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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss the two pressure points on comprehensive immigration reform, the start of the gun control debate on Capitol Hill and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's appointment of his former chief of staff as the interim senator to fill John Kerry's seat.
Video edited by NBC's Natalie Cucchiara.
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Seems to be a new found work ethic in Congress ... are we that close to the 2014 midterms? Oh wait, this is just about seeking votes? The great Latino roundup?
I think the Republicans are making a mistake by reading too much into the Hispanic vote for Obama in 2012.
In 2008, when McCain made a big play for the Hispanic vote by proposing a 'Comprehensive Immigration' plan, he only got 31% of the Hispanic vote.
In 2012, when Romney didn't court the Hispanic vote, he got 27% of the Hispanic vote. That's not a very big difference - only about 1 million extra votes for Obama out of 127 million votes (only about 0.78 of 1%) in 2012.
Pandering to the Hispanics for votes is not going to make that much of a difference.
The REAL difference in 2012 was the estimated 12.9 million extra votes that Obama got from those on public assistance (the Welfare Vote). I guess adding another 17 million people (a 57% increase) to the welfare program under Obama, and those ads about " Rich Romney will take away your food stamps" paid off big time for Obama.
Romney won the groups that DON'T get welfare by 8 million votes, but the 12.9 million 'Welfare Votes' resulted in a net win for Obama of about 4.9 million votes.
Source for data - N Y Times Exit Polls.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm still trying to get past the posters on the previous thread who referred to Gabby Giffords as "some drooling brain damaged sympathy case" and said that "Before I believe a word she says...and ask yourself to do you really want to be led around by some one that has brain damage?"
Sometimes this place just makes me sick.....
JoAnne,
I dropped by and took a peek at that thread then quickly realized, there isn't enough hand sanitizer in the world to clean up that HOT mess!
Difficult to call some of them human let alone Americans...
Sounds like gun nuts to me. Combined with the disease of fascist conservatism. One thing we need to remember, while they are noisy, they are a minority and a majority of gun owners are responsible enough to know that those kinds of weapons that wounded Gabby Gifford are not needed on our streets. The majority of us gun owners and that includes both democrats and responsible republicans scorn their type of behavior. They are fueled by the hate from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and the NRA. While we will never be able to shout them down we can and will out vote them.
JoAnne,
This is the unfortunate result of a gun becoming an appendage and seen as a vital organ. It has become a fear of amputation.
2nd Appendage Rights shall not be infringed!
JoAnne---I was brought to tears by the image of Gabby and her husband and still can't imagine the feelings of the parents of the children at Sandy Hook and then to read the insensitive stuff was just appalling. I also saw last night testimony from one of the Sandy Hook parents in Ct. and he was heckled. It is beyond me that people can't be respectful of differences of opinions.
JoAnne: What is wrong with our society? It is statements like that. It will solidify the growing pressure on our government for reasonable gun control.
p.s. That quote of an earlier post is so vile I can not copy it here.
Absolutely Johntho!
Since they lack any evidence of human compassion and empathy, we must view them as such....inhuman!
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
I so agree...
JoAnne, glad I missed that thread and those comments. Disgusting, shameful. Anonymity seems to bring out the ugly, nasty side of too many. I'd think anyone, regardless of political leanings would be offended by such insensitive, hateful remarks.
Johntho, yes, we can and yes, we will. Well said.
Yes, the emerging ugliness is the new face of the Teahadist GOP. And they wonder why their party is nearly finished. On yet another post, a poster advocating hanging the President.
Hate is the only thing they have left. I'm not amused any more, and public opinion is growing in favor of assault weapons and hi capacity mags and definitely there (88%) for background checks. So in time, we will have more votes in Congress that will go our way.
But President Obama is right, if we don't vocalize our majority preference for reasonable gun laws, then these things wont pass in congress. Start by voting out the Tea Party in 2014.
Gyp,
You don't mind if I call you Gyp do you? Awesome character from last seasons Boardwalk Empire!
Anyway, I saw that, not only did I flag it I reported it to authorities.
Like I said, I don't think the majority of right wingers could pass a humanity test!
Thanks, Fiesty
Lets go with '2-Lane' though.
