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DanTex

(20,709 posts)

62. By "fringe", you must mean the 60% of Americans that support the AWB. Is that right?

Thu Mar 21, 2013, 11:40 AM

Mar 2013

The paper tiger argument is that the NRA has lost its ability to sway elections. This is based on looking at candidates they support, and seeing the results. That doesn't mean that the NRA has lost the ability to influence or intimidate members of congress.

The influence on congress is based, in part, on the perception that the gun lobby can influence elections, but as we all know, perceptions and reality don't always match up. In fact, one of the reasons that people were pointing out that the NRA's influence on actual elections seems very small, is precisely to try to break the control that the NRA has on actual policies, by demonstrating to elected officials that they don't actually need to be afraid of the NRA.

Apparently it didn't work. But that was the argument.

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The N.R.A. Wins Again - TheNewYorker [View all] WillyT Mar 2013 OP

They will lose eventually. nt onehandle Mar 2013 #1

From your lips to God's ears. nt SunSeeker Mar 2013 #2

I find it amusing pipoman Mar 2013 #3

senators represent their constituents? surely you jest. spanone Mar 2013 #4

I have a few bridges for sale if anyone believes that. Generation_Why Mar 2013 #6

Can we not give attention to both? Gravitycollapse Mar 2013 #8

I haven't seen anyone doing that...just NRA! NRA! in every thread.. pipoman Mar 2013 #10

I attribute it to NRA lobbying etherealtruth Mar 2013 #88

All firearms manufacturer revenues in the US combined pipoman Mar 2013 #94

I am glad you cleared that up for me ...NRA not a problem etherealtruth Mar 2013 #99

It is an active lobbying group not pipoman Mar 2013 #110

Good point. The Democrats who caved to the NRA over the wishes of their constituents DanTex Mar 2013 #12

No, rural Democrats don't support these measures pipoman Mar 2013 #14

Poll trutherism is alive and well on DU! And there I thought it was only Dick Morris and Karl Rove. DanTex Mar 2013 #15

Thruthism, eh? LOL pipoman Mar 2013 #17

Not unanimous. Just the majority of them. DanTex Mar 2013 #20

The proof is in the current Senate vote tabulations.. pipoman Mar 2013 #24

Alaska, Montana, Arkansas, South Dakota, New Mexico, Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina. hack89 Mar 2013 #19

Whether it's guns, abortion, gay marriage, or anything else, I think Dems should vote like Dems. DanTex Mar 2013 #22

They ran as pro-gun Dems on pro-gun platforms hack89 Mar 2013 #27

If what you are saying were reality, there would be evidence for it. Right? DanTex Mar 2013 #29

Lets look at what is happening in statehouses all over America hack89 Mar 2013 #32

In other words, no evidence. No surprise there. Maybe the next pro-gunner will come up with some. DanTex Mar 2013 #33

States rejecting AWB is evidence - especially when controlled by Dems. hack89 Mar 2013 #34

You continue to ignore my point. DanTex Mar 2013 #37

Because gun ownership is just like all those other issues hack89 Mar 2013 #38

Well, I'm glad we agree that guns are no different from abortion, gay marriage, social security, etc DanTex Mar 2013 #41

That 60% support is irrelevant when it comes to the Senate hack89 Mar 2013 #43

So, is there any issues where you think that Dems should try and actually win? DanTex Mar 2013 #46

We should try to win on every issue that is important to us while not doing harm hack89 Mar 2013 #47

Remember the public option in Obamacare? DanTex Mar 2013 #51

Because there are Dems whose constituents oppose Obamacare hack89 Mar 2013 #64

Interesting theory of politics you have there. DanTex Mar 2013 #65

All you have to do is find a way to corral those wayward Senators hack89 Mar 2013 #66

We Could Always Primary Their Asses... WillyT Mar 2013 #69

That would be good in two ways hack89 Mar 2013 #71

Texas Democrats support the AWB by a margin of 75-19. DanTex Mar 2013 #73

+ 1,000,000,000 !!! - Bravo !!! WillyT Mar 2013 #74

Texas has one of the lowest voter turn out rates in America hack89 Mar 2013 #75

Umm... that was a poll of Texas voters. DanTex Mar 2013 #77

My bad. So now all you have to do is actually win some election in Texas hack89 Mar 2013 #79

Texas is just en example. The point is that gun control is not just popular in Chicago and NYC. DanTex Mar 2013 #83

2014 should be an interesting election hack89 Mar 2013 #86

" Texans say they trust the NRA over President Obama by a 47/43 margin" hack89 Mar 2013 #81

FFS pipoman Mar 2013 #28

So you think it's fine if Democrats vote anti-gay? Or anti-choice? Or anti-Social-Security? DanTex Mar 2013 #31

Given a choice between "centrist dems" and moderate rethugs, pipoman Mar 2013 #35

OK. Well at least we're agreed that guns are no different from abortion or Social Security. DanTex Mar 2013 #39

But Dems votes will be used against them in Red states hack89 Mar 2013 #40

I believe the popular sentiment pipoman Mar 2013 #90

I keep hearing about all of these people who are going to switch over to R because of DanTex Mar 2013 #96

