Armored Facilities Manager

1:09am: Correction...
On my earlier post where I cited the roll call vote for HR 1424. I had the wrong roll call vote. I'm still not sure what it was I was referencing, but it was from the correct day. I guess it was for an amendment. The as passed roll call vote is referenced here at govtrack.us.

My Congressional Representative, Hank Johnson, did in fact vote for it. He'll be getting a nasty gram as soon as I have time to compose something that's not overly polemic.

Boy, I need to work on that spot check. hellsop pointed out a March Date for that Roll call vote which was funny. I poked around a bit and figured out the issue.

HR1424 was the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. It was passed in the house on Roll Call Vote# 101. The House 'Bail-out' bill failed in the house back earlier last week on the 29th. The Senate, took HR1424, shoved the 'bail out' language into it, passed it then handed it back to the House to concur with. They did, hence Roll Call Vote 681. That was the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

What a confusing way to run a government.

12:09pm: Splashover...
So, I've alluded here and elsewhere to how, the arguably unconstitutional enforcement of some Federal and state/local laws relating to firearms results in infringement not just on the 2nd amendment but also on the 4th and 5th. Here's an example that's been ruled on at least in the preliminary stages where a woman, who still sore about more than a score of women and children killed over lack of payment of $200 taxes.

Karen Kilpatrick was stopped by Pensacola Police at the behest of the BATF. She had driven a van near their office on Pensacola with "Remember the Children of Waco" And "Boo ATF" written on the windows in some form of paint. The Police stopped her, detained her and waited on the ATF agent to arrive, handing her documents (license, etc) over to the agent. Who then questioned her, took possession of her legally carried firearm (in her purse) and searched her. The 'interview' took an hour, the search yielded nothing and the agent let her go with a warning to wash her windows after handing her firearm back unloaded.

There's the usual back and forth, but the basic points the ATF agent made was that the van was seen driving around their offices building, had the signs and the date was the anniversary of the end of the Waco Siege, the language on the Van made the government workers 'nervous'.

The ACLU is representing Ms Kilpatrick and sued the ATF agent and the US on the basis that the stop violated her 1st, 4th and 5th amendment rights.

There's been a summary Judgement by a Federal Court judge dismissing the charge of violation of due process. But the complaints of infringement of Free Speech, unlawful arrest, and unlawful search are supported. The judge also denied the Agent's claims of qualified immunity, so he's on the hook personally for this still.

Interestingly the ATF agent opined that she needed to be stopped because she had a CCW permit (apparently informed over the phone by the Pensacola PD).

Looks like the ACLU is finally doing something right. They might yet get back into my good graces.

1:06pm: Now THATs a wood working project...

1:28pm: That video, it's back....

10:49pm: Debate...Oct, 7, 2008...
Oct 7, 2008 - Presidential Debate notes

Question: Fastest and best way to bail out of Economic ruin?

Sen Obama first Failed economic policies of the last 8 years. ["balderdash, still going after that DAMN stupid talking point".]

Step 1 is the rescue package and strong oversight and get money back to the tax payers.
Step 1? tax cuts for middle class
Long term healthcare and energy system
[no step 2?]

( Read more... )