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Why the Democrats Just Lost the House and Senate
Townhall.com ^ | February 22, 2018 | Michael Hammond

Posted on 02/22/2018 7:31:59 AM PST by Kaslin

Remember me? I'm the guy who, in the middle of the Khan imbroglio in August '16, predicted that Trump would win the presidency. And I did so again after the release of the Billy Bush tapes in October.

Well, I'm here to make another prediction: In the last four days, the Democrats just forfeited their shot at winning the House or the Senate in 2018.

In fact, Democrats have made such a grave political miscalculation that only quick action by Republicans can save them from defeat.

The story begins in 1994, when President Bill Clinton gleefully signed a ban on semi-automatic firearms. I was running for Congress in that year. And I can tell you that the reaction of the Second Amendment community was so intense that, on this issue alone, Democrats lost 52 seats in the House, and forfeited their firm control of that body for the first time in a generation. Republicans already had control of the Senate, which they continued to hold.

In 1994, semi-automatic rifles were far less common than they are now. New York and California have generously demonstrated to the rest of America that it is not paranoia to assume that teams of police will come to your home to confiscate your newly-outlawed firearms.

Most Americans understand that this escalating incidence of media-induced mass shootings is characterized by one motive: The desire of the shooters -- particularly the estranged young men -- to seize their 15 minutes of fame, which the liberal media is more than willing to give them. The Newtown shooter (I will not dignify him by using his name) had an actual wall of press clippings displaying the media attention given to previous shooters.

Faced with pleas to refrain from plastering the names and faces of killers on their 24-hour-a-day wall-to-wall coverage, many conservative radio stations have complied. But liberal national outlets have pointedly refused -- citing journalistic standards.

The charitable explanation is that outlets view their First Amendment obligations as trumping their moral obligation to minimize carnage through voluntary action. The uncharitable explanation is that these dead children are "collateral damage" in their "higher calling" of enacting gun control.

But, faced with the fact that this strategy has failed, anti-gun advocates are now faced with the problem that none of their previous "panaceas" could have prevented Parkland. Universal background checks and enhanced NICS submissions -- posited after Newtown and Sutherland Springs, respectively -- would almost certainly not have prevented the Parkland killer (Again, I will not use his name) from legally obtaining a gun. A bump stock ban -- so popular after Las Vegas -- is almost certainly irrelevant to any future tragedy.

So what does the Left do? They forgot the lesson of 1994 -- learned so painfully -- and informed gun owners they intend to outlaw and seize their guns. Bret Stephens, writing Saturday for the New York Times, went so far as to call for the repeal of the Second Amendment. Stephens offered this suggestion in the guise of a moderate who was sympathetic to private gun ownership (by some).

Well, if the Second Amendment community was "fat and happy" on Tuesday, they aren't complaisant any more. All night after the shooting, Americans logged in to Gun Owners of America to give us money -- money we will use to, once again, make sure that not one word of gun control is signed into law.

They understand that, while Joe Donnelly, Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp, Jon Tester, Claire McCaskill, Angus King, Sharrod Broun, Tammi Baldwin, Bill Nelson, and Bob Casey have given lip-service to the Second Amendment, they would elect a Schumer/Pelosi leadership team that would make a ban on guns in 20,000,000 American households their key objective.

Given this reality, there is only one thing that could stand in the way of the Democrats' demise: Republicans.

The Senate GOP is reportedly holding secret meetings about how it could become "the party that finally delivers gun control, after Obama's eight-year failure to do so." GOP Whip John Cornyn's "Fix NICS" bill would shovel millions of new Americans into the FBI's "gun ban list."

Make no mistake about it: "Bonnie-and-Clyde" are already on that list. The new names would consist of more veterans with PTSD, more vacation-traffic-ticket scofflaws, more idiosyncratic people whose names are turned in pursuant to California's ex parte "star chamber" gun ban process.

Absent a Republican rescue, Democrats will, ironically, suffer from the problem with having a virtual monopoly on all national media (including outlets of gun-hating Rupert Murdoch). And that is that your echo chamber ultimately dulls your grasp on reality.

