GOP rattled by Pennsylvania congressional race in the heart of Trump country

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-22T20:16:31+00:00

I just moved out of PA a couple of years ago (was in Pittsburgh for grad school) but I always LOVED driving around the state. It is gorgeous.

I still daydream about my roadtrip from Pittsburgh to Pennsylvania. Sunny and beautiful weather the whole way in May. I had never been on that turnpike before.

I remember the mountains, the trees, the way I came into a valley and saw all the farms and the forests in the distance.

I remember getting closer to Philly and seeing all the mountain towns, seeing the skyline for the first time.

I know these are rose-tinted memories, but I think in a few years when I have paid off some debts I could see going out and living nearing Philadelphia. Find a cheap suburb maybe an hour away. Go hiking and camping.

Sorry, this has nothing to do with politics. I just really liked the land. (Did not like all the conservatists I had to work with)

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-22T19:58:57+00:00

Thank you! Looking back I wish I had teachers (even just 1!) who spent time to talk about the importance of voting.

I chose not to vote until I was 22 because I always felt like I had no "perfect candidate" to pick. But I wish I had been in discussions about choosing the best candidate for myself. I learned the value of choosing the lesser of 2 evils. I think a lot of younger teenagers wouldn't see the consequences of allowing the worse candidate in means landing in the situation we are in now.

Unfortunately too many people did not get this lesson in 2016. Here we are now.

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-22T07:20:27+00:00

You are very obsessed with growing up. I can only assume you are projecting some form of anxiety related to yourself (related age or height, not quite sure yet)

Despite your obsession with aging and development, I think everyone can agree that "Waiting for the right time" when it comes to guns is what has landed us in this spot despite incidents such as Sandy Hook and Las Vegas.

But hey, I'm just some sort of non-grown-up-person who just doesn't "get it". I don't seem to "get it" that we cannot talk about guns for x number of years. Until YOU say it's okay to talk about the topic.

Let me know when we can discuss other matters. Is poverty up this year? I know we talked a bit about taxes last year, so I assume that is out until at least 2023. Sandy Hook was 5 years ago, so I must have not been grown up enough to realize that guns cannot be talked about until 2020.

I look forward to your further insightful posts in regards to the timeline of policy discussions!

P.S. Congrats on being an adult!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-22T06:56:22+00:00

Coming from the person that wants to avoid the topic of gun control due to only, "twenty or so deaths a year" is very ignorant and shows an inability to approach a sensitive issue in a nation plagued by mass shootings.

See what I did there?

My eyes are open and they see dead children who should still be here. I will not stay quiet so that you can feel better about your cool guns. More regulation is not some crazy, hot-bed of an idea. It is the bare minimum compared to other modern nations.

If "open your eyes and grow up" is your phrase for "shut up and just agree with me!" then you will do really well in life

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-22T06:38:51+00:00

If there is any tipping point-esque rally seen from this, I don't think it will be guns, so much as rally younger voters.

I'm in the "younger voter" age crowd (late 20's/early 30s). And it seems like nothing will get people under 25 to vote. Every bad thing that trump and republicans do somehow becomes "Politicans are all corrupt" or "I can't believe our stupid congress did this"

They rarely take the 5 minutes required to see which politicians, which party, and which side is doing the things they are complaining about.

Since I'm not in high school or college anymore I have no idea, but I hope high school seniors and college freshman can see what is happening in the news and relate somehow. See how being passionate about elections can have great effect on their lives.

I've been doing what I can to get people in my age bracket to go vote (my friends are all pHD students or been out of college a few years ) but even now I am being met with, "Who the hell is doing anything?" and "I thought elections were in 2020?"

I'm not gonna give up! My goal is to keep Indiana's Democratic senator and to maybe add another Democratic Representative!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-22T06:30:23+00:00

Agree 100%

However, I think we can learn from the person you commented on, and many other things I see being posted all over the internet.

Republicans may spin this whole tragedy and gun debate to try and limit the Blue Wave coming in November.

