No Less Than Death

The Post takes on another - locally famous - case of police over reaction: the murder of Salvatore J. Culosi.

I agree with the post that Deval Bullock may have been a good cop who made an error, but that doesn't warrant the slap on the wrist he recieved. I say throw him in jail. At least fire him. And, as Glenn Reynolds points out, in these cases of extreme organized overreaction (this was a SWAT raid, different and vastly more appalling because of its apparant official stamp than the shooting in NY the other day) the police involved - right up to the Chief - ought to be held criminally and civilly (without any immunity or official protection) for their actions.

But, thats not really the point of this post.

Rather, its to call for the prosecution (and conviction) of Fairfax Prosecutor Robert Horan for conspiracy to comit murder - cause in my mind no factor contributes as much to the constant overreaction and frequently violent outcomes of Fairfax police incidents than Robert Horan's steadfast refusal to ever find anything even the slightest bit wrong in the way a cop acts.

Virginia's facorite son, Thomas Jefferson once said a little rebellion now and then is a good thing.

String Ronbert Horan up, say I.

There's a nice tree on Gallows Rd., just down the street from Tysons, thats well deserving.

Stuck In The Middle With You

Les posted about the 15th anniversary special DVD release of Reservoir Dogs the other day.

It came today, and I am watching it right now.

Movie is one of the all time classics. First saw it while living in London in 1994 at a small theater in Soho. It was an art house cinema, in some back alley, and we walked out even more loaded than when we walked in (and proceeded to go see a live sex show across the street). In any case, it was a fascinating movie then, and remains one of the all time classics now.

The DVD is not to be outdone. Quentin's commentary track alone is well worth the price of admission alone(only $15 at Amazon.com) but its really the packaging that drives this one home. It comes in a minature gasoline can, and when you open it up, the CD is actually stored in a reproduction match book.

Brilliant!!

I just wish he would release another great movie already (Its been 3 or 4 years since the Kill Bill films and a full decade since Jackie Brown was released - Sin City was an awful flick, and so it doesn't count, neither do the CSI and Alias episodes).

Things I've Done

via The Old Dad (who I'll be seeing in a few weeks over Christmas)


01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date (done more than that :) )
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you (photography)
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

I feel yahoo's pain

Seriously.

Like, what the fuck???

and their bible thumpers ta boot.

Shit. Well, this is what I think of AmazingBibleStudies (NSFW)

Black Friday

I'm sleeping in.

Avoiding the lines.

and the crowds.

and the madness.

Why????

Cause the wife and I finished our shopping already. Or, at least we finished our retail shopping, we might make a few internet purchases still.

But the point of this post is to rub our holiday toy buying experience in your face.

We went to Target Wednsday evening. Got there at 8:00 pm. Probably half a dozen customers in the store.

ALL the toy shelves were stocked, full.
ALL the toys we were hoping to buy were there, in stock.
The line to check out was . . . there was no line. We walked up and had our choice of 1/2 dozen open check out lines. No wait. At all.

Then we went to Toys R Us to pick up two more items. Got there at 9:15 - 15 minutes before they closed. Walked to the appropriate sections, with a fully stocked store before us, picked up the approrpiate toys, and made our way out.

Total time in at Toys R Us (Hell) - 12 minutes.
Total time holiday shopping at retail - under 2 hours.
Gifts we couldn't find - zero

heh

Like I said, I am sleeping in for black friday.

Only store I'll hit is Dicks - I have a 50% off ammo (limit of 6 bboxes) coupon for tomorrow. I figure - with the current high ammo prices - its worth at least $30.

Metropulse: Stupid Is As Stupid Does

or, perhaps we should change that to Lumpy Is as Lumpy Does.

You see, Knoxville's lefty luny alt (is it really that alternative when every city carries generally a similar type of publication with the same format, ad base, editorial views, and hooker ads???) paper ran a rather harsh editorial on a local politician who responded to a hold up at his store by drawing his own gun.

Good for him you would say. Well, unless you were a lefty looney editorial page writer.

Knox County Commissioner Greg “Lumpy” Lambert, the used car dealer who once offered a firearm with each vehicle purchased from his North Knoxville car lot, is still employing guns in his latest bit of showboating.

In the process, he has shown himself to be a danger to himself and others.

His confrontation with a young man last Saturday at his dealership is an example of Lambert’s lack of judgment.

If his version of the event is to be believed, he warded off a robbery attempt by drawing his own pistol when a 19-year-old who had been feigning a car buy pulled a pistol and pointed it at him. In a standoff, he says he got the young man to drop his weapon and depart, leaving his driver’s license behind.

...

