President Trump called National Rifle Association executive Wayne LaPierre on Tuesday to tell reassure him he wasn’t hedging on background check legislation anymore: the whole deal was off the table, according to a new report in the Atlantic.
100% not surprised.
Make Another Gun Already
The usual: Killings occur, promise to do “something” about it, let a period of time pass, and then just forget about doing anything. Collect campaign contributions from gun lobbyists and NRA.
Phase two of the retreat will occur when McConnell comes back from break.
Wait, what??? Donnie changed his, for lack of a better word, mind???
Nothing will ever happen on gun control while the Republican Party has any say in the matter.
Keeping terrorists armed is an important intimidation tool in their toolbox for retaining power.
Guess they’ll have to add on when the next edition comes out.
If I were scared of my own shadow, I’d probably be scared of the NRA, too. I think this particular walkback says less about the incestuous relationship between the NRA and the Republican Party and more about Trump’s abject weakness in the face of any organized resistance and general unwillingness to put his nose to the grindstone on any effort that requires more work than signing a big, beautiful, strong executive order.
“He was cementing his stance that we already have background checks and that he’s not waffling on this anymore,” a former senior White House official told the Atlantic.
I’d like to see his stance cemented.
The President of the United States…called the head of the NRA…to reassure him that no meaningful gun legislation will pass on his watch. Anyone else think this is about as weak as it gets?
That last bit about making gun crimes federal is pretty cute. Does he have any idea how many criminal cases in the state courts involve guns? And the effect the shift to federal prosecutions would have on the federal courts ? And the money it would take to become anything more than an empty e never used by any US Attorney because of the resource drain?
Really really really stupid idea, which means he’ll be doubling down on it for the next few days until another wisp catches his ‘attention.’
The weakness it broadcasts is the structural weakness of the Republican coalition. They must keep the gun fetishist, the incel, and nazi or they cannot win.
Background checks poll over 90%, and their coalition could crumble if it passed.
The Rump called LaPutin to ask whether he sold enough gas-station pocketknives and dollar-store tote bags (free gifts with a new membership!) to pay for his new house in Texas yet.
NYT: Trump urges unity versus the creeping menace: background checks.
Alternate Headline: Donnie “Flipper” Trump Flip Flops…Again!
Exactly. And you know how state AG’s are keen to have their power eroded.
bingo
At least to keep enough people visible to make a win seem plausible. I am cynical enough today to believe the only way they will win is by serious manipulation of the vote. But they have to set an table that makes it seem possible. I am still betting on 2016 being revealed as a complete fraud. Sane people are not going to vote for Trump this time around, not if self-preservation is a factor. So he has to assemble this host of miscreants and marginal people to have enough to make it look right.
I would call that realistic.