Category Archives: Politics

Quote of the day—Alan M. Dershowitz

Posted on by

This hypocrisy of this double-standard — by political leaders, media pundits, academics and ordinary folks — is shameful, but done not only without shame but with self-righteousness. It was similar during the McCarthy era of my youth. Now as then, the “cause” — anti-Trumpism today, and anti-communism back then — were seen as so righteous that any means, no matter how unfair, is justified in achieving the end. Outright wilful lying is justified by anti-Trump zealots in the interest of getting rid of Trump.

Alan M. Dershowitz
February 12, 2020 at 1:00 am
Demonizing Defense Lawyers: The True Road to Tyranny
[Calling it tyranny will not be sufficient to stop such acts. Tyranny is their goal. It’s going to require prosecutions, convictions, and stiff sentences.—Joe]

It has to be deliberate

Posted on by

Last Monday Seattle passed a ban on evictions during winter months.

Sometime last week I read about the ordinance proposal and with zero emotional content to avoid a biased response mentioned it to Barb to see if what was obvious to me would be recognized by her as well. Her reaction was:

What? That’s crazy! Did that actually pass or did someone just propose it?

Good. It’s not just me.

We discussed it a bit. We concluded the action has to be deliberate. They have to know the side effects of this feels-good law will be the raising of rents to cover the loss of rent from those who abuse the loophole in the law.

You can see it in the laws that make it more and more difficult to acquire and use firearms to defend yourself against violent criminals. You can see it in the refusal to prosecute property crimes. You can see it in the use of the legal system to prosecute political enemies while giving political allies a pass.

As I have said before, these people are deliberately trying to destroy society.—Joe]

Political alignment

Posted on by

Will asks:

It has been my personal observation that people who support Democrats tend to be much more likely to have flexible morals than those on the other side. I am not at all sure if it is a case of cause or effect. Is the political position chosen because it fits their internal morals better? Or, does associating with that political thinking lead to moral decay?

It’s more than a personal observation: 7 in 10 felons register as Democrats. More than twice as many felons identify as Democrats than all other political affiliations combined.

I can’t say for sure what is cause and what is effect, if any. It could be some independent vector causes both.

I have another observation that might be related. I managed to get myself on fundraising email lists for both Democrats and Republicans. I probably get a half dozen emails from each every day. There are some themes both have in common such as they both try to invoke fear. Here are some examples:

Our conservative values are under attack, Joe, which is why I have teamed up with loyal conservatives who have agreed to DOUBLE every donation.

—

my campaign manager says we need to raise $24,864 in the next 48 hours, or we won’t be able to continue this campaign to protect the American Dream.

—

Mitch McConnell’s conservative mega-donors are dead-set on CRUSHING our momentum and keeping McConnell in power so he can confirm more justices like Brett Kavanaugh and dismantle even more of Barack Obama’s legacy.

—

We have to fight back immediately! I set a make-or-break goal of raising $150,000 by midnight tonight, and I need your immediate help to hit it.
Please, Joe Huffman, click here to give a triple-matched contribution of $5 (it’s worth $20) or more to help Democrats flip the Senate.
I need to make this clear for you: Our country’s future is at stake!

There are things each side does which the other does not do. Republicans appeal to rule of law, respect, and principles. Examples:

The progressives in Washington are acting like grade-school children with a substitute teacher. It’s time to send them home, restore dignity and responsibility, and stand with President Trump in keeping America great.

—

Schiff has been at the center of every investigation, witch hunt, sham trial, and false whistleblower outrage. He even lied about the President on national TV to deceive the media and the American people. There is no bottom for Adam Schiff.

—

The future of conservative values is on the line in 2020, Joe. It’s up to YOU to help keep our values alive.

—

Pelosi threw a temper tantrum and ripped up the copy of the President’s speech. She didn’t just deface the President’s speech; she spat on our nation’s history, the Tuskegee airman, Rush Limbaugh, a little girl from Philadelphia, a mother weeping for her child, and a soldier returning home to his family.

—

While the Democrats are focused on bringing our country— and its policies— to the far left by embracing socialism, we are striving to go back to the basics on which our party was founded: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” – Abraham Lincoln

Democrats tell people they are special:

Hi, Joe Huffman — We’re shaping our strategy to elect more Democratic women to the Senate in 2020, and we need your help. Please, will you give your strategic input before our official focus group closes? You can use this link: http://www.dscc.org/wsn-focus-group

Right now Democrats have seven amazing women candidates running against Republicans in key battleground states. And as the chair of the DSCC, I’m personally reaching out to a few highly-informed, dependable supporters like you for input.

