Year: 2012
The Less Influence They Have, The More Radical the Pro-Gun Groups Grow
There’s an interesting list of numbers on the website, Meet the NRA. Ladd Everitt, communications director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, recently called the National Rifle Association a “paper tiger.” With this record, I can see why.
- The National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund received a 0.83% return on the $11 million they spent during the 2012 election cycle, the worst performance of any Super PAC that spent over $5 million in the election.
- NRA PACs spent more than $13 million to defeat Pres. Obama alone, all for naught.
- The NRA spent $100,000 in eight Senate races, and lost seven of them.
- Of the 30 House incumbents who lost, 17 were endorsed by the NRA.
Maybe the NRA’s political fortunes are in part behind the rise of the even more radical Gun Owners of America (GOA). GOA refused to endorse Sen. John McCain in 2008 because they thought his record on “gun rights” (yes, apparently guns have rights) was weak. They endorsed Rep. Ron Paul in 2012 because they admired his inability to compromise.
And although Everitt continued to reference the more widely recognized NRA when he appeared recently on the Diane Rehm Show and described the unhinged nature of the new Burt Gummers of the world, he was probably also thinking of the GOA:
We often tell people this not your grandfather’s NRA. And, you know, the modern pro-gun movement today is marked by what we would call insurrectionist ideology, which is this belief that the NRA and others have put forward that there is an individual right under the second amendment to essentially shoot and kill government officials when you personally disagree with democratically enacted laws.
Gazing at the Crystal Ball Gazers Gazing at Their Crystal Balls
It’s that obnoxious season when we are forced to look back at the fading year through a seemingly endless series of lists, and look forward to the looming new year in a seemingly endless series of predictions of things to come. While most hack prognosticators stick to the predictably safe (“Big Data will be even bigger in 2013!”), there are those who eschew the low-hanging fruit of the future and go for truly astonishing auguries.
I am, of course, referring to psychics.
Now, I do not believe in psychic ability. I have never foreseen anything that could not be deduced through rational thought, such as, If I have another cocktail, I shall pay for it in the morning.
My wife, on the other hand, has an uncanny ability to see things in the future once they have conveniently entered the past. All too often some thing from the future will pass through the present and into the past, and she will say, “I knew that was going to happen.” To which I reply, “Yeah, sure.” To which she replies, “I did, I really did, I’m not kidding!”
‘Fiscal Cliff’ Is a False Deadline
There is no drop dead date. Online sites and TV channels with ‘fiscal cliff’ countdown timers are an embarrassment and are just trying to scare viewers… The ‘fiscal cliff’ is about too much austerity too quickly (cutting the deficit too quickly)… After January 1st the politicians can vote for a tax cut for most Americans. That is obviously dumb, and makes extra work for many involved with payrolls and taxes, but that is politics.
— Bill McBride, writing on the Calculated Risk Blog.
More Americans Blame Republicans Than Democrats or President for ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Crisis
27%
Of Americans blame Republicans in Congress more than congressional Democrats or President Obama for the current “fiscal cliff” crisis, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds. Key findings: 27% blamed Republicans in Congress, 16% blamed Obama and 6% pointed to Democrats in Congress. The largest percentage — 31% — blamed “all of the above.”
Poor Matt Damon Is Frustrated by Obama
I assume there will be some Supreme Court appointments in this next term; that alone was reason to vote for him. I don’t think I said anything a lot of people weren’t thinking. It’s easier now more than ever in my life to feel the fix is in, the game is rigged and no matter how hard you work to change things, it just doesn’t matter.
— Matt Damon, in an interview with Playboy, on his frustration with President Obama.
House Holds First Holiday Roll-Call Votes Since 1970
42 years
How long it’s been since there have been roll call votes — taken yesterday — in Congress during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, The New York Times reports.
Deal, No Deal
The possibility of going over the cliff looks real,
And getting this close to the edge takes nerves of steel.
Now Boehner is berating
Obama for not negotiating —
By which he means, “Just take our goddamn deal!”