How Soon Will Obama Attack the 2nd? Right Away!

For four years Obama has pretty much avoided gun owners because he knew the issue is political poison.

Now that he has a "mandate" for 4 more years, and as he said to Dimitri Medveydev, "I will have more freedom," the gloves have come off.

On Nov 7th, the Administration announced they are open to a renewed discussion of the UN Arms Trade Treaty.  The ATT failed to make headway in August after the US declared it was not appropriate to include civilian small arms.  So now, with more freedom, Obama is changing the US position and has invited new talks about worldwide gun control on March 18-28. Of course, Obama loves Executive Orders and will likely use them to implement many of the details of the ATT without a Congress-ratified Treaty. Thankfully, many Senators have reaffirmmed they will not support the ATT.  But that may not be enough to thwart the executive orders.  See here: US-senator-moran-reaffirms-senate-opposition-to-un-arms-trade-treaty

Diane Feinstein has also announced renewed efforts to re-invent the Assault Weapons Ban, her creation in 1994 that died in 2004 with no renewal support in the Congress.  This time she even wants to confiscate the "evil" black guns, as well as most semi-auto rifles and shotguns.

And there is talk of Susan Rice becoming the next Secretary of State.  Rice has been the UN Ambassador, and is very anti-gun.

And of course, Obama may very well be able to get two more Supreme Court judges appointed.  It is likely they will be like Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan and be anti-gun, regardless of what they say in their confirmation hearings.  Both the aforementioned essentially lied about how they would treat settled case law and historical precedent concerning the 2nd and the recent Heller and MacDonald cases.

Elections have consequences.  One of them will be a savage battle over 2nd Amendment rights.  I find it sad that so many Democrats can't seem to understand that they have actually voted for politicians who will destroy their basic civil rights when given the chance.  Obama and crew now have that chance.

P.S.  In the previous 4 years, Obama and Crew did all they could, albeit under the radar to destroy the 2nd Amendment:
- Executive order for the border states of CA, AZ, NM, TX so that gun dealers must reprot a sale of more that one semi-auto rifle in a week to one person.
- Banned re-import of 600,000 M1 Garands and M1 Carbines from Korea.  These are WW!! rifles with historical interest and not remotely of interest to criminals.
- DOJ spent enormous respources on opposing 2nd Amendment rights in the Supreme Court and at the state level.  Think Washington, DC gun ban, for one.
- And famously, Obama promised Sarah Brady that in his second term he would take up her cause openly, no longer "under the radar."
- And not least, his declaration in the 2nd debate that he will support a renewed "assault" weapons ban.

Benghazi - Seeing the Light at the LVRJ

The Las Vegas Review Journal supported Barack Obama in 2008.  I think they have changed their minds:

LVRJ editorial:     Benghazi-blunder-obama-unworthy-commander-in-chief

Excerpt:  "These behaviors go far beyond "spin." They amount to a pack of lies. To return to office a narcissistic amateur who seeks to ride this nation's economy and international esteem to oblivion, like Slim Pickens riding the nuclear bomb to its target at the end of the movie "Dr. Strangelove," would be disastrous."

Fiskers Burn While Sandy Sings

16 Fisker Karma electric cars burned after being swamped by storm surge in New Jersey.  Oops, maybe all the kinks in the battery systems haven't been sorted out?

See here:  More-than-a-dozen-fisker-karma-hybrids-caught-fire-and

The US DOE has given Fisker many millions to help them develop their electric and hybrid cars, which retail over $100,000.  Fisker is a Finnish company.

Benghazi - The Incompetence Shines Ever Brighter

Thank God for Sharyl Attkisson at CBS News.  She is one of the best and few MSM reporters actually covering the Benghazi mess.

Today she posted this:  New-documents-reveal-events-leading-up-to-benghazi-attack

The cover-up is getting deeper and broader.  And much sadder each day.

