Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "The NRA is just shy of a terrorist organization"

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL 23rd) condemned the National Rifle Association as being just shy of a terrorist organization.  DWS said this in response to comments from the newly elected NRA President Oliver North, who attacked students of the Parkland Florida High School shooting of engaging in civil terrorism by using lawbreaking and intimidation to push for gun control.






The disgraced former head the of Democratic National Committee echoed the lead of Parkland Florida High School student activist David Hogg in gorgonizing the NRA to promote a gun grabbing policy, presumably under the guise of "common sense gun control" aimed at so called assault weapons.

Wasserman Schultz illustrates the tension in the Democrat Caucus towards Election 2018.  On the one hand, Democrats have strived to take advantage of reshaped Congressional districts (particularly in Pennsylvania and Florida) to put forth candidates and campaigns which would attract independent voters to regain control of the House of Representatives.  On the other hand, the swell of confidence over a presumed "Red Wave" compels some progressives to publicly embrace a radical wish list of impeachment and gun grabbing.


In the Salena Zito and Brad Todd best seller "The Great Revolt" (2018), one of the the significant segments of supporters of Donald Trump was "Girl Gun Power".  Second Amendment advocates will be energized to go to the polls in November for the mid terms if they fear that their constitutional rights are in danger. 

London Mayor Calls for Knife Ban on the Street to Control Violent Crime

Since the Firearm Act of 1997 essentially prohibited  British subjects from owning handguns and making certificates to own long guns an onerous and time consuming process, Britain has become the most violent country in Europe.  In fact, London had 55 murders in the first three months of 2018, which was more than New York City.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan (London-Labor) complains that budgetary cuts in policing have endangered public safety.  But Khan's knee jerk reaction is to suggest banning knives on the street, as if further weapons bans will work.  

This should be a lesson for public policy pundits who want to have what they term as "reasonable" Gun Reform Now, starting by banning the AR-15 assault weapon.  

When questioning progressives to define an assault weapon, they like to invoke Associate Justice Potter Stewart's obscenity threshold test "I know it when I see it."  When challenging the lack of effectiveness of the US 1994 Assault Weapons ban, as was measured through provisions of the enacted legislation, it is common to hear the "We've got to do something" rationale.   When it is noted that there are at least 330 million legal guns in the US and law abiding citizens are likely to be the only ones who would comply with a ban, gun grabbers' modus operendi is "We have to start somewhere." And dare one propose looking to root problems like mental illness or sudden jihad syndrome then epithets and accusations of NRA propaganda are invoked.

Larry King on the Second Amendment

With warped wisdom on the Second Amendment, it is no wonder that today Larry King seems welcomed on South Park and on the Russian Television propaganda channel.

  

Vlad from the Kremlin, you're now on the air (sic).

Dana Loesch on the March for Our Lives

David Hogg on the March for Our Lives

There is a highly publicized March for Our Lives being held on the National Mall.  It was precipitated by the Parkland Florida School Massacre.  It was supposed to be a student led memorial with an emphasis on school safety, but it serves as a vehicle for professional progressives to push for gun control using unimpeachable students as their mascots. 

Progressive groups, like ex New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety, and even Planned Parenthood have been involved in bolstering and providing organization backbone for the supposedly student led March for Our Lives.  

Many celebrities, such as Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have vowed to be there.  Wonder if they are bringing private security into the District of Columbia, which has extremely strict concealed carry laws? Even though Baltimore City Schools do not have enough money to heat some of the classrooms, Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh is poneying up funds for six busses so that thousands of students can be bussed to DC for the political protest 

One of the survivors of the Parkland incident is David Hogg, who went from being an articulate student journalist who recounted the day's events to quite an outspoken activist for Gun Reform Now. Hogg even wondered "What if our politicians weren't the bitch of the NRA" in an anti-gun propaganda video.



These students seem happy to exercise their First Amendment rights to curtail the Second Amendment.  However, when it comes to safety, Hogg was chary about the new school rule that only clear backpacks would be allowed into school buildings because that might be embarrassing to girls who are menstruating.   OK, so vitiate the Second Amendment but kids need to express themselves and not feel embarrassed.

