UPDATE: FLASH! Senate Judiciary Hearing on "Firearms in Commerce?"

Despite not having a phone call returned from Senator Cardin's office (he's my junior Senator and a member of the judiciary committee), I have gotten loose confirmation that the hearing scheduled for next week is to debate S 941.  This bill is known as the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009" and is co-sponsored by Chairman Leahy.  Go figure. 

The question is, why now?  This bill clearly will not do anything to help stem the losses of the 'rats' seats, and certainly, if it is passed won't energize their base.  Perhaps it is a poison pill to claim some "moderation" on an issue that is cross-sectional and appealing to mainstream voters?  A last horrah of sorts in order to be considered American and electable entering November?  It's anybody's guess, but let's not get carried away here, it is still Washington and the committee is controlled by the leftists in power. 

More updates when I can dig them up. 

FLASH! Senate Judiciary Hearing on "Firearms in Commerce?"

FLASH:  It appears that the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a hearing on "Firearms in Commerce: Assessing the Need for Reform in the Federal Regulatory Process" next week on Tuesday, September 14th.  (Drudge has the only link I can find at this point, and not even the good people at Free Republic have any links or details). 

What in the world could this be?  OpenCongress.org has no info on anything other than the HR 1074 which is the "Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act.  That bill, and it's companion senate bill S 556 (haha, how appropriate, I wonder if the anti's even figured that one out) are being sponsored by Steve Scalise and David Vitter, respectfully.  Both are from Louisiana and have extremely high ratings from the NRA on bills voted on and introduced, so it's not like these are the bills that the current Judiciary Committee will be willing to push to the floor of the Senate. 

So, that leaves the question of why this would come on the docket around election time.  What are the motives?  Does the Judiciary Committee vet potential treaties (along with the Foreign Relation's Committee) as well as Congressional legislation? 

The good news is, my Senator is on the committee so I will be calling his office today to get some answers (or lies, more appropriately).

Updates to come. 

Russia, USA, Iran: 3 Countries with Nukes & the Power Struggle of Persia

Readers of this blog know that I like to get outside the realm of US politics and occasionally focus on geo-politics.  I will say that by no stretch of the means am I more than an arm chair QB on matters of foreign affairs, but it is safe to say that the middle east is remaining a brew-ha-ha of disturbing tensions.

While Yahoo news service only picks up on the Iranian threats against Israeli nuclear assets, what is being unreported in the USA media is the escalation of the proxy war via the Syrian and Lebanese backed Hizballah.  As the DEBKAfile report details, Hizballah and the 13 various orders of Hamas are all bring joint operations to increase terror efforts against Israel.  Additionally, these groups are seeking to sink and destroy Israeli ships in the Mediterranean Sea.  Of course, all of this comes on the heals of strategic Russian, American diplomacy trade offs that probably will not stop Iran from creating a nuclear device and will leave us to make a tough decision on whether or not we should be engaging in yet another foreign conflict.  

I know that there is a lot of material to cover inside those links, and some of it is is a few weeks old.  However, the hindsight here is pretty self explanatory.  Obama has created himself a fine pickle of problems to deal with internationally for the remainder of this term as president.  Iran isn't going away, especially not with the back room blessing from the UN security council's too major players (Russia and US).  If the current administration had wanted to honestly prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities, it would have green lit an Israeli strike on the facility before it happened.  Of course, that means the USA would have been drug into another war for regime change, undoubtedly, but there is still that potential anyways.  

Reagan proved that peace through superior firepower (Russian doctrine) is precisely the way to go.  People fear cowboys because well, cowboys are unpredictable.  Cowboys are certifiably insane, psychopaths that can actually control their fits of rage and know how to use them for personal (or general public) benefit.  Teddy Roosevelt Theory still works to this day, and always will.  If you have a big enough stick, they will always leave you alone and in the Persian region, Israel is the one with the biggest stick.  Iran and it's surrogates only want the same big stick, but, are the consequences to the moral people of Israel worth it?  What about our new found Iraqi republic and the potential disaster that could ensue?  

I guess we will continue to the follow the story as it unfolds. 

