The Drumbeat Continues

UPDATED: January 12, 2011, 3:13 PM -- And there it is . . . an interview with the alleged Tucson, Ariz. shooter stating that he wasn't political. The friend told Good Morning America today the following: "He did not watch TV. He disliked the news. He didn't listen to political radio. He didn't take sides. He wasn't on the left. He wasn't on the right."

So with that out there, will the PSH-filled Left stifle its push to muzzle speech in the United States? With rhetoric gone as a catalyst, the only thing left for them to attack is private firearms ownership. Let's see how that flies . . .

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The drumbeat to demonize firearms is picking up, now that a lot of Americans are ticked at the Arizona sheriff and others who are blaming "rhetoric" as the reason a troubled young man charged into a streetcorner town hall meeting in Tucson, Ariz. and gunned down several people, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

The latest ridiculous interview was by MSNBC this morning, and featured questions to the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate. There is talk that a handful of members of Congress and or Senators and their aides are going to start carrying concealed firearms in the Capitol building for their personal protection.

Not a bad idea. Every law abiding person should be afforded the opportunity to make this very personal choice for themselves. I would.

But no, the S.A.A. says it would be wrong to introduce more "firepower" at a time like this. Or at all. That's not the way to solve these problems, he says.

Now think about his answer, and remember who he is. His answer was one that guns are unnecessary firepower, and that this is the wrong time, and its not the way to solve problems. So he has demonized the gun.

But why would he say that? Could it be that he is responsible for security and order in the U.S. Senate Chamber? That allowing senators and aides to carry personal defense sidearms is a clear indication that they don't trust his efforts to keep order? Such a new rule would make him irrelevant.

Sort of like asking a gun shop owner located a few blocks from a gun show why he doesn't exhibit at the show. The shop owner will almost always say he or she doesn't like gun shows. But what they really don't like is the competition.

And for the U.S. Senate S.A.A., a personal sidearm -- the great "equalizer" -- represents competition. But the legacy media will not tell the American people that fact.

The drumbeat continues . . .

Why Europeans Need Their Myths

Europeans must love myths, or the BBC thinks that Brits love myths. Nevertheless, this is worth your time. Just read it and pass it on. In essence the BBC left out 14 words that could have summed up what they don't understand about ordinary Americans -- those found in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

VERY well written . . .

Perceptions From Away

How fitting that while we are all processing -- and witnessing the spectacle -- of the aftermath of the Tuscon shootings, I am reading an autobiography of a famous Australian children's writer, Mem Fox. Interesting in that I just came across her perception of America this afternoon, written years ago.

And I quote:

". . . . I've traveled the subway in New York alone and often and without incident. I guess in a population of 250 million the proportion of violence per person nationwide is tiny. It's just that outside America we hear a lot about the crazies who murder on a whim or gun down half an elementary school class in a fit of depression. These are the news items that jaundice our views and horrify our sensibilities, distorting the American reality and making us
afraid."

Yep. Distorted, to be sure. Guess when she wrote those words? 1990.

These incidents ARE rare. Few and far between. And now, horrible as it is, the incident is not being blamed on the very troubled young man taken into custody. It is being blamed on a former governor and a burgeoning movement of regular taxpayers who are tired of being ignored by the elite in Washington DC.

Sort of like the violent actions of some yob in distant Surrey being blamed on a speech given in Parliament. One has nothing to do with the other.

But here, our legacy media more and more each day live by a simple credo: Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story.

It's no wonder average Americans are upset. You would think the Left and the useful idiots in the legacy media don't have a clue what happened at the ballot box in November.

Or are they afraid, and now is the time to ratchet up the demonization? Nooooo . . . its not like they have been waiting for a tragedy to exploit.

Would they . . . ? Hmmm . . . .

Tucson Shooting Hypocrisy

More hypocrisy out there regarding the horrific shootings at Tucson, Ariz.

