Craig, we're colonials who've done well on our side of the ocean. Nancy and I envy no one, admire many aspects of European culture and try to get over every year. We don't go for greener spaces. We have more of that here!

I don't know who's the maverick you mention but I think my reference to "compromise anyway" is that our side of the gun control debate won't get out unscathed. None in fierce struggles with governments ever does.

It appears to me now as then that there's only so much that's doable, as they say, with the governing party's legislative reach. It pales by comparison with the afflictions of the Patriot Act (to get back to my original question).