A consortium of plaintiffs led by 54 of Colorado’s 62 elected county sheriffs filed a lawsuit in federal court against the state Friday in an effort to overturn two new gun control bills that are set to go into effect on July 1.
The plaintiffs have in their sights one law that effectively bans all firearm magazines, and one that requires a background check for every gun transfer when the gun will be in the possession of someone other than the owner for more than 72 hours.
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said the laws are not only unconstitutional, but also confusing and unenforceable.
For example, the ban on magazines was discussed by its Democratic sponsors as applying only to those that hold more than 15 rounds, in response to mass-shooting incidents in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn.
But the law also outlaws any magazine that can be easily converted to hold more than 15 rounds, which applies to practically all magazines with a removable base plate that can be replaced with an after-market extender.
After July 1, the owners of such magazines cannot sell them, loan them or give them away. In effect, it means that even if they give their weapon to someone else for safekeeping — or, in the case of one wheelchair-bound plaintiff who spoke Friday, to hold momentarily as he gets in and out of his chair — they will be breaking the law.
This is a major issue with so many pieces of legislation, the devil of details are in the fine print, or in the poorly written wording. What a bill says it does, and what it can be twisted to do are entirely different.
As Colorado lawmakers entered the last frenzied 72 hours of the legislative session – 90 bills were still on the docket when the legislature was called to order Monday morning – four state politicians are facing efforts to recall them from office.
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Recall drives are in full swing against Senate Democrats John Morse, Evie Hudak and Angela Giron as well as Democratic Rep. Mike McLachlan.
Citizens groups angry about these lawmakers’ stances on gun control are collecting signatures to try and force a special election. To make the ballot, they must collect a number of signatures equal to 25 percent of the total vote in their districts.
Colorado has passed tough gun laws from its Democratic-controlled legislature in recent months, resulting in heated debate, numerous protests and even death threats against some lawmakers.
In March, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law measures that ban magazines that hold more than 15 rounds, mandate universal background checks for all firearms transfers and require gun buyers to pay for those checks.
Two other bills – one which prohibits gun ownership by people who have committed domestic violence and one requiring face-to-face instruction for concealed carry permits – are expected to be signed into law.
Morse, the state Senate president, introduced what was arguably the most controversial gun control proposal of the session, one that would have held owners, sellers and manufacturers of assault-style weapons liable for any damage resulting from their use. Opponents said it amounted to a de facto ban on such weapons.
During a heated, late-night debate on a slate of gun proposals, Morse killed the bill when it became clear it didn’t have enough votes to get out of the Senate.
Democrats in Morse’s El Paso County district formed an issue committee – called “A Whole Lot of People for John Morse” – to fight the recall effort, which needs only 7,178 signatures to qualify.
The most recent filing available on the Colorado secretary of state’s website shows that A Whole Lot of People has collected contributions from six people.
The committee paid for a “public awareness alert” warning voters to beware of giving personal information to petitioners, who, they warned, may be criminals or sex offenders.
In fact, recall petitions only ask for people to give their name, address and signatures, and the information is given to the secretary of state.
The group behind the recall, the El Paso Freedom Defense Committee, called the alert “misleading.”
“Their antics are really about trying to scare people into being afraid of their fellow citizens who are demonstrating democracy in action,” the group wrote on its website.
Organizers behind the drive to recall Giron said it’s a bipartisan effort, with the president of the pro-gun Pueblo Freedom and Rights group telling the Colorado Observer that the person designing their material has Obama stickers on his car.
Giron is being targeted for supporting the laws Hickenlooper has signed.
The same is true for Hudak, who further angered critics when she made a flippant comment to a rape survivor testifying against a bill that would have banned concealed weapons on campus.
“[C]hances are that if you would have had a gun, then he would have been able to get that from you and possibly use it against you,” Hudak told the woman, after saying “statistics are not on your side even if you had a gun.”
Its sponsor killed the bill and Hudak later apologized for the comment, saying she didn’t mean to be insensitive.
The effort to recall McLachlan seems to have the biggest hurdles to clear. A message on the Recall Mike McLachlan website notes that petitioners have only collected about half the 10,587 signatures needed to force a special election. The deadline for that petition is May 21.
Not all gun-rights advocates think the recall efforts are wise. Dudley Brown, the director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the executive vice president of the National Association for Gun Rights, told the Denver Post last month that the money and effort would be better spent targeting Democrats in the 2014 election.
Two hours earlier, sheriffs from 17 counties held a rally at a nearby park to lambast the state measures and call out the White House for using Colorado as a “guinea pig” for its national gun-control agenda.
“If the issue that we’re focusing on is community safety and reducing violence, it could have been done without some of these very serious impositions on our citizens,” said Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith. “The fact they ignored that and the president showed up for a victory lap, I think, is a slap in the face to Coloradans.”
“We are here to remind you that the voices of the 62 elected Colorado sheriffs were silenced by the leaders of the majority party in the statehouse,” Sheriff Smith said. “Your governor found it too inconvenient to allot even 15 minutes to hear the concerns of the sheriffs of his state.”
