Nebraska Democrats Take Notice

First a bit of background

Last year the state house and senate in the state of Missouri passed a law authorizing concealed carry in that state. Governor Bob Holden (D) lobbied against it and in a show of contempt for the will of the people through their legislators vetoed the measure on the weekend of 4th of July 2003.

The law was returned to the legislature where each in turn overrode Governor Holden's veto allowing it to become law.

Fast forward to last week

Missouri had two Democratic candidates to vote for on their primary ballot, Current Governor Bob Holden and one other person. It seems that the Democratic name that will be on the November ballot is "one other person". (His name is not important at this time).

Listen up Nebraska Democratic Candidates, Missouri fired their Governor last week because he opposed the will of the people. Missourians cherish their right to keep and bear arms. Many were very insulted when his Roayl Highness (er ... I mean ... Governor Holden) chose, of all days, Independance Day to slap them down a peg or two, because he knew what was best for unwashed masses.

Governor Holden toed the party line and forced his high handed socialist anti-gun agenda down the throats of the people that elected him, once too often. They responed in true American fashion by firing his "uppety holier than thou attitude" last Friday. Come January "One Term" Bob Holden will join the ranks of the jobless in the un-employment line, for deriliction of duty to the people he was elected to represent.

Democratic anti-gun politicians of Nebraska, and any other state for that matter, please take note that this is a new Country since 911 and the sleeping giant is beging to stir and once again take responsibilty for it's own safety and security, which is as it should be. Lastly Nebraska has an un-employment line just like Missouri, and California by the way.

Toeing the party line or how a democrat changes his mind

On February 5th 2004 Matt Connealy officially filed as the Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District in Nebraska. He also announced his team of "advisors" for the campaign, and it is a veritable who's who of people that, in the past, have helped elect such liberal notables as Bob Kerrey (D-Ne), Mark Pryor (D-Ar) Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Mary Landrieu (D-La).

A cursory look at candidate Connealy's Biography does not say much about his stance on the right of American Citizens to keep and bear arms. It simply states that Matt, like John Kerry is a hunter. No further information is forthcoming. There is not even any Kerry-esque photos on his web site with him holding a firearm.

Connealy has however served two terms in the Nebraska unicameral and his respones to surveys collected by the Gun Owners of America are quite telling. It would appear that between 1998, when Matt ran for state senate that he espoused the then typical across the board anti-gun democratic platform.

Running for re-election 2002 Connealy and/or his campaign seemed to miraculosly morph into the gun owners best friend. His responses to essentially the same survey denote a drastic change of heart.

From 1998 to 2002 Connealy "changed his mind on several of the questions posed on the the GOA General election survey form. In 1998 Matt did not oppose a "one-gun-a-month" law. On essentially the same survey in 2002 he is now on record as opposing a "gun-of-the month-club" law".

As to a government requirement for a license to buy a gun Connealy changed his mind on that one too. From 98-02 he went from favoring government licensing to opposing it.

There are other examples I could cite, but that would be redundant as his survey responses are herein linked and available for all readers to see with their own eyes.

This begs the oft asked question of John Kerry; Will the REAL Matt Connealy please stand up.

I found the real Jeff Fortenberry this evening

My wife and I spent the better part of 40 minutes this evening with Jeff Fortenberry and his family. He impressed me as an honest and forthright idividual. Jeff is politically savy, but is reletively new to the national political seen and knowledge of the firearms issues has not been something he has had to deal with.

I had originally intended to interview him with some very poinient questions about his thoughts on firearms legislation. As it turns out he had more questions for me than I of him. In the short time I spent with him I am convinced that he really wants to understand the issues. I am convinced that. if elected, he will make well informed, fair and balanced decisions on all of the issues he will be called to vote on.

As I alluded to in a previous post I hoped that Jeff would be his own man when it comes to these issues. I came away from our meeting believing that Jeff Fortenberry will be his own person.

At his request I am not publishing the things we spoke of this evening. It is his idea that we get together at a future time for more than an imprompt interview, the results of whichhe wishes to be published. He also insisted that we stay in touch on firearms issues.

As a firearms owner I think that Jeff Fortenberry deserves all of our support for his candidacy for U.S. Representitive of the First Congressional District of the State of Nebraska.

Fortenberry squares off against Connealy

In January of 2004 Jeff Fortenberry tossed his hat into the national political ring. He is a Republican seeking the seat held by Retiring Republican Representitive Douglas Bereuter (Bee-writer). Jeff is pretty much Dougs own hand picked candidate to replace himself as U.S. Representitive for the First Congressional District.

