It's the GUN, Stupid!

As the nation mourns its worst mass shooting, media talking heads are again asking "What type of person would do this?" Sadly, the media is unlikely to give us any deeper analysis than it was the work of an angry lone nut. Moreover, we are likely to be told it's an isolated incident. So, other than grieving and lowering the flags there isn't much more we as a nation can do to prevent these disasters. Unfortunately, the past several years there seems to be no shortage of angry lone nuts willing at attack schools and shopping malls.

Yet, many are beginning to question whether the isolated "mad loner" theory fully explains the phenomena. Why is it we never read about knife wielding wackos or crossbow armed madmen killing scores? What is the media overlooking when it asks "What type of person would do this?"

What could it be, what could it be?

Someone armed with a GUN?

Ding, Ding, Ding!

Like mixing alcohol and driving, the combination of an unstable person and easy access to firearms seems to increase the chance of disaster. Unfortunately, until the country finds a solution addressing both parts of the problem, mass shootings will continue.

Some are starting to see the light, questioning the cost of our nation's gun laws. Organizations such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence are working hard to make the Blacksburg shooting the last. Give them your support.

Romney Shoots and Misses?

"Slick" Mitt Romney is at it again, making crazy claims about his past in order to win the republican presidential nomination. This time Slick asserts he's a "lifelong" hunter. "I've been a hunter pretty much all my life," Slick recently told a New Hampshire resident. Problem is Romney's only been hunting twice, once when he was 15 and then again when he turned 60. Other than being in a committed marriage, (sorry John and Rudolph) or on rare occasion kicking an addiction, most thinking Americans know it often takes more than two attempts to call oneself a lifelong anything.

Slick clearly thinks gun voters are gullible hicks who can be bought off with a couple of hunting trips (the last taking place in a fenced game preserve) and a $1000 donation to the NRA. Hmm. . . perhaps the one G is why the NRA is surprisingly quiet on Romney's claim that two hunts is the minimum necessary to become a lifelong hunter.

If Slick has bought off the NRA for so little, maybe he believes he's accurately dialed his sights in on the gun voter. It remains to be seen if gun voters reject Slick's pandering and make themselves a moving target or sell out their values and offer themselves up to him as sitting ducks.

Republican Cluster F*#@!

The republican race for president is becoming quite a mess. Combining last week's Gallop/USA Today Presidential poll with yesterday's first quarter campaign fundraising numbers, we see a republican field with major problems.

Let's start with Giuliani who had a tough week. First as conservatives learn more about Rudolph's background, his judgement, and political stances his poll numbers drop like a stone. The Gallop poll saw his number fall more than 13 points in just two weeks. Ouch! At that rate, he'll be out of the race in little more than a month. This sagging support meant mediocre contributions. Putting him far behind Willard "Slick" Romney. All this has "the Mayor" somewhat unhinged and defensive.

John McCain is in even tougher straits. His poll numbers plateaued at roughly 20 percent and he came in a disappointing third in the money race. Like Giuliani, McCain is starting to reek of desperation. He is looking for any spark to jump start his campaign, even one that put hundreds of US soldiers in harms way.

Then there's Romney. Old Willard had to choke on his lunch when Gallop revealed he's convinced just three 3 percent of the country he should be the next President. Three percent! That's within the poll's margin of error, which could mean Willard is actually appealing to no one. On the flip side, he sucked in over the past three months a mighty $23 million for his campaign. That has got to be the richest 3 percent in the country. Romney is obviously going after the Bush base.

Meanwhile, Newt's star is fading and Brownback, Tancredo, and Huckabee can't even get off the launching pad. Finally, Fred Thompson's poll numbers went from zero to 12 points in the last 14 days. Impressive for someone who isn't even running. Just shows how desperate the republican base is becoming given the current slate of official candidates. Unfortunately, for thespian Thompson, he's now down $23 million to Romney.

What fun!

Bushies to America: Do as I say!

This past week, the Senate passed a $122 billion Iraq War spending bill. In most years, a multi billion war appropriation would have republicans wetting their pants with joy. However, this bill contains a provision requiring the withdrawal of most U.S. forces by March of 2008. This has our fearless leader incensed. We expect there to be no strings on our on-the-ground personnel he says. The basic gist of the argument is that people in the field have a better understanding of problems and a greater appreciation for how best to solve them. While this logic overlooks the fact that Congress does have Constitutional oversight authority over the executive branch, it does have some validity. People closer to the problems, often know best how to solve them.

However, the no strings requirement doesn't seem to apply to state side civil servants. Nor does the bar on meddling in local decisions pertain to Bush administration politicos. In fact, Bush lackeys not only second guess the professional judgement of "on-the-ground" federal personnel, they appear empowered to overturn decisions that conflict with the Bush admin's questionable world view. Case in point, Julie A. MacDonald, a political hack in the Interior department repeatedly altered the scientific field reports of professional land managers to the detriment of endangered species. Ms. MacDonald made these changes despite the fact that she has no, repeat that NO formal education in natural sciences. In other words, she lacks any qualification to second guess the judgement of wildlife managers. But according to the administration this is totally hunky dory.

In a nutshell, Bushies think Congress' Constitutional oversight of local managers is bad, while meddling by political appointees in the work of stateside local managers is good. Go figure.

HAF Wits: Hating Americans since at least the McCarthy Era

Well the "Hate Americans First" (HAF) crowd is at it again. No its not the people Fox News and other neocons would have you believe. Rather the HAF Wits include the likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell both of whom blamed American citizens for the September 11th attacks. It also includes CNN's Glen Beck who on national television questioned the allegiance of Keith Ellison, a democratically elected member of Congress. Now, Michael Savage a extreme right radio blowhard, solidified his place among the wits by claiming that terrorists are justified in attacking the United States because some Americans such as homosexuals and a female Senator dare exercise their God given right to participate in the democratic process.

Right wing nut jobs like Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh fall all over themselves to trash the likes of Sean Penn, Martin Shean or Susan Sarandon who rightfully question our government's course! Don't hold your breath about hearing similar condemnation of the HAF wits for blaming Americans for the nation's troubles.

Under New Scandal Management

Previous Presidents used various methods to deal with political scandals. Public relations blitzes, legal maneuvers, stonewalling, cover-up and/or ultimately time have all been employed by the executive office.

The Bush administration appears to have developed a new tactic for dealing with its scandals, even more scandal. In the past few days the Walter Reed disaster, the US Attorney firings, the Valerie Plame outing have all come to light, any of which would have politically devastated previous administrations.

Yet, the above have pushed other troubling revelations off the public's radar screen. We hear little about the Pentagon's assessment of Iraq sectarian violence, the FBI's patriot act violations, General Pace's homophobia, Scooter Libby's conviction, the Halliburton Dubai move, and the disarray in the Vice President's office which were part of the collective consciousness just days ago.

Given all we've seen the past several months, its anybody's guess what new scandal is in the wings to push this week's news out of the headlines. God help the United States!

General Pace, better vote Democrat!

Yesterday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace told the Chicago Tribune that homosexuality and adultery are equivalent immoral acts. Pace went on to say that the Pentagon should not condone immoral behavior. One wonders if General Pace would serve under republican presidential pretenders John McCain, Rudolph Giuliani or Newt Gingrich. All three have admitted marital infidelity.