We now also learn that the top counterterrorism task force was not convened during teh consulate attack, which lasted 9 hours.  The White Situation Room was watching real time and supposedly Obama was in the loop an hour or two into the attack, and no one had the presence of mind to get the experts involved? 
See here:  Sources-key-task-force-not-convened-during-benghazi-consulate-attack

Obama By the Numbers

I Googled "Obama by the numbers" to see what comes up.  In no particular order here is what I got:

http://www.gop.com/news/research/by-numbers-10/
Esquire:  obama-by-the-numbers-1012
Daily finance: The-economy-under-obama-by-the-numbers/
Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfMjbS0oWrE
Youtube:  Glenn Beck:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2njrEabY07k
      That was different!
Tea Party:  lies-damn-lies-and-obama-unemployment-numbers


Voting started in Florida.  Hows that going?  Dem-Early-Vote-Lead-Down-In-FL

Bengahzi - The Lies Compund

Everyone knows by now that the White House Situation room was watching in real time as the terrorists attacked the Benghazi consulate for 9 hours.

Today comes reasoning from former SpecOps personnel that someone at the White House or AfricaCom called off a strike.  Apparently Tyrone Woods (now dead Seal) was actively painting the mortar site with his laser designator, in expectation of an airstrike.  This leads to two conclusions:  Either the AC130 was on station and orbiting and ready to launch a missile.  Or the orbiting drone was armed and able to strike.  You don't paint a target until just before a launch because that gives away your location.

In Denver, Obama said "The minute I found out what was happening...I directed do what's necessary to protect our people"  He knew.  So did he actually give an order or did someone else change an order?

And the lies started on Sept 12.  And 3 fine young men and an Ambassador were left behind.  As well a 30 others.

See Judge Jeanine Pirro's  interview with Charles Woods, Tyrone Woods' father.  
I-do-not-appreciate-cowardice-and-i-do-not-appreciate-lies-father-of-former-navy-seal-killed-in-libya-attack-reacts-to-learning-his-son-disobeyed-orders-to-save-fellow-americans/

See Judge Jeanine's scalding putdown of Obama and Crew:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-e71IDAUw

Video:  Father-of-slain-navy-seal-libya-attack

See Megan Kelly video and Jennifer Griffin Report:  Father-of-slain-navy-seal-libya-attack

See Jennifer Griffin Report:   Exclusive-jennifer-griffins-detailed-report-on-cia-operatives-being-denied-military-help-3-times-during-libya-attack

Fox News Insider Report of all coverage over past weeks:  http://foxnewsinsider.com/tag/libya-attack/

Email about mortar fire:  Fox-news-obtains-state-department-email-benghazi-shelter-under-attack

Oct 31:  Paul Wolfowitz comments:  An-analysis-on-benghazi-attack

Fast & Furious: Vince Cefalu Fired at Denny's

Fast & Furious Whistle Blower Fired For Speaking Out

Vince Cefalu, a now-former BATFE special agent, was unceremoniously fired recently.  The termination was served to him in the parking lot of a Denny's. Cefalu was a key whistle blower in the Operation Fast and Furious scandal, and he says this lead directly to his dismissal, which he plans to challenge.

From NRA News:  Originally aired 10/12/2012.

http://www.nranews.com/#/nranews/guide/ipg

Fast & Furious: Presidential Debate #2 - Obama Avoids the Words

Tonight's debate was full of fire and controversy.  The candidates provided the fire.  The moderator, Candy Crowley provided the controversy.  She allowed Obama to speak to at least four minutes longer than Romney and helped him achieve that extra time.

As for F&F, Mr. Romney skillfully inserted F&F into his answer to a direct audience question about gun control that was posed to Mr. Obama.  The President stated for one of the first times that he would support a renewed assault weapons ban - but it is obvious he doesn't understand the implications of what that means.  Mr. Romney said we have enough gun laws and what we need is better family circumstances to prevent people from turning to violence, via education and family upbringing.  Then he turned the tables and blamed the Administration for the scandal of F&F.  President Obama then built on Romney's response by also discussing education.  But most telling was that he studiously avoided the words "Fast & Furious" and totally avoided any discussion of the scandal.  Crowley let him ramble on for two minutes while avoiding the issue.

To me, he sounded like he was hiding something.  He sounded scared of the whole subject.  It would seem there is still a lot to be discovered about F&F and the White House's involvement.

Election Crimes: Is Obama's Team Persecuting Romney Supporters?

Wayne Allen Root yesterday on his blog:
I-am-on-obamas-enemies-list

Root declares that he is being persecuting by the IRS because he supports Romney and criticizes Obama.

