Will the Real Obama Please Sit Down

John Lott approaches Obama’s gun rights trial balloon with a sharpened, historical needle.

Something happens to Democrats on the gun issue when they run for president. For John Kerry during 2004, it was awkwardly posing in brand new hunting gear at a seemingly endless series of hunting photo-ops.

But in what will probably be the most improbable change, the Politico reported on Saturday that Barack Obama was making a big play for gun votes in Pennsylvania. It is not particularly surprising that this change is occurring with the crucial Pennsylvania primary soon approaching.

With about one million of the country’s 12.5 million hunters, Pennsylvania is number one in the nation in the amount of time its citizens spend hunting. With about 600,000 people with permits to carry concealed handguns, Pennsylvania also has more permit holders than any other state.

Others, such as Jim Kessler, vice president for policy with Third Way, a progressive think tank, view Obama as starting to position himself for the general election.

It’s Here!

My autographed copy of Michael Yon’s book came in the mail. Now to find time to read it. Want a signed copy? You can order it here. The book, sans signature, is also shipping on Amazon.

Rodgers, Chapter 4

Peter Robinson continues his chat with T. J. Rodgers.

In today’s segment of the Uncommon Knowledge interview with Silicon Valley entrepreneur T. J. Rodgers, I present the global warming policies of Al Gore, John McCain, and Barack Obama, asking T.J. for a critique of each.  Obama’s cap-and-trade policy, to offer a brief sample of the conversation, strikes T.J. as—well, as less bad than it might have been.