Succumbing to the Heat

Well, it's getting warm.  And, as a Minnesotan, I'm starting to give in to the warmer weather.  Had to turn on the AC.  Ugh...  Twenty years in Texas and I still don't have that acclimation thing down.  Time to strategically place the Vornado and crack open the windows at the optimal times.

The NRA is in Houston.  Hooray!!!!  Thank God it's not in Dallas.

Just when you think things couldn't get worse, the new NRA president comes along to add fuel to the fire.  I don't know a lot about Keane (the out-going president) but this guy is way out there.  Then we've got LaPierre preaching to the choir, but since they are definitely on his side he really ramps up the rhetoric, probably seeking to whip the crowd into a frenzy as he lords over them.  
Images come to mind:  Klan leaders whipping up the KKK to strike up fear of blacks and Jews, Goebbels and Hitler stirring up fears of the Jews are a couple that pop up.  They (NRA leadership and closely associated folks) are becoming a very frightening segment of our society.  They are successfully convincing a lot of people that the government and Obama are going to take away every single firearm in the country and every single bullet, when it is clearly not so.  Their propaganda machine is becoming relentless and needs to be countered.
What is sad is the level of blind ignorance and sheeplike behavior on the part of the people who have fallen prey to this sort of right-wing, fascistic bullshit.  I'm sure that many didn't actually believe this stuff in the recent past, but they must go around thinking 'well if Mr. LaPierre says it's true then it must be.'
It's getting to the point when a mob mentality will finally rise to the surface and some group of yahoos will do something heinous in the name of 'protecting the 2nd amendment' and someone will end up dead.  If and when that happens count me in as 'not surprised or shocked.'

Alex is on.  No, not Alex Jones (although I think he is on something) but Alex Wagner.  She is a cutie. Anyway, they're discussing guns, and playing clips like Ayotte's town hall.  The tea party-based comment about a gun registry came up again.

Ayotte must not do her job right and apparently did not read the Manchin-Toomey gun bill before voting 'NO,' since the bill makes it illegal to have a registry.  So why does she think there will be one?  Obviously she distrusts the government (of which she is a part), has it in for Obama, and is prone to believing crazy people (the tea party).  She must be an idiot.

Something I don't get - I need to read more - just what is so horrible about a registry?  If a guy walks into a gun shop and goes through a background check doesn't the gun shop owner look into a database that tells him to sell or not sell to the buyer?  and isn't that database a type of registry?

Maybe there's a new definition of registry.  Hmmm....oh, I get it now.  The registry is a list of American's who spout anti-government kooky talk and pose a threat to the US, and should include people like the Timothy McVeighs, the Lanza family and the Boston bombers among others.

Now, say there is list (registry).  If you're just an average 'Joe Citizen' who likes to shoot some ducks and a deer or two, then what are you worried about.  I've lived with some of them.  If you're a Ted Nugent-type screaming all kinds of radical things about the President and Hillary Clinton, then maybe we should keep an eye out.  Isn't is kind of a coincidence that when someone shoots up a school or movie theater, or blows up a building that they always are looking at their e-mails, YouTube videos and anything that may have provided a clue as to their motives or terrorist leanings, or whatever?

Maybe we should have a registry.  I personally don't care one way or another, but if (or when) another Sandy Hook or Aurora happens then that might actually come to pass.  Who knows.

Did I mention that Alex Wagner is cute?

Just saw John Barrasso on Morning Joe.  Another bagger.  He wasn't ranting (but may have as well been doing that) about Obamacare and gun legislation.  Same old crap the right is spewing to justify their blockage of the President.
At one point he stated that a full-time job is 30 hours per week.  Perhaps he misspoke, but if he didn't and he actually believes that then what happened to the 40-hour work week?  If a person puts in 35 hours then I guess they're making overtime, and employers really hate paying overtime.  They will not schedule overtime and will send employees home early when they approach that point (I know 'cause I've been there).
As much as I know about it, the health care law doesn't really kick in until 2014 (the parts that opponents hate), so it seems to me that they are projecting fears more than anything on to this.  I have a feeling that they are making a mountain out of a molehill.
I'm just curious to see how many more times the congress will bring up the repeal of Obamacare this year.
More on the other stuff later.

I'm into Rachel Maddow.  She's my favorite lesbian political commentator.  I'm not sure if there are any others, but she's great.  Yes, she's liberal.  Yes, she's smart.  And yes, she's funny.  What more could a guy want in a gal?  Oh, yeah...she's a lesbian.  Susan is very lucky.

Check out Rachel's blog, it's great:  maddowblog.msnbc.com.  Its great!

I do add comments on there now and then, look for thebugman

Anybody follow the gun issue?  It's disgusting what the NRA and the rest of the gun lobby is doing.

What's up with this crazy weather?  It could be a result of climate change, but I'm sure there are those who would disagree.  Any thoughts?  Add a comment!