Ayers and Tsarnaev side by side. Photo courtesy of Cold Warrior.

I have listened, with fascination and horror, to the President’s words since the Boston bombing.

I found them a dispassionate litany of the obvious that did little to inspire or encourage. Among them, he noted:

… on days like this there are no Republicans or Democrats – we are Americans …

…that all Americans stand with the people of Boston.

and

… we salute all those who assisted in responding so quickly and professionally to this tragedy.

Missing was any outrage at the perpetrators of the heinous act or grit and determination in his intent to find who did the deed.

Speaking of the bombers, the President merely said:

… we will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this; we’ll find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.

and

I just want to reiterate we will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable.

I contrast his words with those of George W Bush in the aftermath of 9/11.

His was a call to the defense of a nation under attack; a clear delineation of the acts of terror as evil and a full on promise that there would be no rest until those responsible were tracked down. The phrase rang out and lingers even after almost 12 years, “Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”

President Obama, in contrast, appears to be merely doing the minimum expected of him. Perhaps for good reason.

Just a week before the Boston bombings Bill Ayers, infamous for being a domestic terrorist in the late 60s and early 70s, confirmed that Barack Obama had, indeed, launched his political career in his living room. The living room of the home he shares with Bernadine Dohrn, also a domestic terrorist.

Ayers and Dohrn were instrumental in the founding and running of an organization known as the Weather Underground Organization (WUO), or just the Weathermen. The WUO were even more radical than the group from which they sprang, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

From their genesis in 1969, the WUO planned and executed a number of “bombings, jailbreaks and riots.” 1970 was their banner year.

All told, given the sheer number of bombs they built and deployed it is a miracle they never killed anyone. They actually killed more of themselves than anyone else. Three of their own were killed in March of 1970 when one of their bomb factories exploded.

But it wasn’t for lack of trying. From December of 1969 to September of 1975, Ayers’ and Dohrn’s organization bombed police stations, military installations including the Pentagon, the US Capitol, US and international corporations, state and local government offices and private homes in almost 30 separate bombings.

The group’s final act was in 1981 where members robbed a Brinks truck of $1.6MM and killed two cops and a Brinks guard.

Dorhn was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for almost 3 years. The reason she and the others didn’t do serious time wasn’t because they weren’t guilty. Rather, the FBI also broke the law in compiling the case against them and the evidence gathered was dismissed.

But no one doubts that Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn intended death, mayhem, destruction and terror even worse than that currently gripping Boston. The Boston bombers targeted a city on a single day. The WUO bombed the nation from coast to coast for years. Ayers himself said of those years that he felt they didn’t do enough although he later claimed that sentiment was to be applied only to his non-violent actions.

This is the couple from whose home Barack Obama launched his political career. Why would I expect him to now be critical of behavior identical to that of his original inner circle? Why would I expect him to be serious about bringing justice to murderous thugs who target the innocent? To do so would require him to “bring the full weight of justice” to bear on his supporters, friends and mentors.

To me his remarks are not presidential at all. He’s merely saying what he thinks he’s supposed to say. I don’t buy it for a moment. To me … he’s just putting on Ayers …

SEE ALSO:

Tale of Two Terrorists by John Murtagh (son of one of WUO’s intended targets) @ New York Post;

FBI Hunting Sleeper Cell Connected to Boston Bombers @ UK Mirror;

Yesterday I wrote about 16 GOP Senators voting to begin debate on gun rights in the Senate. I noted that, in doing so, they had done nothing to violate the 2nd Amendment or any earlier statements of 2A support they had made. The vote was procedural and merely allowed debate.

Some people understood the distinction. Others vehemently disagreed.

The objections tended to fall into two camps.

First, congress has no authority to infringe on 2A rights so there is nothing to debate. The vote should never have happened. That it did is, in and of itself, a 2A infringement.

Second, letting this camel’s nose under the tent amounts to passing the bill because GOP Senators are RINO squishes. It doesn’t matter that the vote was procedural. It’s the first step in the process and if you voted for it you may as well have voted for the final bill.

But, as in wartime – where you don’t fight with the army you want, but with the army you have – so it is here. We cannot insist on fighting the fights we want, we must fight the fights we have. We correctly believe Congress has no authority to infringe on our rights. But 2A haters don’t care.

And they are talking, long and loud.

We can engage them or not. We can defend our rights on any field of battle or not. They are bringing the fight to us. Why would we not fight back?

Some seem to believe the debate itself is an actual infringement on 2A rights. I understand the emotion but the notion is silly. To infringe on a right, Congress must pass a law which does so. Talking about passing a law which does so isn’t an infringement. We’re the ones who believe that words mean things, remember?

Currently, the loudest voices are calling for infringement, if not outright repeal. In the face of that, how is it many on our side back ignoring the conversation and claim doing so is defending our 2A rights?

Really? How is trying to avoid an unavoidable fight a defense? If we don’t engage on the issue, how can we be said to defend anything? We might get away with that if we held the majority. But we don’t. Why, then, beat up on Lamar Alexander who noted last night that,

One of the reasons Republicans don’t have a governing majority is that we often pick the wrong fights. Voting to prevent a debate on gun rights is an argument Republicans will lose with the American people. Defending Second Amendment rights is an argument Republicans will win with the American people.

