"You've disappointed me, and there will be consequences."

[babylonsister]

[CTyankee]

1. Go, Gabby!

[femmocrat]

2. God bless her.

She has more strength, courage and integrity than all of them combined have in one cell.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Exactly what I told Pryor's office. Get what you need from the NRA, not

me.

[Seeking Serenity]

18. If Pryor had voted for this,

he'd be defeated next November, and then Arkansas would have TWO Republican senators. Is that what you want?

Half a loaf is still better than none when one is hungry.

[sinkingfeeling]

19. Pryor will be defeated in November anyway. Arkansas as turned into the

snakepit of the nation.

P.S. Pryor not only voted against the bill, he voted last week to keep it from coming to the Senate for a vote!

[Seeking Serenity]

20. I'd say he has a fairly good sense of his constituents' wishes on this issue

And I am nowhere near convinced that Pryor is a guaranteed loss. His name, and that of his father's, still carries a lot of weight around here. But if he could be made out to have been listening to Michael Bloomberg, he would be lost.

[sinkingfeeling]

21. Then you can send him an extra $50 to make up for what I'm not sending

him this year.

[Art_from_Ark]

23. I think Seeking Serenity has a point about the Pryor name

It carries a lot of weight in the state, even though the apple has fallen a considerable distance from the tree.

And yeah, a good percentage of the residents of the "snakepit" seem to love their guns.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. Art, i don't care who his father was. He will not get my vote next November.

[Seeking Serenity]

27. Hey, that's your choice, and all the best!

I will vote for Pryor because I know as sure as I'm sitting here that he is a better senator than whatever Republican chooses to run against him.

Realpolitik.

[Art_from_Ark]

29. I'm not particularly fond of what he's been doing in the Senate myself

Like I said, the apple has rolled far away from the tree. I met his father when his father was both governor and Senator and was impressed, but the son has been a disappointment. However, it's a pretty safe bet that no one with a chance of winning is going to primary him next year, and his Republican opponent will be a real lunatic. However, stranger things have happened, like when Dale Bumpers primaried J.William Fulbright in 1974 and won. Of course, Bumpers was governor at the time.

[Seeking Serenity]

33. And Beebe is NOT gonna primary Pryor.

Because they're friends (having served in the Legislature together for a time), Beebe succeeded Pryor as AG, and because both men are about on the same spot on the political spectrum.

Bumpers primarying Fulbright made sense at the time. And it worked out for him, much to everyone's surprise (as I recall, I was just a little girl then).

[Art_from_Ark]

56. I was a little sad to see Fulbright go

He was one of Arkansas's-- and the nation's-- all-time great Senators. His book "The Arrogance of Power" should be required reading for anyone getting into politics.

As for Bumpers, he had previously defeated Winthrop Rockefeller, who was a fairly progressive governor during his short 4 years, certainly compared to his predecessor, Orville Faubus. While I was kind of upset that Bumpers had defeated Fulbright in the primary, Bumpers ended up being a pretty decent Senator. We had pretty good representation in the Senate when we had both him and Pryor Sr. as senators, but we haven't had anything like them since.

[Zambero]

22. Southern state support for BG checks is not good enough for Pryor?

Polls indicate 90%+ national support for expanded background checks and only slightly less that that for southern states such as Arkansas. I would not have expected too much risk for Pryor in taking a very defensible position had he suppored this legislation. Conversely there is much political peril in his opposition to it given the lopsided degree of support. The extreme element that opposes closing the no-check loophole would not be likely to vote for any Democratic candidate in the first place. What Pryor has done that could jeopardize his seat is to alienate progressive support for his re-election. He could very well be primaried, and he could lose. That scenario is far more likely in terms of flipping his seat Republican.

[Seeking Serenity]

25. I can absolutely assure you, without fear of contradiction,

that Pryor would not lose in a primary battle, especially not to someone to the political left of him (someone that DU would enthusiastically support). The DPAR would do whatever it could to prevent such a serious challenge, because they know absolutely that a more liberal Democratic nominee would lose to a Republican. Pryor has a much, much better chance of retaining his seat than would a more liberal Democrat.

Would I prefer someone more liberal? You betcha! But I'm just spelling out the reality on the ground here. Reality sucks sometimes, y'know?

[freshwest]

42. Sadly, of the six people I knew well in AR, they are all rabidly

Decided on these things:

Pro-NRA!
Pro-Gun Freedom!
Pro-Life!
Pro-Death Penalty!
Pro-Deportation!
Pro-Business! (though their jobs were shipped offshore)

Anti-Democrat!
Anti-UN!
Anti-Gay!
Anti-Socialism!
Anti-Welfare!

