Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Democrats hold filibuster in the Senate over gun control.

Courtesy of HuffPo:  

Led by the senators who represent Newtown, Connecticut — where a gunman fatally shot 26 people, including 20 children, in 2012 — Democrats took control of the Senate floor Wednesday and vowed to keep talking until lawmakers start doing something about gun violence. 

“Newtown is still putting itself back together, probably will be for a long time,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who launched the filibuster-style takeover, declaring it was time for the Senate to do something about gun violence beyond the usual ineffective debates. 

He said lawmakers could not go about business as usual after a mass killing at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday claimed 49 victims. 

“This is a different moment today than it was at the end of last week,” Murphy said. “There is a newfound imperative for this body to find a way to come together and take action, to try to do our part to stem this epidemic of gun violence and in particular this epidemic of mass shootings.”

I have spent much of my morning watching this filibuster and it actually great.

I saw Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren, Bob Menendez, Jeanne Shaheen and many others talking with real passion about the desperate need for stronger gun laws and it was inspiring.

I made the comment this morning that America is near the breaking point over gun violence, and I would suggest that the breaking point is what we are now witnessing.

And one way to recognize that is to check Donald Trump's Twitter feed:
I doubt the conversation will make much of an impact, but at least the conversation is happening.

And there is someone who seems quite please to see that it is.

Courtesy of HuffPo:

In a Wednesday interview with The Huffington Post, Clinton argued that she and others had essentially forced Donald Trump to consider legislation that would prevent those on the terrorist watch list from being able to buy firearms. Trump said earlier in the day that he planned to meet with the National Rifle Association to discuss its opposition to the proposal. 

“Welcome to the cause,” said Clinton. “This is something I’ve been talking about for a long time. Look, the NRA and the other gun lobby members should be moving rapidly to work with Congress on this legislation. I know members of Congress, hopefully on both sides of the aisle, are beginning to look to see if they can pass this. And I fully support it.” 

Nicely done!

I imagine right now Trump is torn between being seen jumping through Hillary's hoop, or going back on the claim he made in that tweet.

Gee, what a conundrum. 

39 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:36 PM

    Well, now you're just being a dick. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:55 PM

      How is he being a dick by reporting on and advocating for common sense gun control laws to reduce MURDERS in this country?

      C'mon. Have a reasoned argument more than "Gryph is being a dick." Because you sound like a complete idiot with that one simple (or simple minded statement).

      Carli

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:20 PM

      4:36 PM Don't advertise for your favorite dessert on this blog.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:29 PM

      I'm not sure which is worse - 4:36's dumb comment or all the people who have to rush to Gryphen's defense anytime some troll starts shooting their mouth off.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4:39 PM

    I love Chris Murphy. And Dick Blumenthal. Our governor may be an idiot, but CT has 7 good Dems in Congress.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:43 PM

    Perhaps the FBI would care to respond why they took Mateen's name off the watch list three years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! Thank you 4:43

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:27 PM

      The FBI had taken the Boston Marathon bomber off the list as well. I have as much respect for them as I do the USSS.

      See prostitution scandals and Palin ties.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:12 PM

      Because they didn't have enough evidence to pursue further investigation and closed teh investigation. Once the investigation was closed dur to lack of evidence they had to take him off the list.

      He was an American citizen. I magine if it was you.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:03 PM

      Thank you 6:12. This is still America, and we have evil people here who do horrendous things, and the FBI still has to abide by the law, unlike the Bush administration. Will they miss things? Of course. There are a bunch of wackos with guns out there. The GOP births more every time they get on some show and sow hatred of 'the other.' Blame the GOP for this. They and the NRA have more blood on their hands. Plus it sounds like the man was gay and hated himself.
      Add that to the availability for he weapons he carried, and death followed.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous4:56 PM

    O/T: Don the Con PAYS NO TAXES! (Just like the PayMes?)

    http://us.blastingnews.com/news/2016/06/donald-trump-tax-returns-leaked-details-show-zero-income-declared-no-taxes-paid-00969017.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:57 PM

    Those are my senators - so proud!!! Get the conversation out there, make them debate and vote!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:57 PM

    I am pleased that Hillary is treating Donald Trump like a normal Republican nominee who has influence with the powerful gun lobby. She can go for the jugular and easily take him down after he's officially the R nominee. But for now, Republicans are stuck with Donald, and this meeting with the NRA just cements his upcoming nomination! LOL at the Republicans !!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous5:27 PM

    ... excellent article here, with many insightful takeaways:

    http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/six-things-americans-should-know-about-mass-shootings/all/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous5:30 PM

    Enough is enough, the NRA doesn't pay taxes and was not elected by the people. They are a terrorist organization holding the USA hostage.

