Have to respectfully disagree with you about the Georgia voting law changes. Yes, the draft legislation was much worse. Yes, voting is up. But, just because people are able to effectively jump over the new legislation’s hurtles — and spend a tremendous amount of resources organizing to do so— does not mean the legislation did not make voting harder. Voting should be as easy as possible. Yes, we don’t want fraud, but, as you know, fraud has historically not been an issue in US elections.
The psychological cover is disappearing in the GOP for the people who were able in the past to convince themselves they weren't really racist, they just like the R policies. They had a black friend, they hired a couple black folks, they liked Motown music, they liked Soul Food......ya know, how could they be racist? Now it is evident that none of that horseshit ever seriously mattered.
The inability in this country do deal with the deadly menace of White Supremacy has and will continue to be the original sin.
Every so often, I see an earnest anti Trumper on the MSM suggesting that a post Trump GOP is a possibility. But if it is, I don't see it as worthy of joining up. Perhaps the reliance on slogans (like small government conservative) actually lobotomized conservatives such that the entire movement is suspect - and should remain so for decades.
So much of the racism and gun problem dates to the years immediately after 9/11. We didn't take anti-Muslim/immigrant xenophobia seriously after 9/11, and we all shrugged our shoulders when the Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004. Then when armed political militias began to rise after Obama was elected and started showing up fully armed to intimidate federal law enforcement at the Bundy Ranch and Malhour Wildlife Refuge, we still shrugged. Same when they showed up to Ferguson in 2014 to defend white property. Then J6 happened and we *finally* started taking political militias sort of seriously.
PEOPLE. Armed political militias have been on the rise for 15 years in tandem with the internet conspiracy trend and y'all are just now waking up to the fact that 18 year-olds can strap on body armor, pick up an AR-15, and get their rage out at the local minority-dominant supermarket or women's fitness center. Keep in mind that these guys are the *amateurs*. The Mandalay Bay shooting is what it looks like when someone with actual experience and skillset snaps and decides to convert his gun collection into an arsenal for public mass-murder.
Perhaps these clueless Republicans will finally begin to understand that not only is a Trump endorsement not a guarantee of winning a race, but it's only given when that narcissistic windbag thinks it's good for his own image. Remember, he endorsed Dr. Oz because Oz is a TV celebrity.
Anyone who wants to convince me that voting has not been made more difficult in Georgia should explain to me why making it a crime to give people standing in line to vote a bottle of water is somehow making our elections more secure.
I’m white, and I am afraid that one of my Black friends will be killed because of the color of their skin. Maybe the pollsters should have extended their sample
There's an interesting disconnect between the idea I see here sometimes that "the worst of the anti-voting bill got stripped out, so the rhetoric about it is overheated," versus "the Build Back Better Act didn't happen, but it's still a sign that the progressive wing of the Dems are out of control and need to be brought to heel."
Had to look up 'divagation' and 'verbigeration.' Particularly like Merriam-Webster's def of verbigeration: "continual repetition of stereotyped phrases (as in some forms of mental illness)"
So Republicans can't speak out against white supremacy-based kiillings without angering their base. I suppose only woke people, indoctrinated by crt, think it's it's wrong to murder people based on race. Republicans have boxed themselves into an all or nothing stance. You're with them or against them. The brainwashing can never be penetrated by truth or decency.
And in Texas, we have another elementary school shooting! Lots of prayers, condolences - and nothing will happen! We Americans are really a sick group.
Regarding the second amendment which is horribly misunderstood. It begins: “In order to ensure a well regulated militia …”. Until the mid 1950’s this was understood that the right applied to The National Guard to bear arm, the the NRA, it’s lobbyists, and sacks of money convinced the public that it meant the right of individuals to bear arms. Complete merde! And now a comment for all the reactionary originalists in the audience. At the time the constitution was written the only firearms were muskets and musket type pistols. A skilled musketeer (please don’t confuse with Mouseketeer) could reload and fire at a rate of one shot every two to three minutes. There were no semi automatic or automatic weapons. One shot every two to three minutes. To be consistent with the intent of the founding fathers militias - or extend the right to individuals if you will - should have the right to bear muskets - nothing else. I say let ‘em have at it! No mass murders possible!!!
Really like Busse's stuff, thanks for the pointer. Goes the heart of a gun issue that takes a back seat: gun culture. While gun enthusiasts will gunsplain you to death about all sorts of things, they'll carefully avoid the issue of gun culture. When, for example, politicians feel that the best way to present themselves is with an arsenal in the background, you have to wonder how we got here. And, then, to what degree does gun fetishization drive gun violence in the US?
Have to respectfully disagree with you about the Georgia voting law changes. Yes, the draft legislation was much worse. Yes, voting is up. But, just because people are able to effectively jump over the new legislation’s hurtles — and spend a tremendous amount of resources organizing to do so— does not mean the legislation did not make voting harder. Voting should be as easy as possible. Yes, we don’t want fraud, but, as you know, fraud has historically not been an issue in US elections.
