Outrage continues over the Uvalde massacre of last Tuesday, May 24, in which 21 people were killed and 17 wounded. The assault on this elementary school stands out for many reasons: the youth of the victims, the apparent mishandling of the situation by law enforcement officers, and the heroism of the parents, for example. After all, there have been at least 14 mass shootings in the U.S. since the Uvalde murders, killing at least 10 people and wounding another 61, and they have gotten much less attention.
Things are coalescing in a way that exposes Republicans in the harshest light ever. Renegade, contempt for citizens and the law, corrupt, and even monstrous.
The abortion ruling, Uvalde mass murders, J6 committee, the widening Justice Department investigation, Fulton County grand jury probe of Trump and the election, and more.
But the question hovering over it all is whether the people rise up and vote like never before. And restore democracy.
If there was any remaining doubt about the degree of hypocrisy in the GOP response to gun violence the reactions to Uvalde and Buffalo should put it to rest.
Everything Abbott, McConnell, Gomhert, Jordan, and the rest of the Republican leadership say is just for distraction. It seems very much like they throw out ludicrous statements just so that people will waste time and effort refuting them.
Speaking in Uvalde the day after the massacre Greg Abbott had the nerve to start banging the "mental health crisis" drum. This is the same man who has diverted over $200,000,000 from TX Health and Human Services Commission to his border fortification farce.
The GOP continues to talk about mental health after every incident of domestic terrorism (unless it is perpetrated by a non-Christian or person of color). The GOP also consistently cuts mental health funding and kills any discussion of broadening access to health care in general. However, that's not the point. Because in the two sentences it took me to write that for a few moments I had to think about something other than how to vote them out of power.
The same is true of the talking points on hardening schools, adding more armed security in schools, and having more law enforcement with heavier weapons and more training. Uvalde had all those things. Multiple agencies that had recent training on how to handle this very situation completely ignored their training and SOP and did nothing while the shooter was killing more kids. But the GOP knows that, and they even know that everyone else knows it. They just want us to waste time talking about it. (Like I just did)
There is nothing about the GOP stance on gun violence, gun control, and the second amendment that is not utterly self serving and disingenuous. No matter what they say at this point it is not, in any way shape or form, discussion in good faith. It is all smoke and mirrors and that is why it is time to stop the conversation about how to work with GOP lawmakers on how to address gun violence and to focus entirely on how to vote them out of power.
I can only hope that this time it is so glaring that enough people will stop arguing and start voting that we can turn the tide.
The reaction to George Floyd's murder by so many people from all races and backgrounds gave me hope two years ago that it would kindle a movement and we'd finally address police reform and social justice. It didn't happen. Now at Uvalde we have both the barbaric act of the gunman made possible by the AR-15 where the bodies of children could not be identified by their own parents and the cowardly police who put their own lives above the lives of children and other victims calling for help shattering the argument that "good guys with guns" will somehow handle mass shootings. The long delay in action by police actually caused more deaths as the police sat there while listening to gun shots each signifying yet another child's death. This should mean court martial for each and every one of them and impeachment of both Texas "Senators" for not upholding their oath to the Constitution and putting all their constituents in mortal danger. There is no way for the Republicans to distract us this time. Change is now inevitable and the movement close at hand. There are no "good" Republicans anymore. What is possible now is action: Step 1: President Biden declares a national emergency and raises the age to buy guns to 21. Step 2: President Biden issues an executive order on police reform in July 2022 Step 3: We, the People, oust every Republican in November 2022 and vote in a super majority of over 67 Senate seats to non-Republican candidates. Step 4. In January 2023 a new law codifying gun safety and accountability is passed and bans assault guns. Step 5: The illegitimate Justices on the rogue Supreme Court are impeached in February 2023. Step 6: President Biden nominates the replacement Justices in March 2023. Step 7: in April 2023 the George Floyd Police Reform Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act are signed into law. Step 8: In May 2023, all the rights including women's rights taken away in June 2022 are restored. Step 9: We, the People, all of us live happily ever after not in a fairy tale but with the United People of America.
