Time to endorse

On: By: admin

Ed Cox is not happy with Congressman Katko:

“Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) still hasn’t publicly endorsed Republican Donald Trump for president, and state party officials aren’t too happy about it … New York State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox says he understands Katko’s reluctance. “Circumstances are different in Onondaga [County] than they are in a national election this and that. And that’s basically a discussion of policy issues, things like that. But the bottom line is, you’re a Republican, you endorse a Republican candidate.” …”

Where were you Ed when the Senate Republicans screwed over Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino back in ’14?

Regret

On: By: admin

The NRA is probably starting to regret the decision to endorse The Donald:

“… “Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment,” Trump said during a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday.  “By the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.” …”

I don’t believe Trump wants to encourage violence against Clinton, however his poor choice of words makes it easy to see why some people are upset over these remarks.

If this were simply a gaff I’d just write it off, but Trump keeps on doing stupid shit like this when there is lots and lots in Clinton’s past, policies and position statements, that could easily be used against her.

Now he’s trying to spin the uproar as media bias:

“… “Media desperate to distract from Clinton’s anti-2A stance,” he said on Twitter Tuesday evening. “I said pro-2A citizens must organize and get out vote to save our Constitution!” …”

No, that is not what you said.  If that is what you meant you could have said something like this:

“Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment if she gets to pick her judges.  That won’t happen if Second Amendment people turn out and vote for me in November.”

Was this hard?  No.

Here’s my offer to the Trump campaign:  Hire me and I’ll be your point man on gun issues.  Just pay in cash, no checks or Trump steaks.

What Klein means

On: By: admin

State of Politics reports:

“There has been a lot of happy talk lately from the so-called “regular” state Senate Democrats about making inroads towards a reconciliation with IDC Leader Jeff Klein in advance of what they hope will be a successful election season that results in their winning back control of the chamber … But IDC Leader Jeff Klein threw cold water on the idea of a peace agreement during a Capital Tonight interview last night, saying any speculation of a reconciliation, or about who might be in the majority come January 2017, is “premature.” …”

This tells me that Klien thinks as I do that the Republicans will lose a couple seats in the Senate and with the IDC will form a governing coalition like before.

You’re in trouble

On: By: admin

According to the #2 Republican in the State Senate:

“… [State Senator John DeFrancisco] believes there will be several close state Senate races throughout New York … “There’s a lot of things that could happen,” he said. “I think 90 percent of it will depend on voter turnout.” He’s heard claims made by Democrats that with Republican presidential candidate at the top of the ticket, turnout will be down for the GOP … Trump wasn’t DeFrancisco’s first choice, but he thinks the Manhattan real estate developer will have a positive impact on down ballot races. “If you look at the primaries, whether you agree with Trump or not, the fact is he brought in more Republican voters than have ever been cast in primary elections,” he said …”

You had good turnout for the Nassau special election and blew it.

“…”If we don’t get a good Republican turnout, we’re going to be in trouble,” he said. “If we do, I think we’re going to be in fine shape.” …”

With Congressman John Kato declining to endorse Trump and Richard Hanna saying he’ll vote for Hillary, it’s clear you’re in trouble.

Ruger to donate to NRA to stop Clinton

On: By: admin

Ruger’s CEO goes all-in with the NRA to fight Hillary:

“Michael Fifer, CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Co., took a strong political stance on Wednesday during the company’s earnings call.  In addition to advocating support for the Second Amendment, Fifer also pledged large donations to the National Rifle Association, said the company will urge customers to call their congressional representatives … In support of the Second Amendment, Fifer said Sturm, Ruger & Co. will donate $2 to the NRA for every gun it sells, and it will match all donations to the NRA up to $5 million until the election on November 8 …”

What is amusing about this is, from a financial perspective, gun companies would likely have a business boom under Hillary.

The politics of investing

On: By: admin

A few weeks ago NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer made a big deal about getting the City Employees Retirement Fund to dump stocks from firearm retailers.

How did that work out?

“After earning only 1.5% on its pension funds for the 2017 fiscal year ended June 30, the city will have to contribute an additional $732 million to the plans over the next three fiscal years … This is the second consecutive year that the city has fallen well short of its investment return target …”

That is what happens when you make investment decisions based upon politics and divest from an industry which has been on a roll.

Cuomo a loser at DNC convention

On: By: admin

Governor Cuomo jumped on the gun control bandwaggon with last night’s speech at the DNC convention:

“… “We fought the NRA and we won, and we outlawed assault weapons to keep them from the hands of mad men who are killing innocents.” …”

According to the Washington Post the speech was a stinker:

“… The New York governor will forever be compared to his father — legendary liberal New York governor Mario Cuomo. That’s a tough legacy to follow, especially when it comes to big speeches at Democratic conventions … But, Andrew Cuomo is simply not the orator that his father was and his speech never reached the heights some had hoped for him …”

Perhaps if he had chosen a more popular topic it would have gone over better:

The Governor forgets that the price of his “win” was the end of his own presidential aspirations.

Full retard

On: By: admin

The DNC has gone full retard with gun control at their convention.

From a political standpoint we know the issue isn’t going to motivate voter turnout.  Why do it then?

“… “This is about conviction more than calculation,” said strategist Paul Begala, who advises a pro-Clinton super PAC. “This is just one of those things that has moved Hillary’s heart. You could see on the campaign trail how this was affecting her.” …”

Maybe it really is.  However, Hillary is nothing if not calculating.  There has to be another reason.

“… The Clinton team points to data suggesting that women in suburban parts of battleground states such as North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia can be persuaded to back Clinton because of her stance on guns …”

Ok.  I’ll accept this, plus a possible cash infusion from Mike Bloomberg.

Bloomberg to endorse Hillary

On: By: admin

The Times reports that Mike Bloomberg will endorse Hillary Clinton:

“Michael R. Bloomberg, who bypassed his own run for the presidency this election cycle, will endorse Hillary Clinton in a prime-time address at the Democratic convention and make the case for Mrs. Clinton as the best choice for moderate voters in 2016, an adviser to Mr. Bloomberg said … “Mr. Wolfson also said Mr. Bloomberg was pleased by the selection of Senator Tim Kaine, a former mayor of Richmond, Va., and a strong supporter of gun control, as Mrs. Clinton’s running mate …”

Unless the Da Maya plans on opening his wallet to the Clinton/Kaine campaign I don’t see this as being that big of a deal.

Clinton/Kaine

On: By: admin

Hillary has chosen Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate.

While he is a bit of a disappointment to some “progressives”, he shouyld be warmly received by the antigunners.

From the NY Times:

“… Mr. Kaine, a gun owner himself, is a consistent supporter of gun control measures and has backed broad background checks and restrictions on the sale of combat-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech inspired Mr. Kaine, then the governor, to close loopholes in Virginia law that allowed some people to buy guns despite failing background checks. In the Senate, he supported the Manchin-Toomey bill, which would have expanded background checks to cover gun shows and weapons sold over the internet. He also backed banning gun sales to terrorism suspects on the government’s “no-fly” list …”

And here is a longer story from CNN, “Clinton’s new VP pick could be point man on guns.”

Here’s Kaine at 0:45 during last months phony filibuster in Congress: