February 22, 2018

The infinitely subtle manipulations of Donald Trump.

191 comments:

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I want someone to ask Jake Tapper - who inspires gun violence? the NRA or Hollywood?

MountainMan said...

"...the liberties of the American people were dependent upon the ballot-box, the jury-box, and the cartridge-box; that without these no class of people could live and flourish in this country..." - Frederick Douglass, 1892

Wince said...

Most politicians dream of triangulating divisive issues.

Trump there perfected a "hexagonulation".

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

The Art of the No-Deal.

Dude1394 said...

My favorite POTUS speaks up.

wendybar said...

Why didn't Jake Tapper fact check that sheriff?? CNN was reporting that they received 39 calls to this kids house. The sheriff was calling Dana a liar...and she was right. CNN was reporting that and Jake sat there and said NOTHING.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

The nations oldest and largest civil rights organization, founded to help the freed slaves arm themselves against the marauding Democrats in white robes. Harriet Tubman was an early member and a Republican. Of course the KKK and Democrats (sorry for repetition) wanted an unarmed and compliant negro population. This is the world gun control freaks want us to return to. Cowed and cowering at the Feds power and the criminal gangs the Democrats support.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The left are on a NRA-hate bully over-drive.

Why won't the leftwing machine blame hollywood and the makers of violent video games?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The FBI and the local police in FL and even the high school itself really dropped the ball on the shooter and his many many many many many warnings and threats.

Blame the NRA!

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Thank you Dickin for mentioning the real culprits here. No one glorifies gun violence like Hollywood. They just LOVE them some firepower right?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

CNN is Nancy Pelosi, in drag.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Trump knows exactly who elected him. Why pander to Golden Shower Democrats?

Gilbert Pinfold said...

@wendybar:
Despite principals of sovereign immunity, there are going to be a lot of questions and lawsuits over the inaction of the Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement teams as well as the school board about their inactivity in reporting the shooter so as to flag a NICS background check, as well as keeping the shooter in the school district (no, he WAS NOT expelled). Sometimes CYA means you go on offense and obfuscate to distract from one's own guilt.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The NRA supports legal gun stewardship.

Hillarywood promotes gun violence and violence, period.

Michael K said...

This brouhaha might revive gun maker stocks that have dropped since Trump won the election.

Maybe Ruger and Smith and Wesson are funding these student demonstrations.

Think outside the box.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Only Hollywood stars who have never brandished a weapon on screen should be allowed to speak out against guns.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

RealClear Politics has posted local television video of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Colton Haab. Haab says he was approached by CNN to ask a question at last night’s “town hall” but decided not to after the network gave him a “scripted question” in lieu of one he wrote himself. According to the report, Haab is a member of the Junior ROTC who shielded his fellow students while the school was under attack from the shooter, said he was going to ask about using veterans as armed security guards. He appears to be an impressive young man.

This morning CNN issued a statement to the effect “that it did not, and does not, script any questions for town hall meetings, ever.”


Well that settles that right?

Wait. Wasn't that Democrat Primary town hall on CNN where their own employee admits to giving Hillary copies of the scripted questions people were going ask? Do they think we don't remember one of the most infamous episodes of 2016? Donna Brazile admitted it and put it in her book FFS!

Darrell said...

All the Media pushing the "Russia was real" narrative should fire all of their employees and close their doors. They shed their last molecule of credibility.

Bob Boyd said...

Unfortunately, school shootings are great for fund-raising.

Drago said...

A Reasonable Golden Showers Democrat: "The Art of the No-Deal."

Actually, its The Art Of Avoiding Your Stupid and Counter-productive Sham Deal.

Ill bet Neville Chamberlain wished he had the good sense to persue the "No Deal"...

Chuck said...

What does "The infinitely subtle manipulations of Donald Trump" mean?

There have been at least seven tweets this morning. I don't know; maybe this is a Nixon-to-China thing, wherein Donald Trump has so much cred with the American cultural Right, that he could lead the Congress and/or BATF and/or Republicans in state government to enact some concessionary changes in gun and gun-related policy. So is Trump lobbying the NRA membership and leadership with the one tweet that Althouse picked out? Softening them up, for some level of conciliation?

I really admire the post from ARM up above: The Art of the No-Deal.

We've seen no deal on healthcare reform, and no deal on immigration. Setting aside the substantive policy issues, there wasn't any "subtle manipulations" from Trump on any of those things. Nothing, that is, that led to anything of consequence. Maybe gun laws will be different. Trump isn't truly pro-gun, any more than he's truly an evangelical Christian. Don Jr. is; at least he's convinced me he is. But Trump seems to have his best footing on cultural issues in which tv news is more important than serious policy. Guns are like that, right? An emotional gut-cultural issue. One of the few policy questions that doesn't require the sort of devotion, study and understanding that Trump will never invest.

Drago said...

Mike: "Do they think we don't remember one of the most infamous episodes of 2016? Donna Brazile admitted it and put it in her book FFS!"

The success of the lefties and their LLR allies are dependent on you not remembering anything that happened prior to today.

History begins anew each day when the new lefty/LLR talking points arrive.

Drago said...

#StrongDem/CNNDefender Chuck: "I really admire the post from ARM up above: The Art of the No-Deal."

LOL

Unexpectedly!

traditionalguy said...

The CIA owned CNN is plainly in panic mode. If they cannot sell this one with real dead teens, they have probably lost the ability to sell the all the others they did before.

The "how dare anyone question the facts" attitude is all they have left.

Yancey Ward said...

"What does "The infinitely subtle manipulations of Donald Trump" mean?:

I think Ms. Althouse is saying, and I agree 100%, that Trump is putting pressure on the NRA leadership with that tweet. That is the point of the last sentence- which I don't think is really all that subtle, but you apparently missed it.

Drago said...

Have you noticed that the more successful Trump is in delivering conservative outcomes the angrier and more unhinged LLR Chuck and the Lefties become?

Its almost as if Chuck and the Left share precisely the same outlook and goals.

Almost.

Nearly almost.

Unexpectedly.

traditionalguy said...

A funny Meme out today is that it is the guns that are to blame for their misbehavior. They like to sneak out and shoot people.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Katy Tur(D) - liar.

exhelodrvr1 said...

"We've seen no deal on healthcare reform"

There have been significant changes on health care - have you not been paying attention?

Sebastian said...

"infinitely subtle" Just goes to show, Althouse is the greatest troll. In a good way.

exhelodrvr1 said...

"no deal on immigration."

Forcing Congress to address it is a deal. Or did you expect him to fix every issue in the country in the first year?

Chuck said...

Blogger exhelodrvr1 said...
"We've seen no deal on healthcare reform"

There have been significant changes on health care - have you not been paying attention?

The changes have only been, for the most part, Republican-only vandalism of the structure of the ACA. Trump hasn’t presided over any “deals” with Democrats. No major deals in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed. No “replace” as in ‘Repeal and Replace!” Nothing close to any of Trump’s insanely-overblown campaign promises about covering everybody, lowering premiums, improving care at lower cost, etc.

Sebastian said...

"Republican-only vandalism"

Says the life-long Republican.

Chuck said...


I think Ms. Althouse is saying, and I agree 100%, that Trump is putting pressure on the NRA leadership with that tweet. That is the point of the last sentence- which I don't think is really all that subtle, but you apparently missed it.

I didn’t miss anything. I didn’t miss anything that you are talking about. I questioned whether Trump was softening up NRA membership and leadership for some conciliatory moves on gun laws and regulations.

Earnest Prole said...

I think Ms. Althouse is saying, and I agree 100%, that Trump is putting pressure on the NRA leadership with that tweet. That is the point of the last sentence- which I don't think is really all that subtle, but you apparently missed it.

To put it another way, in case others missed it, Trump is going to cave on the Second Amendment, and is putting the NRA on notice that they would be smart to get to Trump's new position ahead of him, as a matter of politics.

Curious George said...

"Chuck said...
Blogger exhelodrvr1 said...
"We've seen no deal on healthcare reform"

There have been significant changes on health care - have you not been paying attention?