ChiTown Area School Tracks Students w/ GPS & RFID

Scene:  It is the end of the school year.  Finals are just about finished, the junior school kids are busy finishing their educational hours with half days that are basically recess.  Bus drivers are tired and hot due to pre-summer heat waves, and administrators are lenient in handing out early vacations since it soon won't be their problem.  Enter the back-pack RFID and School Bus GPS tracker system.  Did your school aged child make it home?  Did they ditch the bus at the right stop?  Did they fall asleep on the bus and the driver forgot to do their sweep?

One Chitown area school system is implementing a new system to track your little ones.  Not that I am a parent so I cannot claim to completely understand the connection to a child, but is this something for which tax payers should be footing the bill?  Isn't it the parent's responsibility to call home and check to see if their child made it to their final destination?  Has the school system absolved itself of the responsibility to safely transport your children?  No, it hasn't, but you've just asked them to do part of the job that you are supposed to do; know where your kids are 24 / 7 / 365.

As a teenager, or even middle schooler, I was expected to check in with my grandmother (next door) or my parents when I got home.  No questions about it, if I didn't, I was in hot water.  Sure, today's world is a bit more scary than that of a decade ago, but still, responsible parents are responsible for their children, NOT THE NANNY STATE!  Is this a good idea?  Absolutely, if you implement it at the personal level.  GPS trackers in cell phones work well these days, and project a signal far beyond that of a school bus' RFID transceiver.  Yes, I know, they can be turned off, lost, forgotten, misplaced, ect, but is tax, spend, and implement better than personal responsibility to purchase the device yourself? 

I am fully aware that some might not be able to afford this technology for their children, and well, tough luck.  Get a good baby-sitter, work a second job, or maybe just use the cheaper land line to check in at scheduled times.  Turn on the news, call the school, or figure out from Google if there is a traffic jam that caused your kid to get home late.  Face it, in this day and age of modern cell phone tech, there is no reason to have Big Brother School system tracking when our kids get on and off the bus.  I understand it from a liability stand point for the school system to prevent children from being left on buses, but humans will always make mistakes, no matter what level of automated technology assists them.  While this isn't complete tax dollar waste, it is something that could be provided from private donations and grants, and not on the backs of the tax payers.

Congressman Jerrymander: Re EPA Lead Ban CC Letter

Dear Mr. FightinBluHen51:

Thank you for sending me a copy of your recent letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a possible ban of lead in sporting ammunition.  

I feel very fortunate to be able to communicate regularly with the people of the 3rd Congressional District.  I travel home every evening – an opportunity many Members of Congress do not have – and find that I am able to do my job much better because I am in daily contact with the people I serve in the Congress.  I also appreciate hearing many different points of view as I consider issues in the House of Representatives.  I appreciate you letting me know of your concerns and hope that your correspondence elicits a satisfactory response.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me.  If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Sincerely,
John Sarbanes
Member of Congress

I LOVE MY CONGRESS CRITTER!  (sarcasm)  What a tool!  Obviously, he wasn't forced to take a stand or issue an opinion since they backed down on their lead ammo ban.  Writing to me to tell me that you enjoy keeping in contact with your constituents just because it's what, good Congressman business practice?  Yeah, ohhhkay.  I knew I wouldn't expect to see a whole lot said by this no load, but don't patronize me with boring drivel. 

"Elicits a satisfactory response?"  You didn't say ANYTHING about the topic at hand.  You find it fortunate for your reelection bid that 1) you have your daddy's name, 2) you're in a district Jerrymandered for your benefit, 3) and the EPA did you a favor and spared you having to take a position on this issue.  Look dude, we know your anti-gun, anti-hunting, anti-American tradition stance on damned near everything before you, so it isn't a surprise you jacked your we-we up into a whooo-haaaa and sat on the fence for this issue.  We wouldn't expect real leadership from you on any matter, just more 99% party line voting. 

Face-palm!  Is there anyone out there who can unseat this guy?  Hell, I'd take another Dem over this yahoo!  Seriously!  I might even consider switching my registration!  Yes, I actually said that.