06-22-2016, 05:02 PM
(06-22-2016, 02:42 PM)Maggot Wrote: They don't own guns? Kelly Ayotte is not walking lock step and a few others. Dems never change party positions and they usually drink from the same well.
When they don't get their way in any bill they blame the pubs and say they are to blame no matter what they are trying to pass. like budgets and spending they blame the pubs for their mismanagement on a variety of issues.
Actually, that's not accurate Mags. I looked up the votes last night, a couple of them surprised me too.
--Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Democrat of North Dakota, voted against the terror watch list bill and the background checks bill.
--Senator John Tester of Montana, and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, both Democrats, both voted against the background checks bill.
However, I agree with you that today's sit-in is a political ploy to help Democrats win Congressional seats next year.
Last night, I read about a female Republican senator who is working quickly to get a bipartisan 'No Fly, No Buy' bill drafted and submitted. Even Lindsey Graham, typically a friend of the NRA and a semi-automatic rifle owner himself, made a statement directed at the NRA in support of the bill.
Graham stated that it was more important to stop a terrorist from buying a gun than to worry about someone who was 'mistakenly' on the list not getting one, especially since there is a quick appeal process for such mistakes included in the compromise bill (my paraphrase). He's right, in my opinion.
I think the Dems truly care about gun control supported by the vast majority of the population (including the majority of Republicans and gun owners). BUT, I suspect the Dems organized the sit in today, at least in part, so they can be viewed as the only party with members dedicated to doing the right thing; the Dems didn't want to let a Republican-led bi-partisan bill get focus/credit. That's my suspicion, not a fact.
At any rate, the "No Fly, No Buy" policy is a no-brainer and I believe Republicans will support it to save their assess in Congressional elections (and, for some of them, because they truly care about public safety).
The NRA isn't budging on their objection to that policy. But, times are changing. I'm convinced that some GOPers now realize that doing whatever the NRA wants -- in order to maintain the NRAs backing and to avoid the relentless NRA attacks on those who dare to defy them -- could cost them their seats and could cause the Republicans to lose majority status in Congress. I look forward to watching the gradual erosion of the NRA's ability to buy and strong-arm politicians. Our Congresspersons should represent those who elected them, not cater to an overbearing special interest group which continues to be out of step with the will of the people.