NRA

by NoahThe mass walkouts of American students protesting gun violence, particularly in their schools, came and went on Friday. As expected, Congress has done nothing to address the problem, well, nothing but stick more bribes from the NRA cash into their pockets. Their silence is for sale and blood remains on their hands. At least Lady MacBeth was capable of feeling guilt for a murder.

The DCCC has been recruiting-- not just supporting-- NRA allies. Jeff Van Drew (Blue Dog-NJ), Anthony Brindisi (Blue Dog-NY), Ann Kirkpatrick (New Dem-AZ), Lauren Baer (New Dem-FL) and Paul Davis (Blue Dog-KS) are all NRA/DCCC candidates. There are others in Congress already who have had long records backing the NRA and, of course, the DCCC backs them too-- from Henry Cuellar (Blue Dog-TX) to Darren Soto (New Dem-FL).

Jeff Van Drew, the personification of a 2018 DCCC recruitIt's hard to say which DCCC recruit will likely be the worst POS if he gets into Congress. But it's impossible to draw up a short list without including New Jersey Blue Dog/New Dem Jeff Van Drew. Van Drew has a record as a state legislature so we already know absolutely what a total turd he's going to be in Congress. And it's the reason why the DCCC selected him.

Vermont's PVI is D+15 and Hillary beat Trump there 178,573 (55.72%) to 95,369 (30.27%). Trump won just one of Vermont's 14 counties (Essex, the least populated). Florida is a more swingy state, although the PVI is R+2. Although Obama won Florida both times he ran, Hillary gave up on the state's crucial 29 electoral votes. Trump beat her (narrowly)-- 4,617,886 (49.0%) to 4,504,975 (47.8%).

From time immemorial the Blue Dog organization has been soliciting money from the NRA and then spreading it out among its members. It’s a kind of money-laundering operation that allows Blue Dog members to get NRA cash without actually accepting it directly.

Melanie Zanona and Mike Lillis co-authored a post for The Hill, Dems seize on gun control heading into midterms.

by NoahThey'd step over her lifeless body without a care as they rushed to collect their checks from the NRA. Ryan would get to his office and crack a joke.

This guest post from One Gun Owner, a political progressive and a musician, happens to be one of my oldest friends. I don't know why he wants to remain anonymous but he does and I'll respect that. His perspective stands on its own.

Since 1990, all the gun manufacturers groups in the country-- so not just the NRA-- gave contributed about $30 million to congressional candidates. In fact since 1990 the bribes to congressional Republicans have totaled $32,361,024 and the bribes for Democrats have totaled $4,257,494. It appears that in just one year, 2016, just the NRA alone, spent as much as $30 million on one campaign-- the Señor Trumpanzee campaign. Where did they suddenly get all that money... all those rubles?

I've reported this here before but bear with me a moment; there's a reason I'm repeating it now. The week Andrew Janz declared he was running for Congress and eager to take on Devin Nunes in the Central Valley district (CA-22) that stretches from Clovis and the neighborhoods and suburbs north and east of Fresno through Dinuba and Visalia and down beyond Tulare, he called to ask about a Blue America endorsement. He was a brand new candidate without the consultants who teach new candidates what to say and not say. He has them now.