Why the House sit in is really important

[andym]

It finally looks like the Democratic House members have their spine up and will try to do something. And its practical politics of the kind we rarely see.

Politically, if they can get a vote on the gun bill, they will put the opposition GOP House members on record as supporting potential terrorists "rights". If they could win, they could give the NRA its first setback in 20 years. If they get no vote they still win, as this episode will be in the news for quite some time, reflecting badly on the GOP.

Is this the ideal bill that Democrats really want that will control the easy availability of powerful semi-automatic weapons? Of course not, for example, liberals who are civil libertarians are not going to be happy about denying people "rights" from the secret government lists. But the political damage to the GOP from refusing to allow this bill to go forward is more than worth it, because it creates a wedge that can help move a progressive agenda forward by weakening the GOP and encouraging Democratic opposition.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. K&R!

Thanks for the positive analysis. This really is history!

[Gabi Hayes]

2. totally agree, and the fact that Fox is NOT covering it at all (at least for the last several hours)

speaks volumes for its effectiveness

you KNOW if they thought it would help their cause, whatever in God's name that might be....well, obviously, at the very basic level, to keep their viewers as ignorant and uninformed as possible....they'd have a fully staffed crew there all night, interviewing all the NRA feedbaggers ($36 MILLION on the hill) moldering around, and commenting furiously on the hideous display put on by these disrespectful, communistic hooligans

[geomon666]

3. If they were debating a gun ban amendment

you'd bet your ass they'd be there, trying to storm into the chamber.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. You'd think they'd want to show it

It would be easy to score points by calling these out-of-control Democrats all the names you mentioned, and really put a scare into their viewers, the thing that they do best. But I wouldn't bet on them ignoring all this after they get a chance to repackage it and put the right spin on it to scare the crap out of all the RWers who slept right through it. They're probably still up and working hard on it right now...

[Lucinda]

4. knr

[Lunabell]

6. This has been a long time coming!

We need the Democratic party to stand up to the GOPiggies! We have been too compromising for too long!