The sit-in will have major psychological implications for the general election:

[DetlefK]

Image.

Voters like winners. Voters like people who get shit done.

The sit-in is making it look like Democrats are getting shit done.
If the Republicans go into vacation, this will be a clear signal that Republicans are not getting shit done.

What will happen if the Republicans come back from vacation on July 5th and the Democrats go right back to the next sit-in to demand a vote???

If the Democrats can play this out in their election-ads, portraying the Republicans as losers who can't get shit done, this will be very effective on a subconsious level.

--------------------------

Enthusiasm.

Get out the vote.

Trump would be a bad President and it's pretty suspicious that his whole campaign is structured towards fleecing the RNC and the donors for money, instead of winning the election.
Republican voters are unenthusiastic about him. Donors are refusing to donate.
A good chunk of republican voters are pondering to abstain. Some even ponder to vote for Hillary.

Meanwhile, the sit-in has fired up democratic voters. There is a good chance that a great number of democratic voters will go to the polls.

-------------------------

It's about sending a message to the voters.
The Democrats have a message what they stand for.
The Republicans have excuses and lies and flip-flops and an uncontrollable and unqualified narcissist for candidate.

[glennward]

1. Not only are the GOP losers, they are COWARDS also. They are afraid to vote so that their own

constituents know what stand they are taking on the gun reform issues.

[rogerashton]

2. It will also make it harder for the Pubs to

claim to be the "party of change" and paint the Dems as the status quo party. But only Trump Chumps really believe that anyway.

[Esse Quam Videri]

3. Just getting up to spent his morning so

Is it actually being reported in the main stream media? Will the average voter even know about it?

[obamanut2012]

4. It was all over everything last night, and it still is this morning

[DetlefK]

5. Fox News has finally come around to reporting it:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/06/23/ryan-sends-lawmakers-home-after-dem-sit-in-fails-to-force-gun-control-vote.html?intcmp=hpbt1

The homepage starts with "GOP stands its ground", but the article itself seems okay. (Unlike the rest of the site. Yikes.) But maybe it's hard to spin that when the facts are so clear.

[3catwoman3]

21. "Stands it ground."

No coincidence in that choice of words, given the topic at hand.

[anigbrowl]

33. This seems like the sort of thing you could easily discover for yourself

Visiting some news websites for example. I'm always perplexed by people who make pronouncements on how the main stream media is covering something without ever bothering to look.

[Recursion]

6. Really? Because nothing actually got done.

The sit-in is making it look like Democrats are getting shit done.

Can you specify what you think "got done" here, other than a recess vote?

[TNNurse]

7. Lots of attention and publicity

that the Democrats want something to change.
That is what got done.

[Recursion]

9. So, that's "nothing", agreed?

Nothing was actually accomplished here.

[DetlefK]

11. Emphasis on "here".

Who said that these actions have no consequences? The Democrats could easily use the sit-in as a staging-point or talking-point for future actions.

[Recursion]

14. That's what the Tea Party thinks when they vote to repeal Obamacare 50 times

I mean, yeah, it's good to have gun control get some airtime, and our caucus doesn't have much better to do with a Wednesday night in DC, so obviously this wasn't actively bad or anything, I just don't get why people care so much. Results matter.

[DetlefK]

19. There is no proposal for a Obamacare-repeal.

The Republicans don't know whether to get rid of all of it or just most of it or with what to replace it or whether to not replace it at all.
It's a destructive proposal. They are saying what they don't like.
The Republicans don't have a constructive proposal saying what they would like to do instead.

Paul Ryan actually delivered an outline for an Obamacare-replacement, right before the Democrats upstaged him with their sit-in. It was a mix of old ideas and keeping some parts of Obamacare. But it did not contain specifics that could actually be voted on.

[Igel]

15. For many, the only real acts are speech acts.

History, English, _____ studies, and poli sci.

