Kerry: Bush making terrorists' job easier (assault weapons)

[Cocoa]

http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/002776.html#more

Why Is Bush Making Terrorists' Job Easier?

John Kerry issued the following statement today on the assault weapons ban, which is set to expire on Monday:

“Four years ago, George Bush said he’d stand with and protect America’s police officers by extending the assault weapons ban – which keeps the most dangerous assault weapons off our streets. The same weapons that America’s police officers want off our streets, not just to fight ordinary crime but to take on terrorists. In fact, an al Qaeda training manual recovered in Afghanistan included a chapter urging terrorists to get assault weapons in the United States. Why is George Bush making the job of the terrorists easier and making the job for America’s police officers harder?

more...

[daveskilt]

1. kick ass - GO JK!

more people need to state the obvious about El presidente fuckwit.

[Catfight]

2. GO KERRY GO! n/t

[Inland]

3. Terrorists get weaponry in US, thanks to lax laws and huge inventory

See this 2002 article from The Nation on how terrorists got their weapons in the US:
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20021202&s=montero

"Terrorists and gun smugglers like to buy guns in America because of the abundant inventory at gun shops and gun shows, and the laxity of US gun-law enforcement. Here are a few examples;"

[MrBenchley]

6. Another example...

"A training camp linked to Islamic militants has been operating in Alabama, and European law enforcement officials believe Muslim extremists were using it to prepare for a holy war.
British authorities also thought that militants from overseas were training in the United States to take advantage of America's gun laws, sources told ABCNEWS. The looming question for law enforcement is whether there is a connection between the camp and the al Qaeda terror network.
Bullet-riddled police cars and a school bus with mannequin targets are scattered around the property. Inside a huge shed is an equally macabre scene — shot-up mannequins, male and female, in domestic settings, some with red, blood-like stains on them. "

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/WNT_alabama_camp020725.html

Remember, after September 11, AshKKKroft fought hard to spy on libraries, but refused to let the FBI check gun purchase records or monitor gun shows...

[fob]

4. Good. Now here's the proper follow-up

JK: bush* is supporting the terraists with this decision and per his own bush* doctrine is "against us" bush* is a terraist. And it doesn't matter if he flip-flops and pushes for the ban to continue now, he's already given aid and comfort to the enemy.

[MrBenchley]

5. Good for you, John!!

It's a win win issue.

[codegreen]

7. why the hell hasn't this been a TV AD for 2 weeks now???

we are here to ask VEHEMENTLY, where are the leaders of our campaign?

[MrBenchley]

9. There HAVE been bigger fish to fry...

but I love the "72 hours" deadline....

And hilariously, if the GOP does cave and try to live up to what they already (falsely) promised they'd do, they'll have to accept the much tougher bill that's in the pipeline, since they won't have time to whittle away at it.

And if they don't, then they're shown publicly as the lying hypocrites they are. AGAIN.

[Cocoa]

12. like the "moment of truth" with swifites

"the moment of truth came and went..."

[MrBenchley]

14. Worth noting....

about the only bunch still pretending the slimeboatters aren't lying are the gun nuts....even Rush Limbaugh abandoned the sinking shits.....

[codegreen]

13. the only way they get shown to be anything in public is thru the media.

and the way to steer the media is through airing an AD. the media will discuss it, and the issue will be front and center.

[JI7]

8. GREAT MOVE connecting terrorism with this issue

[MrBenchley]

11. Exactly...

This hits directly at Chimpy's claim to be "keeping America safer."

Not to mention that it reminds us that the guy in cahoots with the Bin Laden family is also arming gangbangers with machine guns.

[Parche]

10. BAN

I hope he connects everything with Bush to terra ism
Bush does it and it seems to work with the uneducated
so why not Kerry

[MadamImAdam]

15. Kerry should hammer hard to get this gun ban enacted

I don't know why the Dems backed off gun control and gun bans in the first place. All he has to do is point out how well it is working in other democratic countries and prove to voters once and for all it is what we need to protect our citizens. It's about time this staple is back on the table.

