Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

The current Supreme Court is a dangerous, rogue court.

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Reality always gets a vote in the end.

This blog will pay for itself.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

You are here: Home / Gun Issues / Ammosexuals / Of Course It Is, You Fucking Asshole

Of Course It Is, You Fucking Asshole

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These sanctimonious pricks:

Paul Ryan called the Democratic lawmakers’ sit-in Wednesday to protest inaction on gun laws a “publicity stunt,” saying that House liberals were more interested in headlines than solving the problem.

The speaker of the House also told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “The Situation Room” that he was not planning on actively fundraising for Donald Trump’s cash-strapped campaign, and that he saw possible agreement between his pro-trade message and Trump’s protectionist sympathies.

But the sit-in that began earlier in Ryan’s chamber earned his scorn.

“This is nothing more than a publicity stunt,” Ryan said, saying House Democrats would infringe on Second Amendment rights and do nothing to prevent terrorist attacks. “This is not about a solution to a problem. This is about trying to get attention.”

Of course it’s a fucking publicity stunt. They are trying to publicize the fact that the house won’t even vote on stuff that 85% of the god damned country wants to happen. They’re trying, in vain, most likely, to shame you shameless sociopathic motherfuckers into doing something.

Not to mention, the Republicans have been sitting on their asses in the house for how many years now? Where’s that fucking jobs bill?

Reader Interactions

281Comments

  3. 3.

    Patricia Kayden

    Well, it is a pretty successful “publicity stunt”. Thank goodness that Dems are showing that they have spines and aren’t afraid to show up the do-nothing Republicans.

  4. 4.

    redshirt

    The sit in won’t do a thing to change Republican Congressmen or Senators.

    Hopefully, it will change some voter’s minds.

    But that’s unlikely.

  5. 5.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Not to mention, the Republicans have been sitting on their asses in the house for how many years now? Where’s that fucking jobs bill?

    immigration reform, re-authorizing the Iraq AUMF, a new AUMF for the war in Syria they all say they want… not voting on the pressing issues of the day, including the ones they just made up, is the new normal of the Boehner-Ryan era.

  7. 7.

    lamh36

    However this ends, I have never been more proud of the Dems right now.

    Rep John Lewis…is a fuq’n BOSS!

    My money is on John Lewis

  9. 9.

    Trentrunner

    Bernie came by for five minutes: Waves, gets picture taken, leaves.

    Makes all three network newscasts.

    This fucking guy.

  11. 11.

    Baud

    BTW, the House is also having trouble passing appropriations bills. So this is not a good time for Ryan.

  13. 13.

    sukabi

    Can’t shame a sociopath, but you can outnumber and pressure them. Sounds like an opportunity for a mass sit in on the capitol mall.

  15. 15.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Rep. Mark Pocan ‏@repmarkpocan 4h4 hours ago
    Rep. Mark Pocan Retweeted Rep. Mark Pocan
    I’ll try to read your comments on the House Floor. #holdthefloor

    Rep. Mark Pocan added,
    Rep. Mark Pocan @repmarkpocan
    Since @SpeakerRyan is not here, I want your voices to be heard. Send me your comments about preventing gun violence along with your hometown
    24 retweets 32 likes

    My representative.

  17. 17.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Catching up on some of the speeches from the Dems, they are calling Ryan out in a way that surprises me.

    Frank Pallone flat out called Republicans cowards.

  18. 18.

    lamh36

    Folks always complain about the Dems being spineless…well here they are at the very least showing some spine…of course they don’t control the House, or the Senate, so whether there is a vote or not is STILL up to Paul Ryan.

    Ryan still has something to prove, and unlike John Boehner, still got that “young man” spirit that hasn’t been beat down yet by the RWNJs so he will likely never let a vote happen.

    But still, give the Dems in the House their due for this at least.

  20. 20.

    Trentrunner

    Crowd is now gathering outside the Capitol.

    Something’s happening here.

    Good thing CNN is having its Libertarian Town Hall.

  22. 22.

    Patricia Kayden

    Nancy Pelosi has promised to continue the sit-in until hell freezes over. Wonder what Ryan will do to shut it down. The Republican base won’t allow him to do anything about gun control.

  25. 25.

    rikyrah

    @lamh36:

    However this ends, I have never been more proud of the Dems right now.

    Rep John Lewis…is a fuq’n BOSS!

    Yep..awesome..

    A true American hero.

  30. 30.

    debbie

    House Democrats would infringe on Second Amendment rights and do nothing to prevent terrorist attacks.

    Not stopping anyone on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns is clearly the way to prevent terrorist attacks, ammirite?

  31. 31.

    lamh36

    Paul Ryan can’t be this stupid…

    @MattLaslo
    Rumor? Just heard all Senate cops weren’t dismissed this eve. Just put in plain clothes on House side in case removals are needed from floor

  32. 32.

    PatrickG

    @Davis X. Machina:

    Appropriations Bill
    R: We won’t pass it.
    D: You want another sit-in about guns you goddamn cowards?
    R: (massive flurry of action)

    Repeal Obamacare
    R: We’re going to…
    D: Guns. Sit in. We’re game.
    R: Never mind.

    and so forth.

  34. 34.

    rikyrah

    @lamh36:

    Ryan still has something to prove, and unlike John Boehner, still got that “young man” spirit that hasn’t been beat down yet by the RWNJs so he will likely never let a vote happen.