- MoveOn launches campaign against vitriolic language, despite its history of using vitriolic language

- Media pivots to blame gun laws; as a result sloppy reporting ensues

- By far, the ugliest rhetoric is coming from the institutional Left

- What will become of Salon's "War Room" blog?

- Media orgy misses what is important

- So there are people out there who really believe the Tea Party folks talk to this guy through an implant in his head or something?

- Blood libel from the Left that is being ignored (and was back then too) this week

- Sheriff who blames talk radio, conservatives for Tucson shooting, was asked by the Left to apologize for remarks about illegal aliens

- The reading of the Constitution made him do it? Nah....

- Oh my, remember my words about "red herring?" Apparently the high sheriff knew a lot about the alleged shooter's problems and threats to officials -- ahead of time. His attempt to mimic that scene from the Wizard of Oz? You know, "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" The intentional "deflection" that he is perpetrating . . . er, eh, ahem, I mean, the things that make you go hmmmm . . . .

- Oops, the media's bad! It wasn't Sarah Palin who pulled the trigger. Nope, it was Wayne LaPierre!

- On a related note, the Brady Campaign LOVES to use "target" symbolism in their advertising and fundraising too. Who is holding Sarah, Paul and company accountable for endorsing such disgusting tactics?

- A former dem congressman pleading for civility once called for a sitting governor to be put against a wall . . . and shot!

A sea of hypocrisy, my friends . . .

Now, another note. A friend with close family connections to Arizona ponders why more people at this event weren't armed, for pretty much everyone in Arizona carries a gun. Or . . . at least they used to. Maybe that sea change in the Tuscon area is why this event went on so long, and so many people were brutally murdered before the alleged shooter was subdued by hand . . .

For it is precisely the events where no one thinks anything will happen that crazy folks, and those bent on accomplishing an agenda, know they can do the most harm -- and get the most notoriety. Ready-made free-fire zones.

Hypocrisy.

Arizona

UPDATED: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:37 AM -- The Daily Mail newspaper in England correctly sums up what is happening with its "cousins" across the pond with the following headline: "How America's Elite Hijacked A Massacre To Take Revenge On Sarah Palin."

Hijacked . . . substitute the word "exploited."
Revenge . . . nope, no substitute. It accurately describes the real roots of hatred in this nation.


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Tragic events on Saturday, that have only found myself able to write about this morning.

An update: The Congresswoman remains in an induced coma, and doctors are "cautiously optimistic." A nine-year-old girl is dead, as is a federal judge, and a man who shielded his wife. Several people died on Saturday.

And the organized Left say Sarah Palin did it....

Sigh . . . I don't even know where to start. First, Ms. Palin was in another state, and did not pull the trigger. But already there are calls for restrictions OOPS, not on the shooter, not on Ms. Palin, and not on trans fats or salt, but . . . the United States Constitution.

Once again, the person that did this -- who by the way is in custody -- is only peripheral to the argument. No, the attacks are coming in the way of new bills being prepared by members of the Left in Congress who want to restrict the Second Amendment, and restrict the First Amendment. Translated -- restrict every Americans' access to certain firearms and restrict every Americans' right to speech.

The speech issue is amazing to me. I didn't see much, if any, TV all weekend. Heard some radio and read a little bit online as I was consumed with other matters. But I was alerted by a phone call from a friend last night that the sheriff in Tucson, Ariz. was going on and on about how free speech has gone too far. His comments went so far, that I was informed by others more knowledgable on this stuff than me that he may put some of the case in jeopardy. Defense attorneys may be asking for changes in venue, etc. because instead of giving just the facts as responsible law enforcement officials do, the Pima County sheriff was making political speeches. People were still dying and he is railing against people and movements.

One person pulled the trigger. A very troubled young man.

And in this country, the nation I grew up in and have been proud of, there is supposed to be accountability for criminal behavior. And that accountability is assigned to the person or persons who did "the act," whatever it might be.