[DoNotRefill]

18. heh...

because, despite MrBenchley's statements that 135% of the population supports gun control, people in the Democratic Party know that we keep getting our asses kicked on the issue.

"The last Congress also passed the Brady Bill and, in the crime bill, the ban on 19 assault weapons. I don't think it's a secret to anybody in this room that several members of the last Congress who voted for that aren't here tonight because they voted for it."

How many seats in Congress are you willing to lose to pass legislation that the VPC, a rabidly anti gun group, calls ineffective?


Want to GUARANTEE that Kerry loses? Push gun control.

[saigon68]

23. That's why Gore Won Tennessee and Arkansas

He also won Wisconsin by 6000 votes as oppossed to Mike Dukakis winning by 120,000

[MrBenchley]

25. Good thing "gun owning democrats" were such a big help...

oh wait, they were useless as tits on a bull....all they did was pass along right wing horseshit...like they're doing this year.

[DoNotRefill]

29. Yessir...

That's us, telling people to leave a divisive issue alone so that we can concentrate on issues that we'll win because we're both right on the issue and the issue itself is popular, instead of pushing an issue that's unpopular and has burned us REPEATEDLY in the past...

How DARE we suggest that the Party does something that's for it's own good????? Don't you people remember 1994? Do you want a repeat???

[MrBenchley]

32. Yeah, that's you, parroting right wing horseshit

"instead of pushing an issue that's unpopular "
Gee, it's a popular issue, as polls have shown again and again.

[DoNotRefill]

36. that's why at the last big national MMM in DC....

according to NPR, "several hundred" people showed up, right? For a national march? Hell, EarthFirst can generate more support than that when they call for HIV positive people blowing up dams.

Gun control is dead. It's a losing issue. So why do we keep sticking our dicks in the meat grinder?????

[MrBenchley]

41. "Gun control is dead. It's a losing issue."

Says you. But then you also wanted to pretend the VPC opposed the Assault Weapons Ban...and then wanted to pretend you put up a link to their site.

[DoNotRefill]

44. Please quote where I said the VPC opposed the AW ban.

did the link not work?

[MrBenchley]

24. What a pantload, refill....

Are you really going to pretend that the VPC opposes a ban on assault weapons?

"Want to GUARANTEE that Kerry loses? Push gun control."
Yeah, otherwise the gun lobby might lie their asses off to right wing shitheads...oh wait, they were going to do that anyway.

[DoNotRefill]

26. WooHoo!!!! The Pantload Bomb Drops!!!!

MrBenchley, I love you!!!! :loveya:

[MrBenchley]

33. No better way to describe your posts, refill....

So do you really want to pretend the VPC opposes the Assault Weapons ban?

[DoNotRefill]

35. I didn't say that they oppose it...

just that they say it's cosmetic.

[MrBenchley]

38. You certainly implied they opposed it

apparently based on the one quote that can be teased out of context from an NPR interview.

"they say it's cosmetic."
<sarcasm>Yeah, here they are saying that very thing...</sarcasm>


http://www.vpc.org/

Yeah, "pantload" is just the term for your posts, all right.

[DoNotRefill]

39. Didn't I provide a link to their site?

so that people could read what they wrote and evaluate it for themselves?

[biftonnorton]

21. I think it's because apparently gun control's not working to reduce crime

England's gun crime rate apparently went up after enacting gun ban. I found links for this, but they were mainly on rightie websites, so figured I shouldn't bother posting linx. I'm not too well-versed on whether anyone's made causal connections between reduction in gun crime and the enactment of AWB, so this is just opinion, and I could be wrong about the facts. I feel it's bad that JK picked the AWB to talk about, because I've heard the AWB mainly deals with limiting access to certain guns (by changing tax fees on them so only "level III" certification holders can own automatic weapons) and modifications of guns that don't really keep them from killing effectively. As has been said many times before, the AWB deals mainly with limiting cosmetic aspects. I find it hard to believe that prohibiting sale of 15-round magazines stops anyone from hurting people by emptying a 10-round mag, reloading with a fresh mag in less than one second, and emptying another 10 rounder. The issue appears to be a non-issue, and JK's seizing on it was an ineffective move in the eyes of those who understand guns. Besides, W said he'd sign the ban if it made it to his desk, apparently knowing it didn't stand a chance of making it there.

