Call me Ahab

posted by Caleb on Aug 29

Fidel Castro calls Clinton-Obama presidential bid “invincible”.

In an editorial in Cuba’s communist party newspaper, Granma, the ailing dictator called the pairing of the two White House hopefuls “invincible,” according to an English translation on the paper’s Web site.

I couldn’t make this up if I tried. An old, dying socialist grants his endorsement to the next generation of hipper, sneakier socialists. Of course, if Clinton and Obama are smart, they’ll distance themselves from this as fast as they can. Despite what you’d believe at the Daily Kos, gaining approval from brutal, murderous dictators doesn’t generally help you general appeal with the average US citizen.

If the Republicans want to play this smart, they (the actual candidates) should probably just say nothing. The fact that Castro (brutal murderous dictator) throws his endorsement behind a Clinton/Obamarama ticket does all they talking for them. Honestly, beyond a bit of “nudge-nudge-wink-wink” commentary from the blogs, there shouldn’t be too much discussion on this issue. Honestly, I would hate to see the conservative side of the aisle worked into a frothing frenzy about this.
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posted by Caleb on Aug 28

Jesse Jackson has an editorial in the Sun Times today, which details what he hopes to gain from his little protests. Taking his talking points apart is going to be like hitting batting practice pitching with an aluminum bat - that means it will be both fun and easy.

1. Enforce the laws we do have; lift the shackles on the ATF to enforce the law. ATF is notoriously underfunded. The Department of Justice estimates it would take 22 years for it to inspect all federally licensed dealers given current manpower. Its enforcement powers have been crippled by limiting its ability to suspend licenses and issue fines to gun dealers that trample the laws.

You know, I actually agree with the first part of that statement, but that’s it. I believe that our existing gun control laws are quite enough, thank you please, and would rather have people punished for committing crimes instead of taking firearms out of the hands of collectors, hunters, and law abiding gun owners everywhere.

I completely disagree with “removing the shackles” on the ATF. People who actually pay attention to what’s going on realize that the ATF pretty much runs around does whatever they damn well please, which includes harassing legitimate dealers for clerical errors (Ask Red’s about that), ignoring rulings from federal judges, and trying to make law by executive fiat.

2. Extend background checks to all gun sales. In the age of al-Qaida, with gun violence growing, let’s make no exceptions. Every sale requires a background check — no check, no sale.

Every. Gun. Sold. By. A. Dealer. Requires. A. Background. Check. I honestly don’t understand how this is so hard for people to get. This means that licensed dealers at gun shows have to run background checks. I fail to see how mandating background checks if Joe Sixpack wants to sell his hunting rifle, or Ruger revolver, or Beretta 92F to his next door neighbor is going to stop a scumbag from getting a gun. I mean, if someone could actually explain how that would work in a way that makes logical sense, that would be really helpful.

3. Ban large-volume sales of guns. Someone coming into a gun show to purchase 10 or 20 weapons at once isn’t going hunting for deer. Some states have limits, but many do not. Limits make the use of straw purchasers more difficult.

How do you know he’s not going hunting? Maybe that person collects Smith & Wesson revolvers, or old military rifles, or Beretta pistols and they found a deal on a bunch of them. They’re not doing anything illegal, and it’s downright insulting to assume that someone buying “a lot” of guns is up to some nefarious purpose. As much as I dislike the guns/cars analogy, assuming that someone buying a lot of guns is doing so with the intent to break the law is like assuming that someone bought a Porsche with the intent to drive drunk at high speed.

There is another bit in the editorial, before the talking points where Jesse mentions how people on the “terrorist watch list” can buy guns. Now, I understand that the concept of that may sound scary, but when you realize that the terrorist watch list is essentially a worthless piece of crap then you’ll understand why I’m not concerned about that. Of course, I don’t like secret government databases.

What’s frustrating about all of this is that these are the same talking points that we’ve heard over and over from the gun banners for ages now. At The Smallest Minority, Kevin has an excellent post up which examines the inherent cognitive dissonance present in the gun control mindset. This quote from him essentially sums up what must go through the minds of the anti-gun movement.

The philosophy cannot be wrong! Do it again only harder!

posted by Caleb on Aug 28

Please stop making it so hard for me to defend my position as a conservative. You see, while I have no issue with whom various individuals choose to have sex with, I have an issue when elected leaders commit crimes.

I understand that DC is rife with corruption, I really do. However, whenever one of you wankers (ha) goes and does something stupid like this, it takes another chink out of the credibility of the party, and people who espouse conservative values as a whole.

While I have changed my registration to Libertarian as a matter of principle, I still believe in voting for viable candidates that espouse a majority of my political views, which usually causes me to vote Republican.

However, you toolbags are making it very difficult for me to not want to move to Mexico.

Sincerely,

Ahab

Author’s Note: I am simply disgusted with the entire political landscape right now. If you would like to read a blog entry on the Larry Craig scandal that doesn’t include my utter sense of disgust, go to Snowflakes In Hell. Sebastian has good commentary here.
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posted by Caleb on Aug 28

Sox-Yankees: Tonight at 7:05 EDT.

Dice-K is on the hill against Andy Pettitte, the (spit) Yankees are coming off being absolutely mauled by the Tigers last night. Detroit pounded the (spit) Yankees with a 16-0 shutout last night, and I must say that watching Mike Mussina get thrashed around was truly a joyous wonder.

The Sox had yesterday off, coming off a weekend spent beating the tar out of the other, lesser team that has Sox in their name. All this adds up to mean that the Red Sox have an 8 game lead over the damn Yankees in the AL East, and the (spit) Yankees are three games back from the Wild Card as well.