Moscow Mitch is evil incarnate in his role as obstructionist and as an enabler of the 2020 election lies. He’s worse than the twice impeached former single term president, because he’s educated, and is intelligent.
"After all, there have been at least 14 mass shootings in the U.S. since the Uvalde murders, killing at least 10 people and wounding another 61, and they have gotten much less attention."
Staggering... 6 short days.
If not for the trust I maintain in the author who is summarizing for us, I'd be tempted to describe LFAA as a piece of ongoing tabloid journalism. After all, can you recall a period of time when news from Washington DC and around the nation carried such a profound degree of outrageous, sensational and infuriating content. When compiled and edited in the fashion we all are enjoying, it's hardly a stretch to connect the dots.
Many things seem, and are, inevitable. As long as our nation is awash in guns, the killing will continue. as long as there is a political process, individuals will seek positions of power/influence and proceed to abuse them. As long as unimaginable amounts of money can be channeled into influencing people without the need for public disclosure (think; advertising, political action committees, corporate donations, "foundations" and any other means of purchasing the votes of politicians), the corruption will continue. Money in politics simply leads to corruption, period. I just saw an article about the amount of NRA money that has been received by Texas politicians over the years. Guess who tops the list at about half a million dollars? John Cornyn. Just the guy you'd want leading a conversation over "doing something" about epidemic mass violence against children in schools. Just naming him displays a degree of narcissism on the part of McConnell that shows he has lost any sense of connection to the greater public, perhaps other than a voter block in the great state of Kentucky. The inmates really ARE running the asylum. Remember, though, many steps taken by many people in many places have lead us from the 1980 presidential race to where we are now. The "Party of No" did not achieve this in a vacuum. 42 years of effort, all the while witnessed and perhaps contested by the political opposition; 10 presidential elections, countless local, regional, statewide, congressional elections, supreme court nominations have led us to where we find ourselves today. This is a "mass movement" over at least 2 generations. I can't imagine things materially changing for the better with anything less than a similar effort over a similar period of time in every corner of our nation. I will certainly be ashes in the wind before the end of such an effort, if we can muster the determination to do this. Sadly, it seems that the only thing big enough to galvanize us to seek our better selves is the threat of war on our own shores. Something has to take us all down several pegs and innoculate us with the humility to seek trust in one another, to view our common interests as something other than a zero-sum game. Thus far, even the threat global warming fails to shock us out of the Grand Kabuki Theatre we're experiencing. I wonder how we'd act if the giant astroid was truly aimed directly at us with an arrival date shortly after 2024? I keep looking for signs of hope here between our shores. We do have some powerful levers still in place. Freedom of the press, a still substantial freedom to vote, the opportunity for those so inclined to engage in the political process and attempt to directly influence our way forward, substantial freedom of speech all come to mind. None of those mean anything, however, if we can't summon the courage to hit the reset button and "throw the bastards out" who have clearly demonstrated their willingness to abuse the power vested in them. We're fools to hope that the justice system will bale us out of the political crisis we're in. Justice comes later, or not at all. Political verdicts would suit me just fine, except that the steps required to reach them just don't seem to be visible most places I look. I just hope I can personally survive the roller-coaster we're on without digging a deep hole and crawling in it before the end of the calendar year.
Ted Cruz is fond of pointing out that gun control measures that Democrats propose will not stop mass murders. Unfortunately, he’s probably right about that. Only a tiny fraction of people are inclined to mass murder. No legislation will change that percentage, and common sense” gun control measures will not keep assualt rifles with high-capacity magazines away from fringe people who are determined to get them. Measures that could possibly reduce the occurrence of mass murders, at a minimum, make all guns that can be shot dozens of times without reloading nearly impossible to get, which means it will have to be illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess such a firearm in the United States. Lesser measures might reduce gun-related violence, overall, but are doomed to failure on the mass murder front. Republicans know this, and if by some miracle Democrats were able to pass “common sense” gun control legislation, Republicans would be licking their chops waiting for the next mass murder so they could gloat about how ineffective Democratic governance is. This is the Republican method: obstruct as long as possble, and when legislation making incremental changes gets through in spite of their best efforts to stop it, wait until it fails to have the desired effect and then start screaming about how ineffective Democrats are, and pound another nail in the coffin of decent government. Incremental change in the matter of gun control wiil have no effect whatever on the incidence of mass murder. Go bold or go home. Anyone caught with a gun that holds more than one bullet must serve time in prison. That’s the minimum. Nothing less will stop next month’s mass murder.