Edited for spelling

[DoNotRefill]

22. Bifton, you're wrong...

the AWB has nothing to do with machineguns. That's the National Firearms Act of 1934, which was recently struck down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (that bastion of ultraconservative jurisprudence) as Unconstitutional in U.S. v. Stewart, although the Federal Government is still enforcing it while it winds it's way through the courts.

The AWB bans certain features from semi-auto weapons. It bans flash supressors, bayonet lugs, and folding stocks. So, the gun industry took off the flash suppressors and put on muzzle breaks, removed the bayonet lugs, and "pinned" the folding stocks, and started marketing the new, AWB-exempt "post ban" rifle. It's called "compliance". The net result: "post ban" rifles are insanely popular, far more popular than the original "assault weapons" were in the first place. this probably has something to do with the effects of prohibition generally. They're just as powerful as the old assault weapons. And the only way that they're less dangerous is that you can't put a bayonet on the end. The result of that is that the number of criminally motivated random drive-by bayonetings has dropped from a high of zero incidents a year to the current low of zero incidents a year.

[bobbyboucher]

27. YeeeHaw, Goody, goody, More banana clips for me. Sheeeeeuuut!

Can't wait to plug sumtin.

[DoNotRefill]

30. are you having trouble finding "banana clips" now?

If you are, let me know, and I'll tell you where you can find as many as you want and can afford.

[biftonnorton]

42. Thanks for the info

Nice to get a summary. I had just heard bits and pieces before. Thank god we've been able to put a dent in the drive-by bayonetings.

[MrBenchley]

28. Not the phony British bloodbath AGAIN!

This is a staple of faith among trigger happy gumps everywhere, no matter how often it's debunked and shown to be horseshit.

"I've heard the AWB mainly deals with limiting access to certain guns (by changing tax fees on them so only "level III" certification holders can own automatic weapons) and modifications of guns that don't really keep them from killing effectively."
What a shame that there's no place on the web where you can look up proposed bills and read them for yourself...oh wait, there is. And not a "rightie place" either.

[ElementaryPenguin]

16. Perfect! Kerry beginning to kick major ass!

:bounce:

[democrat_patriot]

17. Keep it up John. Bush makes it easy for terrorists

to kill Americans!!!!

Repeat as necessary.

[DoNotRefill]

19. This is playing with fire....

because Bush can say "We will not surrender freedom to the terrorists and let them win."

Gun control plays well in parts of the Northeast (NOT Vermont) and California. For the rest of the country, it's the kiss of death.

There are 100 million legal gun owners in the US, ALL of whom are eligible to vote. Pushing gun control is a great way to ensure a sizeable fraction of them are highly pissed at our candidate and highly motivated to vote against him. How many people are we expecting to turn out this time?

This is a highly divisive issue, even at DU. Kerry should let it lie still.

[MrBenchley]

31. What a pantload....

"There are 100 million legal gun owners in the US, ALL of whom are eligible to vote."
And how many are having a spasm over the prospect of assault weapons? Damn few.

"Pushing gun control is a great way to ensure a sizeable fraction of them are highly pissed at our candidate and highly motivated to vote against him."
Good thing groups like the Gun Owners of America and the NRA are being neutral...no wait...they're lying their asses off about Kerry and Democrats.

Meanwhile, if it wasn't the lunatic fringe wanting assault weapons, the GOP would be trumpeting theiur resistance to the ban...but instead they're hiding behind phony proecdural crap.

[DoNotRefill]

34. My congressman is glad it's not coming up for a vote.

and yes, he's a Democrat. And yes, he voted for it last time out. And yes, he damn near lost his job because of it, but he was lucky.

Bill Clinton has said that passing the AW ban cost us seats in congress. Do you deny this? How many more seats are you willing to lose over this issue?