The psychological cover is disappearing in the GOP for the people who were able in the past to convince themselves they weren't really racist, they just like the R policies. They had a black friend, they hired a couple black folks, they liked Motown music, they liked Soul Food......ya know, how could they be racist? Now it is evident that none of that horseshit ever seriously mattered.
The inability in this country do deal with the deadly menace of White Supremacy has and will continue to be the original sin.
Every so often, I see an earnest anti Trumper on the MSM suggesting that a post Trump GOP is a possibility. But if it is, I don't see it as worthy of joining up. Perhaps the reliance on slogans (like small government conservative) actually lobotomized conservatives such that the entire movement is suspect - and should remain so for decades.
So much of the racism and gun problem dates to the years immediately after 9/11. We didn't take anti-Muslim/immigrant xenophobia seriously after 9/11, and we all shrugged our shoulders when the Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004. Then when armed political militias began to rise after Obama was elected and started showing up fully armed to intimidate federal law enforcement at the Bundy Ranch and Malhour Wildlife Refuge, we still shrugged. Same when they showed up to Ferguson in 2014 to defend white property. Then J6 happened and we *finally* started taking political militias sort of seriously.
PEOPLE. Armed political militias have been on the rise for 15 years in tandem with the internet conspiracy trend and y'all are just now waking up to the fact that 18 year-olds can strap on body armor, pick up an AR-15, and get their rage out at the local minority-dominant supermarket or women's fitness center. Keep in mind that these guys are the *amateurs*. The Mandalay Bay shooting is what it looks like when someone with actual experience and skillset snaps and decides to convert his gun collection into an arsenal for public mass-murder.
Perhaps these clueless Republicans will finally begin to understand that not only is a Trump endorsement not a guarantee of winning a race, but it's only given when that narcissistic windbag thinks it's good for his own image. Remember, he endorsed Dr. Oz because Oz is a TV celebrity.
Anyone who wants to convince me that voting has not been made more difficult in Georgia should explain to me why making it a crime to give people standing in line to vote a bottle of water is somehow making our elections more secure.
I’m white, and I am afraid that one of my Black friends will be killed because of the color of their skin. Maybe the pollsters should have extended their sample
There's an interesting disconnect between the idea I see here sometimes that "the worst of the anti-voting bill got stripped out, so the rhetoric about it is overheated," versus "the Build Back Better Act didn't happen, but it's still a sign that the progressive wing of the Dems are out of control and need to be brought to heel."
Nope, still no mention of Liz Cheney joining with McCarthy and Scalise to vote against the domestic terror bill.
Wouldn't that make Cheney soft on terror too?
Had to look up 'divagation' and 'verbigeration.' Particularly like Merriam-Webster's def of verbigeration: "continual repetition of stereotyped phrases (as in some forms of mental illness)"
So Republicans can't speak out against white supremacy-based kiillings without angering their base. I suppose only woke people, indoctrinated by crt, think it's it's wrong to murder people based on race. Republicans have boxed themselves into an all or nothing stance. You're with them or against them. The brainwashing can never be penetrated by truth or decency.
And in Texas, we have another elementary school shooting! Lots of prayers, condolences - and nothing will happen! We Americans are really a sick group.
Regarding the second amendment which is horribly misunderstood. It begins: “In order to ensure a well regulated militia …”. Until the mid 1950’s this was understood that the right applied to The National Guard to bear arm, the the NRA, it’s lobbyists, and sacks of money convinced the public that it meant the right of individuals to bear arms. Complete merde! And now a comment for all the reactionary originalists in the audience. At the time the constitution was written the only firearms were muskets and musket type pistols. A skilled musketeer (please don’t confuse with Mouseketeer) could reload and fire at a rate of one shot every two to three minutes. There were no semi automatic or automatic weapons. One shot every two to three minutes. To be consistent with the intent of the founding fathers militias - or extend the right to individuals if you will - should have the right to bear muskets - nothing else. I say let ‘em have at it! No mass murders possible!!!
Ron Johnson basically admitted that the GOP is the white supremacists party by complaining the domestic terror bill targets Republicans.
Re: Georgia voting law
Report back in 2+ years when the GOP controlled legislature takes control of Fulton county's vote counting and voids thousands of ballots.
Really like Busse's stuff, thanks for the pointer. Goes the heart of a gun issue that takes a back seat: gun culture. While gun enthusiasts will gunsplain you to death about all sorts of things, they'll carefully avoid the issue of gun culture. When, for example, politicians feel that the best way to present themselves is with an arsenal in the background, you have to wonder how we got here. And, then, to what degree does gun fetishization drive gun violence in the US?