We should point out that under the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Lambert has the right to keep and bear arms, and under Tennessee law, Lambert has the right to carry his pistol concealed, having passed the required tests of his knowledge of gun safety and gun usage. His actions, however, didn’t speak to good judgment in gun handling.

First he put himself at risk by drawing his weapon when he says he saw a gun come out of the young man’s pocket. Then, lured by the prospect of enhancing his moment of fame and creating what he must have thought would be positive attention, he points his gun at a TVcamera, manned by a journalist who should have ordered him to put that gun down.

The whole scenario is somehow suspect, especially since the Sheriff’s Department is notably uncooperative in providing details to the news media.

It will be up to the young man and his lawyer to plead his case, but the entire incident would be better digested and put behind us if it were taken before a Knox County Grand Jury for review. The grand jury could put Lambert under oath to get his story straight and decide whether and what crimes may have been committed.

Advice to Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and members of his administration, toward whom Lambert has shown animosity: Steer clear of Lumpy Lambert unless you have armed security handy and have plenty of witnesses around.

We said Lambert was a clown and shouldn’t be elected to the Commission, and what he’s been displaying since he was sworn in does nothing to change our opinion, which worsens with each of his show-off maneuvers. We didn’t think he was really dangerous. Now we’re not so sure.

Ouch!!!!


But about that line concerning the Sheriff's office being "notably uncooperative." If it really was the case, don't you think that would warrant maybe a little more digging around? Perhaps asking the Sheriff is there may have been some larger investigation underway??? Maybe just pausing, briefly, before lashing out in such harsh terms at someone who - for all intents and purposes - was the victim of an attempted armed robbery??? Dontch ya think???

Well, it turns out, maybe they should have, as that armed assailant has now been charged in something a bit more serious than holding up a used car dealer.

Stackhouse will be charged Tuesday in the Knox County Grand Jury for a murder that occurred ten hours before he drew down on Lumpy Lambert.

Yes, notably uncooperative.

Good thing too. We wouldn't want to jeapardize important police work just for the sake of some idiot left moonbat alternative newspaper editors.

Of course, if they had any sense of decency, they would publish some sort of apology or retration or, maybe even simply pull the editorial from a prominent listing on your home page.

Here's what their web page looks like today.

One Manly Doe

Seriously

Deer hunter Howard Becker is getting some odd looks when he tells people about his latest kill: a 28-point doe. Part of the shock is because the male bucks normally grow antlers; not the does.

Also surprising is the size of the antlers. One estimate tallied up this doe with 28 points. Each point represents an antler that branches out one inch or more from the deer's head.

An official with the Missouri Department of Conservation called a deer with 28 points a very rare occurrence, reports the Associated Press.

Becker says he was within sight of his home when he shot the doe. And he says that is where he's preserving the antlers and hide.

Never Again Will I See A First Run Movie In The Theaters*

Decided to take the young yesterday to see Flushed Away (Fabulously film, btw).

Hit the Sunday afternoon matinee - a cold rainy day, what could be better than the Sunday matinee - and was floored by how much it costs.

3 tickets (at the reduced matinee price) = $21 (Normal price was $10 a ticket)
1 Salted Pretzel = $3.25
1 Hot Dog = $3.50
1 Medium Pop Corn= $3.75
1 20oz Fruit Punch for my son = $3.55
2 20oz bottles of Aquafina water (they wouldn't serve us just a cup of H2O) = $6.60

Total Price $41.65

YIKES!!!!


Like i said, the movie itself was fantastic, but nothing I couldn't wait to see - either at the 2nd Run $3 a movie theater by George Mason University - or on DVD.


*exceptions, of course, for anything larger than life thats playing at the Uptown Cinema.

One More Thing

I still think, in the short run (next two years) we have little to fear (others may disagree). However, I would be foolish to think that this report about Richard Durbin to the incoming freshman senators, isn't the least bit an act of blatant intimidation (again, from CongressDailPM)

Incoming Majority Whip Durbin today cautioned Democratic freshmen about carefully exerting their power in the Senate, as the newly elected Democratic majority will drive next year's congressional agenda with a razor-thin majority. At a coffee session this morning, Durbin told the eight new Democrats they would have more power in the Senate than as House members, but if they decide to stop a unanimous consent deal, for example, they must be willing to "pay the price." There is likely to be payback down the road for stopping another senator's bill, he warned. As majority whip, Durbin faces a difficult challenge keeping his caucus in line and united behind the leadership's agenda. Complicating his job is the handful of Democratic senators who are considering a run for the White House in 2008.

