presidential power

[newkahrman]

I have to admit I do not know a great deal about politics. Can anyone tell me if obama would be able to do things that the next president couldn't undo? Could any of his CHANGE be permanent? How could the democratic party pick this guy. He apparently fell out of the sky into the senate and everyone is okay with that. How can so many people not care about his background? I think they are brainwashed.

Keep VA Red

 

[cliffy]

Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces

Does that title chill your bones? The President of the United States IS the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of our entire military forces. Chose wisely. cliffy

 

[mljdeckard]

(I hear the mods fumbling for the keys,) wait for it........

 

[Trapper Ed]

Gee, I feel the same way about McCain. How can so many people believe he represents the common man, when he can't even remember how many houses he owns? (Don't you think that's God's way of saying that you own too many?) How can you pretend to represent "Joe Sixpack", when your combined wealth is over $100 million dollars? How can you be so out of touch with the average citizen that you authorize your running mate to spend $150000 dollars on pretty clothes for a month!? How many of us need to save up for a cloth housecoat for our wives?

We all know that Obama said he wouldn't take our guns. Don't fall for this alarmist BS. What's most important here is a sense of FAIRNESS, and representation for the "little guy." Let's all vote our conscience here--let's vote for what we know is right for the majority of people.

PS--my average income is over $450k/year--so believe me, it would benefit me greatly to vote McCain. However, I just couldn't sleep well at night if I did.

 

[newkahrman]

they got you too huh

Looks like you've bought into the hype. I earn 27,000 a year I am voting for McCain not because I like him, but because I know who he is, he is an open book you may not like it but its there. Tell me about your man. Why haven't we seen any of his college work. Why all the secrets. And you didn't even answer my question.

 

[Trapper Ed]

Newkahrman, I want to thank you for being civil, and asking questions about Obama. His college background is an open book. He spent two years at Occidental (near L.A.), then transferred to Columbia University in N.Y. He majored in political science and international relations. Then he entered Harvard Law School, and served as editor of the law school's journal. He then taught constitutional law at University of Chicago, before entering politics and being elected to the Illinois state senate.

The guy is very bright, he means what he says, and he seems sincere when he talks about fairness in representation. Most important, to me, is that he is not a tool of the extremely wealthy bureaucrats who have dictated our policy for so long--favoring oil companies and CEO's, while we get the shaft. I have come to be VERY suspicious of any politician who is a multimillionaire, and pretends to represent our interests.

Just check him out online, and make up your own minds.

 

[cliffy]

I earned over $12,000 a year before I retired

This may sound like a lot of money, but the cost of living finally surpassed my paycheck. I retired because my retirement benefits EQUAL what I worked so hard to earn. Do you think that makes me feel good? I was well-educated, and could read well, but for a few dollars more, I now shoot regularly, fish when I want to, and watch TV when I finally wake-up. My health sucks, but I now have Medicare A only. Still, my heart could take me out at any minute, so I basically live for today because going to sleep is so iffy. Having a bad day, cliffy

 

[ants]

Hang in there, cliffy.

newkarhman, when you look at history you find very few times that a weak President has done something that cannot be overcome. For that matter, a strong President seldom does something good that cannot be undone. It's just a matter of how long it takes, how willful the people are, and whether the people make a better choice next time.

I know that may sound an answer that doesn't eliminate the frustration, but it's generally true.

 

[Trapper Ed]

That's what I'm talking about, Cliffy.

Doesn't it seem that the last bunch of Republican candidates had their hands in the "oil jar."? There were direct financial benefits for the upper echelon of oil companies, etc.--and look where it got us? The average Joe got screwed big time. These millionaires don't need to worry about their mortgages, or 401K, or health benefits, or college funds for their kids.

McCain doens't seem like a malignant kind of guy. However, his extreme wealth and his spending habits on the campaign are another red flag to me that the average consumer is not going to get well represented again.

And don't think that I won't pick on Democrats, either. For instance, John Edwards' $400 haircut, and his moralizing talk (while he was having an affair) was disgusting.

 

[Trapper Ed]

One more thing, Cliffy--

I want to say that I am sorry that you are in ill health--and I wish you better days around the corner.

 

[astrolite]

It can be overturned in two ways (I am well-read, but have not studied the political process outside of casual reading and such):

1. A Bill passed through Congress (House -> Senate -> President) to eliminate the older provision(s)

2. Supreme Court ruling the provision(s) as unconstitutional

The President only really has two powers as far as the legislative branch is concerned - to sign bills (voted through the House and Senate) in to law or to veto bills.

So a new AWB would have to go through Congress (House -> Senate) first.

Just a couple bits of info for people to consider:

The machine gun ban was signed in to law by Reagan.
The AWB of 2004 had some republicans voting for it, and some Democrats voting against it.

Generally speaking, Republicans tend to be pro-gun - but this isn't a given.

All I can say is donate money to pro-gun organizations to be used for approaching this issue through the judicial branch (court!) - I think that is pretty much the only way us "common men" can defend our rights.

You can write letters to your local congress critters, but good luck getting them to answer with any sort of understanding and sincerity.

 

[Eightball]

We all know that Obama said he wouldn't take our guns.

This is the first I've heard of it. Most every NRA publication, issues website, and quick google efforts show that his voting record seems to contradict the above statement.

IBTL.

 

[Trapper Ed]

I am a shooter/hunter, and have been since age 8 (I'm 49 now). I agree, that Obama's comments when he was a political organizer in Chicago were concerning to me. I think he made some blanket statements about handgun control to reduce crime in Chicago.

