August 6th, 2009
There has to be some balance between a literal interpretation granting an absolute right to keep and bear arms under the 2nd Amendment … and a year 2009 reality check that balances the bearers right to keep (and use) an arm and the rest of civilization that are all too often victims of gun violence.
How many Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold’s (Columbine HS), Seung-Hui Cho (VA Tech) and George Sodini’s (LA Fitness) … need their 2nd Amendment Rights upheld … at the expense of their 47 murdered and dozens of injured victims?
While the toll of these shootings is often measured in casulty count number … the true cost to society and the American way of life can not be measured and alters our way of life with each and every subsequent mass murder/shooting.
Tags: 2nd Amendment, gun control, shootings
Posted in The Constitution | 2 Comments »
August 5th, 2009
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
George Sodini
Please read George Sodini’s Blog as posted by ABC News.
I don’t have any real objection to the average citizen owning a firearm and I guess George Sodini exercised that Constitutional Right. The poor families of the 3 women that were murdered and the 10 wounded victims … what Rights did they hold and exercise?
Was George Sodini’s 2nd Amendment Right … greater than the collective Rights of his 13 victims?
You REALLY need to read George Sodini’s Diary Blog. George Sodini … unhappy in life and family, insecure and lonely without friends or female companionship … had the RIGHT to keep and bear arms. George Sodini concealed his firearm then carried it into a Pilates Class, turned off the lights and opened fire … the only good decision he made in his months of planning was saving his last shot for himself.
How do we weigh George Sodini’s RIGHT to keep and bear arms against the RIGHTS of his 13 innocent victims?
Posted in The Constitution | No Comments »
August 5th, 2009
Maybe a little unfair to 5th-Term Congressman Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) to label him a Rising Star but his soft spoken, stick to the issues style … without firing (self-serving partisan) shots across the bow is something that is refreshing inside the Beltway. Congressman Flake has a style and honest delivery that could have wide appeal to moderates and independents.
On the July 29th broadcast of Hardball with Chris Matthews, Congressman Flake was asked about the Birther Movement and Resolution 1503 honoring Hawaii as the 50th state. Representative Flake responded, “I don‘t know. I suppose that other effort will go away pretty quietly now. And I hope it does. And I hope that this lays to rest any—any controversy that‘s out there. This shouldn‘t have been a controversy at all.”
Congressman Flake could be a Republican to watch as the 2010 and 2012 elections approach.
Posted in Rising Stars | 3 Comments »
August 5th, 2009
Suffice to say that if President Barack Obama was NOT a natural born citizen of the United States that the Republicans on Capitol Hill would at least be asking for Impeachment Hearings.
Outside of a couple nut fringe political talking heads … there does not appear to be any elected Republican (or non elected) willing to take up this lunatic Birther cause.
As the Birther Movement is based in far right conservative extremism … the right (honest, fair, patriotic) thing for the Republican National Committee and elected Republicans to do is to suppress the Birther Cause as counter-productive and not in the best interest of the Country.
This Birther Conspiracy does not play well outside of the nutty far right … and only serves to further cripple the Republican Party with their own moderates and mainstream independents.
Posted in Just Wacko | 1 Comment »
August 2nd, 2009
Just 1191 days until the November 6, 2012 Elections and as American politics have evolved … it is never too early to start discussing candidates and issues. Certainly many began to consider (and campaign) the next Presidential election on November 5, 2008 the day after Democrats were granted control of all 3 branches of government.
Today, I officially brand myself an INDEPENDENT VOTER for the 2010 mid-term and 2012 elections. Only fair to disclose that in the past I’m a left-leaning Democrat but totally open to objective views and positions that don’t tow any party line. I’m an American first and foremost … and who I vote for come election day is always an Independent decision. I have voted both sides of the ticket and likely will in the future.
I have lived most of my 50-some years inside and just outside the Washington DC Beltway so (to me) national politics are always local news. It really is a shame that our country and our politics are mostly divided on a two-party system and in my opinion we have a real need for a viable third party of Independents. Both the far Right and the far Left need to be minimalized and both Republicans and Democrats would be better off … and the country would be better off … if there was more catering to moderates (Independents) than to radicals and extremists. The 5% on the far Right and the 5% on the far Left should not have a bigger ear and more coddling than the 40-50% in the middle.
While I have been active-to-very-active in the community over the past couple decades, I have only been on the fringe of politics … and most of that has been on the local level.
Hopefully, this blog and the www.the2012elections.com website will provide a source for reliable information for those with moderate views that cross party lines … depending on the issue. It would be wonderful if politics in America were more reflective of the PEOPLE and less entrenched in extremism. Thoughts, ideas and beliefs that are mainstream should dictate American politics and government.
Tags: american, democrat, elections, independent, republican
Posted in Welcome | 2 Comments »