[MrBenchley]

40. And do you want to provide the context of Clinton's remark...

It was because the corrupt gun lobby poured millions into the GOP coffers to push the dishonest "Contract on America"...which contains not a single word about guns.

[DoNotRefill]

45. If the 1994 losses weren't caused by the AW ban...

then why did clinton say that it cost us seats in congress?

[MrBenchley]

46. Because gun lobby money funded Republican horseshit

as it has ever since, refill.....

Feel free to point out any races around the country where GOP candidates were saying "Clinton and the Democrats took away your assault weapons." I doubt you'll find even one.

So tell us, what did Newt's "Contract on America" say about guns?

[DoNotRefill]

47. And if you want to energize the RW base.....

pushing gun control is the guaranteed way to do it.....

[MrBenchley]

53. Too fucking funny, refill....

Before you wanted to pretend the VPC opposed the AWB...now do you really want to pretend the gun loony groups aren't already "energizing" the scum of the earth?

[DoNotRefill]

57. Please link to where I said the VPC opposes the AWB.

Oh, wait, you can't, because I didn't say any such thing, and you know it. You, I, and anybody who reads these threads know that what I said was that the VPC says the AWB is COSMETIC. I provided a link to the VPC .pdf file where they say EXACTLY that. Why do you feel the need to distort and fabricate things? Do you REALLY think it helps the anti-gun argument???

The "gun loony groups" don't know where all the "gun loonies" are to inform them of what's going on. The NRA has what, 3.5 million members or thereabouts? And there are what, 80-100 million gun owners out there? That leaves AT LEAST 50 million eligible voters (please note, it's a lot more, but I'm trying to offer figures that are incontrovertable, lest you go off on yet ANOTHER tangent) that are NOT on the NRA mailing lists. What effect do you think seeing Kerry on the news pushing for gun control will have on that extremely large number of potential voters? If even 2% of them are swayed to vote against Kerry for pushing gun control, that's a million votes.

[MrBenchley]

60. You certainly tried to imply it....

but if you want to pretend you didn't, no skin off my nose. But as for distorting and fabricating things...I lerave that to the phony RKBAers, refill. You guys do nothing else but.

The "gun loony groups" don't know where all the "gun loonies" are to inform them of what's going on.
Yeah, ri-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght.

"What effect do you think seeing Kerry on the news pushing for gun control will have on that extremely large number of potential voters? "
Since most of them also want gun control and assault weapons off the market, it will have a very good effect.

[DoNotRefill]

69. Yeah, right.

"you certainly tried to imply it" = "OK, you didn't say what I claim you said, but it's not a lie, really, because...because...because...."

[FeebMaster]

20. Oh yeah, terrorists love their semi-auto AK knockoffs.

I'm surprised there was nothing in there about the streets running red with blood.

[Radius]

37. Big Mistake, IMHO..(nt)

[NickB79]

43. Well, he's about to kiss MN goodbye

We're currently running neck-and-neck up here between Bush and Kerry, and gun control is a HUGE issue up here with our massive hunting population. We just put an amendment into our state constitution a few yrs ago to guarantee us a right to hunt and fish! Any talk about federal gun control is political suicide outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and could likely tip the balance to Bush if Kerry keeps pushing this. Most of my family, who would otherwise vote for Kerry, has said they won't because of his gun control background, and even I'm hesitant to vote for him (I almost certainly will suck it up and vote Kerry though, ABB, ya know?).

Bad, bad, bad move on his part.

[Kolesar]

48. The NRA is going to smash Kerry no matter what he does

I just heard that they have $7 million dedicated to this election. The NRA is just a GOP mouthpiece who serves to inflame people on the gun issue, mis-frame the issue, and describe a whole world of big-government conspiracy. All of which is the Democrat's fault, of course.

However, at this time I think guns is a losing issue for the Dems. It will have to wait.

[DoNotRefill]

49. The NRA can say whatever they want, but if the voters aren't energized...

it doesn't mean squat. Kerry pushing for gun control is one thing that is virtually guaranteed to energize that (large) segment of the voting population.

With everything that's riding on this election, this issue shouldn't have ever come up.

