Win some, lose some

On: By: admin

The Post on Eric Schneiderman:

“If the liberal-leaning activist wing of the Democratic Party has a favorite in the race for attorney general, it’s Eric Schneiderman … Schneiderman has won backing from a potent lineup of liberal political groups, including the Empire State Pride Agenda, NARAL Pro-Choice and the health-care union 1199 SEIU. Such support follows 12 years in the state Senate during which the Upper West Side native gained a reputation as a staunch advocate for liberal causes, ranging from gun control to gay marriage to tax hikes on the rich …”

This hasn’t helped him in the money race nor with the big public unions.  His stance on gun control has gotten him nothing from the Brady’s and only $750 from two of NYAGVs directors. If gun control is so popular then where is the money, manpower and GOTV campaign from the antis?

Fed up with Dan Donovan

On: By: admin

The Times Beacon Record talks with GOP AG candidate Dan Donovan:

“… Donovan does not toe the GOP line on all issues, listing microstamping bullets from semiautomatic handguns and the lawsuit filed against President Barack Obama’s health care plan by dozens of attorneys general across the country.  “I’m a believer in the second amendment,” Donovan declared, but he supported the so-far failed effort to require stamping bullet casings with ID numbers to trace their source in the event of a crime. “I got beat up” by upstate Republicans, he said, over his support of the proposal that passed the state Assembly but failed in the Senate. Donovan said microstamping would be a tool for law enforcement in combating crime …”

The only tool here is Donovan himself.  He didn’t just support microstamping, he did while standing next to one of the leading Democrat AG candidates outside the LOB/CAP.  Does he really think he’d get kudos from any Republican for being this dumb?

As to believing in the 2A, he openly opposed the pistol license reciprocity bill Congress considered last year:

“…Donovan pointed out the bill would more or less create a federal gun licensing scheme that would be determined by the rules of the state with the weakest regulations in place. He highlighted the state of Mississippi where people can carry concealed weapon permits without any training or shooting a pistol on a range, “The broad discretion afforded by the New York City Police Department to deny permits would be vitiated by this bill because those Mississippi permit holders could carry concealed firearms in New York City without any firearms training whatsoever …”

New York does not requiring any training either and it is a felony for an unlicensed person to even try a handgun under supervision at a range.  Licensing agents cannot require any sort of proficiency training as per an opinion issued by the state attorney general in the 70s.  His “belief” is pure B.S.

I was a big target shooter

On: By: admin

Mayor Bloomberg was on the John Gambling show this morning:

“… Nothing wrong with the 2nd Amendment.  It’s the Constitution.  I used to have a rifle.  I was a big target shooter …”

Go to the WOR homepage, on the top of page under On Demand -> Podcasts on Demand.  The 8/13 show.

News of the day

On: By: admin

The state legislature will return to Albany, again, for more budget follies.  Not sure exactly when they will be back.  I don’t think guns will be on the agenda.

Senator Joe Griffo wants to make the pistol license information private.  The Times Union argues that would be a bad idea.

Rick Lazio continues to implode:

“… Genesee County Republican leaders endorsed Buffalo real estate developer Carl Paladino for governor Wednesday as someone who can “turn things around” in a state plagued by budget woes, high taxes and a seeming lack of governmental response in Albany …”

The Brady Campaign endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand’s campaign:

“… “We want the people of New York to know that we enthusiastically support Senator Gillibrand’s campaign for the U.S. Senate,” Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign said in a release emailed by her campaign …”

Cerberus Capital Management, which bought out Remington and other gun makers, has not made much money on the deals as of yet according to Businessweek.

Taxpayers party

On: By: admin

It appears the Paladino people  have obtained enough signatures to create a “Taxpayers” party line ensuring that one way or another Carl Paladino will be on the November ballot.  Right now I don’t believe Paladino has enough support to take the GOP line from Rick Lazio, but Lazio has nowhere to go but down.  People do not like him and his support among the GOP has been faltering.  I can see him losing next month.

Getting back to the “Taxpayers” ticket:

“… The line, known as the “Taxpayers” party, is aimed at ending the supremacy of the venerable Conservative Party, which has been a must-have line for any successful statewide Republican in New York for decades … [Michael] Long dismissed Paladino’s campaign aimed at ending the party’s influence. “I think that’s a very sad commentary on a person if he really believes in the future of New York,” he said. “The Conservative Party is not an overnight party. We’ve been around 48 years.” …”

Knocking out the CP would be a blessing.  They have long (pun intended) since abandoned principles, especially on the Second Amendment.  That isn’t sitting well with all CP members as Erie Co. chairman Ralph Lorgio is challenging Lazio for that line too, although he does not have the money Paladino has at his disposal.

Ball v. Murphy

On: By: admin

One of the hotter primaries Greg Ball v. Mary-Beth Murphy in SD-40.

Kagan confirmed

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Elena Kagan was easily confirmed to SCOTUS by a 63-37 vote.

Schumer, of course, argued that Kagan is “well within the judicial mainstream.” The Brady Bunch was more honest with their opinion of her:

“… With Ms. Kagan’s background as an advisor and legal counselor to former President Clinton, and her experience as the dean of Harvard Law School, the Supreme Court is welcoming a justice who will respect judicial precedent and one who recognizes that reasonable gun regulations can save lives …”

This Fox News report describes what is at stake:

“… Over the next decade, the Court is likely to decide another three or four gun-rights cases tracing the broad contours of this right, such as whether you can exercise this right outside your home, what sorts of guns are protected by this right, and how high of a bar legislatures must overcome to enact gun-control laws …”

This probably will include all or part of the Sullivan Act.

In recess

On: By: admin

The Senate finally finished up the up the state budget and has left town.  It is possible one or both houses will come back later in the year, but the session is pretty much over.  With the legislature in recess, microstamping dies.  It will probably be back next year, but Eric Schneiderman won’t.

Kagan’s confirmation

On: By: admin

The Senate will likely confirm Elena Kagan as SCOTUS Justice this week.  NRA doesn’t like it, but despite claims by some people that they are not putting their full weight into opposing her, I don’t think that is the case.  The membership has been notified of their opposition and encouraged to contact their Senators, they have run television and print advertisements urging Senators to vote no, and they have said the confirmation vote will be considered when incumbent grades and endorsements are made this fall.  What else are people expecting them to do?

The sad fact is the NRA is in all likelihood going to lose on this.  I do not believe they have the ability to stop Kagan’s confirmation.