Gun Substance or Gun Show?

What to make of Kerry's assault on the sunsetting of the assault-weapons ban? The Wall Street Journal editorializes:

"It seems odd that Mr. Kerry has now begun to fire away at the 'assault-weapon' issue this late in the campaign. Last Friday he lit into President Bush for letting the ban expire. perhaps he's trying to rally his liberal base, or perhaps he's seen that something labeled an 'assault-weapons ban' does well in some polls. The NRA is already responding with a big anti-Kerry ad campaign, and somehow we suspect Republicans are saying, 'Make my day.'"

Well, the Journal should be happy that the old meat and potatoes issue-advocacy groups are spending lots of money, i.e. engaging in lots of "free speech." But they're wrong that Kerry is listening to the polls -- it's just the opposite! Kerry has a totally new campaign strategy where he's just going to hit, hit, hit, until one of his punches connects. He's done all that he can to make himself look like the proverbial "acceptable alternative." Now it's all about the incumbent, stupid.

And doncha love how "partial-birth abortion" is foul liberalism but "assault-weapon" is perfectly kosher?