And yeah, Ive thrown a few rusty barbs myself on here at times, but man has it been getting ugly lately. I saw you reported that person...cant believe people get that bent
Fiesty, I was tempted when the poster said to have Obama hung to quote Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles when his ex-railroad buddy surprised to see him not having been executed ,sees him riding up and says 'they said you were hung" and Little replies 'And they were right;"
May want to check out what Beau Biden is doing in Delaware to Sheriffs. Nice to know that he stands beside law enforcement. See, the writing is on the wall, and if you don't see it, you are totally ignorant
JoAnne - So at face value we have an alleged 'brain damaged' person using her brain to move this Country in the direction of sensible gun laws by creating an organization, traveling the Country to rally support and testifying at the Congressional level and an allegedly brain healthy poster who is pounding a keyboard and uses their brain to call people names and appears to be in constant search of someone or something to follow in order to have a sense of relevance....I'll take the quality, character, effort and actions of the 'brain damaged sympathy case' any day of the week.
Allen -
Actually, if those keyboard warriors want to be the poster children for the Second Amendment and the gun lobby, then hey - I'm glad the collapse feature no longer works here, and I'll be the first person to volunteer to hang their posters up for all the world to see.
What's really beyond me, though, is how any one of our so-called "leaders" on Capitol Hill can just sit there and listen to Gabby Giffords for one minute and then rush right out to the bank at lunchtime to deposit their hefty bribe from the NRA without even squirming.
They might as well just tell Wayne LaPierre to leave the money on the nightstand when he's done.....
JoAnne---the anonymity of the internet emboldens those people. I imagine they would stammer and stutter if they met someone as courageous as Rep. Giffords in person.
SF, mentioning jobs is certainly appropriate. Not just gun manufacturer jobs but jobs accross the country in many companies. There is an old adage that says that idle hands make the devil's work. When we have full employment the incidents of violent crime goes down. When someone is busy working and tired afterward they don't get into trouble like someone who has nothing to lose with no job and desperate just to survive.
Well, these are also the so called leaders that aid "NO WAY IN HELL" to those impacted by hurricane Sandy, denied funds to the first responders of 9/11, and all but laughed in the face of Bob Dole in his wheelchair as they voted down the treaty on the disabled.
The NRA and Republicans are going about this the wrong way. It's not about the 2nd amendment nor beefed up school security. This is about jobs and job creators!
If they would just fess up that passing new gun restrictions would infringe on the entrepreneurial spirit (a.k.a. greed) of gun manufacturers to make a killing (sorry for the pun) on the sale of a highly dangerous product to the general public, they'd have nothing to worry about. After all, what party wants to be guilty of hurting job growth? Better yet, Congress should pass a law that gives gun manufacturers special tax credits for R&D into bigger and badder weaponry! It could become the US #1 export.
Meanwhile, Columbine, Aurora, Tuscon, Newtown are just collateral damage in the NRA's pursuit of the almighty dollar.
Every time one of these tragedies occurs, sales of guns and ammo sky rocket through the roof. What does that say about some in our society, but even worse is the NRA that uses fear to promote these gun sales. If those people that think a semi auto rifle that looks like a military weapon will stop the full force of the U.S. government and its military they only need to look back at the civil war to see the outcome. They will be crushed, there are even examples of that at Ruby Ridge and Waco. Enough is enough, recall all of those weapons, and their extended clips, if you do not turn this weapon in you become a criminal and a felon and are not allowed any weapon, nor can you vote. Simply put responsible Americans have had enough of your irresponsibility.
John you are quite ill informed on why people buy guns. Do you realize that you are in fact advocating locking up honest, upstanding, tax paying citizens just because they don't agree with you? Responsible Americans have had enough all right --- but they aren't the ones you speak of. And no one is advocating the overthrow of the government -- that's insanity -- is that how you really think?
I don't think that is feasible Johntho, they have been legal for years, many people bought them under completely legal means, they spent good money on them, and most use them them responsibly for recreational shooting or just to have in their collection. To retroactively make then a felony to own would be a quagmire, if not flat out impossible to effectively enforce. I think the best you can hope for is a ban on future sales, and even that is in my opinion unlikely, perhaps a special class of license or permit, or registering all ten fingerprints with the FBI along with the serial number of the gun before you can purchase it would curb the sales. But truthfully to make someone a felon today because they own something that was perfectly legal yesterday does not seem reasonable or workable. Would the government reimburse you for the full market value of the gun if you turned it in? The best I can see along the lines of what you are proposing is maybe that anybody that has certain weapons has to now re-register them and be granted a special owners license and permit with lots of documentation, and then after some sort of grace period, to own one without the proper paperwork would then be a crime. Suddenly outlawing what has been previously legal just does not work and can never be properly enforced, it only encourages and fuels the black market. It did not work with prohibition, gambling, prostitution, or drugs. Give people a legal means if they insist on owning these, make the requirements and registering stringent, and the tax them heavily. I would also suggest we bring back the death penalty in a big way, make any crime involving these weapons, and virtually all crimes against children a capital offense. The death penalty needs to be brought back, and speeded up, the average time on death row is 12 years, and that's the only reason it is ineffective, these idiots can't see a week ahead so what is the threat of a twelve year or more wait for your punishment. The death penalty works, there are streets in every major city where if the average person walked down them they would be in grave danger, and yet a twelve year old kid will walk down the street with ten thousand bucks in a paper bag and nobody will get near him, because they know who that money belongs to and that there is an instant death penalty associated with messing with it. Some will tell me that there is no need for an electric chair in our modern society, I will tell them you are right at this point we need an electric couch, that can seat 4 or 5 at a time. If your right to life is your greatest right and is to be most respected by society, I think that it is entirely reasonable to have a punishment that is equal to that. Capital crimes should be tried within 60 days, if found guilty the convicted should have 30 days to mount a single appeal, and then promptly executed if the appeal fails, and no commutation by the governor, why should a single man be allowed to arbitrarily reverse the decision of our courts of law and the outcome of a jury trial. If as a nation we can stomach war, abortion, and mass murder, we sure as hell have some funny ideas about the death penalty lately. Personally the only problem I have with the death penalty is that it is not used enough, and it takes too long.