    Up or down Vote…
    why are they scared about it.

  39. 39.

    Johnny Coelacanth

    I was wondering how the liberal media was covering the sit-in. CNN.com’s main story is ‘There’s a Third Choice’ featuring the Libertarian candidates, whoever they are. Democratic sit-in gets a much smaller “Breaking News” picture next to that. No obvious headlines about Trump’s speech, but it’s a crowded page.

    MSNBC goes big with the sit-in story, then Clinton’s speech (“no pivot to center for Clinton”), then a focus story on Rep. Lewis. Asshole’s speech is the fourth minor item in the list of headlines. Fox features some “who cares” immigration outrage as their main story; the sit-in is relegated to minor coverage beneath horse-racey politics and Bill O’Reilly’s opinion.

    You nightly news watchers out there can tell us where the TV broadcasts are falling.

  40. 40.

    gf120581

    Why do I get the feeling John Boehner is watching this footage of Ryan and laughing his ass off before downing his latest fifth of Scotch?

  41. 41.

    maya

    So, what did Wolfie do then? Did he go down on Ryan, as he is supposed to, according to the Punditry Code of Urethratics?

  42. 42.

    lamh36

    @MattLaslo 18m18 minutes ago
    Matt Laslo Retweeted Matt Laslo
    Confirmed: Just peaked inside room full of officers on 1st floor of Capitol (pic coming)

  49. 49.

    Corner Stone

    “We believe in the way of peace, in the way of love. And the way of nonviolence. We will respect the dignity and the worth of our colleagues.”
    “But we shall not be moved.”
    /John Lewis more full answer to Maddow’s

  50. 50.

    lamh36

    @Johnny Coelacanth: If Paul Ryan uses capitol police to forcefully remove the Dem congress folk…you can bet ur bottom dolla…it will make big news…

    Paul Ryan can’t be so stupid as to do that though???

  51. 51.

    Chip Daniels

    A big part of activism is just giving inspiration to the rank and file to show them that their leaders are willing to fight.

    Keep doing stuff like this, and it makes GOTV that much easier.

  52. 52.

    ? Martin

    Nice refresher on the lessons that the GOP failed to learn from California.

    According to exit polls, Ronald Reagan won 44 percent of California Latinos in 1984. Republican Governor George Deukmejian won 46 percent in 1986. Pete Wilson himself won 47 percent in 1990. During the Reagan and George H. W. Bush years, according to a study by the political scientists Shaun Bowler, Stephen P. Nicholson, and Gary M. Segura, “Latinos in California had been drifting toward the GOP.”

    But all of that changed after the GOP began targeting Latino immigrants. Feeling themselves under assault, California Latinos registered to vote in epic numbers. From 1994 to 2004, according to Latino America, by Segura and Matt A. Barreto, the voter-registration rate among California Latinos grew 69 percent—more than twice as fast as the state’s Latino population. Latino voters also swung sharply against the GOP. Republicans, who had lost the Latino vote by six points in the 1990 gubernatorial race, lost it by 46 points in 1994, then by 61 points in 1998. Before the passage of Proposition 187 in 1994, California Latinos were four points more likely to identify as Democrats than as Republicans. After Proposition 227 passed in 1998, the margin reached 51 points. The GOP’s anti-immigrant efforts appear to have alienated young white voters, too. (Throughout this essay, I will consider Latinos as a distinct racial group separate from whites, as a majority of Latinos now consider themselves, even though the census does not.)

    Almost two decades later, the California Republican Party still has not recovered. Latinos—who now constitute almost 40 percent of California’s population and more than a quarter of its eligible voters—have voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1996 by at least 40 points. Democrats today control every statewide elected office, and make up close to two-thirds of the state Senate and assembly, along with almost three-quarters of California’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

    What’s more, state policy has turned in a radically pro-immigrant direction. Over the past 15 years, California has repealed those elements of Proposition 187 that hadn’t already been ruled unconstitutional, allowed undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses, and granted them in-state tuition at public colleges. It has also begun enrolling undocumented children in the state’s version of Medicaid. Even California’s Republican Party has changed. Last fall, it removed the phrase illegal alien from its platform and stripped out language calling on law-enforcement officials to immediately deport undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. On the question of “what to do with the millions of people who are currently here illegally,” the platform now states merely that Republicans “hold diverse views.”

  53. 53.

    hovercraft

    @Baud:
    But I’m told he has restored order to the house, and brought real policy ideas back to the house republicans. The savior who will provide a serious face for the GOP during the election and show America that they can govern. The bold leader who will lead the republicans back from the wilderness.

  55. 55.

    gf120581

    @Schlemazel Khan: Also known as your typical Trump speech.

    To paraphrase Steve Benen, trying to fact check Trump is utterly exhausting. He lies so much you have to move like the Flash just to keep up.

  59. 59.

    TS

    @lamh36:

    Paul Ryan can’t be this stupid…

    Of course he can – he is part of a political party that voted for Donald Trump for US President.

  61. 61.

    Uncle Ebeneezer

    This is not about a solution to a problem. This is about trying to get attention.

    If only there was some sort of process for trying to enact a “solution”…you know, like proposing bills and then voting for them.

  62. 62.

    gf120581

    @lamh36: I could see it happening. The guy’s under immense pressure and he could easily snap and make a disastrous decision.

