NBC News is reporting that Senators, Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, James Inhofe, and Marco Rubio are threatening to filibuster in order to stop any sort of legislation they and the NRA decide is detrimental to gun manufacturers. Oh they wrote a letter talking about the second amendment and rights and all that, but it has nothing to do with reality.
The Big Brother bugaboo is used in it as is an iffy interpretation of the second amendment itself. One paragraph reads, "The second amendment of the constitution protects citizens' right to self defense. It speaks to history's lesson that government cannot be in all places at all times and history's warning about the oppression of a government that tries."
Well actually the amendment doesn't say a word about self defense. In fact there is nothing there about oppression either. All it does is address the need for a well regulated militia to maintain a free state. It doesn't say the government can't stipulate that guns must be registered, or that requiring background checks infringe upon an individual's right to own a gun. In truth it doesn't speak to any sort of history lesson. What it does speak to is the state of the American military when the constitution was authored.
But hey when you are owned and operated by people like Smith and Wesson what are a few facts when trying to make sure another Adam Lanza or James Holmes can gun up and take out a few dozen innocent people.
And speaking of James Holmes, prosecutors have rejected the plea bargain deal his defense team floated out there this week, saying it wasn't a legitimate offer. It is expected that Monday the state will announce whether it will be seeking the death penalty in the case. The trial is set to start August 12.
Elsewhere in Colorado, or rather outside of it, pro gun forces are trying to encourage a hunter's boycott, which would cost the state millions of dollars in lost license fees. This is in reaction to recent legislation passed that, among other things, expands back ground checks, and bans high capacity ammunition magazines, because after all when you shoot an elk you want to make sure that bastard is down for good.
Up in Alaska, in a further effort to woo Hispanic voters, republican representative, Don Young described the migrant workers his father's farm once employed as wetbacks. Young immediately tried to apologize after the shit hit the fan, but being a republican he simply couldn't help but both lie and put his foot into it further. He claimed wetback was a term that was "commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in central California." He went on to say, "I know that term is not used in the same way nowadays. I meant no disrespect."
Now we can have that history lesson, children. The name wetback refers to a Mexican who had to swim across the Rio Grande River, thereby getting wet, in order to get into the United States illegally. No, I didn't grow up on a farm in central California and I'm not quite as old as Mr. Young, but I can assure each and every one of you the name wetback has always been used in the same way and it has always been derogatory. I'm sure there were a lot of other words used commonly on the Young farm back in the day, but decorum prevents me from openly speculating on what they were here.
Finally Dennis Rodman's old pal, Kim Jung Un has reportedly put his missile crews on standby. The North Korean news agency has said, Kim believes "the time has come to settle accounts with U.S, imperialists. Normally babbling like this from the north wouldn't raise any eyebrows, but a couple of unknown factors make this whole chest beating episode a bit dicier.
First there is Kim himself. He is only 30 years old and if he actually thought Rodman had an in at the White House he might qualify as the stupidest man on the planet. Obviously he feels he has to prove to his military he has out sized testicles made of solid brass. Unfortunately if he really is as dumb as a brick he'll paint himself into a corner with all this bellicose nonsense and it could well dawn on him he can't back out without losing face. Even worse, the dope might actually believe his own bullshit. He could really be convinced that North Korea would win a nuclear war fought on the peninsula.
South of the DMZ Park Geun-hye has been the president for only a month. Although she is the daughter of a former president she is still a rank rookie and what her reaction to some sort of military provocation would be is quite simply unknown.
Yes, there is thin ice on both sides right now. Everyone needs to tread softly, keep a cool head and a clear eye. Whether that is possible or not is the rub.
Luckily here on the southern plains the weekend looms and the beer is cold.
As always stay low and keep moving If we're lucky we'll all make it to Monday.
sic vita est
3-29-13
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