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Nugent touches a nerve(Il)
sj-r.com ^ | 12 January, 2012 | Matt Dietrich

Posted on 01/13/2012 8:14:57 AM PST by marktwain

First, let me apologize for letting this blog gather dust for so long. I have resolved to keep it active in 2012. Now, on to the fun.

In today's editorial, which I wrote, I had no intention of ripping the booking of Ted Nugent as the keynote speaker for the Sangamon County GOP's Lincoln Day dinner next month. (My colleague Bernie Schoenburg does a fine job of that in his column today.) The point of the editorial is in these two paragraphs:

In choosing Nugent, organizers will without doubt accomplish their goal of raising money and packing the house. Nugent may be many things, but he is never boring. Given this platform to speak his mind to a friendly audience, Nugent is sure to provide a moment that will endure for years in Springfield’s political lore.

But the local GOP also is taking a risk in making Nugent the voice of one of its most significant annual events.

The risk, of course, is that Nugent's outspokenness might be off-putting to some party members, especially longtime, traditional conservatives. These are the people who favor gun rights, but also favor things like keeping assault rifles out of private-sector use. They'd like to see someone other than Obama in the White House, but they don't favor conveying that message in ways that Nugent has conveyed it in the past.

If you think these people and these concerns don't exist, you are kidding yourself. An awful lot of Republicans are uneasy with their party being forcibly rebranded, whether it's by Ted Nugent on guns or a Tea Party debate crowd cheering at the idea of someone being left to die because they don't have health insurance or by those who believe evolution doesn't exist.

I had a great phone interview with Ted Nugent in 1998 and reviewed him twice in the '90s -- both times favorably. I know what he's about and I know what the local party's intent was in booking him as their speaker. I noted as much in the editorial. I also noted that he was a good choice given the party's stated goal: to sell tickets and raise money.

Apparently stating all this counts as harsh criticism and an assault on the Second Amendment. At least that's the way about 20 commenters had interpreted the editorial this morning. Pardon me for stating the obvious.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: banglist; il; nugent; sangamaon
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Yes, it is harsh criticism because the underlying assumption is that support for the Constitution and the Second Amendment is anti-traditional conservatism.

He makes the same mistake by repeating the lie that conservatives cheered the idea of someone being left to die because of not having health insurance. His assumptions are simply false, a basic big lie.

1 posted on 01/13/2012 8:15:01 AM PST by marktwain
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To: marktwain
...favor things like keeping assault rifles out of private-sector use.

This guy's another clueless moron. He probably believes that the "AR" in AR-15 stands for Assault Rifle.

2 posted on 01/13/2012 8:22:39 AM PST by 50cal Smokepole (Effective gun control involves effective recoil management.)
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To: marktwain

Really? There are traditional conservatives who don’t like citizens having guns?

Are they really conservatives?


3 posted on 01/13/2012 8:22:39 AM PST by lurk
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To: marktwain
Wow.

If this limp-wristed hothouse lily represents even a small minority of the Republican Party, then we're in big trouble in November.

4 posted on 01/13/2012 8:25:19 AM PST by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: Flycatcher

What is happening to the republican party ... gone all metrosexual liberal wussy. They don’t stand for anything, they don’t fight for anything.

Somebody tell me something that makes me think they don’t totally suck...

God help us because the republicans won’t....


5 posted on 01/13/2012 8:32:48 AM PST by Breto (The republican establishment are morons)
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To: marktwain

Put Ted in charge of the batfe...


6 posted on 01/13/2012 8:33:00 AM PST by joe fonebone (Project Gunwalker, this will make watergate look like the warm up band......)
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To: marktwain
The risk, of course, is that Nugent’s outspokenness might be off-putting to some party members, especially longtime, traditional conservatives. These are the people who favor gun rights, but also favor things like keeping assault rifles out of private-sector use. They'd like to see someone other than Obama in the White House, but they don't favor conveying that message in ways that Nugent has conveyed it in the past.

REAL Conservatives (traditional, paleo or Neo) believe in the constitution without any of the caveats, that this moron speaks of...

Go TED!

7 posted on 01/13/2012 8:33:17 AM PST by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: marktwain
These are the people who favor gun rights, but also favor things like keeping assault rifles out of private-sector use.

...and who might they be?

8 posted on 01/13/2012 8:36:18 AM PST by WayneS (Comments now include 25% MORE sarcasm for no additional charge...)
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To: marktwain

“Republicans” like this wonder why they can’t get elected in Illinois.

They are wusses and stand for nothing.


9 posted on 01/13/2012 8:37:54 AM PST by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: 50cal Smokepole
He probably believes that the "AR" in AR-15 stands for Assault Rifle.

