Regarding the Agema stuff - stop running your mouths to the press

This will be my one and only comment here on the whole Dave Agema situation which AGAIN made the papers today.

The number one thing to remember about Dave Agema is this. He's an RNC Committeeman. It's an inside baseball position. He's not a Governor. He's not a Senator. He's not a Congressman. He's no longer a state legislator. He's not even a party spokesman or a press secretary. He's an inside baseball position with a vote on the RNC. If you don't like what he's said, he's not going to impact that in his position. How many people can name their RNC committeemen and committeewomen? Not many.

Why does this stay in the news? Because people have been airing party related grievances to the press, which is a real dumbassed thing to do. Everytime that's been said, the original Agema comments which started the uproar get another airing which compounds the problem.

Again, this is over an inside baseball position. No more, no less.

In addition, every time someone runs their mouth to the press regarding Agema, more people, particularly tea party activists and social conservatives defend him. Do they agree with him? Some do, but not necessarily. They see "party elites" and the newspapers attacking him, so they will defend him because of the people that attack him. Every single time he's attacked, he'll be defended by them. It's not about WHAT he said or what people claimed he said, but WHO is against him. The view of many tea partiers and other conservative activists is this. If he resigns, the party elites (viewed as the problem by them) win. That's the biggest problem in the eyes of many. They are currently circling the wagons for him.

Worse, when people like Dennis Lennox lead the charge for resignation, it's the pot calling the kettle black. Agema SAYS controversial things. Lennox DOES controversial things, one of which was vandalizing Mark Grebner's wikipedia page calling him a homosexual. That was apparently a $1500 lesson he had to learn. He was also run out of Cheboygan County politics for a reason.

The longer this stuff stays in the news, the worse this is for the party. The best thing for the party is for this to leave the news and to get back to real issues besides someone's mouth. If you want Agema gone, wait until the convention vote for RNC Committeeman and run someone better. That's how to handle this.

My own stance is this.

A. In the convention vote between Dave Agema vs Saul Anuzis, I voted for Saul Anuzis. It was a pro-Saul vote, not an anti Dave Agema vote.  I've known Saul for years. I've met Agema, but I don't really know him.

B.When the time comes to vote on RNC Committeeman, I'll make my decision when I see who is running. 

C. People running their mouths calling for resignations keeps this in the news and does more harm than good. 

Until that period comes, I have more important things to deal with. 

Guns in Schools?

If you want to get big media all PO'ed, mention guns and schools in the same sentence. Rep. David Agema introduced HB 5162 which incurred the wrath of the chattering classes everywhere by (gasp!) allowing administrators to allow school employees with current Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPL, often known as CCW) to carry a firearm.

From ABC 12

Guns in the classroom could soon be a reality if one Michigan lawmaker has his way.

Republican State Rep. David Agema from the Grand Rapids area has introduced legislation that would allow teachers and other school administrators to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds.

Agema says he understands this is a controversial piece of legislation. But he says kids need to be kept safe on school grounds.

All schools in Michigan are weapon-free zones. There are no guns allowed for students, teachers or anyone on school grounds.

In recent years there have been a number of deadly school shootings at schools across the country.

At least one Michigan lawmaker says if teachers and administrators were armed or had access to a concealed weapon at school the incidents of school shootings will decline.

The bill allows for a teacher, administrator or other employee of a school to carry a concealed weapon.

I do have a problem with this bill for one reason. It doesn't go far enough.

First, there should not be ANY gun free - or what I call "Criminal Empowerment Zones" unless they are enacted by private owners of their property. The only ones who obey laws creating criminal empowerment zones, are law abiding CPL holders. Criminals and school shooters would carry their guns anyway in places they are not allowed to since they don't follow the law to begin with.

Secondly, why limit this to school employees? Why not all CPL holders? CPL holders are the most law abiding class of folks in the entire country. It's worked in 40 other states. You aren't going to have Columbine repeat due to CPL holders. By keeping CPL holders unarmed, you may however be enabling the next Columbine.