 During the one month nation wide memorial of the Parkland Shooting, some students were detained because they were off-message from Gun Reform Now (for example about protecting all lives, even the unborn). Many schools led the protests and would not countenance those who refused to choose sides. 

Living in the District of Calamity, one often experiencing citizens exercising their First Amendment right to free expression and petitioning their elected officials during marches on the National Mall.  But every January, hundreds of thousands of youths gather on the National Mall to try to save the lives of the unborn in the March for Life, which gets nary a peep of coverage from the media. Some Sacramento students, amongst others, have petitioned their schools to have a walk out to honor and protect life. It is dubious if the same standards will be applied as for the post Parkland protests 

These markers for the March for Our Lives clearly demonstrate that public schools have become centers for ideological indoctrination and progressive agitation rather than education or inculcating tolerance for a diversity of opinions. 

The bilious bloviations of a traumatized teen thrust into the spotlight (and does not know when to leave) ought to be taken in context, as well as the half baked public policy opinions. 

Mika Brzezinski on Talking About Gun Control Immediately After the Florida School Shooting

Less than a day after the Parkland Florida School Massacre, in which at least 17 people were killed, MSNBC Anchor Mika Brezinski was insistent about having constructive talk about solutions.  Considering the midtown Manhattan mores of the mainstream media, this mean venting about gun control. Brzezinski threatened to unbook any guests on the Morning Joe who wanted to defer this constructive talk to either wait for confirmed details or out of respect for the victims' families. 

It is natural as members of the media cover this travesty live, they will opine supposed "answers" to make sense of the mire.On Fox News, conservative Sean Hannity got on his hobby horse for his entire hour in prime time to push for all schools to hire armed veterans for school security. For cash strapped districts, a guest suggested having federalized security, like the TSA.  The morning after the Parkland School Shooting, Salem Radio's centrist Republican Hugh Hewitt wondered why there was not a "No Buy List" for mentally troubled individuals. While that touches on the mental health aspect, it raises issues about an over expansive no-buy list, as Obamacare barred many Veterans diagnosed with PTSD from exercising their Second Amendment rights.

Although there are many indications that the shooter had a troubled teen with many mental illness markers, inevitably the knee jerk reaction for this so called "constructive talk"  will be a gun grab or advocating measures like a better background check (which have already been instituted).

Just as reality shows are somewhat scripted, Morning Joe is positioned to proffer reliable perspectives. Mika's booking benchmark shows how progressive will not let a good crisis to go to waste to grab guns.

Sarah Palin on Sexual Harassment

Newt Gingrich on Gun Laws

When the Supreme Court Acts Like Politicians

The Supreme Court will start consideration of cases in its new term on the first Monday in October.  A Federalist Society panel previewing the Supreme Court's new term expected that SCOTUS will have a diminished case-load during the 2016-2017 term as it awaits confirmation of  Associate Justice Antonin Scalia's replacement. It  is assumed that the Supreme Court is avoiding some controversial cases to avoid having a 4-4 tie, which does not establish precedent and upholds the Appeals Court ruling.

There are several schools of thought concerning the vacancy on the Supreme Court.  If Democrat Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (D-NY) wins the election but if the Republicans retain control of the Senate, there is good reason to believe that Obama designee Merrick Garland will be confirmed during the Lame Duck session.  Although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) claims that Lame Duck sessions are not appropriate for SCOTUS confirmations, the thinking from the GOP may well be to go with the Devil they know rather than one which they don't know.

Some Democrats believe if they win both the White House and the Senate, then Hillary would want to install her own (presumably more progressive pick).  But some optimistic institutionalists hold fast to the notion that Mrs. Clinton would abide by the process and still push forward her predecessor's choice.  Either way, in such a scenario, it would be expected that there would be a lengthy evaluation and vetting process to achieve Senatorial Advice and Consent, thus keeping the evenly divided court well into the term.

Ass. Justice Anthony Kennedy

A more philosophical question is what should be the role of the Supreme Court.  A common rallying cry in Presidential elections is control of the Supreme Court.  Justice Scalia's passing in February levels an ideologically fractured SCOTUS (four liberals, three conservatives and Ass. Justice Anthony Kennedy), but with indications that progressives are itching to be more activist. 

