I receive some diverse emails from varied sources. Last night, not so much…
First from the National Association for Gun Rights:
Dear Guffaw,
“You bet!”
That’s what Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Flake said when asked if he supports President Obama’s nationalized gun-control agenda. 1
To make matters worse, he’s now touting President Obama’s rhetoric when it comes to expanded background checks.
“All of us Republicans and Democrats recognize that we need more effective and broader background checks,” he recently told Politico. 1
This sort of Washington beltway blabber is what we’ve come to expect out of Arizona’s Senior U.S. Senator, John McCain…
But watching Junior Jeff fold like a house of cards after spending months paying gun owners lip-service is disappointing. ~
This, after many of us wrote our Senators pleading with them NOT to buckle to Senator Feinstein and the state socialists! I heard back from Senator Flake’s office just a few weeks ago stating he supported us! Is he lying? (I know, his mouth is moving – he’s a politician!)
THEN,
Dear Guffaw,
TODAY, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on Senator Dianne Feinstein’s anti-gun bill…which would BAN millions of commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and BAN ammunition magazines that hold more than ten rounds.
YOUR SENATORS NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT NOW!!!
Please call both of your Senators today at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to OPPOSE the Feinstein Gun Grab bill.
Tell your Senators that President Barack Obama’s own Justice Department recently reported that any ban on semi-automatic firearms WILL NOT WORK…unless it includes mandatory gun buy backs, which is federal GUN CONFISCATION!
Senator Feinstein herself told CBS’s 60 Minutes that if she could get the votes “for an outright ban, picking up every one of them — Mr. and Mrs. America turn ‘em all in” she would do it!!!
If you live in Arizona, please call Senators Flake and McCain, TODAY! Hell if you live in Flotsam’s Mistake, NJ! call them. And call your own Senators, too.
I’ve called and sent emails, more than once. They need to hear us…RIGHT NOW!
Don’t count on someone else to do it. Take action! Call the number above an let your voice be heard!
Cochise
Geronimo
When I was growing up (in Arizona) my father made certain to show me evidence of Western history and culture. Western as in cowboy. 50s/60s TV helped. Not balanced or historically correct.
And, living in Arizona, we got to travel around the State and visit places like Montezuma’s Castle and Tombstone. And I really wanted to own a horse and become a cowboy. At age 5.
Part of what was taught to me was the difference between Cochise and Geronimo. Cochise initially fought the incursion of people from the East Coast, but eventually acceded to what was called manifest destiny and gave up. I was taught he was a great hero of his people. (See the 1950 film Broken Arrow for the politically-correct story).
But Geronimo was another matter. A warrior to the end, he never gave up fighting for his people, and was eventually captured and made a prisoner of war. He died in captivity. Some say he was murdered. I was taught he was a rebel and criminal who deserved what he got. We called these battles The Indian Wars.
Between the Indians co-existing with us as citizens, having their own ‘nations’, and being given special status and benefits from the government (based largely on our guilt for never honoring treaties and mistreatment of them), AND, the ever-popular meme of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Noble Savage (the idea that as they were primitive cultures they were automatically more pure than we ‘cultured’ euro-trash) it’s a pretty complex relationship. Until the 1700s, many conquering forces simply eliminated those who didn’t assimilate. Less complex but barbaric. We did do some of that.
Special status, in spite of the whole melting pot meme; E Pluribus Unum, and equal rights for all. Some people are more equal than others.
Purportedly, Geronimo’s last words…
“I should have never surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive.”[27]
As a youth, I admired Cochise for his peaceable acquiescence to federal government authority. I tend to be siding more with Geronimo, now.
h/t Wikipedia, IMDB
Indefinite detention of American citizens is back.
Just yesterday Senator John McCain’s conference committee stripped the amendment that protects American citizens against indefinite detention out of the NDAA.
And final passage of the bill will be voted on TODAY.
That’s why it’s vital you call your U.S. Senators IMMEDIATELY and DEMAND they oppose the NDAA. You can reach your Senators at (202) 224-3121.
And while you’re at it, give Senator McCain a call at (202) 224-2235.
Tell him our Bill of Rights is not something that can be cherry-picked at his convenience – and demand he stop shredding our Constitution.
“Never let a crisis go to waste!” – Rahm Emanuel
h/t Rand Paul
Obviously, General Washington didn’t take Christmas off as a Federal Holiday.
