Open Thread Feb. 21: Prying the Guns From Their Cold, Dead Souls

Filed in National by on February 21, 2018

There is nothing Republicans won’t defile in defense of their indefensible worldview. The RWNJ propaganda machine is in full meltdown mode over how articulate and passionate those Florida high school students have been about ending the mobius strip of thoughts and prayers, to the point that they are seriously claiming they are “crisis actors”. Think about that for just a second. They are claiming that the left wants to get rid of guns so much that they are willing to murder schoolchildren to get what they want. As always, that’s projection. It’s actually Republicans who have demonstrated time and again that they will tolerate many more dead children to get what they want.

Here’s why our “representative republic,” which supposedly values the will of the people are the source of government legitimacy, is a sick joke: Universal background checks for gun purchases have for several years been supported by about 90% of the public. In the wake of the Florida shooting, it’s now at 97%. With all due respect, whatever a government that ignores the will of 97% of its people is, “representative” it is not.

Here’s why the time for negotiating with gun nuts is past: The other side isn’t listening, because gun ownership is no longer a practical matter but a part of the Red Team uniform (emphasis mine):

Over the past few decades, gun ownership in the US has evolved from a practical issue for rural homeowners and hunters to a kind of gesture of tribal solidarity, an act of defiance toward Obama, the left, and all the changes they represent. The gun lobby has become more hardened and uncompromising, pushing guns into schools, churches, and universities. This has taken place in the context of a broader and deeper polarization of the country, as Red America and Blue America have become more ideologically homogeneous and distant from one another. … This suggests that if the status quo on guns in the US is to change, it will be through overwhelming political force, not through evidence and argument. Guns have now ascended to the level of worldview and identity, areas largely beyond the reach of persuasion.

Could the Florida high school shooting do for the gun issue what Trump’s “pussy tape” has done for sexual harassment? It’s possible. In the same way that macho-man types are finding it tough sledding with voters these days, it might turn out that sucking NRA dick taking NRA money is hazardous to a gun-fondler’s electoral health. As a prominent example, Norman Braman-owned Sen. “Little” Marco Rubio is getting a lot of pushback for his mush-mouthed, half-assed platitudes, and it appears Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who wants to bring his Voldemort act to the Senate, also has some ‘splainin’ to do.

It’s pretty clear the standard centrist mush about gun control isn’t going to carry much water right now. New York Times columnist David Brooks brought down the wrath of the entire internet yesterday for publishing a column saying that we must “respect” the position of gun fondlers.

I’m convinced Donald Trump paid someone to attend college for him, because a bag of hammers is more capable of abstract thought. Amid his latest string of stubby-fingered thoughts was the allegation that “Obama” should have done more about Russian election meddling. Uh, Donbo –he did. The ones who wouldn’t let him do more were your Republican buddies in Congress, and your tweets highlight the fact that they knew of it before the election but did nothing because it was helping them. Which is why I say that the entire party is guilty of treason and must, for the future safety of the nation, be destroyed.

I don’t generally care much about palace intrigue stories, but this one is worth paying a bit of attention to. Turns out all the controversy about wife-beater Rob Porter is really about John Kelly’s attempt to revoke Jared Kushner’s temporary security clearance.

Finally, I missed this story last week about the all-encompassing foresight of our Founding Fathers: pregnant Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth can’t take maternity leave because nobody ever anticipated the situation and there are no rules to govern it.

About the Author ()

Who wants to know?

Comments (15)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. ProveMeWrong says:

    The Democrats Slogan: Always Blame the Other Guy.

  2. Alby says:

    Oh, look, the Frightened Conservative Brigade has arrived. Hi, little man!

  3. Yup. Donald Trump doesn’t Always Blame the Other Guy.

    Uh, wait…

  4. Paul says:

    It’s now a full two months (out of three) of winter. Nice temps, kind of like an August cold snap down to the 40s. Ahhhhhh.

  5. bamboozer says:

    As noted there is no talking to the Republicans about the epidemic of shootings and death, at this point the NRA fancies themselves invulnerable, and perhaps their right. For now that is. The next massacre is coming, believe police just prevented another one, but there will be others guaranteed.

  6. Paul says:

    As I’ve said elsewhere, I support open carry in every state legislature and Congress, especially the offices of the legislators. After all, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” True enough, guns have zero intent. That is correct, so, what’s the problem letting me enter the hallowed halls with an AR15, a dozen clips holding 30 rounds apiece, bump stock, 3-4 handguns, and my trusty “bowie” knife, kind of like the one Paul Hogan wielded in Crocodile Dundee. You know, I’m a peaceful sort. I wouldn’t pose a danger to anyone.

  7. Alby says:

    @Paul: Your race plays a role in how that would be perceived.

  8. RE Vanella says:

    We don’t even need to imagine:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulford_Act

    (Edit: didn’t see Alby’s link. Mulford Act was the result of the Panthers action.)

    “Both Republicans and Democrats in California supported increased gun control. Governor Ronald Reagan was present when the protesters arrived and later commented that he saw “no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons” and that guns were a “ridiculous way to solve problems that have to be solved among people of good will.” In a later press conference, Reagan added that the Mulford Act “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.”[7]”

  9. Paul says:

    @alby I completely agree with you, sadly.

  10. Paul says:

    @bam they’re

  11. Paul says:

    @provemewrong glad to prove you wrong. The word you were looking for is: Democrat’s. That little thingy there is called an apostrophe denoting ownership. There, don’t you feel better now?
    While I have your attention, (that takes real skill), how do you feel about “open carry” in legislative hall?

  12. Ben says:

    There it is! Trump blames his win on Obama… and apparently the dub fuck doesn’t even know his AG’s name

    Question: If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation? Why didn’t Obama do something about the meddling? Why aren’t Dem crimes under investigation? Ask Jeff Session!

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2018

  13. LOVE this headline from the News Journal:

    “Fish Caught in Delaware Waters Are Safer To Eat”.

    I guess it parses better than:

    “Fish Caught In Delaware Waters Are Less Unsafe To Eat”.

    Me? I just want to know whether said fish are safe to eat, but that’s just me.

  14. spktruth says:

    Russians gave NRA $30 M to distribute for Trumpolini.

  15. Gigi says:

    El Som, they are stocking trout in the Red Clay for the first time in 30 years. As far as the flounder from the IR inlet, only 3 8oz servings per year is “safe” and zero for children. After what’s been going on with Mountaire, I guess I will just catch and release.