Anti-Obama gun enthusiasts proudly display Confederate flags.

[onehandle]

Tax payer money and police officer time wasted to watch park.
____________________________

PORTLAND -- From a distance, the gathering at Back Cove looked like an ordinary social gathering on a sunny Sunday afternoon. But up close, it was clear this was no ordinary barbecue. Most of the 125 people who showed up were carrying some kind of gun.

They were there to show their support for their constitutional right to bear arms at a rally organized by University of Southern Maine freshman Shane Belanger. The event featured some flag waving and anti-Obama posters. A Jeep with what appeared to be a mounted machine gun was on display. Mostly people stood around, talking and eating.

"This is a pretty good turnout," said Belanger, who left his gun at home in Caribou. At the same time, about 30 people gathered nearby to protest the rally and advocate for gun control. They lasted about an hour, while the gun enthusiasts stayed an hour later.

About a half-dozen Portland Police officers were on hand. Lt. Don Krier said other than some confusion among participants about where to gather at the beginning, the rally and counterprotest had gone off smoothly. "Our goal is to keep the pathways open," said Krier.



Above: Jim Millard, protests in front of a truck at a gun-rights rally Sunday at a park in Portland.

http://www.kjonline.com/news/gun-enthusiasts-display-weapons-at-rally_2010-04-25.html

[LiberalLoner]

1. Why do these idiots believe the D's are responsible for the lost jobs and

terrible economy and wealth inequity? Why? Don't they see it's been the R's who are always catering to the richest corporations? WTF is wrong with these people - besides being racist and misogynistic and hateful I mean?

[gorfle]

11. They are ignorant.

Why do these idiots believe the D's are responsible for the lost jobs and terrible economy and wealth inequity? Why? Don't they see it's been the R's who are always catering to the richest corporations? WTF is wrong with these people - besides being racist and misogynistic and hateful I mean?

It's really quite simple. They believe in independence. Independence to them means providing for yourself - providing your own income, providing your own health care, and providing for your own security. They see accepting charity as the ultimate shame, and they are deeply resentful of government-enforced charity. They also tend to be religious, and thus it is no surprise that they tend not to be critical thinkers.

Consequently they don't look to deeply at their elected officials. So long as their candidates talk a good game about family values (god), guns, defense, and anti-welfare (and thus pro-corporate), they will vote for them even if it is against their own interest to do so. They don't think far enough ahead to see the conflict of interest.

[LiberalLoner]

17. Thanks. So they believe they will never be old or sick or need help...rop

I've noticed a lot of people are that way. Some of my relatives look at me with my chronic kidney disease due to doctor error, my troubles with extensive endometriosis over the years, autoimmune diseases, etc. and say, "well, I'm healthy because I eat right/have good habits etc." Meaning they look at me, at stuff I was born with or that doctors did to me, no fault of my own, and they BLAME me anyway.

Most people who are healthy believe they always will be healthy. They can not imagine themselves ever needing help.

These people apparently are incredibly stupid cows who completely lack the ability to anticipate the future or use their imaginations.

Grrr...sorry for the rant, just upset this morning about stuff.

[gorfle]

25. Yup.

Also, there is this:

Most conservatives that I know (and most of my family is) are fine with the idea that government's role is to provide services for its citizens that no one can afford individually.

So they understand and support the idea of paying for military services, police services, fire services, legal services, and school services, because they understand that these are things that almost no one could afford on their own, and yet they are essential to civilized society.

What has not dawned on them, yet, is that we are rapidly approaching the point where medical care will be beyond the ability for most people to pay for, too.

Most employed people are insulated from this eventuality, because they have insurance, they don't realize the full cost of the insurance (most have employer-subsidized insurance, so they don't see the full cost coming out of their paychecks), and they don't realize the true cost of the medical services they use.

For example, with our first c-section child delivery, our out-of-pocket expense for the $13,000 bill was $100.

But insurance is losing ground in being able to cover expenses. More and more people are filing for bankruptcy because of medical bills. Right now something like 60% of all bankruptcies are due to medical bills. And of those people, 80% had health insurance!

So we are rapidly approaching the point where insurance or no, most people just aren't going to be able to pay for major medical expenses.

The conservative crowd just hasn't woken up to that fact yet.

[Tejas]

54. Until then, stay out've my wallet.

[shadowrider]

2. This was locked once.

[baldguy]

6. Some people can't handle the truth.

[shadowrider]

8. I said nothing about whether or not it's the truth

I said this thread was locked once.