    If he weren’t who he is, I might almost pity him. The worst job in DC is to be a GOP House Speaker.

  63. 63.

    Johnny Coelacanth

    BTW if you’re on the Twitter with the youngs, the #NoBillNoBreak tag is blowing up with some great stuff.

  64. 64.

    lurker dean

    ezra klein called the recent dem actions “stunts” on twitter, really pissed me off. people are dying and he writes off actions by john lewis and others as stunts.

  65. 65.

    TS

    @gf120581:

    Why do I get the feeling John Boehner is watching this footage of Ryan and laughing his ass off before downing his latest fifth of Scotch?

    Cause Paul Ryan is making Boehner look like a well adjusted efficient Speaker – never thought that could happen.

  66. 66.

    lamh36

    @eemom: right…I see Josh at TPM, Sam Stein and Hayes are all in the Paul Ryan would never…

    Pssht…Paul Ryan aint Boehner…he’s a young fool who still has something to prove to the Freedom Caucus and the rest of his RWNJ caucus…wouldn’t put a damn thing past him

  68. 68.

    Davis X. Machina

    @lamh36:

    Paul Ryan can’t be so stupid as to do that though???

    If the NRA tells him to do it, he’ll do it.

    The worst job in DC is to be a GOP House Speaker.

    Every Danton has his Robespierre.

  69. 69.

    FlyingToaster

    @Johnny Coelacanth: It’s the third video on each of the Boston area newscast sites (CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox). Each market will depend upon how many of their representatives are on the floor :)

  70. 70.

    Iowa Old Lady

    Ryan screwed this up by making it confrontational and giving the Dems a chance to make headlines with the way the Rs were blocking things. I suppose it never occurred to him that Lewis would start a sit in. Why would it, after all? However this ends, Ryan and his party will look bad.

    Sort of like how they look for nominating Trump.

  71. 71.

    lamh36

    @Johnny Coelacanth: Kim K. West tweeted the following to her 41Million followers on twitter…so yeah…

    @KimKardashian 4h4 hours ago
    After Orlando, Congress hasn’t done anything and now they’re going on vacation. I say #NoBillNoBreak

  74. 74.

    rikyrah

    President Obama
    7 hrs ·
    Today, people on both sides of the Atlantic are coming together to honor the remarkable life of Jo Cox. I did not have the privilege of knowing her. But I know the spirit that defined her life. When I first ran for President, she came to America and volunteered on my campaign. She gave her time and passion to a country that was not her own because she believed in an idea that transcends borders and cultures – the power of people to bring about change, from the grassroots up.

    She later described being in North Carolina on election night watching an elderly African American grandmother holding her granddaughter on her knees. And through her tears, she told her granddaughter, “When I was your age they said we couldn’t sit on the bus, now we’re the President. We must never doubt how much things can change.”
    Jo knew that our politics, at its best, still works – that, if we recognize our humanity in each other, we can advance the social justice, human dignity and peace that we seek in the world.

    Reflecting on a difficult time in university, she once said that it made her realize that it mattered where you were born, how you spoke and who you knew.

    In her radiant life, Jo turned that truth on its head. She was such an effective public servant for her beloved Yorkshire because she was born there. She earned the respect of her colleagues in Parliament because she was unafraid to speak her mind. And countless women, children and refugees around the world live with more dignity and hope because they knew Jo Cox and were touched by her work on their behalf.

    Today, we stand united – British, Americans and people around the world – to affirm that the hate and violence that took her from us are ultimately no match for the love and compassion that she spread in her life.

    On behalf of the American people, I offer our deepest condolences to Jo’s parents, sister, husband Brendan, son Cuillin and daughter Lejla. May these two young children, like all our children, never doubt how much things can change. With our help, may they grow up in a world of greater tolerance, justice and peace – a future that would make their mum proud.

  75. 75.

    bearcalypse

    There really was nothing stopping the democrats from supporting the republican amendments to chip away at the issue and drive a wedge between the republicans and the NRA, but noooo..

  77. 77.

    TS

    @Baud:

    Aw, jeez Rachel. Now we have a Sanders concession watch?

    Not to mention a Hillary VP conspiracy in progress. Hillary wants people to think Elizabeth Warren will be her VP choice – because – crickets.

  78. 78.

    lamh36

    @Iowa Old Lady: he fuqn’ed it up by thinking turning off the cameras meant anything… this ain’t the 90s or early 00s…social media has changed the game on live camera.

    Hell…anyone with a cell phone and a periscope account can shoot LIVE video. Hell even FB has LIVE video capabilities…

    The Obama White House understanding and use of social media platforms was shoo-shoo by GOP pols and pundits…but now look…

  79. 79.

    lamh36

    Joaquin Castro ✔ @JoaquinCastrotx
    Update: Police officers gathering near the House floor. The crowd below the steps of the Capitol keeps growing.

  81. 81.

    Major Major Major Major

    @lamh36: Some of the responses are heartening.

    Kimberly Morin ‏@Conservativeind 4h4 hours ago
    .@KimKardashian Do you have armed security sweetheart? If so, fire them all RIGHT NOW. Then talk about #guncontrol #NoBillNoBreak

    Freddy Cruz ‏@cruzdrilling 2h2 hours ago
    @KimKardashian there still trying to figure out why they claimed ISIS when in fact it was not- for political reasons! HIV hate crime

  84. 84.

    lamh36

    what if the Dems just DON’T leave the floor?