The changes have only been, for the most part, Republican-only vandalism of the structure of the ACA. Trump hasn’t presided over any “deals” with Democrats. No major deals in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed. No “replace” as in ‘Repeal and Replace!” Nothing close to any of Trump’s insanely-overblown campaign promises about covering everybody, lowering premiums, improving care at lower cost, etc."

Funny that the guys you cuck for have been yelling repeal for years...and now nothing. Fuck the GOPe and fuck you Cuck.

Freder Frederson said...

Trump is going to cave on the Second Amendment, and is putting the NRA on notice that they would be smart to get to Trump's new position ahead of him, as a matter of politics.

I'll bet it is just the opposite. He is going to go 100% with the NRA. No meaningful legislation will result (maybe some cosmetic but illusory strengthening of background checks). Maybe bumpstocks will be banned but I doubt it. The Justice Department will look into it, discover they can't ban them without legislation, and Congress, as usual will do nothing.

Pinandpuller said...

According to David Hogg Trump runs the congress, senate and the executive.

Fabi said...

Cuck-a-doodle-doo!

John Pickering said...

Hey get a load of this libtard east coast snowflake, her kid got shot dead with an AR-15 and now she's got some sort of problem with the wounds he suffered -- as if he wasn't already dead! Silly mother! In the meantime let's praise the infinitely subtle and shrewd Donald Trump:

Veronique Pozner, mother of Sandy Hook victim Noah Pozner, opened her son's casket, and said

"We all saw how beautiful he was. He had thick, shiny hair, beautiful long eyelashes that rested on his cheeks. He looked like he was sleeping. But the reality of it was under the cloth he had covering his mouth. ... His jaw was blown away. I just want people to know the ugliness of it so we don't talk about it abstractly, like these little angels just went to heaven. No. They were butchered. They were brutalized. And that is what haunts me at night."

Ann has provoked a marvelous thread encouraging her readers to laugh at the idea of banning AR-15s. Thank goodness for Ann, who never fails to see the humor in things.



Yancey Ward said...

The NRA is pretty solid standing against new gun regulations, and for a very logical reason- their opposition will never be mollified until private gun ownership is banned. The NRA leadership believes that negotiation is pointless in such a situation. Trump obviously believes differently and is triangulating between the two and the tweet is a shot across the bow of the NRA.

Now, it is most likely that nothing will be enacted by Congress, and all you get are handful of executive orders that are meaningless. This actually the best outcome overall.

Lewis Wetzel said...

The Left is trying some sleight hand with "enhanced background checks." Look up what anti-gun groups consider to be "enhanced background checks"

What Are Enhanced Assault Weapons Background Checks?

The Enhanced Assault Weapon Background Check bill, developed in partnership with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, is built upon the in-depth background check standards we currently use when issuing Concealed Pistol Licenses.

This policy will:

require that someone must be over 21 years old
require additional training for anyone seeking to purchase an Assault Weapon
require purchasers to state a clear, lawful reason and use for the Assault Weapon
require renew the background check each year to ensure they are still eligible to possess the weapon.

https://gunresponsibility.org/enhanced-assault-weapon-background-checks/

Chuck said...

Fuck the GOPe and fuck you Cuck.

No one in the GOP establishment ever made such stupid, overblown, impossible promises like these:

http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2017/06/26/president-trump-health-care-promises.cnnmoney/index.html

I presume that Trump got some votes, in some critical swing states, from "poorly educated" lower-income whites, in making those blandly false promises. (Trump loves "the poorly educated.") Trump won't deliver on them. Trump could never deliver on them. But he did a nice job of fooling at least some credulous voters into thinking he would.

Fabi said...

"poorly educated" lower-income whites"

But enough about Chuck!

Yancey Ward said...

Jeez, Chuck, Trump making campaign promises that he couldn't get through Congress should be an impeachable offense.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

I’m a lifetime member of NRA. I’m also open to the age change argument, which might be what Trump is hinting at. Changing long gun age to 21 might be a reasonable compromise. I can see a three-part deal getting done with improving background checks (quicker, thorough, applying to private transfers at gun shows where needed), raising minimum age for rifle sales (with exception for military members), and allowing staff and teachers to conceal carry with proper training. But I don’t see Democrats willing to deal on any of it. Chuck forgets a deal takes at least two willing parties. One doesn’t just deal with the résistánce.

CJ said...

"Republican-only vandalism"

Says the life-long Republican.


I don't want to get into this fight, but seriously - he got you there, Chuck

Kyzer SoSay said...

"No one in the GOP establishment ever made such stupid, overblown, impossible promises like these:

http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2017/06/26/president-trump-health-care-promises.cnnmoney/index.html

I presume that Trump got some votes, in some critical swing states, from "poorly educated" lower-income whites, in making those blandly false promises. (Trump loves "the poorly educated.") Trump won't deliver on them. Trump could never deliver on them. But he did a nice job of fooling at least some credulous voters into thinking he would."

Right, Chuck. Instead the GOP voted multiple times to straight up REPEAL the ACA - that is, until it was actually possible once Trump got elected. Symbolic bullshitters who's principles evaporate the moment they might be responsible for the outcome. Also known as "Chuck's favorite pols".

I wonder how many votes Obama got making promises to the electorate that he knew he couldn't keep? Wonder how many poorly educated, low income blacks voted for the first time ever just to see Obama elected and fail to deliver. Fail so hard, in fact, that black unemployment went up along with black welfare usage.

But Chuck has no problems with that.

As others have said, "unexpectedly".

Earnest Prole said...

I'll bet it is just the opposite. He is going to go 100% with the NRA.

Exactly, which is why Trump signaled to the NRA to get to Trump's new position before Trump does.

Drago said...

"But I don’t see Democrats willing to deal on any of it. Chuck forgets a deal takes at least two willing parties. One doesn’t just deal with the résistánce."

LLR Chuck is very upset that Trump hasnt caved in to LLR Chuck's lefty allies like Durbin and the dem operatives at CNN.

Trump has just delivered the most conservative year of governance in our lifetimes and its driving Maddow and LLR Chuck bonkers.

Bryant Likes said...

I thought Trump was supposed to be Hitler? If so, why are they asking us to give up our guns?

Chuck said...

Right, Chuck. Instead the GOP voted multiple times to straight up REPEAL the ACA - that is, until it was actually possible once Trump got elected. Symbolic bullshitters who's principles evaporate the moment they might be responsible for the outcome. Also known as "Chuck's favorite pols".

I wonder how many votes Obama got making promises to the electorate that he knew he couldn't keep? Wonder how many poorly educated, low income blacks voted for the first time ever just to see Obama elected and fail to deliver. Fail so hard, in fact, that black unemployment went up along with black welfare usage.

But Chuck has no problems with that.


Wait a minute! How do you what exactly it is, that I "have no problems with"? Do you know what my position(s) are, on the many facets of healthcare reform? Do you know what my position is, or was, on the ACA?

Where do you step off, telling these readers what I "have no problem with"?

Drago said...

CJ: "I don't want to get into this fight, but seriously - he got you there, Chuck"

LLR Chuck is so spittle-flecked angry over Trumps conservative policies and first year success that he (Chuckie) sometimes forgets what he is supposed to be standing for.....and hilarity ensues!!

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Mike @ 11:26. I agree.

Drago said...

"Bowe Bergdahl" Republican Chuck: "Do you know what my position(s) are, on the many facets of healthcare reform? Do you know what my position is, or was, on the ACA?"

Yes. Easy.

All you have to do is look at the DNC website and/or watch MSNBC to know what your position is.

Unexpectedly.

Chuck said...

"But I don’t see Democrats willing to deal on any of it. Chuck forgets a deal takes at least two willing parties. One doesn’t just deal with the résistánce."


Hey, I wasn't someone who predicted that Trump would be able to "get everybody in a room and make a deal." Trump claimed that.

I'm not surprised; this is what I'd have expected. That Democrats, on immigration, would demand an "amnesty" pathway to citizenship. And that Republicans -- some Republicans -- would be unalterably opposed. I expected that all along, and that's what we've got. I don't know why Trump would have expected anything different, but he did; and he claimed he'd make a deal. Worse yet; he said at one time he knew that Senators would make a deal and then he'd sign it without making any of his own demands. That is precisely what Didn't happen. A rather ugly compromise deal was made on a bipartisan basis in the Senate, and Trump blew it up.

