[Atlas Sneezed]

"I hate to say it, but Rove is correct here. First of all, he's right that the renewal bill will never make it out of the House."

So help me understand why Bush couldn't just STFU on the issue?

[Mr. Mojo]

So help me understand why Bush couldn't just STFU on the issue?

I also would've liked him to just STFU on the issue. The only reason I can think of that he didn't is political -- he wanted the gun grabbers (and their sympathizers) to think he was on their side on this particular issue. Iow, the almighty Vote rules the day. But the effect of Bush's announcement (through a spokesman) the other week has been to galvanize firearms owners in a big way, and many people are writing congressmen that wouldn't have done so had Bush said nothing. I'm willing to cut the Prez a little slack to play some politics if the net result is the sunsetting of this unconsitutional ban. If it's not, and he ends up signing a rewewal bill that's even more restrictive than its predecessor, then he'll be in big trouble. But, as I've already said more than a few times now, this thing ain't making it off the floor of the House.

No worries, Jack. We'll be able to buy our 20-30 round rifle mags in another 15 months.

[WoofDog123]

"So help me understand why Bush couldn't just STFU on the issue?"

If it doesn't leave congress, he can claim credit for being on the record ready to sign it while also not having signed it, which would p.o. some gun-rights people a lot less than him signing it. It will muddle the message of the anti-gun crowd in mobilizing their base for the 2004 election, since the president did say he would sign this thing....politics as usual.

If it gets passed in congress, that is another story entirely.