"Their latest victory came yesterday when the House passed a bill that will allow people to bring concealed and loaded guns into national parks. Advocates won with the help of moderate Democrats.

"Those Democrats, many from states in the South and Midwest, joined nearly all House Republicans to back yesterday's provision, which has passed in the Senate and could become law this week. The gun bill passed 279 to 147 in the House with the help of 105 Democratic votes; 145 Democrats opposed the bill.

"The legislation was the latest defeat for gun-control advocates, who had expected more success with a Democratic president and Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress. 

"Yesterday's provision, originally sponsored by  Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), would allow gun owners to bring the weapons into national parks and wildlife refuges as long as they are permitted by the laws of the state in which the park is located. The bill codifies a change the Bush administration had sought in its final months, but a federal judge blocked the effort in March.

"Obama administration officials had not sought to overturn the judge's ruling. But Coburn, who had long sought the change, inserted his amendment this month on credit card legislation that is one of Obama's top priorities. The move effectively forced Democrats to vote on the gun provision if they wanted to pass the credit card bill. 

"A spokeswoman for  Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), one of the Democratic backers of the bill, said Reid viewed the bill as defending the Second Amendment.

"A coalition of groups that included the Fraternal Order of Police and the Association of National Park Rangers slammed the bill, saying it will 'increase the risk of poaching, vandalism of historic park treasures and threats to park visitors and staff.'

" 'We have a Democratic president, a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate, and we're passing more gun legislation than when there was a Republican in the White House,' said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), a gun-control advocate. 'It's disappointing.' "

Both Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have repeatedly shown that they are not leaders, and even when the Democratic Party is now in the majority, their spinelessness and caving to the GOP continues to be their method of operation.

I've written often about their deliberate incompetence and defeatist actions here, here,  here, and here, for example.

From Christopher Hayes at The Nation: "Team Coburn/Reid strikes again. This just in from Greg Kaufmann:

" 'National Parks are not like other public lands, and they are not like state lands. They are set aside because they are unlike anywhere else on Earth.' -- Congressman Raúl Grijalva

"Senator Tom Coburn has struck again, aided and abetted by feckless Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"This time around, Coburn hijacked the credit card reform bill, attaching yet another insane gun amendment that has nothing whatsoever to do with the issue at hand. The result? A vote for the "Credit Card Bill of Rights" is now also a vote for allowing loaded shotguns, rifles -- even AK-47s -- into our national parks. Score another win for the NRA, poaching, environmental degradation, and national insecurity -- and a huge loss for public safety. 

"Yesterday a Reid spokesman told CongressDaily that there is little Reid can do to prevent amendments like Coburn's -- frankly, that's a load of crap. He could toughen up (as could Dems fearful of the NRA). There is a well known process on the Hill called "filling the tree", whereby the Majority Leader cuts off amendments by offering his own -- even if they are simply place holders. In response, the GOP would certainly complain bitterly or maybe try to slow down the process. Let them. I'm sure interfering with the credit card reform at this moment of financial hardship would serve only to cement their minority status.

"Republicans don't mess around when it comes to taking advantage of parliamentary tactics. It's time for the Democrats to respond in kind. Perhaps Harry Reid simply isn't up to the job at hand."

With nominal Democrats like these....