Tag: gun nuts
Vietnam War Draft Dodger Who Befouled Himself to Avoid Military Service Will Be GOP Rep’s Guest for State of the Union Speech
“I am excited to have a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the House Chamber to hear from President Obama,” [Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas] said in a statement released Monday morning. “After the Address I’m sure Ted will have plenty to say.”
That’s assuming Nugent can hold his tongue during the speech. Either way, it won’t be the first time President Obama’s played to an ornery crowd.
Nugent and President Obama have some history, too.
In April, 2012, the Secret Service called Nugent in for a talking-to after he delivered some unnerving comments at an NRA convention in St. Louis, Mo.
“If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again,” Nugent blared, “I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.”
After meeting with Nugent a few days later, the Secret Service declared the situation “resolved.” And that may be so, but his self-imposed deadline has not yet passed.
To Kill a Movement to Replace the Mockingbird
I had to read this twice to make sure it wasn’t satire. NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer is slamming efforts to change Florida’s state bird to one more unique than the mockingbird. Florida shares its current state bird with Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas and Hammer wants to keep it that way.
The outspoken Hammer, inducted by former Gov. Jeb Bush into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, has devoted a lot of thought to the subject. Even though the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suggests the osprey as a better choice, Hammer is adamant.
“They can be seen on any given day in any area of the state by children and adults alike,” Hammer explained…
She also likes the fact that mockingbirds are willing to fight other birds, even larger ones, that might threaten their nests.
“They are very protective of their family and of their territory,” she said.
She also finds their ability to mimic other bird songs and even various sounds highly entertaining. On her home territory, at the state Capitol Building, she has noticed mockingbirds mimicking the sound of ringing cell phones.
They’re so convincing “you will see lobbyists and other people reaching for their cell phones,” she said, chuckling.
O.K., but what about the endangered Florida scrub jay?
Supporters of the scrub jay boasted about how gentle it is, how it will eat peanuts right out of a person’s hand.
Hammer was unmoved.
“Begging for food isn’t sweet,” she testified in a committee hearing. “It’s lazy and it’s a welfare mentality.”
Maybe Hammer identifies with the mockingbird because of its violent personality. Mockingbirds are known to dive-bomb people, dogs, cats, squirrels, and anything that come close to its nest. Some research even suggests the birds can identify certain people and make a point to attack them. Sounds a lot like Hammer.