    @jbendery 1m1 minute ago
    Bells ringing in the House. Votes are coming.

  85. 85.

    rikyrah

    Joaquin Castro ✔ @JoaquinCastrotx
    Update: Police officers gathering near the House floor. The crowd below the steps of the Capitol keeps growing.
    8:35 PM – 22 Jun 2016

  86. 86.

    lamh36

    I fully expect Rep John Lewis to stay until the end. other Dem colleagues may want to leave, but John Lewis won’t go any damn where

    If the Dems do this tonight…I swear I will donate money to each and every one of them to did this!

    ‏@JamalSimmons 1h1 hour ago
    If #Dems lock arms around the Speakers chair +deny access and they call the Sgt. At Arms to arrest members I might lose it. #NoBillNoBreak

  87. 87.

    rikyrah

    @jbendery 2h2 hours ago
    John Lewis says he never imagined he’d be in House w/Jim Clyburn protesting together, 50 yrs later. Put his hand on back of Clyburn’s head.

  89. 89.

    rikyrah

    ‏@JamalSimmons 1h1 hour ago
    If #Dems lock arms around the Speakers chair +deny access and they call the Sgt. At Arms to arrest members I might lose it. #NoBillNoBreak

  90. 90.

    Gravenstone

    @lamh36: Might not be for the Congresspeople. rather he might be looking to clear the galleries and anyone not a member of the House from the room. Still, not the ZEGS’ finest moment.

  95. 95.

    lamh36

    @jbendery 32s32 seconds ago
    I think every Dem is holding up a piece of paper with the name of a gun violence victim on it. Every Dem. Sea of paper in here

  96. 96.

    Schlemazel Khan

    @gf120581:
    But it was stunning to hear NBC focus on the lies. Our masters must be really frightened of Drumpf to allow journalists to do their job/

  97. 97.

    rikyrah

    I love today. I am proud to be a Democrat. It’s time to show the differences between the parties. The Democrats stomped on Trump’s ‘new roll out’, and I couldn’t be happier.

  99. 99.

    Amaranthine RBG

    Story up on Gawker that’s relevant:

    the-democrats-are-boldly-fighting-for-a-bad-stupid-bill

    Can’t link to it for some reason

  110. 110.

    lamh36

    @jbendery now6 seconds ago
    Can’t hear a word Paul Ryan is saying because of Dem shouting.

  112. 112.

    Fair Economist

    @lamh36:

    I fully expect Rep John Lewis to stay until the end. other Dem colleagues may want to leave, but John Lewis won’t go any damn where

    They won’t go. There’s a feeling when things like this happen – it’s what revolutions are made of. It’s electric, and nobody will want to leave.

  115. 115.

    lamh36

    @jbendery now6 seconds ago
    Dems ALL shouting. Signs everywhere with names of gun violence victims. Ryan drowned out. I’ve never seen anything like this in the House.

  118. 118.

    Chyron HR

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    Look look! Someone on Gawker also gets an erection whenever 5-year-olds shoot themselves with daddy’s responsibly owned gun! I’m not the only one! I may be too dumb to know how hyperlinks work, but at least I’m not a freak anymore!

  120. 120.

    Betty Cracker

    @Major Major Major Major: Yeah. Can’t figure out what he thinks he’s going to accomplish with the current action either. Is caving in to Wall Street swindlers supposed to intimidate the Democrats somehow?

  126. 126.

    Corner Stone

    It’s freakin’ after 10:00PM in DC. These people have no idea what this is going to be about.

  128. 128.

    Gemina13

    I have never been so proud of the Democrats in the House. And John Lewis needs to be designated a national treasure.

    That said, I hope the Zombie-Eyed Granny Starver tries having the Ds hauled away. His political career will be deader than Jeb!’s.

  129. 129.

    gene108

    @rikyrah:

    C-SPAN cameras turned back on, when Ryan gaveled the session back in.

    Ryan’s in waaaaaaayyyyy over his head.

  134. 134.

    lamh36

    @jbendery now8 seconds ago
    “We shall pass a billll some daaaay..” — House Dems, singing. What is happening.

  135. 135.

    JosieJ (not Josie)

    John Lewis and his partners in the civil rights struggle woke up every morning knowing that, best case scenario, they were going to get a beatdown from the police, and they protested anyway. Can you imagine the courage it took to simply go on about your day with that hanging over you?

    John Lewis may be in his 70s now instead of in his 20s, but Paul Ryan has nothing capable of cowing him. Nothing the Capitol police do could be worse than the Alabama state policemen and Klansmen that Lewis has already faced down.

    Gandhi said “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” If the police are called in to break up this protest, we will be one step away from winning!

  137. 137.

    Gemina13

    @Corner Stone: Not sure he ever really had it in the first place. Like walking the family bulldog, Little Paulie was in over his head from the moment he took the leash.

  141. 141.

    dmsilev

    @Gemina13: I can’t imagine Ryan would be that stupid. His whole shtick is ‘I’m the reasonable Republican’, the adult who is taming the feral beasts of the GOP righter-wing caucus. Sending in the Capitol police to drag away John Lewis engaged in a non-violent protest, well, he might as well legally change his middle name to ‘Bull’ at that point.

  146. 146.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    Establishment Democrats! I hope the Sanders crowd is taking notes while they practice for the fart-in.

  147. 147.