Please don't put words in my mouth

[GreenStormCloud]

9. That's why Gun Control Advocates always argue from emotion, not facts.

GCAs just cant handle the truth.

[baldguy]

12. Is that why guns' rights supporters always misrepresent the 2nd amendment?

[shadowrider]

13. Since you're obviously a Constitutional Scholar

please educate us, the unwashed, as to what the meaning really is.

I'll wait.

[sharesunited]

22. It was to reassure skeptics about voluntary membership in the Union.

It is now moot and obsolete, by virtue of the American Civil War.

Been there, done that.

Never again.

[Callisto32]

24. So, membership has been proven compulsory, once you join.

This is good....why?

[sharesunited]

26. Why did Lincoln seek to defeat the Confederacy and not simply let them go their own way?

A single nation was forged through that experience, which no one shall put asunder.

[Callisto32]

53. All nations eventually fail.

By saying "YOU CAN'T EVER, EVER LEAVE!!!!!!" you just assure that it will be violent.

The opposite of civilized, no?

[GreenStormCloud]

28. It hasn't been repealed, so it is still the law. N/T

[shadowrider]

31. I gotta be honest with you

your posts are always good for an excellent chuckle

[sharesunited]

34. Amused is good. Enlightened is better.

Wounded creatures are amusing to some folk.

[shadowrider]

36. If by "Enlightened" you mean I voluntarily give up my right to self-defense

by using a weapon, I'll remain UNenlightened.

[sharesunited]

37. Yes, you will remained unenlighted for as long as you think you are safer with gun proliferation.

[GreenStormCloud]

27. SCOTUS has already decided. You lost. Get over it. N/T

[sharesunited]

29. It isn't something to get over. It is something to revisit and get right next time.

[GreenStormCloud]

32. Ain't gonna happen.

There are now 41 shall-issue states. That is a hyper-majority of the states that are pro-gun. Only 9 left that aren't shall-issue. Your side doesn't have the political strength.

[sharesunited]

35. Manufacture and sale remain excellent topics of potential jurisprudence to fix this.

[GreenStormCloud]

46. You still have 41 states against your point of view. That's a lot of states. N/T

[Tejas]

56. 1st Amendment will go right after that.

[onehandle]

43. Are you saying that he's a Sore/Loserman?

Hmm... Where have I heard that?

SCOTUS just said that corporations have unlimited financial freedom to own our government.

Democracy lost. We should just get over it.

[GreenStormCloud]

47. Your choice of words, not mine.

The decision on corporate speech is not a guns topic. There are other forums for that.

[onehandle]

38. I made an alteration as per mod suggestion. nt

[CBGLuthier]

3. Proving their point once again that it isn't about race. It's about sedition.

"Y'all can have a black prezident. We'ns gonna form a new country, Whitesylvania."

[Deep13]

15. Right, that's all.

:wtf:

[Magleetis]

4. It's not about guns

It's not about taxes or socialism or communism or health care.

[jeepnstein]

20. Right!

It's not about any of the issues they're talking about. It's all about the GOP and it's money machine getting back into power. Since they pretty much have used up the "Religious Right" now they're on to pumping smoke up the Tea Partier's skirts. It's all about money, serious money, and the people who can afford to buy their politicians by the dozen. The Tea Party is just a way of using a wedge issue to regain GOP control.

[GreenStormCloud]

5. Does onehandle get a volume discount on those broad brushes? N/T

[shadowrider]

7. Charter member of the "Broad Brush" Club

[gorfle]

10. Constitutionally protected arms combined with Constitutionally protected speech!

Constitutionally protected arms combined with Constitutionally protected speech!

You may not agree with either, but that is what makes America great.

[Travis Coates]

49. The Constituion doesn't "protect" anything

But I get your drift

[Deep13]

14. Obama is the most pro-gun president in memory.

He is the only president I can think of who has actually signed legislation that EXPANDS gun rights, specifically to allow CCW in national parks.

In '04 Bush promised he would sign the AWB renewal if Congress passed it.

Clinton of course did sign the '94 AWB into law.

Bush Sr. banned importation of some firearms.

Reagan may not have allowed gun rights to be reduced, but he never expanded them.

[GreenStormCloud]

30. Your memory is badly flawed.

Bush signed at least two pro-gun bills. He signed the bill that outlawed local governments from confiscating guns after a disaster. He also signed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which Obama voted against.

Obama signed the guns-in-parks because it was a rider to a credit card reform act.

