I'm not a big one on playing games with this kind of stuff. My position is well known to "politicians" through various channels.
I also place less stock in individual issues than I do on the larger picture. I would not vote for a candidate that promised to enact my exact solution to my personally most important issue if the other 200 issues I care about are being tanked in the process.
I also don't think my opinion on the AWB is any surprise to the Administration. If (we have to remember it hasn't happened yet) an extension is signed into law swithing (even conservative) Presidents won't make all that much of a difference. The list of failures to get to that point is too long to place the blame on one individual (even if they have a veto pen).
Congress shouldn't be passing such bills, the President shouldn't be signing them into law, and if the first two checks and balances don't work the courts certainly should be protecting our Constitutional rights.
The reality of the situation is all three checks are failing the Constitution right now. The only way to really fix the problem is with a team that requires victories in all three branches. Restoring courts that respect the Constitution takes time. Populating a Congress willing to do the same takes a great deal of effort also.
But in the end, a President who veto's gun ban legislation can still be over ridden, the courts can still say it is Constitutional, and the law still goes into effect.
We have problems to fix, I just think it will take time and effort. I also expect setbacks throughout the process. But in my opinion the only long term solution to restoring our rights is through continuous expansion of conservative values in all branches of government.
Otherwise all we get is more of this see-saw crap where the laws flop back and forth, better and worse while making no progress. And when that happens the gun banners win because they can continue to expend their efforts on offensive actions instead of being forced into the unproductive defensive or rolled out of consideration all together.
Anyway, hope you are having a good start to the new year.
The courts? Dream on...
The reality of the situation is all three checks are failing the Constitution right now. The only way to really fix the problem is with a team that requires victories in all three branches. Restoring courts that respect the Constitution takes time. Populating a Congress willing to do the same takes a great deal of effort also.
True.
But in the end, a President who veto's gun ban legislation can still be over ridden...
Give me a f@cking break! You do the math - are you honestly suggesting that there are enough anti-constitution votes in Congress to over ride Mr. Bush's veto? Is that what you are really saying? If so, the Republican Party is "toast"...
We have problems to fix, I just think it will take time and effort. I also expect setbacks throughout the process. But in my opinion the only long term solution to restoring our rights is through continuous expansion of conservative values in all branches of government.
The "continuous expansion of conservative values in all branches of government" does NOT include signing bills that should be - and can be - vetoed. Ignoring the President's veto power is just plain "stoopid"...
Anyway, hope you are having a good start to the new year.
As good as can be expected. And as I'm sure you know, we agree on more than we disagree - 'Happy New Year' to you, my friend!
;>)