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[benjipwns]

If this one gunman was in fact Muslim the GOP is going to have a field day with this (which is disgusting)

They aren't muslims, they're environmentalist wackos:

Hours after the mass shooting, a man and woman armed with assault rifles and handguns were involved in a pursuit that led to an exchange of gunfire with officers, police said. The two suspects, who were wearing “assault-style clothing,” were dead, San Bernardino Police Department Chief Jarrod Burguan said Wednesday evening.

A call of multiple shots fired first came in at 10:59 a.m. from the area of 1365 S. Waterman Ave. The Police Department’s SWAT team was training nearby and was suited, “ready to roll” and responded rapidly, Lt. Richard Lawhead said.

Up to three suspects were believed to have fled the scene, possibly in a dark-colored SUV, Burguan initially said.

Several hours later, authorities were investigating tips that led them to a home in Redlands. A vehicle that was seen leaving was suspected of being involved, and police chased the vehicle to San Bernardino, about 2 miles from the initial shooting scene. In the 1700 block of San Bernardino Avenue, the vehicle stopped and officers fired upon it, Burguan said.

The two people who were in the vehicle — the man and the woman — were dead, Burguan said. One officer was injured in the shootout, but his wounds were not life threatening, the chief said.

One of the deceased suspects was identified as Syed Farook, an American citizen, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing two law enforcement sources.

A Syed R. Farook was employed by the San Bernardino County as an environmental health specialist, public records showed, according to the Times.

http://ktla.com/2015/12/02/authorit...hooting-incident-in-san-bernardino-fire-dept/

By assault style clothing I assume they mean black shirts.

 

[PhoenixDark]

So be it. I'm really tired of the GOP throwing up the 'thoughts and prayers' line and then they go right back to doing absolutely nothing to address this, if not doing quite the opposite by being a megaphone for the NRA et al the next day.

In a broader sense, Murphy was saying the formula doesn't work. You can't just offer your sympathies to the victims, particularly if you are in the US House or Senate/running for President, and think this is an appropriate response. At this point it's about as offensive as saying nothing at all, because that's basically what they're doing. NOTHING. Anyone can offer their thoughts and prayers. Only a very small portion of Americans have been granted the rare opportunity to address the various issues plaguing this country on a daily basis, i.e. gun violence and crazy people and how easy it is for them to get their hands on one.

I am more worried about crossing paths with one of these people (I'd like to call them domestic terrorists) than ISIS. Seriously.

Is this where we act like California doesn't have broad gun laws, including universal background checks? There is no guarantee that gun laws fix this problem. Even if you take the view that I do in terms of straw purchases and gun trafficking being the larger issue that needs to be addressed...while I definitely think the flood of illegal guns would be lowered if we had those laws, people would still be able to get guns illegally.

This idea that the carnage would end if only republicans would pass xyz is nonsense.

 

[Diablos]

Yes benji, you and I can offer our deepest condolences. A politician can too, but they are in a rare position of power in that they have the ability to support legislation that at the very least can curb the amount of gun violence plaguing this country and then actually ACT ON IT.

As far as I am concerned, the mass shootings we have seen in this country is bordering on being not only an epidemic but an ongoing national emergency. When you're faced with an emergency you, as a politician, should not just say "I'm sorry".

This idea that the carnage would end if only republicans would pass xyz is nonsense.

No kidding. No one is saying legislation would end all episodes of gun violence. There is a reason why Obama, when he speaks on these things as he did today, will say something to the effect of "we know we can't stop all of these shootings from happening, but at least we can try to reduce it by passing common sense legislation"

The idea from those who are anti-gun control thinking that those who are in favor of more gun control would be dumb enough to assume legislation would curb the epidemic once and for all is frankly as offensive as it is stupefying.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Finally, after hundreds of millions of monitoring of environmental groups, we finally have a terror attack from a dude vaguely related to the environment.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Check out his art: http://www.johnphilipsousaiv.com/The-Art-of-JPS-IV.html

Huh. I uh, I guess I don't really know good art from bad, so I can't judge. Good on him for following his passion. I'm more interested in this bit.

Sousa believed in [...] the ability of every American to run away and join the circus at age 13 and then go on to become one of the most famous musicians and patriots the country has ever known.

That's something I can believe in.

 

[benjipwns]

Even if you take the view that I do in terms of straw purchases and gun trafficking being the larger issue that needs to be addressed...while I definitely think the flood of illegal guns would be lowered if we had those laws, people would still be able to get guns illegally.

