The House Democrats Sit-In

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/house-democrats-hold-sit-gun-control-n597041

Is this going to help Trump?

I'm watching this, and it looks like the stuff of European Parliaments whose governing coalitions are about to collapse, or who are faced with grave economic crises.  We haven't seen this sort of thing on the Halls of Congress since the period leading up to the Civil War.

As someone who has provided far more votes for Democrats than Republicans in my lifetime, this is incredibly disconcerting.  These sights and sounds are NOT the sights and sounds of a stable democracy.  They are the sights and sounds of intractable factionalism, and it begs the question of how we came to this.

Does this issue, not just the gun issue, but the issue of the House Democrats actually mounting a sit-in, really play well in Peoria?  Is this something folks really want from their elected officials?  And does this impact the Presidential race?

[Wells]

Considering most Americans do want some form of gun control, and it's the Republicans who have been blocking it for a while, I only see this helping the Democrats. And that means not helping Trump.

[cwt]

 We haven't seen this sort of thing on the Halls of Congress since the period leading up to the Civil War.

The Republicans did the same thing eight years ago. It's happened many times. 

[Gass3268]

Considering most Americans do want some form of gun control, and it's the Republicans who have been blocking it for a while, I only see this helping the Democrats. And that means not helping Trump.

Exactly

[Minnesota Mike]

99% of Americans are not watching and the remaining 1% are probably split.  The Republic will survive.

[BundouYMB]

Public opinion is with the House Dems & the sit in is literally being held by members of congress so you know they're going to stay peaceful, civil, and on message as well. Can't really see this backfiring.

[Suburbia]

99% of Americans are not watching and the remaining 1% are probably split.  The Republic will survive.

[Virginiá]

I doubt it will have a measurable impact on anything useful. Even if they got a vote on those bills, Republicans would just shoot them down anyway. Given the hell Republicans have been through so far this cycle, I seriously doubt they fear the attention that comes with a sit-in. Shoot, Republicans would have welcomed a sit-in when Trump was going on racist tirades about his Trump U. case judge.

In addition, if they are willing to completely obstruct a SCOTUS nomination for almost a whole year just because Obama/a Democrat made it, then gun control-related hijinks don't have a chance

[libertpaulian]

This is the Democratic Party's "Green Eggs and Ham" moment.  Just like it didn't work for Ted Cruz, it won't work for them.

At least for Cruz, he was fortunate enough to pull his stunt in September 2013 and NOT September 2014.

[libertpaulian]

I doubt it will have a measurable impact on anything useful. Even if they got a vote on those bills, Republicans would just shoot them down anyway. Given the hell Republicans have been through so far this cycle, I seriously doubt they fear the attention that comes with a sit-in. Shoot, Republicans would have welcomed a sit-in when Trump was going on racist tirades about his Trump U. case judge.

In addition, if they are willing to completely obstruct a SCOTUS nomination for almost a whole year just because Obama/a Democrat made it, then gun control-related hijinks don't have a chance

Exactly.  Back in 2012, there were a gazillion mass shootings and everyone thought gun control would be a major issue to drive everyone to the polls to give Obama another 2008-style landslide.  However, it turns out the issue didn't even make a dent in people's votes.

[Likely Voter]

One thing it did today is overshadow Trump's big speech.  So in the short term it doesn't help. 

[SillyAmerican]

House Democrats seem to be foaming at the mouth over gun control in response to the attack in Orlando. Why is it that these same Democrats aren't concerned about the murders taking place in Chicago? Why is it that gun control is only brought up in response to an ISIS attack?

Frankly, Democrats and Republicans are both doing just enough to be able to point a finger at the other side and say "they're the problem." Which is yet another reason why people are so fed up with establishment politics. This is what we get when we send these people to represent us? Fuzzy is right, it's a result (and reflection) of the deep divide that exists within the country, and has to be worrisome for those who bother to pay attention.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal. When the GOP threatens to filibuster its considered shutting down the senate and undemocratic but when the dems shut down the house its not considered undemocratic or shutting down the house lol

[Gass3268]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal. When the GOP threatens to filibuster its considered shutting down the senate and undemocratic but when the dems shut down the house its not considered undemocratic or shutting down the house lol

Lol liberal media myth

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal.

Old meme.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The Republicans caused a shutdown of the government.  Nice try, though.

[Tartarus Sauce]

Am I the only one who thinks this looks fun? It's like a slumber party, but everybody is an adult and wearing a suit.

[Lincoln Republican]

A shameless publicity stunt on the part of the Democrats.

A crass money grab on the part of the Democrats, actually soliciting donations by using the Orlando tragedy as a fund raising effort.

Democrats exhibiting shamelessly pictures of the victims in Orlando, which at the very least is in extremely bad taste.    

