Wednesday, February 21, 2018

NRA claims they will participate in tonight's town hall discussion on gun control. Really? Update!

Courtesy of TPM: 

The National Rifle Association will participate in a town hall discussion on gun laws and last week’s Florida school shooting, which will be hosted by CNN on Wednesday evening. 

The NRA’s national spokeswoman Dana Loesch will represent the organization at the discussion with parents and students, CNN reported. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), as well as Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), have also told CNN they will be in attendance. The discussion will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday. 

Loesch said she decided to attend because she’s “always been about more discussion, not less” and she hopes to be able to “offer some solutions as to what people can actually do to prevent these things from happening in the future.” 

“I just hope that people are respectful and that it’s a civil discussion,” she told NRA TV. “We’re not going to get anywhere in this country by screaming at people and impugning their characters simply because they believe as they do. … I hope we can be respectful and have a civil debate without anyone screaming murderer at me.”

Wait, they're sending Dana Loesch?

THIS Dana Loesch?

Is that really the MOST rational person the NRA can find to represent them?

Well she better pack a lunch because this is who she will be facing off against.
As I a rule I do not bet, but if I did I would be putting the whole pile on that young lady.

Maybe she is not armed with military style weapons or armor piercing bullets, but she clearly has a conceal carry permit for the truth.

Update: My favorite part so far.
Rubio is getting filleted out there. 

Update 2: Changed my mind, THIS my favorite part so far.
I think Rubio peed a little at that question.

58 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:07 PM

    School shootings are peer retaliation. These young adults are making noise that will have no affect on law. If they want to stay alive they need to internalize. They need to elect proactivevstydent body government's to address bullying, social media harassments, create empathy programs and promote situational awareness .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:13 PM

      That is reality.

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Ivan. You can tell Vlad you did your duty. Your borscht is getting cold.

      Delete
    3. Shouldn't that be, "Your borscht is getting warm"? :-)

      Delete
    4. Borscht is served cold in the summer and hot in the winter.

      Nice try at deflection, though.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous7:06 PM

      mlaiuppa, pretty sure they were just joking. Relax.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous7:32 PM

      7:06, there is no indication whatsoever that they were joking.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous8:38 PM

      7:32 PM, I was talking about 5:28 PM. Obviously joking.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:08 AM

      That is right. Tired of thoughts and prayers, BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS NOW. Take down the bullies and dictators around the world. Remind putin trumpsters in the white house was a very bad move. America took down hitler, bin laden and Hussein REMEMBER? This will be no different. Who will be the next 3 gone?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous9:44 AM

      Unless they do it at the federal level, it might be quite difficult on the local or state level:
      http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/02/19/mayors-in-florida-face-fines-of-5000-if-they-enact-stricter-rules-on-gun-control/

      Delete
    10. That's why it's important to replace on the state level. Get the majorities in the state legislature and replace the governor. The DNC ignored the states for so long and look where we are.

      These kids may not be very politically savvy now, but they are motivated, young and quick learners. Once they understand what needs to be done to move their agenda they'll be taking out those state legislators in the pockets of the NRA one election at a time. Aid them by doing the same on the Federal Level and it will get done.

      Delete
  2. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-sarriot-guns-florida-vote_us_5a8c9473e4b0273053a58f29

    "Three days after surviving a mass shooting at her school, 17-year-old Emma Gonzalez made a seven-minute speech about the hypocrisy of politicians who receive campaign donations from the National Rifle Association and then send victims of such attacks nothing but thoughts and prayers.

    “We call BS,” she said. She ended her speech with a crystal clear imperative: “If you agree, register to vote.”

    There may be no scarier sentence to a Republican Party that has shown itself to be rooted in the promise of white supremacy. Especially when it’s coming out of the mouth of a young Latina in a swing state. Register to vote.

    That’s because, according to a report by the Center for American Progress, if just 30% of the currently unregistered but eligible people of color heed Gonzalez’s words and then turn out at current rates and vote in similar patterns, they can tip Florida blue in the 2020 presidential election. Registering 40 percent of more than 1.2 million eligible blacks and Latino who aren’t on the state’s voting rolls can tip Florida in this year’s midterm elections. (A similar calculation holds true in North Carolina and Virginia.)"

    You don't have to be old enough to vote to register people to vote, nor to canvas neighborhoods and knock on doors to get out the vote or campaign for candidates that don't shill for the NRA.

    And none of these survivors will stay too young to vote for long. When they are old enough, they'll register and they'll vote. Many by 2020.

    Yeah, Republicans should be very afraid. They should be shitting their pants.

    Between MeToo and this, there are a lot of motivated people that are out there looking to take heads. They're not just sitting at home donating money. They are out there running for seats, campaigning for candidates and getting out the vote, registering people.