[MrBenchley]

62. Too too funny....

The NRA will be spending a fortune trying to piss on Kerry and the Democrats no matter what Kerry says.

"Kerry pushing for gun control is one thing that is virtually guaranteed to energize that (large) segment of the voting population."
Funny, they didn't seem energized by pResident Toot paying lip service to the ban, isn't it?

[DoNotRefill]

68. Bush's "support" of the ban....

is rightly seen as a political ploy on his part to have his cake and eat it too. He can say "I support the ban, and said I'd sign it if it was sent to me", while also saying "the ban didn't get renewed". It's a win-win for him.

There are a LOT of Democrats in Congress that are glad that this isn't coming up, too, because that way they also can have their cake and eat it too. They can say "I voted for it in '94, and would have voted for it again, but it never came up." This way, they don't have the pro-gun folks gunning for them, since it's moot now. I do volunteer work for one of them.

[MrBenchley]

71. And that's the reason why gun loonies weren't "energized"

because they love pieces of shit like Dumbya and Cheney. Dishonest fuckwits like that are all that peddle this bogus "gun rights" crap.

[DoNotRefill]

74. gee, MrBenchley, are you referring to me as a "dishonest fuckwit"?

eom

[FatSlob]

86. Don't pay attention to him...nobody else does.

MrBenchley's vitriol and rantings have made him largely irrelevant. The more insults he throws around, the more people ignore him. He makes the occasional valid point, but they are lost in the mess that is his anger.

[NickB79]

51. When did NRA and gun owner become synonomous?

I am NOT an NRA member; there are many policies of theres I cannot stand. There are 100 million gun owners in the US, yet only 3-4 million NRA members. Even without the NRA, I and millions more like me can make logical decisions on our own, and that includes cringing when we hear Kerry talk about more gun control.

I've been arguing about this this whole gun control issue with some guys on hunting message boards lately. My position is that, even as a strong supporter of gun ownership, I would rather fight Kerry politically on gun control AFTER he's elected than let Bush get re-elected. My point is that, under Bush, our economy is so bad that I've already had to sell one gun and a couple of riflescopes to pay bills. At least if Kerry can get the economy to recover, I can fight on my feet. With Bush, I might be able to theoretically own guns, but I'll be too poor to do so. Bush will claim he supports gun owner's rights, but will bleed us dry with his piss-poor economic plan.

[Kolesar]

56. the NRA claims to speak for gun owners

Even if they don't. You obviously have examined this issue more than I have. I think it will take real leadership to craft an assault weapons bill. A few curt remarks during the presidential campaign hardly counts as comprehensive leadership. I am cringing too. This will only lose some voters who would otherwise respond to populist Democratic messages.

[54anickel]

59. Good strategy. Have the same thing here in WI. Lot's of gun loving

relatives that seem to think they have to vote for Shrub to "keep their guns". There are other ways to fight that battle, as you pointed out. I know a few gun enthusiasts who are against Bush as they see the Patriot Act a much bigger threat to their arsenal and liberties. It is sad that so many these days have become single-issue voters. It's rather silly, if they would just stop to think there are other ways to fight. The presidency is not a dictatorship - yet.

[MrBenchley]

63. About the time "gun owners" began chanting NRA talking points

"There are 100 million gun owners in the US, yet only 3-4 million NRA members."
Good thing the NRA doesn't have a radio station or websites, or magazines all funded with blood money.

So we're only supposed to pay attention to numbers when we can pretend the NRA is a harmless pussycat, but not when 80% of all voters want assault weapons kept off the market....

[LisaL]

52. Is he not allowed to stand for something at all?

He can not possibly please everybody. It's simply not going to happen. Bad move on his part? He has been very consistent on his issue, do you want him to change to please somebody? Well, somebody is going to be pissed no matter what!

[NickB79]

54. I just want him to keep quiet on this particular issue until after

He's elected President. It's one thing to stand for something, but quite another to yell it from the rooftops.

[MrBenchley]

55. Not according to our "pro gun democrats"

who claim to be only looking out for the "good of the party" as they actively pimp for GOP legislative priorities.