I've told you again and again, Fast and Furious is a phony scandal and an amazing film franchise.

As far as I am concerned, the mass shootings we have seen in this country is bordering on being not only an epidemic but an ongoing national emergency. When you're faced with an emergency you, as a politician, should not just say "I'm sorry".

Nor should you pass legislation. Especially when it's not a real emergency that needs your creation of new legislation. Because the legislative process needs to be long term evaluative not granting broad powers to the executive in the heat of a moment.

There is a reason why Obama, when he speaks on these things as he did today, will say something to the effect of "we know we can't stop all of these shootings from happening, but at least we can try to reduce it by passing common sense legislation"

Because it's meaningless. "Common sense" legislation doesn't exist.

 

[FloydtheFathead]

Is John Phillip Sousa IV related to the Sousa that wrote the Stars and Stripes Forever March?

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Do you really think people that assault their SO and animals should be legally allowed to own guns, benji?

 

[ivysaur12]

That's not the tone or the argument being made right now. I've been watching this, puzzled, since I got home. If this is the route liberals want to go in, good fucking luck.

As a general rule, telling people that their prayers are worthless never works out. It's an insular message that only appeals to people who agree with the message.

That's the route that almost all I'm seeing are taking, and if you're reading it as "prayer is stupid!", then I don't know what to say.

Telling Ted Cruz, who has not taken action on even universal background checks, to "fuck your prayers" isn't about the validity of prayer. It's about how, in this particular instance, you are trying to come off as compassionate when you have been given the opportunity to stop atrocities like these and you've chosen not to.

If that's too hard to understand, then I dunno. Continue to be baffled?

 

[Diablos]

It's a front. It's saying "I care... to the extent that I will feel bad for the victims", and then completely fail to publicly acknowledge that mental health and gun violence tend to go hand in hand when it comes to these kinds of shootings.

It's almost like a slap in the face to offering your condolences and praying. Lots of everyday people do that because it's all they can do, meanwhile politicians who sit up high on capital hill are completely ignorant to looking for any kind of meaningful, constructive way to address this.

 

[RustyNails]

If this one gunman was in fact Muslim the GOP is going to have a field day with this (which is disgusting)

yeah it's over. Time to hunker down.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Yes benji, you and I can offer our deepest condolences. A politician can too, but they are in a rare position of power in that they have the ability to support legislation that at the very least can curb the amount of gun violence plaguing this country and then actually ACT ON IT.

As far as I am concerned, the mass shootings we have seen in this country is bordering on being not only an epidemic but an ongoing national emergency. When you're faced with an emergency you, as a politician, should not just say "I'm sorry".


No kidding. No one is saying legislation would end all episodes of gun violence. There is a reason why Obama, when he speaks on these things as he did today, will say something to the effect of "we know we can't stop all of these shootings from happening, but at least we can try to reduce it by passing common sense legislation"

The idea from those who are anti-gun control thinking that those who are in favor of more gun control would be dumb enough to assume legislation would curb the epidemic once and for all is frankly as offensive as it is stupefying.

But the very legislation he proposes wouldn't even stop many of the mass shootings that have happened recently. Whoever this Farooq guy is, he somehow had multiple automatic weapons in California - a state where they're banned and universal background checks are required. Sure, maybe he bought the guns in a border state and came back to Cali. But he could have had an easier time buying the gun underground.

 

[benjipwns]

Is John Phillip Sousa IV related to the Sousa that wrote the Stars and Stripes Forever March?

Greatgrandson.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Is John Phillip Sousa IV related to the Sousa that wrote the Stars and Stripes Forever March?

Yes. You could say he's...Da Flesh De Sousa!

 

[benjipwns]

I like it too.

Though it makes me think of Dinesh D'Souza.

Do you really think people that assault their SO and animals should be legally allowed to own guns, benji?

I don't support felons losing their rights after supposedly "serving" their sentence.

 

[Poodlestrike]

Yes. You could say he's...Da Flesh De Sousa!

No, you could say that.

Don't pin that crap on the rest of us.

 

[Diablos]

But the very legislation he proposes wouldn't even stop many of the mass shootings that have happened recently. Whoever this Farooq guy is, he somehow had multiple automatic weapons in California - a state where they're banned and universal background checks are required. Sure, maybe he bought the guns in a border state and came back to Cali. But he could have had an easier time buying the gun underground.

He could have and we don't know how he acquired the gun(s) used, but that's not an excuse. Even in CA. He could have gone to a bordering state too as you said.