Sheriff Smith also criticized the Denver Police Department for putting pressure on officers to appear on stage with the president during his speech at the Denver Police Academy. At least one officer filed a complaint this week with the city’s ethics board over the request, saying it violated police rules on appearing in uniform at a political event.
A department memo obtained by KUSA-TV in Denver offered police the opportunity to appear with the president, but Sheriff Smith said officers told him that they were “coerced into being there.”
“I can tell you I’ve personally talked to Denver police officers who’ve assured me they had felt pressure, that they were told, ‘You’ll be at this event,’” said Sheriff Smith. “Only when officers refused to attend were they then were allowed to go to their normal districts. They certainly knew they could not stand up here today [with sheriffs] without potential repercussions.”
The Left loves to say that law enforcement supports gun control, these sheriffs would beg to differ. What the President bis doing is creating a false image about support for gun control, and a false image about what these new laws would do.
A Colorado lawmaker who apologized last month for suggesting women should use a whistle instead of a gun to ward off rapists is in hot water again. Democrat state senator Joe Salazar said before the senate Monday he had been wrong for suggesting women’s best defense against rape was to carry a whistle to blow, although he maintained his anti-armed/gun stance, offering even more colorful prevention methods for women.
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“I admit, I was wrong about the whistle thing,” said Salazar. “It’s really Chipotle that is the best defense against rape. …You try raping a woman who’s been eating Chipotle and you’ll be in for one hell of a shock and regret… and mess!”
Silence reigned throughout the senate chamber after Salazar’s “Chipotle rape prevention” suggestion. Salazar, fearing he had perhaps again committed another anti-rape faux pas in the name of gun control tried to clarify his newest suggestion. “…Or maybe some extra-spicy Indian food… or some old Taco Bell burrito women could carry around in their purse and eat real quick before being attacked. Or even squirt some Visine down your throat.”
As senate colleagues still sat with mouths agape, Salazar continued, “We need to study multiple steps women can take to fend off rapists without using guns. But I’m telling you: a quick downing of Chipotle will do the trick.”
The McDonald’s-owned Chipotle franchise has grown nationwide for people seeking quick servings of decent Mexican food at affordable prices. Chipotle has also become the brunt of jokes about its food causing diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems among unsuspecting consumers.
Years ago Italian food was synonymous with uncontrollable flatulence and “solid” waste eruptions, then Chinese food and the popular growth of sushi in the 1990s, followed by Indian food last decade. Now Chipotle holds the unfortunate stereotype of wreaking havoc among consumers’ bowels, although the chain continues to grow in popularity.
“These are certainly explosive suggestions,” said Republican state senator Bill Cadman. “We all want women to protect themselves. But we still think carrying a firearm is the best defense for Colorado’s women, not carrying around some Chipotle burrito they’d have to wolf down in a second – literally a second – and pray it causes explosive diarrhea before her attacker has the chance to assault her.”
Fellow Democrat and Senator Mary Hodge agreed with Sen. Cadman, criticizing Salazar yet again for “ridiculous, implausible” suggestions on how women can prevent a rape without using a gun. Said an apparently angry Hodge to Senator Salazar after the senate’s adjournment Monday, “So, Joe, let me get this straight: I’m walking out to my car at night and am approached by a man that grabs me and begins assaulting me… You expect me to eat a red hot chili pepper Chipotle burrito in less than a second and then hope its effects hit me in time so I can uncontrollably excrete all over the guy, thereby warding him off and preventing a rape? Are you serious?”
Replied Salazar, “O-Okay then, how about Indian food or even some beans..? Anything that would cause an explosion in ‘that area’ in short order, you know?”
“Nonsense!” retorted Hodge. “Everyone knows that a milkshake made with curdled milk is the best defense against rapists!”
“Explosive” Infighting Compounds Senator’s Pleas
Among Salazar’s detractors are not only his fellow lawmakers, but the heads of various fast food chains (local and state). Said Huang Liu Chung, owner of Colorado’s largest Chinese take-out chain, Ming Dynasty Take-Out, to reporters Monday, “Senator Sarazar’s craims that eating Chipotre in the moments before an attack wirr cause quick enough ‘expursions ’ to ward off sex attacker are absurd. Anyone who’s ever eaten Ming Dynasty Take-Out know they wirr feer the effects within seconds! We are the champions of uncontrorrable expursions, and any woman who varues their safety knows it is Ming Dynasty they need to eat as they’re getting attacked, not Chipotre crap!”
Added Chung, “Senator Sarazar is prooving he is just in the pocket of Big Chipotre!”
