SNL Continues Excellent Political Spoofs

Saturday Night Live, more popularly known as "SNL" these days, has done one thing fairly well over its more than three decades on the air -- political humor.

Poking fun at presidential candidates has outshined some seriously lame comedy sketches. This weekend was no exception.

John McCain, the presumtive republican nominee, unexpectedly appeared in a Weekend Update segment and gave some advice to his fellow senators, democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and suggested they continue to take their time choosing a nominee.

"Do not under any circumstances, pick a candidate too soon. Imagine the excitement of leaving the convention and still not knowing who the nominee is. That would be crazy . . . crazy exciting!"

McCain even went so far as to suggest that if democrats are split, he would not object to both Clinton's and Obama's names appearing on the November general election ballot. He also suggested that democrats give John Edwards another look.

Not to be outdone, two SNL regulars performed a hilarious split screen look at the democrat divide, and opined on "How There Can Only Be One." Listen for the double-entendres and little jabs at each other.

Good stuff all around.

NRA: Complacency Replacing Gloom?

Glenn Reynolds wonders if the National Rifle Association and its members have become complacent, after attending the annual meetings and exhibition in Louisville.

"For a civil rights group, especially a group dedicated to a civil right that has faced as much sustained attack from politicians and the media as gun rights have, to reach the the point where complacency is a risk is no small accomplishment. Perhaps the gun-rights activists, and the candidates, are merely responding to public sentiment. If so, the gun-rights community really is in the catbird seat."

He is referring to the fact that three presidential candidates are sparring about who is the better 2A supporter, and that the Supreme Court dare not rule that the amendment is not an individual right in the Heller case.

"I was struck by the contrast this time around. People seemed much happier, and more optimistic. Most, I think, expected that the Democrats would retake the White House in the fall, but they didn’t seem to expect a return to the Clinton gun-grab efforts It’s easy to see why. Hillary is now going out of her way to explain what a hunter she’s always been, and how much she values gun rights. Obama is tagging along as best he can, talking about the Second Amendment and the Constitution, though his record as a Director for the virulently anti-gun Joyce Foundation makes that even less persuasive than Hillary’s attempts. But sincerity isn’t the point, since we’re talking politicians here. The point is that they feel they have to lie. Democrats seem to have given up on gun control — they’ve picked up Congressional seats mostly by running pro-gun candidates in conservative districts — and gun-rights people find themselves a constituency that’s now being courted by both parties, rather than being taken for granted by one."

Still, he wonders . . .

John McCain Speaks To NRA Members, Disappoints

Some at the annual NRA meetings and exhibition in Louisville say Sen. John McCain, one of the three presidential candidates left standing who swear they support the 2A, was a disappointment. Here is the text of McCain's remarks, as issued by his press office prior to the National Rifle Association appearance.

Here is one key observation:

From Sebastian -- "I wasn’t really all that happy with the McCain speech. I think he could have, well, really should have, hit this one out of the park. McCain has a real problem with the base, and coming to speak to the NRA regulars, the die-hards, and saying you want to shut down private sales, is not a great way to endear yourself to them."

Even the Los Angeles Times picked up on the concern -- "Many gun rights advocates are still enraged that McCain supports efforts to close the so-called gun show loophole, which allows people who buy guns from unlicensed dealers at gun shows to avoid criminal background checks required during gun sales from licensed dealers. In 2000, when Oregon and Colorado voters were considering ballot measures on the issue, McCain appeared in a television ad, saying the loophole allowed felons to buy guns later used in crimes."

The Buffalo News, on the other hand, says McCain was a hit -- "In front of a crowd of about 6,000 people who gave him two standing ovations, McCain also mocked Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as a liberal, anti-gun politician and made a direct appeal to the “bitter” voters Obama said were clinging to their “guns and religion” to soothe concerns about their economic struggles. “The Second Amendment isn’t some archaic custom that matters only to rural Americans who find solace in firearms out of frustration with their economic circumstances,” McCain said."

Um, lets correct the Los Angeles Times statement right now. People like myself, or a mom selling her grand-dad's shotgun are not "unlicensed dealers." In fact, we are not dealers at all. We are private citizens selling something from our garage or attic. That would be like calling people who have a garage sale "unlicensed dealers" of junk, unlike the "licensed dealers" (peddler's license or tax cert) of junk who show up each week to flea markets.

But I digress. McCain is right that is will be a better supporter of the Second Amendment than his democrat rivals . . . but it won't be much better.

Yet Another Phony Gun Rights Group (They're Really Anti-Gun Wolves In Sheep's Clothing)

Jeff Soyer has discovered another faux pro-gun group, "Shooting Liberally."

"Sherman is the founding member of New York’s chapter of 'Shooting Liberally,' one of three chapters nationally that encourage liberals to enjoy gun play without shame."

These people also talk about taking "a progressive stance" on guns.

Guess what THAT means?

Read it and pass it on.

Just Because

There is a little bit of Buzz Lightyear in all of us when it comes right down to it.

Is this freaking cool, or what?

Why Law-Abiding Park-Goers Should Be Permitted To Be Armed

Breda points out some of the more relevant facts about the assaults happening in the parks system ringing Cleveland, Ohio.

Nicely written, my friend. I just wish there was any other reason why you were describing such a lovely place.

Lapel Pin Outrage

On Barack Obama and lapel pins.

Just an observation from The Gun Pundit, who asks, "where's the outrage?"

All Eyes on Louisville USA

The National Rifle Association is in Louisville, Ky. in a big way. I'm still hoping for an outside chance to get down for a day, maybe even two. Time is running short.

Many of my fellow "online pamphleteers" are already onsite, and taking part in the first ever Second Amendment Blog Bash.

Here is who has hit town already (until I get there I am living vicariously through their posts):

- Bitter and Sebastian
- Ahab (actually, he's getting in Saturday)
- SailorCurt
- Sharp As A Marble
- The Smallest Minority
- The View From North Central Idaho

and many, many more. Should be quite a gathering . . . and the VPC folks, Brady Bunch et al can only stand by and wonder why at such a family-oriented event there are soooooo many guns, and not a single "incident."

Because as the old saying goes, "an armed society is a polite society."