Now, of course, that's his right (I'm going to further assume the blogger is a "he", but I actually have no evidence one way or another, other than the fact that most "ravagers" are male and most "ravagees" would therefore be female).

All right then.  So I'm out.  The question is, "Why?"  Could it be that he is not willing to cross swords with me any longer?  Are my comments and challenges too much for him to tackle?  Has he fallen ill and decided, due to failing vitality, that he should reserve his online strength for more friendly bloggers?  Can't say.  In any case, it's ironic that his latest entry is called "Arguing with cowards."  Since I can't see much about the gist of the entry (only something about the outrage over the KSM trial being in NYC), I don't have a good grasp on what he's trying to say about it.  But I also suspect that he's shying away from a good debate over this with me.  (Sing with me: "You're so vain; I bet you thought this blog was about you.")  Yes, yes.  I admit it.  I can be very vain.  Sue me.

So who is the coward, ravager?  Not me; I'm here, ready to lock horns over anything you want to discuss.  But I can't get into the ring.  I tired a couple evenings now, and no change.  So I have to assume it's intentional.  But it looks from here to be rather...cowardly?

   

This is amazing.  Here I thought that a military base would be the last place on Earth anyone would try this because of the number of loaded guns per cubic yard, but no--they're about as much a "gun free zone" as your average elementary school.  (Well, maybe high school.  Elementary schools haven't yet reached the point where an armed cop has to be on duty each day to avert gang fights and watch for pissed off students who intend to shoot up the place because someone dissed them at lunch yesterday).

Turns out Hasan had an open field in which to fire; he knew no one would be returning fire unless an MP was nearby.  And, as it happened, only a civilian cop OUTSIDE the building was on hand to stop him.  

What is keeping us from solving this ridiculous "gun violence" problem?  For cryin' out loud, enough with all these "gun free zones."  The only risk in "gun free zones" is encountering those who haven't read the sign, or don't care what it says.  Like the ever-popular "drug free school zones" that are replete with drugs, "gun free zones" are an open invitation and notice to armed thugs to "Come in and make yourself at home."  My alma mater, Va Tech, experienced one of the worst mass shootings since Pol Pot ran Cambodia, but that could have been largely averted with a few armed teachers and students on hand.  Campus police are good to have on hand when it comes to getting yellow police tape run across a crime scene, but for offering protection before--or as--a crime is perpetrated, they're pretty much useless.  Nothing quite like someone shooting back to get a would-be assassin's attention.

Let arms be allowed on campus by all who are of age and certified to use one.  More guns=less crime.  We've tried the "fewer guns=less crime" experiment.  The jury is in.  Didn't work.

OK, so what does it all prove?  Depends on who you ask, like always.  The Dems naturally play down those two losses, as Nancy Pelosi did by saying it was a "win" for them over all.  She's funny that way, I guess.  But there's no denying that Barack Obama going to bat for Corzine didn't do enough to save him.  And Deeds in Virginia wasn't going to win even if Jesus had campaigned for him.  He didn't, and he didn't.

The way I look at it, there's a push back--and a heavy one--starting up in the country.  People of all stripes are not going to sit still for this immense federal spider that is trying to entrap us all and eat us.  The 1,990 pages of Soviet-style "health reform" is so monstrous that no one in his right mind would dare sign onto it without reading it...yet I keep seeing where they're gathering politicians to do just that.  Well, look for me on Capitol Hill tomorrow.  I'll be there with other concerned citizens to say NO to this madness.

You can thank me later.

I saw Hoffman interviewed recently and, while he's no Mr. Personality, he represents a growing feeling in the country that we're quickly going over the cliff into socialism with this Obama character.  People are scared to death they're going to wake up one morning to the sound of the 1984 Macintosh commercial where obedient workers march toward a giant screen with a "Dear Leader" droning on about smashing the old type thinking and getting with a new mantra of change and revolution.  We need to see that blond woman in the red shorts and swinging a sledgehammer before it's too late.  Maybe the red shorts are being worn by Hoffman this time.  I may prefer the blond, but he'll do in the meantime.

I've finally concluded that this is the exact playbook of the administration: Rahm Emmanuel famously said to "never let a crisis go to waste."  Not only did he mean to use any inevitable emergencies to quickly whisk by the public's notice the things you wanted to do in more relaxed times but couldn't because they're insane to start with, but he also meant CREATE apparent emergencies during which the same actions can be taken without the public's notice.  Like the magician who tries to distract you with the pretty girl or the bird's flapping wings while he hides the ace of spades in his sleeve, Emmanuel and Obama are deft slight-of-hand guys who are pros.  Real pros.  

While we're good and scared of this supposed fatal development or that one (crashing economy, H1N1 "pandemic", a global warming Armageddon), he and his imps are busy taking over one sector after another of the economy.  Ooo--look!  A Fire over there!  (Quick, R.E., take that bank over!)  Oh!  Over there!  An earthquake that I inherited from Bush!  (Quick, R.E., let's shut down Fox).  Ahhh!  Carbon dioxide is killing the polar bears!  (Quick, R.E., Limit pay for executives!)  Oh no!  Get a flu shot!  (Quick, R.E., shove socialized medicine down their throats while they're at the doctor).  On and on until he achieves his goal: the entire subjugation of the country (the world?) to him and his minions.  Free enterprise taken over by socialism.  The gradual--and sometimes "punctuated"--growth of red colored takeover, Chicago-style.  

No, I think America just might be waking up to his schemes.  Let's hope so.  If we keep our eye on the ball, we just might not fall for any more "emergencies."  And I'm sure not about to "get from street" so he can assume control.  Not on your life.  We've got your number, BHO.  It's not going to work.  Magicians are not to be trusted. Least of all, you.