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The NRA Goes Racing

July 2, 2012 by 3 Comments

The NRA is coming to NASCAR. They will be sponsoring a race in the Nationwide Series over Labor Day at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. This race has had a number over the years and was called the Great Clips 300 last year.

The NRA made the announcement on Saturday.

I think NASCAR and the NRA make a good fit and it should bring the NRA very good publicity as the election season begins its final run to the November election.

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association (NRA), in partnership with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. is pleased to announce the NRA American Warrior 300 to be held on September 1, 2012, of Labor Day Weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. This event will celebrate and honor America’s bravest and most respected fighting men and women. Sign up for a FREE subscription for the full NRA American Warrior magazine and the NRA will give you a FREE race ticket to the NRA American Warrior 300.

“As Americans gather in back yard BBQ’s this Labor Day and celebrate the upcoming school year, the return of hunting season, and the work ethic which makes America great, we wanted one race that focuses entirely on the life’s work of the American Warrior,” said Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president. “This is a labor of patriotism and gratitude. As a tribute to these wonderful people, the NRA and Speedway Motorsports came together to make possible the NRA American Warrior race.”

The details of the event are as follows:

NRA American Warrior 300
September 1, 2012
Atlanta Motor Speedway
1500 Tara Place
Hampton, GA 30228

Shooting sports and motor sports represent our American heritage and naturally complement each other in celebrating the American Warrior. The motor sports are as uniquely American as the Second Amendment, and the NRA is proud to stand alongside Speedway Motorsports in serving our combined community of gun-owners and NASCAR fans. Representative of this large community is legendary NASCAR team owner and current NRA board member, Richard Childress. In addition to being one of NASCAR’s most successful team owners, Childress is also an accomplished hunter and dedicated conservationist. Childress was elected to his first term on the NRA Board of Directors in 2009. The NRA is honored to have the support of Richard Childress for the NRA American Warrior 300.

Also supporting the event is NRA Board Member and Fox News “War Stories” host, LtCol Oliver North, USMC (Ret.). LtCol North reports on American heroes for NRA Life of Duty. These reports and the NRA American Warrior magazine are components of a new class of sponsored NRA membership, called “NRA Life of Duty.” This membership program includes a state-of-the-art online network (NRALifeofDuty.TV, presented by Brownells) designed for those men and women who make their living defending the American way of life.

The NRA American Warrior magazine is the NRA’s bi-monthly salute to all who serve, from the armed forces to law enforcement to first responders. Each issue of the NRA American Warrior provides interactive media, videos and articles detailing the latest tactics and technology. It is for those who live and breathe the coolest guns, gear, gadgets and for those who ask questions such as what gear does a Navy SEAL carry on a mission? The first 25,000 who sign up online at www.NRA.org/warrior or text “Warrior” to 64274 will receive a free subscription for the full NRA American Warrior magazine and the NRA will give you a free race ticket to the NRA American Warrior 300.

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Obama’s Chief Of State Jack Lew Is Not A Good Liar

July 2, 2012 by 4 Comments

President Obama’s Chief of State Jack Lew appeared on CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley yesterday. After listening to his comments of Operation Fast and Furious you are left with the impression that he is grasping. Frankly, he is not a good liar. A good liar would convince you of his facts even when he knew they were false. About the only thing good about this interview for the Obama Administration is that it appeared on CNN which it seems no one watches anymore.

Lew starts out by saying that Operation Fast and Furious was a bad plan that started under the Bush Administration, that they didn’t know anything about it, and that the regional office were the ones who really were at fault. He then evades Candy Crowley’s question asking whether there was something that was so important in the withheld documents that the White House had to invoke executive privilege by saying the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was on a witch hunt.

Sorry, Jack, but the operation started in April 2009 and the wiretap applications indicate that high level DOJ officials were very much aware of what was going on.

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FoxNews Sunday On Fast And Furious

July 2, 2012 by 1 Comment

In a web-only roundtable discussion, Chris Wallace discusses the contempt citation for Attorney General Eric Holder with Brit Hume of Fox, Liz Marlantes of the Christian Science Monitor, Shannon Bream of Fox, and Charles Lane of the Washington Post.

