Bush Administration Wrong on Guns

Human Events ^ | 01/22/2008 | Sean P. Trende

[neverdem]

Nailed it on so many points that I'm at a loss for words. Do you remember when it was said that the NRA in effect would have a seat in the White House? This administration has been so moderate that the Bush Derangement Syndrome it somehow elicits from the left just boggles my mind.

[Always Right]

Shocking. Unfortunately Fred is the only candidate left who is right on guns. Of course that might not last.

[absolootezer0]

i thought huck was good on guns as well?

[oblomov]

you’re kidding, right?

[neverdem]

Unfortunately Fred is the only candidate left who is right on guns. Of course that might not last.

Huckabee and Dr. Paul get some things right besides the Second Amendment too, but they are both out to lunch on foreign affairs. Say a prayer for Fred!

[brushcop]

Some folks better hide some things...

[rellimpank]

—Nixon’s philosophy—”—run as far to the right as you must to get elected, then govern as far to the left as you can”—or words to that effect—

[Dead Corpse]

If it’s time to hide them, then it is probably time ti dig ‘em up and put ‘em to use.

[NRA1995]

Perhaps if The Bush family had to wait 20-30 minutes for a Secret Service agent to take down someone threatening to harm them, they’d see the light.....

[brushcop]

Also, I’ll never forget some FReeper saying that he’s glad we have the 2nd Ammendment. To a Socilist/Marxist regime, the Constitution is a non-issue, something to be either suspended or ignored, just as they are doing now.

You’d better brace yourselves, this ride is going to be rough and not for the weak at heart.

[snowsislander]

Which raises the question: What the heck was the Bush Administration thinking? For decades, a critical component of the Republican coalition has been working class gun owners who are bothered by the Democrats’ embrace of gun control. Republicans actually seem to have won that battle, with Democrats backing off of gun control legislation in the recent Congress. Why after enduring so much hostile press would the Bush Administration sell out the NRA at this critical juncture? And why make the reversal in a difficult election year, when the support of gun control opponents will be so critical to Republican fortunes?

I have been thinking a lot about this myself, and I don't like the answer I come up with, which is that this White House has gone from weak on the Second Amendment to just wrong on the Second Amendment. There's been no repudiation of this Solicitor General's brief by anyone in the executive branch or the leadership in the Republican Party.

Even in the hustings where you would expect to see at least some lip service by politicians courting the Second Amendment vote, I have seen condemnation of this brief only by Senator Thompson.

[Billthedrill]

What the heck was the Bush Administration thinking?

It's only a guess, but I'm thinking it was no deeper than a government functionary scared to death that some of his power might go away. It's taken over a century to get around the Second Amendment to the degree that the federal government already has - from an authoritarian point of view that's a lot of work that might be wasted.

That sounds rather cynical and I'm sure no one who considers himself a conservative would care to put it quite that bluntly. But if there's anything more involved it's a little hard to see.

[Always Right]

The Constitution is not an issue for GOPers either. The First Amendment is not stopping Greesly from hauling every evangelical TV minister in front of Congress for a grilling.

[robertpaulsen]

"Contrary to the caricatures painted by liberals, there are precious few issues that the Administration has not sold the Right out on."

Then why were so many on the Right in favor of this issue going before the U.S. Supreme Court?

Seems to me that there's a whole bunch of Monday-morning quarterbacking going on in the conservative press.

[Charles Martel]

If it’s time to hide them, then it is probably time ti dig ‘em up and put ‘em to use.

You've seen tho old thread titled "The Art of the Cache", right? It's all about "insurance".

[padre35]

Paul was great on the 2nd amendment.

I never can quite grasp what the heck the Bushies are thinking, if Miller could be redefined to absolutely assure the RTKBA, then the “legacy” would be secured at least on some level.

But alas, even on this, the Fairbairn meets the small of the back right below the floating ribs...

Et tu Bush?

BTW McCAin is simply terrible on the 2nd amendment, if it came down to sending money to McCain or to a local 2nd amendment friendly candidate...adios pendajo McCain...

[absolootezer0]

no, i’ve heard he was pretty good, but i haven’t paid much attention to him. i know he has a dozen other positions i can’t stand, but since he’s still up in the polls i probably should start looking at him and finding out how badly i don’t want him to win.

[Dead Corpse]

Hrmm.... I remember that one. I still have a bad feeling that we are going to land “jam side down” come March and that things are going to get bad VERY quickly. There won’t be time to remember where all you’ve got stuff squirreled at.

[brushcop]

Great reply!

[ccmay]

The First Amendment is not stopping Greesly from hauling every evangelical TV minister in front of Congress for a grilling.

Many of those reptilian widow-swindling mountebanks are living a tax-exempt life of luxury that ought to sicken any real Christian. I want to see them harshly punished if they are stealing from the taxpayers.

But I also want the same scrutiny applied to the left-wing non-profit queens, e.g. Jesse Jackson.