    Zinsky

    This is a historic moment. The Democrats have hijacked the fucking right-wing sociopaths kabuki theater and the wing nuts are astonished. They are finally calling that smarmy rodent, Paul Ryan’s bluff and the adenoidal Eddie Munster has no clue what to do. Fuck you Ryan!!

  148. 148.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    John Weaver ‏@ JWGOP 2h2 hours ago San Jose, CA
    You are supposed to be in Congress to vote on hard things, not hide. Grow pair and vote and let your constituents decide. #Thisisnothard

    Weaver was one of the 2000 McCain people, wasn’t he?

  149. 149.

    lamh36

    ‏@jbendery 29s30 seconds ago
    In the middle of this, Steve Scalise huddling with lots of Freedom Caucus members. Something is up there.

  152. 152.

    Amaranthine RBG

    These remarks didn’t receive the coverage they should have:

    -Search Sacramento Bee re Dalai Lama’s comments [link not working]

    It is unproductive and unfortunate that people who claim to be concerned about preventing the death of others engage in ugly and destructive name-calling.

  153. 153.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @lamh36:
    @lamh36:

    In tears now.

    I’m half tempted to break my lease and move 15 miles closer into town, for the sole purpose of having John Lewis as my Representative in Congress.

  155. 155.

    ? Martin

    @Mike J:

    Have they IPOed yet? Now’s the time if not.

    Periscope is a Twitter property. Was on the verge of death once Facebook Live Video launched. Just got a short reprieve, but Facebook will clearly come as the leader.

  159. 159.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @SiubhanDuinne: Yes and wouldn’t it be nice if the bill for which Lewis and others are demanding a vote would accomplish something to make such shootings less likely?

    Oh well, no matter, it’s time to FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES. WE **CAREZ**

  161. 161.

    hovercraft

    Jesus Christ on a pogo stick CSPAN caller Joe from Las Vegas agrees with Trump (though Trump never said it) that if there had been more guns in Orlando the outcome would have been better. America number 1.

  162. 162.

    Mike in NC

    Tonight that bastard Hastert is in an orange jumpsuit. Is it too much to hope that Gingrich and Ryan will also some day?

  163. 163.

    Misterpuff

    Dems with Spines? Dems with Soul? Dems with TACTICS? Can my 59 year old heart take it?>

  164. 164.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mnemosyne:

    Doesn’t matter. As long as you can keep telling Amaranthine RBG to go fuck himself, it’s all good.

    But bloody hell, all those names and photos, rolling in, wave after wave… heartbreaking and powerful.

  167. 167.

    lamh36

    As it happens, Paul Ryan can’t allow a vote to happen. He’s got to save face don’t ya know…so Dems win regardless…OPTICS.

  170. 170.

    smith

    Looks like the House just voted on something, but I can’t see what. My cable went out just as the Rs came in, and I’m on a phone tether right now, which is less than optimal.

  171. 171.

    Schlemazel Khan

    @JosieJ (not Josie):
    The minister that confirmed me marched with them in Selma. He talked to us about the experience, they held a session discussing exactly what to expect & beatings were discussed along with several other things. No ties was a rule as you would be chocked, perhaps to death. Those arrested were forced to stand on the asphalt parking lot in the afternoon sun with no water. They knew this was coming & went anyway.

  172. 172.

    Jonathan Holland Becnel

    Kudos to the Dems in the Senate and house for standing up (or sitting down I should say!) to the asshole politicians bought and paid for by the NRA.

    First a filibuster and now an actual sit-in!

    FUCK YEAH

  173. 173.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Yes, 9/11 changed everything. Let’s invade Iraq!

    Pretty much the same pathetic flawed reasoning taking place here. >>> Something bad happened >>> lets use the tragedy to push for something unrelated >>> if you don’t support it then you hate children!!!.

  174. 174.

    ? Martin

    @JosieJ (not Josie): More importantly, the core of the civil rights movement which Lewis was part of was not about making statements. It was about achieving real change. They were laser focused on that.

    I don’t think Lewis would have started this if he didn’t see a viable path to bringing a result. Maybe not today or this week, but I don’t think he’d waste his time if he didn’t see some degree of success here. I think Trump’s divisiveness is an important catalyst. Remember, every member of the House is up for re-election and the GOP all carry Trump’s stink. That won’t bother a lot of them, but there’s dozens of GOPs that are on thin ice right now in their districts. I think Lewis sees an opportunity that maybe the rest of us can’t see.

  177. 177.

    lamh36

    @RVAwonk now12 seconds ago
    Luke Russert of @MSNBC just reported that House Dems were spotted with sleeping bags. I’ve never been prouder to be a Dem. #NoBillNoBreak

  181. 181.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I was in the next room, but I think Norm Ornstein said he sees this as a sea change similar to same-sex marriage, from a wedge issue that scared Democrats to one that scares Republicans.

    Fits Ryan’s conduct

  183. 183.

    dmsilev

    @smith: I think they were trying to overturn an Obama veto. The bill in question would have rolled back new regulations on the financial advice industry require more advisors to have a fiduciary duty towards their clients (ie not push overly expensive investments for which the advisers are getting sales commissions).

    Way to go, GOP. The Democrats are staging a protest to try to do something, anything about the gun crisis, and your response is to try to allow the finance industry to gouge its customers.

