Friday, December 4, 2015

SAR #15338


Symbolism: Barely 24 hours after 14 people died in the San Bernadino mass shooting, all four of the Republican Senators seeking to lead the nation voted against requiring FBI checks for every gun purchase in the country and against keeping people on the government's terror watch list from buying guns. That's Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio each of whom feels pandering to the NRA is more important than your loved one's life. In all 50 of the nation's 54 Republican Senators voted the same way; for guns and against life.
The Beat Goes On: There have been more mass shootings (four or more hit by bullets in one incident) than calendar days this year - 355/337 so far. Most, like Savannah Ga, the same day as San Bernardino, are just local or regional news. There’s a simple reason why mass shootings have become routine in America — Americans own more guns per-capita than people in literally any other country on earth” Americans with guns have killed more Americans in the past 50 years than have been killed every US war ever.
Flattery: The National Republican Senatorial Committee is urging senate candidates to imitate “many of Trump’s tactics, issues and approaches — right down to adjusting the way they dress and how they use Twitter.”
Null And Void: While the political leadership of the world is busy pretending to solve the climate change crisis in Paris, the real rulers of the world are meeting in trade talks in Switzerland to make sure that any attempts to regulate fossil fuels or promote renewable energy will have to face a corporate tribunal system that is outside any national political control. In other words, profits before people, again and again and again.
Quoted: “Think of it. Obama, your African-American youth — 51 percent unemployment, right? You guys our age, they have unemployment that’s double or triple what other people have. What the hell has he done for the African-Americans? He’s done nothing. He’s done nothing. I don’t think he cares about them. He’s done nothing. It’s all talk, it’s all words with this guy.” That's The Donald, and for once he is pretty much right. And the same could be said for so many things that could have been, not just for African-Americans but for all of us. But don't forget that a great deal of the blame rests with the Republican-controlled Congress,.
Squeaky Wheel: Saudi Arabia, which is beginning to notice the impact of low oil prices on its budget as its financial reserves get eaten by income shortfalls, is quietly suggesting that its “as low as needed as long as needed” claim is... negotiable. It has suggested that if it can get cover from major producers inside and outside OPEC, it would agree to cut back production to drive up the price of oil. It's unclear whether the low prices have sufficiently decimated US shale oil fracking to remove that threat.
Gesture, Empty: Senate Republicans passed a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood, demolish/Obamacare, and be vetoed by the President. 'Twas a famous victory.
Porn O'Graph: Prophetic profits.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

i am both horrified and mystified by the republican party and especially leadership to refuse to support universal background checks and apply the no-fly list in permitting firearms purchases.

i am a member of the NRA and i have argued, unsuccessfully for years that it is in the best interest of those who claim they support the second amendment, to do everything reasonably possible to try and keep guns out of the hands of those who are deranged and clearly demonstrate a propensity to hurt other people.

i strongly believe law abiding citizens have a right to possess firearms…but no right is limitless.

i wish people on both extremes of this debate could come together with a degree of mutual understanding and craft a policy that is moderate and effective….sadness

(CK, thanks for your outstanding work aggregating news and your commentary…i visit every day)
best regards

michael savoca , olympia wa

Gegner said...

Where to begin? I'd opine that the 'trouble' originates/rests within the people charged with 'keeping us informed'...and provide badly tainted 'info-tainment' instead.

Worse, it is these same criminals [held hostage to their paycheck] that create (and maintain) the appearance that the vast majority of the populous has lost it's 'sense of direction' when poll after poll proves otherwise.

Um, to clarify issues somewhat, we should stop using the 'labels' Democrat & Republican, Which are now just illusions that there's a difference between what are plainly 'opportunists' (fill in location.)

While it was once considered 'public service' we all know it has become 'self service' with legislative outcomes sold to the highest contributor.

Part of the ginormous cost of political campaigning is 'buying' media time. Since 'the 4th Estate' exists to 'serve the interests of the people' Shouldn't the be obliged to provide this time/column space 'for free' (with access to all candidates?)

ANd that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to delineating how badly the processes governing this nation are broken.

We must (re)establish Justice before those who would rob you of your rights (for personal gain...isn't greed great?) turn our civilization into a shooting gallery...where the act of leaving your home will become and exercise in taking your life into your own hands (and you won't want to go there unarmed!)