A few weeks back I griped about the nonexistence/convenient powerlessness of conservative Democrats, and a few interpreted it as a shot at my friends at the National Rifle Association (which wasn’t my aim, no pun intended).

A lot of this comes down to whether you’re a single-issue voter (as the NRA is a single-issue organization) or a multiple-issue voter. While I can completely understand why the NRA operates the way they do, I’m a little tired of Democrats from conservative states and districts showcasing one or two stances to hide an otherwise routinely liberal voting record. You’re pro-gun, Congressman? That’s great, pal; too bad your stimulus spending, health-care bill, and cap-and-trade votes mean lots of folks will never be able to afford a firearm.

Well, the question of whether or not the organization ought to endorse Bart Stupak is gone. And I can’t help but suspect that with a vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor, and most likely a vote to confirm the successor to Justice Stevens, Harry Reid has enjoyed his last NRA endorsement.