Meet The New Boss

Apparantly, he really is same as the old boss (from National Journal's CongressDailyPM - subscription required)

Durbin also must contend with an experienced adversary across the aisle. "I know I've met a worthy match," said Durbin about incoming Minority Whip Lott. The two could face a scenario where they are tracking down the same senators for close votes next year. Durbin's office said Democrats did not lose a vote during the 109th Congress that Durbin whipped while Lott prides himself on not losing a vote during his last term as majority leader.

And that, by the way, is the reason I think Lott was a better choice for the Republican's than Lamar. Sure, you can scream about reforming and throwing the bums out, but here's the thing, unless you remove all 100 Senators at the same time, who ever remains will run roughshod over the system.

Its all about inside baseball, and the leadership elections are very much an inside baseball thing.

Michael Bloomingidiot Needs A Geography Lesson

New York Mayor Michael Bloomingidiot likes to complain that the flow of illegal guns is a one way street - from free states like Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire and Florida into the den of denial that is New York City.

Appparantly, he's wrong and it looks like New York might actually be a source of illegal arms after all.

And, low and behold, what do you know. They are actually prosecuting this criminal. Of course, its only because its a priceless treasure - a revolver freed from Teddy Roosevelt's home by a postal employee (what's with them) and then delivered to his home in Florida.

The .38-caliber Colt (seen above in a photo provided by Sagamore Hill) is of particular historical significance since it was recovered in 1898 from the sunken Battleship Maine by a salvage crew led by William Cowles, Roosevelt's brother-in-law. Months later, Roosevelt carried the 1895 Colt in the charge up Cuba's San Juan Hill.

Pr0n

And its hot stuff from a tall blonde too

The Dummocrats

Any idea whats going on?

For some reason, I can never seen to get through to one of my all time favorite blogs, The Dummocrats.

Anyone know whats up??

Update

Well, The Dummocrats seems to work at home, but it won't come up at work. Neither will Toys in the Attic which is especially problematic since I wanted to comment on Jay G's EBR post. Very strange. I would normally just say we had some blocking software running, but I know we don't.

The Big Head's For Thinking

Cool

"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and ... with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling,"

A Warning

Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell were allegedly snuggling and kissing inappropriately, "making other passengers uncomfortable," when a flight attendant asked them to stop.

Dude, seriously not cool

On a second warning from the flight attendant, Persing snapped back threatening the flight attendant with "serious consequences" if he did not leave them alone.

Little head, big head. Think about which one your listening to.

Huffington

Paul Helmke, RINO in Chief and Chief of the Gun Banning Bigots over at the Brady Bunch is screaming that this election was a referrendum on gun control.

Looks like there might actually be some sanity on the left as as many Huffington Post readers have been quick to shut him up. One even offerred a link to this blog regarding Jim Webb's position on guns.

Welcome Huffington readers!

Welcome To Loserland

A Most Ambitious Agenda.

This is what remains of the real legislative agenda when you lose. To say their balls were cut off is a bit of an understatement (of course, that assumes they had any balls to begin with)

On Tuesday the House will convene at 10:00 AM for Morning Hour and 11:00 AM for Legislative Business.

Expected time of last vote: 1:30 PM

Legislative Schedule

H.J.Res. 96 - Recognizing the contributions of the Christmas tree industry to the United States economy

H.R. 6314 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law

H.R. 1245 - Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005

H.R. 864 - Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act

H.Res. 993 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer security in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Why I Don't Go To Church Much Anymore

The Anglican Church never ceases to amaze me.

As least I can still look fondly on our old traditions.

Q: What do have when four episcopalians get together

A: A fifth

He's back

albeit without the sexy picture (or, even, apparently a link to me).

In any case, you should stop by and check out Freedomsight's new digs

Fuck Chuck

While I don't think that the 110th Congress will prove to be the harbinger of doom and gloom that some are predicting, I do believe in hedging my bets.

Hence, I am standing here at Virginia Arms purchasing some 7.62x39 ammo and picking up the WASR that I purchased from Say Uncle.

Chuck Schumer .... kiss my ass!!!

Reality Check Time

Folks,

Its just my opinion, but it seems to me that following Tuesday's well deserved Ass Kicking, many on the right side of the blogsphere have gone off the deep end. Judging by the scorn I am seeing in comments - and in emails to me - there is a real irrational sense of just what will happen in DC over the next two years.

Its direction towards me seems to come solely from a post I put up a couple of weeks ago indicating that Jim Webb wouldn't be too bad on the gun issue. In fact, it could be argued he is the most in your face pro second amendment (it isn't about hunting) senator the nation has ever elected. Still, the scorn continues to come . . . as FREEPERS say he throws complete power to Nancy Pelosi (sorry, but she's in the House, not the Senate, perhaps Civics 101 is in order) and that he will simply fold up and capitulate to the party leadership in sending our guns to the foundry.

