politicians are politicians

By way of a comment left here by the folks at Pax Parabellum, I learn that Governor Phil Bredesen broke a promise to support the bill allowing handgun carry permit holders to carry their firearms into restaurants that serve alcohol. Back in 2006, Phil promised the NRA that he would support measures allowing law-abiding citizens to carry their firearms into restaurants (according to this survey), and now it comes to light that Phil bald-facedly lied.
Of course, like all good politicians, Phil gave himself some wiggle room when it came to the survey – next to his checking the “Yes” block in response to whether or not he would support legislation allowing licensed individuals to carry firearms into restaurants that serve alcohol, he also wrote:

I would support any such measures as long as they contained provisions to adequately protect the safety of the public.

Funny, and here I thought we were trying to let handgun carry permit holders carry their firearms into restaurants so they could protect their safety and the safety of their families. Unfortunately, Phil no doubt means such stupid-assed measures as the bill originally started with, like a pointless curfew, and not allowing firearms into establishments that have age limits. Supporting those specious amendments as means to “adequately protect the safety of the public” is something only a politician or an idiot (but I repeat myself) could do.
Governor Phil Bresden, you are a liar and a scoundrel, and you should be very thankful that your term limits have come due – your blatant lying would no doubt be remembered at your next election.
In related news, WizardPC (who really needs to start weblogging at some point) alerted me to the fact that the Tennessee Firearm Assocation has launched a campaign to try and identify all of the police officers and district attorneys that were standing behind Phil when he vetoed HB0962 – after all, those employees of the public were supporting a continued pointless restriction on the rights of that public, and supporting the veto of a bill that only serves to increase individuals’ safety. As always, public officials and people on the public payroll should be held accountable for their actions… but apparently Phil feels otherwise (at least, as expressed through his spokesperson):

“Reasonable people can disagree, but to launch a grass-roots effort designed to intimidate and retaliate against law enforcement officers clearly crossed the line of what’s appropriate,” she said.

Funny, how is it “intimidation” to identify public officials, in a public photograph? Are those folks not proud of what they have done? After all, those individuals were standing behind Phil to provide moral support – if they do not want to be identified, that would seem to indicate some degree of shame for their actions, and if they are ashamed of their actions, why did they do those actions to begin with? Furthermore, where was Phil’s office when certain newspapers took it upon themselves to launch a corporate effort designed to intimidate and retaliate against handgun carry permit holders? After all, if it is good for the goose…
So here we have a politician embodying the belief that ethics are for the little people, while simultaneously doing his best to perpetuate the myth that public officials/employees should be afforded certain protections/privileges that their constituents/employers (otherwise known as “citizens”) do not have. Sorry, folks – being elected or selected for a public office or job does not make you any better than me, and since you are the public payroll (that we, the citizens of America and residents of Tennessee help pay for), you are totally open for scrutiny, identification, and being held accountable for your actions.
Them’s the breaks.