That behavior sickens me.
Its remarkable that Gabby Gifford is still here, even more amazing that she is well enough to travel to Washington and speak out on gun control.
The "Teabegger Congress" is very 'busy being "Obstructionists." It is very tiring for the "Southern Teabeggers" to show up at hearings in their clown uniforms. The GOP/Teabeggers like to show up at all hearings with no ability to think, no clue, and no understanding of the facts presented. The "Teabegger Congress" is very 'busy' just saying no to everything presented to them by the President. The Teabeggers like to "Super Spew" at all hearing either in public or in private. Now the GOP "Hoodlum's On The Hill" are very 'busy' trying to give huge tax breaks to the rich, and painting the Middle Class as 'lazy.' Little "Richie Rich Ryan" is 'busy' still trying to learn how to add. He is 'busy' walking around yelling that those who are not rich. Are the takers. Those that are able to cheat on their taxes are the makers. "Bonehead Boehner" is 'busy' crying about his sad situation, and then he denies everything. "Crazy Cantor" is very 'busy' ignoring those who are unable to economically defend themselves. The Teabeggers are very 'busy' gathering/banking checks from the Wall Street Bankers, the Koch Brothers, the ALEC Group, the NRA, and big oil. The Teabeggers are 'busy' finding/harvesting more huge tax loop holes for the "Job Creators." Oh by the way America. The so-called "Job Creators. Pocket 'free' money and provide very little in job creation.
Hey Regressive Fall Backasswards Drama Queen , Leave the bong alone before you attempt to post ! All you did is show what a flaming, hateful, self-proclaimed a$$hole you can be when so inclined !
You did hit most all of the Demmie libturd talking points, however, so look for your Obamabucks to be in the mail on Friday !
By the way dimbulb, can you give one, clear and precise example of a "loophole" ? I won't hold my breath waiting for a reply .... most of you libs will run your mouths about "tax loopholes" without having a CLUE what you are talking about !
I bet you require H & R Block or somebody similar to do your 1040 short form for you ! LOL !!
@ Jim
Pot is legal in my state so Ill put the bong down when I'm done. Don't tread on my freedom, man (chuckle)
Dont know where you righties get the bizarre notion that all liberals get handouts, gold watches IPAds and paycheck from Obama, but after a few different versions of 'democrats all get govt handouts' bs , your comic material has gone stale. I guess the Republican party should start polishing up the obligatory women-hating schtick for Hillary in 2016,
Jim, your side is going too far in some of their rhetoric and its going to cost public opinion and an increasing effort to vote out the un-reasonable Tea Party Republicans. Sooner or later public opinion and organization will drive votes.
Not to mention the soiling some on the right are doing to reasonable honorable gun owners who value public safety AND private defense at the same time and see room for some restrictions. You are unfairly making them look crazy too.
I dont see anything unreasonable at all in any of the proposals being looked at. Its simple for me. I'm my view nothing is being taken away,including any guns they now have. But yes some weapons will be restricted or banned for future sale.
I don't believe my government is plotting to become nazi Germany and I don't for a second believe that my firearm in my house or even a whole arsenal of them will repel a US Army Air Force, Navy, Marines, CIA or even those magnificent evil g-men in their flying machines if they choose to launch a cruise missile, bomb, missile, poison the water supply or whatever. No less using those resources to kick down 140 Million doors. Not buying it
Im telling my representative and Senators to vote for these proposals. The hateful rhetoric from the rabid right and the NRA on this issue shouldn't matter. The President is right, its going to hare to be public demands for these reasonable proposals to translate to upcoming votes, or failing that, target the Tea Party for defeat in 2014. Chip away at the edges, even if it means working with moderate Republicans in Red States to topple them if a Dem candidate doesn't have a chance.