At least linguistics gave us computational linguistics, speech recognition, text-to-speech, and translation memory. And they got Saussure right and were wise enough to realize Whorf-Sapir couldn't be right and ultimately found that Whorf's factual basis was whacked. Of course, 35 years later I was told by a English professor that he was doing cutting edge analysis using cutting edge linguistics ... Whorf-Sapir and "language shapes thinking" crap.

[rufus dog]

27. Here is what got done

My wife who NEVER comments on issues came is sat down for a few minutes, watched, then said, "good, they should sit there until they get something done, it has been years without any action."

[Donald Ian Rankin]

32. I would agree with "nothing got done", but not "nothing was accomplished".

This was a publicity stunt, plain and simple.

It didn't achieve anything legislatively.

It did, however, generate publicity, which I think may help both the Democrats and the cause gun control in the longer term.

[global1]

30. We Need To Take This Sit-In And Make It Go....

National. The American People now need to take up the charge and further embarass the Repugs. We need sit-ins all across the country to continue the pressure.

[DetlefK]

10. Image, baby! Image!

The Democrats pushed for doing something. The Republicans weaseled their way out of doing something.

Voters don't make logical decisions. This is about emotion, enthusiasm, perception, image, spin.
It's the same as commercials for a product. They are not selling you the product per se. They are selling you an idea, an ideal, a lifestyle.


One party is trying to sell you the idea that they want to do something about gun-violence.
The other party is trying to sell you the idea that vacation is more important than doing something about gun-violence.
Which product/party do you pick?

[groundloop]

26. ^^^ THIS ^^^ Repubs just showed they're afraid to act on gun violence

That was exactly my perception. Democrats are attempting to take action on gun violence, repubs are blocking even a simple vote. This perception, along with the widespread dislike of t-Rump, will go a long way in November, HOPEFULLY even getting us close to retaking the House and Senate.

[TNNurse]

12. No, I do not agree,

It is positive attention and a beginning. Do you not know the history of Civil Rights in this country? Do you think one sit-in changed anything? Nothing will change if you do not try.....

[trumad]

22. As opposed to doing what?

[ohnoyoudidnt]

23. Nothing as far as more gun legislation which is what most of the country wants, but

it is being shown to the country who is committed to that legislation and who is opposing it like petulant children.

I agree with the OP. This will have an affect on the election to the benefit of democrats.

[C_U_L8R]

8. Guns are so uncool.

So are Republicans.

[marble falls]

13. We need to follow up with getting out the vote.

[IronLionZion]

16. Dems could pick up some seats in the senate and house this year

hopefully enough to get strong majorities. Our side is energized about important issues at stake here. The majority of people side with us on key issues like common sense background checks to include the terrorist watch list.

Their side is embarrassed by their presidential candidate and disappointed by general inaction on major legislation.

[Equinox Moon]

17. "Rise up Democrats! Rise up Americans!

“Rise up Democrats! Rise up Americans! This cannot stand! We will occupy this floor. We will no longer be denied the right to vote.” Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut

[SujiwanKenobee]

18. Good start for the image of active opposition

However, for many Republicans, preventing anything from the Democrats from being acted on is considered "doing something".

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. Your post is spot on on ALL points, esp. Getting Out The Vote. . . . nt

[ReRe]

24. K&R

You're damn right. It's the best ad to get a new and much improved Congress.
And to boot, its' the truth! The truth sucks when it's not on your side.

[Scientific]

25. Republicans are NOT DOING THEIR JOBS - but they are taking our pay checks

I would hammer that home.

Republican cowardice is ripping off American taxpayers.

[stonecutter357]

28. K&R!

[Silver_Witch]

29. This action has encouraged me!

I will definitely vote for all down ticket candidates. This should get voters out so maybe we can capture back the Congress!

[DonCoquixote]

31. oh yes

Both Paul Ryan and Debbie Wasserman Schultz need to take notes: The voters wants heads to roll and noses bloodied, and they will reward those who give it to them. Think of that Debbie, when you try to make Hillary pick a lightweight like Tim Kaine for Veep.