The legislative scorecard has now been completed, with all of the anti-Constitution measures failing and most of the pro-freedom measure joining them. Pretty much as expected. Now that it’s all over but the shouting, it’s time to tally up the results in Washington’s game. So let’s check our tote board and reveal gun control’s Top Ten Winners and Losers . . .
Losers
7. Michael Bloomberg: The political process is fickle. After a stunning triumph of cash over common sense in Colorado, New York’s billionaire Mayor drew a blank in D.C., getting nothing for his $12 million dollars and losing prestige in the process. He’s now perceived as a meddler, a nanny with money to burn, America’s George Soros. Bloomberg is the perfect enemy, the wealthy puppet-master pulling the strings with his checkbook. If there was no Mike Bloomberg, the NRA would have to invent him.
6. Gabrielle Giffords: A Jennny-come-lately to the world of gun-grabbing, she thought she had it made. With her star power and victim cred, a new career loomed that would be even more lucrative than her last. But she stumbled right out of the gate when her lummox of a husband got caught in a clumsy attempt at grandstanding and straw-purchasing. Her irritability at losing the votes on her pet bills was even more unbecoming. She now joins Sarah Brady and Diane Feinstein on the list of the perpetually cranky and obnoxious.
5. Pat Toomey: He pissed away his NRA “A” rating and perhaps pissed off the voters of Western Pennsylvania by taking the position as lead Republican collaborator. The only saving grace for Toomey is that he voted against the Feinstein and Lautenberg amendments banning so-called “assault weapons” and “high capacity” magazines.
4. Joe Manchin: According to Manchin himself, the Manchin-Toomey amendment was the West Virginian’s “coming out party.” What he meant is that his proposed bill represented the first time during his Senate tenure that he’d taken point on anything. What his constituents may take away from M-T is that it was Manchin’s coming out as a gun-grabber. He voted “no” on the Feinstein and Lautenberg amendments, but that’s probably too little, too late.
3. The Mainstream Media: The talking heads of television and their media mogul bosses have spent over six years deifying Barack Obama, so they jumped on the civilian disarmament bandwagon with both feet. After running what was, in essence, a Democrat Party, anti-Constitution telethon, their pet proposals flopped like reruns of “My Mother, the Car.” The MSM looks foolish and peevish, leading viewers by the millions to turn away (even more) from traditional media. Every blog in America should thank them.
2. Alan Gottleib: Long the darling of Second Amendment supporters, Gottleib threw the support of SAF and the CCRKBA behind the ill-fated Manchin-Toomey amendment. He should have checked with his constituents first and maybe also with his banker, because 2A stalwarts hated M-T. On the eve of the vote, he withdrew his support, but the damage was done. Gottleib’s credibility, built up over decades of faithful service to the gun culture, is now shot. It will take him years to overcome this blow, and it will take the gun rights movement years to overcome the loss of one of its staunchest advocates.
1. Barack Obama: Gun control and immigration were to be the two centerpieces of his second term. However, Obama’s status as a lame duck with minimal political capital was made official when he lost the political battle that he – and no one else – personally initiated. It was a huge political overreach. And his image as a petulant man, swollen with hubris was made obvious by his sullen, mean-spirited acknowledgment of defeat. It’s now out there for all to see — the leftist idol has feet of clay.
Winners
3. The Republican Party Leadership: The old guys politically outfoxed the Senate Democrats and POTUS. Believing that he could bend everything and everyone to his almighty will, Obama demanded a vote. He got one that he’ll never forget. By allowing all the anti-Constitution bills to come to a vote, as the Democrats demanded, and then defeating them, the Republicans have ripped away the myth of Obama’s legislative invincibility for good. Plus, they made the Democrats look dumb.
2. Ted Cruz: Compare his cultured debate behavior to the boorish actions of Chuck Schumer (channeling his inner Joe Biden) and it’s obvious how Cruz dominated the proceedings. Articulate and young, he always came across as the smartest guy in the room and a very likeable one at that. Democrats will have a lot of problems trying portray him as evil incarnate. To say nothing of the fact that he’s a top Constitutional lawyer.