Richard Nixon tried using the IRS to dissuade he opponents.  That resulted in articles of impeachment being lodged against him by Congress.

On a similar note, there are allegations this week that the Obama Campaign is again accepting donations from persons outside the US who are not US citizens.  As in 2008, that is still illegal.

Why Obama has Failed - 25 Reasons

1.  Unemployment remains higher than when Obama took office.  Real unemployment tops 14% as millions withdraw from the labor force.    23 million people are unemployed or underemployed.
2.  The Affordable Care Act will cost twice as much as originally stated, according to the CBO.  Now forecast at $2.6 trillion over ten years.  And they gutted $812 Billion from Medicare to pay for it.  It is really 2600 pages of tax rules and regulations designed to create a national system.
3. 20 million people will lose coverage as small business move from private plans to exchanges
4. Fast and Furious debacle/scandal - two American agents dead and 300 Mexicans dead - 2000 guns missing.  An Attorney General who did nothing and found guilty by Congress of
5. Benghazi debacle as State and White House blow it on security planning - Ambassador and 3 others dead.  Joe Biden uses the Bush excuse:  Intelligence gave  them the wrong info...
6.  Solyndra and 11 more "green" companies go bust even with billions from DOE.  Crony capitalism is alive and well in the White House.
7.  Wind energy subsidies go to waste but political kickbacks alive and well.
8. Hillary Clinton advocates for a global income tax in conjunction with the UN.
9. Hillary Clinton supports UN Small Arms Treaty over objections of 75% of American Public and many members of Congress.
10. Obama and crew play the race card most every chance they get.  He also plays the class warfare game incessantly.
11.  Obama vilifies businesses every chance he gets - he says he supports them but his actions on taxes and regulations show he is playing class warfare.
12. Obama said he would cut deficit in half in his first term.  Actuality is that deficits have been $1.1 to $1.4 Trillion each year of four years, with future years projected to be similar. And no plan to reduce.
13.  Foreign affairs failures on Israel, Syria, Iran.
14.  Policy of deciding winners and losers - GM, Solyndra, AIG, Fannie & Freddie, etc.  Followed up by making huge public loans - some of which will never be paid back, some of which were - still bad policy.
15.  Principle policy when caught in a lie or a failure:  Throw someone under the bus. There is no acceptance of blame from Obama on down.  A lack of character like this is not what people want.  Today, Hillary

Clinton said she is responsible for the security at State, (and I suppose then the blame for the Benghazi failure), but she lets people farther down the ladder handle that work.  News flash Hillary: If you are responsible, there is no room for BUT.  Let's see your resignation. (See Fast & Furious for the same reactions to being exposed.)

