Don't be so quick to castigate Senator Trotter (O'Hare Airport .25 auto)

[gym]

Thanks fan, I didn't think I had to re write that part also. The problem with posts that go on for days is that very few people read the entire post, and take things said, completely out of context. If you start reading one of the thought provoking posts we have here, please try to stay on top of where the conversation has gone.
I have been guilty of it myself, but we should try to read the entire thing so that if someone makes a comment, we know what it was directed to.
Obviouslly this just proves that politicians, or at least some if not all, are hypocriytical, which shouldn't be news at this point. they are like stockbrokers, what they say, and what they say they meant, "when cornered" are usually 2 different things." If this and that happen then I meant what you said, otherwise I agree with you" , is usually what they try to convey. Their sole agenda is to get elected, and will usually do anything to accomplish that goal, Remember the Swift boats" from Kerry.
My fear is that we have a presidential cabinet that are all like this now, and the Potus can elect judjes who he already has interviewed through other people, and knows that they will back his agenda. Once that hapens it will take a decade to restore our rights.

 

[EddieNFL]

I didn't mean to be condesening, it was just the way you asked how it applied to his wife, which should be self explanitory, it's his wife. One dosen't necessarilly have to ask for a favor for themselves, if not a wife then who?
That's the only reason for my response, if your wife has a problem are you going to ignore it and leave her in a room at the airport, or call for help?
Personally I choose the latter, you call whoever can be of the greatest assisitance when a loved one is in trouble.
Perhaps I over explained it but perhaps you under rated the explanation thus the misunderstanding.
Anyone who sleeps in the same house is part of my family and myself, thus no explanation should have been necessary. i am sorry you took it that way and meant no disrespect.

I'm fairly thick skinned.

I would absolutely make a call for a family member. Anyone here would so I guess we all have something in common with Mr. Trotter. I think your downfall was attempting to justify it because your friend is a hero/marine/good guy.

 

[Texan Scott]

I believe in equality under the law and uniformity in its application. I also readily admit that I would solicit favors, offer bribes, misrepresent facts, and generally perjure or forswear myself to protect my wife or kids. I suspect many men more righteous than myself would.

I also see a big difference between a man who served his country pleading leniency for someone else, and a man who has acted as if the country serves him pleading leniency for himself.

I don't defend this - I do not condone it - I only admit that I would sacrifice whatever measure of my personal honor for my family's safety.

All that aside, if I bend the rules to save my family, I will know what sort of man I am- good, bad, and human- and I will live with that. It is still behavior unbefitting a holder of public office, and continuing to hold one would be inappropriate.

Mr Trotter needs to have the decency to resign and settle his legal affairs on his own time and his own dime.

 

[comus3]

I think he meant this:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-01-15/news/0190180113_1_submachine-guns-bodyguard-uzi



I read elsewhere Kennedy was "incensed."

Quote:
Originally Posted by comus3 View Post
Ted Kennedy had a Capitol Police security detail.
I think he meant this:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...-bodyguard-uzi

Quote:
Kennedy Bodyguard Arrested For Possessing Machine Guns
January 15, 1986|By United Press International
WASHINGTON — Sen. Edward Kennedy's private bodyguard, hired for a trip to South America, was arrested last week when he arrived at the Capitol with two submachine guns and ammunition, officials said Tuesday.

The bodyguard was identified as Charles Stein, 47, a former police officer in San Fernando, Calif., who has worked for the Massachusetts Democrat in the past, providing security on overseas trips. He was released on his own recognizance after appearing in court.
I read elsewhere Kennedy was "incensed."

I guess times were different back then. thanks

 

[Jeff White]

So Trotter is friendly to Todd Vandermyde when he calls on him in his capitol office and because of that we are supposed to overlook the fact that he violated the law?

You can't expect me to believe that Trotter actually walked a post as a security guard. He took the job so that he could walk a thin line between legal and illegal while carrying a gun. As an armed security officer he basically could carry a gun on the job and while in transit between his home and work. So, get stopped by the police and found carrying a loaded gun and he says "I'm legal, I just left work." They call his employer who conveniently verifies the story and Trotter walks.

So the NRA rep thinks we should not only forgive him for making "a mistake that anyone of us could have made" but overlook the fact he was obviously gaming the system to get around Illinois ban on CCW?

I don't think so. Does Vandermyde believe any other Illinois citizen could get sponsored by a licensed security company, take the 40 hour training and have a deal set up so that he was conveniently on his way to or from work no matter what time of day he got caught with gun?

Sorry Todd, it doesn't wash. I demand that our legislators live up to the letter of the law just like the rest of us do. In fact I demand that they follow it closer then I do after all they were involved with writing it.

I don't care how much his views have changed. He needs to be prosecuted to full extent of the law and receive the same sentence that anyone else would.

I am sick and tired of members of the political class acting like they are better in the eyes of the law then the private citizens they work for.

 

[barnbwt]

He took the job so that he could walk a thin line between legal and illegal while carrying a gun.

In this case, the $350K "salary" as a "security consultant" may have been the primary motivation for "employment," and the CCW a side-benefit . I've not seen near enough attention paid to this angle of the story; just the irony (actually hypocracy) of an IL state official being caught with an illegal gun. All the more reason to not prop this scumbag up as an average-joe, upstanding citizen fighting for gun-rights . Vandermyde must've owed him a favor or two is my guess *shakes head*

TCB

 

[Trent]

Sorry Todd, it doesn't wash. I demand that our legislators live up to the letter of the law just like the rest of us do. In fact I demand that they follow it closer then I do after all they were involved with writing it.

I don't care how much his views have changed. He needs to be prosecuted to full extent of the law and receive the same sentence that anyone else would.

I am sick and tired of members of the political class acting like they are better in the eyes of the law then the private citizens they work for.

Wow, I'm with Jeff on this one. We haven't always seen eye to eye, me and Jeff , but on this issue, yup. Absolutely, what he said.

Public representatives should be held to a HIGHER standard than citizens. Just as law enforcement officers, due to their training and power, should be held to a higher standard of morality. (Sorry Jeff, couldn't resist a little poke there!)

If I act one certain way my entire professional career, then all the sudden in my time of need attempt to convince someone that I am different than I've acted all of those years, and I succeed in doing so, well, that only proves one thing. That proves I'm a really good politician.

Which.. is why I'll never believe a word that comes out of the mouth of a politician; I'll only believe what I see happen under the stroke of their pen or the casting of their votes.

Trotter would have to work a LONG time as a staunch pro-gun activist before I'd even venture to consider calling him a moderate on the issue; let alone an "ally" or "friend". You can't erase 30 years of history with one phone call and an empty promise.