This is your chance to directly influence our 2020 strategy and play a crucial role in electing more Democratic women to the U.S. Senate. So please, Joe Huffman…

—

As the DSCC’s Executive Director, I want to invite you to join a small and exclusive strategy group by taking a survey that will provide crucial input to our Senior Leadership Team.

The responses from the handful of Democrats who join this strategy group will provide a critical grassroots perspective, which we will use as we develop the Democratic Party’s strategy to flip the Senate and remove Mitch McConnell from power.

Joe Huffman, I want you to know that you are one of the DSCC’s most informed supporters and I am confident your input will make a real difference for us.

Please, click on this personalized link before midnight tonight to accept my invitation and enter your members-only strategy survey…

**We respectfully ask that you do not share this link with non-members.

—

Joe Huffman — Time is running out to vote for your favorite design for our BRAND NEW 2020 DSCC Membership Card!

Top Democrats all across America have already voted and reserved their personalized card, but we just double-checked everyone’s voting record and here’s what we have on file for you…

—

Hey Joe Huffman,
I’ve been searching through our database of Washington supporters, and I selected a few highly-informed and very active Democrats to get input from. I’m happy to let you know that you are in this group, Joe Huffman.
More than 437 of the Democrats I selected have agreed to be interviewed — but our team’s data analyst tells me we need 10 more responses before we can consider these results for our party strategy.

Your input is crucial as we finalize our strategy to help Democrats flip the Senate from Mitch McConnell’s control in the next election!

This is consistent with what I observed in reading The Communist Manifesto a few years ago:

The Communist Manifesto tells its readers that supporters of Communism are the intelligent people. They deserve, are destined to, and the good of all human kind depends on them, being in charge. That they “understand” the benefits of Communism to the bafflement of others is probably proof to them that they are the intellectual superiors of those that think Communism is, at best, prone to abuse.

In other words the second plausible answer to the obvious question is that those that advocate Communism are not very bright people who want to believe they are the brightest of all people. And that The Communist Manifesto tells them they are the brightest enables them to then claim themselves as intellectuals.

That Democrats think the law and rules do not, or at least should not, apply to them is consistent with the messages they tell their followers—they are special people.

Quote of the day—Karlyn Borysenko

Posted on by

I think the Democrats have an ass-kicking coming to them in November, and I think most of them will be utterly shocked when it happens because they’re existing in an echo chamber that is not reflective of the broader reality. I hope it’s a wake-up call and causes them to take a long look in the mirror and really ask themselves how they got here.

Karlyn Borysenko
February 11, 2020
After Attending a Trump Rally, I Realized Democrats Are Not Ready For 2020
[Republicans should not get cocky. If they are going to win they need to beat the margin of fraud as well as the margin or error. And to be able to do anything once they win they need to win enough seats to make blackmail, bribery, and extortion difficult.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Gary North

Posted on by

The reason why gun control advocates want this right overturned is because they are in favor of centralized political control. They believe that their class, namely, the intellectual class, is in control of the agencies of civil government. For the most part, this assumption is correct. They assume that their class, and only their class, has the wisdom to allocate weapons. They believe that their class alone possesses the right to determine which citizen has access to weapons, under which circumstances, and for how long.

In effect, the gun-control advocate is rather like a medieval knight in the 15th century. He resents the fact that weapons are becoming cheaper, and that the common man who joins the Army becomes a threat to his social class, and therefore to his social standing. He resents the fact that his weapons no longer give him a monopoly of violence. Weapons have come onto the market, and these weapons can be used effectively by commoners who do not spend decades of training in their use.

Gary North
December 24, 2012
In Defense of the Second Amendment
[H/T to Chuck Petras @Chuck_Petras for bringing this to my attention.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Bob Stockbriidge

Posted on by

They don’t need to take the bad guys guns. The bad guys aren’t who they are trying to control!

Bob Stockbriidge
February 9, 2020
Comment to 2nd Amendment Alert
[This hypothesis fits the known data.

Respond appropriately.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Alan Gottlieb

Posted on by

We’re grateful to the 18 attorneys general for joining the amicus, on behalf of the residents of their respective states. The right to bear arms does not end at the Illinois state line, and untold numbers of citizens from other states have occasion to travel to or through Illinois and they should not be expected to leave their right of self- defense at the border.

Alan Gottlieb
Chairman of SAF
February 9, 2020
45 American states ‘illegally affected’ by 1 state’s serious gun control: 18 attorneys general join fight against firearm restrictions
[The case before SCOTUS is here. It is scheduled to be in conference 10 days from now.