1. The NRA: The largest of gun rights organizations was assailed internally by radicals for being Old Fudds and by Old Fudds for being too radical. It was demonized by the Democrats, marginalized by the mainstream media and blamed for a heinous mass murder. Nevertheless, the NRA steered the Second Amendment to spectacular wins – while gaining as many as a million new members in the process. While the CCRKBA nearly folded, the NRA doubled down and won. It’s no wonder the Democrats hate the NRA. What’s amazing is that every gun owner isn’t a member.
Its’ also the left claiming there’s an epidemic of rape and sexual assault in this country. They keep touting the thoroughly debunked 1 in 4 women are sexually assaulted at college. They certainly are doing their part to scare women about all men.
Which definitely trivializes the actual brutality of rape, including a brutal gang rape of a college student near a California campus where she didn’t even have a chance at obtaining a CCW.
Saw a picture on the internet of a woman with a gun. Said something like…. “Yes I’m compensating for something, that I’m smaller and weaker than my likely attacker.”
Here’s the text of the proposal:
This proposed rulemaking would also amend ATF regulations to clarify that the statutory term “commited to a mental institution” applies to involuntary inpatient or outpatient treatment.
https://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pdf-files/ag_order0001.pdf
Note: that doesn’t include voluntary psychiatric treatment.
Joe Biden is an idiot. Every time that imbecile opens the hole under his nose there is a problem. If, and I do mean a big IF, that cretin is suggesting any kind of action in violation of the constitution, then we are obligated to restore order. That fvcking retard had better not be making noise to that end.
I wanted a light weight gun that could get banged up in the elements and not have to worry about. I went with the Ruger American in 308 I took it to Canada deer hunting and I was not disappointed with the gun over all except for the magazine fell out of my hand and with it being -20 it broke. I had to super glue it back together and away I went. I took a 4 x 5 heavy buck at 230 yard with a Barnes vortex 165 grain. I will take it back again this year with a backup Mag.
You forgot the biggest winners of all: the American people
Not all of us. Some American people are still trapped behind enemy lines in New York. Believe it or not, the worst of M-T would have had no effect that isn’t already present here.
I know the war still wages , but it feels good to win a battle.
We thought that Newtown was America’s Dunblane. It turns out that Obama thinks it was America’s Reichtag Fire, allowing him to rule by decree. Or maybe it’s just his inner Hussein revealing itself.
I joined the NRA. Tomorrow, I will join my state organization AND send a check to my local sheriff’s auxiliary group. I’m looking forward to slapping that shield on the back of my car and defending the Constitution from all enemies….
Thanks for joining! We need all the good 2nd Amendment believing folks we can get. The fight is not over and we should have 80 million members to fight the likes of Obama, Bloomberg, Feinstein, Pelosi, etc. The more we have, the heavier the pressure we can bring to bear.
citizens of Maryland: lost.
lawyers who practice con law: winner
Looks like someone handed him a jumbo size 128 oz steaming hot cup of shut the ____ up… Suck it Bloomers…
Oh, so now the turncoat 16 are cunning masterminds who “outfoxed” Obama? Hah, McCain and Graham, Ayotte and the rest of the Turncoat 16 are going to be rehabilitated by Karl Rove types?
Funny stuff. The GOP “old guard” are the cancer within the GOP. Vote out the closet leftists like McCain, Graham and the other Turncoats who are going to try to ride the wave of success when they tried to undermine it with compromise.
They outfoxed the Democrats — and apparently, they outfoxed you, too. They voted to bring the bills to the Senate floor because they can count.
As for the Republicans who voted for any of the amendments, they can all go to hell as far as I’m concerned.
Well written and very perceptive. I think you may be a little too hard on Gottlieb and Toomey, I think they were really trying to make some gains from the good parts of the bill – and there were some – but without the safeguards it simply became a no-go. The real kamikaze was Manchin, he’s going to have a really tough time – not so much for the merits of the bill – but playing the part of Obama’s lapdog (like Christie). Not good. Thanks again.
The game series Fallout got me into guns.
How? No idea. The series does not do things realisticly.
But after getting my.brains bashed in by a wielding a pipe one too many times, I started to think ‘It never hurts to be prepared’.
I feel that the GOA deserves to be on the Winners list as well, they really emerged as a force to be reckoned with and the group that keeps the NRA in check. Having a hardline no compromise mandate, they keep the NRA on their toes. The GOA was definitely a big winner in this.