    Frontline on PBS is running their program on the the power of the NRA lobby. That program should be shown on all networks and everyone in Congress that is taking money from the NRA, that continually votes against stricter gun control, therefore against the best interest of the American people, should be publicly shamed !!!

    Hunters do not need assault rifles to hunt, at least sportsmen do not, only losers that want to slaughter creatures.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anita Winecooler5:32 PM

    Hillary's more educated, seasoned and tested than Donald Trump ever was or will be, and it shows in her choice of words. Congress, the GOP, and NRA are bedfellows, we have to find a way to change the gun laws. This filibuster is a good small step in the right direction.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous5:34 PM

    Want an absolute tickle me elmo laugh? Check out the hashtag #askthegays spawned after.trump said ask the gays who they think treats them better. Oh my I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Is this only about not selling guns to persons on the terrorist no fly list?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, they are also arguing for universal background checks.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous6:28 PM

    I must have missed it, but what was Bernie's response to this mass shooting? Or hasn't the NRA given him his talking points yet?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:50 PM

      He tweeted at 10 pm from VT. What a phony.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:58 PM

      And how about Sarah? She (Nancy) is usually good for a 'we're praying for the victims' families, but no one is taking away our guns, God damn it!" screed.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:37 PM

      @9:50pm
      From Vermont? You mean he dumped his job that people elected him to do?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous3:09 AM

      Anon at 9:58 pm. Would Sarah Palin "pray" for the families of gay victims? I'm not so sure.
      Beaglemom

      Delete
    5. Anonymous8:01 AM

      11:37 - the job he dumped for a year but scurries back to when real progressives are making a stand for gun control in the Senate floor? Yeah, that one. #NRABernie

      Delete
  13. Anonymous7:08 PM

    It's about damned time that congress' toes are held to the fire on this issue. Abolish gun sales to ex-felons,those with mental illness, those who have EVER been on terror watch lists or no fly lists (unless they have been removed because it was a case of mistaken identity).

    Universal background checks, no loopholes. Mandatory training course required before picking up handguns, no matter how many times you have already been through the course. All assault weapons off the market. Take current guns away from those sent up on felony charges. Make it a felony to own unregistered firearms.

    Signed,
    A gun owner trained by the local PD

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous7:16 PM

    Trump's tweet about meeting with the NRA might come back to bite him.

    The only way the NRA will "give in" on banning any guns is after someone storms their convention with an assault rife.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous7:21 PM

    Over 12 hours NOW and going strong..
    http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/06/15/connecticut_s_chris_murphy_democratic_senators_filibuster_on_gun_control.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:50 PM

      14hrs:30minutes and still going...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:56 AM

      Almost 15 hours before it was over. Good.
      14:50 to be exact!

      Delete
  16. Anonymous7:38 PM

    http://shorensteincenter.org/pre-primary-news-coverage-2016-trump-clinton-sanders/
    "Concurrent with the media infatuation for Trump, the nation’s press was taking a diametrically opposite stance toward the likely Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. The study found that “Clinton had by far the most negative coverage of any candidate,” which drove the increase in her unfavorable poll ratings. "
    http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=31861

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:10 PM

      https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/8e034986-d243-38bc-bc3f-352a0367dd95/ss_2-uncommitted-nevada.html?nhp=1

      HRC gets 2 more!

      Delete
  17. Anonymous8:02 PM

    On top of all this gun violence in the US, these ammosexuals are exporting this crap into Canada. Absolutely fucking disgusting.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/us-gun-problem-is-creeping-into-canada/2016/02/13/a28cd1e4-c388-11e5-b933-31c93021392a_story.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yes! They are going to vote on the bill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:30 AM

      I wish anyone involved in this vote had a copy of this "cartoon" in front of them.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5KQcVxujaw

      Delete
  19. Anonymous3:07 AM

    The NRA and Trump will come to some kind of "deal" that will not really be a deal but will get Trump a lot of praise. Nothing that either the NRA or Trump will ever do will be genuine or meaningful. This is a campaign stunt.
    Beaglemom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:20 AM

      for sure. the dems, and a couple repubs, did all the work yesterday getting an agreement to take a vote, plus there is so much outrage--plus the gay community knows very well how to sustain a protest and make change happen--and so now we have trump here who will take all the credit. he's such a louse.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous9:22 AM

    i didn't watch the whole filibuster but saw a good part of it and the last couple hours. the ending was so perfect. sad but perfect.

    i am very pleased that pressure is being put on those republican jerks and they're being shamed for being in bed with their lover the nra.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anita Winecooler4:27 PM

    i watched a lot of it, yes, it gives me some hope, but we're still dealing with the same congress and senate who are funded by the NRA and whose constituents are ammosexuals on a mission. BUT at least they're talking, so that gives me a shred of hope. Watching the President and Vice President in Orlando paying their respects was just heart wrenching.

    ReplyDelete

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