There are 31 games left for the Red Sox this season, and there is one more series against the Yankees in September.

A sweep would be great. Fetch the brooms! GO SOX!
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posted by Caleb on Aug 27

Take one part Reasoned Discourse, two parts Sulking because You’re Loosing, add a dash of Pants-Shitting Hysterics, and season to taste with a bit of Nanny-state, bake for a week and you end up with Laura Washington’s latest op-ed in the Sun Times.

If you actually click the link above, you’ll be treated to what sounds like a petulant teenager indulging in a fit of sulking.

It looks like the petulant, gun-toting NRA stalwarts have won the first round.

Last time, I used this space to ask where you stand on the issue of gun control. A torrent of e-mails later, it’s clear: Gun-control advocates were outgunned, four to one.

See, there’s the sulking I was talking about. Plus, it’s nice that she starts off with insults, it really helps drive the point home. It’s funny that whenever someone asks for responses about gun control, the pro-gun people basically man up and kick the crap out of the antis, especially in the electronic format. Fortunately for Laura, she’s really good at selectively citing facts.

The gun lovers were legion, robust and vitriolic. Many of you told me to go places where the sun doesn’t shine and the temperature is way too hot. Yet, if you believe public opinion polls, that reaction is an anomaly.

Nice of her to get her Reasoned Discourse on there. She goes on to point to an NBC and CBS poll about gun control, while completely ignoring the recent Zogby poll which says, well, the exact opposite.

After that, the whining really kicks in. Laura asks what’s wrong with gun control advocates, and why are pro-gun people always winning, etc. It’s really priceless, actually. Of course, the whining is immediately followed by the PSH, in the form of the “stranger with a gun” canard.

Do you want to be standing in line for gas, popcorn or a gallon of milk and find yourself next to someone who’s packing heat?

That is what you call a straw-man argument, designed to instill fear of the “pro-gun boogeyman” into Suzy Soccermom. It ignores the fact that concealed carry holders are generally among the most responsible people you’ll meet. It’s playing on the rather annoying media stereotype of all gun owners as bloodthirsty maniacs just waiting to blow someone away. It’s a blatant lie, and it used to be easy to get away with, but not any longer.

The next few paragraphs basically consist of Laura begging. Uncle has some pretty good coverage of that, so I won’t go into details. Suffice to say, Uncle nails the root cause of the begging directly to the wall.

Ms. Washington (thankfully) closes her op-ed with the aforementioned Nanny-state rhetoric, which is basically the cherry on top of the hysterical, sulky sundae.

Let’s get organized and shove tougher gun policies right down their throats.

That is how the entire anti-gun movement feels. Don’t let the “we want reasonable gun laws” crap fool you. The believe that their cause is truly righteous, and they don’t really give a rat’s ass about your freedoms in any way, shape, or form. “Shove…down their throats” is a crude way of saying that “We know what is best for you, so come along nicely and no one gets hurt.” That is the contempt for your liberties that they have.
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posted by Caleb on Aug 27

So, Ted Nugent is (still) insane. Of course, when Ted Nugent engages in hyperbole and rhetoric during his concerts and insults presidential candidates, it’s completely different from when Rosie O’Donnell, Rosanne, or any number of Hollywood celebrities engage in hyperbole and call for the lynching/execution of a sitting president.

I’m sure you’re wondering what the difference is? Well, you see, it’s bad when the Nuge does it because the Nuge is a rich white guy who is notoriously conservative. Which of course automatically makes what he said hate speech.

Now, I will say that sometimes I wish ol Uncle Ted would shut his pie-hole because we don’t need shit like this; however today I’m more irritated by the double standard than Ted running his mouth.
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Update: Uncle weighs in

posted by Caleb on Aug 24

So true, so true.

posted by Caleb on Aug 24

Lot’s of discussion about the .25 ACP lately; I have one more thing to add, for now. Someone is buying ammo and ostensibly shooting said ammo for it.

I tried to order a box of FMJ and a box of Speer Gold Dots from www.midwayusa.com last night, and both are sold out and on backorder status.

I suppose it’s probably to feed the supply of teeny mouseguns chambered for the cartridge.

posted by Caleb on Aug 24

From the UK Telegraph, of all places.

In 1996, the murder of 15 children and their teacher at a school in Dunblane, Scotland, led to a complete ban on handguns.

Yet since then, the number of crimes involving guns has risen.

In 1996, there were 14,000 recorded offences in which firearms were reported to have been used. In 2005/6, the last period for which figures are available, there were 21,500.

It’s as if…criminals don’t obey the laws?

Yesterday, Gordon Brown said the Government was “working urgently” to tackle gun crime. But if previous laws have made little difference why should new ones?

Like I said, jaw-dropping. Ultimately though, it’s probably too late for the English citizens who have realized that their country is going down the tubes. Once you give power to the government, they’re not likely to give it back.

Good luck with that.

posted by Caleb on Aug 24

Of course, we’re all aware of that fact, but to see it published in a paper is somewhat shocking.

The truth is, there are responsible gun owners in Philadelphia; many just rarely hear about them…”We are dedicated to firearms safety. That is our mission in life,” Raynolds said from inside a classroom at Target Master Indoor Firearm Range & Gun Shop, 30 miles south of Philadelphia.

For the most part, the article avoids the usual hysterics that you see when reporters visit the range; there are some silly statements in the article but for the most part, I’m not going to quibble. I’m generally much more willing to forgive small errors and silliness when the overall tone of the article is so positive.
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