Tom who?
New York native Tom Perez, the current Secretary of Labor, is being mentioned as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton:
“… there’s growing buzz he could be an ideal vice presidential pick for Hillary Clinton if she wins the Democratic presidential primary … Democrats are beginning to speculate about who she might tap as a running mate. Perez, according to some in the party, could singularly help Clinton appeal to progressives energized by Sanders’ campaign and help unify the party once he bows out …”
I know nothing about the guy. A quick internet search does not reveal any gun statements by him. I did find this story about his confirmation hearing:
” … “Tom Perez is more than just some left-wing ideologue — he’s a left-wing ideologue who appears perfectly willing to bend the rules to achieve his ends,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “This is reflective not of some passionate left-winger who views himself as patiently advancing policies within the bounds of a democratic system but as a crusading ideologue whose convictions lead him to believe that the law simply doesn’t apply to him.” …”
Wonderful.
Chuck’s not going anywhere
Chuck Schumer has been nominated to run for a 4th term in the Senate.
It looks as if the Republicans will put up Wendy Long again, who ran unsuccessfully in ’12 against Kirsten Gillibrand.
Might as well write this race off right now: Schumer will roll over Long or anyone else 2-1.
Why?
Because Chuck Schumer is simply the best politician out there, period. He is always doing something. He sponsors all sorts of legislation. He constantly talks to the media. He visits every county in the state. He takes credit for everything, even things he did not do. The man is a machine.
Sure, a lot of the things Chuck has done aren’t good and he does not always follow through with his pronouncements, but that is not the point. He is a master manipulator and has total command of his public image. He makes people believe they have a personal connection with him and that he is personally working for them. As long as he keeps that up there’s no getting rid of him.
Thomas speaks
Justice Clarence Thomas rarely asks questions during arguments presented before the Court. Today he just did in a gun case:
“… Thomas’ questions came Monday in case in which the court is considering placing new limits on the reach of a federal law that bans people convicted of domestic violence from owning guns. Thomas asked the Justice Department lawyer defending the government’s prosecution whether the violation of any other law suspends a person’s constitutional rights …”
Interesting. I wonder if he will end up being the heir to Antonin Scalia in being the intellectual anchor for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution.
3D printed gun bill moves
A-381A, relates to the manufacture of “undetectable” firearms, has been advanced to 3rd Reading and can be voted on by the Assembly at any time.
Variations of this bill have been around for years, think Glock 7, but this is the first one to mention 3D printed guns as a justification for the bill.
There is no Senate companion so it likely isn’t going anywhere.
Trump’s problem in a nutshell
Putting aside all other personal beefs I have with The Donald, there is one underlying problem that cannot be ignored.
That is, there has not been a single poll showing he can beat Hillary Clinton in the general election. I have yet to see either the candidate himself or any of his supporters say how they plan to address this issue. It will not just go away on its own.
SAFE challenge halted for now
Due to Justice Antonin Scalia’s untimely demise, NYSRPA’s lawsuit challenging the SAFE Act has been halted.
I figured this was going to happen, but it still stings nonetheless.
I have to stress that this is only a temporary setback. Other good gun cases are still active around the country that may prove helpful over the long term to our cause in New York. That is the way to play the game, by thinking long term. Where will we be in 5, 10, 20+ years down the line?
In the meantime, everyone should continue to fight the good fight.
The root of the GOP’s Trump problem
I admit that early on I did not take Donald Trump’s candidacy seriously. The reason is simple: The man is a gigantic clownstick.
Given the sheer volume of crap that could be used against him I assumed he would be taken out early on by the party machine. That obviously did not happen. I could not pin down the why.
Now the truth comes out: None of the remaining candidates did serious opposition research on Trump.
Unbelievable.
There is still time to act. It is just a matter of one (or more) of the remaining candidates having the cajones to act, launch a full frontal attack on him, ignore the critics, and not stop until the majority of the country look at Trump the way these Irish people do.
An erection lasting longer than 4 hours
The Daily News is not done:
“While big-money peddlers of death play dumb, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams shows savvy with a promise to help move bullet-riddled America to the sane adoption of smart guns. Adams says he’ll deliver $1 million from his budget to whichever New York college delivers the most promising plan for a firearm whose trigger can only be pulled by its authorized user — much like the smartphones most of us use every day …”
Introducing the new Google-edition Glock 17, powered by Android-Marshmallow.
Guns are nothing like smart phones.
“… The beep, who’s an ex-police captain, also signed up the NYPD to test prototype high-tech firearms as the winning school develops them — trial runs that Adams hopes will drive smart guns’ adoption by law enforcement and beyond …”
Good. Mandate that the NYPD use them first and see what happens.
“… No measure could more obviously prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands — of toddlers, of criminals, of madmen, of terrorists. But scared off by boycott threats from the National Rifle Association and other gun cultists, the industry shelved smart-gun development long ago …”
Untrue. People have been trying to make “smart guns” since at least the early 70s. Decades of failure should be an indication there is a flaw in the concept.
“… In picking up where the gun industry fears to tread, Adams joins President Obama, who in his January executive orders on gun safety directed his departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Justice to also sponsor technology research. Brooklyn’s borough president has already succeeded in rousing NRA fanatic-in-chief Wayne LaPierre from his deep, dark cave, to have a spokesperson insist: “We’ve never been against the development of the technology. We’ve just been against the mandated use of it.” …”
Awhile back NRA reviewed the Armatix iP1.
It’s crap.
“…If that’s really true, let’s see the NRA match Adams’ $1 million award.”
It is not Eric’s money, it belongs to the taxpayer. If he really believes in this let him put up his own money to fund a startup. I’d suggest the same to the Daily News, but they’ve been losing money hand over fist already.
Gun control forum planned in Rochester
Failed Assembly candidate turned NYAGV mouthpiece Gary Pudup will be having a gun control presentation next Tuesday, March 1 at the Central Library of Rochester.