Must Reads

Morning Must Reads: February 22

By Alex RogersFeb. 22, 20130

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

The early morning sun rises behind the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

57 consequences of the sequester.
Is the Justice Dept. in the lap of the President?
15 GOP Senators wrote a letter to the President to withdraw Chuck Hagel’s SecDef nomination.
Mass shootings killed 934 Americans in last seven years. Nearly half involve a suspect slaying a family member. The 934 deaths are less than 1 % of all gun-related homicides.
NBC refused correspondent Chelsea Clinton from airing a marriage equality video.
The filibuster is unconstitutional, and shouldn’t hold up Sen. Hagel’s nomination.
Peggy Noonan: America loses confidence in itself with Obama’s sequester “freakout.”
Charles Krauthammer on immigration: border security before amnesty, build triple fence, Rubio’s plan “lesser of two evils.”
TIME contributor Steve Brill goes on the Daily Show to talk about this week’s cover story.

216 comments

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nflfoghorn

1 Like

"...[A]bout as many approve (44%) as disapprove (43%) of Obama’s handling of immigration policy; in seven surveys since 2009, far more disapproved than approved. Hispanics, in particular, are much more positive about Obama’s job performance on immigration: 63% approve currently, up from just 28% in November 2011." [Pew]

This is not good news for Obama.

Ivy_B

4 Like

It seems people really, really, don't like spending cuts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/02/22/nope-people-really-really-dont-like-spending-cuts/

forgottenlord

3 Like

@Ivy_B

Well, they don't like spending cuts, tax increases or deficits so...

MrObvious

2 Like

@Ivy_B

Look at it like this; our congress is at sub 10 in popularity. It's not because they farted in an elevator or sang the national anthem really crappy. It's proportionate to the lack of representation they give us voters. Pity that our media is so engrossed in the fifty fifty theory of 'who's too blame' and less interested in digging up the dirt and telling it as it is.

sacredh

1 Like

Nate Silver's chances on Senate turning republican in 2014:

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/can-republicans-win-the-senate-in-2014/

MrObvious

6 Like

@sacredh

Thus, as ridiculous as it might seem to look so far ahead, the most important reverberations from the 2014 Senate races might not be felt until 2016 and beyond. Republicans will need to make considerable gains next year to open up the possibility of a Republican-controlled Congress after 2016. If Democrats hold their ground, conversely, it would provide for the outside possibility of their holding a filibuster-proof majority after 2016.

GOP is turning off even their own less rabid base. GOP was poised to win in 2012 until they started acting like Republicans and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Poll after poll shows just how unpopular the Republican ideas are.

MementoMori

2 Like

@MrObvious @sacredh They'll be a regional party limited to the South at this rate.

MrObvious

3 Like

@MementoMori @MrObvious @sacredh

Once their gerrymandered districts turn brown they'll be dead. They keep 'extending' their one hand and doing the scene out of psycho with the other. Their base might be that stupid but their base is dying off.

sacredh

2 Like

When would the spending cuts kick in?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/22/when-do-the-dreaded-forced-spending-cuts-kick-in/?hpt=po_t1

Ivy_B

8 Like

GOP so concerned about women, they are scaling back the Violence Against Women Act that the Senate passed. This will help with their re-branding.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/house-republicans-vawa.php

MrObvious

4 Like

@Ivy_B

It's a winner; just like going after Fluke turned out to be a terrific idea, watering down this legislation in a time when social media is outpacing regular media in keeping things straight is political suicide. You can't hide this stuff anymore.

SirDonQuixotic

8 Like

@Ivy_B

It's not the women they hate. Well, they do, but really they just want to scale back protections offered to the LGBT community. They're the ones they really hate.

nflfoghorn

6 Like

So once Republicals make the law cootie-proof, they're OK with it???

Sue_N

6 Like

@DonQuixotic @Ivy_B They're also afraid Native Americans might actually start prosecuting and punishing white men. Can't have the Injuns overstepping their bounds.

MrObvious

4 Like

I see that shitbarge arrived.

deconstructiva

2 Like

@MrObvious I'm to the point that now am just reading comments by "oldest first" and then quick check at latest ones (like this) and skipping youknowwho's dreck in the middle. He has the right to post and I have the right to ignore him. If I post something already done during that period of trollery and enabling or miss a insightful reply, apologies offered ahead of time.

MrObvious

1 Like

@deconstructiva @MrObvious

I'm done even trying to take him seriously. If I would interact with him and I try not too it's to mock his standpoint but not to him directly. He's going to have to figure out a better way to get his jollies off.

SirDonQuixotic

3 Like

So Paule, assuming you don't believe the Government has the right to deny sale or purchase of assault weapons because it infringes on your right to bear arms, do you also not believe the Government has the right do deny firearms to felons, children, the mentally unstable, to require permits and background checks, or to deny our right to purchase weapons of war? Clearly you must not because those would also be infringements on your right to bear arms, wouldn't they?

MrObvious

1 Like

@DonQuixotic

He gotta, since there's nothing in the 2nd amendment or elsewhere that says you can deny rights to criminals.

MementoMori

9 Like

The crazy rightwing is getting crazier.