Chelsea Clinton has mentioned on the hustings that openings the Supreme Court will allow her mother to fundamentally redefine the parameters of the Second Amendment.  

Most likely there would be no outright repeal of this fundamental freedom given by God, but it would take a narrow reading of the organic law and assert that this right is limited to organized militias. This would effectively make it a dead letter, like the Tenth Amendment.

So instead of being final arbiters of cases, the Supreme Court would act like a super-legislature, only they are unelected (thus unaccountable) and there is virtually no way to upend their ukases.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) while campaigning for President proposed having retention elections for the judiciary, as they do in Iowa.  That sounds more appealing on the campaign trail then it would be applicable in the Federal City. However, it does voice the frustration of many Americans who feel cut out of the governing process.  California twice approved referendums defining marriage (which was primarily a state issue), yet in Obergefell, the Supreme Court overturned the will of voters under a Right of Dignity interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment and then expanded this right of same-sex marriage to all 50 states.

Two longer shot prospects not considered by judicial watchers are the possibility that Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump (R-NY) might win and actually live by his promise to nominate conservative judicial candidates.  

The other way to remedy judicial tyranny would be limitations on Article III power.  While Congress can theoretically reign in lower courts, it is unlikely to do so. This would leave such reformation to application of an Article V Convention of States.  While the Article V safety valve for a Convention of States has been in place for 227 years, it has never been successfully invoked yet. But as more and more power is taken away from states yet they are saddled with the brunt of implementing dictates from the District of Calamity (sic), this may become a more feasible possibility. 

Armed Societies are Polite Societies

A Somali Muslim stabbed eight people at the Crossroad Center Mall in  St. Cloud, Minnesota before being fatally shot three times by Jason Falconer, an off duty law enforcement officer.  The assailant shouted Allahu Akbar (Arabic for "God is Great") and asked one stabbing victims if they were Muslim before he was felled by the legal concealed carry permit holder. There were several mall cops on duty but they were unarmed.

Once again it seems that guns don't kill people as much as gun free zones kill innocent people. Thankfully, a trained concealed carry citizen could mitigate the madness at the mall.

Hillary Clinton on Gun Control

As Democrat Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (D-NY) launched her general election campaign for the Oval Office, she proffered a strategy of pushing Congress to pass "common sense" gun control legislation.

Democrats, however, understand "common sense" gun control legislation as being a Trojan Horse vehicle to grab guns and effectively eviscerate the Second Amendment.

Andrew Cuomo on New York Values

Kurt Russell on Gun Control

As President Barack Obama is poised to announce an Executive Action which imposes extra Constitutional restrictions on gun sales, it is likely that Americans will hear some dubious rationales why more regulations are necessary, from domestic safety to anti-terrorist efforts. 

 It is wise to consider why the Second Amendment is enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Geraldo Rivera Shoots His Mouth Off on Second Amendment During Active Shooter Terror Attack

As the San Bernadino Shooting was ongoing, Fox News War Correspondent Geraldo Rivera took to twitter to condemn the Second Amendment and the NRA.

Wonder how he will shovel his opinion as it becomes clear that it was a terror attack, the likes of the Paris Shootings of November 13th which threatened his daughter studying overseas?

Dana Loesch on Gun Free Zones

General Ray Odierno on the Unarmed Stateside Military

In the aftermath of the Chattanooga shooting (which the Obama Administration is loathe to call a terror attack), US Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno justified the continuation of a 1992 Department of Defense directive prohibiting most stateside military personnel from carrying arms while on duty.


Odierno's opinions on maintaining the current regulations seem political to justify that current Commander-in-Chief's policies to check soldiers, sailors, Air Force and Marines while denying that there really is a war by radical Islamists which have come to America's shores. The safety concerns  seem specious as these armed forces are trusted with weapons while on duty abroad.

In response to the Chattanooga terror attack, the Pentagon ordered military recruiters to make modest security measures like closing their shades and they were told not to wear their uniforms in public.  It is pathetic that concerned civilians feel compelled to stand guard near military recruiting centers as the service personnel can not legally carry firearms.