Of course, none of this matters if GOP Senators are RINO squishes. But that charge can’t be used against the Senators in this debate. Because their nature is already fixed.

If they really are RINO squishes, all is already lost. They voted for cloture the first time, they will do so the second time and will vote for the final bill. That’s what RINO squishes do, after all. It’s over.

But what if they aren’t?

What if they are, at least in the area of 2A issues, quite principled or willing to pretend to be such? At that point, their assertion that they support the 2A and will fight for it carries some weight and we should be supporting them and helping them, not calling them names and calling their character into question.

The bottom line is that 2A rights are under attack as never before by people who truly hate the idea of an armed citizenry. These enemies of the Constitution will stop at nothing to get what they want.

We can correctly observe such feelings are unconstitutional but we cannot deny they feel that way – and are willing to put actions – and words – to their feelings.

The remaining question is what we intend to do to combat them.

We can insist this is a debate we should not have and disengage. Or we can run to the sound of gunfire (pun intended), loaded for bear and bring every weapon we have to bear on the arguments of the enemy in a strong defense of our 2A rights.

Look for me alongside you in that fight. And don’t be too surprised if you see a GOP Senator or two – perhaps as many as 16 – on the firing line as well.

Grassroots reaction was both swift and pointed.

Grassfire.com wrote, “Sen. Harry Reid’s gun-control legislation has cleared the first hurdle … bringing the creation of a national gun registry and the outright confiscation of your firearms closer to reality.”

The TN Campaign for Liberty wrote, “After having dinner with President Obama last night, Senator Lamar Alexander then voted this morning to advance Obama’s gun control scheme.”

Listening to the critiques one might assume these Senators are, even now, fueling up the black choppers and SUVs to dispatch them for quiet conversations with Americans about their guns.

But what did they do, exactly?

They did not vote for a bill that infringed on the 2nd Amendment Rights of Americans. They voted to begin debate on a bill that would infringe on the 2nd Amendment Rights of Americans. Support for having the debate is not the same as supporting the bill.

For example, Grassfire.com notes both the NRA and the ACLU believe the Toomey-Manchin bill is unconstitutional. This is a powerful fact which deserves attention. There are voices respected by both sides of the political divide opposing the bill.

However, a letter issued by Chris Cox of the NRA stating they would negatively “score” cloture votes on the issue was misread by many. The vote in question is not today’s vote but an upcoming cloture vote needed to move the bill to an actual vote. Even the Lefties at Slate got that one wrong. Bottom line is that while the NRA is opposed to the bill, they are not beating up Senators who voted to debate it.

And neither am I.

There are any number of folks eager to have this debate; eager to have Democrats and liberal Republicans explain how what they are doing passes constitutional muster. They want amendments and recorded votes for later use against 2nd Amendment haters and gun detractors. Some of those folks voted for cloture yesterday to make that reality possible. That does not mean they will vote for a necessary second cloture vote to close debate and move to voting for passage or defeat on the actual bill.

In fact, some Senators voted for cloture to open debate while remaining committed to opposing Toomey-Manchin and the ongoing assault on the 2nd Amendment.

Oklahoma’s Tob Coburn is one.

Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is another. He said, “I’ll examine each amendment to determine whether it strengthens or infringes upon our Second Amendment rights … The Toomey-Manchin proposal to expand background checks in my opinion doesn’t meet that test and I will vote against it.”

So is Tennessee’s Bob Corker who said, “I don’t understand why any senator wouldn’t want to debate these issues, but in the end, I will not support any legislation that violates our Second Amendment rights.”

These Senators voted to begin debate. They were not signalling their support for the measure being debated. They certainly don’t seem to be “advanc[ing] Obama’s gun control scheme.”

It may be that when it comes time to vote on the actual bill that one or more of them will vote for a bad piece of legislation. If they do, I will be the first to call them out on it. But this is not that vote. Nor can it be used to predict a future vote.

For that, we should watch the debate process, note the amendments offered, the questions asked, the follow-ups and the positions staked out. Eventually we will need to watch a cloture vote – the one to close debate. If that one passes, no sure thing as many do not, the actual vote on the measure will be the defining one.

To now excoriate Senators for voting to do what the Senate is supposed to do – consider and debate – seems also to be bad behavior. I cannot and will not condone it or participate.

That having been said, I’m sure there are any number of my friends who will disagree with me. I look forward to your thoughts in the comment section.

SEE ALSO:

Was Voting for Cloture a Vote to Infringe Our 2A Rights? by Ken Marrero @ Blue Collar Muse;

What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Greg @ 454 Monte;

Coburn: When Outsiders Become Insiders by Joe the Plumber @ Joe 4 America;

Ward was fatally injured when his patrol was struck by a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) which detonated on Saturday, April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Ward was serving with Troop A, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1^st Armor Brigade Combat Team, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

The 24-year old soldier grew up in Arcadia, Florida.  However, Ward moved to Tennessee with his mother, Joyce Ward, and attended Oak Ridge High School before earning his General Educational Development (GED) diploma and enlisting in the United States Army in November 2006.

