NRA appears poised to endorse Bush today (Wed)

[Khephra]

DULUTH -- The National Rifle Association said it will make a "major national political announcement" today in Duluth, leading to informed speculation that the powerful gun-rights group may endorse President Bush for reelection.

"It would make sense to do it there and at this time," said Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, a Washington gun-rights lobby. "Duluth is a hunter-sportsman stronghold, and Minnesota and Wisconsin are battleground states."

Winning the NRA's backing a second time could be crucial to Bush. Observers say that in 2000, gun owners played a major role in his victories in several states, including West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida.

A brief news advisory said NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre and chief lobbyist Chris Cox "will make a major national political announcement" at a Duluth hotel this morning. "This will be a significant announcement of interest to national and political news media," the advisory concluded.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5029801.html

[Dickie Flatt]

1. Whoa, that was unexpected

[RobertDevereaux]

6. Yeah, like I'm sooooo surprised!

[Voltaire99]

27. Guns don't kill people...

The suspense of waiting for NRA endorsements kills people!

[Born Free]

30. Already saw bumper stickers claiming Kerry will take your guns

I live in a right wing area and already the right wingers already got the same old stickers with the same old lines they use every election, the only thing that changes is the name, this time it is Kerry will take your guns. These people buy into this line of reasoning every election. They do need to keep their guns because at the rate the bush coward is leading Amnerica into the gutter they may need to protect themselves once the terroists take over the country with the bush cowards help.

[ladybugg33]

22. The NRA is a s close to "unAmerican" as you can get without being a

foreign agent. They are supporters of weapons distribution around the world.

[Coyul]

2. Darn was hoping the endorsement went to:

Ralph Nader...at least it would mean something...

[onehandle]

jinx. nt

[Coyul]

11. LOL

Kinda like a snowballs chance in hell

[onehandle]

3. And I was so sure they were going to endorse.....

.....Nader.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Surprise, surprise.

You coulda knocked me over with a feather. So they had to stop fellating B*sh long enough to announce they are endorsing him?

[sonicx]

5. bad idea for them to do it tommorrow

whatever it does to help bush, it'll get knocked out by Kerry's debate dominance and will be moot.

[RobertSeattle]

7. And in other news, dog bites man

And will the Sun set in the west tomorrow?

[Fridays Child]

8. Well, knock me over with a feather. Hey, LaPierre, how's that office...

...inside the White House been working out for you, over the last 3½ years?

[Mz Pip]

9. Big Wow.

I know plenty of gun owners who don't give a rat's ass what the NRA thinks.

NOthing the NRA does is of any interest to me.

MzPip
:dem:

[noahmijo]

14. I'm one of those "gun nuts"

and the National Republican Association can kiss my ass!!!!

[blm]

10. But news media never reported the Fire Fighters endorsement of Kerry last

year. They couldn't be bothered. It was left as a scroll on the bottom of the screen.

[dave502d]

12. They just don't know.

First the GOP takes all the other right away,than they just
come to your door and take your guns.

[JPace]

13. Slime balls....

There was talk that the NRA was considering starting
their own network like Fox to make sure they could
keep their influence over the government and the
people.

If it were not for Air America I'd go into a depression.

[Inland]

15. Just as much suspense as when Laura announced her endorsement

[farmbo]

16. Shameful quotes from NRA leaders...must read!

Grover Norquist, Current NRA Board member, made this comment about the World War II generation in September in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo:

"This generation has been an exception in American history, because it has defended anti-American policies. They voted for the creation of the welfare state and obligatory military service... And they are dying."

NRA Board member Ted Nugent commenting on South Africa:
“Apartheid is not that cut and dry. All men are not created equal.”

NRA President Wayne LaPierre describing police chiefs and other gun control advocates:
” Fakes, frauds and liars…{A} shadowy network of extremist guerillas…”.

Former NRA Board member Leroy Pyle on Sarah Brady, wife of Jim Brady, paralyzed due to injuries he received during the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan:

"That ugly cackler. She pulls her husband around like a pull toy on a string. My friends and I say that if that ever happened to one of us and our wife did that, somebody would slip into the house one night and slit her throat."
--Quoted in "Under Fire: The NRA and the Battle for Gun Control"

Hey DU'ers...bookmark this great site: http://www.nraleaders.com/

[msongs]

17. I was hoping Charlton Heston would make the announcement...darn... n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. The NRA can endorse FratBoy all they want....

...but the NRA rank-and-file is heavily divided just like the rest of the country.

[w4rma]

19. Star Tribune needs to get a clue. There is no way the NRA isn't endorsing

Bush. They shouldn't even pretend he might not get it. The NRA leadership has pushed out all the Democrats from leadership positions. And Bush has had the endorsement locked up since the end of the Democratic primary.

[deadparrot]

20. Shocking stuff.

[Thor_MN]

21. Why the cheney did they have to pick my hometown???

Usually the only time Duluth makes the media is when someone needs a cold, smaller city for their "B" script. I'm all for the city taking their money for a conference, but this is not the type of publicity that you want.

[GHOSTDANCER]

23. SHOCKER!!!!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. Why is there no gun organization but the NRA?

Where's the competition?

[Francine Frensky]

33. If Kerry wins, someone should start a competitor, then Kerry could

deal only with that organization, and marginalize the NRA.

Hmmmmmm. Any democratic gun owners who want to start something?

Is that bartcop guy still going strong?

[progressivebydesign]

25. Bush shoots tequila.. Kerry shoots guns. n/t

[flordehinojos]

26. What else is new?

[Piperay]

28. What a surprise

NOT. :boring:

[fishface]

29. Color me surprised...

[pinniped]

31. They're gonna be feeling pretty stupid if moran* is re-selected...

and signs that AW bill.

I'd say their fucked either way.

[colonel odis]

32. ever wonder why bush never has those huntin' an' targit shootin'

photo ops?

think his handlers would put a gun in his hands? the moran would definitely blow someone's head off with it.

yet he's a sportsman, by god. john kerry's a p*ssy.

maybe they think different in texas, but in tennessee guys who play football and hockey aren't the p*ssies. male cheerleaders are. (and that has absolutely nothing to do with anyone's sexuality.)

[doc03]

34. Big surprise! Remember Bush Sr. quit the NRA after they called the FBI

Jack-Booted thugs. This proves they care more about their right wing agenda than gun rights. I quit myself after the Oklahoma City bombing and the NRA came out against putting markers in explosives so they could be traced. I got sick of Wayne LaPiere's monthly editorials attacking all Democrats. The NRA is nothing more than a front for the extreme right wing.

[Insomnicole]

35. D'oh! I really thought Kerry had that one in the bag!

(sarcasm mode: OFF)