Posted: 11/12/2006 12:52:37 PM EDT
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Congratulations on your stunning victory over Mike Dewine. I'm sure that you are pleased to have overcome a long term incumbent who in the beginning seemed unbeatable. I would however like to point out something to you. You did not beat Mike Dewine. In fact he lost to you. Looking at the margin one can discern that he lost his base and many either chose not to vote, or voted for you in protest. He was not however the victim of dismay with the Republicans in general, or the various shennanigans in the Taft administration. He lost because a large part of his base, are law abiding gun owners. He chose to ignore us and join with the likes of Sens. Feinstein and Shumer. As a result, he was punished. Notice that the margin is pretty close to the number of NRA members and Buckeye Firearms association members. We voted him out. Yes, we know you favor more gun controls as well, but he forgot how he got where he was. I fully understand that in large part we differ on this issue. You however should remember how you got where you are. This is your chance to make a difference on many issues. It is likely in your politcal interest to NOT make further gun controls one of them. I for one believe the laws are just fine as they are and would not like to see further restrictions. I would bet that most of your constituents feel the same way. It may go against your grain, but before voting for a new law, I think you should clearly know it will make a difference. So far none of the proposals of the previously mentioned Senators will make any substantive difference and in fact will likely cost congress seats in the next round ala 1994 should they pass. My sincere hope is that you have an uneventful term. I hope you remember us and know that we vote. Good luck in your knew position. Shotar |
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Just to play devil's advocate for a moment, Brown could reply... "If Ohio gun owners carry so much political clout, what happened to Ken Blackwell? Lee Fischer is a huge anti-gunner, and he just got elected by a wide margin. To hell with you and your letter, I'm passing all the gun laws I can! Ohio gun owners either don't vote, or there aren't that many of them, or Lee Fischer wouldn't be our Lieutenant Governor." He could say that, don't you think? |
He could, but Strickland is also A rated by the NRA. |
So why did he pick a running mate with an F-  Wake up and smell the KY folks. All those protest votes are coming home to roost. Political change takes place in the Primary elections not the General Elections, Republicans and Conservatives have yet to figure this out, until they do they are not going to fair well as a party. They have this propensity to cut their noses off despite their faces about every 12 years. |
That's why it's important to tell them you're either a democrat who strayed from the ticket in 1994, or tell them you've voted Republican for the past twelve years to preserve the Second...but this time, it seemed as though the there were enough pro-gun candidates that it was safe to vote for "change." Never tell them you're a Republican or didn't vote for them. |
Simple answer is he wanted to take the 3 Cs and Strickland is nothing if not a Good Ol Boy. That does not go over well in Shaker Heights. He needed Fisher to balance things out. Now, when was the last time a Liutenant Governer did anything of substance, or anything at all for that matter? I don't even know who Taft's LG is???? |
+1 I cannot understand how so many supposedly intelligent people miss your point. |
So if Strickland is pandering to the 3 C's what makes you think he gives a flying crap about the rest. The problem is if Strickland decides to take a position as someones VP candidate (as has been mentioned in more than one thread) and steps down, falls over dead, or resigns we are screwed. I don't have much of an issue with Ted, it is Lee that gives me an uneasy feeling. |
Thank you for writing this fantastic letter Shotar, very timely. I Think you got this just right. It's good to let Brown know we're watching and that if betrayed we will remember with our votes. Thanks again. P.S. I think we, BFA, The NRA and Ohio gun owners in general will be able to work with Strickland. I have heard the argument several times that he will abandon his long held pro gun position due to pressure from other anti gun Dem's. This doesn't hold water for me. Strickland as a freshman congressman was the only democrat to vote against the 94 assault weapons ban, this despite direct pressure from bill Clinton. I just don't see him changing positions at this point. Strickland did put Fisher on his ticket to placate the left wing of the party and bring in fundraising monies from Fisher's name recognition. I think it was a bad move and otherwise he would have gotten even more unhappy republicans supporting him. Also lieutenant Governor is about the most do nothing job in Ohio government. Can anyone even name the current Lt. Gov? I could be wrong but I think Strictland will keep his promises to gun owners. The one thing we have to be concerned about is what if in a couple years Strickland seeks higher office or leaves do to health reasons? That's when we may have a problem. That being said many Dem's have learned that gun control is a losing issue for them. Efforts like Shotars that let them know we are paying attention can surely only codify this. |