William C. Weldon, CEO of Johnson & Johnson, which owns Visine, also chimed in Monday with his input on Senator Salazar’s Chipotle suggestion. Defending his product’s longtime reputation of causing involuntary diarrhea if ingested orally, Weldon issued a public statement condemning Salazar’s “Chipotle promotion,” saying that adding a few drops of Visine to any food would produce the effects Salazar hopes would ward off potential rapists. “It is not just an old wives’ tale,” said Weldon, “but ingesting Visine will cause explosive gas and fecal matter in a way never conceived by the recipient or the person attacking her. It is Visine women should carry with them at all times to prevent rape, not spicy ethnic foods.”
“That’s why we invented Visine in the first place,” Weldon added, “so people could play vicious pranks on each other by lacing each others’ food and causing uncontrollable diarrhea. Only years later did we discover (Visine) was also good at relieving dry, irritated eyes.”
Some non-food providers are also offering other solutions to Sen. Salazar’s how-to-prevent-rape suggestions. James Debney, CEO of the popular gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson was asked by reporters about the Salazar-Chipotle fray. Commented Debney to Duh Progressive, “All these (food-diarrhea) suggestions are well-intentioned. But I’ve never have heard of a rapist being stopped by a woman who had just eaten bowel-relieving foods. (Women) can try it, or even the whistle thing if they want. Good luck.”
Added Debney, “A woman can eat all these ‘explosive’ foods and Visine she wants, but nothing can stop a rapist better than offering him a .357 Magnum for ‘dessert.’ Let your potential rapist dine on a .44 hollow point and see how it goes. It’s kinda hard to rape someone when half of your face and skull are missing… studies have shown.”
A Colorado sheriff says he won’t enforce two aggressive gun-control measures waiting to be signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Weld County Sheriff John Cooke told The Greeley Tribune (http://bit.ly/141Ee2z) that Democratic lawmakers are scrambling after recent mass shootings, and the bills are “feel-good, knee-jerk reactions that are unenforceable.”
One bill expands background checks on firearm purchases, and the other limits ammunition magazines to 15 rounds. The 15-round magazine limit would make Colorado the first state outside the East Coast to ratchet back gun rights after last year’s shootings in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn.
Colorado’s gun-control debates have been closely watched because of the state’s gun-loving frontier heritage and painful history of mass shootings, most recently last summer’s movie theater shooting that killed 12.
The sheriff said he “won’t bother enforcing” the laws because it would be impossible for officers to keep track of how the requirements are being met by gun owners – and he and other sheriffs are considering suing the state to block the measures if they are signed into law.
Cooke said the bill passed Friday requiring a $10 background check to legally transfer a gun wouldn’t keep firearms out of the hands of those who use them for violence.
“Criminals are still going to get their guns,” he said.
The magazine-limit bill passed earlier in the week will technically ban all magazines because of a provision that outlaws any magazine that can be altered, he said, adding that all magazines can be altered to a higher capacity.
Expanded checks have been a top priority for Hickenlooper, who called for the proposal during his State of the State address in January.
The sheriff’s office did not immediately return calls left by The Associated Press.
According to a Colorado Bureau of Investigations report obtained by Media Trackers, State Representative Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora) was arrested in 1976 on a charge of larceny and again in 1991 on a charge of shoplifting. Despite her own criminal record, Rep. Fields has sought to limit the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
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An apparent mugshot of Fields was posted to the Magpul Industries Facebook page by a private user after legislation to limit gun magazine capacity, which was cosponsored by Fields, drove the company to announce that it was closing its doors in Colorado and moving out of state.
Sen. Hudak has recently been in the national spotlight for remarks she made to rape survivor Amanda Collins. During testimony from Collins which detailed how her attacker was able to target her while she was unarmed due to a campus ban on concealed carry in Nevada, Hudak told Collins that “actually statistics are not on your side even if you had a gun.”
Media Trackers attempted to contact Fields at her office multiple times, but the Representative was unavailable for comment as the calls were unanswered.
Colorado Democrats are proposing legislation that will ban the the most popular selling firearm for hunting. The pump or semi-automatic shotgun is the gun most hunters in Colorado use and will be banned by the legislation.
A popular hunting shotgun could be banned under one of the bills moving through the state Capitol.
A pump or semi-automatic shotgun is the gun most hunters in Colorado use. It’s a gun state Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, says could be banned under a bill that’s already passed the House and Gov. John Hickenlooper says he’ll sign.
“They’re coming after the standard shotgun,” Brophy told CBS4 Political Specialist Shaun Boyd.
Brophy says if Democrats succeed in passing a bill limiting large capacity magazines in Colorado, they’ll outlaw the most popular selling firearm for hunting
Those Colorado Democrats REALLY hate guns don’t they?
The message seems as clear as the difference between night and day: If you are white you have already gotten all the extra help you need – or, at least, all you are going to get.
CBS Denver reports that an elementary school in Aurora, Colo., sent out a letter to parents on Wednesday, telling them that an after-school tutoring program was off-limits to their children.
The letter, written by Andre Pearson, the principal at Mission Viejo Elementary, said in no uncertain terms that special assistance in school coursework was available only to students of color.