    "Organizers will tell you power comes in two forms: organized people and organized money. Gonzalez may not be able to compete with the NRA’s budget, but if she stays focused on the call to registering new voters, demographics are on her side."

    Gonzalez and her friends organized a march in 72 hours. They and others got celebrities to pony up $2 million dollars in donations and George Clooney is attending the March 24 march.

    72 hours.

    They're not going away and they won't be mollified with lip service, photo ops or token actions. They know B.S. when they see it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:26 AM

      "Registering 40 percent of more than 1.2 million eligible blacks and Latino who aren’t on the state’s voting rolls can tip Florida in this year’s midterm elections."

      Apparently you, the Democrats, Huffpop, libs, etc... still think they own people of color. What is it that makes you believe you own these persons and can tell them how to vote?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:18 AM

      Okak, borrowing whataboutism from your party: what is it that makes you believe you own my body and can tell me what to do if I get pregnant?

      Delete
  3. Anonymous4:31 PM

    I graduated from high school 43 years ago. There were cliques: the rich kids, the jocks, the artists, the smart kids, the theater, music, geeks, partiers, you name it, as there are in schools to this day. No one EVER thought of bringing a gun to settle up scores, and we didn't have to have inclusive lectures from student body presidents or principals nor was there prayer. We're still around!

    What's changed? Do I really need to spell it out?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I graduated in 72.

      Many of us were in college or recently graduated when Brenda Spencer opened fire on Cleveland Elementary in 1979, killing the principal and custodian as they tried to shield and save the children from her rifle fire.

      "In December, a psychiatric evaluation arranged by her probation officer recommended Spencer be admitted to a mental hospital for depression, but her father refused to give permission. For Christmas 1978, he gave her a Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle with a telescopic sight and 500 rounds of ammunition.[6][8]"

      She opened fire on the school in January of 1979

      Imagine what she would have done with an AR-15, bump stock, high capacity magazine and 500 rounds of ammo.

      You want to know what changed? The NRA. They went from a hunting safety organization to a shill for the gun manufacturers. Their lobbing basically changed the interpretation of the 2nd amendment and their bribing of politicians have resulted in laws that put military grade firearms, ammunition and vests in the hands of civilians. Their incitement of fear and hate drive up sales so that the gullible, paranoid, insecure and mentally challenged stockpile them and it doesn't take much to set them off.

      What we need is aggressive and strict campaign funding reform and instituting gun safety regulations and restrictions.

      Look at Japan. You can own a gun but you have to jump through a lot of hoops. For most the desire for a gun isn't enough to motivate them to meet the standards necessary to own one.

      The 2nd amendment doesn't say owning a gun has to be so easy a 2 year old can get an Uzi, nor that we have to arm the criminally insane. There is nothing that guarantees the public to the right to the same level of armaments as the Army or Police force. There's nothing that says you have to do x, y and z before you can own a gun. Go ahead, own one. But do x, y, and z first. Don't want to? Okay, no gun for you. The 2nd amendment also doesn't define gun so there is nothing giving the public a right to an assault rifle. They can't own machine guns. Or grenade launchers for that matter. So the precedent of restricting the TYPE of weapon is already in place.

      Start with campaign finance reform and pull the teeth of the NRA and see how far Wayne Pepe le Pew Lapierre gets convincing "public servants" to vote against the will of the people when he has no money to back up his begging. If they are going to lose their seats to challengers on gun control and they aren't going to get a big fat donation to their war chest, they are going to vote for self-preservation.

      The NRA is now a PR nightmare. 2018 midterms every politician is going to be asked how much money they received from the NRA. It is going to be plastered all over the media. Every reporter is going to dig up how much the NRA gave to their local candidate du jour.

      It's going to be a GOP bloodbath. Another one announced today he's not running for re-election.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:51 AM

      Mlaiuppa, I agree with all you have said, but I would also add one more thing: have term limits. EVERYBODY - from the local mayor to the President to SCOTUS as well as Congress, a maximum of 12 years. No more. No getting out after 12years and sitting out one term and then getting back in (like Putin has actually done). 12years, and you are OUT.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous1:00 PM

      lol... 9:51 are you not aware that there are term limits on the Presidency already?

      There all also varying degrees of term limits throughout the local and state level depending on your stale/locale.

      Congress is the institution that needs it the most, and good luck getting them to enact it.

      Delete
    4. I don't agree with term limits on the SCOTUS, but I think having them for Congress makes sense. I would say put them at 16 years max. I would also change the election rate for Representatives to a four year cycle rather than 2 year and make it opposite of the presidential election years. We've seen that the House elections come so quickly that once they're elected they are starting to fund raise for the next election cycle two years away. They don't have enough time to learn their jobs and get anything done.

      As for the states, I think term limits and what they are need to be decided on a state by state basis. We have them in my state and it's working well. Our governor is term limited, as is the legislature.