My quick review of the case leads me to believe Illinois is looking for excuses to not allow other state residents to apply for conceal weapon licenses. Their excuse is that they require proof the out of state resident isn’t disqualified by reason of felony conviction or mental health reasons. They claim::

while the Illinois State Police have direct access to information about the criminal and mental health history of Illinois residents, they lack access to such information about nonresidents.

I find that “interesting”. If someone were to move to their state and become a resident, do they magically have their databases filled with criminal and mental health history? If so, I’d like to learn their magic. I have some databases of my own I would like kept update by such means.

I didn’t read all the briefs, or even any in their entirety, but I did not see them address the issue of why someone so dangerous they cannot be allowed to carry a firearm is allowed to walk their public streets unescorted or obtain other dangerous items like gasoline and matches. If they are so concerned about people they consider dangerous because they don’t have databases entries on them why don’t the stop all traffic at the state border and demand their criminal and mental health records before being allowed entry? It’s because it’s the excuse, not the reason, to deny out of state people their specific enumerated right to keep and bear arms.

 The petitioners bring up a related point with this:

Respondents claim it is impossible to know if the non-resident carrying in Illinois, who has a concealed carry license in her home state, who is trusted to carry in her vehicle on Illinois roads, on Illinois private property, on Illinois firing ranges and hunting grounds, is nonetheless too dangerous or mentally ill to carry for self-defense and exercise her Second Amendment right anywhere else in the State.

The go on to destroy the fraudulent claim.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Dan O’Kelly

Posted on by

If you have a problem with the truth, who’s the bad guy?

Dan O’Kelly
February 7, 2020
Former ATF agent at center of legal dispute over AR-15
[The answer should be obvious. The problem is that the truth is a problem for a lot of people and they will insist the truth teller is the bad guy. Worst than that telling the truth can make you the enemy. And frequently it’s not just the enemy of one or a few people. You can be enemy of the state. In some countries that can get you prison or even death sentence.

O’Kelly is telling the truth and making himself the enemy of a lot of people. Fortunately, in this country he is unlikely to earn official sanctions from the government even though he is certainly making a lot of people in government very uncomfortable.

I wish him well in his continued truth telling.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Dave Ellis

Posted on by

Why a certain sector of elected officials, whose job is to serve the public, are hellbent on trampling individual rights, boggles the minds of clear thinking folks. I believe it has to do with power and control. The battle over gun control is not really about guns; it is about control.

Dave Ellis
February 3, 2020
St. Lawrence Co. gun owners seek to declare 2nd amendment sanctuary
[It may boggle your mind at first. But gradually it makes sense as you see it all around you. And what cements it is when you discover that not only do some people think like this:

And it is a thrill; it’s a high… I love it; I absolutely love it.  I was born to regulate.  I don’t know why, but that’s very true.  So as long as I’m regulating, I’m happy.

But, a lot of people think like that. They absolutely get off on coming up with ideas for controlling other people “for their own good”. Some people even literally believe they need to be in control of other people’s money because they know how to spend it better than the people who earned it.

These type of people are those who seek political office. And they are the type of people who should be kept away from the levers of political power. And when those type of people became too numerous and too powerful, that is why we have the Second Amendment.—Joe]

Quote of the day—José Niño

Posted on by

As the days go by, the School House Rock version of politics that Americans have been accustomed to has increasingly become a distant memory, thanks to DC’s thorough embrace of managerial politics. So, no matter who’s in charge, politics is business as usual, which means more government growth at the expense of local jurisdictions and civil society. However, politics is the art of the possible, especially when people appreciate the value of American federalism and all of its implications. The opportunities are endless, provided that people break free from the conventional wisdom they’ve been fed about political action and start acting locally. Gun rights issues could be the catalyst that kicks off a decentralization revolution America desperately needs.

José Niño
February 6, 2020
What’s Next for the Virginia Sanctuary Movement?
[It’s a pleasant thought. But I’m far from convinced it has a high probability of turning out that way.

Also by José Niño: How Gun Control Became an Instrument of Tyranny in Venezuela.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Candace Owens @RealCandaceO

Posted on by

“African-American poverty has declined to the lowest rate ever recorded”-@realDonaldTrump

And not a single Democrat congressman applauded because they want their slaves back.

#SOTU #BLEXIT

Candace Owens @RealCandaceO
Tweeted on February 4, 2020
[Truth.—Joe]

Washington state residents NRA alert

Posted on by

From NRA-ILA:

On January 31st, the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee voted to pass bills to ban most standard capacity magazines and make it more difficult to obtain a CPL. These bills will now go to the Rules Committee awaiting being pulled to the House floor. Please contact your state representative and ask them to OPPOSE House Bills 2240 and 1315.

clip_image001Click Here Take Action

House Bill 2240, as passed out of committee, bans the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than fifteen rounds of ammunition. Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban are only allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such as at licensed shooting ranges or while hunting. These magazines have to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

House Bill 1315 requires onerous government red tape and further training to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

Again, please contact your state representative and ask them to OPPOSE House Bills 2240 and 1315.