Fortenberry appointed Governor Mike Johanns (R), U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R) and outgoing U.S. Representive Doug bereuter as his campaign co-chairs. Fortenberry is also supported by U.S. Representitive and former Nebraska University head football coach Tom Osborne (R).

According to his website Jeff supports the Second Amendment and firearms ownership for hunting and personal protection. One can only hope he is sincere on this and is of his own mind despite the RINO attitudes displayed by his co-chairs and supporters.

Before being elect to the Governors mansion Johanns was Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska. It is not that Mike's history is that of an anti-gun politician, it is more that he never seemed very pro-gun either. In due fairness as Governor Johanns has repeatedly stated that, if the Unicamral sent him a concealed carry bill he would sign it.

The out going Doug Bereuter has never been a friend to firearms owners and has an "F" rating by the GOA.

Chuck Hagel as a Senator is not much of a gun owners friend either, his GOA rating is only a "C".

Personaly the most dissapointing (for me) is that in the few years he has been a Representitive Tom Osborne has only managed to gain a "C" rating from the GOA as well.

Will Jeff be of his own mind on firearms issues or will he be the RINO that his closest supporters are? Time and an election will tell.

My biggest Pet Peeve

Just because you read something, please don't think you comprehended it.

My biggest pet peeve is when some supossedly "intellegent individual" reads something and then venemently repsonds to what he/she "thinks" they read. Many times the result calls the authors lineage into question without making any valid counterpoints. This most definately calls into question a persons intellegence level.

I can cite example after example where someone had obviously skimmed an article, without actually getting to the meat of the publication and inserted their own idea of what the author ment, and reacted in a half cocked manner.

This type of behavior generally starts a rather heated arguement that wastes page upon unnecessary page of a BB discussion with the end result of a mea culpa or hard feelings because someone was embarrassed after being shown wrong in a public forum. No one wants to be made to look bad in public and the best way to prevent that is to simply take the time to comprehend the meaning, rather than what you think it means.

It you are in dissagreement with an author state your reasons why, do not just respond with a liteney of accusations about their birthright. You are only debasing yourself if you do. If your not sure what the author ment then request clarification. On most BB's and Blogs the authors are generally happy to provide additional information.

Take the time to understand what the author implies, it will save a lot of grief and embarrassment. No one likes to be publically humiliated, but with the annonimity of the internet if you are percieved as being the self debasing type that responds in a uncomprehending manner there is a multitude of people that will make you painfully aware of your shortcomings in a very public forum.

Energizing his Base

John Kerry's speech was the only time I paid any attention to the Democratic National Convention.

I had been hearing, as had we all, that this speech was an all or nothing proposition for Candidate Kerry and I wanted to see if he could get it done. After watching that speech, I'd have to say in my opinion he failed miserably. Yes I think he energized the base democratic vote, but these are only votes he had locked up anyway.

If the polls are to be believed, there is between 5 and 15% of the population that is undecided. That is the target group for both parties and I did not hear any thing from Kerry last night that he hasn't flip flopped on before.

I know it's been out there for awhile, but I have just now had to read up on the site created by all of the other swiftboat commanders that were in Southeast Asia with Candidate Kerry. This is a very telling piece of work and should be required reading for anyone that will be voting in the general election. Lets get this word out and help the swifties expose Kerry to as many people as we possibly can.

Publicola Posed a question on his blog

A internet aquaintance that has a blog and who thoughtfully and graciously helped me start this one posed a question concerning George Bush that I feel compelled to answer.

I voted for President Bush the first time, knowing that he had proclaimed he would sign the AWB if it reached his desk. Much debate has raged as to whether he was just saying that to court the soccormom votes or whether he really ment it. It appears to be a moot point at this time. But skipping the political debate I will answer the question.

I voted for Bush the first time knowing he would sign the AWB if it reached his desk, it would be hypocritical of me not to vote for him again. He said he would do it, I voted for him anyway, and if he does well he is just keeping a campaign promise I knew that he had made.

No More No Less

"Security Moms" a new term at the ballot box

Knowing the track record of the news media and the USA Toady in particular, I am suprised that they published this particular article.

Michelle Malkin certainly says what needs to be said.

I am certain that Michelle not only speaks for a very large number of women, but a great part of our Country as well.