      What we need most is campaign finance reform. We need to get rid of Citizens United and then start to put other safeguards in place.

      Delete
  4. Just a reminder that this CNN town hall is happening now.

    I think watching it should be mandatory for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, no longer have cable.

      Dana didn't show? Big surprise.

      I suspect if she did she would try to dominate the narrative with her talking points. Sorta like an NRA Kellyanus Conjob or Stephen Miller.

      I'd like to see Tom Selleck show up and defend the NRA. He's on their board, much to his shame.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:56 PM

      I LOVE THOSE KIDS!!!
      Rubio just got cornered and will NOT go against accepting $$$ from the NRA. GOOD JOB, KIDDO, that you got that out of him!

      https://www.cnn.com/?refresh=1

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:16 PM

      Mlaiupa: I don't have TV. Am watching on the Net.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous6:20 PM

      Watching it now thanks to Gryphen posting the clip. I missed the first 45 minutes but hope it will be available on demand.

      I am having mixed emotions, mostly grief, that so many have been murdered in cold blood while Republicans chose to look the other way. I will never forget Sarah Palin and her followers cheering she bought an assault rifle after Sandy Hook.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous6:55 PM

      Yeah, Sarah Palin bought an assault rifle, and her insane son took it from Todd and kicked his ass. What good is an assault rifle if a perp can take it from you?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:38 AM

      Stand your ground kids. This is your future. BAN Assault weapons from this country. It is the only way to end this massacre and stop the terrorist within this country today. The National Republican Assholes can go to hell with their scam. Assault weapons are for killing and removing dictators around the world not USA classrooms.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous5:23 PM

    That dad was powerful! Wow.

    Dana is a no show!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:31 PM

      Correction! The NRA is in the house!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:34 PM

      Parkland, Florida student rails against NRA’s Dana Loesch at town hall: ‘How does she looks in the mirror’

      https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/parkland-florida-student-rails-nras-dana-loesch-town-hall-looks-mirror/

      Broward county sheriff Scott Israel went off on the National Riffle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch during the CNN town hall Wednesday.

      “I understand that you’re standing up for the NRA,” he began. “And I understand that’s what you’re supposed to do. But you just told this group of people that you’re standing up for them. You’re not standing up for them until you say ‘I want less weapons.'”

      https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/broward-county-sheriff-hammer-nras-dana-loesch-youre-not-standing-parkland-students/

      Delete
  6. Trump had a bullet point cheat sheet for his "listening session".

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-gun-violence-listening-session-cheat-sheet_us_5a8df898e4b077f5bfeaca88

    1. What would you most like me to know about your experience?

    2. What can we do to help you feel safe?

    3. So you (think?) see some(thing?) say something (is?) effective?

    4. Resources? Ideas?

    5. I hear you.

    https://images.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/world/analysis/2018/02/21/this-photo-of-trumps-notes-captures-his-empathy-deficit-better-than-anything/notes.jpg.size-custom-crop.1086x0.jpg

    (Why does he have 45 written on his cuff? Does he have to be reminded he is the 45th president?)

    Really? Does anyone think Trump knows how to actively listen or hears any of these people? More like in one ear and out the other while he's thinking about his cheeseburger, what he's going to tweet and how much TV he's missing.

    I'm sure it was stressed over and over to him to look at the speaker, LISTEN, not interrupt, not get defensive, not attack and please look solemn. Then someone had to explain what solemn meant.

    Well, at least he didn't WRITE IT ON HIS HAND!

    This one is from Australia! Yeah, they know what an insensitive asshole our president is in Sydney.

    http://www.smh.com.au/world/i-hear-you-donald-trump-listening-session-cheat-sheet-visible-20180222-p4z19g.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:21 PM

      Looks like he had his shirt monogrammed,nice work by the Chinese child labor.

      Guess he will have to buy more after the impeachment.

      Delete
    2. He's got Trump on all his real estate plus licenses it out to others for their buildings.

      Why wouldn't he have DJT monogrammed? 45 is simply stupid. It literally looks like he can't remember he's the 45th president. Especially alongside that childish checklist.

      5. I hear you.

      He has to be reminded to say this?

      He is such a fucking moron.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous6:56 PM

    This just proves one more time how humans love to get their mug in front of a camera, and how the media jumps on tragedies to make a buck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:09 PM

      I'm sure those kids would have been more than happy to remain anonymous citizens if it meant not seeing their classmates and teachers be shot down in a hail of bullets. Fuck you.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:28 PM

      FU! This is what democracy looks like, Asshat! They weren’t looking for fame; it cornered them.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:56 PM

      This is a troll.They are just here to distract and start trouble.Don't feed them,focus on what you can do to help.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous9:51 PM

      6:56 is looking for attention-like any child.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:46 AM

      Oh yeah, did everyone buy their trumpy bear? Unzip the back and pull out the American flag. Putin IQ45 in the whitehouse is selling trumpy bear to the remaining few that exhibit the ignorance and IQ of thim.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous7:07 PM

    Why should any politician not take campaign donations from organizations that support them? Just because 'student'?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:30 PM

      Because it’s blood money, plain and simple. Rubio earned every dime...A+ from NRA.