To cast blame on the Tea Party movement, to cast blame on Sarah Palin for using an ad mentioning certain liberal politicians are targeted for defeat is ludicrous. How crazy? Well let's see now . . . both the Left and the Right have used the phrase "targeted" for decades. How easy will that be to find? Well in just five minutes this morning I found:

This from the Huffington Post
This about liberals targeting a conservative judge
A story about campaigning advice from Barney Frank (did he complain about news coverage linking him to the word "target?")
And then there's this from MSNBC's Keith what'shisname....
Of course, President Obama in his election campaign "targeted" first time voters....
And let's not forget Obama's statement about "...if they bring a knife, we bring a gun."
And some more stuff on the same topic can be found by clicking here.

Getting the picture?

The list goes on and on. This idiocy about the word "target" being what set this kid off, and blaming it all on Sarah Palin, The Second Amendment, The First Amendment, globalwarmingcoolingclimatechange, flouridated water, or what have you, is all a giant red herring.

The alleged shooter is in custody. There will be charges. The highest profile victim, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a democrat, is a vehement Second Amendment supporter. Know that.

Bills to present for consideration in Congress are being prepared. One would make it a crime to threaten a federal official. Do I think that should be a crime? No, but its damn stupid to make threats like that. What words constitute "the crime?" "I wish?" "I hope?" "I'll get you?" And if such a bill is passed, how will it be used to "target" (oops, there's that word again) political enemies. For it will. Such is the history of such "thought police" types of feel-good laws. A slippery slope, as well meaning progressive are obsessed with being seen as "doing something." So they will write up a lot of stuff that will get lots of press from a complicit, dying legacy media that is desperate to show it is somehow still relevant in a modern world.

Speaking of the media, it is interesting to note that after the Fort Hood massacre, where a serviceman shot several fellow soldiers, that the media rushed forth to say Americans should not rush to judgment about the religion of the shooter, a Muslim. Sort it out first, the media said. But this time, the media is ready to tar and feather Ms. Palin about the Tucson incident. Yeah, BTW, if you didn't know I am a recovering journalist. Am so glad to be out of this business that has become so tainted, and a victim of its own prejudices.

Back to looming feel-good action in Congress. Another bill would ban competition rifles and their accessories, such as high capacity magazines. Even though the high-capacity magazine was not used in a rifle.

Also, know something else. In a conversation with a close friend yesterday we kept coming back to the idea that so many people in Arizona are armed, either openly or have CCWs. Why did someone in the crowd not drop this guy? The word is the incident happened fast. And once the alleged shooter had trouble changing magazines, people jumped on him, knocked his gun away, and so on. One young man who has been interviewed a few places says he ran out when he heard the shots and headed toward the commotion, finger ready to release the safety on his concealed sidearm. He saw that the alleged murderer had been pinned, the gun kicked away, and he replaced his handgun into its holster. I seriously doubt, however, what he was ready to do will get much airplay.

If no one in the crowd happened to be armed, at least thoughtful people who are tired of being bullied by politicians and thugs stepped up, and grabbed this guy. There was a time in this country, prior to September 11, 2001, where a lot of people would just run away like sheep . . . let the bad guys run the place.

I believe, increasingly we have seen an end to those days. This tragedy, and it is horrific what happened, was not worse simply because people stepped up and said "no more."

But that will all be forgotten soon. The drumbeat is going to be for restrictions on Constitutional rights, as the Left likes to do.

Just remember . . . it is President Obama who has used the "bring a gun..." metaphor also. To suggest that Sarah Palin or the Tea Party movement is to blame is to show just how vacant the progressive movment idea factory is, just how bereft the organized left is of any meaningful solutions to real issues. Blame the right for hate speech? Look within your own house, my many friends on the left. You have a lot of hate speech in your own tent and you tolerate it to generate donations.

How could this event have been stopped? It has nothing to do with a political ad or images of targets or someone's speech. If this kid had gotten some mental health counseling when everyone thought he was a loose cannon (oh, wait I've used that language again)...THAT might -- I repeat might -- have made a difference.