He attacked 1400 Hessian troops in an overnight surprise, crossing the Delaware River (although it’s doubtful he actually stood in the boat!)
Yet another reason to celebrate this day. – Guffaw
PAY ATTENTION, GUFFAW!
I’m a big fan of being in Condition Yellow (if you didn’t get that from previous posts).
But, in my personal life, much of the time, I seem to have been in Condition White (or worse).
Many of my personal problems have been the direct result of failing to pay attention.
I’ve recounted some of those dismal failures to do so in this blog.
Signals, direct or indirect, from significant others, for example. (I know women are fans of subtlety over directness, but sometimes, even with directness, my focus has been elsewhere).
At least for me, this comes from complacency.
Hell, they’re here, things are humming along, why worry?
The same thing applies to me in relation to Our Nation.
I’m an American. I was born here, and expect to die here. I was educated in American Schools. I’ve never lived abroad, and have no desire to.
And I was taught The United States IS exceptional. And so are Americans.
I believe this is one reason why our enemies want to destroy or subjugate us.
Enemies both foreign and domestic.
I’m a libertarian – small L. You do as you want or need to, and I’ll do the same. Just don’t mess with me or mine, or my God-given rights. I expect the same respect from you.
But jihadis and big-government advocates aren’t libertarians. They don’t respect my rights, or yours. Even though we begrudgingly respect theirs. I’m thinking prisoners-of-war and Senator Schumer, as examples.
So, my advice to ME is: Pay Attention. Not just to the enemy complacency in my own life, but, to the enemies of Our Nation, who wish us to NOT be exceptional.
Enemies both foreign and domestic.
You, of course, may do as you wish.
There was a time I wanted to travel, internationally. There were many places that sounded intriguing.
Now, not so much. Guess I’m a bit of a xenophobe.
Through Monday proposed changes in passport regulation comments are accepted. After that, it’s up to the bureaucrats to decide.
Below are the specifics of the proposed changes (emphasis mine):
The U.S. Department of State is proposing a new Biographical Questionnaire for some passport applicants: The proposed new Form DS-5513 asks for all addresses since birth; lifetime employment history including employers’ and supervisors names, addresses, and telephone numbers; personal details of all siblings; mother’s address one year prior to your birth; any “religious ceremony” around the time of birth; and a variety of other information. According to the proposed form, “failure to provide the information requested may result in … the denial of your U.S. passport application.”
The State Department estimated that the average respondent would be able to compile all this information in just 45 minutes, which is obviously absurd given the amount of research that is likely to be required to even attempt to complete the form.
I find it, well, ironic, that just about anyone can enter this country by walking, or crawling under a fence, but for a U.S. Citizen to leave, lawfully, requires one’s entire personal history!
And, just a reminder, one now needs a passport to travel to Canada or Mexico.
(the blue Form DS-5513 above links to the proposed form!)
h/t Jennifer
An Arizona sheriff says he has been flooded with calls and emails of support from local and federal agents who back his claims that the U.S. Border Patrol has effectively ordered them to stop apprehending illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexican border.
http://patdollard.com/2011/04/border-patrol-agents-confirm-feds-order-not-to-arrest-illegals/
To skew the stats, showing the border is better!
(and some wonder why I needed to laugh, earlier!)
h/t Traction Control
(cue Captain Renault…)
To put things in perspective.
(CNS) – The federal debt increased $54.1 billion in the eight days preceding the deal made by President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R.-Ohio) to cut $38.5 billion in federal spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, which runs through September.
The debt was $14.2101 trillion on March 30, according to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and $14.2642 on April 7.
Since the beginning of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, 2010, the national debt has increase by $653.4 billion.
(I’m shocked, shocked!)
h/t Weasel Zippers
http://armsandthelaw.com/
h/t to David Hardy
This is aimed at base commanders who have ordered that soldiers report and register privately-owned firearms kept at their residences off-base. They will no longer have this authority.
It still doesn’t address the Fort Hood shooting. Shouldn’t our military men and women be able to protect themselves on-base?
Pictured above is Corporal Frank Buckles. He passed away last week at age 110. He was the last surviving American Doughboy from WWI.
His daughter asked W. Va. lawmakers if he could lie in the Capitol Rotunda,
as he was the last of his breed. Some Washington lawmakers are objecting.
How else could we better honor all who served in WWI? Please let your
congressperson know of your feelings.