Parents were understandably shocked. One of them, Nicole Cox, told CBS, “I was infuriated. I didn’t understand why they would include or exclude certain groups.” Cox says that her 10-year-old daughter needs tutoring.
Before Cox could complain to the school, Pearson reached out to her directly by phone, but the voicemail he left only seemed to reinforce the notion that the tutoring program was segregated:
This is Andre Pearson. [Afterschool tutoring] is focused for and designed for children of color, but certainly, if we have space for other kids who have needs, we can definitely meet those needs.
Pearson should read the school’s motto, which appears outside the building. It reads: “Mission Viejo Elementary: To inspires every student to think, to achieve, to learn.”
Better still he should read Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision that stated that “separate educational facilities” for black and white students “are inherently unequal” and, therefore, a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Hostess, the makers of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread, is going out of business after striking workers failed to heed a Thursday deadline to return to work, the company said. “We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” Hostess CEO Gregory F. Rayburn said in announcing that the firm had filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to shutter its business. “Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.” . . .
Liberals will say that “greed” killed Hostess, and they will be right. But it was not corporate greed, it was UNION greed! The greed on union leaders, and the sheer head up their asses stupidity of union members!
The Interior Department on Friday issued a final plan to close 1.6 million acres of federal land in the West originally slated for oil shale development.
The proposed plan would fence off a majority of the initial blueprint laid out in the final days of the George W. Bush administration. It faces a 30-day protest period and a 60-day process to ensure it is consistent with local and state policies. After that, the department would render a decision for implementation.
The move is sure to rankle Republicans, who say President Obama’s grip on fossil fuel drilling in federal lands is too tight.
Interior’s Bureau of Land Management cited environmental concerns for the proposed changes. Among other things, it excised lands with “wilderness characteristics” and areas that conflicted with sage grouse habitats.
Under the plan, 677,000 acres in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming would be open for oil shale exploration. Another 130,000 acres in Utah would be set aside for tar sands production.
Oil shale development is not to be confused with drilling into shale formations for oil and natural gas. The practice, which involves separating hydrocarbons bound up in rocks, has not been widely executed since Exxon’s failed Colorado venture in the 1980s.
Bobby McEnaney, senior lands analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, praised Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for the proposed final plan.
“By significantly reducing the acreage of wilderness potentially available for leasing, Secretary Salazar is laying out a creative, thoughtful and more responsible approach in managing some of our most precious resources,” McEnaney said in a Friday statement.
Yep, more of the same from Obama, do everything he can to kick domestic energy production in the nuts. And of course, Team Obama is all about regulations, thousands of regulations, dozens per day
It’s Friday morning, and so far today, the Obama administration has posted 165 new regulations and notifications on its reguations.gov website.
In the past 90 days, it has posted 6,125 regulations and notices – an average of 68 a day.
The website allows visitors to find and comment on proposed regulations and related documents published by the U.S. federal government. “Help improve Federal regulations by submitting your comments,” the website says.
The thousands of entries run the gamut from meeting notifications to fee schedules to actual rules and proposed rule changes.
In recent days, for example, the EPA posted a proposed rule involving volatile organic compound emissions from architectural coatings: “We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act),” the proposed rule states. “We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.”
Another proposed rule will provide guidance for FDA staff on “enforcement criteria for canned ackee, frozen ackee, and other ackee products that contain hypoglycin A.” (Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica; unripened or inedible portions can be toxic.)
More government obstruction to a struggling economy! Good grief. Team Obama redefines stuck on stupid!
Pretty wiped out tonight, I left for Colorado last Saturday morning at 8, flew on South West out of Love Field at 11 AM, funny how SWA has never gone bankrupt isn’t it? They provide better fares, better service, and run a better airline, yet, the other “bigger” names never seem to think to themselves that maybe SWA is worth emulating. I guess their CEO’s are just too smart for their own good. But I will save my rant on how dumbed down so many corporations seem to be for another time. My sister, niece, who will be three in November, and I landed in Denver just after noon Mountain time, and picked up our rental from Enterprise, another company who I use if at all possible. Again, better rates, far better service, and no hassles. I have to ask why anyone would pay MORE, for less at other rental giants that shall remain nameless.
From Denver, I took the E-470 toll road, North to I-25 North, finally exiting on to Highway 66 heading West. It is a route I have driven almost every year since 2003. A route that takes me to beautiful Estes Park, Colorado, nestled right next to the most beautiful place I have ever seen, Rocky Mountain National Park. Like all of our national Parks, Rocky is a treasure, there are opportunities for everyone to fall in love with it. Fishing, hiking, my personal favorite activity, camping, wildlife watching, photography, picnicking, or just relaxing. Right now, the elk are in the rut, which means you must give those 750-1100 pound bulls with their massive 40 plus pound antlers plenty of respect. Elk are everywhere, including in town, on the golf course, and right outside your cabin sometimes. In 2008, I walked out of the Safeway, my cart full of groceries, including some great Colorado craft beers, and right there, in the parking lot, 30-40 elk milled around, taking their time moving towards the golf course. Funny that I, nor anyone else really seemed to mind the delay. The golfers might have minded, I imagine, but, who cares about anyone who dresses like some golfers.