  186. 186.

    lamh36

    @AriMelber 1m1 minute ago
    John Lewis now: Sometimes by sitting down, by sitting in, you’re standing up.. never ever give up

  189. 189.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    daveweigel ‏@ daveweigel 51s51 seconds ago
    Why does CNN have the usual pundits on instead of the uncommonly gripping House protests? Hang on, folks: Gloria Borger has a #take

  194. 194.

    hovercraft

    @smith:
    They tried to override Obama veto of rules that financial advisors must have their clients best interest as their number one priority. You know looking out for those poor oppressed people on Wall St.

  195. 195.

    Gemina13

    @Mnemosyne:

    ::applauds:: I can’t look at the pictures, though.

    It’s not about the fucking bill. It’s about forcing the do-nothing GOP bloc in the House to do something. A six-year-old could understand how this works.

  197. 197.

    Misterpuff

    @? Martin: He’s recasting the argument from Gun Control to “Being Safe from the Threat of Gun Violence is a Civil Right” .

  198. 198.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Gemina13: the Concern is starting about the precedent the Dems are setting. It’s a fair point, but I can’t think of an issue that would put Dems in a similar position, where they’re afraid to take a vote. The GOP has been trying to do it with abortion for years.

  199. 199.

    Amaranthine RBG

    Here’ a list of people who died on the Costa Concordia:

    Concordia Passengers

    Barbara Heil – Minnesota, usa
    Brunhilde Werp – Germany
    Christina Mathi Ganz – Germany
    Dayana Arlotti – Italy
    Egon Hoer – Germany
    Elilsabeth Bauer – Germany
    Francis Servel – France
    Gabriel Grube – Germany
    Gerald ‘Jerry’ Heil – Minnesota, usa
    Giovanni Masia – Italy
    Gual Guillermo – Italy
    Horst Galle – Germany
    Inge Schall – Germany
    Jean-Pierre Micheaud – France
    Concordia Passengers

    Jeannette Gannard – France
    Josef Werp – Germany
    Luisa Antonio Virzi – Italy
    Margarethe Neth – Germany
    Margrit Schoeter – Germany
    Maria D’Introna – Italy
    Maria Grazia Trecarichi – Italy
    Michael Blemand – France
    Mylene Litzler – France
    Norbert Joseph Ganz – Germany
    Pierre Gregoire – France
    Siglinde Stumpf – Germany
    William Arlotti – Italy
    Concordia Crew Members

    Erika Fani Soriamolina – crew member, waitress, Peru
    Girolamo Giuseppe – staff musician, Italy
    Russel Terence Rebello – crew member, waiter, India
    Sandor Feher – Staff musician, Hungary
    Tomas_Alberto_Costilla_Mendoza – crew

    ————–

    Like all of the people in the lists people have been posting, none of them would have been saved by the bill that Lewis, and others, are calling for a vote.

  203. 203.

    Lurker Extraordinaire

    Some people here* just don’t get it. It’s not about whether the bill would do anything to prevent more Orlandos, Sandy Hooks, Tucsons, etc, it’s about the fact that the Repukes don’t even want to VOTE on it.

    When I mean some people*, I mean just one idiot.

  204. 204.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @efgoldman:

    You should look of the Dalai Lama’s comments in Sacramento last week. He discussed how how people should strive for “inner disarmament.”

    The violent and hateful language you and other’s use is a symptom of the problem that Americans have treating others with dignity and respect even when – gasp – they hold different political views.

  209. 209.

    pseudonymous in nc

    This actually feels significant. The means of broadcast have been taken out of Ryan’s hands.

    And just seeing the House from non C-SPAN angles feels like it’s breaking a fourth wall. You get a sense of its dimensions.

  211. 211.

    LAO

    @Omnes Omnibus: I know. The judge was/is just as bad as the defendant. I have never read a transcript quite that crazy. I’ve certainly never viewed it live either.

  212. 212.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @lucslawyer:
    I think, instead, I will bring up the line from the Gawker article about this: The best way to get gun control passed in this country is to just make it illegal for Muslims to own guns. Lots of Republicans would sign on to that and, apparently, I believe that lots of self-proclaimed Democrats would, too, because, Hey – fewer gunz is a GOOD THING, so never mind about all all that other stuff.

  215. 215.

    dmsilev

    @smith: I’m sure they’ll find a way. I don’t think Trump has weighed in yet; that would almost certainly up the offensive stupidity quotient.

  216. 216.

    The Thin Black Duke

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I think that’s a very perceptive comment. I believe more and more people in this country are realizing that the odds of being killed by a lunatic exercising his 2nd Amendment rights is more likely than winning a lottery ticket, and most people really don’t want to live like that. The next step is when people finally understand that “thoughts and prayers” isn’t going to stop the escalating gun violence, only their votes will. And hopefully people will stop voting for the NRA’s sock puppets, because if they do, they can’t blame the Democrats when things get worse. Look at what’s happening tonight. They tried.

  217. 217.

    aimai

    @Amaranthine RBG: Oh will you fuck off? And this bill won’t stop death from happening to everyone on the planet, at some point, either. So fucking what, you odious little troll? So fucking what?

  219. 219.

    gene108

    The guy, who made the analogy of a grade school kid with a stick was great. Do you take the kid’s stick away or give every kid a stick? Any adult with a shred of sense would take the kid’s stick away.

  221. 221.

