Democrats....Bush Key on Assault Weapons

Associated Press - Las Vegas Sun.com ^ | May 14, 2003 | Jim Abrams

[Godebert]

By JIM ABRAMS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -

President Bush should take the lead in overcoming resistance within his own party to extending an assault weapons ban due to expire next year, Democrats said Wednesday.

"If the bill dies we will lay it at the president's doorstep," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said a day after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters that the 1994 law banning the manufacture of 19 types of common military-style assault weapons would not be renewed.

Schumer said the gun bill would be an issue in the 2004 election, a development that could pose problems for Democrats who represent districts with strong gun rights sentiment. The assault ban vote was also a campaign topic in 1994, the year Republicans recaptured the House after spending 40 years in the minority.

Bush, taking a position at odds with the National Rifle Association, has voiced support for extending the ban, and White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on Wednesday said that support would carry weight in Congress.

"This is a matter that the House has to work out, of course, by listening to the will of its members, but the president's position is clear on it," Fleischer said. "When the president states his position like that, it helps get the message to the Congress."

Fleischer would not say whether Bush would pressure DeLay to bring such a bill up for a vote. DeLay, R-Texas, on Tuesday indicated that there would be no effort to renew the current law before it expires on Sept. 13, 2004. "The votes in the House are not there to reauthorize it," he said.

"The real question is will the president weigh in and ask the leaders to schedule a vote," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who as a senior adviser to President Clinton played a key role in guiding the 1994 legislation through Congress.

[TLBSHOW]

bttt

see post 119

[TLBSHOW]

see post 76 for the latest

[Howlin]

Thanks for proving I was telling the truth.

Something you have never been able to do.

[justshe]

She gave you the quote from Wayne LaPierre. What more do you want.......you disruptor!

[Howlin]

But Mr. LaPierre of the NRA said reports of the issue causing a rift between the president and one of his most loyal political allies have been overblown. "I'm sure that the anti-firearms senators and congressmen and their allies in the national media would love to make this about President Bush and the NRA," Mr. LaPierre said. "But the truth is, it's going to be resolved in the Congress. "We're going to try to make sure that they never get this phony bill passed into law again," he said.

Did you miss that part?

And I subsequently saw the newest president on a cable show talking about it.

[Howlin]

The NRA is not the LEAST bit worried about this "bill."

I think I pretty much defended MY post, what do you think?

[Godebert]

Even the new president of the NRA says this is a tempest in a teapot, egged on by extremist.

Where did you get this part?

[TLBSHOW]

LOL sure you did!

[Howlin]

I told YOU before that I heard it on a cable show, just can't remember which one.

If you choose to believe I made it up, so be it.

But you can see from my other posts, I was able to back it up.

BTW, when you do finally hear that the new NRA president said the same thing Wayne said, be sure to ping me and let me know you know I was right.

[Howlin]

LOL sure you did!

I sure did:

To: Godebert; Amelia

I saw him on one of the cable shows the other day, and honestly, I cannot remember which one.

But I know that some others have heard the same thing on NPR.

55 posted on 05/14/2003 7:05 PM EDT by Howlin

[rdb3]

Where will the moans and groans come from when this bill never meets the President's desk? In this scenario, who looks stupid?

Doing bad things to bad people...

[Godebert]

"I told YOU before that I heard it on a cable show, just can't remember which one."

Yes....then you gave me a link which I figured was a source with a quote. It wasn't.

If you choose to believe I made it up, so be it.

Given your past anti-gun statements on Freerepublic, I think you can understand why I might want a source with a direct quote.

"But you can see from my other posts, I was able to back it up."

No...I don't see it at all. I'm still waiting for you to provide the source and direct quote. You have merely stated that you "can't remember"....but you heard it on some TV show. You'll have to do better than that if you hope to maintain even a semblance of credibility.

"BTW, when you do finally hear that the new NRA president said the same thing Wayne said, be sure to ping me and let me know you know I was right.

Ya....I can just picture the president of the NRA calling the membership "extremists" for supporting the 2nd Amendment. I'll be waiting for you to post the source with quote (I'm sure it'll be a long wait).

[rdb3]

If the Republicans continue their drift to the left, the Constitution Party will continue to get stronger.

And we all will lose the United States of America before this party is strong enough to do anything substantial by being split and virtually handing over control to the unabashedly unAmericans (Democrats).

Running on the premise of a negative. That's some strategy.

Doing bad things to bad people...

[Howlin]

Given your past anti-gun statements on Freerepublic

I think you have me confused with somebody else.

Ya....I can just picture the president of the NRA calling the membership "extremists" for supporting the 2nd Amendment.

I never said anything CLOSE to that.

Nice try though.

[Amelia]

Exactly what are you worried about? The NRA doesn't seem to be worried, they are sure that the bill to extend the assault weapons ban will die in the House.

The gun manufacturers aren't worried, they are making more money than ever, and they don't think the bill will pass either.

Just WHAT are you worried about?

[Howlin]

You'll have to do better than that if you hope to maintain even a semblance of credibility.

That was extremely well done on your part.

But I was able to post a link to what the then president of the NRA said also......and he said exactly what I said, that the NRA wasn't the least bit worried about this bill.

You'll have to do better than that if you hope to maintain even a semblance of credibility.

I'm not the least bit worried about MY credibility when you are doing exactly what LaPierre said -- "making this about President Bush and the NRA."

The Democrats thank you for your work.

[snooker]

more from Ari Flescher's press briefing ...
Q Ari, a new subject. The House Republicans have apparently broken with the President over the issue of the assault weapons ban. Is reauthorizing assault weapons ban a priority enough for the President to do some of his own arm-twisting to try and get the House to allow a vote?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think the President's position is clear and the President supports the reauthorization of the current assault weapons

ban. We are working right now with the Congress on the issues that are on their plate, that they're focusing on right now, and then Congress, of course, is going to leave for the Memorial Day recess. I mentioned the AIDS initiative and the tax cut, the growth initiative that are pending on the floor this week. The President doesn't set the congressional calendar or schedule. We'll continue to work with the Congress, and they know the President's position.

Q Does the President believe that the bill -- excuse me, the law that's on the books right now has taken steps to alleviate crimes?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, there's a study underway to determine that, and the study is still pending. The President said in the 2000 campaign that he supported the assault weapons ban because he thought it was reasonable. He stated then that he would support the reauthorization of it, and he states that again today.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/20030514-5.html#8

This stinks, I see a cave coming on Sept 12.

[TLBSHOW]

We are worried that Bush will do the liberal dance again!

[Godebert]

"And we all will lose the United States of America before this party is strong enough to do anything substantial by being split and virtually handing over control to the unabashedly unAmericans (Democrats). Running on the premise of a negative. That's some strategy. "

What's your strategy...other than giving a pass to a republican president who has no regard for his Oath of Office or the Constitution? It's the Americans like me who might make Bush think twice before he signs away our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

[Amelia]

We are worried that Bush will do the liberal dance again!

Judging from Schumer's quotes, the Democrats are worried that Bush WON'T "do the liberal dance".

Schumer wants the President to push Congress to pass the bill the Democrats want. It doesn't appear that the President is doing that, and it doesn't appear that he'd be successful even if he did.

What are YOU worried about?

I see two possibilities:

1. You are upset that the President isn't doing what Schumer wants him to do.

2. You are just trying to stir up trouble and divide conservatives.

Which is it?