Over the years I have seen black bears, one up close and personal in 2010, We had a small dispute over who could use the trail up to Fern Falls, and after close consideration, I let the bear have the right of way. This past Wednesday night, a big male, which the locals say has a real affinity for pizza, turned over the large dumpster near my cabin. There are not many bears in Rocky, and they do not grow as large as black bears in other areas, but, they are incredibly powerful.
I have seen two sets of mountain lion tracks, which filled me with awe, and a lot of caution, I would love to see a mountain lion, but the idea of having to take a hungry one on does not appeal to me in the least. I have also seen moose, the most dangerous animal not only in Rocky, but in the West, they kill more people than bears do. They are massive, and not nearly as common as their elk cousins, but to see a big bull, is incredible. Coyotes are common, and big horn sheep are sometimes seen on the East side of the park too.
I took my sister and niece on a wild 4-wheel-drive ride thru the Roosevelt National Forest, and by took, I mean I paid someone with a kick ass Hummer to take us on said wild ride. My niece, who turns three in November loved the bumps, and dips, and insisted the we “do that again” repeatedly, before falling asleep for the last twenty minutes or so. My sister also did a ghost hunt at the legendary, and allegedly haunted Stanley Hotel. I am not much for hunting ghosts myself, but the Stanley has a ton of great history, and is worth checking out.
As I said, I love hiking in Rocky, but, this trip, thanks to a sore knee, I did very little of that, but still had an absolute blast. And, next year, at this time, I will likely be in Rocky once more, hopefully hiking up to the many waterfalls, or mountain lakes, stopping every so often to be amazed at the splendor and magnificence of this place. The first time I ever came here, I stopped and took a short hike on the Deer Mountain trail. As I looked around I remember thinking that no one could possibly be here and NOT believe in God. That was in 2001, I decided I wanted to see the Rockies, and took my vacation, staying in Denver, and driving to different areas. I ended up staying most of my time in Rocky. After that short hike on Deer Mountain, I went into town, but a back pack, hat, sunglasses, first aid kit, some quality hiking boots, and other hiking essentials. It was there that my love of hiking was born, and it is a love that still excites me.
So, now, as I prepare to get back to work, and back to blogging, I am already counting the days till I can get back to this place I love so.
As a hiker who loves to hit the trails, I am going to Colorado in three weeks, I am always aware of the risks involved. So, I am saddened to hear this news.
A hiker in Denali National Park has been killed by a grizzly bear, the first known fatal bear attack in the Alaska park’s history, officials said Saturday.
The victim, whose identity was not released because his family has not been notified, was backpacking alone along the Toklat River when he spotted the bear, officials believe.
Photos recovered from the victim’s camera show that he stopped to take pictures of the animal for at least eight minutes before he was attacked, they said in a telephone conference with reporters Saturday.
Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said he believes the victim came within 50 yards of the grizzly before it went on the attack. He said the photos show the bear grazing in the willows and not acting aggressively.
It sounds like this guy simply pushed his luck too far. The hiker might have ignored warning behaviors Grizzlies will display when they feel threatened. Here are some of the signs to watch for
Sometimes a bear that feels threatened will ‘act’ aggressively to defend against a perceived threat. This is often the case with a mother bear with cubs, a bear defending a food source, or a surprise encounter. The closer you are to the bear when it becomes aware of you, the more likely it is to react defensively: it may pop its jaws or swat the ground with its front paw while blowing and snorting, and/or it may lunge or “bluff charge” toward you in an attempt to get you to leave.
In this situation, the bear doesn’t want to fight any more that you do. It is simply trying to communicate that you are too close. Try to appear non-threatening by remaining still and calm. Ready your bear spray by removing the safety lock. Speak in an appeasing voice and back away, increasing your distance from the bear. Leave the area immediately
Lots more tips at the link, if you hike where bears are be prepared.
Old Al Gore is preaching a new sermon to his flock at The Gore Cult of Global WarmingClimate Change Dirty Weather. William Teach exposes Gore’s latest load of BS!
(Al Gore’s (big energy sucking) Journal) We are in the midst of a tremendously hot summer. Between crops withering across the Midwest, fires in Colorado, and severe heat waves sweeping the entire country, a lot of people are saying out loud, “I’m too hot!”
Climate Reality has been working to raise awareness of the climate crisis, its links to the massive pollution from dirty energy, and the“dirty weather” it creates. Starting this week in Austin, TX, the Climate Reality “I’m Too Hot” ice cream truck will be distributing sweet treats to folks across the city to raise awareness of the reality of climate change. Learn more and make sure to visit them this week in Texas.
Hmm, I’m assuming the ice cream truck is a fossil fueled on, since if it was powered by something else, they would be trumpeting it. Furthermore, doesn’t ice cream make people fat? And aren’t fat people bad for globull warming?