“We join the Ward family in a time of mourning, and we humbly recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by Staff Sergeant Christopher Ward,” Haslam said.  “On behalf of the State of Tennessee we offer our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Christopher’s family and friends.”

“This is a grave reminder that Tennesseans along with several other Americans continue to serve our country in harm’s way in countries such as Afghanistan,” Grinder said.  “We are saddened by the loss of Staff Sergeant Ward and we hope the Ward family feels the support of the entire state as they grieve the loss of their loved one.”

Ward is survived by his mother Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge and brothers Matthew Ward of Oak Ridge and Travis Ward of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“Chris was proud to be an American and loved serving his country and fellow Americans,” Joyce Ward said.  “We are going to miss his beautiful smile, green eyes and fearless attitude.”

The remains of SSG Ward are expected to arrive at 9:20 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, April 12 at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base.  Media is permitted to cover the arrival, but the family requests privacy and will not grant interviews.  Please contact Captain Joseph Keith at 865-742-7638 for clearance into base prior to arrival.  Please arrive no later than 8:50 a.m. to allow for security screening.  A base representative will escort all media to the aircraft arrival location at 9:00 a.m.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, April 13 at Weatherford Mortuary, 158 South Jefferson Circle in Oak Ridge. The funeral services will begin immediately after the visitation.  Media is not permitted inside the funeral home and the family requests media not interview family members as they arrive and leave the services.

Ward will posthumously receive the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal during the funeral services.

Ward will also posthumously receive the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and had already received several Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars and several other service-related awards.

Please forgive the alliterative title … I’ve been paying too much attention at church (love you Pastor Tim!). But it’s true. Since childhood, firearms and fireworks have been a part of my life.  My attitude towards guns and support for the 2nd Amendment is based in no small part on my childhood experience.

Some friends and I were talking about this very thing. How is it so many adults today actually -fear- guns. Not the people who might hurt them with one but the object itself. Clearly they don’t understand firearms.

We shared our experiences and how they shaped our thinking today. I thought to share a couple of my stories with you.  Perhaps if more people have positive experiences early on things will be different.

It started with bottle rockets; a gateway firework if ever there was one. After stern adult warnings, we stopped shooting them at each other. For a while, anyway. We began tossing them in the air after lighting the fuse. Until someone made one spin in the air like a baton. Imagine the possibilities! Then one ignited and shot right back at us! As that was not much different than actually shooting at each other, we just went back to that.

This, when we were not laying bottle rockets in a old piece of gutter we found and, using crude elevation and rudimentary Kentucky windage, trying to hit the chimney on a neighbor’s roof. When the cops arrived, there were spent bottle rocket sticks laying in plain sight on the roof.  It wasn’t a raid. No arrests were made. They shook their heads and told us not to do it again since we could catch the roof on fire. We had honestly never thought of that.

All this when we were not creeping around in fields of tall grass in the dark throwing lit fire crackers at each other like grenades.

But my best memories of shooting are tied to model cars and ships.

With the cars, we heated up a knife blade and, after putting the wheel on, flattened the end of the axle. The wheel was on AND would turn. With the model finished, we would roll it down a hill and shoot BB guns at it. By then we had learned the hard way to all shoot from the same side of the road. Bobby DeNiro in “Ronin” had nothin’ on us!

Which brings me to “the boat!” They used to make models of US warships you could put a battery in. It would float and the screws would turn to power it. We built one.

On THE day, before we put it in the water, we smeared some model glue on the superstructure and fixed a cherry bomb inside the hull. We hooked up the battery, put the superstructure on, lit the glue on fire and set the boat in a pond. Scampering around to get a right angle on our shots we were awestruck.

We saw an honest to God, US warship on fire, under power and streaming thick, black smoke as it steamed across the pond. We started firing and the BBs hitting the water recreated scenes from “Sink the Bismarck” with geysers of water spraying up around it.

My future ex-brother-in-law squeezed off a perfect shot and blew the bow off the boat which was then driven under water until it disappeared – spouting flames and smoke and leaving an oily residue behind on the water’s surface. It was AWESOME …

Did I mention we put a cherry bomb in it? Or that cherry bomb fuses are waterproof? Just before submerging, the fire must have hit the fuse because a moment after the boat hit the inky depths of Davy Jones locker, there was an ENORMOUS underwater explosion! We went crazy!! It was pure snakes, snails and puppy dog tails!

We spent a couple of years and a small fortune trying to do it again. No joy. But guns and fireworks? We were hooked and these remain fond memories. As we aged we moved on to .22s, 12 gauges and .45s. But over 40 years later the foundation remains.

Today, I don’t fear guns. They are work tools or a wonderful hobby. Perhaps if people spent time building memories instead of tearing down legacies there would be more – you know – diversity and tolerance.

But as long as gun laws are made by those who fear guns and not those who understand and appreciate them, Liberty is in jeopardy.