Oh, I thought it stood for Automatic Rifle. 8^)

Yeah, I know, it comes from Armalite.

10 posted on 01/13/2012 8:38:38 AM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: Breto
What is happening to the republican party ... gone all metrosexual liberal wussy. They don’t stand for anything, they don’t fight for anything.

You're absolutely right.

And those that do actually fight -- our Marines -- are vilified in the MSM (and even by some in the Republican establishment) for pissing on the body of an enemy combatant after a firefight to the death.

Seriously, right before our eyes, we're watching our country turn from a nation of alpha-males to a hand-wringing community of beta-females.

I honestly never thought I would see this happen in my lifetime.

11 posted on 01/13/2012 8:47:17 AM PST by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: Flycatcher

“And those that do actually fight — our Marines — are vilified in the MSM (and even by some in the Republican establishment) for pissing on the body of an enemy combatant after a firefight to the death.”

I personally have no problem with what the Marines did considering the mutilations, beheadings and hangings on our own by this vile bunch of Muzzies. But, what were they thinking taping it? Did they not have a clue that one day it would get out?


12 posted on 01/13/2012 8:55:31 AM PST by animal172 (Calling the Founding Fathers!! We need your help.)
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To: Flycatcher

“Seriously, right before our eyes, we’re watching our country turn from a nation of alpha-males to a hand-wringing community of beta-females.”

I agree, and I suggest that the 19th amendment has a LOT to do with it. After that, we began our national journey to becoming a more liberal, more politically correct place where feelings, and being offended are every bit as important as real crimes.


13 posted on 01/13/2012 8:56:37 AM PST by brownsfan (Aldous Huxley and Mike Judge were right.)
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To: marktwain

“The risk, of course, is that Nugent’s outspokenness might be off-putting to some party members, especially longtime, traditional conservatives. These are the people who favor gun rights, but also favor things like keeping assault rifles out of private-sector use.”

I don’t think so.


14 posted on 01/13/2012 8:58:19 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: marktwain
Speaking of Ted Nugent, I have a question which is only (very) peripherally related to this topic at hand.

I am new to archery. This week I purchased a very lightly used Mathews Feather Max bow. I will be visiting my local archery shop tomorrow for assistance in setting/tuning the bow for my use.

Once my proper arrow length is determined I will, of course, be needing some arrows for this bow. I am curious as to whether any of the more experienced archers here have an opinion on 'Gold Tip' brand arrows. They offer a "Ted Nugent" branded arrow which seems quite reasonably priced.

Thanks for any assistance you can offer!

15 posted on 01/13/2012 8:59:18 AM PST by WayneS (Comments now include 25% MORE sarcasm for no additional charge...)
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To: marktwain

No “longtime, traditional conservative” favors keeping so-called’ assault rifles’ out of private hands. Country club RINO elitists with their precious Perazzi shotguns might think that way, but no real conservative would ever think so.


16 posted on 01/13/2012 9:08:18 AM PST by Noumenon ("I tell you, gentlemen, we have a problem on our hands." Col. Nicholson-The Bridge on the River Qwai)
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To: marktwain
I had all of Ted's albums...in high school. I cringe when I hear him speak, he tries to sound intelligent but just sounds goofy. I respect his stance on the second amendment, I just wish there was someone more eloquent to present the case.

Before I get flack for attacking an, 'American Hero, really?' there's this:

I watched a lame show about Sturgis called Full Throttle Saloon, don't waste your time, it's lame. Ted and his entourage were there and they sound like the same pampered folks we hear about in Hollywood.

17 posted on 01/13/2012 9:11:08 AM PST by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: 50cal Smokepole
Doesn't matter anyway since there is no ban on them. And you can't get a democrat within ten miles of enacting another one!!
18 posted on 01/13/2012 9:14:24 AM PST by ontap
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To: Noumenon

The Mitt-lovers and the Lindsay Graham loafer-khaki-Jaguar-Buffy-marrying types may vote GOP, but are not Conservatives. My grandparents belonged to the Country Club but also owned 2 farms and were avid hunters and fishermen...there is a balance, but the soft, miserable, Faconnable-wearing morons who like Daddy’s trust fund check but cannot use an ax to cut wood are useless.


19 posted on 01/13/2012 9:14:47 AM PST by wac3rd (Somewhere in Hell, Ted Kennedy snickers....)
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To: Breto

It is high time that Conservatives (REAL Conservatives, not CINOs)realize that neither party cares a twit for us. Oh, they’ll take our money and beg for our votes, but once elected, they ignore us.


20 posted on 01/13/2012 9:24:14 AM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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