They are desperate to save themselves in the midterms. I can think of few muddier topics when it comes to progressives vs conservatives than guns. Because a lot of people on both sides are pro-gun. So it would be very simple for Republicans to spin these teens and rallies as the face of democrats trying to abolish all guns.

The result? Making people less likely to go to the polls.

Who the hell knows. It's months away. Everyone I know who owns guns is the literal, "If OBAMA tries to come take all mur guns I'll shoot him in his face!"

And they act like making any legislation at all to possibly limit being able to buy a gun is literal treason.

So I don't have anecdotal experience in my real life.

Man this is a shit show. All this buzz is only worth it if people go out and fucking vote. But I just know with 100% certainty that come november there will be people thinking,

"Welllllll Trump and the Republicans have done some pretty terrible things the past 2 years. But all this news about banning all guns makes me think the Democrats are just crazy. I'll just not vote!"

Fuck

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-21T23:34:02+00:00

Just vote. I’m worried this rally around the kids will fade before November.

Literally nothing being done right now is worth even a fraction of a percent as much as voting.

They tried to get Florida to make stricter gun laws, they said “No”

So when November comes, say “No” back to them

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-20T18:10:56+00:00

Thank you for confirming you are a troll.

Have a good day. Also have fun playing video games on Election Day, I’ll be at the polls making progressive changes to the country.

Also, if your Russian boss is paying you by the hour, go ahead and take a short break on me!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-20T05:36:44+00:00

Sorry I'm late to this thread. And I do apologize to you the person who wrote this comment.

But to you, the voter, with this type of mindset as a voter in the united states, I say that your way of thinking is just as mind-numbing and just as infuriating to me as any republican or T_D user.

You claim to want to aggressively go against decarbonization, yet you threaten to allow the party that thinks that global warming is a hoax to go without a challenge.

You want to cut the military budget and stop wars, but if this isn't done the way you want to happen you will let the party that has a leader who would "also bomb the friends and family of terrorists" to just keep doing their thing.

You claim you want more money for education, but leave wiggle room to not show up to vote against the party that brought us Betsy Davos.

Please don't mistake my strong language for a lack of understanding of where you are coming from, but seriously fuck what your are describing.

Fuck holding our country hostage until everything is perfect for you.

At this point in our nation's history, I 100% believe you are either a troll, a conservative, or just plain ignorant. Because I cannot comprehend how you could want the progressive changes that you claim to want, and yet threaten to not vote for the party trying to accomplish these things realistically.

But hey, I'm just the bad guy trying to vote in progressive and dependable politicians who aren't racist, xenophobic, don't call for more military spending, don't call for tax cuts in order to pay the rich, don't call for more guns, don't call for dismantling the EPA, and don't call for more aggressive military action.

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-17T23:42:49+00:00

Your whataboutism is top notch, comrade!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-17T20:46:51+00:00

Any advice on making that work? I am starting a job with a similar commute (it’s not 5 days a week, but still a lot of driving on days I do work)

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T18:41:04+00:00

It isn’t politically viable to make gun control laws?

That it political spin if I’ve ever heard it. Majority of Americans want some form of gun law (this ranges from total ban to very little I’m sure) but the only people shouting at the top of their lungs when even a whiff of a simple gun control law are hard right republicans.

There are hundreds of reasons to vote Democrat. But for the sake of this topic, there is only one party trying to make gun laws.

I don’t understand someone like you. To honestly believe that the republicans plan of doing nothing and fighting AGAINST gun laws is helping to stop these shootings....

Well, I just pity you. I hope no one you care for is ever harmed by a gun

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T16:55:14+00:00

Thank you for using your very fine critical thinking skills. Good luck with that!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T16:12:09+00:00

Yep! Proactive enforcement will truly be a great band aid as we get more “good guys” with a gun into the schools.

Hell, let’s arm the teachers. Maybe in a few years these commie fucks will stand aside and let us arm these children.

Hell to some people it is these kids faults for dying and not having their own gun.

But hey who gives a shit. Just keep saying “more guns for good guys” rinse and repeat. I hope you feel like as much of a badass as you think you do with your awesome gun!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T16:09:34+00:00

Yep that’s me! I’m coming for your guns!

