The Wandering Minstrel

How about a little diversion from all the mortgage chaos? Stare at this and decode the hidden message. Watch for about 10 seconds before you give up.

Psst . . . © Wandering Minstrel 2008. Permission to use with link credit.

Market tanks even more as Economic Recovery Act fails (miserably).

UPDATE: Swapped the earlier market snapshot for the session ending slump.

I sure am glad I dumped my American Express (AXP) last year . . .

In an effort to silence critics of their record on guns, the Obama Machine takes first steps toward becoming a police state.

Latest editorial blog from Wayne LaPierre:

Barack Obama says he’s not in favor of bringing back the “Fairness Doctrine,” legislation that would silence talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, and could even threaten the hosts of NRANews.com. Barack Obama says he doesn’t support it. Maybe that’s because he doesn’t need legislation to intimidate members of the press who disagree with him.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Obama has set up a rapid response network designed to strong-arm radio and television stations that dare to run programming that may be critical of “The One.” The campaign even provides “talking points” for followers of Obama to use when they protest the coverage of their candidate.

At best, this bullying of the media is an affront to the spirit of the First Amendment. But do we really believe that if Obama were president, he’d suddenly give up this tactic?

Obama has as much (or maybe as little) respect for the First Amendment as he does for the Second Amendment. For a guy who claims to be a constitutional scholar, he doesn’t seem to have a beginner’s grasp on the Bill of Rights.

Related:

Missouri Governor Accuses Obama of Conspiring to Violate Civil Rights

Obama seeks to take down NRA ads, threatens stations

Obama Campaign Tells TV Stations Not to Run NRA TV Ads

More Obama gangland tactics: Signs banned at Virginia rally today

Pete Brownell, the third-generation Brownell to be president of Brownell’s, a major gunsmithing and firearms supply firm, posts an important message for firearms enthusiasts.

September 26, 2008
Pete Talk About Guns

Dear Folks,

This year we’re facing one of the most pivotal Presidential elections in our country’s history and certainly one of the most hotly contested races in modern memory. These next 2 weeks are weeks of “Last Chances” as the election comes even closer on November 4. As all of you know, if you’re not registered you can’t vote. (Some states do allow same-day registration but to stay on the safe side, I’d go ahead and get it done if you haven’t already.)

If the past two Presidential elections are any indication, this years race will almost certainly come right down to the wire once again. The days of Reaganesque landslides are over. When you hear folks say that they don’t vote because their one vote won’t make a difference well…they do and just a handful of votes have decided who won the Presidency. Get out and register: it doesn’t matter if you affiliate yourself with the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Independents or any other party. Register and take a good hard look at each candidates views on the issues that impact you, and our industry the most. One of the most valuable items you’ll ever receive in your lifetime is that voter registration card.

Read the rest of Pete’s remarks.

Get your fellow sportsmen and shooters to register and vote - It’s really important this time.

Cross-posted at CB&D

I’ll discuss the first two here.

The first freedom is the freedom to speak our opinions without fear of reprisals. This weblog is an example of that freedom. You can disagree with me, but neither you nor the government can make me stop rendering my opinions.

The second freedom is the one where we have the right to keep and bear arms (think DC vs. Heller and SCOTUS). I deserve to keep a gun at all times in order to defend myself and my family from the insanely high violent crime rate. Unfortunately, where I live I am not afforded that right outside my home, even though I am a model citizen who has been approved by the CIA, FBI and the Department of Defense to possess critical knowledge in the performance of my job.

I intend to use freedom one in order to achieve the rights accorded to me under freedom two. Not the other way around.