Free In Idaho!

The June version of Mr Completely’s ePostal is up, this time over at Sebastian’s place.  The target he’s chosen is animal shaped Metalic Silhouettes.  I have the feeling that this is going to turn out poorly for me, but what the heck, if JimmyB’s aliens and Mr C’s flies didn’t get me, Sebastian’s animal crackers won’t either.

Don’t worry if your score is low.  Silhouette is a difficult discipline, and scores aren’t supposed to be high unless you’re an expert shooter and have been doing silhouette for 20 years.  This match is meant to be difficult, and will be especially difficult for centerfire pistol shooters.  In fact, if you’re good, you will probably beat me, as I’m still a beginner.  There’s no embarrassment in scoring low, only in not submitting an entry!

We have until the 30th of June to shoot them up and send them in.  Thanks Sebastian!  I think…

You might think about heading over to the Patriot Post and getting your name on a Second Amendment petition they have going.

To President George Bush, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:

We, the people of these United States, rightfully petition our President, House of Representatives and Senate in affirmation of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

We affirm that said Amendment was established to define an individual “right of the People to keep and bear arms,” and that there is no more important constitutional issue than that of defending the plain language and original intent of the Second Amendment.

The economy, the war, gas prices, encroachments to liberties and the promise of higher taxes aren’t enough.  And crapweasels like Clinton, Obama, McCain, Pelosi, Reid, Bush, Craig, Snowe, Biden, McClellan, Warner and Lieberman, and any of a dozen other political names in the news this week… you’d think the American people would give a rip, at least enough to vote.  Not so much.  It’s been 40 years since we had voter turnout of 60% or higher.  Not even half that for primaries now.

The Secretary of State’s Office is still waiting for final results, but it estimates Idaho’s turnout at about 25 percent, which would make this election one of the most ignored primaries since 1994.

Ada County’s turnout was about 21.4 percent of registered voters, while Canyon County’s was 27.9 percent.

But one of our greatest Founders saw it all the way back at the beginning

The proposition that the people are the best keepers of their own liberties is not true. They are the worst conceivable, they are no keepers at all; they can neither judge, act, think, or will, as a political body.
                                            - John Adams

I’m sure you all have heard the weeping and gnashing of teeth about the horrible economy and the United States being in a recession already.   Why, didn’t Warren Buffett say so on Sunday (while he was looking to spend 35 Billion devalued American bucks on European companies for his portfolio)?  The market today is bouncing up and down, confused it seems, because the GDP numbers for the first quarter came out this morning… up.  Yes, up. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy plodded ahead at a 0.9 percent pace in the first quarter — slightly better than first estimated — but still underscoring caution on the part of consumers and businesses walloped by housing, credit and financial problems.

They had expected anywhere from 0.6 to slightly negative.  May I conjecture that the “slightly negative” economists tend to be Democrats?  Or is that just me being an evil conservative blogger reading my own beliefs into the news (you know how we are)? 

Whatever.  If the “official” definition of a recession is three two quarters of negative GDP growth (?), we aren’t there yet.  But then, these numbers are “government” numbers, so who really knows?  After all, these are the same folks who keep telling us that inflation is stable at 2%.  What?  Food prices and energy prices?  Fuel costs?  Oh no, much too volatile, so we can’t count those.  Just trust us.

From Adam Graham, in a post about Huckabee

Huckabee’s point is not that government is better, period as Lewis would have left us thinking but rather that if you want less government, you have to reduce the need for it. Libertarians think government can be reduced without addressing the cultural issues that led to bigger government in the first place. You want less money spent on prisons? Less money spent caring for the elderly? Stronger families are key. The idea that you can have a rotting culture and limited government absurd.  Huckabee’s idea goes back to John Adams, who warned that our constitution was suited for a religious and moral and unsuitable for any other.

I’m sure he means ‘religious and moral people‘.  “The idea that you can have a rotting culture and limited government is absurd.”  Indeed.  Great line Adam.  I’m not sure how we get both a moral people and a limited government  though… the universal problem, eh? 

I had planned to write a post or two this evening, but I think I’ll pass… I know you’re probably sick of hearing how important it is, meaningful, critical, and just downright interesting, but if you’ve missed it, I must remind you that today is the Idaho Primary Election.  No, I won’t be liveblogging it.  They’re only expecting 35% turnout, even though we have a couple of good state races where there is actually a clear difference between candidates.  Sigh, it’s hard to feel sorry for Florida and Michigan Dems voting too early and not counting… Idaho’s Republican primary at the end of May means even less; and no, I did NOT vote for McCain, Paul, or “uncommitted”.  I wrote “Fred Thompson”  on my ballot.  Laugh all you want, but what else could I do?  I won’t hold my nose, and I won’t do the “party faithful” thing, because it isn’t my party.  And they’ll know what I mean when they read it.  (It just won’t change their mind.  Not changing mine either.)

We’re also expecting a tremendous rain/hail/lightning storm in the next little while.  We did this last night, and the road out front was flowing water from my neighbor’s grass all the way up into my grass.  It looked like a river, and today there was a line of pinecones and twigs on the crown of the street that looked exactly like the high tide line at the beach.  Whew!  It was exciting and more than a little nerve wracking.  So I’m going to turn the machines off, and wait for karma to hit me, or not.

(note: this has been sitting in the draft file for awhile, but this storm isn’t turning out to have the punch at my place that last night’s did.  Eagle was spared last night, but I hear it’s getting pounded tonight.  Just the same, I’m going to post it and be done for tonight.)

Following links around this morning, I stumbled upon a gem at a blog named “From my position…on the way!” titled “We, the little people“.  Fitting for Memorial Day, and every day.  Go read.
By the way, I found Sailorcurt had linked me, so I’m pleased to link him back.  Thanks Curt.

And now, lest I waste use up the whole day sitting on the couch with the laptop, I’m going to get in gear and go do something “productive”.

Passing by the Post Office yesterday, I saw the flag at half mast.  I tend to feel this way, as expressed by Benjamin Harrison

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day.  I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.     -Benjamin Harrison

Oh drat, today is the 26th.  I had planned to get to the range tomorrow or Wednesday and shoot the ePostal one more time, for some reason I was thinking the match went till the 28th.  But I was just over at Mr Completely’s checking the schedule and I see that TODAY is the final day for entries, not the 28th.  Good thing I checked, eh?  Guess I’ll have to put my pitiful attempts from the beginning of the month into an email and zip them over to France before they close the gates. 

Sunday Music today is “Thy Word” , by Amy Grant.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,
And think Ive lost my way.
Still, youre there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus by my guide,
And hold me to your side,
And I will love you to the end.

Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You’re the light unto my path.