Much the same on healthcare. House Republicans came up with a bill. A bill that, naturally, looked absolutely nothing like what Trump promised in the campaign. Trump twisted arms in the House to get it passed, and then when it did and people looked closely at it and complained, Trump called the bill "too mean." And it never moved in the Senate.

Trump is just really shitty at making deals in, or with, Congress.

Trump is a lot better at weekend golf.

Drago said...

If you want to know what LLR Chuck is really upset about, it's this: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/prez_track_feb22

Trump popping to a popularity level higher than obama's at this point in the "magnificent" obama tenure was bound to send our LLR over the edge.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Compared to the last president Trump is decidedly NOT shitty at deal making. On immigration he will cobble together a bipartisan majority to get a deal. Look st the Schumer shutdown Chuck. Trump got a LOT of defectors who were afraid to be on the wrong side of that vote in an election year. You might forget that but I guarantee your buddy Schumer hasn’t.

bleh said...

It cracks me up the way some people who sneer at the notion of guns deterring the government from oppressing its citizens. Yes, privately owned guns are no match for tanks and bombers. Also, the weapons used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan are no match for the US military arsenal, and yet here were are.

Defeating an armed American insurgency would be far more difficult, in part because US soldiers are themselves American and might hesitate to engage in gun battles with their fellow citizens. An armed American insurgency would be ruinously costly for the government.

Drago said...

With Trump, its all about what comes out in the end. The sausage making in between is simply something to watch and enjoy.

Based on results, Trump has rocked it in the first year and the economy is going rather gang-busters.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/heritage-donald-trump-has-achieved-more-than-ronald-reagan-in-first-year/article/2646849

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/01/donald-trump-first-year-accomplishments-2/

Poor, poor LLR Chuck.

All of that is simply too much to bear regarding the fellow (Trump) who exposed LLR Chuck for the intellectual and political dunce he is.

Hence the non-sensical and laughably schizophrenic complaints emanating from Chuckie!

And, lets face it, it's only going to get worse for Chuck and his Lefty allies as time goes on.

wwww said...

On immigration he will cobble together a bipartisan majority to get a deal.


My 2 cents guess: No Deal on immigration.

Second Prediction: No Deal on anything for the rest of 2018. It's an election year.

Chuck said...

Drago said...
"Bowe Bergdahl" Republican Chuck: "Do you know what my position(s) are, on the many facets of healthcare reform? Do you know what my position is, or was, on the ACA?"

Yes. Easy.

All you have to do is look at the DNC website and/or watch MSNBC to know what your position is.

Unexpectedly.


You fucking jackass. You miserable shit head. Why don't you stop stalking me, and commenting on every one of my comments.

I'll outline some of my health care positions, you hateful little troll.

I disagree with Donald Trump on this: I don't think the federal government can assure "everyone" that they will get health insurance. I don't think that the federal government can simultaneously lower health care costs, and lower insurance premiums. And at the same time offering people "beautiful coverage."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-vows-insurance-for-everybody-in-obamacare-replacement-plan/2017/01/15/5f2b1e18-db5d-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html?utm_term=.aec5da975191

Those are mostly Democrat-party ideals. Trump blathers about them; I don't agree.

I think that reforms are needed, of Medicaid and Medicare. But Trump says that he won't allow cuts to either one.

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/367307-white-house-trump-hasnt-changed-mind-on-not-cutting-entitlements

Finally, if you believe the quote from Fire and Fury, Trump has talked about "Medicare for everybody." Which is not such an odd or unbelievable claim, since Trump has in the past favored a single payer national health insurance system like Canada or Scotland:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/05/trump-asked-why-cant-medicare-simply-cover-everybody.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/05/05/trumps-forbidden-love-singe-payer-health-care/?utm_term=.97c556f3748b

wwww said...



Have any of the school shooters of a K-12 been over the age of 21? If so, what's the percentage.

These angry, disturbed boys shoot up what they know. They know the schools. So, they work their their anger by shooting up the neighbourhood school.

If they were older they'd 1) shoot up their work place or 2) maybe a movie or 3) get a handle on their anger and handle their issues different.

Drago said...

wwww: "Second Prediction: No Deal on anything for the rest of 2018. It's an election year."

Indeed.

The lefty base and the far left politicians who answer to that rabid and lunatic base cannot, under any circumstances, give Trump a win on any issue and expect to keep their voters in line.

Naturally, the dems line is that Trump is a nazi criminal traitor and so the failure to deal or "normalize" Trump by agreeing to any compromises is appropriate.

Of course, it goes without saying that LLR Chuck is playing his part in this little charade for his lefty allies.

Drago said...

#MichaelWolffeFanboy Chuck: "Finally, if you believe the quote from Fire and Fury,..."

LOL

You lost me at Michael Wolff, Mr LLR!

Curious George said...

"Chuck said...
No one in the GOP establishment ever made such stupid, overblown, impossible promises like these:"

Doesn't matter asshole. Ryan and the rest promised to repeal Obamacare for years. They are the legislative body. Where is the repeal that Trump would sign.



Darkisland said...

Why does nobody care at all about the kids that got killed in Chicago last year? Is it because they were mostly black? Because they were mostly killed by other blacks? Because they were not killed by "semi-automatic assault rifles" but by, mostly, semi-automatic assault handguns? (Doesn't fit the narrative)

There were a Hell of a lot more black kids killed than white kids. Repeat the same story in Baltimore, DC, Detroit etc.

Democrats don't give two shits, or even a single shit, about black kids getting gunned down.

Why are rifles of any kind seen as a problem? I'll go back and find the FBI link if anyone wants but handguns kill something like 13 times more people are killed with handguns than with rifles or shotguns. That's a fairly constant stat that goes back years.

More people are murdered with hammers than with rifles.

So why not ban handguns? Where's the outrage there? Oh, see above. Mostly blacks killing blacks so who gives a shit.

Mike, why would you ban long guns, and preumably not handguns, until age 21? Why are you willing to take away some American's constitutional right?

Why not agitate for long gun training in school of all kids starting in 4th grade or so? That's when I learned to shoot. Within sight of the Washington Monument. It exercises both the body and the mind. (Jefferson?)

Fuck all of you who want to trample my and any other American's gun rights.

John Henry

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I'd like some reforms to the FBi. How about doing something after 38 calls.

Drago said...

Gee, who could have guessed that LLR Chuck would reach deep into his little Lefty bag of tricks and pull out the discredited lunatic lefty author Michael Wolff?!

I mean, besides every single human alive today.

wwww said...


One other option for...if they were older.

If they were older then 21, they're MUCH more likely to have a police record.

For a 22 year old, their first crime is less likely to be "shoot up a K-12 school."

Darkisland said...

Much has been made of all the mass killings in the US over the years. We do have a lot, compared to many other countries. But we are big, compared to other countries. The we have 2 states, Texas and AL bigger than the biggest European country, France.

On a per capita basis, we stack up nicely. We're number 9 when compared to Europe. A "mass killing" is 4 or more dead, not counting the shooter, not combat, not military or police and no other crime.

2009-2015 we are number 11 at 0.089/mm pop. Behind #1 Norway 1.888, France 0.347, Finland 0.132 and others.

https://crimeresearch.org/2015/06/comparing-death-rates-from-mass-public-shootings-in-the-us-and-europe/

John Henry

wwww said...



This is the other problem with 18 year olds. JV records. Do they count for gun purchases, or are they expunged?

JV crimes are often expunged from the record. Or they aren't taken seriously.

Fights at a Jr High school, following a girl around (stalking), kicking a girl, pushing a girl, pulling a girl's hair, punching a classmate.

Imagine a 19 year old doing this to a co-worker at work, versus a 12 or 14 year old doing it at school.

It's treated DRASTICALLY different by the police if done by a 12 or 14 year old boy versus a 19 year old.

Chuck said...

Democrats don't give two shits, or even a single shit, about black kids getting gunned down.