I for one am heartened to read such a piece.

The truth about Concealed Carry legislation in Nebraska

For the past seven or eight years Senator gene Tyson has introduced legislation to regulate concealed carry of firearms in the state of Nebraska without success. Many would lay all of the blame for it's failure at the feet of Ernie Chambers (D-Omaha).

For years Senator Chambers has threatened to and has carried out a filibuster to stop the passage of this bill. In brief, it takes 26 votes to pass a bill. Senator Tyson has had that many and more to send it to a governor that said he WILL sign it. The shortfall is that it takes 33 votes to bring cloture to a filbuster, and Senator Tyson has continuely one or two votes shy of that number.

That is not the entire story, however, and the factual explanation for that will be a subject of it's own posting. For now it will suffice to say that there are any number of very pro-gun citizens and some legislators in the Cornhusker state that believe and can articulate that concealed carry is now and has always been Constitutionally legal in Nebraska, as it is in Vermont. It is their feeling that to allow the state to regulate concealed fireams would set precident for the regulation of all fireams, and they too testify against the concealed carry bill when ever it comes up in the legislature.

As said before a separate posting is forth coming detailing the position of those that insist that Nebraska has had "Vermont style" carry for a very long time. View this post as background and a heads up as to what you will see here in the future.

Quickshots

On Kerry - How many times can one man change his mind on any given subject? In history past, a time before political correctness, it was always said that "It is a womans perogative to change her mind". It would seem to any casual observer that Candidate Kerry is genuinely in touch with his feminine side.

On Bush - On the surface it would seem that the President really cares for the secuity of this nation. There are organizations in this world that are bent on our destruction and want the streets of Hometown USA to run red with American blood. President Bush took the necessary measures to insure that, if streets run red in will not be in this Country. It would seem however that much more could be done to stem the tide of illegals that cross our borders. Yes hundreds of American Servicemen/women have made the ultimate sacrifice for their Country in the past year. But ask yourself how many more American men, women and children would be dead right here in the Continental United States had we not taken the fight to them.

Haliburton - The one company that specializes in and was fully prepared to support and follow our Military into war. Why shouldn't they benefit from their preparedness? Yes the Bush and Cheny families have been invested in Haliburton for years before this war? Sounds like intellegent investing to me. How many remember a Democratic President (Lyndon Johnson) that took this Country's Military overseas for personal gain.

Marriage - Marriage is a word, it means something, it has always ment something. Changing the meaning of marriage is akin to changing water to mean gold, because it wants to be worth four hundred dollars an ounce and look good on someones finger. Do not construe this as any kind of position on the topic of homosexuality, as that is not the point. The point is it is better to coin a new word than to redefine an old one.

Illelegal aliens - The key word there is illegal. People that want to improve their station in life and are willing to work for it have always been welcome in this Country. So much so that there are legal avenues they can travel to do so. It is common knowleadge throughout the world that the United States has immigration laws and that it will be treated as a criminal offense for someone to enter within the borders without going through the proper channels. Why is this so hard to understand? What is hard to understand is the lacadasical attitude of the Federal Government in enforcing the immigration laws on the borders.

Iraq - In the early 1990's Iraq (Saddam Hussien) invaded the Country of Kuwait. This was an afront to the free world and a coilition of forces, lead by the United States, from Countries all over the globe responded. An overwhelmed Iraq agreed to cease and desist and signed a treaty to that effect. In the ensuing years Iraq (Saddam Hussien) broke every condition of that treaty. Because the United States had led the coilition to end the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the administration then in power was viewed to be doing nothing to continue enforcement, American was viewed as weak by her enemies. This led to attacks on American citizens, soldiers and property abroad, cumulating with the World Trade Centers on Semptember 11th 2001. To Countries and organizations of the world that views the United States as an enemy this lack of enforcement was seen as a sign of weakness to be exploited. And exploit it they did, remember the USS Cole, several Embassy bombings to name only a few. It was not WMD's or anything else, it was simply a matter of Honor that the United States enforce the terms of a contract entered into with Iraq. As a people the citizens must stand for their word, live up to the agreements (treaty's) and enforce that compliance on those that America does business with, otherwise the enemies will consider this Country weak and continue to harrass, kidnap, maim and kill Americans at will. It is a matter of HONOR.

Welcome to my Blog

Primarily this Blog will be about the happenings in the great state of Nebraska relating to firearms issues.