Brit Hume says of Holder that “he is damaged goods” but that Obama won’t ditch him before the election. Prior to saying this, Hume goes over some of the characteristics that most Attorneys General share including being above the fray, being respected by members of both parties, and being seen as non-political as much as they can be. He says that Holder doesn’t share these characteristics.

Liz Marlantes of the Christian Science Monitor buys into the Fortune Magazine story. As such, I dismissed everything else she had to say.

Shannon Bream isn’t much better but did make a somewhat insightful comment when she said that for those just learning of Operation Fast and Furious, this will seem political and a witch hunt. To which, Chris Wallace brought up the near mainstream media blackout on the scandal until Obama invoked executive privilege. He is correct. With the exception of CBS’s Sharyl Attkisson and Fox’s William LaJeunesse, the mainstream media ignored the story.

Finally, Charles Lane doesn’t think the contempt citation will leave a lasting taint on Holder. I think he’ll be found wrong on this.

Watch the latest video at <a href=”http://video.foxnews.com”>video.foxnews.com</a>

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Delusional

July 2, 2012 by

Former Speaker and current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is delusional. In this clip from today’s Meet the Press, she insists to David Gregory that the Republican leadership brought the contempt charges for Attorney General Eric Holder merely as payback. The payback is for what she calls “voter suppression” (sic) or what the rest of us call requiring voters to present identification showing that they are who they say they are.

No mention is made of the deaths of Federal law enforcement agents Brian Terry or Jaime Zapata nor is any mention made of the deaths of an estimated 300 Mexican nationals.

As I said in the headline, delusional.

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“Eagle Scouts: Merit Beyond the Badge “

June 29, 2012 by 11 Comments

Cam Edwards had an interview earlier this week with Prof. Byron Johnson of Baylor University. Johnson and his colleagues with Baylor’s Program for Prosocial Behavior just finished a two year study funded by the John Templeton Foundation that measured the effects of being in Scouting as well as being an Eagle Scout. In the interview with Cam, Johnson says that he was somewhat surprised by the differences in terms of leadership, civic engagement, and other issues between those who have attained the rank of Eagle Scout, those who participated in Scouting, and everyone else.

The full study can be downloaded here. It should be noted again that this study was not started by the Boy Scouts nor was it funded by them.

Prof. Johnson’s research was presented this week at the Heritage Foundation. A longer and more detailed video presentation on his work can be found here.

While this study concentrated on the Boy Scouts, it would be interesting to see follow-on studies examine the impact of being in the Girl Scouts and if earning the Gold Award produced similar results to earning the Eagle.

I was both a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout in my youth. At one time I think I held the record in my troop for being the oldest Tenderfoot. However, once I made the decision to get off my duff, work hard, and stay involved with the Scouts, I did earn my Eagle. I actually have my Eagle with the Bronze Palm and am a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow (Tali Tak Taki 70 Lodge). For those of you with experience in Scouting, this will mean something. For the rest, it means I got my act together. I found Scouting to be a very valuable experience and hope boys nowadays continue to enjoy the fun times and great learning experiences it offers.

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And In Truly Important News…

June 29, 2012 by

It is authoritatively reported today by People Magazine – a sister publication to Fortune Magazine, I might add – that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are getting divorced.

“”This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family,” Holmes’s attorney Jonathan Wolfe told People. “Katie’s primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter’s best interest.”

Cruise’s rep tells PEOPLE: “Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy.”

Presumably the couple are residents of California which is a community property state. This means all income earned during the marriage is presumed to be community property and will be split 50/50 under the dissolution of the marriage. Not that I have any love for Tom Cruise whom I consider rather creepy, but I do wonder whether he had Katie Holmes sign a pre-nup agreement before jetting off to that Italian castle for their Scientology wedding. If not, not only is he creepy but he is dumb.

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Pre-Attack Indicators

June 29, 2012 by 3 Comments

I just read an interesting article from BlueSheepdog.com. They are a site dedicated to law enforcement officer training and safety. The article I read was by Lt. Jim Glennon and discussed the indicators or tells that someone is about to attack. While it is written with the law enforcement community in mind, I think much of it applies to the rest of us.

Glennon identified a number of pre-attack signs including targeted glances, clenching of hands or teeth, and eye blinks.

The whole article can be found here. Of course, no amount of knowledge about indicators is worth anything if you are oblivious to what is going on around you.