Just prior to reading tonight's Letter I watched Trump's remarks at the NRA convention, (beginning @1:48), while following the transcript. His speech was typical, full of lies and misinformation but he was very clear about his, (and the GOP's), vision for the United States — more guns and more gun owners. His bizarre belief that a gun owner taking a basic gun and range safety course is equal to a highly trained marksman is absurdly dangerous. But it's what his base wants to hear and believe. The things that were even more disturbing, though, were his remarks about further ramping up police forces, a dragnet approach to "cracking down on crime", and referencing his use of National Guard troops after George Floyd's murder. The idea he seemed to be conveying, at least to me, that if re-elected, declaring martial law will be a simple flip of a switch. The other troubling statement had to do with how easy wiping out "communism and socialism" in one fell swoop will be. His references to "failed" Democrat policies were frequent. Clearly, Trump was campaigning. He used the typical buzz words and tossed out tiny chunks of red meat for his base to gnaw on. And, I think he was relying on the fact that most center and left leaning wouldn't bother to watch/read his speech.
The issues that need to be addressed by a sane House and Senate are piling up. It's critical we know what our adversaries are saying and doing to build momentum for the midterms. Knowing their positions is the only way we can build ours. As painful as it may be, please take the time to read the transcripts of Trump and other right wing candidates.
Great letter. Many important issues. The first one getting my attention was:
"The assault on this elementary school stands out for many reasons: ...."
That's for sure. The more I've thought about the Uvalde school shooting terror, the more striking the incident becomes. Consider the case of the child who could only be recognized through DNA testing. (Maybe that happened to more than one child.) That's a world of horror in itself. If the parents of the victim were agreeable, someone could make a poster of the missing face of the destroyed child. They could make a worthy martyr out of this ultimate victim. Make some sort of monument to "The Tomb of the Unknown Child." I believe if that poster were broadcast to the entire U.S., enough people would be ashamed of even allowing that condition to exist in the country. that they would gather in masses and demand change.
NPR just ran a story about a pediatrics emergency doc who would like to publish photos of what assault weapons does to child bodies. I say that these should be sent in an unceasing stream to all the members of Congress who are more enamored of guns and policing female uteruses than their mendacious claims to love "life" and "Jesus." They will probably not see them, but their staff members will be forced to do so. And that might have an effect. I would use stronger language about coercive acts that force these f***ers to see but my rage is pretty much unchecked these days and apparently people are offended by my sarcasm. https://www.npr.org/2022/05/31/1102097106/citizens-need-to-see-the-destruction-military-style-weapons-wreak-surgeon-says
I learned last year that Kentucky has a law makes it a crime to pass a local gun control law/ordinance.. Many other states have preemptively passed laws to prevent local efforts.
So your last statement seems discouraging. How can we keep our outrage evident? How can we overcome their manipulations? It seems we keep pulling the punch at the last effort. We must be LOUDER and angrier and more determined. The bullshitters are winning and we are saying, well whatta are ya gonna do??" The smoke and mirrors seem to be successful. We need to get them all arrested for not obeying the subpoenas. Or something vile like red dye on them. We all at my level seem shy or bewildered. All I have is outrage and one vote.
I have been trying to have discussions about just a few gun safety regulations with my rural neighbors on my Neighborhood App. It is frightening! More than several say that no laws should be passed restricting their access to guns of any kind. They talk about their necessity of owning assault rifles, because they need a means to be able to use them in an insurrection against the government. One woman even advitsed people to get their guns before August 2nd, which is the date of my State of Michigan's primary election. These same people insist Donald Trump won the 2020election and that they need to be ready for the next election or anybody mandating masks. Almost all of them reside in Jackson County, which is heavily Republican. It gives me nightmares!!!
Things are coalescing in a way that exposes Republicans in the harshest light ever. Renegade, contempt for citizens and the law, corrupt, and even monstrous.
