The Terrorists Among Us: McCain and Palin

Mark Karlin's comments regarding the persistent importance of the gun ownership issue in American elections reminded me of a saying that has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin; "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. 'Liberty' is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." It is a mistake to present all progressives as being against gun ownership and all gun owners as being conservative. According to a Gallup poll reported on April 17, 2007, 23% of Democrats own guns compared with 41% of Republicans. Other studies have shown about 54% of union members have a gun in their home. While it may likely be true that gun owners in general tend to vote for more conservative candidates than non-gun owners, their actual political beliefs may not actually be as conservative as their voting habits suggest due to a perceived necessity of supporting candidates who will reliably protect their presumed individual or "militia" Second Amendment rights and also their individual Ninth Amendment rights to gun ownership. For example, about 54% of gun owners describe their political views as "liberal" or "moderate" as compared to about 62% of non-gun owners. About 52% of gun owners describe themselves as "pro-life" versus about 42% of non-gun owners. These are not huge differences and reflect the importance of progressives accepting political reality and satisfactorily coming up with a compromise to finally resolve this important "wedge" issue that has consistently provided conservatives with a windfall block of gun-owning voters who might not otherwise support conservative candidates. Don Farkas, Los Angeles

McCain and Palin have a lot of damn gall warning against those who would associate with terrorists. McCain was shot down over Vietnam as he was dropping bombs on innocent villagers. He did so with relish; otherwise, he would not sing so glibly about bombing Iran. He is a dangerous person whose ambition knows no bounds-- witness his forgiveness of the slime-job done on him in the 2000 election. He sold his soul long ago. Maybe he just grew up thinking he deserved to grab what he could in life, hard to tell. People like him and his wife, and even Palin lead very isolated lives, and with their lack of curiousity and empathy, should not be leading the rest of us. Even though McCain is a proven murderer, I don't want anyone to shout that out at an Obama rally. We do not need the mob mentality to work any further into the cesspool of racist true believers. Dial it down, McCain! Palin- stop the "kill him!" cries from your base. This is NOT the type of leadership an advanced civilization needs. Please contact all the media you can and complain.

are among us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1EXKLVgEx0

Hey 'God',

The NRA focuses on one issue - protecting the 2nd Amendment right in our Bill of Rights. Other groups can handle other issues.

BTW, I doubt you were an NRA member. Maybe, but your words reflect the hate-Bush, hate-Palin viewpoint. I have seen many people say they "used to support X" but "now support Y". Let me see if I could do that...

"I used to be a Democrat, for the past 140 years. But now, Barack Hussein Obama is just too far left for me to vote for this time. I have decided that the Republicans are now the ones I should support."

Did it work? Of course not. Clear thinking people can see through someone being disingenuous. Just be honest. Tell people where you are coming from and what you would like others to hear.

"Who instead?" "Us, the so-called 'other'". "And then what sort of world?" "It'll be up to us."

I used to be an NRA member as well. I had respect for a group of Americans who supposedly respected the Constitution enough to declare that the 2nd Amendment is the tool we have to defend the other Amendments. But the Bush experience has proven that supposition horrible off base. In response to the last eight years of tyrannical governance and the dismantling of our precious Constitution, I would have expected NRA members from all quarters to go into action, marching from city and suburb and country dell, descending on Washington D.C. with rifles over their shoulders. I would have expected millions to set up armed camp around the White House and Capitol in preparation to remove the interloping Fascists there. But no such thing happened. On the contrary. As a group, the NRA displayed themselves as lily-livered shills, ready and eager to hand over every precious freedom for which our founders gave their very blood. The NRA has proven to be enablers and even active contributors of the destruction of American democracy. F**K the NRA!

With such vile hatred spewed from the author of this article, it's difficult to know where to start.

The NRA (of which I am a proud member) is anything but a "politically extremist NRA". Their purpose, with the help of 4,000,000 members, is to preserve the civil right protected by our Bill of Rights, specifically in the 2nd Amendment, since 1871 http://www.nra.org/Aboutus.aspx

They train our soldiers, cops, citizens in gun safety. They actively support Democrats and Republicans - based on their level of support of that particular constitutionally protected civil right. We The People have the right to 'Keep AND bear arms'.

Many of the NRA members are active or retired police. Many gun shop owners and employees are active or retired police. To attempt to smear the NRA is equivalent of attempting to shame our police.

You sir, should be the one ashamed for your hatred-drenched lies about good people.

The Democrat and the democrat-run mainstream media are the ones who, for years, daily attempted and have succeeded to divide this nation. Every day - every single day without fail - they have told Americans that America is the problem and that somehow we created and prompted the terrorists to commit crimes against humanity.

Recall the in 2001 through the end of 2003 both democrats and republicans were united. As historically typical, democrats lose their nerve if a war is not won in X amount of time. It was the democrats that changed their position and said the 'war was lost' that it 'could never be won'.

Our enemy is the Islamic terrorists that have pledged our destruction. Nobama wants the world to like us. John McCain wants to protect America even if the world hates us.

For those who think that terrorism is not a big deal and that it's okay for us to lose the war in Iraq - I submit that you see what our enemy does to us and other innocent people: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/040838.php Warning: not for the faint of heart. Disturbing images. You have been warned.

Lastly, if terrorists ever made a mass assault on the people of the UK or Canada, which ban most or all firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens, the bad guys would be able to slaughter innocent people (ie. in their neighborhoods) at will. No-one will have the means to protect themselves (because they have been disarmed by their government). If that scenario were to happen in America We The People would have the means to stop the terrorist. At least most republicans and some democrats.

If you naively believe the cops and military will protect you - you are mistaken. In a mass assault the good guys will be defending our cities. 911 would not result in a cop coming to your house if someone was attacking you.

Take responsibility for your safety. Learn how to safely handle a firearm. Purchase one and practice with it frequently. Apply and obtain a license from your State that permits you to lawfully carry a firearm in public. *Even if you have no intention of carrying in public you should get a license. If there were a major natural disaster (ie. hurricane Katrina) you will be on your own. You will want the ability to carry your firearm either on your person or in your car...when you buy gas, when you buy groceries, etc. Without a license you could be arrested.

From the myth of the 'tolerant', 'accepting', 'loving', democrats:

"City council candidate advocates assassinating Bush, sexually assaulting Bush daughters" http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/09/17/backpage/9_16_0421_10_52.txt

Thank you again for your brilliant editorial. I was appalled that McCain and Palin didn't stop these audience members from threats, but your explanation was exactly right. Only question, are these people plants or real audience members? Just curious....... Either way it is horrific! (And don't forget McCain voted against Martin Luther King day numerous times.) There is nothing trustworthy with McCain/Palin.

... probably the true reason for painting Obama as a danger to America is to set the stage for either yet another stolen election through vote fraud, or Bush's use of aggrandized executive power to stay in office.

If enough of their crazy base back that coup, then it is unlikely the sane majority of us can stop them from retaining power, particularly after the packed SCOTUS legitimizes whatever method they employ.

The McCain-Palin tactic of stirring hate frenzy is dangerous considering the wingnuts who are talking of killing Obama. If McCain Palin had any sense of decency, they would condemn such remarks rather than letting them continue. Their behavior illustrates their desire to win this election AT ANY COST.