Good Freaking Grief! Gore is just looking for a new cash cow here. And he will use the money he scams people out of to increase the size of his own Sasquatch-sized carbon footprint
If I told you Jason Alexander went on a Tea Party/Conservative bashing tirade you would say WHO? But is I say that George Costanza went on a Twitter tirade you would say, OH, that guy! Read what he wrote, THEN listen to my response!
I’d like to preface this long tweet by saying that my passion comes from my deepest sympathy and shared sorrow with yesterday’s victims and with the utmost respect for the people and the police/fire/medical/political forces of Aurora and all who seek to comfort and aid these victims.
This morning, I made a comment about how I do not understand people who support public ownership of assault style weapons like the AR-15 used in the Colorado massacre.
That comment, has of course, inspired a lot of feedback. There have been many tweets of agreement and sympathy but many, many more that have been challenging at the least, hostile and vitriolic at the worst.
Clearly, the angry, threatened and threatening, hostile comments are coming from gun owners and gun advocates. Despite these massacres recurring and despite the 100,000 Americans that die every year due to domestic gun violence – these people see no value to even considering some kind of control as to what kinds of weapons are put in civilian hands.
Many of them cite patriotism as their reason – true patriots support the Constitution adamantly and wholly. Constitution says citizens have the right to bear arms in order to maintain organized militias. [...]
These people believe that the US government is eventually going to go street by street and enslave our citizens. Now as long as that is only happening to liberals, homosexuals and democrats – no problem. But if they try it with anyone else – it’s going to be arms-ageddon and these committed, God-fearing, brave souls will then use their military-esque arsenal to show the forces of our corrupt government whats-what. These people think they meet the definition of a “militia”. They don’t. At least not the constitutional one. And, if it should actually come to such an unthinkable reality, these people believe they would win. That’s why they have to “take our country back”. From who? From anyone who doesn’t think like them or see the world like them. They hold the only truth, everyone else is dangerous. Ever meet a terrorist that doesn’t believe that? Just asking.
OK folks, time to take Georgie to the woodshed, I have had more than my fill of Constitutionally ignorant buffoons calling Conservatives “terrorists” So click the pic to listen
On its face such a question might seem asinine, but consider Henry Waxman, AKA Nostrilsaurus Rex
QUICK, hide the Cocaine!
(The Hill) Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) seized on the portion of the decision that upheld EPA’s “endangerment finding” that greenhouse gases are a threat to human health and welfare.
Waxman, the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, called the decision a “resounding victory for science.” The court found that EPA “relied on a substantial record of empirical data and scientific evidence.”
The California Democrat used the ruling to criticize the GOP’s efforts to nullify EPA’s climate rules.
“Today’s ruling is a message to Congress that it’s time to stop denying science. Extreme events like the wildfires in Colorado and the floods in Florida are going to get worse unless the Republican-controlled Congress changes course soon,” Waxman said in a statement.
I think you likely know the rest right? Well, The Lonely Conservative has a reminder for us
I was perusing Capitalism Magazine and came across an article written by Richard Ralston and posted about a week ago. He explains how the FDA is not allowing a stem cell procedure in which one’s own cells taken from one part of the body are used to repair cells in the other part. I remember when the left was up in arms because George Bush put a freeze on federal funding for the use of embryonic stem cells, so I’m wondering where the outrage is over this? There aren’t any ethical problems with the using one’s own stem cells, so what’s the problem.
From the article:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has gone to court to prevent the Colorado-based firm Regenerative Sciences from using stem cells developed in one part of your body (bone marrow) to repair damage in other parts of your body, such as joints. The FDA objects to the fact that these cells are chemicals, the use of which they have the power to regulate even though the cells are taken from your body to later be injected back into your body.
The FDA is accustomed to the process by which it requires that many years and millions of dollars be spent to approve drugs developed in a laboratory before anyone is allowed to use them. Regardless of clinical results that show use of stem cells to be highly effective, the FDA finds it intolerable to let you use the cells in your own body without prior approval by a vast and expensive bureaucracy.
It is a shame that no one told all of those who would benefit from stem cell research that the benefits of such research would not actually be available to patients. Treatment of individuals does not comply with the FDA’s regulatory paradigm. Personalized medicine may work new miracles, but care for the individual must be subordinated to supervision by a multitude of administrators.
Growing government involvement in medicine, over generations, has resulted in control for the controller’s sake. The most extreme example of this is the refusal of the FDA, in many cases, to forbid access by terminally ill patients to drugs that have passed the first phase of testing, which establishes safety. (Read More)
Talk about stuck on stoopit! This is the natural result when we lose liberty though isn’t it? Once we cede control to government, all bets are off, and soon, all liberties are lost. For instance, were you aware that if you are on Medicare
In 2010, another hurdle was created with the passage of Obamacare. The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)–”independent” because it is appointed by the President–decides whether it will allow payment for any care, including use of your stem cells. If you are on Medicare and your physician accepts Medicare patients, you may not even use your own money for treatment with your own stem cells. No physician in Medicare is allowed to accept payment for anything not covered by Medicare.
