# The NRA gets a new President **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 7, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780 "2018-05-07T19:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/1 "2018-05-07T19:36:19Z")
The NRA is getting a new president, and as further evidence that we are all living in some nightmare alternative universe from the dreams of the disembodied spirit of Philip K. Dick, their choice is [Oliver North](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/oliver-north-named-president-of-the-national-rifle-association/2018/05/07/02cd2742-521c-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html?utm_term=.19caf485f484). You know, the guy responsible for [illegally selling weapons to Iran](https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_02.htm), conspiring to destory evidence about the same, [”found by a superior officer ‘babbling incoherently and running around naked, waving a .45 caliber pistol,’ apparently ready to commit suicide.”](https://newrepublic.com/article/89594/inside-ollies-mind-oliver-north). What a great example of integrity, even-tempered leadership, and responsible firearms ownership. When I stopped paying dues for an NRA membership more than two decades ago it was because of their adoption of partisanship and legislative manipulation, but at that time I never imagined how far the organization would descend into Kubrick-inspired self-satire. This practically begs for a barely fictionalized treatment with Cary Elwes in the leading role. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/2 "2018-05-07T19:41:40Z")
I have to vehemently disagree with you. This has Steve Buscemi all over it. Cary Elwes - really? ---
**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:** [May 7, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/3 "2018-05-07T19:46:32Z")
As I said in my Great Debate thread, they are trolling for sure. They know this choice will piss lots of people off and that’s what they want, controversy. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/4 "2018-05-07T20:53:51Z")
But the person is a famous right-wing radio personality. A perfect leader for the NRA! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/5 "2018-05-08T01:42:27Z")
I’m sorry… the first thing I thought when I saw the title was, “What? They’ve used up Trump already?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/6 "2018-05-08T15:04:17Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I have to vehemently disagree with you. This has Steve Buscemi all over it. Cary Elwes - really? I think it’s a reference to the thoroughly entertaining [The Pentagon Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon_Wars). [Oooollie North!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFV1uT-ihDo) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/7 "2018-05-08T16:09:37Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > I think it’s a reference to the thoroughly entertaining [The Pentagon Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon_Wars). It’s true that Elwes has experience in parody, but he’s also almost a dead ringer for Oliver North. Let’s save Buscemi for Manucher Ghorbanifar. Jason Alexander can play John Poindexter with the same smuggness as the character he played on _Seinfeld_. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/8 "2018-05-08T16:19:15Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > As I said in my Great Debate thread, they are trolling for sure. They know this choice will piss lots of people off and that’s what they want, controversy. So, you’re bound and determined to be wrong twice? There is nothing particularly odd about Oliver North being tapped for the presidency of the NRA. No need to invoke trolling when simpler motivations can be found. OTOH, I did not check whether there was gold tassel on the flag he will stand next to at the swearing-in ceremony, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/9 "2018-05-08T16:33:59Z")
This appointment is another glorious example of the NRA’s steadfast and unwaivering commitment to the Constitution. Well, just one part of the Constitution, fuck the rest of it. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/10 "2018-05-08T20:31:33Z")
I agree it is an odd choice. Not a big fan of North. Then again, the current NRA president is Pete Brownell, which I wouldn’t have known before five minutes ago. I don’t think I’ve known who the NRA president is since Charlton Heston, and that was 15 years ago. Also, doesn’t matter, as I just renewed my membership for another five years. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/11 "2018-05-09T05:14:23Z")
I thought Pierre LaPew was the prez. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nra-gets-a-new-president/813780/12 "2018-05-09T13:50:10Z")
Executive Vice-president and Chief Executive Officer, i.e. the guy really running the show. Being president of the NRA is kind of like being president of a country with a parliament and prime minister: All title, not much power.