After these recent incidents, America is changing its opinion on these matters. And its still true that the reasonable on the right still outnumber the shrill NRA loyalists posters on here Its just a matter of doing what we dems (left and center) do best these days....VOTE and WIN elections and drive proposals into law.
I respectfully disagree with EVERY Freaking thing you said!
Its a sad situation all around but it unfournate for the closed minded people out here that think there should be a law for everything known thing by man and you just cant do that. You would be punishing everyone for something someone else did and FYI LADIES and GENTLEMEN you may have let the classrooms some years ago when the whole class got punished for bobby hitting sue so everyone had to sit in for recess and to me that 's preschool and you can hit points on so in so got shoot but nobody can come up with a logical reason accept treat everyone like schoolchildren and take things they work hard for away and that isnt right point blank. Now we can all sit here in cry in our coffee about this but it wont change things thre is still going to be act of violence reguardless take guns away there wil be bats heel of shoes taser box cutters cars chainsaws axs etc. what happen when you wake up in the morning and all your security and privacy was gone then what do then exterminate yourself after your done stripping eveything away from yourself and others sometimes the bigger picture isnt so big when you strip the painting away casue after you remove everthing you have nothing left and then where do you go from there
On the 80th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's rise to power, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to always fight for their principles and not fall into the complacency that enabled the Nazi dictator to seize control.
Speaking Wednesday at the opening of a new exhibit at the Topography of Terror memorial documenting Hitler's election, Merkel noted that German academics and students at the time happily joined the Nazis only a few months later in burning books deemed subversive.
"The rise of the Nazis was made possible because the elite of German society worked with them, but also, above all else, because most in Germany at least tolerated this rise," Merkel said.
The fact that Hitler was able to destroy German democracy in only six months serves as a warning today of what can happen if the public is apathetic, Merkel said.
"Human rights do not assert themselves on their own; freedom does not emerge on its own; and democracy does not succeed on its own," Merkel said. "No, a dynamic society ... needs people who have regard and respect for one another, who take responsibility for themselves and others, where people take courageous and open decisions and who are prepared to accept criticism and opposition."
Stupid Question... Excellent Answer!
For those that don't know him, Major General Peter Cosgrove is an Australian.
General Cosgrove was interviewed on the radio recently. Read his reply to the lady who interviewed him concerning guns and children.
Regardless of how you feel about gun laws you have to love this!
This is one of the best comeback lines of all time.
This is a portion of an ABC radio interview between a female broadcaster and General Cosgrove who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military Headquarters.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL COSGROVE:
We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery and shooting.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?
GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
But you're equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL COSGROVE:
Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?
The broadcast went silent for 46 seconds and when it returned, the interview was over.
I would pay money to have seen her face…
I bet it would have made lemon juice look like honey.
Guns are not the problem. It's those that will have them even if they are banned.
We have a right to own guns. How else are we to protect our home and our country.
Due to the mealy mouth Reb. in office I have became an Independant. I don't mean all
Rep. nor am I condemning all Dem. just those who are nothing and have done
nothing. Before anything is done, let's get rid of all the money grabbers and get some
real honest people in the White house. If they win the right to ban guns, those of you
who were with them needs to be put in a box with them and sent to a place where they
canlive under a dictator. That is what they want us to live under. I am sure by trying to win this
and should it happen, we again will see a huge battlefield appear. Is this what you want. Put
the Bible back in the classrooms, in the homes, and pray God will again side with those who
love him and respect him. When you consider the many babies whowere aborted, how can you
use this way of bannishing guns. If anyone uses a gun for any other reason that protecting their families or
their country as a means of harming another person,put them away for life and take away all their means
of entertainment. No pardons allowed. I have been and will be watching these debates and I mean to say
there are many I once trusted that I no longer do. I have really been disappointed today with people I
thought cared. One man spoke loud and clear, and he is one I will hope does not let us down.
Boy this thread is a pinko lovefest! Poor stupid Libtards can't give away their God given rights fast enough.
Yeah lets make those big bad guns illegal, that will make us all feel better, what idiots.
I think I will keep my Constitutional rights thank you very much. You are free to give YOURS away.
May want to check out what Beau Biden is doing in Delaware to Sheriffs. Nice to know that he stands beside law enforcement. See, the writing is on the wall, and if you don't see it, you are totally ignorant
Godless countries get Godless behavior!