Got that? What possible business is it of the government to tell a doctor, what treatments they may provide, or what form of legitimate payment they can accept for that treatment? What does such a stipulation have to do with curbing costs? If you pay out of pocket, Medicare obviously is not paying, so, what possible reason is there? Think on that my friends. Like I, and many others have said over and again. This is all about control!
One day I am going to post a list of my steadfast rules of life. On that list, will be Indoctrination Sucks. Note, I do not mind education, I certainly do not mind having anyone taught different ideas. I, in other words, welcome education, but indoctrination is the nemesis of education. Indoctrination seeks to prevent thinking, and you need look no further than this video via American Power, for proof of how deplorable, and dangerous indoctrination is.
There really is nothing to add is there? Except to be sure that this young mind is being taught this at SCHOOL! On our dime!
I am reminded of a chat I had about four years ago. I vacation in Estes park, Colorado every September. I love hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, a place I fell in love with in 2001, and Estes Park borders the park.
In 2008, I decided to take a tour, via a six-wheeler, into the back country. The woman who drove us talked about the history, the wildlife, etc. She explained during the tour that the elk, which are plentiful in the area, were actually brought in, decades ago from another area of the West, California I think it was. She explained further that this was made necessary because the elf population was wiped out in the area by evil man. Now, I agree that it was tragic, and criminal frankly, that people did such a thing. What did strike me as odd, however, was that she never gave any credit to the people who FIXED the problem, by re-introducing elk to the area.
She was perfectly willing to paint people as bad, but very loathe to credit those that repaired, as best they could, the damage. Odd that Liberals are often that way isn’t it? Which, I think, proves another great rule of life I have, Liberalism is an ideology of pessimism. But that is another post!
Oh yeah, it was me! And this story, Via Moonbattery backs me up
After his roommate and his girlfriend were robbed by armed men in ski masks, Benjamin Portman of Washington, DC became sufficiently alarmed to attend a community meeting on skyrocketing local violence. There he asked why bureaurats make it all but impossible for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves by exercising the Second Amendment.
Paul Quander, the District’s deputy mayor for public safety and justice, responded that crime victims should give the criminals what they want. Mr. Portman protested, saying, “But how do you know you’re going live and survive? You’re completely at their mercy.”
Mr. Quander thinks victimhood is preferable to self-defense. “The problem is, if you are armed, it escalates the situation,” Mr. Quander told residents. “It is much better, in my opinion, to be scared, to be frightened, and even if you have to be, to be injured, but to walk away and survive. You’ll heal, and you can replace whatever was taken away.”
Or at least, if they choose not to kill you for kicks you’ll survive. The God-given right of self-defense never comes into it from the statist point of view.
Leftists see people as cattle,incapable of doing anything for themselves. The fondest desire of Leftists is for us all to be completely reliant upon government, big Leftist government of course, for EVERYTHING. and that includes protection. The Leftist has no use at all for individuals defending themselves. That sets a bad example for the rest of the “cattle” you see.
Moonbattery also highlights another story that points out how armed citizens save lives. I heard of this on the drive home last night.Oddly enough, the report from the media gave not one mention of an ARMED doctorhelping to save lives
A Colorado doctor with a concealed-weapon permit said he grabbed his gun and guarded an exit at a medical building as dozens of people fled from a gunman who had taken two hostages.
Authorities in Colorado Springs said the hostages were released before police shot and fatally wounded the gunman Tuesday. No one else was hurt.
Gee,why would the media leave out the armed citizen helping to save lives? HMMMM
OK, two days ago, I posted a video Yesterday, I began to explain why this song is so meaningful. Today, I finish the story. I ended that last post talking about my friend, who I had come to adore, like a daughter. A friend I thought the world of. a friend who leaned on me, who shared her dreams, and frustrations with me. A friend that I trusted with my friendship, the first person in ten years I really trusted with my heart. In September, 2010, we were closer than ever, we talked nearly every day, and she, always made a point when she came to work, to come say hi, hug me, and chat a bit, I did like wise when I left work. As I explained yesterday, had developed an emotional attachment with this kid like no other i had ever had with maybe anyone.
I remember the day before I left on my vacation to Colorado. She told me she would miss me, and that work would, in her words “suck” without me around for two weeks. I was the happiest I had been in a long time. We texted each other during my trip, and when I came home, everything went back to normal. A couple of weeks later, we went out for my birthday, went the Dallas Aquarium, had lunch, shopped a bit, it was a great day.