True, I think. But also, CNN, MSNBC, the NYT and NPR care even less than Democrat politicians do.

Why are rifles of any kind seen as a problem? I'll go back and find the FBI link if anyone wants but handguns kill something like 13 times more people are killed with handguns than with rifles or shotguns. That's a fairly constant stat that goes back years.

More people are murdered with hammers than with rifles.

So why not ban handguns? Where's the outrage there? Oh, see above. Mostly blacks killing blacks so who gives a shit.

Again, I largely agree with you. It is marginally harder to buy a handgun from a federal firearms licensee, than a long gun. You probably know that. That is in keeping -- sort of -- with the risk that you accurately described.

Mike, why would you ban long guns, and preumably not handguns, until age 21? Why are you willing to take away some American's constitutional right?

Why not agitate for long gun training in school of all kids starting in 4th grade or so? That's when I learned to shoot. Within sight of the Washington Monument. It exercises both the body and the mind. (Jefferson?)

Fuck all of you who want to trample my and any other American's gun rights.

John Henry

Uh, you might want to drop a line to President Donald Trump. He's the one who now appears to be engaged in the "subtle manipulations" (per Althouse) of the NRA leadership.

Pookie Number 2 said...

Why don't you stop stalking me, and commenting on every one of my comments.

I certainly hope Drago doesn’t stop responding to your comments - they’re a welcome consolation to readers that have to put up with your bad-faith Trumpsturbation.

Also, he’s funny as hell.

Drago said...

Dark: "Texas and AL bigger than the biggest European country, France."

I don't think that is correct.

France is about 65M, Texas about 29M, Alabama about 5M.

Darkisland said...

Ahhhh.. but Australia. They took away all guns from everyone and it has been sweetness and light ever since. No mass killings at all!

As long as you are willing to ignore:

In 2011, there was a mass shooting in Hectorville. In 2014, one in Hunt, and again in 2014 one in Wedderburn (which was a 4 hour siege of a neighborhood).

(Australia has a population 1/13th the size of the US)

Then there are non-gun mass killings:

Finally, if someone really wants to kill someone, they will find a way. Let’s look at the recent Cairns child killings in Australia where someone killed 8 children with a knife. Or the Quaker Hill Nursing home arson in Australia that killed 11 by fire. Or the Lin killings, also in Australia, that killed 5 with a hammer.

https://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2016/06/no-mass-shootings-the-myth-of-australia-gun-control-policy/

John Henry

Chuck said...

Drago said...
Gee, who could have guessed that LLR Chuck would reach deep into his little Lefty bag of tricks and pull out the discredited lunatic lefty author Michael Wolff?!

If Michael Wolff wrote a book and claimed that Ted Cruz said to a source/witness that he favored "Medicare for all," I'd have a very hard time believing it.

But since Donald Trump has said in public and on the record in the past that he favored a single payer system like Canada or Scotland, the fact that he said it again in 2017 isn't at all hard to believe.

I already gave you those links, you ridiculous troll.

Darkisland said...

You are looking at population. I used biggest in the geographical sense. Texas is 268m square miles. France is 247m.

Alaska is even bigger.

John Henry

Drago said...

Dark: "Ahhhh.. but Australia. They took away all guns from everyone and it has been sweetness and light ever since. No mass killings at all!"

Estimates of private ownership of guns prior to confiscation was in the range of 2 to 3 million firearms.

The Australian govt only confiscated about 3/4 of a million.

One can assume that criminals were, shall we say..reluctant, to fully report on their firearms ownership status nor participate in the confiscation program.

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

If Trump is insulting you, everything is OK. When he's praising you, watch out!

Drago said...

"Bowe Bergdahl Republican" and #StrongDurbinDefender Chuck: "I already gave you those links, you ridiculous troll"

LOL

Oh, so you didn't lob Michael Wolff into the conversation, eh?

Maybe you have a hard time remembering just what you post from post to post.

BTW, that would also be indicative of teams running shiftwork. Not that I'm implying anything.

I'll bet a Russian Bot would though....

Drago said...

Darkisland: "You are looking at population. I used biggest in the geographical sense. Texas is 268m square miles. France is 247m.

Alaska is even bigger"

You used the wrong state code for Alaska.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The FBI is filled with democrat hacks who receive big tax payer funded pay checks.

What did the FBI do to stop this massacre?

Drago said...

"What did the FBI do to stop this massacre?"

Certain members of the FBI, including its entire leadership, helped weaponize opposition research to attack and discredit a Republican Presidential candidate as well as attempting to frame the republican President-elect/President.

What more can you ask of such dedicated public servants?

Darkisland said...

Drago,

I agree. I doubt that the govt got all the guns. But the MSM has been reporting that the gun confiscation program got them all and nobody has any guns in Oz at all.

And a lot of people seem to believe it.

One can assume that criminals were, shall we say..reluctant, to fully report on their firearms ownership status nor participate in the confiscation program.

I would say you are correct in pretty much 100% of the cases where people chose to keep their guns. Most probably weren't criminals before. They are, since they broke the law by keeping their guns, criminals now!

When enough criminals do not exist naturally, governments like to create them.

John Henry

langford peel said...

Chuck should stick to the lines that CNN writes for him.

Michael K said...

The lefty base and the far left politicians who answer to that rabid and lunatic base cannot, under any circumstances, give Trump a win on any issue and expect to keep their voters in line.

It's worse than that. If the Trump/Russia thing dries up and blows away, as it is likely to do, the Democrat base might not turn out.

They are determined that Trump is going to be caught red handed with a Putin connection.

Now even Rolling Stone is warning them this is a tiger by the tail.

This is the former Director of National Intelligence telling all of us that as of 12:01 a.m. on January 20th, when he left government, the intelligence agencies had no evidence of collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and the government of Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Virtually all of the explosive breaking news stories on the Trump-Russia front dating back months contain some version of this same disclaimer.


This is going to be strung out by Mueller as long as possible but then the explosion on the left will be spectacular.

wwww said...

The FBI is filled with democrat hacks who receive big tax payer funded pay checks.


The regional office? The call center clearing house? Yeah, someone messed up big time or their call routing process failed huge.

People who go into FBI, CIA, police and military are from many different political backgrounds but not overwhelmingly liberal or D.

Darkisland said...


Blogger Dickin'Bimbos@Home said...

The FBI is filled with democrat hacks who receive big tax payer funded pay checks.

What did the FBI do to stop this massacre?


What did they do to stop the massacre at Waco? Ruby Ridge?

Oh, wait, they were the ones doing the massacres.

Never mind.

JOhn Henry

langford peel said...

The FBI is just as courrpt and disorganied as the days when Walter Burns was the director. The President at the time fixed it by changing the name of the organization and putting a young whippersnapper in charge to shake things up.

His name was J Edgar Hoover.

There must be a young well organized homosexual in Law Enforcement that we can name as director of a new organization.



Drago said...

Dark: "I would say you are correct in pretty much 100% of the cases where people chose to keep their guns. Most probably weren't criminals before. They are, since they broke the law by keeping their guns, criminals now"

The 2 to 3 Million firearm estimate related to legal firearm ownership.

The illegal ownership of firearms is never known and the bad buys simply import more, including as many fully auto as they need.

Drago said...

Michael K: "It's worse than that. If the Trump/Russia thing dries up and blows away, as it is likely to do, the Democrat base might not turn out."

Which is precisely why Democrat Senator Casey of PA (no doubt another of the dems that LLR Chuck has immense respect and admiration for) has called on Mueller to NOT release his findings prior to the upcoming election.

He knows that the Russia collusion lie pushed by the left and their LLR allies is a whole heaping spoonful of nuttin' and he doesn't want that exposed until after the Mueller Hillary-Protection/Domestic Spying Whitewash "investigation" can be fully weaponized by Chucks dem allies in November.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Chuck asks : What does "The infinitely subtle manipulations of Donald Trump" mean?

To subtle for you to understand, evidently :-)

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

Here's the thing with gun confiscation: you don't have to get all the guns.

Guns don't kill people, bullets kill people.

You ban ammo.

A gun can last a century or more. Ammo doesn't, and it gets used up.