[cwt]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal. When the GOP threatens to filibuster its considered shutting down the senate and undemocratic but when the dems shut down the house its not considered undemocratic or shutting down the house lol

Do you not see a difference between literally shutting down the government for two weeks and occupying an empty building after the House has already gone to recess?

[Mr. Reactionary]

A shameless publicity stunt on the part of the Democrats.

A crass money grab on the part of the Democrats, actually soliciting donations by using the Orlando tragedy as a fund raising effort.

Democrats exhibiting shamelessly pictures of the victims in Orlando, which at the very least is in extremely bad taste.    

This. Made even more shameful by the fact that they are tantruming after having voted against the Cornyn bill which would have passed, and was at least 1 step towards what the Democrats wanted.

Dem Offer: Everyone on the watchlist should be banned from buying guns

GOP Counter-Offer: Everyone on the watchlist faces a waiting period before they can buy guns so that the Feds can get a Judge to ban them from buying guns if need be

Dem rejection: No thanks, we prefer no one on the watchlist be banned from buying guns if you get publicity too

[Seriously?]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal. When the GOP threatens to filibuster its considered shutting down the senate and undemocratic but when the dems shut down the house its not considered undemocratic or shutting down the house lol

Do you not see a difference between literally shutting down the government for two weeks and occupying an empty building after the House has already gone to recess?

I'd rather the government be shut down, personally. The sequester that came out of that was a good thing for (temporarily) slowing down the explosion of the national debt.

With that said, I don't care what these liberals do on the House floor. They are in the minority and have no right to a floor vote, just like when the shoe was on the other foot and the Republicans were in the minority. This is just your typical Kabuki theater crap that goes on in that chamber all the time. (And I say that in a non-partisan way. Both parties are guilty of this kind of ridiculous grandstanding.)

Very few chitts will be given by the American voter on this stunt at the end of the day.

[136or142]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal. When the GOP threatens to filibuster its considered shutting down the senate and undemocratic but when the dems shut down the house its not considered undemocratic or shutting down the house lol

Do you not see a difference between literally shutting down the government for two weeks and occupying an empty building after the House has already gone to recess?

I'd rather the government be shut down, personally. The sequester that came out of that was a good thing for (temporarily) slowing down the explosion of the national debt.

Caused by George W Bush's reckless tax cuts and mostly passed with Republican votes.

[136or142]

A shameless publicity stunt on the part of the Democrats.

A crass money grab on the part of the Democrats, actually soliciting donations by using the Orlando tragedy as a fund raising effort.

Democrats exhibiting shamelessly pictures of the victims in Orlando, which at the very least is in extremely bad taste.    

A Republican governor literally put a woman under house arrest in order to exploit the public's irrational fear that she might have had Ebola, even though she never even presented a single symptom.

Every Republican governor in the nation vowed to try and prevent Syrian refugees from living in their state even though they have no authority to do so.

I don't post this to suggest 'both sides do it' because you've presented no evidence the Democrats are trying to fundraise over this as opposed to trying to force a vote.  So, only idiot Republicans (redundant, sorry) do this.

Edit: The DNC and Nancy Pelosi both sent out fundraising tweets.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal.

Old meme.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The Republicans caused a shutdown of the government.  Nice try, though.

and that was all the blame of the republicans lol, what about obama and reid not budging on budget negotiations in 2013.

[Seriously?]

Man this incident proves the media is liberal.

Old meme.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The Republicans caused a shutdown of the government.  Nice try, though.

and that was all the blame of the republicans lol, what about obama and reid not budging on budget negotiations in 2013.

I don't care who gets the blame for a constitutionally prescribed shutdown. As far as I am concerned, the old adage about the Texas legislature applies to Fedzilla.

"When the Texas legislature is in session, neither your wife nor your wallet is safe."

[SteveRogers]

House Democrats seem to be foaming at the mouth over gun control in response to the attack in Orlando. Why is it that these same Democrats aren't concerned about the murders taking place in Chicago? Why is it that gun control is only brought up in response to an ISIS attack?

This statement is patently nonsense. Democrats try to bring up gun control after every mass shooting. It's Republicans who take the "Gee, what are you gonna do? Stuff happens" approach whenever there's a mass shooting, except for when the shooter is a muslim. 

As for how this is different than Republicans abusing the filibuster or shutting down the government, that's easy. Republicans obstruct in order to prevent business from getting done, including even the most basic responsibilities assigned to congress (see refusing to even hold hearings on a SCOTUS nominee, refusing to pass a routine budget that doesn't include a poison pill "repeal Obamacare provision, etc.). This sit-in is being staged to try to get something done, not to obstruct. And since the official policy of congressional Republicans is to never get anything done, I'm not sure what vital business anyone thinks is being held up because of this.