The abortion ruling, Uvalde mass murders, J6 committee, the widening Justice Department investigation, Fulton County grand jury probe of Trump and the election, and more.
But the question hovering over it all is whether the people rise up and vote like never before. And restore democracy.
If there was any remaining doubt about the degree of hypocrisy in the GOP response to gun violence the reactions to Uvalde and Buffalo should put it to rest.
Everything Abbott, McConnell, Gomhert, Jordan, and the rest of the Republican leadership say is just for distraction. It seems very much like they throw out ludicrous statements just so that people will waste time and effort refuting them.
Speaking in Uvalde the day after the massacre Greg Abbott had the nerve to start banging the "mental health crisis" drum. This is the same man who has diverted over $200,000,000 from TX Health and Human Services Commission to his border fortification farce.
The GOP continues to talk about mental health after every incident of domestic terrorism (unless it is perpetrated by a non-Christian or person of color). The GOP also consistently cuts mental health funding and kills any discussion of broadening access to health care in general. However, that's not the point. Because in the two sentences it took me to write that for a few moments I had to think about something other than how to vote them out of power.
The same is true of the talking points on hardening schools, adding more armed security in schools, and having more law enforcement with heavier weapons and more training. Uvalde had all those things. Multiple agencies that had recent training on how to handle this very situation completely ignored their training and SOP and did nothing while the shooter was killing more kids. But the GOP knows that, and they even know that everyone else knows it. They just want us to waste time talking about it. (Like I just did)
There is nothing about the GOP stance on gun violence, gun control, and the second amendment that is not utterly self serving and disingenuous. No matter what they say at this point it is not, in any way shape or form, discussion in good faith. It is all smoke and mirrors and that is why it is time to stop the conversation about how to work with GOP lawmakers on how to address gun violence and to focus entirely on how to vote them out of power.
I can only hope that this time it is so glaring that enough people will stop arguing and start voting that we can turn the tide.
The reaction to George Floyd's murder by so many people from all races and backgrounds gave me hope two years ago that it would kindle a movement and we'd finally address police reform and social justice. It didn't happen. Now at Uvalde we have both the barbaric act of the gunman made possible by the AR-15 where the bodies of children could not be identified by their own parents and the cowardly police who put their own lives above the lives of children and other victims calling for help shattering the argument that "good guys with guns" will somehow handle mass shootings. The long delay in action by police actually caused more deaths as the police sat there while listening to gun shots each signifying yet another child's death. This should mean court martial for each and every one of them and impeachment of both Texas "Senators" for not upholding their oath to the Constitution and putting all their constituents in mortal danger. There is no way for the Republicans to distract us this time. Change is now inevitable and the movement close at hand. There are no "good" Republicans anymore. What is possible now is action: Step 1: President Biden declares a national emergency and raises the age to buy guns to 21. Step 2: President Biden issues an executive order on police reform in July 2022 Step 3: We, the People, oust every Republican in November 2022 and vote in a super majority of over 67 Senate seats to non-Republican candidates. Step 4. In January 2023 a new law codifying gun safety and accountability is passed and bans assault guns. Step 5: The illegitimate Justices on the rogue Supreme Court are impeached in February 2023. Step 6: President Biden nominates the replacement Justices in March 2023. Step 7: in April 2023 the George Floyd Police Reform Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act are signed into law. Step 8: In May 2023, all the rights including women's rights taken away in June 2022 are restored. Step 9: We, the People, all of us live happily ever after not in a fairy tale but with the United People of America.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government is moving quickly to implement tighter gun controls.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/handguns-liberal-bill-1.6470554
Moscow Mitch is evil incarnate in his role as obstructionist and as an enabler of the 2020 election lies. He’s worse than the twice impeached former single term president, because he’s educated, and is intelligent.
"After all, there have been at least 14 mass shootings in the U.S. since the Uvalde murders, killing at least 10 people and wounding another 61, and they have gotten much less attention."
Staggering... 6 short days.