Yours in Freedom,

Zach Anderson
NRA-ILA
Grassroots Field Coordinator, Northwest Region
(703) 708-4487
zach@nrailafrontlines.com

Quote of the day—Jeffrey M. Jones

Posted on by

The new poll finds 50% of Americans disapproving of Trump, leaving just 1% expressing no opinion. The average percentage not having an opinion on Trump has been 5% throughout his presidency.

Trump’s approval rating has risen because of higher ratings among both Republicans and independents. His 94% approval rating among Republicans is up six percentage points from early January and is three points higher than his previous best among his fellow partisans. The 42% approval rating among independents is up five points, and ties three other polls as his best among that group. Democratic approval is 7%, down slightly from 10%.

The 87-point gap between Republican and Democratic approval in the current poll is the largest Gallup has measured in any Gallup poll to date.

Jeffrey M. Jones
February 4, 2020
Trump Job Approval at Personal Best 49%
[94% versus 7%. Two movies. One screen.

We live in interesting times.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Alan Korwin

Posted on by

When it comes down to it, the gun-ban cheerleaders won’t be happy until guns, “go away.” But there is no “go away.” They are guaranteed to remain dissatisfied, while we refuse to cooperate. Have the government take guns? You’re only giving them to Mr. Trump, who gun grabbers think is a Nazi personified, so that’s hopelessly irrational. Irrational. And even a wave-a-magic-wand disappearance method (or 100% effective bill) is nonsense, communist China would start imports worse than cocaine trafficking. South America too. All we face from the left on guns is mythology and Utopianism that interferes with life.

Alan Korwin
January 23, 2020
Why Background Checks Are A Lie: Stopping Psychos and Gun Checks Are Unrelated
[There is no negotiating or even discussion with irrational people. There is only ignoring, avoiding, and controlling them. The ignoring and avoiding haven’t been working so well lately. It’s time to start prosecuting those in power.—Joe]

Quote of the day—David Bronson

Posted on by

My prediction is that the next city to attempt this “Are you now, or have you ever been, an NRA member?” tactic will be Portland, Oregon.

David Bronson
January 27, 2020
Los Angeles Gun-Grabbers Confused, Terrified by Bill of Rights
[New York City should be high on that list as well.—Joe]

How We Win In November – A Plan

Posted on by

Tom Gresham* of Gun Talk has a plan: How We Win In November – A Plan.

Via email from KW.

* Tom Gresham hosts Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk, the first nationally-syndicated radio show about guns and the shooting sports, and is also the producer and co-host of the Guns & Gear, GunVenture and First Person Defender television series.

Quote of the day—Scott Adams @ScottAdamsSays

Posted on by

The best cringetainment of the day is watching Colbert in full TDS panic mode argue that Constitutional scholar @AlanDersh does not have a logical argument. On the next episode of The Late Show, Colbert will explain why Einstein was just a lucky guesser.

Scott Adams @ScottAdamsSays
Tweeted on January 30, 2020
[I have nothing to add.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Gary North

Posted on by

It is true that the Swiss surrender their ammo back to the local armory at the end of each summer’s training. It is also true that the political tradition of democracy is so deeply ingrained that it would be impossible for any Swiss government to refuse to return those weapons the following summer. The Swiss are not a disarmed population. They simply let the government store the ammo during the year. The attitude is not that the government lets the citizens have access to weapons. The attitude is that the citizens allow the government to store the ammo.

Gary North
December 24, 2012
In Defense of the Second Amendment
[H/T to Chuck Petras @Chuck_Petras for bringing this to my attention.

There are some interesting observations and history in his post.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Kevin M. Washington

Posted on by

As a nation we need to live up to the principles of America and that means devotion to the nation and its people.

Self centered elites who break the law all the time for personal gain of power and money are a criminal class. They are not in any way interested in devotion to our people or our country.

Kevin M. Washington
January 28, 2020
Anti-2A lawmakers completely ignore facts, push sweeping gun control legislation
[I have nothing to add.—Joe]

Does anyone still wonder why?

Posted on by

This is what the political left say about Trump supporters on national television:

Just imagine what they say when they think they have some privacy.

Oh! That’s right. We don’t need to imagine. We have the video.

Does anyone still wonder why they want to take our guns?