Bull shit.

Heck, what your gonna find is that no anti gun legislation is getting through the senate - indeed we might even be able to move pro gun legislation through (and withstand filibusters). No matter what the Nancy Pelosi House does, they will have to contend with this simple fact.

Add to the situation Pelosi's savy, Hillary's desire to win the White House, and the incredible amount of respect and deference Howard Dean is going to gain throughout the party as a result of his 50 state approach utilizing more ground troops and more conservative Democrats - and I don't think your gonna see much in the way of anti gun legislation moving very far in the 110th Congress.

Lets just take a quick stroll through who is going to be who in the US Senate come January 3 with a running total of where the gun votes will fall (pro-undecided-anti).

UPDATE

OK, we have some changes.

First, I changed Bill Nelson based upon a calm and articulate email someone sent me earlier today. My mistake.

I had one typo and had Claire McCaskil listed as a Republican. Ooooooohhh, I must be part of some evil conspiracy intent on destroying the free republic.

As to whether she is pro or anti gun, I've changed her to anti gun . . . but not because of anything anyone here posted in comments, rather because of this article that Says Uncle linked to.

Regarding Russ Feingold - he is one of the few sitting members of the Senate who has gone on record as saying the 2nd Amendment protects a fundamental individual right. Thats good enough for me, but apparntly not for others. So I've also moved him from Pro Gun to Middle.

There were some questions about NRA and GOA ratings. Since I have a family and a job (one in which I've worked an average of 16 hours in each day this week) and actually have a fairly active life outside this blog, excuse me for not have the time to also include all those ratings as well. If someone wants to match my analysis up with them, go ahead and be my guest. I'll get to it, but probably not this weekend.

In any case, those ratings are rather arbitrary figures meant to report how a certain candidate voted on a limited number of bills in the last legislative period (and also include a host of other - not so concrete - political calculations). My ratings - pro-middle-anti are based upon over a decade of working in DC on a number of issues and where I've seen the individual come down regarding second amendment as well as other issues (better to judge future voting patterns). There, now you know.

Got a problem with my analysis? Let me know in comments or by email.

And, yes, declaring the end of the world because you think the WORST CASE SCENARIO is 48 pro gun votes absolutly 100% proves my point.

Alabama
Richard Shelby (R) - pro gun
Jeff Sessions (R) - pro gun

2-0-0

Alaska
Ted Stevens (R) - pro gun
Lisa Murkowski (R) - pro gun

4-0-0

Arizona
John McCain (R) - sort of pro gun, but for the gun show thing. For the sake of not engaging in a debate that I don't think is productive, I'll list him as an anti, though he really isn't.
Jon Kyl (R) - pro gun

5-0-1

Arkansas
Blanche Lincoln (D) - in the middle
Mark Pryor (D) - in the middle

5-2-1

California
Dianne Feinstein (D) - as anti as you can get
Barbara Boxer (D) - as anti as you can get

5-2-3

Colorado
Wayne Allard (R) - pro gun
Ken Salazar (D) - pro gun

7-2-3

Connecticut
Christpher Dodd (D) - anti
Joseph Lieberman (D) - really in the middle somewhere, but like McCain, for the sake of not engaging in a meaningless argument I'll place him as an anti

7-2-5

Delaware
Joseph Biden (D) - anti
Thomas Carper (D) - middle

7-3-6

Florida
Bill Nelson (D) - anti
Mel Martinez (R) - pro gun

8-3-7

Georgia
Saxby Chambliss (R) - pro gun
Johnny Isakson (R) - pro gun

10-3-7

Hawaii
Daniel Inouye (D) - anti
Daniel Akaka (D) - anti

10-3-9

Idaho
Larry Craig (R) - pro gun
Mike Crapo (R) - pro gun

12-3-9

Illinois
Richard Durbin (D) - anti
Barack Obama (D)- anti

12-3-11

Indiana
Richard Lugar (R)- pro gun
Evan Bayh (D) - in the middle, but he wants to be president so he's gonna be more pro than against.

