Reid green-lights divisive gun vote

politico.com ^ | July 21, 2009 | Glenn Thrush

[neverdem]

Reid green-lights controversial gun vote

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is supposed to be the protector of the Senate’s skittish Democratic flock — the guy who soothes intraparty spats and shields his 60-member majority from dangerous, career-threatening votes.

Yet Reid — whose low approval ratings in Nevada make him a tempting GOP target in next year’s midterms — put many of his members in a sticky situation when he OK’d a floor vote on a controversial GOP amendment that could significantly alter the nation’s gun control laws.

Reid says the bill deserves a hearing and reflects his commitment to supporting gun rights in a state that sanctifies the Second Amendment. Other Democrats say he approved the vote out of personal political necessity — to avoid the ire of the National Rifle Association during the 2010 elections.

“Nobody’s angry at Harry, but it’s created a problem for us,” says a Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There’s a huge level of sympathy for him, because we don’t want to have another Daschle situation.”

That was, of course, a reference to Tom Daschle, the last Democratic majority leader who was knocked off in 2004, by Republican John Thune.

By astounding coincidence (not), Thune, now the No. 4 man in the Senate, just happens to be the guy who authored the current amendment to allow licensed gun owners to transport their weapons across state lines.

“This has nothing to do with electoral politics,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley, who emphasized that the amendment has the support of many other Democrats besides Reid.

Two previous NRA-backed measures, one loosening D.C. handgun restrictions and another allowing guns in national parks, passed by comfortable 60-plus vote margins in the Senate earlier this year.

“Harry Reid has always supported gun rights and intends to do so in the future,” Manley added.

Still, Reid’s decision prompted a mini-uprising among two top lieutenants — Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — who are considering a filibuster to kill the measure before it comes to a vote, as expected on Wednesday.

In the meantime, gun control groups were working with Durbin, Schumer and New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg to craft an alternative amendment that would put the GOP on the defensive — one that would impose tough new federal restrictions on interstate transport or even insert a provision closing the so-called gun-show loophole.

Reid is “likely” to vote in favor of the Thune amendment, an aide said.

Maloney apologizes for using the N-word

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) has apologized for using the N-word in a long, long profile posted on the website City Hall.

The context is confusing, but the East Side lawmaker was apparently referring to a comment made by a Puerto Rican pol who called her up to complain about Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

The story: “There is Carolyn Maloney, ripping into Kirsten Gillibrand, broad and hard, for voting against the two stimulus bills and for changing her positions on several core Democratic issues, sounding out her case on the fly as, ‘It’s the NRA; it’s immigration; it’s all these other things. In fact, I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico [who] said [Gillibrand] went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only [education]. And he said, “It was like saying n----- to a Puerto Rican,”’ she said, using the full racial slur. ‘I don’t know — I don’t know if that’s true or not. I just called. I’m just throwing that out. All of her — well, what does she stand for?’”

Later, after the Rev. Al Sharpton questioned the statement, Maloney’s office offered a mea culpa.

“I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting,” Maloney said. “It’s no excuse, but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated.”

Franken unleashes first bill

Minnesota freshman Al Franken has pumped out his first bill, a measure allocating funds to buy and train service dogs for wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Franken, writing in a Star-Tribune op-ed, says he got the idea when he met Iraq war vet Luis Carlos Montalvan and his golden retriever Tuesday at one of the Inauguration events:

“Service dogs raise their masters’ sense of well-being,” Franken wrote. “Unfortunately, few of these service dogs are available to veterans. ... It costs, on average, about $20,000 to train a service dog and another $5,000 to place the dog with the veteran.”

Franken is 1) a major USO booster dedicated to entertaining the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and 2) a dog lover whose black Lab, Kirby, (named after the late Twins superstar Kirby Puckett) died of bone cancer at the age of 8 during the campaign.

[neverdem]

If this passes, Obama will just veto it.

IIRC, it's an amendment to a must pass defense bill. If we get the same 27 rats who voted for concealed carry in the national parks, we might override the veto. The rats are 2 shy, Kennedy & Byrd, IIRC.

[neverdem]

A question to readers: how many of you have shot an email to the appropriate Senator advocating passage?

Schumer? You must be kidding. LOL! I'll give Gillibrand a shot.

[neverdem]

Here’s my email to Gillibrand. The style was correct in the 1970s. Use my text for ideas. Never copy.

Her contact info is at the end. Add her to your list for 2010. She replaced Hillary.

Drop Voinovich who’s retiring.

The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senate
Washington, D.C.

Dear Madam,

I believe the most important civil right is the right of self defense as represented by the Second Amendment. I noticed your vote on the Coburn Amendment.
I hope you would reconsider that attitude when the Thune Amendment for reciprocity comes up for the vote. You used to have a much better NRA record before you went to the Senate. I certainly would remember it, especially if your opponent is Peter King.
Thank you very much for your consideration.

Add a closing.

Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - (D - NY) Class I
478 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Web Form: gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

[matthew fuller]

My list is the Senate Class III, the ones up for re-election in 2010. (From ACU) Great letter though.

[Gilbo_3]

so chuck the small d!cked senator from ny thinks that Tennesee should be sovereign and respected regarding their recent [10 A] firearms law ???

didnt think so...

[neverdem]

Thanks for your list & compliment. This thread was linked on another of my threads. It opens on your list.

[Smokin' Joe]

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the New Jersey Democrat who has long fought gun groups, tomorrow is planning to launch his retaliation at a press conference. "Trumping state laws to allow concealed weapons to be carried by almost anybody in any state is an egregious threat to communities all across the country," he told us today. "This amendment is just another attempt by the gun lobby to put its radical agenda ahead of safety and security in our communities." His office released a letter from the International Association of Chiefs of Police opposing the legislation, claiming that it might override different state laws that limit who can carry a concealed weapon. He also released a letter from the mayors of more than 400 cities and towns that claims the Thune "concealed-carry amendment" would infringe on state laws.

Well, first, not "everyone" would be allowed to carry concealed, only those with permits in states which issue permits.

But the real brilliance here is the call to question on overriding state laws. If the Federal Government cannot do so to provide full faith and credit to a concealed carry permit, then they cannot do so with any other document, nor can Federal Law override State law on other issues as well.

If the measure fails on the States' Rights argument, the Feds have gutted their own proposals for anything which overrides state law, including the laws affirming the 10th Amendment.

This could be really interesting.