re: #110 goddamnedfrank

Neither Boehner, nor especially anybody who might replace him as Speaker, is going to allow any any new gun control legislation to reach the House floor. Feinstein’s talking about reinstating the assault weapons ban, but it’s simply not gonna happen.

Not saying we shouldn’t talk about it or try to change public opinion for future elections, but pragmatically speaking don’t get your hopes up. The Republicans know that their next big contest is 2014, when old cranks tend to come out in force and younger liberals tend to stay home. If we Democrats want a chance at changing the dynamic we need to work non-stop between now and then on our midterm game plan.

If and only if there is a pickup of seats in the house and a 60 majority in the senate after 2014 will any significant legislation happen. With lots of difficult voter education between now and then. Trying to pass just another rehash of a bill that did no good the first time will not help. The cat is already out of the bag so what do you do to herd it the direction you want it to go rather than the way someone else does? That’s what we really need to figure out.

The far right is assuming they’ll pick up seats and be stronger in two years. The center & the left need to prove them wrong.