I am very happy President Bush is in the White House right now. Think what this country would be like with an Al Gore or a John Kerry at the helm. That is one scary thought.
That said, I would be even happier with President Bush and the Republicans if they would be more vocal in support of the Second Amendment. I get the sneaking feeling that some of the president's advisors think they have the firearms rights vote locked up.
During the 1992 presidential election campaign the usually astute (now deceased) Lee Atwater is alleged to have advised President Bush 41 not to actively seek the vote of gun owners. "Where else do they have to go?" Atwater supposedly said. In November those words came back to haunt the Republicans.
Bottom line: Firearms ownership and membership in gun rights organizations is on the upswing. It would not pay to alienate that block of voters.
1. Bush caused Katrina and Rita
2. Bush is a racist.
3.Bush is the cause of 9/11.
4.Bush needs to spend more money on social programs.
5.Bush bombed the levees in New Orleans.
6.Bush is the cause of global warming.
7.Bush gives unlimited gratuities to his pals at Halliburton and does not care if American soldiers are killed.
8. Bush is a fascist.
9. Bush went to war for oil
10.Bush wants a religious theocracy to rule America.
Now, I could go on and on. But the point is, they have lied and lied about him. Why would he seek or procure their council regarding a supreme court pick? They are going to meet out hell for him for the next 3 years no matter what he does. He cares about his legacy, and he cares about the direction of America. I think he will go conservative on all 4 of his supreme court picks.
The most powerful thing that Bush can do for gun owners is to appoint Supreme Court Justices who will vote to hear Second Amendment cases and vote to restore the Second Amendment, applying it to the states as an immunity granted to every citizen of the United States.
As far as I can tell, he is doing that. His judicial appointments and the candidates near the top of the list that is under consideration appear to be people who can read the plain english of the Bill of Rights.
If Bush had signed a renewal of the "Assault Weapons Ban" he would not have received my vote. Since I am in Kalifornia, withholding my vote would have cost him little. But the votes of similarly minded people in some of the red states could have proved critical.