13-4-11

Iowa
Charles Grassley (R) - pro gun
Tom Harkin (D) - mildly anti gun, but I'm gonna put him in the middle

14-5-11

Kansas
Sam Brownback (R) - pro gun
Pat Roberts (R) - pro gun

16-5-11

Kentucky
Mitch McConnell (R) - pro gun
Jim Bunning (R) - pro gun

18-5-11

Louisiana
Mary Landrieu (D) - pro gun
David Vitter (R) - pro gun

20-5-11

Maine
Olympia Snowe (R) - middle
Susan Collins (R) - middle

20-7-11

Maryland
Barbara Mikulski (D) - anti
Benjamin Cardin (D) - anti

20-7-13

Taxachusetts
Voldermort (D) - anti
The Traitorous Lout (D) - anti

20-7-15

Michigan
Carl Levin (D) - anti
Debbie Stabenow (D) - anti

20-7-17

Minnesota
Norm Coleman (D) - middle
Amy Klobuchar (D) - middle (really unknown)

20-9-17

Mississippi
Thad Cochran (R) - pro gun
Trent Lott (R) - pro gun

22-9-17

Missouri
Kit Bond (R) - pro gun
Claire McCaskill (D) anti gun

23-9-18

Montna
Max Baucus (D) - pro gun
Jon Tester (D) - pro gun

25-9-18

Nebraska
Chuck Hagel (R) - pro gun
Ben Nelson (D) - pro gun

27-9-18

Nevada
Harry Reid (D) - pro gun
John Ensign (R) - pro gun

29-9-18

New Hampshire
Judd Gregg (R) - middle (historically pro, but I don't know if he holds off the flatlanders who are invading)
John Sununu (R) - see Gregg, above.

29-11-18

New Jersey
Frank Lautenberg (D) - asshole
Robert Menendez (D) - anti

29-11-21

New Mexico
Pete Domenici (R) - pro
Jeff Bingaman (D) - pro

31-11-21

New York
Chuck The Schmuck (D) - anti
The She Beast (D) - anti

31-11-22

North Carolina
Elizabeth Dole (R) - pro
Richard Burr (R) - pro

33-11-22

North Dakota
Kent Conrad (D) - middle
Byron Dorgan (D) - middle

33-13-22

Ohio
George Voinovich (R) - anti
Sherrod Brown (D) - anti

33-13-24

Oklahoma
James Inhofe (R) - pro
Tom Coburn (R) - pro

35-13-24

Oregon
Ron Wyden (D) - anti
GOrdon Smith (R) - middle

35-14-25

Pennsylvania
Arlen Specter (R) - anti
Bob Casey (D) - pro

36-14-26

Rhode Island
Jack Reed (D) - anti
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) - anti

36-14-28

South Carolina
Lindsey Graham(R) - pro
Jim DeMint (R) - pro

38-14-28

South Dakota
Tim Johnson (D) - middle
John Thune (R) - pro

39-15-28

Tennessee
Lamar Alexander (R) - pro
Bob Corker (R) - pro

41-15-28
(and congrats, the Ds can't defeat a filibuster of any anti gun legislation)

Texas>
Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R) - pro
John Cornyn (R) - pro

43-15-28

Utah
Orin Hatch (R) - pro
Robert Bennett (R) - pro

45-15-28

Vermont
Pat Leahy (D) - anti
Bernie Sanders (D) - anti (though actually surprisingly moderate for a socialist)

45-15-30

Virginia
John Warner (R) - anti
Jim Webb (D) - pro (maybe the strongest pro gun voice in the Senate and also the Ds new superstar - cause he gives them an illusion of having balls)

46-15-31

Washington
Patty Murray (D) - anti
Maria Cantwell (D) - anti

46-15-33

West Virginia
Robert Byrd (D) - middle
John Rockefeller (D) middle

46-17-33

Wisconsin
Herbert Kohl (D) - anti
Russ Feingold (D) - middle

46-18-34

Wyoming
Craig Thomas (R) - pro gun
Michael Enzi (R) - pro gun

48-18-34

There, feel better now??

And It Begins

We'll see what transpires, but let me just say I trust many of the newly elected Blue Dog Democrats - including Virginia Senator James Webb - far more than I trust the President to protect us from Chuck Schumer.

To that end, he sketched out an expansive federal agenda: Teaming up with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on gun control, passing new tax incentives for urban job programs, and redirecting federal money to New York in return for the outsize tax collections that the federal government makes here.

The Election

Some quick thoughts.

1. All Hail The Third Party!!!!

oth races were complicated by the presence of third-party candidates who drew more votes than the margin separating the two major-party candidates.

In Virginia, Glenda Parker of the Independent Green Party had slightly more than 1 percent of the vote this morning. Ms. Parker, a former Pentagon budget analyst, had no affiliation with the national Green Party. She ran on two issues, calling for cuts in the federal deficit and the construction of a high-speed rail network to cut dependence on oil.

Late in the campaign, when she was attracting about 2 percent support in opinion surveys, she considered dropping out and endorsing either Mr. Webb or Mr. Allen, but then changed her mind.

