They have ALREADY managed to change the damned media narrative re: school shootings.

[Still In Wisconsin]

In about a week, the Republicans and the NRA have managed to switch the question under consideration from "Should we ban assault weapons?" to "Should we arm school teachers?" This sucks. Before long we'll be discussing what percentage of school teachers should be armed or maybe what kind of weapon teachers should carry, or even whether teachers should carry rifles fitted with high-capacity magazines. I'm being somewhat facetious but I think you know the point I'm making. We have to find a way to keep the discussion focused on the right question(s) but I am not quite sure how to do that.

I do know that my friends with military and/or police training with whom I have spoken on this matter agree: giving teachers sidearms is not going to solve this problem, no matter how well trained they are. One was a Navy Seal (a real one, so don't call Don Shipley) who, while he is decidedly Republican and pro-Second Amendment, does not believe any private citizen needs a f'ing M-16 copy, AKA an AR-15. And yes, I know the M-16 is capable of full auto.

[elleng]

1. They ALWAYS do it: Stating ABSURDITY works

EVERY TIME!

[Still In Wisconsin]

4. Right, then you have false equivalency. "DID HILLARY CLINTON EAT HER FIRST CHILD?" We examine both

sides, today on Hannity!

[elleng]

7. Zacly, so 'we' and 'media' spend lot of energy on absurd distractions,

and deplorables eat it up.

[BigmanPigman]

2. You have to hand it to the GOP...they are

extremely successful spin masters. Their talent is this area is incredible. Dems just don't have that in them...morality, integrity, etc don't count anymore I guess.

[nolabear]

3. Then we have to change it back. Fight. Those kids are.

And you just wait til the teachers weigh in.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Not really - all it does is show their tone-deafness

It's not like it's a new retort. But I think this time you got yet another group pissed off big time and in a large "swing state".

The idea needs to be to capture that anger at the polls - AND do it locally, where there are many pockets of anger out there at the state level. Far too many people sit out the "off-year" elections - notably the state/county/local elections.

If we can get our state legislatures back, and then re-take those lost states at the gubernatorial level, we can start enacting legislation in our states. Then watch them whine about not wanting "states rights" anymore.

[Cha]

8. I like your attitude and scenario, BRDS

Keep Fighting for what's right for the KIDS!

Yeah, the M$M is always going to push the $$$$$$$$$$$$$.. they fooking brought us trump and the War on Iraq, didn't they?

GOTV!

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Mahalo Cha!

We gotta claw our way back, one seat at a time!!!

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. The sheep are dumb.

[lame54]

9. Thanks CNN and MSNBC...

For the free NRA infommercial

[hatrack]

10. I don't think they have . . .

1. Shitstain made his"listening session" into a farce without even trying.

2. The roar from last night's town hall is still echoing.

3. Today's "Wargle-Bargle-Wagga-Nogga-Bluurrrgghhh!" Fest only underlined just how venal, callous and insane the NRA, Republicans and conservatives are.

4. Now we learn that the "School Resource Officer" in Parkland never even went into the building during the massacre, which pretty much chops the legs out from under all the "Arm Teh Teecherzz!!!" bullshit.

Oh, and the students? They're not going anywhere.

[RandomAccess]

11. I was noticing that earlier today

Trump did it.

Made me mad. BUT, it's not going to last. I assure you. I have almost unlimited faith in these kids.

[mmkay31]

13. They are skilled, give them that.

They have changed some of the narrative, but mostly for their own sheeple to parrot. They have not changed the minds of the rational and the young, which matters. It may not bring the change we all want, but the needle certainly has moved. Most people are saying no to such a ridiculous notion, but with the NRA, anything that means more guns is always the right choice. I think we will reject it as a country.

But then again, I could be wrong about everything. I thought there was no way in hell they'd vote in a psycho cheeto, and here we are.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

14. The NRA/Trump/GOP are already saying 20% of teachers should be armed

as if the initial question -- should teachers be armed? -- has been settled, and now we're working out the details.

We've got to keep (and support the students to keep) the argument of getting military-style weapons out of circulation. Every time we let them distract us from this simple message, we lose.