    AnthroBabe

    Amazing!! Just posted to my FB that the ‘CBC’ and ‘establishment’ Demos are doing this.

    Geez they are screaming at each other on CNN!!! “Radical Islam killed these peoples” – REPUB

    Shit’s going dooooownnnn….

  224. 224.

    Greg

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    There is a second bill that would allow the CDC to actually study gun violence. Have any idiotic arguments against voting on that one, you asshole?

  226. 226.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @aimai: There is quite a bit of daylight between “word stop death from happening to everyone on the planet” and “wouldn’t have prevented the death of any of the people on the lists” posted by people who are don’t hesitate to cynically exploit other’s deaths as long as it makes them feel better about themselves.

    Quite a bit of daylight, indeed.

  229. 229.

    Fair Economist

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    Like all of the people in the lists people have been posting, none of them would have been saved by the bill that Lewis, and others, are calling for a vote.

    That will only be the first bill. There will be more. The slaughter from guns can be stopped, and, finally, it looks like it will.

  230. 230.

    Amaranthine RBG

    Mmmmm, smell the intoxicating mixture of self-regard and cynicism. Hope the mix is gluten free!

  235. 235.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @Fair Economist: Fair enough. If one is going to pick a hill to die on, it should be one that matters.

    But trumpeting one’s principles in support of a bill that, aside from its problematic disregard of due process, would not actually accomplish anything is just silly.

    I guess it may energize the base – particularly the less informed among them.

  236. 236.

    Mary G

    Just got off the phone on a “Tele-TownHall” with good old Darrell Issa. He must be sweating this election because he called me. It was, as it often is with these guys, a total clusterfuck. They called me in the middle of an answer about gun control. He was regurgitating the usual FREEDUMB talking points. He said the founding fathers wrote the bill of rights in order of importance, so after freedom of speech and religion (he left out the free press, oddly enough). guns are our second most important right in America.

    Then he took calls from two or three really old people, one of whom migrated here from Europe in 1964 to get away from socialismm and it followed him here, oh noes. Then a lady who said she used to work with SAP, whatever that is, and therefore she knows for a fact that Hillary got people killed with her illegal email system. Darrell issued a couple of boilerplate non sequiturs and added that they are still investigating her emails. Then a guy asked if the San Onofre nuclear plant, which is being decommissioned in a way many people object to, couldn’t be converted to a desalinization plant. Darrell actually seemed to know something about this topic and discussed a pilot program being built now in Carlsbad, but said it’d be at least a decade before they could determine if San Onofre qualified. He also took a few shots at John Lewis and the “immaturity” of the sit-in today.

    Between every call there were lengthy delays, where he kept clicking on names but not getting a connection. Gary, Gary, Gary are you there. Congressman, can you hear me. My favorite part was when he told his chief of staff that this was total bullshit, oops, open mic shut off.

    Then he had to go vote and they gave us a survey. I voted for Obamacare to continue, for illegal, sorry undocumented, aliens (they used that formulation every single time) to be allowed to buy health insurance through the California exchange, and whether the waste from San Onofre should stay here in its pools right next to the ocean or be moved inland to a temporary storage until a permanent storage can be found.

    After he finished voting, he came back on the line and asked if I, or we, could hear him. When it became obvious that was not the case, he said bullshit again to his flunkies, and they came on and said that due to the obvious technical difficulties, the rest of the thing would have to be cancelled. What a maroon. I was allowed to leave a voicemail, since I didn’t get an answer to my question, and I did. Gun control, we wants it.

  238. 238.

    Frank Wilhoit

    For Something’s sake, people, can we stop feeding the goddamn troll? Arguments like his are worth refuting when they are placed in the public discourse by persons who are nominally responsible. This here a’n’t the public discourse and anonymous trolls are merely attempting to exercise authority without responsibility, which is unacceptable. The only way to hurt him is to ignore him, so just the fuck do it, mmkay?

  240. 240.

    Betty Cracker

    @Amaranthine RBG: I don’t know the circumstances of every weapons purchase by every violent lunatic who has committed one of the mass murders mentioned in this thread. But I do know the Charleston AME church killer wouldn’t have been able to purchase his murder weapon if the background check law now on the books had been strengthened as proposed in one of the bills under consideration, so you’re wrong on the facts.

    Moreover, you’re unclear on the concept; no one thinks any gun safety measure is going to eliminate all gun violence. The idea is to reduce it.

    PS: Go fuck yourself.

  241. 241.

    hovercraft

    @redshirt:
    There some speculation that many of the BrenieBros were Ron Paulites and libertards who would never have supported Hillary in the first place. Yes there are liberals who do not like her, but those people would either stay home or vote for Stein. No true liberal would vote for Trump. Now Naderites on the other hand they would vote for anyone against a democrat to punish them for not being pure enough. Warren is a big sellout ,right?

  243. 243.

    AnthroBabe

    Samantha Bee on twitter:
    @houseDems: Do you need sleepover supplies? Phone chargers? Ouija board? A DVD of Dirty Dancing?

  244. 244.

    lucslawyer

    @Frank Wilhoit:
    Yeah, but this is fun. I think of it as sharpening the argument, seeing what kind of tripe an ammosexual trots out to defend the indefensible.

  246. 246.

    Fair Economist

    @Mnemosyne: It’s really horrifying Mnemosyne has so much to post, and I know she could go all night. When I see those lists roll on and on it’s hard to believe it got this bad, NRA or no.