The fact that liberals focus on entirely cosmetic features of semi-automatic firearms instead of the effect of bullets on people shows a great deal of ignorance.

You want to ban AR-15s? Ban 5.56 and .223 (not quite the same thing). AK-47s? 7.62x39 and 5.45. Ditto .308. There, you've banned most assault rifles and haven't had to register or confiscate a single gun (which doesn't work.) Add calibers as needed, and ban new manufacture of ARs in .222 or whatever.

Are liberals so dumb that they can't figure this out? Eventually they will. Unless they really are too ignorant to ever be taken seriously about the topic. Gun rights folks, pay attention.

Chuck said...

Dust Bunny Queen said...
Chuck asks : What does "The infinitely subtle manipulations of Donald Trump" mean?

To subtle for you to understand, evidently :-)

I wasn't asking you, but since you want to butt into this and misspell "Too" to boot, why don't you answer the question? Tell us all exactly what Althouse meant. Tell us what you think it ought to mean, if you wish.


buwaya said...

Full auto weapons are of little use to criminals.
At best they are objects of vanity, as criminals often buy vanities (they aren't the wisest of us). The money rarely goes into IRAs.

The weapons more in demand among actual criminals, and not just in the US, are untraceable guns, with no serial numbers (or fake ones) and no records, intended to be used once, or for a short time, and then discarded. These are almost all handguns.

There is a cottage industry of these in the outskirts of Danao City, Cebu. They mainly make 1911 .45 clones, or often just their frames, unregistered and untraceable. These are smuggled around the world.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

This policy will: Do a bunch of unrealistic stuff.

require that someone must be over 21 years old

So....does this mean that the age of the draft where young men are forced into military service and given guns will be increased to 21 as well???. Are young people who volunteer to the military going to be forbidden to carry and be taught how to use guns? No police officers under the age of 21?

Cars are lethal weapons too. Should we restrict the driving age to 21? I know a lot of 16 year olds who are going to be pretty pissed.

require additional training for anyone seeking to purchase an Assault Weapon

Define Assault Weapon. You do realize that the AR in “AR-15” rifle stands for ArmaLite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. “AR” does NOT stand for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.”. AR-15-style rifles are NOT “assault weapons” or “assault rifles.” An assault rifle is fully automatic-a machine gun.

A fully automatic machine gun is already ILLEGAL (afaik) to own or purchase. So what is the training for?

require purchasers to state a clear, lawful reason and use for the Assault Weapon

Definition aside. Why do I have to state a purpose to own something that is legal. A semi automatic rife? I want to shoot a deer. Do you need to show a reason to want to own a car, which is a much more lethal weapon and causes many more injuries and fatalities a year, when you take out suicides by gun, than a deer rifle. More people are injured by idiots driving and tweeting a year. Lets ban cell phones or make people certify that they need a cell phone.

require renew the background check each year to ensure they are still eligible to possess the weapon.

Actually, I don't have a problem with that as people's circumstances and situations do change, sometimes for the worse.....AND sometimes for the better. As long as the records for the background check are accurate and reliable and updated regularly....which they are not.....then this is a good idea. Just rerun the application through the system. Doesn't even require you to be present.

The proposals that are being thrown out sound good to the uneducated but when you think them through, especially the age 21 restriction they really don't make much sense.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Bob Boyd said...
Unfortunately, school shootings are great for fund-raising.

2/22/18, 10:26 AM

And left-wing hysteria about guns will be great for getting conservative voters off their asses and into voting booths in November. I was worried that Trump voters had become complacent and all the energy was with the "resistance." But once again, the Left comes to the rescue.

It's not a real smart idea to call the people you hope will stay home on election day murderers. Nor is saying "I wish you were dead,assholes! Now give me your guns!" what I'd consider a savvy strategy.

FrankiM said...

If the commenter Drago isn’t a Russian troll, no one is.

roesch/voltaire said...

Trumps aks is that the NRA speaking?--yes. Thrump answers without looking down at his script,- I hear you.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

ArnieKo said...
If the commenter Drago isn’t a Russian troll, no one is.

2/22/18, 1:19 PM

Nyet, comrade, troll is me. I put new avatar up so all can see my picture.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Even the NYT agrees with me.

More than 60 percent of people in this country who die from guns die by suicide.

Practically none of those suicides were facilitated with AR-15 long rifles. A handgun is the weapon of choice for a suicide. NOW....how many of those suicides were done with ILLEGALLY obtained guns?

Drago said...

ArnieKo: "If the commenter Drago isn’t a Russian troll, no one is"

In Soviet AlthouseBlog, Troll always find you.

BTW, ArnieKo is giving off a strong "Inga" vibe.

Drago said...

ArnieKo: "If the commenter Drago isn’t a Russian troll, no one is"

Thus, as I am not one, there are none. #ArnieKoLogic

This is how lefty memes die....

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Just like the NRA I approve of banning the sale of and ownership of Bump Stocks.

There isn't really any reason for a lawful gun owner to have a fully automatic capable rifle.

Plus the ban will make those uneducated and emotional idiots on the anti gun crusade think that they have won something. Makes the NRA and the President look so cooperative.

However. It is a ban without substance as the UNLAWFUL gun owners will easily find a way around the ban and build their own versions of Bump Stocks. As the unlawful and criminals will always do. It make come as a surprise to the Left, but Criminals do not obey laws.

Why without substance? It is an easy thing to do, to build your own Bump Stock, with items from basically anyone's garage or workshop.

A ban with no real meaning, but go ahead. Lap it up anti gun freaks.

Howard said...

Unless something is done now to stop school shootings soon when millenniums take over they will shitcan the second amendment.

Howard said...

Mental health background checks and regular range qualifications

Drago said...

Howard: "Unless something is done now to stop school shootings soon when millenniums take over they will shitcan the second amendment"

Yes, but what should be done won't be done. The Israel lessons go unheeded and the dems certainly don't want anything to do with what would really work regarding mental health. It was the ACLU and lefty groups in the late 70's early 80's that sued states like crazy to redefine mental illness as "alternative lifestyles".

Who can forget how pissed Ed Koch became over this issue and how he would lecture lefties all the time about the true root cause of what happened on NYC streets in the aftermath.

Naturally, the courts ordered the mentally deranged to be de-institutionalized right about the time Reagan came into office. The institutions put the crazies on busses and shipped them right into the cities, just in time for LLR Chuck's beloved lefty media to claim that Reagan's policies led directly to an increase in homelessness.

It's enough to make a fellow violate the rules around no drinking until the cocktail hour.

Drago said...

Howard: "Mental health background checks and regular range qualifications"

Have to be careful about putting too many administrative hurdles to individuals exercising their constitutional rights.

It might appear as if the State is attempting an end-run around the Bill of Rights.

Freder Frederson said...

Plus the ban will make those uneducated and emotional idiots on the anti gun crusade think that they have won something.

We're not that stupid.

Hagar said...

Yes, you are.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Howard said...
Unless something is done now to stop school shootings soon when millenniums take over they will shitcan the second amendment.


This is a typical pattern, the side with the weak argument gets increasingly hysterical, extreme and more detached from reality, creating a worse outcome from their perspective than if they had been more reasonable.

Two-thirds of Americans now support stricter gun control measures – including nearly HALF of Republicans

We will slowly converge with other civilized nations on this issue, although it will take a generation or two.

Anonymous said...

Gun training should be mandatory in all public schools. The right to bear arms is an enumerated right in our constitution - and we'd be better off embracing it and educating the populace on gun safety and gun use.
We have awesome responsibilities in the modern world - we drive around two ton projectiles that kill 50k people or so every year in the US alone. We have deadly devices for personal protection that equalizes the small woman with the huge man.
We should educate, educate, educate.
If you take out the gang-related murders, our homicide rate would be equivalent to the lower European rates. When you look at violent crime rates, the US ranks very low. Much lower than the GB, Scotland, Germany and many, many others. Same with robbery rates and owner-present burglaries.

Why are Americans less likely to be the subject of a violent assault?
I wonder why that is?

Fabi said...

"This is a typical pattern, the side with the weak argument gets increasingly hysterical, extreme and more detached from reality, creating a worse outcome from their perspective than if they had been more reasonable."

