monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

Can't wait till we get our conservative nanny state where people are encouraged to turn in their neighbors' names to the police and FBI if they arouse the least bit of suspicion. Maybe we'll start informing on those who don't show sufficient compassion to angry people who wish to harm them. They could be charged as potential accessories to murder if the miscreant later decides to go on a shooting spree.

What do you think these crafty bastards are up to with this?

January 28, 2018

As a record-breaking 550 influential conservative donors prepared to gather in California for their annual winter retreat, the network overseen by Charles and David Koch highlighted its preferences for an immigration bill in Congress — parts of which differ from the plan the White House laid out last week.

The network praised the portion of the White House’s framework that would provide legal status for the recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Program — and others who might be eligible, which the White House said would total 1.8 million people. “Immigrants are essential to the success of our country and addressing the plight of the dreamers is a top priority for this network,” said Brian Hook, co-chairman of the Seminar Network.

Money

Police in Amarillo shot an innocent man who helped foil a possible church shooting.

The shooting happened shortly after 9 a.m. Feb. 14 at the Faith City Mission, a faith-based outreach organization. Police said Joshua Len Jones, 35, of Amarillo, barged into a church building at Faith City Mission, pulled out a gun and was holding about 100 congregants and church staff hostage.

In the time between when police were dispatched and when officers arrived, a handful of churchgoers wrestled Jones to the ground. One of the congregants was able to grab Jones' gun.

Officers entered the building and saw the churchgoer holding the gun and opened fire, according to the Amarillo Police Department. The churchgoer was hospitalized in stable condition.

January 28, 2018

in California for their annual winter retreat, the network overseen by Charles and David Koch highlighted its preferences for an immigration bill in Congress — parts of which differ from the plan the White House laid out last week.

You know what's peculiar?

When a deranged Sanders supporter tried to murder a field full of GOP legislators, was there a national outrage over assault weapons, the NRA and innocent victims?

The change from a Democratic president to a Republican one necessitated a shift in emphasis; it's harder to argue that diabolical liberals in Washington are going to take away your guns any day now when Republicans are in total control of the government. But the NRA needs to tell its members that there is immediate peril which can only be met by buying more and more guns.

As Josh Marshall pointed out, "most of the NRA's public messaging isn't even about firearms anymore. It's mostly culture war agitprop about fake news, Trump, obedience to the flag, feral leftists, socialists, antifa street gangs and other similar incitement." To get a sense of it, you can watch some of NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch's videos of barely contained rage, many of which don't even mention guns.

We shouldn't go too far in interpreting what's happening; this moment could peter out as others have in the past. But it may just be possible that conservatives will be made uncomfortable by questions about their ties to the NRA. As Wayne LaPierre once said, "If I can borrow from Mr. Churchill [sic], we have nothing to fear but the absence of fear."

6. 66% Support Stricter Gun Laws

Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll said, “If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again. Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than two years. In the last two months, some of the biggest surges in support for tightening gun laws comes from demographic groups you may not expect, independent voters, men, and whites with no college degree.”

In 2008, 54% of Americans supported stricter gun laws, with 32% of Republicans in favor. In 2013, the number of Republicans supporting this measure dropped to 26%. There's a running theme amongst all these polls: Republicans are more amenable to gun control when a Republican is in the White House, as the next chart vividly illustrates.

In July of 1959, Gallup found that 60% of Americans thought there should be a law that would ban the possession of pistols and revolvers, except by the police and other authorized persons. In October 2017, just 28% of Americans think we should ban handguns, save for those exceptions. If someone tells you that big change is not possible, they’re either lying or ignorant of history. The NRA has already proved that they can shift a majority of us towards their agenda if given enough time, so when these inspiring kids are clamoring for massive change, belittling their efforts as unrealistic is proven wrong by a cursory review of America’s past. Big change is possible, and the moment to begin the march back towards rationality begins now.

Zapping all weapons out of existence?

Very rational.

When a deranged Sanders supporter tried to murder a field full of GOP legislators, was there a national outrage over assault weapons, the NRA and innocent victims?

I think the difference in national outrage makes perfect sense, given the circumstances. I think you likely do as well.