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

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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

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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.

Schneiderman’s manifesto

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Eric Schneiderman has released his manifesto outlining what his priorities as State Attorney General would be.  On page 21 we have this:

“Form an I-95 Anti-Gun Smuggling Coalition: As Attorney General, Eric will employ high-tech, multi-state strategies to fight illegal guns and gangs to protect our schools, streets and communities from violence. Over 90 percent of illegal guns seized in New York City originated in states with lax gun control laws, particularly states along Interstate 95. New York cannot solve this problem alone.  We must implement a new regional, interstate and multi-state approach to illegal gun trafficking. Using the Organized Crime Task Force, Eric will lead an “I-95″ coalition of state Attorneys General, and state and local law enforcement agencies, to share and track data on gun crimes and Schneiderman Attorney General Agenda | Criminal Justice gun sales between states. With the OCTF, sharing intelligence with other states and working jointly on trafficking cases, state and local agencies together will attack the flow of illegal guns at the source.  In addition, Eric will deploy the sophisticated tools of OCTF within New York State to stop the movement of illegal guns across county lines. He will aggressively use wiretaps and physical surveillance to track the gangs that arm their members with illegal firearms, often in support of their narcotics trade.”

NYC Legislative Report #2

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NYC Legislative Report #2 is now available.

Mayor Mike is still pushing his carrying while intoxicated idea.

Change you can’t believe in

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The Times Union reports, “Lazio shakes up campaign“:

“Faced with a low bank account and a well-financed challenger, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio is replacing his campaign manager with an adviser to the Republican State Committee … He thanked exiting campaign manager Kevin Fullington “for a successful convention and his long hours and hard work to ready this campaign for the final push.” Fullington joins Lazio’s “executive committee,” composed of people working for the campaign. Matt Walter, Fullington’s replacement, served as executive director for the state GOP under former chairman Joe Mondello …”

Playing musical chairs with party hacks does not address the core problem of Lazio’s campaign, which is Lazio himself.

Not only is he facing Carl Paladino in a GOP primary, he’s facing Ralph Lorgio for the Conservative line.  Lorgio, like Paladino, is trying to making an issue of Lazio’s support for gun control.

No kidding

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The Times reports on the bloody obvious, “Bloomberg Wields His Wallet to Push His Agenda“:

“When he’s not busy running city government, sparring with Albany lawmakers or jetting to the tropics, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has been known to hold a good fund-raiser … In recent weeks, the parade of politicians has included … Daniel M. Donovan Jr., a Republican candidate for state attorney general …”

Not to mention the $37,800 personal donation Bloomberg made to Donovan’s campaign at the beginning of the month.

Why would Mayor Mike be so generous with his money?

“… The candidates, who typically leave with a promised $2,300 check from the mayor (the federal limit) and pledges from other invited guests, represent a range of ideologies, but share the mayor’s views on issues like gun control … In using his power as a political fund-raiser, Mr. Bloomberg is attempting to kick-start his third-term agenda by accelerating change in Albany and Washington …”

I’m sure this had absolutely nothing with Donovan going to Albany last month and standing next to one of his political rivals to promote microstamping.

I gotta vote with the NRA

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Good news at the federal level:

“… University of New Hampshire Professor of Politics, Andrew Smith, says Democrats started moving away from a strong anti-gun stance in the 90’s when many in the party blamed the issue on massive political losses in Congress …  The slow political shift has frustrated some Democrats that have long fought for tougher gun laws, like New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy … “They’ve been very open about saying… ‘Carolyn, if the NRA comes against a bill, I gotta vote with the NRA.’ They’re not going to take that chance. I understand that,” said McCarthy of her Democratic colleagues. “Does it bother me? Of course, it bothers me because I’m not trying to take away anyone’s right to own a gun.” …”

At least some of the Democrats are wising up to what a political stinker gun control is.  As for McCarthy, her last statement is an outright, boldfaced, bullshit lie.  Her one, and only one, goal is a total prohibition on private firearms ownership that is enforced at gun point by the police.  That is what her entirely political career has always been about and always will be about.  She just will not say it in public.  She knows what she is doing is wrong.  She knows what she is doing is harmful.  She does not care one bit.

Identifying the problem

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Today’s Poughkeepsie Journal has an article, “Cuomo, Lazio raise and spend millions“, which clearly identifies the problem with Rick Lazio’s campaign.  Well, one of them anyway.  His main problem is he’s an antigun RINO, but beyond that we have this:

“… In the state’s gubernatorial race, former Rep. Rick Lazio has spent nearly as much money over the last six months as opponents Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino, despite Lazio’s anemic fundraising … Lazio reported spending $1.6 million between January and July … A large portion of that money went to political consultant Arthur Finkelstein, a longtime GOP operative.  Consultants have been paid $534,000 by Lazio’s campaign this election cycle …”

That’s outrageous.  He blows a third of his cash on political hacks and what does he get?  According to the latest poll numbers:

“… Cuomo earns 58% of the vote against Lazio and Paladino. Lazio, a former congressman and unsuccessful Senate candidate in 2000, picks up 27% support, with nine percent (9%) undecided … Paladino, a wealthy Buffalo businessman, in turn, captures 29% of the vote …”

Clearly the money was well spent.

I’d like to make an offer to Team Lazio.  Dump Finkelstein and hire me instead.  Give me $100,000 and I’ll drive your campaign into the ground faster and cheaper than the clowns running it now.

Where’s the antis support?

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Eric Schneiderman is crowing about receiving his 100th endorsement.

Absent from all this is any mention of any support from New Yorkers Against Gun Violence or the Brady Campaign.  NYAGV mouthpiece Jackie Hilly did make a personal $250 contribution and NYAGV co-founder Barbara Hohlt donated $500 last month, but I have not seen evidence of organized support from any antigun organization either in the form of cash, mailings or GOTV efforts and he’s the guy who carried their water in the Senate for years.  Mayor Mike gave a bundle of cash to Dan Donovan so I don’t see him supporting Schneiderman.  If gun control is so popular with the public, why doesn’t it translate into support for their leading man?