I do agree with Democrats on one thing: Their lionization of killers will continue the succession of one horrific copycat shooting after another.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2018election; banglist; congress; gunconfiscation; guncontrol; guneducation
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1 posted on 02/22/2018 7:31:59 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

I dunno. From all appearances it seems this time around they’ve learned to censor the Internet.


2 posted on 02/22/2018 7:33:30 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Kaslin

Republicans will pickup 8-12 Senate seats & will also pickup 12-20 House seats. Case closed!!!


3 posted on 02/22/2018 7:34:39 AM PST by JLAGRAYFOX (Defeat both the Republican (e) & Democrat (e) political parties....Forever!!!)
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To: JLAGRAYFOX

It’t not just gun rights that will spur this.
Tha booming economy compared to the magic negro’s will help too.


4 posted on 02/22/2018 7:39:08 AM PST by Joe Boucher (President Trump makes obammy look like the punk he is.)
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To: JLAGRAYFOX

I tend to agree on eight Dem Senate seats being picked up. On the House...I think ten of the GOP members from Florida area screwed because of this fake gun agenda deal, and those seats will flip. Maybe the GOP can gain five or six in other states.


5 posted on 02/22/2018 7:39:18 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: Kaslin

[Democrats just forfeited their shot at winning the House or the Senate in 2018.]

UNLESS We the People elect to sit out the Primaries and the General Election.


6 posted on 02/22/2018 7:41:47 AM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose GOD is the LORD. Psalm 33:12)
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To: Kaslin

That was “part of it”.

The Clintons got off to an incredibly evil and rough start, and Rush Limbaugh reached a powerful position.

The Clintons made the mad dash on healthcare, retroactive tax hike, fired the WH travel staff and replaced with their cronies, and it may have been in time for them to get caught with the FBI files..

A number of things led to the 94 election blood bath. Sadly, the Clintons recovered from it with a strong economy and the appearance of moderation.


7 posted on 02/22/2018 7:43:18 AM PST by Professional
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To: Kaslin
In fact, Democrats have made such a grave political miscalculation that only quick action by Republicans can save them from defeat.

Honestly: The Republican party is great at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

8 posted on 02/22/2018 7:47:22 AM PST by Edward.Fish
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To: Kaslin
Republicans will prevail in forthcoming elections if, and only if, they do not go wobbly on the issue of major gun control.

If they want to control bump stocks, fine; if they want to make background checks more accurate representative, fine.

I would suggest adding comprehensive enforcement of existing laws against those who use firearms during the commission of a felony.

But going into major restrictions that would hurt America would also weaken the GOP.

However, defending the 2A against Dem 2A threats would energize the gun-owning base.

9 posted on 02/22/2018 7:47:49 AM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except for convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Kaslin

Pelosi’s ‘crumbs’ comments and the like will keep republicans safe as long as they GOTV.... Left wingers just can’t help but keep doubling down on further left wing nonsnense... the only hope they have is for R and I’s to not show up.

Which could happen, so the GOTV of the GOP better be on top of its game for the midterms.


10 posted on 02/22/2018 7:48:01 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: Kaslin
The Senate GOP is reportedly holding secret meetings about how it could become "the party that finally delivers gun control, after Obama's eight-year failure to do so."

Hey, and while they are at it -- stripping the party of any differences -- the GOP could become the Party of Abortion.

11 posted on 02/22/2018 7:49:01 AM PST by Lazamataz (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing 14 times in a row.)
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To: Kaslin

There’s a whole new generation of voters since 1994 who’ve been spoon-fed the absolute need for gun control with little to no opposing views presented to them. The one thing I believe does work is that gun owners who might otherwise sit out the ‘18 election will show up to vote.


12 posted on 02/22/2018 7:53:13 AM PST by EDINVA
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To: Kaslin
Democrats have made such a grave political miscalculation that only quick action by Republicans can save them from defeat.

I would strongly counsel against counting out the Republicans. History is replete with iron-clad examples of Republicans stealing defeat from the jaws of victory. No, my friend, you can never count out the Stupid Party and their yearning to be loved by the NYTimes above all else.

