See him”listening”? ? pic.twitter.com/shvDXbzdSg
— Laffy (@GottaLaff) February 21, 2018
This is interestingly and somewhat oddly reminiscent of Trump polling live cable news audience on their views on various issues during the primary campaign — something he likes to do.
— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) February 21, 2018
.
Of course he likes it — he’s on the teevee, and other people have to do all the hard work!
Daniel Dale, of the Toronto Star, live-tweeted the whole performance. Click on any tweet for the whole spool:
Trump: "We're going to be very strong on background checks…very strong emphasis on the mental health…"
He has not endorsed a widely popular proposal for universal background checks. He's supporting an improvement of current processes (https://t.co/p99WOQNXyY).
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018
Alaya Barnett, a student from Southeast DC, tells Trump they deal with a lot of violence, says they need "preventative measures" like good counseling in schools for people dealing with bullying and other issues.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018
"It's school safety. It's not about gun laws right now. Let's fix the schools," says the grieving father, Andrew Pollack.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018
Pollack's son, handed the mic by his dad, says it's important to support "the free market" in ideas.
"Censorship has gotta stop," the son says.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018
(Note the recurrent Wingnut trope: I have a godgiven First Amendment right to be stupid! And if you attempt to point out how stupid my idea is, that’s censorship!)
This is really something – Trump's most enthusiastic proposal, in his "listening session" on school shootings, is: A) encouraging teachers and coaches to carry guns; B) sending a company of armed veterans into schools.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018
FYI: David Hogg, the Douglas student prominent in calling for gun control, was invited to Trump's session but declined, the AP reports. So it's not immediately clear how much of the Trump-friendliness of that group was the result of non-invitations or non-acceptances.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018
President Donald Trump holds notes during a White House listening session with students and parents affected by school shootings. (AP Photo by Carolyn Kaster) pic.twitter.com/Z0lZbSVaoF
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) February 21, 2018
Arm teachers. Not to stop shooters though, that's insane. Just because that's the only way they'll keep collective bargaining rights, get raises & new text books & be celebrated at half-time. Because our very good culture only 'does right' by public servants who are strapped.
— Zeddy (@Zeddary) February 16, 2018
I'm struggling to see how this could have gone worse for the WH.
— ?⛸Alex Singer ⛷? (@AlexCSinger16) February 21, 2018
Kelly could start insulting all the women who’ve spoken. https://t.co/hThNiawQyD
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) February 21, 2018
Villago Delenda Est
Donald needs a crib note to remind him to show empathy.
He fails even at that.
Corner Stone
Pollack was the guy wearing the Trump 2020 t-shirt while driving around looking for his daughter. Who did not survive. The few clips I saw/heard with him in them confirm what a moron he is.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Corner Stone: ah, I thought I read earlier that a Pollack brother, this guy’s son, had said we need more guns in schools. I wrote it down to the rage of grief.
Corner Stone
“solve your problem”
debbie
I can’t imagine how they thought this would go well.
Corner Stone
This was like the worst idea in a number of bad ideas. How could Easter Island Trump possibly connect with empathy with anyone? And arming teachers? GTFOH
sukabi
I watched most of that mess as it was happening…Drumpf couldn’t have been less interested in sitting there and listening. He all but rocked back & forth like a toddler who couldn’t wait to be let up to go play.
It was also pretty clear that a good part of the adults that were there were invited as “friendlies” for Drumpf. I think the adults that came with the Parkland students knew it was a ‘stacked’ crowd, which is why they handed off the mike to let their kids talk.
That was my overall impression, from bouncing around and reading others thoughts, I’m not the only one that got that impression.
Omnes Omnibus
@Corner Stone:
Just wait for arm the middle school students. It is coming.
NotMax
Back when I was in public school, most of the male coaches were notorious drunks.
Just sayin’.
BruceFromOhio
The solution to all these airline hijackings is to arm all your passengers.
Corner Stone
@sukabi:
That was very clear, at least to me. The Olds tried to filibuster.
sukabi
@Corner Stone: that’s who I thought it was…the guy’s got every right to be pissed….that said, he’s also the type of guy that will let his rage turn into someone else’s horror….
JPL
Dana’s not having fun, just sayin..
Corner Stone
@Omnes Omnibus: I have a 13 yr old. No way in hell I’m giving him a gun. He gets pissed when you ask him questions about Science class.
Major Major Major Major
Seems like I picked the right day to stay elbow deep in code.
Adam L Silverman
Most of the Air Force guys I know aren’t gun guys.
tobie
Does Trump have “45” emblazoned on his shirt cuffs? What an oaf! How did someone this crude and crass make it to the White House? He is true trailer trash, even if he was born to money.