Cinema-quality projection.

Ray - SoCal said...

Florida is a must win state for Presidential Elections. I believe this explains what Donald Trump is doing, he is looking like the reasonable one.

I don't expect any new gun regulations. Congress is too dysfunctional, plus the Democrats are afraid of being wiped out in the mid terms if they push gun control too hard. Their base of course wants to push gun control hard, so the Democrats are in for interesting times.

The funerals should be done soon for the shooting, and this will reduce a lot of the political pressure for taking action. Something new will grab the medias attention, and this shooting will be forgotten. I am a bit surprised it's been kept alive this long.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Two-thirds of Americans now support stricter gun control measures – including nearly HALF of Republicans

I also support some stricter restrictions on gun ownership with stronger back ground checks. I also support a system where there is ACCURATE information in it. That this kid in Fl was not in the system due to sloppy reporting, negligent reporting and the incompetence of the police, FBI and others is not a gun control issue.

IF the existing laws were to be actually enforced there would be much less problems in "gun control".

The bigger issue is that the laws are NOT enforced and that CRIMINALS don't follow the laws in the first place.

Getting all puffed up and emotional each time there is an incident and THEN trying to blame the law abiding, restrict their Constitutional Rights is not a good plan.

However, if the Dems want to go all GUN CONTROL GUN CONTROL GUN CONTROL during these midterm elections...go far it. There are many Dems who also want to own and keep their guns.

langford peel said...

I support enforcing the laws we have now and holding law enforcement (specifically the corrupt politicized FBI) accountable for their negligence.

I would also ask where is the outrage about the young black children being gunned down in Chicago and Baltimore? Aren't their lives as valuable and worthy of a Townhall as these white kids in Florida?

Yeah I didn't think so.

readering said...

The NRA will not bow down to Trump. Just more of his narcissism.

langford peel said...

I really hope that the Democrats put forth a law to confiscate all guns which you know in their heart of heart is what they want to do. Go for it. Lets see how that works out for you.

langford peel said...

Unfortunately President Trump has a short attention span. He wants to do the right thing but doesn't know what that is. He grabs on to suggestions that seem reasonable until he gets enough information to change his mind.

It is understandable that he wants to do something to address this issue. You can not forget that in essence he is as he has always been a Conservative New York Democrat. Which in today's political culture makes him a rabid right winger.

His views on guns are those of someone who doesn't use them or really grew up with them as a part of his life. Guns are foreign to him. He doesn't have them in his life and he doesn't understand them. He is not a hunter or a sportsmen. His children are and they will help inform his opinion. I am sure that when it is all said and done he will come up with some common sense adjustments that will be totally denounced by the rabid left wing media industrial complex.

Drago said...

ARM: "We will slowly converge with other civilized nations on this issue, although it will take a generation or two"

LOL

ARM. Always a victim of static analysis.

Guess what ARM? Europe, unless it makes significant changes now, will become operationally islamicized within the next couple of generations.

And those little "cats" are not too keen on your version of "civilized".

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

There's always New Zealand.

Drago said...

ARM: "There's always New Zealand."

Maori warriors, rugby and sheep.

Well, good sauvignon blanc as well.

So you might have something there.

langford peel said...

Europe is heading for a major civil war. Between the natives and the immigrants who want to rape their way to sharia law.

Only the nations of Eastern Europe who have stood strong against immigration will be spared.

Italy will be the flashpoint. France just promulgated a very strict immigration law. Immediate one year jail sentence and then deportation if you are an undocumented immigrant. Proclaimed by the libtards fair haired boy Maricon. The German Hillary is on her way out toot sweet.

When the Christian nations face this civil war against these Muslim insurgents they will understand why America values an armed and vigilant populace.

langford peel said...

Italy is the flashpoint.

The Mafia is making a nice piece of change off of the migrants. Once that doesn't work for them anymore they are going to turn on them. Violently.

It will not be pretty.

You will never read about this in the douchebag American Mainstream media. Here is a report in the Daily Mail.

wwww said...


These students aren't Millennials. They are the Z generation.

Birth years for Millennials are early 1980s to mid-1990s or early 2000s, depending on the demographer.

There are more Millennials then all of the Baby Boomers.

Generation Z is now starting to turn 18. They don't know life without the internet. Generation Z grew up with these school shooting drills. Sandy hook was 6 years ago. The 14 year olds in this shooter were 8 years old.


Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

We currently have a left-wing dream scenario - the NRA attacking the FBI.

Wayne LaPierre Turns His Attention to the FBI’s ‘Rogue Leadership’

Known Unknown said...

As I understand it, the AR rifle has been available to the citizenry for private ownership for 54 years.

There is something else that is the root of these incidents. Michael Ian Black got partially there but sought to accuse 'masculinity' as the ultimate culprit rather than the disintegration of the family and the wholesale abdication of male responsibility as the reasons for why our "boys are broken."

Cross-reference the data between these shooters and fatherlessness. You won't be surprised.

Masculinity isn't the problem. Lack of traditional masculinity is.

Known Unknown said...

"I would also ask where is the outrage about the young black children being gunned down in Chicago and Baltimore? "

Those lives don't matter. Not really. Most are victims of handgun violence, not anything from an AR. If anyone gave a damn about reducing handgun violence (they don't) they would consider legalizing drugs.

Drago said...

ARM: "We currently have a left-wing dream scenario - the NRA attacking the FBI"

We currently have a left-wing dream scenario - the NRA attacking the FBI weaponized leadership.

Nice to see you playing the same little switcheroo games as all the other leftists.

Not to worry. IG Horowitz' report will come out soon enough.

BTW, we aren't hearing much from Jim Comey via twitter any more, are we? And that whole Mueller sentencing of Flynn...something seems to be happening there. And what is it with that FISA judge who put out that scathing report of the abuses of 702 raw data by the obama FBI/DOJ?

My my. Such interesting goings-on.

It's enough to make LLR Chuck cry in his soup.

Howard said...

Shorter Dragon: mmmmmmmm...sheep

Drago said...

Howard: "Shorter Dragon: mmmmmmmm...sheep"

I don't know mutton about that....

Drago said...

Look Howard, you are a sailor on leave its easy to get into some really woolly situations.

Generally speaking they are not too baaaaad, but you have to be able to hoof it outta there in a jiffy.

Freder Frederson said...

If you take out the gang-related murders, our homicide rate would be equivalent to the lower European rates. When you look at violent crime rates, the US ranks very low. Much lower than the GB, Scotland, Germany and many, many others. Same with robbery rates and owner-present burglaries.

This is simply bullshit, and there is no reputable statistical evidence to back it up (the only one that I might grant you is owner present burglaries).

Have you ever spent any time in the countries you mention?

Why are Americans less likely to be the subject of a violent assault?

Because you are comparing apples to oranges. FBI defines violent assualt as murder, non-negligent homicide, rape and aggravated assault. Violent assault in Europe includes many lesser crimes and misdemeanors (e.g., if the cops bust two people for getting in a bar fight, that will be considered a violent assault, but not according to the FBI)

Michael K said...

Their base of course wants to push gun control hard, so the Democrats are in for interesting times.

It's worse than that as the lefty base is still insane about Trump and , if Mueller, as expected, draws a blank in his inquisition, there will be hell to pay.

I think Flynn's plea will be vacated for misbehavior by DoJ (Sally Yates) and the disaster that is the Russia collusion gambit, might just ravage the Dims in November.

There is no question outside the loony left that the FBI leadership is in trouble.

Howard said...

Columbine was millenniums. With two generations terrorized by school shooting and not participation in gun cultural the Second Amendment running on fumes

Drago said...

Field Marshall Freder: "This is simply bullshit, ...."

No, its not.

You have been proven wrong so many times it's become a standing joke.

At least ARM knows better when he posts nonsense, plus he is often trying to have fun with it.

Howard said...

Any port in a flock

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Has anyone else noticed the similarity in appearance between Wayne LaPierre and Alan Combs? I find it quite disturbing. I keep expecting Hannity to pop up and begin shouting at him.

Drago said...