16. Obama's budgets have been roundly defeated in House and Senate by both Democrats and Republicans (about all they can agree on).  Also, Obama's friends in the Senate haven't passed a budget in over 1200 days.
17.   The stock market is back to where it started but the GDP is still at less than 2% growth, which is 1/2 to 1/3 of where it normally is 3 years after a recession ends.
18. Where is Obama's plan for the next 4 years?   Here are some related questions:  This-guy-has-some-town-hall-debate-questions-for-obama
19.  Food stamp recipients have increased from about 24 million to 47 million.  HHS openly advertises that people take advantage. Another entitlement in creation?
20.  5.5 Million homes are in crisis or foreclosure and still Fannie and Freddie get to print money and buy bad mortgages, without much progress in fixing the programs that are supposed to help.
21.  There has been a $4500 average drop in household income in four years.  The biggest drop ever.
22.  Obama has spent almost $6 Trillion of new debt, with no plan in sight to stop.
23.  The only tangible part of Obama's forward plan is the $1.9 Trillion in new taxes he wants to take from the rich.  Of course he think the rich includes anyone over $250,000 and especially small businesses and S-corporation runs by individuals.
24. Gas prices have increased about 100% in four years, as Obama refuses new pipelines (Keystone XL), leasing in the GOM, leasing on public lands in the West and Alaska, and repressive regulations and slow approvals for oil and gas projects.  Compare that to the amazing increasing in oil production in North Dakota where most drilling is on private lands.
25.  Last but not least, a foreign policy with a large component that involves apologizing for much of what the United States stands for.   Bowing to foreign heads-of-state is NOT acceptable!
26.  Okay, 25 is not enough:  Obama doesn't seem to really work at being a president.  Just read his daily calendar - except when he is campaigning days are short, often starting at 9 or 10 AM and ending at 3 PM.  Witness that he has attended only 40% of the daily security briefings presented by Staff and the Joint Chiefs.  
27.  Building on 26, Obama left the work of writing the ACA to Nancy Pelosi and others, all while saying that he was working toward a bi-partisan solution for health care.  In the end, only Democrats voted for the ACA, no Republicans did.  Other major entitlements like Medicare and Social Security enjoyed broad and deep bi-partisan support when they were passed.
28.  The rate of regulation creation has quadrupled in the past four years. 
29.  Executive overreach (maybe even crimes) continues.  Obama is bypassing Congress by using Executive Orders to accomplish what he can't get Congress to do:  defacto amnesty for illegal foreign children; dismissal of case against clearly guilty Black Panthers for voter intimidation; ordering ATF to require reporting of multiple semi-auto rifle purchases in 5 border states;  many more.
30.  Obama appointed two Supreme Court judges who specifically lied during their confirmation hearings about the 2nd Amendment.  Both said they would support the Constitution and both voted against it in the two most important gun rights cases in a century:  Heller and MacDonald.  Imagine a SC with more Obama appointees.
31.  Obama and crew continue to violate the law.  If sequestration happens because Congress doesn't stop the automatic budget cuts from happening, then about $50 Billion/year comes out of Defense.  Thus people at companies like Northrup will get laid off.  The law says if a company knows layoffs are coming, they must send notices 60 days in advance to employees.  But Obama has told (via a guarantee letter) these companies not to send these letters and he will protect them from the consequences.  A direct breaking of the law.  Because?  The letters would go out 2 days before the election.
32.  Obama has nationalized the student loan industry.  Loans outstanding have more than doubled to over $1 Trillion and the default rate has gone to 13%.  


 

Fast & Furious: Another BCP Agent Killed in New Mexico

It is not known yet whether the death of Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie, killed in a shootout near Naco, is another death attributable to F&F guns.  Ivie's partner was also wounded.  A third agent was not injured.  There is no indication about recovered guns or brass.

See Desert News article:  Border-Patrol-agent-shot-killed-on-patrol-in-Ariz

Two days ago Univision aired a report on F&F in which they asked many tough questions about F&F and its links to the White House.  They also asked about similar operations conducted out of Texas and Florida Operation Castaway).  The report discussed at length the deaths and damage done to Mexican citizens as a result of F&F guns getting into Mexico.  They focused on the deaths of 16 teenagers which a Mexican Army report says involved F&F guns.   These broader questions and concerns were not included in the ATF Inspector General's report released two weeks ago.

See Univision report with subtitles:  Operation-fast-and-furious-arming-the-enemy

See Desert News about Univision report:  Univision-report-looks-at-deadly-toll-of-US-gun-smuggling-in-Operation-Fast-and-Furious

See here for Houston Chronicle:  Univision-reports-more-disturbing-information-on-fast-and-furious

See here from Daily Caller:  Univision-uncovers-more-deadly-heart-wrenching-fast-and-furious-details
And here:  Univision-report-connects-operation-fast-and-furious-scandal-to-murders-of-mexican-teenagers

And here for Daryl Issa Comments:  Issa-univision-report-puts-faces-names-on-fast-and-furious-death-and-carnage

Simple Economics by Steve Forbes

Here is a simple explanation of why stimulus doesn't work.  And a surprising prediction that soon we may re-link the dollar to gold, to provide more stability.  And a predictable viewpoint:  Government messing in markets is costing all of us dearly and inhibiting growth.

This is Steve Forbes at the Commonwealth Club on August 24, 2012.

Steve-forbes-simple-ways-get-us-economy-growing-again-82412

I like his use of esoteric technical terms like "kablooie."

Also note his take on Hoover signing the Smoot-Hawley Import Tax Act in 1930.  He says SM was a major cause of the Depression.
See Wikipedia:  Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act

Party Planks on the 2nd: A Clear Choice

I believe there is a clear and definite choice between the two parties (see two previous posts) as concerns the 2nd Amendment. 

The Republicans have presented a very strong and detailed position of support for the 2nd and the basic human right of self defense.  They treat the public as adults.