You might be right. Time will tell.
I am still inclined to think Gottleib knew what he was doing. Yes, he lost capital personally, but his support poisoned Manchin Toomey for the antis.
Amen good logic and a very accurate win. A added note fr all gun owners JOIN THE NRA!!!!
If you got rid of all the guns this is what would happen still.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Ww8_7lyZQ
What makes Bloomberg think that MAIG is not a special interest group?
It will be interesting to see whether individual States will be winners or losers as a result, to the extent that it matters at all. There has been talk of pushing for a referendum on the background checks in at least one State if they were to fail on the federal level – I wonder if that may have been one reason Alan was so keen on them.
Perhaps the failure will lead to redoubled efforts in some States, perhaps it will take the wind out of some bills. Too early to tell, it could play out differently in different States. Could also be of little relevance anywhere – I don’t have much of a “feel” of how this may go, perhaps others here have a better sense.
You guys were just bashing the NRA a few weeks ago and calling out their leader. GOA is where it is at. Or, did you all forget that?
Col. Tim Harmsen?
what do we care what the Economists thinks? Those lazy ass blokes are one defective gene removed from being French….
Would have liked Cornyn’s Constitutional Amend. to have gone fwd. but it was a no go. The ol’ OK Corral scenario in Times Square scares too many Libs.
Also the Vets Amend. would have at least kept a process in place so their not blacklisted permanently.
Otherwise I was proud the traitorous usurping senators lost. Although McCain voted for the high cap mag ban. Remember that folks in AZ.
Ashamed I voted for him.
When do these gun control obsessed clowns find the time to focus on any non-gun related issue?
Stop for a second, guys: could you have imagined any of this in January?
It’s a 14 minute tantrum. I have never seen a President of The United States lose control of himself in public like that. I half expected him to finish up by holding his breath until he turned blue.
This pathetic display of weakness and fecklessness on Obama’s part only makes our victory all the more complete.
I HOPE THEY IMPEACH THIS SOB
So Reciprocity got more votes than all of the anti 2A stuff.
That has got to mean something !
One day we will have reciprocity !………..and we will always have 2A!
Since when is freedom and liberty an “extremist view”? All any of these bills would do is give the political elite one more incremental step toward ultimate control, all while steadfastly refusing to even listen to any proposals that would actually do something to save lives. I sometimes wish we could prosecute such folks for aiding and abetting criminals.
Die Schwarzen Führer
They ran the qualifiers in 6 seconds? I don’t see how that’s physically possible. Do you have video of that?
Ummm…this article is overly optimistic. Why wasn’t the vote 99 against? It was less than half that against. Only six votes stopped an act designed to entrap Americans.
The real losers are Americans since most of the Senate thinks it can pass any law it wants.
I guess the Fed’s don’t need all those bullets they have purchased! No revolt is needed, chance for the HITLER TAKE OVER from the LIBERIALS will not happen.
Agian I ask all true Americans to join the NRA! And keep up the fight and protections of this Great Country and her Constitution!
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast…
Welcome to the club, Chief – I think someone who can finish six stages at IDPA can rest assured they are among the top 10 percent of all pistol shooters.
It is amazing how far PMSNBC has fallen, more like a Saturday Night Live show than anything real. The NBC group is now America’s #5 network, and freefalling fast. Under Telemundo! guess that’s life when you no longer have any “cred”….
Liberals legislating with emotion. At this rate, every household chemical will be subject to a background check.
Great, I’m at the airport right now and my flight is delayed. Why, Wayne La Pierre, why???
Congratulations Tim, you are gentleman and a true patriot, hats off to you!
We need to get rid of the stupid, unique in the US FOID system too.
Background Check for FOID
Background Check for CC permit
Background Check for Firearms purchase
We ought to be the most law abiding, and thoroughly vetted group in the nation! Hell, they should just give us all Top Secret Clearances!
But that’s on my future wish list.
Is that a sig 239?
I know what to say to those mothers and fathers in Newtown. It’s a shame how certain politicians are using the excuse of your child’s death to attempt to pass gun control laws that would have had absolutely no affect on the outcome of the Sandy Hook massacre. It’s time these politicians are called out for this horrible action instead of actually doing something that would prevent it.