Meanwhile this an issue that will resonate well with voters...80% of whom want these guns off the market....AND which shows up perfectly what a sham pResident Toot and the GOP's claim to "make America safer" is.

[DoNotRefill]

58. pissing off the 100 million potential voters that own guns at a pop....

is a good way to GUARANTEE that he will not get elected.


Bench seems to think we're working against the Democrat's interests by saying that this issue should be left alone. From my perspective, I'm working in Kerry's interests by saying he should let it go. I firmly believe that this one issue costs us more votes than any other issue. I also believe that if it weren't for Gore's FOID card position in 2000, he'd be in the White House today. I'm not alone in this, there are published reports that Gore strategists admitted this after the election.

[MrBenchley]

61. The only people pissed off by this are the lunatic fringe

who are spanking their monkeys over assault weapons.

[DoNotRefill]

65. We shall see....

but I really think you're wrong.

I suppose it doesn't matter what either of us think, but you should expect a chorus of "I told you so"s after the election if it comes out badly.

[MrBenchley]

66. We already have...

"you should expect a chorus of "I told you so"s after the election if it comes out badly."
I sure as shit don't expect any of the trigger-happy yahoos pimping for the GOP to blame the NRA's blood money and propaganda if it does, even though that will play a bigger part.

But then who gives a crap what "pro gun democrats" say? It's not like they got anything worth hearing now.

[GizDog]

50. 4 out of 5 terrorists say

they would win this war if they could only find cheap and plentiful bayonet lugs.

[mairceridwen]

64. Randi Rhodes

was talking about the assault ban expiration.

One argument that she brought up was how the gun-nuts
claim that we *need* to be prepared to match wits with the
government and their weapons


My feeling is that if the government really wants to do us in,
assault weapons aren't going to be much help. They'll just
engineer a biological attack and blame it on some brown people.

I suppose the NRA could start pushing for the right to bear
biological weapons. Could you imagine?


"heya cletus i done drank somethin outta yer fridge and now i
don feel so good"


I like how homophobic conservatives are all bent on preserving a
*traditional* definition of marriage, but not a *traditional*
definition of "arms"

[MrBenchley]

67. You know, this "I need my guns for the revolution"

rubbish seems to be ingrained in the trigger happy.

The sad part is, every once in a while one of these charmers gets overheated and actually shoots a postman, or worse...

[CarinKaryn]

70. Win - Win - Win situation for Sen. Kerry

He gets to come out strong against terrorism, bash the shrub for his inaction on the AWB and still shows (through his recent meet and greets at skeet shooting ranges) that he supports the 2nd Amendment and sportsmen's rights.

[MrBenchley]

72. Exactly.

Plus it isolates the Republicans as the party of the lunatic fringe...

[derby378]

73. Not exactly...

Here's my take...

Preserving the reproductive freedoms of women - a resounding Yes.

Guaranteeing the civil rights of gay, bisexual, and transgendered Americans - green light.

Freedom of the press, speech, religious convictions - okey-dokey to all three.

The right to associate with our fellow Americans without being spied on - Hell, yeah.

Access to a trial by a jury of your peers - it's a no-brainer.

The right to keep and bear non-hunting and non-sporting arms - hold it right there, buster!!

You see the dichotomy there? We Democrats are campaigning for greater freedom for Americans. That's one reason why I can't see why we'd turn a blind eye to one critical portion of the Bill of Rights in the interest of a false sense of security.

Maybe I'm an idealist, but we don't need tougher gun laws - we need smarter gun laws, not to mention smarter gun owners. I don't think we need to mandate getting a license for a squirrel rifle, like Chuck Schumer seems to indicate.

It's all about freedom - and freedom is what Democrats are all about.

So please, what am I missing? Let's talk.

[MrBenchley]

76. Yeah, Somalia's a real hotbed of freedom...

Even the kids there are armed to the teeth...

[BiggJawn]

75. Oh, boy, I can just hear it now.....

"Hey, Jawnn! what's this I hear about that Kerry wantin' to take my guns away like that guy who 'invented the internet' wanted to?"

