If Richardson wasn’t such a moron on illegals, he’d probably get considerably more support - particularly being a Democrat and packin’.

But then he goes saying something like this (via DP):

“Progress shouldn’t be measured by casualty counts, body counts,” Richardson told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week.”

Typical liberal conundrum. When our soldiers are dying, it makes their point. When terrorists die, well, we need to re-define “progress”.

From the same article, this hilariously ignorant view of reality:

Riley’s had at least one customer on Friday who does plan to take a ballot bearing Richardson’s name in January. Bill Lowman says he loves guns but isn’t “your classic gun guy.” Lowman, of Hollis, grew up in a Republican household, but he said he tends to vote for Democrats. This year, he’s supporting Barack Obama, because he believes he’s smart and unconstrained by special interest groups.

Unconstrained by special interest groups? Uhhh … is Obama a Democrat? Just sayin’.

Have a look at this:

What you’re looking at right there is 20 shots from my Kahr P40 this morning. It was pretty cold out - around 30 degrees, so I stopped at Dunkin and grabbed myself a large hazelnut coffee to keep warm while I’m throwing some lead down range. I finish about half of it before I even get the gear unpacked at the range.

I take the lid off the top, set it down on a small table next to me, and start taking shots at this target which was about 30 feet away. Drinking coffee, taking shots, drinking coffee, taking shots. Nobody else is around. I’m nailing the black on the target and I’m feeling way in the zone.

All in all, that’s not a bad group from a 3.5″ barrel. I take about 10 shots, and I finish up the coffee … and as I’m swallowing it down, something hits my face.

A hazelnut-smelling spent case roaming around the bottom of my coffee cup. Really screwed me up. The P40 ejects spent cases a loooong way. I was at least 10 feet from that cup. Didn’t hear it splash or anything. Probably couldn’t do it again if I tried, but one of those first ten shots was a Dunkin hole-in-one.

My very next shot? That off target bastard you see in the bottom right corner. Damn!

Over at Alphecca, Jeff links to a very thought-provoking piece in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. I particularly like this bit in the article:

Article I, Section 21, of the Pennsylvania Constitution:

The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.

Period. And unlike the federal Second Amendment, there’s no wiggle room on which the gun-grabbers can lock and load. In his prepared text before the House committee, Rendell made no mention of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

That’s some good stuff right there. But since when did Constitutionality matter to an elected official who wasn’t up for re-election within 4 months?

Jeff’s comment on the mandatory 20-year sentence is also very enlightening:

Incidentally, an argument could be made that the penalty should be the same for shooting at anyone, civilian or cop, unless justified, so I don’t necessarily agree with that particular legislation.

And thus my hand slaps my forehead in one of those DUH moments. I hadn’t thought about that. By issuing a mandatory 20-year sentence for shooting at a police officer you’re essentially holding officers in higher regard than the citizens it is their duty to protect. The more I think about this, the more it tends to piss me off - both the implications and the fact that it didn’t even occur to me because of that old mainstream media software virus still farking up parts of my brain. Hey. It’s hard to de-program 25+ years of indoctrination by public schools and the media, so cut me a break.

Does a law like this minimize harm to civilians? Does your average thug get 20 years for shooting a cop, but 3 years and probation for shooting at another civilian - if that, even? By creating laws like this are we in fact stressing the elitism of a police force? Are we now on the slippery slope of giving them more powers because there are laws punishing their endangerment over and above what the average citizen has a right to?

This worries me. Laws intended specifically for the protection of an organized force who for some reason do not have to play by the same rules I do is very disconcerting. I can’t own a tactical shotgun with a 16-inch barrel, it has to be 18. I can’t turn my lights on and speed. I’m not able to flash a badge and get out of going 75 in a 55 zone.

Maybe I’m just teetering on the edge of conspiracy theory on a Sunday morning, or maybe this is just part of the slow drip from the, “DISARM, SUBMIT, OBEY” faucet that many of our elected officials would love to turn into a deluge.

Kasparov Jailed for 5 Days

Kasparov, one of Putin’s harshest critics, and other opposition politicians have come under growing pressure before Dec. 2 parliamentary elections.

Determined to see Putin’s party win an overwhelming victory in the elections, the Kremlin has shown little tolerance for any parties or politicians that challenge its rule.

“We should overcome the fear that the regime uses to sustain itself,” Kasparov told the crowd. “For the Putin regime, our country is just a source of enrichment.”

A calculated move from a true chess champion - one of the greatest. Unfortunately, no matter how good you are going to war with someone across a chessboard, there’s always the chance that they’re going to get angry and just whack you with a big stick.

Back in 1996 I had tickets to see Kasparov play Deep Blue in Philadelphia, but I was unfortunately unable to go. It’s sad because it was (though more important at the time) a real piece of history and technology melting together. I always liked Kasparov, politics aside, it’s sad to hear of someone as intelligent and accomplished as he is getting beaten on the ground like a dog because he decided to speak freely.

Don’t ever take your rights for granted in America. Ever.

The great object is that every man be armed … Every one who is able may have a gun. But have we not learned by experience that, necessary as it is to have arms, it is still far from being the case?

Patrick Henry - Governor, Patriot Leader

Spent some time this morning playing a game with the family:

Just a quick synopsis/refresher - you get a little car that you move around the board, you get kids, a house, buy insurance, follow a career path, and when you retire, you see all of your accumulated “Life Cards” which have all sorts of accomplishments on them and monetary values that you add up to see who wins the game.

I got the most cards, and won the game, when I started reading off the cards I noticed a pattern. Here were my accomplishments:

• Invent New Ice Cream Flavor
• Build a Better Mousetrap
• Cure the Common Cold
• Open Health Food Chain
• Save Endangered Species
• Humanitarian Award
• Find New Energy Source
• Discover New Planet
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Nobel Peace Prize

So naturally the first thing out of my mouth was, “Hey! I finished the game as Al Gore!”

I’m thinking of replacing the LIFE cards in the game with my own. Cards like, “Shut Down the UN”, “Righteous Shooting”, “Wipe Out Islamofascism”, “Give the Palestinians a State - In Antarctica”, and “Repeal Jersey Gun Laws”.

Gotta raise my kid right, you know.

Probably money.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Brad Pitt has backed out of a Universal Pictures movie set to begin filming this year, a newspaper reported.

“State of Play” was to star Pitt as a political consultant-turned-journalist who helps investigate the death of a congressman’s mistress.

Political consultant-turned-journalist? Only out of Hollywood …

Be thankful, eat turkey, enjoy this great American holiday unabashedly.