Announcement due to start at 11:40 am EST. (Note: the President is usually late to these things.)
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Thank God they’ve assembled an appropriately multi-cultural background for this dog and pony show. And what would any Obama gun-related pronouncement be without a grieving father?
“The president can’t do it alone.” Really? It seems no one has told him that, as that’s exactly what he’s proposing to do today. Again. Still.
As he entered, the President has a decidedly grim look on his face, something that’s sure to change when he tees off later this afternoon. And Uncle Joe looks to be perusing the assembled background props for someone to grope during the photo op following the announcement.
Drinking game (coffee, of course…it’s before noon in most of the country): take a sip each time BHO says the word “I”. You’ll wired before he gets to the first executive order.
Let’s repeat the lie again: the United States is the only advanced country on earth with this kind of mass violence. When you have court stenographers instead of an actual press corps covering you on a daily basis, why not go with what works…whether or not that’s true?
If he’s going to do this “without impugning other people’s motives” this will truly be a first for his administration.
“We’re here not to debate the last mass shooting, but to try to do something to prevent the next one.” Sadly, no one told Josh Earnest.
“I taught Constitutional law. I know a little about this.” Coffee everywhere.
Using the “fire in a crowded theater” justification for his actions is utterly fallacious in limiting Second Amendment rights. What he’s doing is prohibitive, not punitive.
“This is not a plot to take away everyone’s guns.” Why does, “If you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan” come immediately to mind?
Praise for Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey. Both with (formerly) ‘A’ grades from the NRA. Fortunately for all of us, they collaborated with Uncle Joe, one of the most inept bumblers in the history of the federal legislative process. Thanks, Joe and Pat.
“How did we get here? How did we get to the place where requiring a federal background check means taking away people’s guns?” Maybe it’s because that’s the long game the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex has been playing for decades. Just a thought.
They say brevity is the sole of wit. We’re more than 15 minutes in and he’s STILL droning on. The narcissist in chief is inthralled by the sound of his own voice.
“Their guns have not been confiscated, their rights have not been infringed.” Well, he’s batting .500.
There’s your evening news sound bite: “The gun lobby may be able to hold Congress hostage, but they can’t hold America hostage.”
“Until we have a Congress that’s in line with the majority of Americans….” The electoral/legislative process has always been a terrible inconvenience to the Obama administration, damn it all.
Expanding the background check to cover violent criminals with gun trusts? Name…just…one.
“We’ll do everything we can to ensure the smart and effective enforcement of firearms safety laws that are already on the books.” If that happens, it will be a first for this administration. Will he get a question as to why that’s taken him so long to put in place?
“We’re going to ensure that mental health records are submitted to the federal background check system.” HIPAA laws be damned.
“In the greatest, most technologically advanced nation on earth” we need smart gun technology to make guns safer. “If there’s an ap that can help me find a missing tablet…there’s no reason we can’t do it with a stolen gun.” Wireless, remote gun tracking. What could possibly go wrong?
Apparently some retailers have “stepped up” to refuse to sell semi-automatic weapons and “high capacity” magazines. Again, name one. I’m sure the People of the Gun would love to know which retailers aren’t worthy of their gun-buying dollars.
Listing some of the country’s worst shooting incidents, the President lapses into his best Jesse Jackson imitation, to the sound of thunderous applause. Tears and all. Bravo.
“All of us need to stand up the gun lobby’s lies.” What was that about not impugning those with whom he disagrees?
“The reason Congress blocks laws is because they want to win elections.” Thank God he’s always been above such mundane consideration, keeping only what’s best for the country in mind.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” the president intones in memorializing Zavion Dobson.
And with that, he concludes. A virtual re-run of every post-shooting speech on guns the President has given over the last seven years. More security theater sound signifying not very much, with virtually no effect on actual gun crime on the streets. Stay tuned for more coverage and analysis on the executive orders and what they’ll mean for America’s gun owners.