Canales News Briefs

July 21, 2004

"...Now it seems to me, some fine things

Have been laid upon your table

But you only want the ones that you can't get

Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger

Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home

And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just

some people talkin'

Your prison is walking through this world all alone..."

-Partial lyrics from the

song "Desperado", written

by Don Henley and Glen Frey

of the Eagles.

To all,

It seems that Linda Rondstadt is joining the ranks of Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopie Goldberg, and Natalie Maines over the small matter of partisan ideology. It truly is a pity to watch so many performing arts majors bite the dust over things that seem beyond their ken.

In other news:

AQL:

The Kansas City Star carried an AP report yesterday concerning the amount of additional inspection that the ATF is able to carry out on licensed firearms dealers each year.

The AP story reports that a Justice Department review indicates that ATF inspectors are only able to review some 4.5 % of all licensed dealers annually, apparently due to the limited number of inspectors allocated to the agency. That means some 4680 dealers a year, more than 18 per work day, are being physically inspected each year.

Of course, the 4.5% review rate is in addition to the 100% inspection of each and every sale licensed dealers submit to the NICS system.

But another interesting "factoid" in the report is that while there were some 1900 violations reported in the 2002 period, administrative hearings only led to the revocation of some 30 licenses from that period. The 2003 period review likewise led to some 1800 violations, and apparently some 54 licensees up for potential revocation.

In other words, while it is possible that up to 43% of dealers inspected may have at least one "violation", only a maximum of 3% of dealers inspected and cited are found with violations serious enough to warrant the revocation of the dealer's license.

Now, it is not unheard of for police and regulatory agencies to use statistical inspection methods so as to help determine where to concentrate assets. For example, the Los Angeles Police Department uses such methods in distributing patrol forces to the higher crime rate areas of the City of Angels. But somehow the lack of coverage in various areas of Los Angeles, or probably any number of America's large cities, is insufficient to attract the additional financial support of the various powers that be.

As such, it is hard to imagine that the ATF, or any other law enforcement agencies, merit criticism when funding and support is such a key element towards final performance. In the case of the ATF, funding of support services at the dealer level may also be beneficial, given that the dealer has been "tasked" by government to be a de facto agent of determining whether or not to carry out a lawful transaction. In fact, as long as there is potential criminal and civil liability for dealers who transfer firearms despite getting the "green light" from the NICS system, additional dealer assistance may ultimately yield beneficial results in the war against crime.

Story basis may be found at:

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/
news/nation/9193697.htm?1c

There Is A God:

From on high, Ronald Reagan today is smiling down upon the latest fruits of his labors against Communism during his tenure as President.

In this case, one can see this latest harvest in a front page article in the Spanish language newspaper La Opinion.

In an AFP article carried by La Opinion, readers are treated to an article about Nicaraguan Cardinal Miguel Obando presiding over a "reconciliation" mass upon the 25th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. But the literal "cherry on top" to this article is a full color photo of none other than Ex-Sandinista Jefe (and Democrat Poster Boy) Daniel Ortega performing the sign of the cross during the Catholic ceremony.(Boy, it sure looks like the Pope doesn't need any armies after all, if this photo is the real thing.).

In fact, the article notes that Ortega had asked the Cardinal for a pardon for "...esas viejas ofensas..." ("...these old offenses...") dating back to the Sandinista regime's tenure from 1979 to 1990. The article also notes that Ortega himself asked for the mass in the first place.

It should not surprise anyone that the "former" Commie would go with the faith of the common people, now that Nicaragua is free of Communist rule. In fact, the look on Ortega's face as the news photographers snapped the photo is most likely indicative of his true sentiments. But it is clear that, like other Left Wing pols facing public scrutiny, they have decided that it is better in the long run to bet on the Big Guy than not (at least when in the public eye.).

In Ortega's case, the sincerity of his position might be better established if a host of church and private property seized by the Sandinistas were to be returned to the rightful owners. In those cases where it is not easily done, perhaps monetary compensation from the funds looted might suffice. In any case, the Ortega example might prove to be the cautionary tale to some of our very own pols who choose to ignore the sentiments of the majority of the people for the sake of appearing modern, urbane, and educated. Arrogance is not likely to get them any votes in the future.

Story basis may be found at:

http://laopinion.com/primerapagina/?
rkey=00040719191210920165

Bergergate:

What is it with missing papers and the Clintonistas, anyway? First it was security documents in Vince Foster's office safe. Then it was Rose Law Firm documents related to Hillary's billable hours showing up in the White House Living Quarters and in a car trunk in Little Rock.

Now this intriguing question is on the lips of political junkies across the Fruited Plain with the revelation that National Archives personnel witnessed former Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger removing classified documents from the National Archives in October of 2003. Still missing are documents related to draft after-action reports that show the progression of thought by the Clinton Administration on the al Qaeda threat subsequent to the Millennium threat.

