The Smallest Minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. – Ayn Rand
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But you’ve got to admit, he drew an impressive crowd.
The media, however, has found its buzzphrase.
And we’re supposed to believe that JournoList was some kind of unique aberrant behavior among that crowd?
This time from Mostly Cajun:
Then there’s our own upcoming election. The republican party may indeed win the house. They may indeed get a secure, cloture-proof number of seats in the senate. And then it’ll be back to the same old tricks as the bright, enthusiastic newbies hit the capitol all filled with Tea party enthusiasm. forgive my cynicism, but I’ve seen it all before, back when Newt and the Gang rolled in with the Contract with America. And in one term, the bright faces of the iconoclasts were stilled, replaced every one with the steely glare of the Beltway commandos, happily buying into the idea that a seat in Washington was the single greatest expression of one’s worth on the planet, and said seat could be secured by pork and pander.
Except that “pork and pander” has bankrupted the country, and about the first time that Billy Bob’s paycheck fails to buy groceries due to the inflation of a failed monetary system, and the first time DaMarcus’s food stamps don’t work, there’s going to be a new game being played.
I’m an old (well, getting there, anyway) man, and I’m an optimist on many things, but I fail to see a peaceful way out of this present unpleasantness. I can hope. I can keep trying, and do my little bit. I can remain watchful. But I’m thinking things will get MUCH worse before they get better.
I’m not quite as old as Dale, and I’m not an optimist, and I think he’s accurately described exactly what’s coming.
Are you going? Still plenty of time to make travel arrangements. Here’s some more incentives to come:
As you’ve already been told, Hi-Point is donating a pistol caliber carbine, Glock is donating a certificate for any standard model handgun, Ruger is sending a factory representative, the NRA is sending a representative, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is sending a rep, SFC Toby Nunn will be representing Project Valour IT, and Molly Smith will be there again, so you too can be beaten by a little girl at the game of Steel Challenge.
But in addition, Leupold has donated one of their new VX3 scopes, and Derek of The Packing Rat (who has won, I believe, two firearms at previous GBRs) is donating a Venturi Bronco air rifle for the raffle.
And last but not least, Mr. Completely says that something major is going to be announced at GBRV:
At this year’s Gun Blogger Rendezvous the head of a major internet start up endeavor will be announcing something new and big and cool! It will involve the internet, guns, shooting, hunting, shooting sports, forum-ing (is that a word? Should it be?), 2nd. Amendment Issues, blogging, and a lot of other stuff too.
Sounds interesting!
Make your plans. It’s one of the most enjoyable weekends you’ll ever have.
From the comments to the announcement that the EPA has decided not to consider a ban of lead in ammunition:
I wonder how many Donk congresscritters were calling up the EPA and screaming “NOT NOW! NOT F*&KING NOW!” — Ragin’ Dave
From the NRA:
EPA Denies Ammo Ban Petition
Friday, August 27, 2010
Responding to a grassroots outcry from gun owners, the Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has denied a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and other radical groups that had sought to ban the use of lead in ammunition.
Agreeing with the position of the NRA and the firearms industry, the agency explained in a news release that it “does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).” Further crushing the hopes of anti-gun and anti-hunting activists, the release added: “nor is the agency seeking such authority.”
I guess somebody told them about the sudden rush on Wookie suits.
Via email today:
In the coming days and weeks, the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) will be announcing endorsements and candidate ratings in hundreds of federal races, as well as thousands of state legislative races. Unless these announcements are required by the timing of primary or special elections, the NRA-PVF generally does not issue endorsements while important legislative business is pending. The NRA-PVF also operates under a long-standing policy that gives preference to incumbent candidates who have voted with the NRA on key issues, which is explained in more detail here.
The U.S. Senate recently considered a number of issues important to NRA members, including the confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Out of respect for the confirmation process, the NRA did not announce its position on Ms. Kagan’s confirmation until the conclusion of her testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee. Her evasive testimony exacerbated grave concerns we had about her long-standing hostility towards the Second Amendment. As a result, the NRA strongly opposed her confirmation and made it clear at the time that we would be scoring this important vote.
The vote on Elena Kagan’s confirmation to the Court, along with the previous year’s confirmation vote on Sonia Sotomayor, are critical for the future of the Second Amendment. After careful consideration, the NRA-PVF announced today that it will not be endorsing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for re-election in the 2010 U.S. Senate race in Nevada.
The NRA, contrary to the beliefs that it is a exclusively Republican organization, has endorsed Harry Reid in the past because of his support of the right to arms, at least when voting on specific legislation. However, there’s more to it than just that, and the NRA has at long last weighed the balance of Reid’s behavior (or, on the other hand, sees which way the political winds are blowing) and has dropped that support like a hot rock.
About time.
Tam expresses precisely my feelings about the EPA considering a ban on lead ammunition:
This would make me want to get my wookie on. This would make me want to saddle up and bust caps. If the .gov was wondering what it would take to turn me into a wild-eyed militia kook, well, they’ve found it.
And:
*There is anecdotal evidence that the banning of traditional ammunition would have an adverse impact on government bureaucrat populations.
Re-read Personal Sovereignty and “Killing Their Asses” if you don’t believe me.
Well, one does have to wonder at the current .gov. Back in March 2009 the Department of Defense attempted to change its rules for the disposal of once-fired small-arms ammunition casings by requiring the brass to be destroyed, suitable only as scrap metal.
The reaction of the shooting community was swift, vocal, and effective.
Now the Environmental Protection Agency is considering banning lead in firearm ammunition. Click on that link. Follow the NSSF’s recommendations. Write your congresscritters, then call them. Comment on the EPA’s public commentary site. Write – hell, call – Administrator Lisa Jackson’s office and voice your objections.
Repeatedly.
Be calm, be collected, be polite. But be insistent and persistent.
UPDATE: It’s over. The EPA backed down.
Ruth McClung has won the Republican primary and will be running against (*hawk, spit!*) Raul Grijalva for the AZ Congressional District 7 seat. I met Ms. McClung at a blogger gathering in Phoenix a few months ago (she’s not in my district, I live in District 8.) Now she has to face the Grijalva political machine. I wish her great luck.
One of her campaign slogans I really like is “Maybe it does take a rocket scientist . . . “
She’s an engineer, and her expertise is in missile guidance systems.
Ron Klein and Allen West set for contentious general election battle
Voters in Broward and Palm Beach counties set the table for a vicious political food fight in November – the race between U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, and challenger Allen West, R-Plantation.
Each candidate easily won his party’s nomination. Klein crushed Paul Francis Renneisen and West easily bested David Brady.
With half the precincts counted shortly before 10 p.m., Klein had 84 percent of the Democratic primary vote.
With half the precincts counted shortly befoare 10 p.m., West had 76 percent of the Republican primary vote.
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In other news, it looks like McLame will be going back to the Senate for another six years.
Dammit.