The DoD Regulation 5210.56 occurred during the Pentagon's drawdown from Cold War readiness.  After the attack of military recruiters in Little Rock in 2009 and Chattanooga in 2015 along with the Fort Hood shooting in 2009 (which the Obama Administration "workplace violence") and the 2014 Fort Hood shooting, it is time to change the policy to protect our troops and eliminate sitting duck targets in no gun zones.  

Mark Levin on Weapons

Hillary Clinton on Gun Control

Martin O'Malley Exploits the Charleston Church Shooting

    

 Longshot 2016 Democrat Presidential hopeful Former Governor Martin O'Malley (D-MD) used the atrocity of nine people being shot at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina as an opportunity to sound hip, fund-raise off the the tragedy and pitch his pet issues. Soon after the shootings in South Carolina, the O'Malley campaign released an email denouncing the NRA, touting O'Malley's "F" rating with the Second Amendment organization, while asking for"support" to fight for gun control as well as his fledgling campaign.  

   

O'Malley's rhetoric repeatedly used the colloquial phrase "I'm pissed".  That does not sound presidential but then again President Obama used the "N" word when granting an interview to WTF podcasts, so perhaps deviancy has been defined downward.  Nonetheless, it seems garish to push for more gun control before the dead have been laid to rest.  But as Rahm Emmanuel posited don't let a crisis go to waste.

Will Jim Webb Throw His Hat in the Ring for POTUS?

Former one term Senator from Virginia Jim Webb (D-VA) has been making rumblings that he is seriously considering making a run for the Presidency.  

Webb served as the Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration.  In 2006, Webb narrowly won (by 0.4%) a Senate seat defeating incumbent Senator George Allen (R-VA).  Legislatively, Senator Webb tried to make his mark in 2007 by being a Vietnam war veteran who proposed a bill would which cut off Bush Administration funding for the war in Iraq-- after a flourish in the Lamestream Media, the bill died in committee but Mission Accomplished (sic)!

Regrettably, Senator Webb's most memorable moment from his six years in the Senate was in 2007 when Webb's legislative aide was arrested entering the Russell Senate Office building as the aide was unwittingly carrying Senator Webb's loaded pistol and unregistered ammunition. Of course, this violated the strict gun laws in the District of Calamity (sic), but prosecutors dropped the case. 

After five years in the Senate,  Webb announced in early 2011 that he was not going to seek a second term, so that the then 65 year old Senator could go back into the private sector.  Political observers noted that as an incumbent Web would have enjoyed an advantage but that it would have been a tough campaign..

Political junkies and low information voters alike might wonder why Webb thinks that he would get traction in the Democrat Presidential field in 2016.  Webb can not point to real legislative achievements during his one term.  The only notable thing that Webb did during his so-called return to the private sector was to write a self-serving memoir "I Heard My Country Calling".  That sort of seems political to promote oneself and not be accountable to the electorate for tough votes. 

Webb's staunch support of the Second Amendment (including his aforementioned inconvenient experience on Capitol Hill) makes him a rara avis among national Democrats.  Moreover, Webb's ploy to cut off funding in Iraq might not play well as President Obama has begun bombing ISIS in the Levant.  So what's Webb's strategerie (sic) for winning the nomination.

The answer may be none.  Sometimes, minor politicos will float their name around to promote a pet issue (e.g. former UN Ambassador John Bolton for foreign policy issues or former Governor Sarah Palin on the Tea Party).  Some merely want to sell books or keep their name in the news.  But some suffering from "Potomac Fever" seem to enjoy living the high life.  Take Al Sharpton for instance. Sharpton supposedly ran for the Democrat nomination in 2004.  He got included in a couple of debates and got to campaign while staying in five star hotels, on someone else's dime.  Ten years later, Sharpton still owes over $1 million for his 2004 "run"  while landing a nightly television show on MSNBC.

At least if one term wonders like Jim Webb or former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) who are toying with a Presidential run in 2016 do not have to travel far to sate their symptoms of "Potomac Fever".