Losing issue or not they will never give up on it. As long as there are arms available they can not complete their agenda and their end goal is to complete their agenda. They are patient and have very deep pockets, they will keep going for a total ban even if it is very slow and piece meal but they will eventually get to that point. The Dims will think that they have some sort of liberal mandate now so we will be seeing an AWB come down the pike really quickly because they want it to be forgotten about by '08. I would bet you will see it by the summer break and Brown will be all for it. |
I think you have not done a very good review on the Democrats that have been elected, especially in the house. A weird thing happened. While we were asleep the Democrats put together a fairly interesting plan and it got their party in a majority of the house and senate, but I think, ultimately, it is going to divide it. They got VERY conservative democrats elected, providing pro-gun and pro-faith candidates in much of the Midwest, especially Indiana it seems. I also think that with the exception of a few, most of them will tread lightly when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. I could be wrong also, but I think we are safe for the next two years. What you have to worry about is how the 2008 elections go. |
First off I very well could be WAY wrong on all of this.  Here is what I think the plan is. They ran an excellent campaign and won by moving to the right and beating our RINO's with their DINO's. The point was to the Dem. leadership in the majority. Once these freshmen get to DC I think they will be put into line and told to tow the party line or face the music and lose all funding. I don't think an AWB will pass the first time but it will be close and they will keep trying. This will come from the top down not the bottom up and the bottom will be forced to listen to the top. I actually think this is a good thing when it comes to '08, the middle of the road voters that kicked the Republicans out are going to be sick of the Dems. by then and we will get GOP in '08. I think the Dems. were stupid for doing this in the last election, they should have taken a pass on this on and pulled this campaign in '08. Now they are in a lose lose situation. If they push a liberal agenda, they will hack off the right and the middle and they lose in '08. If they don't push liberal agenda and stay in the right to middle they lose their base and lose in '08. My family is nut job liberal so I do have a pretty good handle on the party line. 
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Losing issue or not they will never give up on it. As long as there are arms available they can not complete their agenda and their end goal is to complete their agenda. They are patient and have very deep pockets, they will keep going for a total ban even if it is very slow and piece meal but they will eventually get to that point. The Dims will think that they have some sort of liberal mandate now so we will be seeing an AWB come down the pike really quickly because they want it to be forgotten about by '08. I would bet you will see it by the summer break and Brown will be all for it. Sadly your probably right man. That's why me must be ever vigilant and ready to thump their butts when the crap starts coming. I think we can hold the line and the politicians butts to the fire if we all stick together. |
What needs to happen RIGHT NOW is for all of us to start calling and writing (by hand) our representatives and let them know that you are not a one issue voter and you are not a party line voter. The NRA now has the perfect opportunity to become a bipartisan organization by embracing the "Blue Dog" and letting them know how you feel too. I hope that the moderate Dems will throw us a bone and not tow the party line. |
How is he not in your district? I thought he represented all of Ohio, wait a minute I bet he means you are not part of the party he represents.  Great, this will be sweet! |
I never mentioned party affiliation in my letter at all. I guess though that if you're not from Lorain, he could care less about your concerns. |
FUNNY!! My wife told me a story about Shithead, oh I mean SHERROD snubbing her at a talk he was at in Vermilion back in the day. He was talking to her high school group of seniors trying to get them to vote. Apparently the East part of Vermilion is in his congressional district, but she lived in Erie Co. so she was not in his district. He came up to her and her friends and started talking to them, only to find out they were not in his district. He litterally stopped talking mid sentence and moved on to someone else who was a potential voter... Consequently she hates him not only because he's a liberal but because of how he treated her back then... |
Though you did not come out and say "I am a Republican", you made it quite clear that you were not a Democrat and you do not support his political positons. |