I don't believe Dems will cross pipoman Mar 2013 #103

I think there's a bit of a disconnect here... LAGC Mar 2013 #106

I think that primarying these Dem incumbents would be a good idea. hack89 Mar 2013 #30

^^^ The question I have for controllers is this: Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #45

What progressive Dems are strongly pro-gun? The pro-gun Dems are red state centrists. DanTex Mar 2013 #48

Russ Feingold was staunchly anti-AWB, but was willing to consider other gun-control measures (n/t) derby378 Mar 2013 #105

But what you are failing to acknowledge pipoman Mar 2013 #111

True. But, as I posted above, even Texas voters support AWB by a margin of 49-41. DanTex Mar 2013 #112

Virginians support the AWB by a margin of 58-39. DanTex Mar 2013 #76

Warner went silent on the issue - did you notice? hack89 Mar 2013 #78

Probably a good primary candidate. DanTex Mar 2013 #80

Once you can show that gun control can win elections in red and purple states hack89 Mar 2013 #84

I'm in a rural area with farms and hunting land and all kinds of stuff Progressive dog Mar 2013 #56

Have no idea what you are trying to say.. pipoman Mar 2013 #87

Rural democrats do support AWB and magazine restrictions Progressive dog Mar 2013 #89

Yeah, most of New York State pipoman Mar 2013 #91

Most of that is over the process Progressive dog Mar 2013 #92

And you'll notice that the rural areas (the area we were talking about) is green, eh? pipoman Mar 2013 #93

You apparently didn't get the part about process, eh? Progressive dog Mar 2013 #95

I have to confess to a bit of schadenfreude. Llewlladdwr Mar 2013 #5

Not appropriate. Gravitycollapse Mar 2013 #7

Gloat while you can mwrguy Mar 2013 #9

Once again, for the 1000th time...... Logical Mar 2013 #13

And of the 300 million guns, 10 to 20 million are assault weapons... Peter cotton Mar 2013 #16

How about something like this... DanTex Mar 2013 #23

You realize the last few mass shooters could have passed all those requirements? Or took... Logical Mar 2013 #98

^^^^THIS^^^^ Paladin Mar 2013 #52

Would it be less tragic with an AWB compliant firearm? aikoaiko Mar 2013 #68

My fucking hero. WilliamPitt Mar 2013 #26

It would help society if gun cultists cleaned up their collective act, but not likely. Hoyt Mar 2013 #36

People thought the cigarette companies were winning as well malaise Mar 2013 #11

Much of the AWB was a deeply flawed bill that wouldn't save a single life. aikoaiko Mar 2013 #18

I applaud Reid's decision kudzu22 Mar 2013 #21

AWB aside, in all seriousness: Blue_Tires Mar 2013 #82

Are you forgetting PPACA? kudzu22 Mar 2013 #85

The decision to drop the AWB provision may have saved the more important parts of the bill slackmaster Mar 2013 #25

Gun-control problems/strategies revealed... Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #42

The AWB has close to 60% support. DanTex Mar 2013 #44

Threats to SS are a lot deeper than your one-issue approach... Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #49

My approach is the opposite of one-issue. DanTex Mar 2013 #55

"Gun violence" & gun control have been in the Party Platform since 1968. Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #97

Poll results are meaningless if the respondents don't understand the question slackmaster Mar 2013 #53

The question is "Do you support the Federal Assault Weapons Ban?" DanTex Mar 2013 #58

People are reluctant to answer "I don't know"; this is a well-established fact in polling methodoloy slackmaster Mar 2013 #60

Again with the poll trutherism. DanTex Mar 2013 #63

Thank you for providing an example of what my previous reply refers to slackmaster Mar 2013 #67

This is an opinion poll. There's nothing to validate. DanTex Mar 2013 #70

I agree than an opinion can't be wrong, but it can be worthless. slackmaster Mar 2013 #72

I am confused... sarisataka Mar 2013 #50

People are capable of multitasking slackmaster Mar 2013 #54

Someone forgot to tell the NRA that their dead and done. premium Mar 2013 #57

By "fringe", you must mean the 60% of Americans that support the AWB. Is that right? DanTex Mar 2013 #62

The fringe I am speaking of sarisataka Mar 2013 #109

"The Myth Of NRA Dominance..." was posted by a host of the Gun Control Reform Activism group: friendly_iconoclast Mar 2013 #107

We may have to accept that we won't win this LittleBlue Mar 2013 #59

Yep. Congress can't even pass a gun control measure that easily passed 20 years ago. LAGC Mar 2013 #100

Bad LittleBlue Mar 2013 #101

Not quite. The vote on the omnibus crime bill in 1994 was 68-31 in the Senate with one abstaining. slackmaster Mar 2013 #104

The AWB would not have stopped Adam Lanza davidn3600 Mar 2013 #61

Fuck yeah!!!! Moses2SandyKoufax Mar 2013 #102

The wepaons he used Niceguy1 Mar 2013 #108