Then, over the next week, she stopped returning tetxs, no big deal, not like her but, no big deal as I said. Then came October 12. Like lots of days I was leaving work as she arrived, as always I was looking forward to seeing her. The kid made my heart smile each time I saw her, I was so proud of her, and thought that I might not ever have a daughter, but I had come close with this kid. But, something had changed, I went up to her, as usual, put my arm around her, and instead of returning the hug, she jerked away, giving me a look of disgust. I asked her what was wrong, she said she was just really tired, bad day, you know. Again, not that big a deal, but I took note that while she seemed to not want anything to do with me, she seemed OK with other people at work. The next day, another odd look, and some cold treatment. Hmmm, I was puzzled, but I decided I would just talk to her the next day, ask her what the deal was, and we would be fine. I certainly was not going to get mad or think the worst.
That next day, I sent her a text, told her I had a question for her, and she had never come to work and not hugged me, said hi as I was leaving. Until that day. She avoided me, and went upstairs without speaking to me. Now I knew there was a problem, so I sent her a text, asked if I had done something to upset her. No response, so the next day comes, same thing, avoiding me. What the Hell? So, I went to her, asked her if we were OK, she said sure, but she acted like she wanted to be as far away from me as possible. So, I asked her to talk to me, something was wrong, obviously, and she said “I have just been talking to a lot of different people lately and…” She stopped there, not finishing the thought. I waited, then asked “and?” She would only say ” I am just not talking to a lot of people right now”. This made no sense, this was my buddy, the sweet kid who always made the time to say hi, and who had shared so much with me.
Over the next few weeks, I tried to talk to her and she would talk, but was obviously did not want to. And if I did not approach her, she ignored me completely. Finally, I told her we had to talk, that I really was hurting, and missed her and our friendship,. Her response was silence, nothing. I told her that if she needs time fine, I would not pressure her, and we would talk when she was ready. The next three weeks, we did not talk. I kept waiting, and waiting, and nothing. She simply acted as if I did not exist. My heart was breaking, I was losing my closest friend, and had no idea why. So, after three weeks, I sent her a text, told her that I, at the very least deserved an explanation. I explained that I was hurting, miserable, and that I was not angry, I just wanted to talk and fix whatever was wrong. Two more weeks, and nothing.
I was pretty depressed by now. I went out every night, doing anything not to think about her, and of course, all I did was think about her. I felt guilty, like I had failed her somehow. Sure I knew, at least my head did, that I had done nothing, and even if I had, she should at least try to tell me what was going on. I waited every day when she came to work, waited for her to come talk, or just come hug me, but, nothing. I was absolutely lost, I felt like part of me was gone, I was on the verge of breaking down several times. Nothing in my life had ever hurt like this.
Then, it is two weeks till Christmas, a Friday, I had to try one more time. So, I texted her a pic of my niece, and asked her if that would by her forgiveness. I then approached her and asked her if it had worked, no response. It was over, somehow, I had lost the very person, that had made me believe in friendship again. My head knew this, and had known for weeks by this time. My heart though, at least what was left of it, had to try once more. So, I made the best heartfelt speech I could. I told her, I had one thing to say, and then, I would not bug her again. I told her that I was so sorry, that I had obviously done something to upset or hurt her. I told her I had done everything I knew to do, and that I was absolutely miserable. I told her she had done nothing to even try to talk it out. Then I told her something I had never told her before. I told her I absolutely adored her, that in ways she was like a daughter to me, and finally, I said the last words I ever will likely say to her. I said Shataria, I love you kid, I do, but I do not deserve this, and you know that, I did not deserve this at all. I turned, I walked away and let the rest of my heart shatter.
So, why did I feel the need to write this? Not sure, over time my heart is healing, Maybe I figure it will heal faster if I share this. I will always hurt when I see her at some level I guess. And there are some times I still tear up a bit over her. Maybe I always will. I am bitter at her, although I do not really want to be. The friendship is gone, I could never trust her again, I know that. I will never figure that kid out. She hurt me, and went about doing it in the most cruel fashion possible. She knew I was crazy about her, she knew I was hurting, she heard me beg her to just talk to me, and said nothing. I had to deal with guilt, although I had nothing to feel guilty over. But when someone you admire so much, and who has given you every indication that they admire and love you too just stops speaking to you, well, you cannot help but feel guilty.
I have been in love, and had my heart broken, but this hurt so much worse than those times. That kid was so special to me. I wanted to see her live her dreams, I wanted to walk her down the aisle one day, her dad was not really in her life, and nothing would have made me happier than to see how beautiful she was on her wedding day. Yeah, I guess that is corny huh? But such is life.
So, finally, how has this song helped me heal? Well, when we were friends, she made me want to be the best person I could be, as I said she had a major impact on my life. So, the part of this song that talks about finding a reason to change who I used to be, a reason to start over new. Those words were how I felt about her she had inspired me to believe in friendship, she had made me able to reach out, and trust. Funny, she would also be the person that would hurt me so badly. Again, I will never know why, and I will always have the hole she left in my heart. But, now, the song still reminds me to be a better person, not to quit, not to stop trusting or having friends. Oddly enough, I still want to be a better person, because of Shataria. Only now, I want to be the best I can be in spite of the emotional devastation she caused me.
Now one more time the song thathas helped heal my heart