If not for the trust I maintain in the author who is summarizing for us, I'd be tempted to describe LFAA as a piece of ongoing tabloid journalism. After all, can you recall a period of time when news from Washington DC and around the nation carried such a profound degree of outrageous, sensational and infuriating content. When compiled and edited in the fashion we all are enjoying, it's hardly a stretch to connect the dots.
Many things seem, and are, inevitable. As long as our nation is awash in guns, the killing will continue. as long as there is a political process, individuals will seek positions of power/influence and proceed to abuse them. As long as unimaginable amounts of money can be channeled into influencing people without the need for public disclosure (think; advertising, political action committees, corporate donations, "foundations" and any other means of purchasing the votes of politicians), the corruption will continue. Money in politics simply leads to corruption, period. I just saw an article about the amount of NRA money that has been received by Texas politicians over the years. Guess who tops the list at about half a million dollars? John Cornyn. Just the guy you'd want leading a conversation over "doing something" about epidemic mass violence against children in schools. Just naming him displays a degree of narcissism on the part of McConnell that shows he has lost any sense of connection to the greater public, perhaps other than a voter block in the great state of Kentucky. The inmates really ARE running the asylum. Remember, though, many steps taken by many people in many places have lead us from the 1980 presidential race to where we are now. The "Party of No" did not achieve this in a vacuum. 42 years of effort, all the while witnessed and perhaps contested by the political opposition; 10 presidential elections, countless local, regional, statewide, congressional elections, supreme court nominations have led us to where we find ourselves today. This is a "mass movement" over at least 2 generations. I can't imagine things materially changing for the better with anything less than a similar effort over a similar period of time in every corner of our nation. I will certainly be ashes in the wind before the end of such an effort, if we can muster the determination to do this. Sadly, it seems that the only thing big enough to galvanize us to seek our better selves is the threat of war on our own shores. Something has to take us all down several pegs and innoculate us with the humility to seek trust in one another, to view our common interests as something other than a zero-sum game. Thus far, even the threat global warming fails to shock us out of the Grand Kabuki Theatre we're experiencing. I wonder how we'd act if the giant astroid was truly aimed directly at us with an arrival date shortly after 2024? I keep looking for signs of hope here between our shores. We do have some powerful levers still in place. Freedom of the press, a still substantial freedom to vote, the opportunity for those so inclined to engage in the political process and attempt to directly influence our way forward, substantial freedom of speech all come to mind. None of those mean anything, however, if we can't summon the courage to hit the reset button and "throw the bastards out" who have clearly demonstrated their willingness to abuse the power vested in them. We're fools to hope that the justice system will bale us out of the political crisis we're in. Justice comes later, or not at all. Political verdicts would suit me just fine, except that the steps required to reach them just don't seem to be visible most places I look. I just hope I can personally survive the roller-coaster we're on without digging a deep hole and crawling in it before the end of the calendar year.
Ted Cruz is fond of pointing out that gun control measures that Democrats propose will not stop mass murders. Unfortunately, he’s probably right about that. Only a tiny fraction of people are inclined to mass murder. No legislation will change that percentage, and common sense” gun control measures will not keep assualt rifles with high-capacity magazines away from fringe people who are determined to get them. Measures that could possibly reduce the occurrence of mass murders, at a minimum, make all guns that can be shot dozens of times without reloading nearly impossible to get, which means it will have to be illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess such a firearm in the United States. Lesser measures might reduce gun-related violence, overall, but are doomed to failure on the mass murder front. Republicans know this, and if by some miracle Democrats were able to pass “common sense” gun control legislation, Republicans would be licking their chops waiting for the next mass murder so they could gloat about how ineffective Democratic governance is. This is the Republican method: obstruct as long as possble, and when legislation making incremental changes gets through in spite of their best efforts to stop it, wait until it fails to have the desired effect and then start screaming about how ineffective Democrats are, and pound another nail in the coffin of decent government. Incremental change in the matter of gun control wiil have no effect whatever on the incidence of mass murder. Go bold or go home. Anyone caught with a gun that holds more than one bullet must serve time in prison. That’s the minimum. Nothing less will stop next month’s mass murder.