In Montana, Stan Jones, running as a Libertarian, had 2.6 percent of the vote this morning.

2. My hopeful predictions were WAAAY off but I don't think anyone is really surprised by the results.

3. I can generally live with the results. It will be interesting to see how Pelosi manages the pressures from her base and constituents and those from all the new Blue Dog Dems.

The US Postal Service

New motto ought to be

We Don't Work, So You Have To!

My Vote

George Allen - I don't mind Jim Webb, and was even thinking about voting for him, but when I showed up at the polls this morning the nutroots guys were out in full force. That, and bringing in Cindy Sheehan to campaign for him yesterday was enough. As Donald Sensing said yesterday, there is only one issue and Webb has surrounded himself with people who don't take it seriously.

Frank Wolf - He's a good man, if a bit of a porkmeister, and Judy Feder doesn't deserve. Vote.

Gay Marriage - No. Leave me alone, and get the gocernment out of peoples lives.

Church Incorporation - Yes, its a technicality to correct a "unconstitutional" provision in the state constitution.

Tax Relief doe Developers - No. I generally approve of all tax relief whatsoever, but this is just a giveaway to Til Hazel.

2 Bond Proposals - No! Get the counties finances in line first.

By the way, I am typing this from inside the voting booth. Isn't techology great!!!

Predicting The Unpredictable

Not gonna share my actual ballot with you untill later, but here’s how I see it falling tomorrow – along with my thoughts and how this changes the face of the Senate.

As for the House, the ruling party ALWAYS loses seats in a mid year election. How many is unclear. No matter what happens, expect the media to proclaim it a clear mandate for the Democrats. In truth, anything short of a 50 seat pickup is far from a clear mandate and, based on historic trends going back to the days of FDR, more closer to a Republican victory (even if they ultimatly lose control of the House).

I don't think the Democrats pick up 20 seats, though I wouldn't be surprised to see them re-take the house. Had a good conversation today with one of my outside consultants - a former Clinton Administration official and former senior staffer for
a member of the Democrats Seante leadership. He thinks a Democrat pickup of the Senate is either very good for the country or very bad for the country, as he said, depending on whether Nancy Pelosi can hold off the base. He thought she could, for a couple of years, but didn't know if she would then survive a Kosack Nutroots primary attack on her in 2008.

As for the Senate - here's an individual breakdown. Make of it what you will.

Arizona
Sen. Jon Kyl (R) will win reelection over Jim Pederson (D).

No Surprise

California

Sadly, Diane Feinstein will win reelection over Dick Mountjoy (R)

No Surprise

Connecticut
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I/D) will win reelection over Ned Lamont (D)

This bodes well for the Republic. Joe’s certainly not a Republican – but I expect to see him breaking much more often from the Dems in the future. He’s not going to care one way or another what the party hierarchy wants. He will truly be free to be independent.

I’d give the R’s ½ a seat worth of a pickup out of this.

Deleware
Tom Carper (D) will win reelection over Jan Ting(R)

Carper is one of the few good Democrats around.

Florida
Bill Nelson (D) will win reelection over Katherine Harris (R)

This is sad. Bill Nelson was especially vulnerable this year, but Harris has proven to be amongst the worst, least capable, candidates ever put up for election. That’s sad too, cause at her heart she is a party girl – not as in an R or a D but as in a Let’s Party Till The Break Of Dawn sort of way. I’ve always enjoyed my time with her (and some friends have enjoyed it even more) and I am honestly gonna say it will be sad to see her leave town.

Hawaii
Daniel Akaka will win reelection over Cynthia Thielen (R)

No Surprise

Indiana
Dick Lugar will win reelection over Steve Osborn, a nearly non existent third party challenger

No Surprises

Massachussets
Ted Kennedy will win reelection over Kenneth Chase (R)

No Surprises

Maryland (OPEN SEAT)

Michael Steele (R) will pull out a shocking victory over his anemic opponent Ben Cardin (D).

Steele’s victory will be close, but African American voters will turn out for Steele – brother in law to boxer Mike Tyson and current Lieutenant Governor of the State to send a message to a Democrat Party that has long taken their vote for granted. Steele will join Barack Obama as the only African American in the U.S. Senate, and will quickly surpass Obama as a legitimate future presidential candidate (Imagine a Rice-Steele ticket for the Republicans in 2008 – don’t think it can’t happen)

Republicans pick up 1 to go 1 ½ up

Maine
Olympia Snowe (R)will win reelection over Jean Hay Bright (D)

No Surprises

Michigan
Mike Brouchard (R) will defeat incumbent gun banning bigot and all around nut case Debbie Stabenow (D)

This is my wild card long shot prediction – but the Michigan economy is amongst the worst in the nation and Stabenow is going to be on the wrong side of all the throw the bums out rhetoric the Democrats tried to generate this election cycle.

