Careful what you dream

An example of the old adage at work, as the gun lobby becomes more confident its attachment to the Republican party weakens. This is a great illustration of the importance of issues over party in American politics. You win when both sides start talking your language.

clipped from pajamasmedia.com They don't seem to think so here. Ten years ago, gun rights were under siege. Now the two Democratic presidential candidates are bending over backward to try to paint themselves as pro-gun. It's a lie, of course. But it's a lie that shows where the political balance of power, er, lies on this issue. The Democrats are electing new members of Congress, too -- but, again, they're running as pro-gun. People here, I think, feel like they've got the momentum regardless of what happens in November. SO IF THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN TROUBLE, WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE SO HAPPY? I'm at the NRA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. I haven't been to a big gun event in probably a decade, and the change in mood is striking: People are, well . . . not ebullient, really, but noticeably cheerful and confident. The defensive crouch of a decade ago is gone. Will that change if the Democrats take the White House?

His Holiness

Everyone must accept his wisdom on pain of being branded a racist. Of course, he is willing to give us some time, he is willing, in his benevolence, to put down our reluctance celebrate his anointing for a time, he is willing to put it down to our insecurities, our inability to stop clinging to religion or guns in the face of economic dislocation. But comes a time when we are all expected to do our duty and listen to the voice of the people, especially those people that have temerity to not vote for him.