Just prior to reading tonight's Letter I watched Trump's remarks at the NRA convention, (beginning @1:48), while following the transcript. His speech was typical, full of lies and misinformation but he was very clear about his, (and the GOP's), vision for the United States — more guns and more gun owners. His bizarre belief that a gun owner taking a basic gun and range safety course is equal to a highly trained marksman is absurdly dangerous. But it's what his base wants to hear and believe. The things that were even more disturbing, though, were his remarks about further ramping up police forces, a dragnet approach to "cracking down on crime", and referencing his use of National Guard troops after George Floyd's murder. The idea he seemed to be conveying, at least to me, that if re-elected, declaring martial law will be a simple flip of a switch. The other troubling statement had to do with how easy wiping out "communism and socialism" in one fell swoop will be. His references to "failed" Democrat policies were frequent. Clearly, Trump was campaigning. He used the typical buzz words and tossed out tiny chunks of red meat for his base to gnaw on. And, I think he was relying on the fact that most center and left leaning wouldn't bother to watch/read his speech.
The issues that need to be addressed by a sane House and Senate are piling up. It's critical we know what our adversaries are saying and doing to build momentum for the midterms. Knowing their positions is the only way we can build ours. As painful as it may be, please take the time to read the transcripts of Trump and other right wing candidates.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?520549-1/president-trump-speak-nra-convention-texas
He knows they have evidence on him and he wants to know what it is!
One man expresses his appreciation to NRA leader LaPierre for sending thoughts and prayers (snark & smirk):
https://twitter.com/fred_guttenberg/status/1531251980705882112?s=20&t=0zpsB4UHpunaSckXhSQdCA
Great letter. Many important issues. The first one getting my attention was:
"The assault on this elementary school stands out for many reasons: ...."
That's for sure. The more I've thought about the Uvalde school shooting terror, the more striking the incident becomes. Consider the case of the child who could only be recognized through DNA testing. (Maybe that happened to more than one child.) That's a world of horror in itself. If the parents of the victim were agreeable, someone could make a poster of the missing face of the destroyed child. They could make a worthy martyr out of this ultimate victim. Make some sort of monument to "The Tomb of the Unknown Child." I believe if that poster were broadcast to the entire U.S., enough people would be ashamed of even allowing that condition to exist in the country. that they would gather in masses and demand change.
NPR just ran a story about a pediatrics emergency doc who would like to publish photos of what assault weapons does to child bodies. I say that these should be sent in an unceasing stream to all the members of Congress who are more enamored of guns and policing female uteruses than their mendacious claims to love "life" and "Jesus." They will probably not see them, but their staff members will be forced to do so. And that might have an effect. I would use stronger language about coercive acts that force these f***ers to see but my rage is pretty much unchecked these days and apparently people are offended by my sarcasm. https://www.npr.org/2022/05/31/1102097106/citizens-need-to-see-the-destruction-military-style-weapons-wreak-surgeon-says
Please watch this. I sent it to everyone I know. https://mobile.twitter.com/kelly2277/status/1531433579649048577?t=a0EwvSFsoDxR9A0TSR4Tog&s=19
I learned last year that Kentucky has a law makes it a crime to pass a local gun control law/ordinance.. Many other states have preemptively passed laws to prevent local efforts.
So your last statement seems discouraging. How can we keep our outrage evident? How can we overcome their manipulations? It seems we keep pulling the punch at the last effort. We must be LOUDER and angrier and more determined. The bullshitters are winning and we are saying, well whatta are ya gonna do??" The smoke and mirrors seem to be successful. We need to get them all arrested for not obeying the subpoenas. Or something vile like red dye on them. We all at my level seem shy or bewildered. All I have is outrage and one vote.
I have been trying to have discussions about just a few gun safety regulations with my rural neighbors on my Neighborhood App. It is frightening! More than several say that no laws should be passed restricting their access to guns of any kind. They talk about their necessity of owning assault rifles, because they need a means to be able to use them in an insurrection against the government. One woman even advitsed people to get their guns before August 2nd, which is the date of my State of Michigan's primary election. These same people insist Donald Trump won the 2020election and that they need to be ready for the next election or anybody mandating masks. Almost all of them reside in Jackson County, which is heavily Republican. It gives me nightmares!!!