[Ichneumon]

Don't count your chickens...

Never underestimate the ability of politicians to forget where they left their spines the moment the media starts manufacturing a "public outcry".

And every anti-gun group or loudmouth (media or otherwise) will be pushing this 24/7 next year, both because they want to impose more gun control, and because it's going to sunset (or be renewed) right before the election, and they'll push hard on anything they think will make campaigning unpleasant for President Bush.

[BushMeister]

Yes, I agree that we are not home free, but there is a growing sense that the AW Ban is a sham and a bad law. The House leadership has no intention of revisiting the issue (Hastert's spokesman said so), and Republicans are damned sure to remember the lesson that Al Gore learned in West Virginia, Arkansas and Tennessee in 2000: there are millions of single-issue, pro-gun voters who will crucify you if you betray them. From Bush's POV, he can make it clear to Congressional Repubs that he in no way wants to see that damned AW or Mag Ban on his desk ready for a sig 6 weeks before he stands for re-election.

[Richard-SIA]

"will be pushing this 24/7 next year".

Next year? HA, too damn late, it expires THIS year!

I know what you meant, just pointing out that the sunset is only SEVEN months away.
Every day we get closer without the anti's getting their way the better chance that WE will prevail.

[El Gato]

Never underestimate the ability of politicians to forget where they left their spines the moment the media starts manufacturing a "public outcry".

Indeed. Most likely the renewal, maybe even the horrible expansion version, will be offerred as a floor amendment, likely passed by "unanamous consent" at "O dark thirty" some night in the Senate. An amendment to some must pass bill, even a totally unrelated one perhaps. That is more or less how we got the thing in the first place, is it not? It certainly was not passed as a stand alone bill.