Howard: "Columbine was millenniums. With two generations terrorized by school shooting and not participation in gun cultural the Second Amendment running on fumes"

Again, I think you are generally correct in terms of long term directional politics. The massive importing of unskilled 3rd worlders who have not assimilated and have no intention of assimilating pretty much seals our long term doom as a constitutional republic.

Just as the Founders had feared.

Many have said that it's likely we will turn into Western Europe right about the same time Western Europe turns into Turkey.

Freder Frederson said...

This is simply bullshit, and there is no reputable statistical evidence to back it up (the only one that I might grant you is owner present burglaries).

Well then instead of just calling me a liar provide proof of the assertion.

Drago said...

ARM: "Has anyone else noticed the similarity in appearance between Wayne LaPierre and Alan Combs?"

LaPierre has a significantly greater "heft", but there is something similar about them in terms of facial structure, lips and hair.

Drago said...

BTW Howard, it's great to be back here and performing in the Catskills in place of an ailing Buddy Hackett......

Curious George said...

"Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
Has anyone else noticed the similarity in appearance between Wayne LaPierre and Alan Combs? I find it quite disturbing. I keep expecting Hannity to pop up and begin shouting at him."

Well, LaPierre isn't dead for starters.

Drago said...

"Well, LaPierre isn't dead for starters."

Generallissimo Francisco Franco still lives on in our memories....

Drago said...

I thought I'd throw that in there in light of the Chevy Chase thread.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Josh Marshall said...
Should we see how other countries have done when they decided to arm teachers and principals as a way to prevent school massacres?


I think this is an evil plot to kill public schools. If I had known that the lunatics who taught me in high school were armed I would have immediately switched to home schooling.

langford peel said...

The public schools are already dead.

rhhardin said...

Klavan on the CNN gun townhall: lynch mobs is why people have guns.

gadfly said...

And Nikolas Cruz wore his Trump "Make America Great Again" cap while target practicing in his backyard last October.

There must be a lesson there someplace.

Darkisland said...

Here you go, Freder

http://www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/crime_stats_oecdjan2012.pdf

John Henry

Lewis Wetzel said...

According to this, the US is #14 in violent crime per thousand.
http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Crime/Violent-crime/Murder-rate

Drago said...

Gadfly: "There must be a lesson there someplace"

There most certainly is: voice-actuated morons, such as yourself, are easily manipulated.

I do congratulate you on not going all in on the Shooter being the "real leader" of the Republican party.

Though the evening is still young.

The Vault Dweller said...

So is this a public warning to them to not pursue actions against his bump stock regulation he is pursuing? It would make sense why he named the people specifically. Also works weakly to stop people from hating the other side. Easier to hate the NRA, harder to hate Wayne and Chris, who are great people that love the country.

Lewis Wetzel said...

The great thing about a bump stock ban is that it is absolutely impossible to deplicate the tech using common tools & materials! Because that will be illegal!

Gilbert Pinfold said...

I will point to my comment at 9:33 am on the Sheriff going full CYA at the CNN version of the Wellstone Funeral last night. Now we learn that the onsite, armed sheriff's deputy exited the building when the shooting started, and stayed outside until it was finished--proven by videotape. He has been suspended, but elected to "retire" and take his pension. Two other deputies are under investigation for not properly following up on the 30+ calls to the shooter's residence, even when his hosts told police that the shooter threatened others with his guns, including one being held to a potential victim's head.
Yea, the availability of the weapon was key here. You can't expel a mentally ill student from public education in PL, you can't commit them involuntarily as an adult (as he "is"), you can just kick the can down the road hoping that someone else will have to clean up the mess. Too bad it all exploded in their kitchen as it were.
No one will lose their pension over this. Those of us in "the dreaded private sector" only wish we had it so good.

Michael K said...

This is just nauseating. A sheriff's deputy was at the school and froze during the shooting.

Israel said that Peterson was in an office dealing with a school-related issue when the first shots were fired on Feb. 14 and that he got on his radio and then moved toward the outside of the building where the shooting was taking place. When asked what he is seen doing on the video, Israel replied: “Nothing.”

“I think he took up a position where it looked like he could see the western-most entry into the building and stayed where he was,” Israel said. “Never went in.”


The Sheriff has now said he is sick to his stomach about it. The deputy has resigned.

Imagine having your cowardice seen on video and being responsible for those deaths.

I would put that deputy on suicide watch.

CWJ said...

"I would put that deputy on suicide watch."

No. If what you said is true, let him do it. But I wouldn't expect it. Seems he as well as others are more interested in cashing their checks than earning them. But guns! Yeah that's it. Guns! That's the problem.

Michael K said...

I can understand how someone could freeze but it was his job.

The three young Americans on the French train did not hesitate.

iowan2 said...

I think this is an evil plot to kill public schools. If I had known that the lunatics who taught me in high school were armed I would have immediately switched to home schooling.

I know you think the govt owns the public schools, but they dont. The families that use them, own them. The notion that the govt has the final say in how we the people want to protect our children is the exact opposite of what govt is supposed to be.

LA_Bob said...

ARM said, "If I had known that the lunatics who taught me in high school were armed I would have immediately switched to home schooling."

I definitely have a concern about armed schoolteachers. As in so many walks of life, some teachers are wonderful and smart, and some (all too many) are dumber than stumps. And evil, too. See Instapundit's many posts on female HS teachers sexually "assaulting" some of their male students.

All we need is one dumb, ill-prepared teacher to shoot a kid -- by accident or otherwise -- and the whole scheme falls apart.

Seeing Red said...

Via Insty:

The armed officer stationed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., resigned Thursday after an internal review found he did not enter the school during last week’s deadly shooting.

Matt Sablan said...

"The armed officer stationed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., resigned Thursday after an internal review found he did not enter the school during last week’s deadly shooting."

-- Just another in a series of government instituted checks that failed those students.

Matt Sablan said...

"The FBI and the local police in FL and even the high school itself really dropped the ball on the shooter and his many many many many many warnings and threats."

-- We've learned he was called in for elder and minor abuse, torturing animals and attacking his neighbor's house with a bat (some reports say while threatening to kill said neighbors). He also threatened people at school specifically and in general with murder.

If the authorities had done their job and filed appropriate reports -- could he have passed the background check to legally get the weapons he bought?

MaxedOutMama said...

Anyone remember the ex-Airforce mentally ill guy who shot up the church? He was never put on the database.

I think we should try for compliance on the laws we now have first. I think it is guaranteed that they will not work if they are not implemented. I think the local police have some questions to answer first of all.

Matt Sablan said...

"We currently have a left-wing dream scenario - the NRA attacking the FBI."

-- When the FBI takes the Golden Showers Dossier more seriously than a violent person who had threatened murder for months, including threatening people with a gun he'd later go on to kill people with, you might wonder exactly how the FBI prioritizes things.

Remember: Finding out if Trump paid hookers to pee on a bed deserved a more thorough analysis than the guy torturing animals and abusing old people while threatening people with a gun. So, while I fully understand that those are probably different departments, budgets, etc., I can't blame some people on the right -- especially people who may have been part of the collateral damage caused by IRS abuses -- might want someone to take a weather eye and look over the FBI.

Anonymous said...

Freder:
The Civitas report uses standardized definition from UN:

Definition: 'Assault' means physical attack against the body of another person resulting in serious bodily injury; excluding indecent/sexual assault; threats and slapping/punching. 'Assault' leading to death should also be excluded.

In US there were about 800 justifiable homicides in the US. Take that number out of the stat and remove the amount of gang-related violence and you end up with a by-and-large responsible nation plagued by some troublesome sore spots.

Then look who runs those troublesome sore spots,
Then, fuck you.

iowan2 said...

All we need is one dumb, ill-prepared teacher to shoot a kid -- by accident or otherwise -- and the whole scheme falls apart.

OR...ill prepared
Deputy sheriff
US Army Major, psycologist
NASA astronaut
Etc
Etc
Etc

The leftist are sacrificing 'better' waiting for 'perfect' and kids will keep dying.

Michael K said...

All we need is one dumb, ill-prepared teacher to shoot a kid -- by accident or otherwise -- and the whole scheme falls apart.

