# I am 100% certain that the NRA is trolling by making Oliver North their President **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 7, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779 "2018-05-07T19:27:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/61 "2018-05-08T13:13:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why North when they could have hired George Zimmerman more cheaply? Zing! Nice one, lol ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/62 "2018-05-08T13:52:28Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Agreed. They’re sacrificing mainstream acceptance in order to ensure a more loyal and more energized membership. Given a political structure where a sufficiently united minority can hamper political change, this serves the NRA’s interests (and its funding organizations’ interests) nicely. I find this hard to believe. The NRA is a lobbying organization. It exists to sway public opinion towards its position; that’s the way a united minority affects political issues. So it doesn’t matter how devoted its base is if it sacrifices the support of the majority of people. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/63 "2018-05-08T14:13:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I find this hard to believe. The NRA is a lobbying organization. It exists to sway public opinion towards its position; that’s the way a united minority affects political issues. So it doesn’t matter how devoted its base is if it sacrifices the support of the majority of people. That may be what we think a lobbying organization should do, but that doesn’t seem to be how they work. I can’t remember the last time I saw any NRA outreach. It’s all been preaching to the choir and energizing their base. They attacked child victims, for goodness sake. They already don’t have the majority of the country behind them. What they do have is a very energized base which can, due to how close our elections are now, easily sway things one way or the other. What they do rather than strengthen their own side is weaken the other side by putting them on the defensive, making gun control advocates have to prove they don’t want to “take away all your guns” and bullshit like that. It is my belief that, when you have power, you act differently than when you are trying to gain power. Right now, they think they can just energize their base and win, and so that is what they do. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/64 "2018-05-08T14:15:49Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > The President of the NRA is a spokesperson and fundraiser, two things North is pretty good at. But neither is what the president of an organization is supposed to do. The president actually runs things. He decides strategy (deciding between that given by strategists, of course) He has an organization to run. If he’s free enough to actually do the fundraising rather than delegate it, then when does he have time to actually do the job of a president? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/65 "2018-05-08T14:21:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I find this hard to believe. The NRA is a lobbying organization. It exists to sway public opinion towards its position; that’s the way a united minority affects political issues. So it doesn’t matter how devoted its base is if it sacrifices the support of the majority of people. That’s how a sensible, sane, reason-driven, reality-based organization operates, yes. But it’s not how one driven by quasi-religious fervor, with leaders having a personal interest in increasing the group’s income, operates. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/66 "2018-05-08T14:26:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But neither is what the president of an organization is supposed to do. The president actually runs things. He decides strategy (deciding between that given by strategists, of course) He has an organization to run. If he’s free enough to actually do the fundraising rather than delegate it, then when does he have time to actually do the job of a president? that’s not a law or anything. Wayne LaPierre has been pretty much running the organization for a long time, and will apparently continue to do so. I don’t see this as any significant change other than riling up a handful of people. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/67 "2018-05-08T15:24:01Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > that’s not a law or anything. Wayne LaPierre has been pretty much running the organization for a long time, and will apparently continue to do so. I was going to say. IIRC, isn’t Israel’s president a guy who speaks at ceremonies and hands out awards and otherwise does head-of-state stuff without actually being the Prime Minister? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/68 "2018-05-08T16:38:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I find this hard to believe. The NRA is a lobbying organization. It exists to sway public opinion towards its position; that’s the way a united minority affects political issues. So it doesn’t matter how devoted its base is if it sacrifices the support of the majority of people. I seriously doubt if choosing Oliver North as their president is going to do anything to cut support among the majority of Americans. If the rest of the US hated Oliver North as much as the SDMB does, it would, but they don’t. That’s why the notion that they are trolling by picking North is so ridiculous. An organization to which you don’t belong, which you don’t support, whose goals you don’t share, is picking someone you don’t like to help them do things you don’t want them to do. Those bastages! They are doing it just to piss you off! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/69 "2018-06-09T22:43:29Z")
Dana Loesch comes out against feminism, says only guns can empower women. > **[NRA's Dana Loesch: Women Should 'Stay in Their Lane'](https://www.newsweek.com/nra-dana-loesch-women-feminism-toxic-masculinity-guns-witch-hunt-967575)** > > "There is nothing toxic about masculinity, but there are plenty of toxic things about third-wave feminism." ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/70 "2018-06-11T07:28:28Z")
IMO if the United States has another civil war it will be fought between the NRA and the legitimate army. I can’t say I’d regret a preemptive strike by the army. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/71 "2018-06-11T14:36:37Z")
Uh…that seems unlikely. The active duty, reserve, and Guard military overlaps too much with the NRA’s membership. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/72 "2018-06-11T14:39:08Z")
Given that the question assumes it’s a real possibility: To whom have they sworn oaths? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/73 "2018-06-11T19:42:29Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Given that the question assumes it’s a real possibility: To whom have they sworn oaths? That matters to them? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/74 "2018-06-11T19:43:58Z")
It’s your fantasy; you tell us. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/75 "2018-06-11T20:31:43Z")
They swear oaths to protect this country. Many of them interpret that as meaning protecting what they view as one of the most important freedoms of this country, a core pillar if it, if you will. I am not making any value judgment on this perspective, I’m simply stating it for what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/76 "2018-06-11T20:41:00Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Given that the question assumes it’s a real possibility: To whom have they sworn oaths? Well, here is the one I took: > [@](#): > > I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. That first line is the one that would matter to the NRA overlappers. They believe that the Supreme Court was right and that the 2nd Amendment applies to the People. An order telling them to confiscate firearms, or declare war on the NRA due to their support of that right, could be seen as an illegal order that is in violation of the Constitution. If we are playing around with some Turner Diaries nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/77 "2018-06-11T21:03:29Z")
Its not “gold fringe on the flag” crazy. Maybe sovereign county sheriff crazy. Middlin’ batshit. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/78 "2018-06-11T21:33:15Z")
Ten-year old article: > **[The Widening Gap Between Military and Society](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/07/the-widening-gap-between-military-and-society/306158/)** > > U.S. military personnel of all ranks are feeling increasingly alienated from their own country, and are becoming both more conservative and more politically active than ever before. Do they see America clearly? > [@](#): > > Today the available evidence indicates that all these trends have reversed. The military appears to be becoming politically less representative of society, with a long-term downward trend in the number of officers willing to identify themselves as liberals. Open identification with the Republican Party is becoming the norm. And the few remaining liberals in uniform tend to be colonels and generals, perhaps because they began their careers in the draft-era military. The junior officer corps, apart from its female and minority members, appears to be overwhelmingly hard-right Republican and largely comfortable with the views of Rush Limbaugh. I don’t think you are going to get the military coming after the right wing NRA. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/79 "2018-06-12T00:13:46Z")
> [@](#): > > The junior officer corps, apart from its female and minority members That’s a pretty significant exception. Women and minority members make up about forty percent of the officer corps. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779/80 "2018-06-12T04:32:46Z")
I’m aware that the majority of the US forces are primarily there because they get to kill and torture people, especially foreigners and whoever else they don’t approve of, without consequences. I just figured there might be enough discipline that orders might be obeyed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-100-certain-that-the-nra-is-trolling-by-making-oliver-north-their-president/813779.md?page=5)