Corner Stone
@BruceFromOhio: “I said, motherfucking Barbados! I don’t care if you had a flight plan for Biloxi. Asshole.”
Feebog
Arming teachers is a non-starter. Most of them abhor the idea. There is no way a teacher armed with a hand gun could effectively engage with a shooter armed with an AR-15. About 20 years ago there was a shooting incident outside a courthouse in Texas. A man armed with a .45 tried to intervene. He failed, the guy with the AR-15 shot him dead.
debbie
@Corner Stone:
Too cowardly to invite the students who have been the most vocal. Pussy!
Corner Stone
@sukabi: He’s a fucking jagoff that should be shunned from polite society.
Luthe
@Adam L Silverman: Yeah, I thought the point of the Air Force was to shoot things from very far away.
Villago Delenda Est
@tobie: Money obtained through pimping. Which was turned into slum lord properties.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
I can’t tell you how annoying this is.
Villago Delenda Est
@debbie: They invited some, to be fair. The students told Donald to fuck the fuck off.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
mayhap I shoulda watched this
the unwilling student appears to be Dana Loesch.
BigHank53
Isn’t that the saddest & most pathetic thing you’ve seen? I mean, is he afraid someone is going to forget?
debbie
@Villago Delenda Est:
It was not supposed to be about Trump or to cosset him. Obama had more balls in the tough situations, as a president should.
lgerard
@tobie:
They are not even in gold
Sad!
John Revolta
Didn’t W have something similar? “43” cufflinks or some such?
Villago Delenda Est
@debbie: That’s part of why some of the students told him to fuck off. They know exactly what he is.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
She looked like such a slack-jawed idiot in that screencap.
different-church-lady
Epic.
Adam L Silverman
@Luthe: Usually.
Funny story: My last year at USAWC I had a colleague who was a US Air Force pilot. Great guy. We shared supervision of one of the Nepalese generals there as a student that year. I solely supervised the other one. As is their custom, they presented us with personalized kukhris as gifts. The steel used to make a kukri is not stainless, it requires a light coating of oil or the metal will tarnish. My colleague asked me what he should do to care for his kukri. I told him use what ever protectant lube he uses on his guns. He replied: “what guns?” I printed out the care instructions off one of the major Nepalese kukri sites on the web and then gave him some Frog Lube with the instructions printed on the container and told him to follow the instructions.
Which reminds me, I need to the regular protectant application on my kukri.
Amaranthine RBG
@Corner Stone:
You from Pittsburg?
M. Bouffant
@BigHank53: Of course. That’s why they all shout & scream about flag pins. They’re so dense they’ll forget where they are & whom they are supposed to represent.
Omnes Omnibus
@Amaranthine RBG: You are really showing your face today?
NotMax
@John Revolta
IIRC, it was cowboy boots.
Corner Stone
This guy Pollack really pisses me off. Shut your fucking mouth unless you’re going to vote for people who will change this scenario.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Omnes Omnibus: that’s not his face!
Kristine
I could be overanalyzing, but lately every time I see T&*%p with a group where not everyone adores him–these students and parents, videos of WH discussions–he’s sitting with his arms folded. Closed off/protective mode? Broadcasts that he really doesn’t want to be there.
eric
The best way to get young people to do something: tell them they cant do it. So, as a parent, allow me to request that the media and the GOP continue doubting “the youngs.” :)
different-church-lady
@eric: Giving them a near-death experience also “helps”.
sukabi
@different-church-lady: that was awesome.?
Omnes Omnibus
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Tracking.
Peale
There are 36,000 high schools in the US. I suppose there are enough veterans who want to work there, but you’ll probably need to pay them quite handsomely to quit the jobs they already have. Oh, and those homeless veterans? Yeah, those will be great with kids.
efgoldman
@BigHank53:
If only
Aleta
The man does not volunteer his time, ever.
His understanding of service: lesser people are supposed to do it for him, but usually disappoint.
The Presidency is something he bought and rightfully owns.
He’s missing out now on the best deals of his life, and blames his lawyers and his wife for that.
Everyone is taking advantage and making money off him.
No one appreciates what he is sacrificing.
Captain C
@tobie: infiniti the words of the Jerky Boys movie, he’s a lowlife from Queens.
Rasputin's Evil Twin
@tobie: I suspect it’s his IQ, and he’s really proud of it.
Rasputin's Evil Twin
@M. Bouffant: If that were the case, wouldn’t the logos be those of the Fortune 500?