THERE IS TROUBLE BETWEEN SCHRUB AND THE NRA

[newscaster]

tHIS IS THE GIST OF AN ARTICLE IN A NEWSRELEASE FROM THAT CONSERVATIVE TRASH "NEWSMAX".


NRA Bush Endorsement Not Certain
Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.com
Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004
Since 1980, when Ronald Reagan received the first presidential endorsement by the National Rifle Association, no Republican candidate has lost an election with the endorsement – and no Republican has won without it.
In the run-up to November 2004, however, the powerful gun lobby continues to hang-fire on putting its formal seal of approval on George W. Bush.
Insider Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, when asked by The Hill when an endorsement by the NRA might be forthcoming, said, "I think September 14 would make a good date."
The assault weapons ban renewal has become a litmus test issue for the NRA, the nation's largest gun rights organization.
But sources close to the NRA's leadership tell NewsMax that all is not rosy between the gun group and the Bush White House.
The main bone of resentment is over President Bush's signature on the McCain-Feingold law, which the NRA believes may have effectively neutered their political muscle for years to come.
If the president supports the assault gun ban renewal, it could be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel's back.
Unless Congress acts, the 10-year-old federal assault gun ban will expire Sept. 13.
snip
And the clock is running down. Congress will return from its summer district work period on Sept. 7 and will be in session for only four workdays before the sunset date arrives.
snip

A survey released last month by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 71 percent of those surveyed and 64 percent of gun owners wanted Congress to extend the ban.
On the other hand, if Bush calls on the GOP-controlled Congress to act, it may cost him the endorsement of the NRA.
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GARY LA-PIERRE IS ASKING.....WHO DOES * THINK HE IS.
CHARLTON HESTON IS ASKING....WHO DO I THINK I AM?

[enigmatic]

1. Not that it would happen...

But if the NRA comes out and endorses Kerry, it's all over for W..

[leftistagitator]

3. More likely to endorse the Libertarian guy,

but even just that would be the end of W. All Bush* has is his base now, aristocrats, religous zealots, and, barely, the old libertarian Right. If he can't get the NRA mobilized behind him, he can't win.

[cynatnite]

2. Isn't Bush In Bind With This?

If he lets the Brady Bill lapse, it'll bite him in the ass. There's a lot of support for extending it and not doing it gives Kerry ammuninition, pardon the pun.

But if he extends it, he loses the endorsment.

A no winner for Bush the way I see it.

Cyn:)

[fujiyama]

4. I have to admit

I was a bit worried about how Kerry would handle this issue, but he's done a great job in that he HASN'T made it a big issue. Instead he's touted the fact that he hunts and has even tied the environment into that issue.

The NRA will of course never endorse Kerry, but a lack of an endorsement shows the tepid support for him even among what some would consider a crucial part of his base.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. That environmental tie-in is important...

since all gun owners are not in the same mold.

There seems to be a fairly large parallel environmental movement amongst hunters and fishermen who wouldn't be caught dead next to a Green.

They spend a lot of time in the wilderness, and like the idea of keeping it wilderness. After all, there's no point fishing if some purple shit from a factory or powerplant killed all the fish.