I've wanted to post this earlier in the week, but a few other videos got in the way first. This is a video from this past weekend's Saturday Night Live, their version of a Public Service Announcement for a particular important issue. I thought it was a treat. And by putting it off, turned out not only to still be very funny, but even have some poignance.
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This requires two tweets for its Tweet of the Day designation. It comes from Democratic U.S. House Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, in response to a comment that Ted Cruz (R-TX) made in reference to the massive gun killings in Texas. He posted -- But it turns out that Rep. Gallego wasn't sure if his point came across as intended, so he posted a follow-up 21 minutes later --
And here we are again. Who had Uvalde, Texas, on their bingo card?
I was going to say that I look forward to hearing how gun advocates explain away yet another mass killing of anyone, let alone little children -- other than sending "Thoughts and prayers." (tm) But then I realized I've given up caring about their explanation, since it will happen again. And again and again. So, “Thoughts and prayers” (tm) wore off long ago. Eighteen schoolchildren are dead. One would be ghastly and sick, one child shot to death at an elementary school. But this is 19. Again. And two more, schoolteachers. 21 dead. As I write this on Tuesday evening. At least 21. The number kept rising all day. I started with 15. That was difficult enough to type. Let alone fathom. I can't imagine anyone defending this and all the other mass shootings, especially of schoolchildren. (Okay, other than perhaps Alex Jones, and look where that got him...) And if you can't defend it, I have no interest in what someone has to say to explain why there's nothing to do about because of, y'know, The Second Amendment. And its whole well-regulated militia thing. As I read someone note the other day after the murderer brought his "replacement theory" manifesto to Buffalo with his rifle and gun and killed 10 people -- I'd like to speak to the superior officer of his militia. That holds here in Uvalde, Texas, too. And the two other mass gun killings the same weekend as Buffalo. And all the mass killings. All of them. Where's their "militia"? Who's their "superior officer"? It doesn't seem especially well-regulated. For all the "But the Second Amendment...!", we are averaging 1-1/2 mass shooting every day this year. Every day. And this is not an atypical year. A mass shooting is one with four or more people shot. After the Sandy Hook massacre of schoolchildren, there were 300 million guns on the street in the U.S. Today, there are 400 million -- plus now, ghost guns. Indefensible. Just imagine -- a week ago, just one week, the country was shocked and horrified and outraged and sickened by a far-right driven mass murderer who shot eight black people to death in a grocery store. (The same day as two other mass gun killings.) And just days later, only 10 days, that's been pushed off the headlines for 21 dead at an elementary school. Hey, NRA and GOP -- you sure owned the libs on this... Other quaint phrases: “Now is not the time to talk about gun control.” That’s right. It’s not. The time to talk about gun control was long before the mass shootings. "Thoughts and prayers (tm) to everyone." If you really want to send prayers, pray that mass gun killings don't ever happen again. "All it takes is one good man with a gun to stop a mass shooter." Alas, even the Uvalde police force couldn't stop the killer. He was in a gun fight with police outside the school before even going in. And several police were shot. It wasn't until the area SWAT team finally arrived that law enforcement was able to get inside and stop him and the killing. So, perhaps the phrase should be changed to "All it takes is one good tactical SWAT team." And a lot of body armor. And besides, not only is arming everyone monumentally dangerous and not the answer, pretty much every adult in Texas can now be armed. “The shooter was troubled and had mental illness issues.” Maybe, maybe not. But one thing that we know he had was a gun. (Well, actually a gun and an AR-15 assault rifle.) And this is the regular time to remind you that one of the first bills that Republicans passed when Trump was in office was to allow access for those mentally ill to have a gun. And to note that there are people with mental illness in every country of the world, yet a huge near-absence of mass murders. Apparently, being mentally ill with a knife isn't as dangerous as being mentally ill with an assault rifle. Go figure. "Banning guns won't do anything, people will just find a way around it." Gee, but banning books and banning abortions and banning contraceptives and banning the teaching of America's "uncomfortable" racist past all, apparently, do have an impact. Because it seems Republicans think people can't figure out a way around them. And 90% of Americans want some form of universal background checks. That's more Americans than probably say they like pizza. Or puppies. And Republicans won't even do that. Apparently that cool, new Texas law making it easy for pretty much anyone over 21 to get a gun without a license or training didn’t work out as intended. Or, then again, maybe it did. But then, even that was too lax for lawmakers, because the age for being able to get a rifle is only 18. The killer was 18. And timing is everything. Only two weeks, the GOP sent out a tweet proclaiming that it’s always been “pro-life.” What a grizzly concept of being “pro-life.” And if things weren’t bad enough with this for the corporate-owned NRA, its partner the Republican Party and leader Trump, timing really is indeed everything.
Yes, really. Man, this was posted just TWO days ago, and even at that miniscule period of time, it still didn't age well. And worse, notice that the gun event will be held in Texas. And even worse still (yes, that’s possible), it will be in Houston, which had its own mass gun shooting only a week ago, too! But please, let’s take a closer look at what’s planned for the gun festivities! The NRA says the convention "will showcase over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear from the most popular companies in the industry." Cool! Though I’m not sure if “most popular companies” is phrased the way they think it is. But wait! – as the pitchmen say – there’s more! "From entertainment to special events, it’s all happening in Houston over Memorial Day weekend. Make plans now to join fellow Second Amendment patriots for a freedom-filled weekend for the entire family as we celebrate Freedom, Firearms, and the Second Amendment!" O how exciting. Freeeeeeedom! But no, not just Freeeeeeedom! It’s freedom, Firearms, and the Second Amendment. And fun! They left out fun. And also, “Bring the little kiddies.” And mass death. But at least they threw in that cover-all “patriots.” A panacea to make even the most gruesome indefensible activity seem like a feel-good one. Today's mass shooting of 15 schoolchildren has been brought to you by the "pro-life party." Where life begins at fertilization. And too often ends in the fourth grade. Thanks for watching today's Republican Party. Owned and operated by the corporate-owned NRA terrorist organization, here to scare you into thinking you need many guns to make it easy to kill others. We end by giving the floor to the most eloquent, angry member on the subject in the United States Senate, Sen. Chris Murphy. If you didn't see Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on Sunday, here's his Main Story about Subway, in particular on its abusive franchise contracts. It's an enjoyable story, one that clearly leaves itself open to a lot of humor. I think he's unfair in repeatedly saying how terrible their food is -- I hardly think it's great, but I hardly think it's terrible. It's basic subs -- but overall it's an interesting, fun story.
This is a gobsmack stunning response. And I wouldn't be surprised to see it turn up in a Warnock campaign ad opposite relentless clips of Trump saying what Trump has been saying for over a year. Or ads from The Lincoln Project or Meidas Touch.
Almost worse for Walker is figuring out how to respond when his campaign realizes how foolish he looks in this and also when Trump chimes in, furious.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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