Republicans pick up 1 to go 2 ½ up

Minnesota (OPEN SEAT)
Amy Klobuchar (D) will defeat Mark Kennedy (R).

Kennedy should have had an easy time winning this campaign to replace super liberal Mark Dayton, but has had an especially difficult time getting his campaign together.

Missouri
Jim Talen (R) will win reelection over Clare McCaskill (D)

All statewide races in Missouri are always close but I think Talent pulls this one out on the strength of his support for agriculture and the stem cell ballot initiative (the Michael J Fox led attacks on which have backfired for Democrats, at least in Missouri).

Mississippi
Trent Lott (R) will win reelection over Erik Fleming (D)

No Surprises

Montana
Jon Tester (D) will unseat Sen. Conrad Burns (R)

This will be close, and Burns could very well pull it out – his numbers are really shifting in the campaigns final days – but I think he has had too much trouble for too long and allowed the popular Tester to build too much of a lead to overcome it in the waning days.

Democrats pick up one and bring the Republican gains down to 1 ½

North Dakota
Kent Conrad (D) wins reelection over Dwight Grotberg (R)

No Surprises

Nebraska
Ben Nelson (D) wins reelection over Peter Rickets (R)

No Surprises

New Jersey
Tom Keane Jr (R) will unseat Sen. Bob Menendez (D)

This is going to be another nail biter, but try as they might I think the latest scandals with Bob Menenedez prove too much for the New Jersey electorate to handle after all they’ve been through the last few years.

Republicans pick up 1 and go up 2 ½

New Mexico
Jeff Bingaman wins reelection over Allen McCuloch (R)

No Surprises

Nevada
John Ensign (R) wins reelection over Jack Carter (D)

While the liberal looney wing of the party and their “Nutroots” activists wish this race were competitive, John Ensign will do to Jack Carter what Ronald Reagan did to his liberal twerp father Jimmy.

New York
The She Bitch wins reelection over John Spencer (R)

No Surprises

Ohio
Sherrod Brown (D) will unseat Sen. Mike DeWine (R)

No Surprises, DeWine is feckless and a worthless member of the Party of 14 Supreme Court Compromise crowd. Some good selling out the base does him. He won’t be missed.

Democrats pick up 1 and bring the Republican gains back down to 1 ½

Pennsylvania
Bob Casey, Jr. will unseat Sen. Rick Santorum (R)

Hate to see ya go, Rick. Not!!!

Democrats pick up 1 and bring the Republicans gains back down to ½

Rhode Island
Lincoln Chafee (R) will win reelection over Sheldon Whitehouse (D)

Another nail biter that can really go either way, as they always are in Rhode Island for the Chafee’s. I think Lincoln pulls this one out as he simply relates better to most folks in Rhode Island than Whitehouse.

Tennessee (OPEN SEAT)
Bob Corker (R) defeats Harold Ford (D)

This is going to be easier for Corker than the National Media has predicted, but he nevertheless managed to run an awful campaign against the masterful job of Harold Ford.

Texas
Kay Bailey Hutchinson wins reelection over Barbara Radnofsky (D)

No Surprises

Utah
Orin Hatch wins reelection over Pete Ashdown (D)

No Surprises

Virginia
Jim Webb (D) will unseat Sen. George Allen (R)

This one is also really too close to call. The National Media will read all sorts of things into this one, but ultimately I think its about George Allen – like Jerry Kilgore last year – running a pathetic campaign and stumbling at every step. Of course, Jim Webb will cause all sorts of fits for Democrats once they find out he is far more liberal than even their worst nightmares could produce. Might this be the first actual victory for a Nutroots candidate? Perhaps, but then I expect the Nutroots to rebel early and often against Jim Webb over the next six years. Of course, we could also be seeing George Allen pull this out, though in the last few days its trending again towards Webb.

Since Webb is going to turn out being much more conservative than they think, I’m only giving the Dems a ½ seat credit here.

Democrats pick up ½ to even things back up.

Vermont (OPEN SEAT)
Socialist Communist Bernie Sanders (I) holds onto the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Jeffords (I)

No Surprises

Washington
Maria Cantwell (D) will win reelection over Mike McGavik (R)

No Surprises

Wisconsin
Herb Kohl (D) will win reelection over Robert Lodge (R)

No Surprises. Like soon to be former Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton, the scion of the Target dynasty, Kohl’s a hoplophobic bigot, and I for one refuse to shop at the chain of cheap-Chinese-knock-off-goods stores he owns.

