Canales News Briefs

October 18, 2004

"...Senator Lane: ' ...There's a saying, Fletcher- To the victor,

belongs the spoils.

Fletcher: '...There's another saying, Senator- Don't piss

down my back and tell me it's raining..."

-Dialogue from the movie "The Outlaw Josey Wales,

starring Clint Eastwood, based on the book

by Forrest Carter

To All,

With just a little more effort on his part, it may turn out to be the Junior Senator From Normandy who will be "all wet" in the end:

Self-Inflicted Wounds:

Those who have been following the 2004 Campaign closely are well aware of the prominence self-inflicted wounds play in the John Kerry Story. From two sets of grenade fragments in Viet Nam to nearly a 20 year record as the "primus inter pares" of Liberal Senators, the Kerry Campaign has had the dubious task of dancing a political gavotte in an attempt to camouflage Kerry in front of an increasingly skeptical public.

In fact, it is more than evident that Kerry's charade of moderation has been "outed" primarily by his own actions. During the recent debates, viewers were treated to to what has been commonly called as "style over substance". But they were also treated to such risky foreign policy schemes as sending nuclear fuel to the Iranian mullahs and lending direct legitimacy to the North Korean dictator in a repeat of the failed1994 Nuclear Agreement. Add to this a general trashing of the efforts of such allies as Poland, Australia, and the newly formed Interim Iraqi government, and one gets the impression that Kerry is not ready for prime time as Commander-In-Chief.

Oddly enough, the closeness of the last debate belies the aura that was constructed for him by a colluding Lamestream Media. On the topic of domestic policy, Kerry did not show the policy wisdom that his minions had touted so noisily. Of special note is the recent action of the Canadians, who may very well limit prescription drug sales to non-Canadians so as to prevent "re-export shortages" from raising prices in Canada. Of course, it is this very issue, the "offshoring" of prescription drug suppliers, that was presented by Kerry as a way to implement back-door price controls in prescription medication. If Kerry's ability to get the cooperation of allies (Canada on prescription drugs, France and Germany on their continued stand on not sending troops to Iraq) is limited to the press release-as-trial-balloon, then what Kerry has offered is really thin au jous indeed.

Lastly, the purposeful introduction of the issue of Vice President Cheney's daughter in two of the four debates appears to be the gran faux paus of the entire campaign. Rather than adversely impacting an Religious Right to turn away from the Bush Cheney team, it is more than clear that the use of such tactics leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the moderate voters who continue to tell pollsters that they prefer their politicians to follow the rules of the Marquess of Queensbury. Even reports of adverse reactions among some newsies has only elicited explanatory statements, rather than a more gracious apology and acceptance of responsibility for a public error.

Firearms activists should remember that all of this is additional to the Kerry Record on the issues of firearms. When one combines the numerous antigun votes over 20 years with his close association with antigun groups and causes, it is clear that Kerry's Liberalism is the kind that cannot be white-washed with photo opportunities long on guns and short on firearms safety. It is in the interest of gun owners nationwide to choose wisely when it comes to the highest office in the land. Given that the fight over activist judges and their revisionist interpretation of the Constitution has yet to be resolved, firearms owners are more reliant than ever on a Chief Executive and an Attorney General that hold strict constructionism dear. Stay tuned.

Story basis may be found at:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/
20041017/news_lz1e17caldwel.html

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/1138adf6-2076-
11d9-af19-00000e2511c8.html

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/243183p-208345c.html

http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/
0410/17/a19-305715.htm

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/
rn20041018.shtml

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/michaelbarone/
mb20041018.shtml

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash5.htm

In Pheasant Country:

Kimberley Strassel wrote in the Wall Street Journal last Friday about the trials, tribulations, and almost "Kerry-like" techniques of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in his run for the Senatorial re-election roses. In this case, latest polling shows Daschle tied with challenger John Thune with 15 campaigning days to go.

Items of interest in the Strassel article include the now common observation that Senator Daschle campaigns like he is the President's best bud in the Senate, when in reality Daschle is largely responsible for a whole passel of logjammed initiatives designed to keep the President from having a successful record.

Still, it is apparent that John Thune has learned from his previous race against Tim Johnson. This time around, Thune seems to have done some outreach to activists on the Sioux reservation, including Russell Means. (While there has been some disagreements between Means and the Thune Campaign staff, it appears to have been recently patched up.). If this holds up, then the benefits of said outreach may result in more Native American votes than in Thune's 2002 race.

Strassel notes plainly that Republicans are chomping at the bit to unseat Daschle, in the hopes that removing Daschle would weaken the current Democrat strategy of filibuster. On the other hand, since the removal of Daschle could mean, if the Republicans hold the Senate otherwise, a Minority Leader Reid, Feinstein, or even Clinton, the results may be mixed at best.

Of course, a Thune victory would mean replacing a senator with an NRA "F" rating (Daschle) with one who would work hard to protect firearms owners rights as well as protect hunting access and wetlands. Perhaps if NRA members in South Dakota were to spread the word on Senator Daschle's real firearms record, along with his support for firearms confiscation groups and policies, South Dakotans would have the information they need to make an informed choice on November 2. Stay tuned.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/
kstrassel/?id=110005762

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/
2004/10/09/news/local/top/news01.txt

http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/
stories/2004/1015nj1.htm

The Chicago Way Update:

The folks at Human Events Online is reporting from Friday that the Secretary of State of Florida has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate a report that some 46,000 persons registered to vote in New York City are apparently registered to vote in Florida as well.

Previous instances of dual registration turned up during the 2000 Campaign, those these latest numbers swamp previous estimates. In addition, after the publicity around the dual registration issues from 2000 (Florida and New York State law mandate felony time for being dual-registered, along with the associated Federal penalties).

Human Events notes that the reports that some 68% of those registered to vote in both states are listed as Democrats, while some 12% are listed as Republicans.

Given the recent revelations of a Democrat campaign manual alleging voter intimidation being passed around in Florida, the latest news would seem to indicate that certain Democrat activists are out to manufacture as many votes as the traffic (and sympathetic judges) will allow. Additional reports include irregularities in Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, and California, which could mean a coordinated effort to "rob the vote" by the same party that worked wonders in the 1960 campaign.

Firearms activists should take note if they see any irregularities, whether it was for voter registration or for illegal activities in voting precincts. Anything observed should be reported to the authorities as soon as possible. Otherwise, the fruits of inaction could mean a new round of policies and regulations that could very well turn the rest of the Country over to the Massachusetts model of firearms regulation.

And that would definitely not make anyone's day.

Story may be found at:

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/
article.php?id=5367

Respectfully,

Anthony Canales

SFVMC-NRA