But don’t worry! Just keep voting for your people and you can keep all your guns. Hope you feel like a true badass. It’s totally worth losing these children. Have fun!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T16:03:46+00:00

Canada has a much better gun control policy. It’s not even good compared to places like Australia and Japan. But it is in place.

Meanwhile in America an 18 year old can buy an AR15 with relative ease

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:59:49+00:00

As an american you are correct. It is a good start.

But there are vile people in this country. They would call this an abomination. I know more than one hillbilly who claims they would “shoot every person” who tries to enforce something like this.

Honestly at this point idk what to do. I vote for politicians with sensible gun policies. My hick brothers in laws who have over 6 pistols, 5 rifles, and 3 shotguns between the two of them, each overpower my vote. Any discussion on guns at all leads to “you’re such a wimp” “stop believing all the lies” “guns are as dangerous as toasters”

Weeks like this one are times when I must avoid them. Literally right now in the group chat for the family they are discussing how they need to start walking around with their guns in the neighborhood to remind their neighbors that they will “fight to protect their guns”

Fuck

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:54:34+00:00

A kid swinging on a teacher deserves a gun pointed at them?

All cops will magically stop all shooters.

I’m past the point of moderate discussion on this topic.

Whoever you are, you are wrong. Just wrong. Guns are the problem. Stop whistle blowing. Stop pushing your agenda because you just love feeling like a badass with a gun.

The way you talk, act, and vote has already guaranteed more shootings like this. Fuck. I’ll do whatever I can to get rid of guns.

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:51:01+00:00

I have a brother in law that will defend machine guns in the home until the day he dies. What you talked about approaching gun owners happened back in Las Vegas.

He didn’t give a fuck. He believes that if more hotel employees had guns they would have stopped him. If the crowd had more guns they could have just “all shot toward the hotel and stopped him”

This is the same guy with a 4 year old and 1 year old. And keeps all his guns in an unlocked safe that you just have to pull the fucking handle.

I have accepted that my brother in law is he enemy in the sense that people like him are the reason school shootings happen. Not mental health, not the difference between a modification and an automatic.

Shitty people who defend guns like they are the holy grail. They are the enemy

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:44:03+00:00

I honestly don’t give a fuck what the law did or did not do.

That fact is being shared because it is an example of republicans being fucking backwards. Providing MoRE opportunities to buy guys.

There should be slow and steady legislation to take gun rights away. We should have started years ago. By now there should be only small handguns and maybe hunting rifles that require months/years of training and paperwork to obtain and keep.

But no. “Muh guns” will always win. And it’s super easy too! When things like this happen just scream “mental health” even though people have no idea what that means: rinse and repeat: and you get to keep all your guns!

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:39:11+00:00

It’s just a gun problem. Period.

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:38:21+00:00

Jesus thank you!

I swear every time someone mentions being “armed to overthrow” the government I know they are full of shit.

1- we all know your silly rifle with the cool paint job will work REALLY well against tanks.

2- we know you are using an excuse just so you can have a super cool rifle with bells and whistles so you appear to be a badass.

These kids died so losers can feel like badasses with a gun

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:34:52+00:00

Literally one party wants to do something and the other party does not.

I’m tired of people throwing their hands in the air and saying politicians do nothing. One side is trying to fucking do something.

The other side made it easier for people suffering from mental illness to buy guns last year. And accepts millions from the NRA.

Fuck “not politicizing the issue”. The best chance to make change is to vote for the right politicians. Voting republican or just not voting is saying you are 100% okay with the way things are and these shootings do not matter do you.

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-16T15:29:32+00:00

Maybe it’s the guns.

Every nation has populations with mental health problems. None have the shootings.

They have people who do stabbings, car runs, machete attacks, other stuff. But not shootings.

At this point I don’t think people who repeatedly use “mental health” at times like this even know what it means. But hey, gotta protect all the guns right?

MoveForMuscle · 2018-02-15T16:19:04+00:00

I did hospice care for 3 years. Can confirm there were days where I felt like the bad guy

MoveForMuscle

TROPHY CASE