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Rush Limbaugh was talking about it today...I thought you said Kerry was FOR hunters and target shooters..."

Thanks a butt-load, John! the AWB was bullshit in the FIRST place.

Again, the Democrats let the GOP call the tune and set the tempo of the Dance.....

[MrBenchley]

77. Wow...guess Democrats better not count on that dittohead vote....

"Rush Limbaugh was talking about it today...and clearly anything a racist junkie says is something every american needs to pretend is a serious issue...."

[BiggJawn]

78. Remember what cost Gore a lot of "swing votes" last time?

"Single-issue" voters who didn't particularly give a shit for Dumbya, but were scared juiceless that Gore was "gonna take my guns".

Here we go again....Charlton Heston must be soiling himself more than usual right about now....

[MrBenchley]

79. Abortion, labor unions, Clinton's hum job, inventing the internet....

Right wing loonies are full of shit. Fuck them and the horse they rode in on.

"Charlton Heston must be soiling himself"
The old scum bag called for a lynch mob to string up Al Gore...I hope he popped a blood vessel when he heard the news.

[Kolesar]

81. Coal may have cost Gore West Virginia

I have heard both guns and coal mentioned. WV is very bible-belt also, Bush's fake religiosity may have cost Gore WV.

[MrBenchley]

82. Exactly....

Doesn't mean that Gore was in the wrong on any of those issues, either....

[MrBenchley]

80. Kick 'em again, john....

If the GOP is going to pander to criminals and loonies they might as well be kicked for it.

[MrBenchley]

83. Utterly gratuitous kick...

"ST. LOUIS -- John Kerry linked U.S. assault weapon sales to worries about terrorism Friday and said President Bush was bowing to the National Rifle Association by not pushing to keep alive an expiring ban.
If Bush is serious about fighting terrorism, the Democratic presidential candidate said, he would extend the 10-year ban on sales of 19 kinds of semiautomatic assault weapons, due to expire Monday.
"In the al-Qaida manual on terror, they were telling people to go out and buy assault weapons, to come to America and buy assault weapons," Kerry said. "Every law enforcement officer in America doesn't want us selling assault weapons in the streets of America. But George Bush, he says, 'Well, I'm for that.' "
But Kerry pointed out that the president has not pressured Congress to pass the measure. He said Bush was caving in to the NRA, and "America's streets will not be as safe because of a choice that George Bush is making."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/1/177862-2111-010.html

Take it to 'em, John...

[MrBenchley]

84. And another gratuitous kick for Gutless George....

"At the stroke of midnight Monday, TEC-9s and AK-47s will be blue-light specials in the nation's gun shops -- and it will be but a matter of time before fresh blood spills on America's streets. The 1993 massacre at 101 California Street in San Francisco may be déjà vu all over again.
Military-style semiautomatic weapons are splendid killing machines. The federal government has no business making it any easier for terrorists and wackos to get hold of them. And yet Congress and the president are about to let the 10-year ban on assault weapons expire.
The end of the ban is a triumph of cynicism over courage. No, President Bush didn't flip-flop on assault weapons. But he's been shamelessly two-faced.
Running for president in 2000, Bush said he'd support extending the ban if it reached his desk. But the president who shoved tax cuts through Congress with both hands hasn't lifted a finger for the gun ban. Republican House leaders, with a wink and a nod, sat on the bill."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/9644540.htm

[Deja Q]

85. RIGHT ON, KERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Speak up loud and proud!

:yourock:

How can * be against terrorism when he wants people to have assault weapons? :crazy:

[FeebMaster]

87. What do assault weapons have to do with terrorism? (nt)

[slackmaster]

88. Has ANYONE ever bothered to check the veracity of this claim?

Here are links to translations of the AQ manual:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/trainingmanual.htm

http://cryptome.org/alq-terr-man.htm#7

No references to "assault weapons".

Nothing specific about buying firearms in the USA.

The story is an urban legend.

I'm sorry to have to say this, but Senator Kerry is mistaken.