And hard core racists, to boot.

They are on SS, Medicare and Medicaid, sitting at their home in the hills, believing they are totally self-sufficient while polishing their grandfathered licensed AK47 and listening to RW radio.

It took a while to see past the facade. Suffice it to say, we no longer are friends.

After watching the video of the guy who represented the Koch interests making his mandatory appearance in Mayflower, I am not certain many people of AR will vote him.

It's hard to believe that a state that gave us Fulbright and the Rhodes scholarships, Clinton no matter what problems he made, he had the D behind his name, has gone this red. But keep letting them know that not all citizens are fooled by the NRA.

P. S. By this time, I guess the people I once knew consider the NRA too liberal and have joined with the GOA. Sigh...

[rickyhall]

51. I've seen the same thing

I went to high school in Arkansas & had lots of friends, my daughter lives there so I returned a few years ago from Texas. All I get is how horrible our president is & how he's taking their guns from people who could not survive without the mean old Fed. And now it's going full-on teabagger. Only people I can talk politics with are Latinos now. Not that that's bad but they're still in the minority like me.

I'm looking at Colorado now, where I lived when I was small. They have plenty of nutcases, too, but the state is pretty blue up around Denver. I'm outahere asap.

[sinkingfeeling]

66. Me too. I'm thinking of either Boulder, CO or Vermont.

[calimary]

57. That's what I told heidi heitkamp's office.

Last edited Thu Apr 18, 2013, 10:13 PM - Edit history (1)

They greatly appreciated my California money during the campaign (that, as a donor, I helped her win). Therefore, I expect certain principles to be upheld. And if she votes in ways I don't approve, I don't have to give her another nickel.

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. rec!

[Carolina]

5. K&R

[DFW]

6. Sometimes the question arises what it's like to have friends like that

It makes me proud. THAT'S what it's like!

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[babylonsister]

8. Excellent!! Thanks for sharing that! And

you should be proud!

[freshwest]

52. Glad to see you and your friends healthy and happy. Hope Christmas rolls around with all of you well

[DFW]

62. Much water to flow under the bridge before then.

I never saw Gabby in the summer even before her incident. Christmas seems like the next century at this time of year.

[freshwest]

63. This year has been too interesting by far. Time is spinning faster, it seems. Or I'm slowing down.

Enjoy that vacation when it comes, DFW. You and the Mrs. deserve the break.

[drynberg]

7. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS CRUCIAL FOR ITSELF, PLUS IT IS A MODEL

For being bold enough to reflect the will of the vast majority of voters, not the majority of the top 2%. Gabby is Spot On. Bless you Gabby!

[hue]

9. For sure!!!! K&R!

[sheshe2]

10. Here's a link

Of Who's up for re-election, Senate 2014!

Compare it to the list of those that voted nay! They are the ones that we have to go after.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251300313

[rhett o rick]

60. We have to go after the damn Blue Dogs. Republicans pretending to be Democrats. nm

[sheshe2]

61. Replace them, yes we do.

We also need to see if there are some viable Democrats that will be running against the GOPers that are running. If so we should do our best to help them too.

[rhett o rick]

65. Plez define "viable". If they vote with republicans then we should not

give them a dime or any support. Just when you think you can trust them, they stab you in the back. Spend the effort to find honest Democrats.

[JayhawkSD]

11. Better yet, VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE.

[Wednesdays]

12. I totally support the sentiment, but you know there won't be consequences

I mean, just look at my two senators (Coburn and Inhofe). Do you really think they'll be voted out any time soon...ESPECIALLY over gun control?

[blackspade]

13. Giffords is awesome.

[Jakes Progress]

14. K&R Gabby is an American

Who knows what kind of craven slime those who call themselves Democrat and who cower before wayne pitty pat are. We need to make sure that the children and grand children of these cowards know just what kind of spineless asses their grammy and gran gran were.

[SmittynMo]

15. They have disaapointed 90% of Americans.

90% of Americans, including gun owners, support background checks. Yet these yahoo's deemed it upon themselves to go against the grain. What the hell is wrong with that picture? What happened to "United we stand"? I agree, consequences will be had, especially in not electing these quacks back in office. What a terrible disappointment!!!! These politicians are useless.

[magic59]

32. And they don't care

We The People no longer matter, its way beyond that point now. We are now slaves to the United Corporations of America.

