April 17, 2013 - Pensito

Senate Goes Rogue: Votes to Continue Gun Show and Internet Loophole

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013 Trish

The next time there’s a mass shooting and they’re asked what they did to prevent it, they’re going to have to say nothing.

Erica Lafferty, the daughter of the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary, who was shot and killed along with 20 first-graders and five teachers during five minutes in December of 2012. Lafferty was reacting to news that the Senate failed to pass a bill to close a loophole exempting gun shows and online gun sales from background checks. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) joined three other Democrats and all but four Republicans in voting against the measure, which polls show that 90 percent of Americans favor.

GOP Pulls Support for Mark Sanford in South Carolina House Race after He Was Caught in His Ex-Wife’s Home in Violation of Court Order

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013 Jon Ponder

The National Republican Congressional Committee announced today that it will no longer support Mark Sanford’s campaign in the special election for the open seat in South Carolina’s 1st U.S. House District. This dramatic announcement suggests that the trespassing charge brought yesterday against Sanford by his ex-wife Ginny, who is a popular figure in Republican circles, is viewed as fatal to Sanford’s campaign within the party establishment.

One reason that the NRCC and other Sanford supporters may be irked is that the trespassing incident — which Sanford admitted to today — happened in February, well before voting in the primary for the special election, which took place on March 19, but was kept secret until yesterday. According to Politico:

[…]

CNN: Suspect Arrested in Boston Bombing – UPDATED

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013 Jon Ponder

CNN is reporting that a man has been arrested in Monday’s bomb attacks on Boston Marathon. The man was seen in surveillance videos placing one of the bombs that went off near the finish line of the race.

According to CNN, the suspect was described as dark skinned.

UPDATE: NBC is reporting that this is not so, that a suspect has been identified but that he has not been arrested.

UPDATE 2: AP confirms that a suspect has been taken to federal courthouse. CNN says it has separate Boston local law enforcement and federal law enforcement sources confirming that a suspect is in custody.

UPDATE 3: Now CNN is backtracking, saying that no one has been arrested.

UPDATE 4: Lesson learned. Stick with MSNBC.

Strict Constructionist Second Amendment Blues

April 17, 2013 Trish

Day: April 17, 2013

Senate Goes Rogue: Votes to Continue Gun Show and Internet Loophole

The next time there’s a mass shooting and they’re asked what they did to prevent it, they’re going to have to say nothing.

GOP Pulls Support for Mark Sanford in South Carolina House Race after He Was Caught in His Ex-Wife’s Home in Violation of Court Order

CNN: Suspect Arrested in Boston Bombing – UPDATED

Strict Constructionist Second Amendment Blues

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.