While pending confirmation from Justice Department investigators, these allegations coupled with the claim that Berger secreted the documents in his pants (and even in his socks) raise serious questions about about how certain Beltway in-groups treat security matters in general. By themselves, the story is sufficient enough that Berger has "resigned" from the Kerry Campaign, at least until the smoke blows over.

Now, the automatic defensive response by Democrat spokespersons revolves around the "leak" of the existence of the DOJ investigation in the first place. Editors such as Tony Blankley of the Washington Times put paid to that argument in so many words, in that a Beltway without leaks is like a town without "sunshine" (literally). Without leaks there would have been no Watergate, nor Iran-Contra, nor any of the bread-and-butter scandals that the Democrats have been fond of in past skirmishes (ABC News is even reminding everyone about Fawn Hall, in an apparent comparison-cum-damage control effort).

But given past revelations of how Democrat operatives have turned every issue, including how to conduct the war on terrorism, into a campaign for their return to power, this latest story only reinforces the image of a desperate and power hungry party gone bad. Tie that to the alumni of a past administration who may be trying to engage in a little post-tenure revisionism, and one can only wonder as to what lengths they will go to stay "competitive". Stay tuned.

Story basis may be found at:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126249,00.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/
20040720-084407-2739r.htm

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040720/
D83UOCR00.html

Push Me, Pull You:

Now that it is the political silly season, one has to expect that political polling is being conducted. Still, it is surprising when one finds oneself opposite of a call person with a tailored political questionnaire to deal with.

Also, it is amazing what one can learn about the current state of things, given the various premises of the questions being asked of the respondent.

For example, imagine one's surprise to learn that, apparently, a certain Golden State senatorial incumbent favors bringing the troops currently deployed in the war against terrorism home, and otherwise spending the money for "domestic priorities". Or that a fight against MTBE somehow squares against ethanol as an additive to produce CARB-approved fuels. Or even that, by deduction, that the City of Los Angeles should not be able to contract with private landowners in the Central Valley to landfill Phase II treated organic waste that otherwise has no where else to go (Note- The poll questions seemed to claim that a certain Golden State Senatorial challenger may have certain financial relationships with ethanol and Central Valley landfilling interests).

Of course, no mention was made of the current theory that it is better to engage terrorists overseas than in the streets and shopping malls of America. Nor was it mentioned that ethanol is the only renewable oxygenate available for cleaner burning gasoline formulas (not to mention having the personal stamp of approval of Tom Daschle, Tom Harkin, and a whole passel of Midwest Democrats). Or, last but not least, that Los Angeles would be up to it's collective neck in, er, um ....Bandini if it were not allowed to contract with Kern County landowners to landfill treated solids generated from City waste treatment facilities.

In other words, a Senatorial incumbent still feels it is necessary to utilize a "push poll" when dealing with targeted (in this case Hispanic) voters. More a targeted campaign ad than a valid attempt to divine the sentiment of the voter, this poll by a service to remain un-named may be a prime example of the kind of polling that is currently be waged on an unsuspecting public.

A review of current polls finds that respondent samples are, for the most part, between 400-600 persons who partake of the survey. Definitions vary between adults, registered voters, likely voters and even the elusive "high propensity" voter. As such, an educated and committed voter can have an interesting effect on the final tally, unless "windsorizing" produces disproportionate sample weighting as in some polls ( A recent Los Angeles Times Poll had a weighting of 35% of respondents as Democrats, and 28% of respondents as Republicans in a "national poll". Nationally, registrations are much closer than this.).

Lastly, the most interesting issue of this particular telephone poll had to do with ethnic targeting. While the poll did not specifically ask for ethnic backround, questions were asked as to whether if certain Hispanic politicians and celebrities support for a certain Presidential challenger, and a certain Senatorial incumbent, would make a difference in the respondent's choice for office. The possible "coincidence" of ethnic selection by surname, rather than random selection as mandated by good statistical practice, may lead one to conclude that a non-representative poll may about to be released to the public in the near future by an incumbent's campaign.

As in any election, there is no substitute for the voter's due diligence on the candidates and the issues. In an especially close, not to mention critical, election such as the current campaign, eligible voters are counseled to follow the news, study the issues, and remember Franklin's warning that we have a Republic only as long as we can keep it. That would seemingly preclude the voter choosing to turn the reigns of power over to the the minions of Liberal Elitism. But if voters are ultimately hoodwinked by the Lamestream Media and Beltway Publicists, they may only have themselves to blame for not being able to differentiate between the sheep and the goats.

Respectfully,

Anthony Canales

SFVMC-NRA