My condolences to the families who lost loved ones, or who have family or friends injured or fighting for their lives. To the family of Rep. Giffords, I send out my best wishes for her recovery.

And to the father of the little nine-year-old girl who was killed, I pass on my sorrow for your loss. I cannot know how you feel. I am a parent, too, and I would be numb right now if in your shoes. Finally, a thought I want to share with you Sir. My thanks for having the courage to publicly say you do not want more restrictions put on freedom as a result of this ugly, horrible, tragic, meaningless attack. She was beautiful, she is beautiful. And I shudder when I think that people will use her image as a banner cry for their own political agenda.

Incidents like this are extremely rare, but in a free society the second victim is always freedom. The Constitutional protections that so many Americans take for granted. But know this: one person, and one person has been charged with pulling that trigger. Witnesses say there was one person pulling the trigger. A very ill, troubled young man quite detached from reality. And despite the fears of the Left, and its penchant to demonize anything or anyone with which they disagree, they only further demonstrate the intellectual vaccuum upon which they base their bankrupt arguments.

I have to get back to work...

More Civil Rights Progress In DC

Magnus v. U.S., decided yesterday, concludes that a defendant who pleaded guilty in 1996 to violating Washington DC's handgun ban can now have that plea set aside given DC v. Heller.

Because the conviction for conduct that was not criminal, but was constitutionally protected, was the ultimate miscarriage of justice, according to the opinion.

A somewhat complicated and to many, troubling case. Because the individual at question also was found in the proximity of a large amount of marijuana, which he said was not his but belonged to another individual who resided there. Mr. Magnus was NEVER charged with any drug crimes. That says alot. Only the gun issues.

Bottom line . . . I am going to say this is another red-letter day for civil rights in America, and the District of Columbia. Because the opinion is about constitutional protections. S

Something America is getting a reminder about this week as the 112th Congress begins its session after a sea-change at the ballot box last November.

A Good Move To Start The New Congress

Incoming U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, a fellow Ohioan, has the Organized Left wallowing in PSH this week.

Why? Because Mr. Boehner is having the entire United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and additional amendments, read into the record. FIRST...... BEFORE the members of Congress do anything else.

A reminder of why they are there, and a reminder to members new and old of who they serve. That "who" being, "The People." That reading is scheduled for tomorrow, January 6, one day after members of the 112 Congress are sworn in, and looking at the clock that is in about one hour.

It is too bad the Senate won't be doing the same. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others are trying desperately to do away with the "filibuster" rule. Which, in essence, is to defy the very intent of the Founders of the U.S. You see, in case you didn't know, those very wise men fully intended for the Senate to be the more deliberative of the two bodies of Congress. Where legislation could be carefully reviewed. A filibuster stalls progress so that very kind of review can occur. And Senate democrats are in denial about the role of the Senate which they controlled for more than two years.

Hopefully, Boehner will bring back some decorum to the U.S. House after the drunken spending free-for-all that has existed under outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi. And in another case of ballsey irony, Ms. Pelosi is suddenly a deficit hawk, along with some of her colleagues in the Senate, stating that voters elected republicans to deal with the economy and not mess with healthcare. I would respectfully disagree, but I find it incredibly hypocritical that the party of the Left spent, spent, spent, spent, spent for years, made wild promises about fixing the economy (they didn't), rammed an enormously expensive healthcare boondoggle down the throats of the American public against their will (overwhelming opposition in every poll), and all of this far more costly to taxpayers than any Congress in history...

And then she has the gall to suggest that republicans had better do something about spending?

WOW. California is the land of make believe, and Ms. Pelosi is firmly planted in the middle of it.

Mr. Boehner, I wish you good luck this year and beyond. Please don't disappoint. Your freshman colleagues and you were elected to preside for a reason. Now that you have said what you are going to do . . . do what you told us you would do.

Happy New Year!

May you enjoy a happy and prosperous 2011!!!