Gun Activists Warn Obama is Raising a Private Black Army to Massacre White Americans

After arguing that Obama is “not American” and not a natural born citizen, Howard maintained that Obama may begin “wiping out a few hundred people who own guns, pull a large scale Waco or a Ruby Ridge type incident” and have it “tinged it with racial overtones.” But just in case Obama goes through with his plans to “take down” the Internet, “people are setting up phone-trees all over the place” to stop Obama in his tracks.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/gun-activists-warn-obama-raising-private-black-army-white-massacre-americans

Sue_N

2 Like

@MementoMori How busy is the Secret Service these days?

MrObvious

2 Like

@MementoMori

I don't know if I should cry at the stupidity or laugh.

sacredh

6 Like

Discrimination. I tried to sign up to massacre white Americans but they took one look at blue eyes, military style haircut and told me to take a hike. I'm considering legal recourse.

Ohiolib

7 Like

Nah, they're just as crazy as they've ever been. They're just saying what they really think now. And the internet lets us hear them.

sacredh

3 Like

Supreme Court to weigh in on Voting Rights Act:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/22/politics/court-voting-rights/index.html

paulejb

Good Shotguns Are Used in Crimes More Often Than Evil 'Assault Weapons'

You can always count on "Plugs" Biden to utter some imbecility.

SirDonQuixotic

6 Like

@paulejb

supposedly because they are especially suited to committing mass murder and other crimes.

Right because a semi-automatic assault rifle with an extended clip is far less dangerous than a double barrel shotgun that you have to reload after firing.

If you are firing at a person, a blast from a shotgun is much deadlier at close range* than the intermediate-size cartridges fired by AR-15s and other so-called assault weapons.

Yes, that's the point for home protection. It's an entirely different scenario than what one would need for...say...a mass shooting. I wonder Paule if it's going right over your head that Biden is endorsing gun ownership - something you seem to believe the administration is trying to take away from you.

paulejb

@DonQuixotic @paulejb ,

The 2nd Amendment is about defense against wannabe tyrants.

nflfoghorn

1 Like

"Planning something...?"

Nah, he's still freeloading from--er, digging out from Sandy.

Sue_N

3 Like

@DonQuixotic @Ohiolib @paulejb You know what's ironic? Pauley is adamant that DoD should be given every dime it wants for more and bigger weapons. Then he goes on these stupid rants against government tyranny and how he has to keep his guns to fight that tyranny.

Apparently it's never occurred to him that he has helped arm that government, and made sure it has all the weapons it needs to turn him and his puny little AR-15 into a giant smoking crater.

Ah, sweet irony.

Sue_N

1 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic Unless that tyranny is enforced by drones. Or bombers. Or tanks. Or ...

roknsteve

1 Like

@Ohiolib @paulejb @mantisdragon91 @DonQuixotic Shorter Paulie: "Ah needs muh gunz ta pratec muh gun rites".

mantisdragon91

2 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic Only if the Tyrant is the local Burger King franchise, A real government intent on taking your rights will roll over you like a rug.

MrObvious

1 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic

SirDonQuixotic

4 Like

@Ohiolib @DonQuixotic @paulejb

Or that. It's completely unrealistic and childish to believe you can protect yourself from our Government if in some delusional Tom Clancy fantasy they were out to get you.

Ohiolib

3 Like

@DonQuixotic @paulejb Or a SWAT team.

SirDonQuixotic

4 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic

It's not a credible deterrent to a tank or a fighter jet Paule.

Ohiolib

2 Like

@paulejb @mantisdragon91 @DonQuixotic Taken out of context, lying scumbag. Washington was talking about front-loading rifles and pistols, incapable of rapid fire. We're talking about very different weapons. Otherwise, you could just argue that washington was also talking about SAMs and full machine guns. Dumba$$

paulejb

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb @DonQuixotic ,

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington

I'll take George's word over yours, Bugs.

paulejb

@DonQuixotic @paulejb ,

Millions of American citizens with their own AR-15 is a credible deterrent to tyranny.

SirDonQuixotic

2 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic

The 2nd Amendment is not being infringed. You can still bear arms Paule, but if you want to be well enough armed to stand against our military you're going to need a whole lot more in your arsenal than an AR-15.

mantisdragon91

1 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic The 2nd amendment is about maintaining a National Guard. You want to uphold the 2nd Amendment enlist.

MementoMori

@paulejb @DonQuixotic Planning something paulie?

mantisdragon91

2 Like

@paulejb You can always count on Paule to quote whatever the right wing sites feed him without reading the article or checking the fatcs.

paulejb

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb ,

Oh? What are the facts, Bugs? Share then with us.

mantisdragon91

1 Like

@paulejb @mantisdragon91 Why stop there, why not a 50 caliber machine gun? What if they break into your house in a tank? Shouldn't you be allowed to have some TOW missiles or similar rocketry?

paulejb

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb ,

Not necessary. A Glock or an AR-15 will suffice.

mantisdragon91

@paulejb @mantisdragon91 Well in that case to follow your logic give everyone machine guns.

paulejb

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb ,

Not if there is more than one home invader, Bugs. They will be on you before you can reload.

mantisdragon91

2 Like

@paulejb @mantisdragon91 The fact is that shotguns are better for home defense than assault weapons.

paulejb

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb ,

Was there a fact hidden in that diatribe, Bugs?

mantisdragon91

1 Like

@paulejb @mantisdragon91 The facts are that you quote garbage on here day in and day out long after you know that the information you provide reeks worse than a week old fish in August.