said back when they asked the court not to hear Emerson. Here's what they say now:

Congress has enacted numerous laws regulating firearms. Those statutes include restrictions on private possession of types of firearms that are particularly susceptible to criminal misuse. The United States has a substantial interest in the constitutionality and effective implementation of those laws.

At least they're consistent.

Tell me--with a straight face--that can't--and won't--be interpreted to mean any type of firearm, depending on what a particular jurisdiction thinks it can get away with, and that stare decisis won't then be used to bind communities where such sentiment does not prevail. That's what the federal courts do.

I see people already commenting that this or that Republican presidential candidate would not allow this on his watch. I hope they're right, but now it's time to find out. Anyone with contacts in any of the campaigns, let's make a concerted effort to see which one(s) will issue a clear, immediate and unequivocal denunciation of this latest treacherous act of sabotage--and pledge to not only rein in the "Justice" Department, but to start the process to repeal the very laws we have to march through bloody hell to take to court--only to have the doors slammed in our faces when we get there.

UPDATE: Uh-oh. I'm in trouble now...

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/12/08

Why don't you CeaseFire PA people just be honest and...uh...wait a minute, I forgot who I was speaking to.

Never mind.

This Day in History: January 12

The arrival at Tybee, January 12, 1776, of two British men-of-war and a transport, with a detachment of troops, served but to aggravate matters. Major Joseph Habersham took a squad of patriots, marched to the house of the governor, and, placing his hand upon his shoulder, said, " Sir James, you are my prisoner! "

Yeah, the Founders intended for government to control guns, alright. Just ask the Bush DoJ.

Why is Wayne Fincher in the castle dungeon again...?

BATFU's Latest Assault in the War on Guns

Ryan Horsley presents the latest BATFU outrage in a guest post by Len Savage.

Go and read it--you won't believe it. Or sadly, you will.

This is the way a government agency runs under "Maximum Mike"--within the administration of the "Vote Freedom First" president who gun owners put in office.

Chareltonhest sent me a link to a related thread on AR15.com. The comments to pay particular attention to are by "Bladerunner 2347."

I Always Knew They Were Worthless...

..but I still think this overvalues* "The Gun Guys" (I won't link to them here--why send them traffic?)

Stan's post that I just reported on included a link to The Joyce Foundation's 2005 Annual report. Do you realize they gave Mark Karlin Associates $650,000 "To support the continued efforts of its Freedom States Alliance," of which Gun Guys is a part, so they could put out lame, vindictive, lying crap that nobody reads (except those if us who know better)? I guess we should be thankful those resources are going down the drain rather than being used effectively against us.

[*I'm sure this just means they're not part of any system that allows their real numbers to be tracked by the public. Why do you think that is?]

Bernd Again

We spoke of this shill yesterday.

Free Constitution takes him apart, and includes a Joyce Foundation connection that makes everything clear. Click on the title link and read it--it is very good.

As for why Reuters included this in their "news" section, it appears to be because they don't have an "opinion" section. See, at Reuters, their opinion is the news.

I did some Googling around on this Debusmann character and learned all I really wanted to about him: He's a German who bemoans "obstacles" to national socialism in Venezuela--in other words, a German national socialist. Curious that Germany does not allow free speech, particularly that which promulgates Nazism, so he conducts his subversion here, exploiting our First Amendment to undermine the Second. He also wrote a fluff piece comparing tyrant Hugo Chavez to a rock star. Chavez, of course, is notorious, among other reasons, for "Not tolerat[ing]" media outlets that oppose him.

Say Uncle has more on the subversive "Autorisierten Journalist" Herr Debusmann and his naked propagandizing.

"A Case of Vigilante Justice"

That's how "Authorized Journalists" think of self defense--and want their viewers to think. Reporterette Bryn Hough takes the cake in the accompanying video, when she declares "This is Charlotte's fourth murder of the year." And while the interviewed "Only One" is technically correct to use "homicide," one can only wonder why he then says "It's troubling," clearly indicating he thinks--or wants us to believe--it's somehow comparable to the other three.

Note to News 14 Carolina: If you morons want to see vigilantes in action, rent a copy of "The Oxbow Incident" or "Death Wish." This man protected himself and, according to your own televised report, called the police and waited on the scene for their arrival.

A couple more germane factoids come out in other reports of this incident.

From WCNC:

The federal government includes food delivery drivers in the 5th most dangerous job category.

From The Charlotte Observer:

[T]wo suspects approached the delivery man with a gun and demanded money...

It's against policy for Domino's Pizza employees to be armed on the job, said company spokesman Damien Carper. However, disciplinary action will not be considered in the matter until after the police finish the investigation, he said.

Note to flack Damien: I don't know who you think needs your crappy jobs so badly they'd die following your stupid policy of denial. Truth is, more Americans die--by an overwhelming margin--from diseases associated with eating the greasy fodder you and yours foist on the public under the guise of food, than die from gun-related injuries. Fire this guy and it will be made known to a lot of gun owners.

[Via MacEntyre]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/11/08

This isn't looking too good...