[mountain grammy]

16. I am asking millions of Americans to take this message to the streets!

[Berlum]

17. k and r

k and r

[Hekate]

26. YES! YES! YES!

Go Gabby! Go people!

[HockeyMom]

28. I would never vote for Marco Rubio anyway

It's not just ONE issue with him. He votes totally against every issue I believe in.

[Aerows]

30. Vote them out

We have too many people in the Senate and in the House of Representatives that do ANYTHING but represent the people.

Vote them out.

If they are there to get a high paying lobbyist job after their stint in Congress, vote them out, and prevent them from getting hired with lobbyist laws. If they are there to feather their nests with our tax dollars, vote them out.

We need to vote these people out of office, and squelch their agendas by making the will of the people known - locally, at the state level, and at the Federal level. I'm sick of these people doing things in our name that have nothing to do with the will of the people of the United States of America. We need to vote these people out of office, because they don't own popular opinion, they are owned by whoever pays them the most in lobbying money.

EDIT: And we need normal, everyday human beings with a conscience running for office. Anybody can. We get so caught up in politics that we fail to realize that the course of our nation is determined by citizens just like us.

Run for office. The dirtiest dog might win, but sometimes, it elects champions. We need turnover in Congress. Some of these folks have been there so long, they don't even realize the fleas that are eating them up by what they have lain down with.

[DirtyDawg]

31. Finally...

...somebody made the point that the only way to deal with these cowardly politicians is to show them that they should be more afraid of pissin off the folks behind the drive for more gun (safety) laws than they are the bastards at the NRA. Until we toss a few, or all, of these pols onto the trash-heap of history - along with the idiotic interpretation of that Second Amendment - they'll just keep doing the bidding of the gun/ammo lobby.

[SmittynMo]

34. And then you have a MLB idiot talking BS

On Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon made a reference to the ongoing gun control debate, claiming that President Barack Obama "wants to take our guns."

How stupid are people? Pretty damn stupid.

Obama is NOT going to take your guns!!!!

The stupidity astounds me.

[hope4more]

35. NRA's bitch: the GOP

[toby jo]

36. Sometimes you have to stand up and lead. This one'll come back to haunt these bastards.

[Liberal_Dog]

37. K & R

[CountAllVotes]

38. Go Gabby Go!!!!!

& recommend!!!!!!!

[samsingh]

39. agreed

[Phentex]

40. I wouldn't give mine the time of day let alone my money or my vote...

all I can do is send letters and email but they do NOT care about the likes of me! And never have.

[JDPriestly]

41. Is there a list of the Democrats who voted against the bill?

[VA_Jill]

44. Pryor, Begich, Baucus, Heitkamp n/t

[JDPriestly]

58. Thanks.

[Cha]

43. Gabby is using her traumatic experience as a survivor

of gun violence to help prevent further massacres. She will not be not be stopped. This is round one.

thanks babylonsisah

[rhett o rick]

45. The DU blue dogs need to speak up and tell us how you rationalize this away.

There are DU members that defend Blue Dog Democrats. I would like them to try to explain to Ms. Giffords why they think these Blue Dogs deserve to be called Democrats.

Remember, if you donate to the DSCC these are the bastards that will get your money.

[WinkyDink]

46. "You've disappointed me": the lingo of suburban parents everywhere.

The issue is a TAD more serious than such wording suggests.

[Paladin]

47. Are you questioning the serious nature of Giffords' statement?

With all she's experienced? I hope you aren't.

[defacto7]

50. Huh?

You have to be kidding.

[Brimley]

48. April 17, 2013: America, a Failed State

[defacto7]

49. YES!!!

I'm on board.

[smirkymonkey]

53. +10.000

[Lifelong Protester]

54. Yes, Gabby, and I have written to

that horrible excuse of a senator from WI (whose name I will not even mention) and told him not only am I disappointed in him, but I will work very, very, hard to see him defeated.

[Grateful for Hope]

55. She is an amazing woman

Yes, there will be consequences.

[Pisces]

59. Mothers need to take up this cause like MADD. Where are those million mom groups when it counts.

Million moms worries about tv content instead of the lives of children. Anyone can shut the tv off. We need some
people to speak up. They represent us but we hire them. Collectively we should be able to fire them.

[nxylas]

64. First false equivalence in 5...4...3....

I know exactly how the right is going to spin this: "She threatened 'consequences' for pro-gun senators; that's EXACTLY the same thing as Glenn Beck telling his viewers to shoot Democrats in the head". I'd bet money on it, if I had any.