      Delete
    2. They are supposed to represent ALL of their constituents, even the ones that didn't vote for them. When the majority of people in both parties want assault rifles banned but the NRA doesn't and gives them a shitload of money and they vote with the NRA, that is your BECAUSE.

      Just because CORRUPTION.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous 7:07 PM wrote: Just because 'student'?

      No, that's not the reason. Do you honestly have no idea why not? Depending on the organization, of course—in case your thinking is so shallow that you couldn't think of that yourself. Really not? Do you really, really, really not get it? Or are you just pretending—do you get a kick out of pretending to be both heartless and stupid? You should be ashamed of yourself. No wonder you don't have the guts to put your name … or even a fake name … on your post.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous7:54 PM

      NRA, Russia and Trump: How 'dark money' is poisoning American democracy
      The FBI is investigating the National Rifle Association to determine whether Russians illegally funneled money through the organization to help the Trump campaign.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous8:40 PM

      The NRA had spent millions buying politicians so they will block any common sense gun laws from being passed. No lobby should have that kind of power. No organization should have the system in a stranglehold.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous8:46 PM

      How about we send Track Palin to discuss it with you, slug?

      Delete
  9. Anonymous7:16 PM

    The Obamas Join Fight For Gun Reforms And Tell Parkland Students ‘We’re Behind You’

    https://www.politicususa.com/2018/02/21/obamas-gun-safety-parkland.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous7:16 PM

    The NRA had spent millions buying politicians so they will block any common sense gun laws from being passed. No lobby should have that kind of power. No organization should have the system in a stranglehold.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous9:48 PM

    these students are wonderful. may they cause great change. i love what was said to rubio and his reaction. may the nra go to hell.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous10:47 PM

    WOMEN'S HOCKEY GOLD! !!! Last time 20 years ago

    WOMAN'S CROSSCOUNTRY GOLD first time ever!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous10:54 PM

    Guns only exist out of ignorance. They give man the illusions of certainty and control.

    Billy Graham, who DIED today (from AIDS, was it??), spread his religious cult of ignorance - Evangelicalism - which leaves people important, experiencing a false "other" as a threat needing to be protected by guns. Graham is a terrorist. A GOD DAMNED terrorist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:55 PM

      Impotent. Not "important". Oops.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:25 AM

      From the beginning of mankind, man has used religion to enslave his fellow man. Graham had a long ride on the jet plane in comfort.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous12:19 AM

    NRA, Nutbag Republican Assclowns. Big bad NRA send their brainwashed up women to stand up to little kids. Wow what chicken chit big bad men with assault weapons. Where was wayne la pew? where are the manufacturers of that assault gold mine? Such liddle men with tiny balls hiding behind stupid women for trump. BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS and buy them back you chicken chit pukes. That's right. That young woman said it, were coming for each one of you. There is no where to hide.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous3:41 AM

    No one ever discusses this. The cowardly people who commit these heinous crimes would never attempt these mass shootings if they didn’t feel emboldened by the power of an assault rifle in their hands. The assault rifle gives them the power they want and need in their sick minds. It is the assault rifle.

    Australia has just as many mentally ill people as America, yet no mass shootings.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous4:36 AM

    Two comments. As a Michigander whose never been to Florida, from what I've seen of Marco Rubio over the years, he's willing to say whatever he thinks will please the crowd and then go vote whichever way the GOP and his rich donors instruct him to. He's a coward who likes the media attention of sounding occasionally like a critic.

    And secondly, what has happened to Wayne LaPierre? He was always the NRA spokesman. Now they're fronting themselves with a woman? Is this for real? Or is it the NRA way of pretending, for the sake of the Florida young people, that their leadership is listening and softening up to be more cooperative? Whatever the NRA's reason, it's fake and all for publicity.
    Beaglemom

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous4:47 AM

    Morning Joe just showed an NRA ad featuring Dana that is more extreme than the one posted here. OMG the ads are horrifying. Another ad was shown attacking the media. The NRA platform is control via conspiracy theories. Conning people that Obama was going to take their guns away was tame compared to these radical conspiracy videos. However, it is likely the NRA sends emails to members for years starting conspiracy fires.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrorist organization.

      I hope Mueller or the FBI or someone can prove they were laundering money for the Russians.

      The NRA needs to be taken OUT.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous5:54 AM

    Rubio looked like he was going to cry. Poor little snowflake.

    ReplyDelete

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