13 posted on 02/22/2018 7:54:59 AM PST by Obadiah
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To: Professional
Clintons recovered from it with a strong economy

What we have here is a perfect storm for Dem defeat if the GOP doesn't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 1) Economy getting stronger day by day 2) Gun Control will get GOP GOTV which typically doesn't happen in off year elections 3) Trump's popularity gaining 4) Dems have no positive plans or issues - hate Trump isn't enough

14 posted on 02/22/2018 7:57:14 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Kaslin
In fact, Democrats have made such a grave political miscalculation that only quick action by Republicans can save them from defeat.

Republicans are good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.................

15 posted on 02/22/2018 7:57:17 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: Kaslin

I propose an entirely different kind of “gun control”. Rather than trying to isolate the possession of firearms, by making access either difficult or prohibited altogether, seize the opportunity and get EVERY youth in America introduced to the practical aspect of firearms and other projectile weapons. This should be introduced as a course of study at the high school level, or even before, first of all demystifying guns of their “powers”, and stripping away the “magic” influence they have over the minds of many people.

Instruction in the care, feeding, grooming and PROPER use of firearms should be taught as a safety program, much like drivers’ education or well, frankly, sex education, but without the propaganda that goes along with with it (sex is NEVER safe).

Firearms, like wrongfully used sex practices, have potential to cause considerable harm, both immediately and with far-reaching consequences. This training would serve to weed out the careless, by identifying them very early in the training course, and also may indicate the unstable or those with very bad attitudes rather more quickly than when they walk into a crowded space with loaded weapons and begin to blaze away against unarmed people.

And for the sake of the dear Lord, do away with “gun-free” zones. Anywhere. Everywhere. A very bad idea that DOES NOT WORK.

Murder is illegal in just about any jurisdiction I can think of. Yet it occurs anyway. Take away the opportunity, deny the unrestrained exercise of that act of will, and you may not prevent ALL the murders, but you can certainly keep the genie at bay.

I say, arm the school teachers. A deadly woman is a pretty weapon.


16 posted on 02/22/2018 7:57:31 AM PST by alloysteel (Coming in dead-stick, high, hot and blind, with the glide angle of a brick. What a rush.....)
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To: 1Old Pro

One can expect either a liberal money attack on the financial markets, or some other manufactured outrage to try to toss Trump off the tracks.

I’m curious how this Hate Trump All The Time is playing with the public? I’ve seen suggestions that folks are turning off the tube due to the extreme partisanship but who knows...


17 posted on 02/22/2018 8:00:08 AM PST by Professional
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To: Seaplaner
They will not enforce the law on anything. R's and D's can't be trusted.

Wimberley man detained by ICE after traffic stop in Hays Co. released from custody (TX)

18 posted on 02/22/2018 8:01:40 AM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: Kaslin

I wish I was that confident!! Our party is also in disarray, just look at the way the spineless pubs are acting towards the president and how they are shilling the beast, bubba, and Ovomit! Nope it’s gonna be a tight as a tick mid term elections!! Even the 2020 isn’t assured as the *uss* women will show up in droves to unseat Trump. Scary chit! So go out and vote like never before!!! Texas has an election coming up..DON’T LET SOROS WIN Texas state seats!! Now go out and MAGA y’all!!!


19 posted on 02/22/2018 8:03:11 AM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: Seaplaner
Republicans will prevail in forthcoming elections if, and only if, they do not go wobbly on the issue of major gun control.

I fully expect them to go wobbly — there's a reason the term 'uniparty' works.

I would suggest adding comprehensive enforcement of existing laws against those who use firearms during the commission of a felony.

I cannot agree — the laws we have are invalid due to the prohibitions on ex post facto laws as well as the 2nd.

However, defending the 2A against Dem 2A threats would energize the gun-owning base.

Perhaps their goal is to run the boy who cried wolf as a strategy, always having the danger 'imminent' until gun-owners are thinking ah, it's another false-alert — in my more cynical moments, I think this is the whole purpose of the NRA.

20 posted on 02/22/2018 8:07:11 AM PST by Edward.Fish
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