His presidential campaign stand promises to protect ownership of handguns, shotguns and rifles. I can't speak to AWB, but I wouldn't be surprised if whoever gets in wouldn't bow to political pressure on that one.

Right now I'm most concerned about our economic security, and making sure the hard working middle class gets a fair shake (these are the kind of people that I see in my medical practice on a daily basis)

 

[ants]

Every statement in this thread about our rights and our political leadership goes right to the heart of my misgivings right now: There is no clear leadership, no clear commitment to civil rights as the Constitution demands, and no clear vision for the future. Instead, we only have politics as usual. Deception, lies, and unfulfilled promises.

That's why the fight has to come from us at the grass roots. We can't just complain about it. We have to send emails to our representatives, by the millions. We have to make sure other Americans understand our principals. We cannot hide coyly behind the curtains because we're afraid to be associated with criminals and the mentally ill. We must be right, be safe, be responsible, and be visible. We enjoy our rights because many colonists in 1776 stood up for them, while others sat at home silently. Well, let them sit. You and I must stand up now.

 

[mljdeckard]

Ed, I'll get it in before the lock. You're a flat fool. You really think that they only want 'military style' guns, and that as long as they get those, they won't come after your hunting guns?

BEFORE he ran for president, he made every effort to shut down the gun industry he could, being a board member of the Joyce Foundation, voting AGAINST the legislation protecting gun manufacturers from third parties, and working with the most virulently anti-gun politicians in Chicago.

I guess you're ok with losing your rights, as long as it's only a little bit at a time.

See my signature line.

 

[jcjacobvt]

It might be a small point who gets in and what they promised about our 2nd Amendment Rights. A this point, there are 535 Congress people that are the ones that we need to contact and make them aware that we are watching how they vote on each firearm bill that comes before them. Very important that we as firearm owners continue to watch very closely. The great Firearm Protection Act of 1986 had the added machine gun clause that removed future citizen owners; was slipped into it at an after midnight voice vote and a ruling by the chairperson that the "yeas" had it. Nobody even challenged that vote and Regan signned it into Law.

 

[KD5NRH]

Gee, I feel the same way about McCain. How can so many people believe he represents the common man, when he can't even remember how many houses he owns?

Pretty easy; living in a college town, I know at least two people that have more rental properties than they can easily remember. Both of them did it the hard way, too; buying nearly-condemned properties with savings from blue-collar paychecks and fixing them up one at a time, doing most if not all of the work themselves.

 

[evan price]

It's not what he says now to get elected- it's about what he DID for all those years before he ran for POTUS. He worked with the Harvard law review to rewrite verdicts friendly to the 2A. He was a board member of the Joyce foundation. He voted for every gun ban and ammo ban he ever saw. He stated that he wants to nationally remove CCW from the law. He stated that he wants to ban any ammo capable of penetrating a bullet-proof vest (AKA, any centerfire rifle). A PLANK of the platform he and Biden are running on states that he wants to restart and toughen up the 1994 ban. He supported lawsuits against firearms manufacturers as a means to get them shut down to punish them for big-city crime.

Sure now he says "I can't take your guns, I don't even have the votes to do it if I wanted to!" But reading between the lines- he knows how many votes it takes to do it, and he's been keeping track of how many he has.

Do The Math. McCain ain't no saint, but Obama is just plain bad, an old-skool Chicago Daley-machine politician, an empty suit, and do you want it to be as goes Chicago, so goes the USA?

Oh yeah, and in before the padlock.

 

[kingpin008]

I think he made some blanket statements about handgun control to reduce crime in Chicago.

I'm sorry sir, but repeated votes in favor of prohibitions on individuals' second amendment rights does not equal "blanket statements".

Either you're in denial, completely ignorant of his past voting record, or a shill - but the facts are, Sen. Obama is no friend to the American shooter.

 

[DukeNukem]

I think a lot of Obama supporters are just extremely gullible.

 

[John-Melb]

The original poster asked if any change brought in by Obama can be permanent. Can say for sure as an "across the board" statement, but can any change be permanent for the individual - you bet.

Obama has previously made it clear that he supports bans on semi-automatics. Let's say he pull's it off. You say "screw him" and don't hand in your now banned semi-auto.

Two years down the track, you get caught with it.

An incoming President can lift the ban, doesn't make any diiference to you, you've got a felony conviction for illegal possession of firearms over your head.

Can what Obama want's to do to gun owners be permanent, for the individual gun owner, yes.

And another thing to remember, Obama assures anyone who will listen he supports law abiding gun owners, he neglects to mention, if he's President, he get's to define "law abiding". You got a carry permit and Obama make them illegal, guess what, according to him, you're not a "law abiding" gun owner anymore.

Seen it all before, I'm an Australian

 

[qwert65]

Trapper, as one medical proffessional to another how can you be concerned about McCains spending yet not Obamas. Obama has and spends way more then McCain and he won't divulge where he gets his money from. This isn't a red flag to you?

I sincerly hope you practice medicine(or whatever you do in the medical field) with a more focused eye.

 

[alsaqr]

The machine gun ban was signed in to law by Reagan.

Wrong!!! The machinegun ban, aka the National Firearms Act, was signed by Roosevelt in 1934. The 1986 bill signed by Reagan made it illegal for most Americans to buy a new machinggun.

The AWB of 2004 had some republicans voting for it, and some Democrats voting against it.

The AWB passed the House by one vote. 38 Republicans voted for it and 77 Democrats voted against it.

BTW: The administrative restrictions in the import of guns put in effect by Bush I and Clinton remain in effect. Bush II refused to remove those restrictions.

 

[hso]

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