The Democrats have once again trotted out tired appeals to "reasonableness" and a call for a renewed AWB ban.  Clinton tried that and it didn't work.  We have 22,000 plus gun laws in this country and most don't work, but most are considered "reasonable."  The only reasonable explanation is that criminals don't care about laws.  And Democrats mostly care about control of the law-abiding.  They treat the public as children.

I chose the former.

Democratic Party Plank on the 2nd Amendment

Quoted from the National Shooting Sports Foundation website:

Democratic Platform ‘Commonsense Improvements’ Brings Back ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban, Gun Show Loophole Arguments

September 4, 2012 By gunvote 37 Comments

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The 2012 Democratic National Convention released its party platform today and it quickly drew fire from several points of the political spectrum for its statement on the Second Amendment and firearms ownership. As we did with the corresponding Republican platform section, we include it in its entirety:

“Firearms. We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans’ Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvements – like reinstating the assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loophole – so that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few.”

So, we again see the rhetorical pattern of a quick acknowledgement that there is a Second Amendment, followed by the call for reasonable regulation, a few words about the terribleness of gun violence and the need for national debate, a pivot to focusing on effective enforcement of existing laws and then the grand finale of bringing back the “assault weapons ban” and closing the “gun show loophole” with the closing phrase that promises what the just aforementioned strictures would – once again – certainly not accomplish.”

For those enjoying the last week of August and who, as a result, may have missed the Republican National Convention’s approved party plank on the Second Amendment, the contrast with what you just read above will be clear and easy to see. We encourage you to read both platforms and draw your own conclusions before you #gunvote on Election Day.

Republican Party Plank on the 2nd Amendment

Quoted from the National Shooting Sports Foundation's website:

The Republican Platform Plank on the 2nd Amendment

August 30, 2012 By gunvote 16 Comments

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It’s not often that a political position statement in this the 21st Century does not warrant further explanation, interpretation or parsing. In this regard, the Republican platform plank on the Second Amendment is a breath of fresh air. Although the wording is present-day, the directness of expression and clarity of sentiment is so in keeping with how our forefathers approached the issue of our freedoms that we recommend it to you without further comment.

“We uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a right which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by the Second Amendment. We acknowledge, support, and defend the law-abiding citizen’s God-given right of self-defense. We call for the protection of such fundamental individual rights recognized in the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago affirming that right, and we recognize the individual responsibility to safely use and store firearms. This also includes the right to obtain and store ammunition without registration. We support the fundamental right to self-defense wherever a law-abiding citizen has a legal right to be, and we support federal legislation that would expand the exercise of that right by allowing those with state-issued carry permits to carry firearms in any state that issues such permits to its own residents. Gun ownership is responsible citizenship, enabling Americans to defend their homes and communities. We condemn frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and oppose federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners. We oppose legislation that is intended to restrict our Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the ill-considered Clinton gun ban. We condemn the reckless actions associated with the operation known as “Fast and Furious,” conducted by the Department of Justice, which resulted in the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and others on both sides of the border. We applaud the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in holding the current Administration’s Attorney General in contempt of Congress for his refusal to cooperate with their investigation into that debacle. We oppose the improper collection of firearms sales information in the four southern border states, which was imposed without congressional authority.”

Now as the Democratic National Convention approaches, we can hope for a campaign platform statement on the right to keep and bear arms that is as straightforward, respectful of our history and of recent Supreme Court decisions as the reasonable members of that party can achieve. We will not hold our breath, but we can hope.

Obama Campaign and the Flag Code

What do you think?

The Obama Campaign has some creative art and merchandise based on the Stars and Stripes.  Do these flags representations violate the US Flag Code or just insult the flag?  https://store.barackobama.com/obama-2012-store-essentials/obama-2012-store-new-products.html

The Obama Campaign has a poor track record in how they treat the flag.  They have been seen to drop it on the ground while setting up a venue.  “176(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”

The Flag Code does states that: “§178. Modification of rules and customs by President - Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.”  Does this give President Obama the authority to allow his campaign to create the questionable items below?  If that is what has happened, is he overstepping and insulting the flag and country?

BTW, I could only find one or two things on the Romney site that even have a flag image in them.

Definitely over the top:

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.

Pushing it:

176(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

176(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

176(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.

Not so much: