Senator Obama has released a statement in reaction to the Heller decision which overturned the Washington, DC ban on handguns along with requirements that all weapons be stored unloaded and with safety locks.

I'll provide the statement, and then I'd like to go into some Constitutional analysis.  Frankly I've seen far too many people here inject policy arguments into Constitutional debates.  I cannot stress enough how wrongheaded I consider this to be.

As for the statement itself, I could not agree with Senator Obama more than I already do.  His position mirrors the one I've held for years, and reinforces my approval of his overall temperment.

Read more for the statement and my analysis....

Washington DC "Shadow Senators", Sen. Paul Strauss & Sen. Michael Brown, have endorsed Barack Obama.  The endorsement was noted on page 9 of the print version of today's Washington Post, District local news section (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022701430_ 2.html).  The endorsement is noted at the very end of the story.  The shadow Senators are unpaid & elected by Washington "Taxation Without Representation" DC voters to lobby for voting rights & DC statehood.  "Shadow Senators" can't vote in the US Senate nor are they recognized by that body.  

I've been working in Washington, DC for a long time and what I hate is when some politician comes along and says he's going to change DC. Honey, you're not going to change DC. If you want to succeed, you need to work the system.

DC is like a bad version of high school with these clichés and hierarchies. You can change who's popular, but you're not going to get rid of the clichés. And it's naive and a waste of time to think you will.

That's why I, a former Richardson supporter, am switching to Hillary. She knows how to DC works. She knows how to fight, using the system. Obama is too sweet and naïve for me.

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1. Stein Club Endorsement Meeting, Jan. 14

Happy New Year & PLEASE FORWARD

1.  Dates to remember:

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(note: this may be my last DC Events newsletter until after the holidays - Howard Park)

On Friday, I went to the DNC Fall Meeting with a friend of mine to see John Edwards. It was an adventurous, though not altogether pleasant, kind of day. Here's my story of a trip to a political event that was unexpectedly eventful. I'll also discuss John Edwards' and Barack Obama's very different approaches to change.

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1. Clinton Grassroots Event in Ward 2

Monday, November 26th at 7:30pm, 1529 Q Street NW, unit 4, the home of Ward 2 Hillary Clinton Co-Chair, Darren Bowie.  We will be joined at this meeting by Leecia Eve, the DC Director (and Senior Policy Adviser) for the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign.  Join us too discuss the issues in the Clinton Campaign and to get involved to ensure that Hillary wins our DC Primary (Tuesday, February 12th) and wins the Democratic Nomination.   So we can get an idea of how many folks to expect please let me know if you are able to attend. All those supporting Hillary Clinton are welcome and most encouraged to attend even if you bring a friend not in Ward 2! Share this with as many friends as you like -- Peter Rosenstein, 202 255-0850