Oh Shoot

Didn't the previous "like" rating transfer over to IPB somehow or other? - OS

That's what we're seeing in Europe, sans the immigration part. Now that half the households in the US get some kind of federal money and almost the same % pay no federal income tax, we've become very similar. As has been mentioned, the worse the economy becomes because of Dem socialist policies, the more the fix is in for the Dems as more folks join the payroll. Just like Greece and France, the US citizenry just isn't willing to bear any pain at all, so everything keeps getting postponed until The Big Pain happens for all. On the bright side, I actually do have some confidence that Romney with a GOP House and Senate could actually make a significant difference in our decline. On the dark side, as you opine, I imagine that the public will not stand steadfast with them long enough to make that difference, and will trot right back to the Sugar Daddy Party at the first sign of discomfort. So in that regard I think our course may well indeed be set in stone to a degree that simply won't be changed until that Big Pain happens, but at least we might be able to retain significantly more personal freedom the longer we can stave off these damn communists, and at least be in a position to reclaim the country from the ashes rather than live an interminable slavish existence in them. - OS

Remember that as you live the next 25-40 years under Obama's Supreme Court decisions. You'll probably not be able to complain on a gun forum about it, though. - OS

They were giving you time to reconsider the Taurus. - OS

Afraid I have no words, only a helpless deep sigh.

Why bother? Seriously, why even burn the fuel to hit the polls, unless there's some other race you care about? - OS

Let's see: Obama, in his own book, says he drifted in a daze through the last two years of high school, skipped class a lot, drank a lot, used a lot of drugs including some cocaine, and this is completely ignored by the MSM, but want to crucify Mitt for something that may or may not have even happened 50 years ago as a schoolboy. This country's mainstream media is handled like Russia's, I kid you not. - OS

Yup, I don't think of my plastic as credit cards, but rather as cash back cards. I've bought a lot of ammo over last few years with kickback from ATT Universal Card, and it's probably not even the best one any more for all I know. - OS

C'mon, you know this: weapons laws have never been about logic. Ever. Doesn't even have to be a "collection". Just "curio, ornament, or keepsake", which of course most any single item of any type may be. - OS

I've never seen so many people complain about an option to pay a lower price. Wish I could knock 3% off every time I went to grocery store or the gas station. Reminds me of the folks who used to rant when the supermarket discount cards came out. Some refused to use them as some sort of protest, and pay more. I could only manage a dumbfounded stare. - OS

To split hairs, I see nowhere in the statute that fire fighters are even mentioned. Unless all fire fighters are also certified EMTs, I don't see any way they fit in statute as legal to carry them. To further split the already split hair, the only place EMTs are mentioned is in the selling of switchblades to them, they are not mentioned in the classifications allowed to carry them. - OS

Lots of statistical ironies in this country I agree. One is difference in folks who have an opinion and those who actually show up at polls. Hell, less than 60% of eligible voters showed in '08, and that was highest in 40 years. The other is, NC notwithstanding, these various resolutions/amendments have for the most part occurred from 1998-2010. And the upward tick in same-sex marriage approval, though steady over the same period, has just now essentially reached the 50/50 mark nationwide. The fact that younger folks are overwhelmingly for it though, suggests that it will become law of the land in time; as even the disparity of those who vote rather than just opine still becomes more weighted with pro same-sex marriage as we older folks die off. If the republic survives with actual national borders long enough, lots of the polling will become manifest in law over time as we boomers die out. Same-sex marriage, legalization of various drugs, etc. Firearms freedom is tough to figure though -- I'd opine that it will be more restricted over time, through generational "education" and more and more small restrictions like in most every other country in the world. On the other hand, probably we'll crash badly before we see them actually banned. - OS

Makes sense -- copperheads don't lay eggs. - OS

Well, Iowa and New Hampshire are swing states and gay marriage is legal in both. Like I said, perhaps sort of a wash nationwide, we'll see, all kinds of various ways to look at it at this point. - OS

Not necessarily. Gay marriage/legal union is basically a 50/50 opinion now nationwide. And that doesn't split right down GOP/Dem party line by a long shot. Blacks and Hispanics, for example, poll strongly against it as a group, yet are 90% Dem voters too, and they'll probably continue to be. Who knows how many who are going to vote GOP really give a crap one way or the other about gay marriage. I don't, for example. I'd say it's inevitable that it will come to fruition eventually, but certainly not an issue to vote on alone. Though O may have seen it as re-cementing his base, all in all I don't expect it to have all that much affect on the election, probably changed about equal numbers of minds on each side and not that great of numbers at that. Actually, the whole thing is rather odd the way the week played out, hard to tell how much was planned vs spontaneity re Biden and O either one, lots of usually adamant commentators sorta scratching their heads over this one. I agree, difficult to ascribe exact tactics here if all was choreographed according to plan. - OS

If you have to ask, you just don't know about this country. Only about the country that used to be here. - OS

I've been getting a throbbing every time I see or hear him for a long time now. As in migraine. - OS

If you think Chattanooga is hot and steamy in the summer, you ain't seen nuthin yet.

Really not accurate assessment at all, methinks ... Bkelm has long history of consistent POV on a variety of subjects on TGO, been here longer than moi matter of fact. I'll admit he and I are probably more similar than not as being generally federally conservative yet socially liberal and religiously skeptical, but don't think either has ever convinced the other of anything at all. - OS

Prob is, a "gay marriage" state can legislate things like inheritance, child custody, maybe even credit and insurance rules for firms operating within it's borders, but residing in such state, one still can't get the same federal benefits from a gay marriage as from a hetero one. Well, seems that the US is 8-10% gay. That's not only a significant percentage, but an absolute pile of folks in actual numbers. I'd say the first Supreme Court case would simply be legally married couple in NYS, the surviving spouse doesn't get SSI benefits, or military bennies, whatever. Could be something really esoteric like spouse compelled to testify against spouse in federal case, etc. If O gets to load the SCOTUS I think it's safe to say which way they'll rule -- all those state amendments proclaiming no same sex marriage become toilet paper. - OS

Problem is, gay "married" couples have more or lesser rights depending on state they reside. And NONE have same federal rights awarded to hetero married couples. The federal government WILL eventually have to make a constitutional ruling on this, on discrimination basis. I think it will come down to more controversial issue than 2A, which of course is actually quite clear cut, just not adjudicated that way. At any rate, I can't see any way it can stay a states' right issue forever, with some allowing it and most not; it's too basic an issue. - OS

PRC made, actually more steel in them than basic 870. They run fine, been around long enough to know they don't fall apart with heavy use. Not sure about accessories, seems like most everything 870 fits them except barrels? The other inexpensive standard is the Mossberg Maverick, US "assembled" (barely). - OS

Yes, PRC made, like most all of the less expensive Kershaws. - OS

Almost certainly edited, yes? See the edit notation at bottom. Since there's no reason to list an item as already sold. - OS

Everybody that sells over a certain amount on eBay gets a 1099 which is also reported to the gummit. Federal, of course, not state. Forget what the threshold is. You mean to the state, for Amazon purchases? - OS