    P.S. Your handle is singularly appropriate tonight. They will not be forgotten, indeed.

  247. 247.

    Tazj

    @Greg: Yes, he has to go back and read Pareene’s article. He has updated it to say that the Democrats want to vote on other measures besides the “no fly, no buy” one. This pretty much destroys the premise of the piece that the Dems were picking the wrong hill to die on.

  250. 250.

    The Lodger

    If the no-fly list is inaccurate and unconstitutional, clean up the list before anyone on it can get their damn guns. That might be motivation to fix it sooner rather than later.

  252. 252.

    maya

    @efgoldman:

    Don’t you get tired of sucking Wayne LaPierre’s dick?

    The GOP standard reply: “Please sir, I want some more.”

    Edit: La Pierre is known among friends as just, Pepe.

  253. 253.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @Tazj: Oh really, when did that change?

    Someone must have realized the optics were bad on this one.

  255. 255.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @The Lodger:

    The list is, by definition, an accurate list of people who are under suspicion. The problem with the list is that it curtails the rights of people on the list without due process.

    The RWNJs think that’s cool since most people on the list are muslim ore brownish and, apparently, lots of democrats think the list is hunky dory since it can be used to prevent gun sales. So, net good.

    Disgusting.

  258. 258.

    maya

    @Amaranthine RBG: Really no big secret that a Congressional men’s room can adequately accommodate a number of self loathing republican homosexuals at any given time. Respect only comes with admission, and, just like gun control legislation, they will never eva admit to that.

  262. 262.

    Ferd ofthe Nort

    Until movement is possible, nothing can be fixed. The no fly no buy bill is deeply flawed. So what. Once movement begins, momentum is possible.

    A RGB – move or get run over.
    You have my thoughts and prayers

  263. 263.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Amaranthine RBG: You know as well as everyone else here that the primary purpose of this effort is to highlight the absolute refusal of the GOP to even discuss gun regulation. The GOP has the votes to defeat the legislation, don’t they?

  268. 268.

    Miss Bianca

    @Baud: *We* knew. : )

    @The Ancient Randonneur: And speaking of fart-ins…is it true that Sen. Sanders basically breezed in for a photo op and then left? How can any of his his fans take him seriously after that?

  270. 270.

    eemom

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    What are you, exactly? Serious question. Don’t really expect an honest answer, but it can’t hurt to ask.

    The obvious possibility, of course, is a right wing troll bot; and of course, you’d never admit it if that’s what the truth is.

    So let’s suppose, by way of argument, that you actually believe what you are posting here tonight, and what you’ve posted here before. How do you reconcile this insane anti-gun-control bullshit with your previous persona as someone concerned about human life?

  272. 272.

    MikeBoyScout

    Let’s go to DC

    No one else can take our place.

    Though your brother’s bound and gagged
    And they’ve chained him to a chair
    Won’t you please come to Chicago
    Just to sing

    In a land that’s known as freedom
    How can such a thing be fair
    Won’t you please come to Chicago
    For the help that we can bring

    We can change the world
    Re-arrange the world
    It’s dying … to get better

    Politicians sit yourself down
    There’s nothing for you here
    Won’t you please come to Chicago
    For a ride

  273. 273.

    Villago Delenda Est

    No one is talking about taking away bolt action rifles, used in hunting.

    The only weapons that will need to be dealt with are military grade semi automatic weapons with replaceable magazines, or as my infantrymen buddies call them, CLIPS.

    No need for ANY civilian to have one of these weapons. Period. End of discussion.

  274. 274.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    The only weapons that will need to be dealt with are military grade semi automatic weapons with replaceable magazines, or as my infantrymen buddies call them, CLIPS.

    Aside from the “buddies” thing, THIS!

  275. 275.

    Tazj

    @Tazj: Not that it matters at this point but I should have written more accurately that the Dems want to vote on two more bills in addition (instead of “besides”) to the “no fly, no buy” bill. One other bill is on background checks and another involves funding for the CDC. This demonstration was never a terrible hill to die on.

  276. 276.

    PatrickG

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    I haven’t gotten through the thread, but this comment makes me call for a ban for sheer boringness.

    If you’re gonna troll, you better troll, like, good and shit.

    Also, may I add to the “fuck you” brigade. Amaranthine RBG, you’re an enormous asshole with very little to offer to any community. I recommend hermitage, because other people find you repellent.

  278. 278.

    trnc

    @Amaranthine RBG: Then the solution would be to urge congress to fix the way that list is created and maintained, not to use it as an excuse to do nothing on background checks.

  279. 279.

    Applejinx

    @Miss Bianca: I’m disappointed, but I don’t think any Senators actually are staying for the duration. Warren came by twice, brought donuts. I think to stay there and refuse to leave is for the House, not so much for Senators, but I could be mistaken or not entirely up to speed on things.

  280. 280.

    Sondra

    I am very proud of the 3 Florida Reps. who are sitting-in on my behalf.
    I wrote them all to tell them how proud of them I am. I know them all very well and will tell them in person the next time we meet at one of our Democratic Executive Committee functions.
    This is why I’m a registered Democrat and why I am active in my party. Because it’s not enough to just vote if you want your Representatives to actually represent you. Join the party, find a Democratic club in your area, go meet the members of your party and take the time to go meet your Representatives and let them know what you want them to do. They do listen and they do remember who you are.

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