The decidedly testy Elephant-guy quiveringly writes: "That's where a nice 20 ga. with a short barrel would be handy. Because I wouldn't shoot some punk in the back for breaking a window. But if a gang of protesters were throwing bricks, bottles, pipes, bombs, whatever at me, then I think I just might fire." Now, that's the problem with people like you who think, or rather, don't think, about stuff very deeply. The problem is people like you who put themselves and their "value" at a premium. This can be defined as "sociopathic behaviour". Those who see themselves at the center of the universe. Exceptional beings. This kind of person - the sociopath - should never be armed. Period. Especiallywith a firearm (actually I don't think anyone 'needs' a gun -- hunting is a mental illness, gun collectors had some deep sexual problems, and those who need 'em to protect themselves are basically spineless idjits, but I digress). As you yourself freely admit, without a gun, you're a coward. This applies to most of people who think / don't 'think' like you. People who pack are, well, just very weird. These are people, such as yourself, "who just might fire" if you felt yourself under threat. This is always followed by a big "IF". "If I was threatened" (SOP military rules of engagement, BTW -- waste anything that you perceive to be a threat, you will not be prosecuted -- the U.S. military trumps anything on planet earth). Which leads to the folly that Americans seem to think is normal. Preventative / pre-emptive military strikes against 'potential' threats (actually, anyone who might be cutting in on America's 'action'). Because we are exceptional, we reserve the right to 'take out' (now there's a term that clearly shows the value of life) anyone that we even perceive to be a threat. And here's what happens, elephant -guy. Suppose I was armed and I see someone with a short-barreled anything -- such as yourself -- looking like 'you' were a threat, I'm not going to hesitate to take that fool out. And so it goes. Tit for tat.

BTW -- under what conditions do you define 'a punk'. In my estimation, and much to my embarrassment, the current C-in-C is what I would call a punk, whereas the VP is more what would be termed a thug. But that's just me.

Elephant-guy from on-high quips (Is that the right word for something not very clever??): "And to the friendly soul below who suggested that "hunting is a mental illness": Can you possibly get that into the Democratic Party Platform? Or perhaps on the Obama website. That's a winning plank, for sure. I fear, however, that dedicated hunter John Kerry is going to be disappointed that he'll be needing therapy."

Hmmm. Maybe a mental illness is a bit strong. Your 'sociopathy' IS a mental illness. Hunting is just an abberation. Sheesh, most of us comprehend that you don't have to bwast a wascally wabbit to really really really prove that you're smarter than it . . .

but I digress.

And WTF is with the "to the friendly soul below"?? You got a Messiah complex?? You orbiting the planet??

L.M.W.?? (Let Me Wail??) Well, when he/she has always been a bit bent. Hints here and there about being a large cog in a small machine. He / She's been there, done that, and is now doing really (x 100) important stuff and that rag-a-muffins such as youse and me don't appreciate the 'blood, sweat & tears' going into the struggle. Then it really veered off course. The last few days are either over-medicated, juiced, or a blown cover. Or should I say, blown gasket. It sucks when age & infirmity takes hold.

Elephant-guy, self-proclaimed coward, snarks: "Is Garrison Keillor rellay criticizing Gov. Sarah Palin as a "lightweight" while he exhorts Minnesotans to vote for their next Senator from the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party... Al Franken? This is all in the same column, with apparent seriousness?" Speaking of featherweights,

you sure do get around. No surprise, though, that you don't hang around Freeker's Republick, or TownHall, because most of those dead-enders already agree with your 'talking points' (can't say opinions -- you folks don't hold opinions). It'd be talking to the chorus (speaking of choruses and faux-chrisitians, this Sarah is creepy and her church is even creepier, but I digress), and there'd be no joy there, eh, Elephant-guy??

And then you've got LowOrbitGuy hanging out as well. Are you boys looking for a spanking or sumptin?? BTW -- ol' Sarah's Sandpoint (the place gawd would stick the hose if she was going to give America an enema) accent is phonier than George's Texass drawl.