West Virginia
Robert Byrd (D) will win reelection over John Raese (R)

No Surprises


Wyoming

Craig Thomas (R) will win reelection over Dale Groutage (D)

No Surprises.

Overall, under my analysis, the Republicans lose only the equivalent of ½ a seat, though either party could easily turn swing this 2-3 seats in either direction.

James Webb

May demand a second look in the days before election day, based soley on his answers to the NRA Candidate Questionare.

All but one question has the right answers, and on that one question (regarding gun shows) his middle ground answer shows there is some ability to compromise (and he's not targeting private sales per se).

However, most impressive is his addendum which shows vastly more knowledge of the underlying issues than 99% of the candidates out there, pledges to support and introduce favorable legislation, and best of all the acknowledgement that

There are side benefits to my membership for me, as I am a hand weapon enthusiast and shoot often at the NRA Range in Fairfax.

I've never seen him there, but then again, I wouldn't have been looking for him (or even known what he looks like). Nevertheless, this is a great great response, signifying his understanding that the 2nd Amendment isn't about hunting.

Here's the letter he has posted regarding the NRA Survey and his ranking. Its pretty damning of the organization. I can understand their support of an incumbant, but it seems like they've really given a long time member the short shrift here (emphasis mine).

October 30, 2006

Dear Virginia Sportsmen and Gun Owners,

As a long-time member of the National Rifle Association, you can imagine my surprise when I received a mailing in the form of an Orange Card saying "VOTE FREEDOM FIRST ON NOVEMBER 7 - VOTE GEORGE ALLEN FOR THE U.S. SENATE!"

I am writing this letter to make certain that no Virginia sportsmen or gun owner has any question concerning my stand on Second Amendment and sportsmen rights.

To be clear, I value and will defend your right of self-defense. As a Marine combat veteran who shot "double expert" and once taught the .45 pistol to Officer Candidates, and as a former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, I know first hand the importance of armed self-defense by law-abiding citizens as a deterrent to criminals, and in the long term, to would-be tyrants.

I have possessed a concealed-carry permit for many years, and shoot regularly. I have made no secret during this campaign of the fact that I carry. I support a national concealed carry permit. I also will sponsor a bill in the United States Senate that repeals the National Park Gun Ban that disarms only law-abiding citizens in Interior Department/National Park Service across Virginia. And I intend to get it to the floor for a vote.

Please compare this background with that of my opponent. Individual Second Amendment Rights are ingrained into my Scots-Irish culture, and I stand where I stand.

On the sporting side, I support opening up more Federal land for sportsmen. Federal land is, after all, the property of all Americans. In addition, I support air and water quality measures that improve wildlife habitat. I will be monitoring the "Farm Bill" and its wildlife habitat programs to make sure that Virginia and our abundance of National Forest lands gets its fair share of funding for our wildlife programs.

You can also imagine my frustration when I received my NRA magazine and saw there was a question mark beside my grade. Only after complaining to the NRA did they finally post my grade on their website. I got an "A" which was purposefully omitted from the NRA orange card that, to my shock, urged a vote for George Allen. The question is, why did they not mention my own lifetime of support on these issues?

In order to fully clear the air, I am making public my 2006 NRA Candidate Survey. You can find that at www.webbforsenate.com/nrasurvey.pdf I challenge George Allen to do the same. We should have no more secret surveys in Virginia when it comes to our right to keep and bear arms.

Please help me clear up this deliberate distortion by an organization that I must regretfully conclude has more on its agenda than protecting the earned Second Amendment rights of our citizens.

UPDATE Bitter posts a detailed response to his charges regarding the operations of the NRA. I understand all of them (especially the endorsement of sitting legislators), and agree with her that its likely a timing issue (which would explain the A rating on the web page) but stand by my statement that its a great response. Wouldn't it be nice if George Allen came out and publically offered up an equally thoughtful defense of the second amendment?

Hide The Women

Metal Sludge, in all its Power & Glory is reporting one of the long awaited reunions is shaping up.

Fuck Yeah!!!

though, I'll wait till the tickets go on sale to really believe it.

In the meantime, enjoy a little rock and roll.

the coolest thread I've ever seen on the High Road.

well, I didn't say it . . . . .



but I don't disagree with it either!

FWIW, years ago I used to be pretty good rolling "other" things

Muzzleloader

Here in Virginia, Saturday is the start of Muzzleloader season.

I won't be participating, cause I don't have one. But, I was invited to head out to a guys farm last night. Even let me hold his new muzzleloader.