School teachers carrying firearms and readied for gun battles in grade school classrooms is a level of social pathology that signals the end of any viable, coherent society. Travel such a path, and the barbarism and fearmongering of the American abattoir can only accelerate. — David Simon (@AoDespair) February 21, 2018 UPDATE:… but it’s lucrative! JUST IN: President Trump suggests … Read More
Gun Debate Continues
Last night’s “town hall” on CNN was riveting. The students asked better questions than the adults, and I’m not the only one to note that they would not allow the responder to filibuster or waiver. For example, student Emma Gonzalez asked NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, “Do you believe that it should be harder to obtain the semi-automatic and – – … Read More
Attacks On High Schools Students Continue As Gun Debate Heats Up
The right seems to be out of talking points, so they attack the messenger. This time the “messenger” are the high school students of Parkland Florida, who have watched friends die in a horrific mass shooting. those who accuse the grieving fla students of being actors i hope are being ostracized in their community. shame, shame, shame — Tom Brokaw … Read More
Sarah Sanders Press Conference – 2/20/2018
Her first press conference since the shooting — Sarah Sanders is reading her statement about the Parkland massacre like it’s a book report she really doesn’t want to deliver. — Matt Novak (@paleofuture) February 20, 2018 “It’s very clear that Russia meddled in the election. It’s also very clear it didn’t have an impact in the election,” Sarah Sanders says … Read More
The Kids Are Alright
We have never seen victims in the wake of a horrible mass shooting strike back at inert politicians, including the president. We surely have never seen children call their elders to task and plan a massive march https://t.co/SRupjSXcj4 — Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) February 19, 2018 Wednesday, February 14, Valentines Day, 2018. Nikolaus Cruz, a troubled possible deranged right-wing gun nut, … Read More
High School Shooting: The Aftermath
I feel like I can go back to the last mass shooting and cut and paste. With 17 dead (so far), the “day after” talk surrounding yesterday’s shooting is all too predictable. We learn about heroes: We learn details: ATF: Cruz bought assault rifle in Feb. 2017 — Justin Miller (@justinjm1) February 15, 2018 And graphic video [WARNING] — And … Read More
Breaking: School Shooting in Florida [UPDATE: 17 Dead]
3:15 pm ET – Shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. Broward County Sheriff Office saying 20-50 hurt. Students and teachers told to barricade although some are evacuated. SWAT team present. Shooter(s) unknown and at large. 3:25 pm — Reports are that the police know who the shooter is, but not saying anything until confirmed. He is a student. … Read More
National Threat Assessment
It may not be in the news much today, but there is an important open hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where the directors of the all the intelligence agencies testify: Director Daniel R. Coats – Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Director Michael Pompeo – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Admiral Michael Rogers – Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) Director Lieutenant General Robert Ashley – Director of … Read More
PA State Legislature Gets Ballsy
Think Progress: In an audacious move by a political leader who could potentially be held in contempt of court, Pennsylvania Senate President pro tempore Joseph Scarnati (R) informed the state supreme court on Wednesday that he will openly defy one of the court’s recent orders in a gerrymandering case. On January 22, the state supreme court struck down the state’s gerrymandered congressional maps — … Read More
Massacre Barely Makes Headlines
Chelsie Cline posted this last Wednesday, and she got a response from her ex-boyfriend Tim Smith. Yesterday, Smith fatally shot his Chelsea Cline, 25, and three of her friends at a car wash early Sunday before turning the gun on himself. He’s not expected to survive. Full story.
Three-Judge Panel Strikes Down NC Districts As Political Gerrymandering
This is a huge decision not only locally, but nationally. A federal court yesterday ruled that Republicans in North Carolina unconstitutionally gerrymandered congressional districts in 2016 to ensure Republican “domination of the state’s congressional delegation.” The three-judge panel struck down the map and ordered the state’s General Assembly to come up with a substitute by Jan. 24. The decision was … Read More
Manafort Sues Mueller
This day continues to be bizarre. Manafort is suing the Department of Justice, and names Rosenstein and Mueller as defendants, claiming that Mueller acted outside his authority by indicting him. This is an extremely unusual move. If an indictment can be challenged legally, typically the defendant files a motion to dismiss the indictment as part of the criminal case. It’s … Read More
Twitter To Finally Enforce Ban On Hate Speech
itter began enforcing new policies to combat hate speech and abusive behavior on the platform Monday, leading to the suspension of several accounts associated with white nationalism. As part of its new approach, Twitter says it will now start banning accounts that affiliate with groups “that use or promote violence against civilians to further their causes.” The company says that government entities are … Read More
The Scandal That Is Not
Benjamin Witte writes about the story that is the subject of Fox almost every day — that an FBI agent was removed from the Mueller team because he had exchanged private emails with another FBI agent — his girlfriend, that were gloriously anti-Trump. The right wing news and establishment think this is a scandal, but of course, this means nothing. … Read More
Newtown: Five Years Later
Five years ago today, a gunman went into Sandy Hook elementary school and opened fire. I covered it on this blog, as the day unfolded. And I visited Newtown two weeks after the event — the town was still reeling. In the five years since the Sandy Hook shooting, Congress has enacted strong legislation to prevent the use of AK-47’s … Read More