Reagan signed a bill that greatly expanded gun rights, called Firearms Owners Protection Act. http://www.hardylaw.net/FOPA.html
Among other things it removed the 5-day wait for a handgun, and allowed people to transport firearms through a state if the gun was unloaded and locked away in the trunk. It made other reforms to the 1968 Gun Control Act.

Obama has supported making the AWB permenant, is against concealed carry, voted against the PLCAA (See above), voted for the Kennedy Amendment in 2005, and has supported numerous other gun-control positions. He is extremely anti-gun but is smart enough to know that it is a political loser.

[Deep13]

33. okay, I guess so. nt

[GreenStormCloud]

45. Facts can be very inconvenient things sometimes. N/T

[Deep13]

48. I said you were right. Don't be a dick about it. nt

[GreenStormCloud]

50. Sorry, but I did not interpret "I guess so" as being an admission.

To me it sounded like a dismissal. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[onehandle]

39. Thank you for supporting the anti-Obama, pro-Bush view at Democratic Underground.

I suppose someone has to.

Several someones.

[shadowrider]

41. Stating fact is now considered anti-Obama?

Sheesh, who woulda guessed

[X_Digger]

42. Don'tcha know? Facts are kryptonite to onehandle.

How dare you piss in his pool of ignorance! He works very hard to maintain it.

[friendly_iconoclast]

59. We're not supposed to disturb the faithful with facts n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

58. If there's something inaccurate in his post, please point it out. We'll wait...

Looks like your Memory Hole is broken, and those pesky little facts just can't be suppressed.

Heh.

[Ian David]

16. Words have consequences

[rrneck]

18. Well,

what's really important is to get Confederate flag plastered up there again and associate it with gun owners.

New caption, same bullshit message.

[X_Digger]

19. Wharrrgarble!

[Callisto32]

23. LOLZ!

[one-eyed fat man]

21. Who are these people?

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/neil-cavuto-interviews-nate-whigham-black-tea-party-leader/

http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/04/15/black-tea-party-member/

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/black-conservative-tea-party-441024.html

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/09/black_tea_party_express_tour_t.html


We understand you HATE guns and we understand you HATE all gun owners, but while you swing that racist tar brush, you are ignoring all the racists in the Democratic party's history that filled that bucket for you. For almost 100 years after the Civil War the Klan was to the Democratic party in Georgia like IRA was to Sinn Fein.

Your single-minded hatred and vituperation are as obvious as the worst you attribute to those with whom you disagree.

[onehandle]

40. Yes, bringing up ancient history of the Democratic party.

Hmm...

And you don't know me.

[jazzhound]

44. "And you don't know me"

On the contrary, we have come to know you very well.

[one-eyed fat man]

51. Where were you?

Lester Maddox was passing out axe handles? There is nothing ancient about 1964 and the violent opposition to the Civil Rights Act by the Democratic party in Georgia.

In case you don't remember the 1966 election, ol' Lester got handed the governor's seat by the Democratic party. With no candidate achieving a majority, under the law at that time the legislature selected the governor from the top two finishers. Since it was overwhelmingly dominated by Democrats, all of whom had been required to sign a Democratic loyalty oath which required them to support Democrats only, Maddox became Governor, serving from 1967 to 1971.

And you have made your position plenty clear! When it comes to gun owners your posts exemplify "NO SLUR LEFT BEHIND!" Or does calling people 'morons' or branding them all 'MvVeigh wannabees' pass for urbane sophistication in Atlanta these days?

[shadowrider]

52. It wasn't only Georgia

[Tejas]

55. Yes, that pesky 94 AWB just won't

go away.

Not to mention how long it took for the anti-RKBA ideas to disappear from the whitehouse.gov website.




Oh wait, that was only a few months ago.....

[friendly_iconoclast]

57. Sometimes truth it just so damned *inconvenient*, isn't it? n/t

[proteus_lives]

60. We do, sadly.

You're a one-trick pony with a hate for things that you can't control.

[RandomHero]

61. Is it just me

Am I the only person who finds it very offensive that whoever put this post together decided to put picture of Timothy McVeigh over the Pro-Gun guys? Leaving alone the fact that McVeigh was a fall guy, you seem to want to make a direct conection between domestic terrorism and the desire of the people to maintain a basic freedom and right.

I could just be over reacting to a joke that was in very poor taste.

RH

[jazzhound]

62. No, it's not just you.

This is a good example of onehandle's below-the-belt style. I guess he feels that it's a good strategy --- I believe it backfires in the long run.