The point is to prepare those interested.

Of course, you can continue to vote for Democrats and fell good about it.

Lewis Wetzel said...

So, if a person is worried about being murdered, he or she should:
A: Buy a gun
or
B: Vote Democrat
I'll take option A, please. I suspect most Americans would make the same choice.

Seeing Red said...

The FBI has major problems.

Jon Ericson said...

"My favorite Wobbly"

Gahrie said...

The leftist are sacrificing 'better' waiting for 'perfect' and kids will keep dying.

That's because they don't give a shit about kids dying..they just want power over us Deplorables.

Darkisland said...


Blogger Seeing Red said...

The FBI has major problems.

The FBI has had major problems for 100 years.

FIFY

John Henry

Unknown said...

We’re making this too hard. start with something that will always work not something that will seldom work. Mount a 1lb barbell on the desk so it’s available, when not being used for the class stretch. Use PE to build accuracy. Nothing like a dozen one-pound barbells heading in your direction to put you off your game. Use PE to train to throw, swarm and bash brains out. Put them in standard places in every setting. Schools, churches,theaters,malls, parking lots, etc. It’s only the belief we are defenseless that leaves animals frozen in fear. As soon as one moves, all will. And given crowd dynamics one always will. Usually the hero who didn’t know she was, who’d sacrifice herself without thinking. Big fame for success.

Anonymous said...

....and all the cool kids will try out to get on the 'forlorn hope' squad.

Ray - SoCal said...

I’m surprised there have not been more mass murders in the US. I thought 9-11 would just be the first of many large scale ones in the US.

Mass murders happen in the US, but Europe seems to have more of them than the US.

Actual statistics from 2015:
https://crimeresearch.org/2015/06/comparing-death-rates-from-mass-public-shootings-in-the-us-and-europe/

MPH said...

Put down the Scott Adams and step away from the vehicle.

Bruce Hayden said...

"School in Parkland, Fla., resigned Thursday after an internal review found he did not enter the school during last week’s deadly shooting."

The critical point here, I think, is that the government tells us that we don't need to be armed to protect ourselves, because they will protect us from the violent in our society. And, then, we find that the govt screwed up all up and down the line here, with 17 dying as a result. Apparently, authorities talked to the shooter some 39 times, responding to claims and the like, yet did nothing. They transferred him around the school district, but never expelled him. And, now, we find that the deputy, on site at the time, hired by the school district for just this type of situation, stood outside the entire time, watching one of the back doors, and never entered the building the shooter was shooting people in, despite being paid by them to do just that. Oh, and apparently, the Broward County sheriff's department's deputies were not the first LEOs to enter the building. No wonder the Sheriff there was so supportive of CNN, the students, and increased gun control. Please tell us again why we should trust the government to protect us against violence.

Bruce Hayden said...

"We’re making this too hard. start with something that will always work not something that will seldom work. Mount a 1lb barbell on the desk so it’s available, when not being used for the class stretch. Use PE to build accuracy. Nothing like a dozen one-pound barbells heading in your direction to put you off your game. Use PE to train to throw, swarm and bash brains out. Put them in standard places in every setting. Schools, churches,theaters,malls, parking lots, etc. It’s only the belief we are defenseless that leaves animals frozen in fear. As soon as one moves, all will. And given crowd dynamics one always will. Usually the hero who didn’t know she was, who’d sacrifice herself without thinking. Big fame for success."

I don't. Think that you need barbells at a high school. Instead, there is something there that is fairly ubiquitous there, that might work even better - school books. Train the students to throw their textbooks at a shooter, while swarming them. Sure, he might hit one, or maybe two of them, but likely no more. The students have the numbers, and it is quite hard, esp if untrained, to hit a moving target, esp when being pelted by heavy books. I would guess that books would work even better against an AR-15 than against a handgun. Time after time, it seems, we learn that an active defense is more effective than a passive one, but the authorities continue to teach us to cower in place, as easy targets.

n.n said...

Self-defense is a right. Abortion is a progressive -- ancient -- rite with liberal -- divergent -- features.

D.E. Cloutier said...

Re: "Why won't the leftwing machine blame . . . the makers of violent video games?"

FYI:

From the University of York, United Kingdom, 16Jan18: "Researchers at the University of York have found no evidence to support the theory that video games make players more violent."

Link:
https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2018/research/no-evidence-to-link-violence-and-video-games/

iowan2 said...

Several suggestions offered. I still know that if the citizens get what they want, just getting the govt out of the way and let the people act, is the best option. Get out of the way and let school personel that want to, arm themselves. One adult per 200 students would send the wanna be psyco's off to other targets that refuse to harden themselves.

One thing I have heard in the past that teachers can implement today on the way to school. Pick up a can of wasp and hornet spray. Shots 20 to 30 feet, and blinds the shooter from afar. If every single class room does not have this by Monday morning, the teachers really want the status quo, the cudgel of the argument, not solutions.

iowan2 said...

From the University of York, United K, 16Jan18: "Researchers at the University of York have found no evidence to support the theory that video games make players more violent

Which is why all I see on TV are tobacco and liquor ads, also the reason all movies and video games are required by law to be rated. Because what kids see has no effect at all.

TRISTRAM said...

Two-thirds of Americans now support stricter gun control measures – including nearly HALF of Republicans

s/gun control/late term abortion/
s/Republicans/Democrats/

So? Do we abridge abortion (an un-enumerated constitutional right)? That kind of appeal can be used both ways, and if applied consistently (*snort*) would lead to bad things.

At this point, the 1st (hate speech, commercial speech, safe zones, religion), 4th (FISA, cell phones, cash bail for people who can't pay it), 5th (asset forfeiture, process crimes without underlying charges) are all being whittled away. I think the 10th was kidnapped and buried in a shallow grave a while back. The 3rd seems pretty solid, unless the police want to spy on your neighbor.

If only we had a civil liberties organization that protected Americans - all Americans, not just left or right.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The problem with all the Nanny State go-gooder laws is some (D)ick-jerking bureaucrat is in charge, and the law isn't followed as planned.

You know, because democrats care about enforcing the laws on the books and stuff. Oh, no they don't. They care about silly emotional rallies and mega bucks from wealthy celebrities, and ignoring any immigration law that might stand in the way of their plans to import a new voting base.

The left do not care about Kate Steinle or Fort Hood or any of the victims of these mass shootings.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Matthew-

When the FBI takes the Golden Showers Dossier more seriously than a violent person who had threatened murder for months, including threatening people with a gun he'd later go on to kill people with, you might wonder exactly how the FBI prioritizes things.

Remember: Finding out if Trump paid hookers to pee on a bed deserved a more thorough analysis than the guy torturing animals and abusing old people while threatening people with a gun. So, while I fully understand that those are probably different departments, budgets, etc., I can't blame some people on the right -- especially people who may have been part of the collateral damage caused by IRS abuses -- might want someone to take a weather eye and look over the FBI.


worth a big bold!

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Bruce H said..

And, now, we find that the deputy, on site at the time, hired by the school district for just this type of situation, stood outside the entire time, watching one of the back doors, and never entered the building the shooter was shooting people in, despite being paid by them to do just that. Oh, and apparently, the Broward County sheriff's department's deputies were not the first LEOs to enter the building. No wonder the Sheriff there was so supportive of CNN, the students, and increased gun control. Please tell us again why we should trust the government to protect us against violence.

Exactly. The cowards want to take away our 2nd amendment right to self defense and our ability to protect ourselves from a government dictator and bureaucratic incompetence.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Rubio does not have blood on his hands, CNN does.
The local Sheriff dept does, the FBI does, the D-bureaucrats who take a paycheck but jerk-off all the time and ignore the laws and process as written.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Democrats are incompetent and corrupt. Too busy sniffing out back-scratch cash to care about a would-be school shooter.

RonF said...

Three teachers died trying to protect their students. Teachers are the kid's last line of defense whether they want to be or not. The question behind arming them is not whether they will defend children but how effective a job they will be able to do it.

If guns belong in banks to protect money and in the halls of Congress to protect politician's, why don't they belong in schools to protect children? Apparently we value money and politicians more than children.