Even if legislation wouldn't stop 'many' of the recent shootings, even if it stopped 1 out of 5 -- hell, 1 out of 10 or 20, it would be worth it.

 

[Diablos]

yeah it's over. Time to hunker down.

My problem is that Democrats are deaf to how scared people are about ISIS and the thought of a refugee (or sadly anyone brown) carrying out a Paris-like attack. For example when the Mayor here in Pittsburgh basically shrugs his shoulders on the 11:00 news and says "ehh, whatever, there's nothing to worry about, I have more things to worry about, I am on my way to a meeting" (paraphrasing here, obviously) it makes the party look cocky and overzealous. Dems across the country basically respond in the same way.

 

[HK-47]

He could have and we don't know how he acquired the gun(s) used, but that's not an excuse. Even in CA. He could have gone to a bordering state too as you said.

Even if legislation wouldn't stop 'many' of the recent shootings, even if it stopped 1 out of 5 -- hell, 1 out of 10 or 20, it would be worth it.

Its like asking why Chicago has a gun problem when Indiana is right next door.

 

[benjipwns]

Even if legislation wouldn't stop 'many' of the recent shootings, even if it stopped 1 out of 5 -- hell, 1 out of 10 or 20, it would be worth it.

99 members of the 107th Senate agree!

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

benji, why do you think America's murder rate is so much higher than the European countries similar in income per capita?

 

[Tarkus]

yeah it's over. Time to hunker down.

All signs are pointing to yes. Still waiting for a more credible source of Syed's father's comments.

 

[FloydtheFathead]

Greatgrandson.

Yes. You could say he's...Da Flesh De Sousa!

Gotcha and No Joe.. No.

 

[Retromelon]

Yes. You could say he's...Da Flesh De Sousa!

I dont get this reference i thought it was something about dinesh dsouza too

 

[Diablos]

As I read posts here and on comment threads across the web it seems like many are Diablosing (or cheering if you're conservative) over the idea that this single incident just won the 2016 election for the GOP.

Ehhh...

 

[benjipwns]

benji, why do you think America's murder rate is so much higher than the European countries similar in income per capita?

Lack of legal and effective dispute resolution course for a large segment of the population. (To the extent even for "non-criminals" that I would strongly recommend abolishing public prosecutor and defenders offices and combine them into one, with everyone required to serve effectively equal time in both positions.)

Interestingly, the American continents have the largest murder rates in the world. Above even Africa.

Brazil has the world's highest number of murders among large nations and yet has the kind of gun control regime most consider to be "common sense" and non-rights infringing. Mexico similarly.

 

[benjipwns]

As I read posts here and on comment threads across the web it seems like many are Diablosing (or cheering if you're conservative) over the idea that this single incident just won the 2016 election for the GOP.

Ehhh...

Wait, are you allowed to use this term?

Every event a year out decides the election, until it doesn't. Planned Parenthood baby parts. Some Mexicans not being rapists and criminals. Jeb! saying Iraq was awesome.

 

[Diablos]

Wait, are you allowed to use this term?

Every event a year out decides the election, until it doesn't. Planned Parenthood baby parts. Some Mexicans not being rapists and criminals. Jeb! saying Iraq was awesome.

B-b-but there's a brown dude who shot up a place and used pipe bombs and has a 'weird name', whatever the hell that means in 2015.

I think the broader concern is that this fans the flames of Islamophobia which can pay the dividends for the GOP because they're scumy enough to capitalize on that. The question is if it can work. I am not so convinced yet, particularly because we need more details. I.e. was this a calculated attempt at workplace violence or was it part of a bigger mission (jihadi-style attack)? Their escape plan tells me they didn't know what the fuck they were doing, had this been a legit ISIS attack for example, I think they would have blown themselves up or had a much better escape plan.

 

[Aaron]

But the very legislation he proposes wouldn't even stop many of the mass shootings that have happened recently. Whoever this Farooq guy is, he somehow had multiple automatic weapons in California - a state where they're banned and universal background checks are required. Sure, maybe he bought the guns in a border state and came back to Cali. But he could have had an easier time buying the gun underground.

You might as well say he aquired the guns via magic. Even so-called underground guns originated as either legit sales or stock stolen from normal suppliers. It's much more likely he bought them and had them shipped to him via completely legal if morally questionable means.

 

[daedalius]

As I read posts here and on comment threads across the web it seems like many are Diablosing (or cheering if you're conservative) over the idea that this single incident just won the 2016 election for the GOP.

Ehhh...

The same was said about the Paris attacks.

 

[benjipwns]

I may have mocked too soon:

Syed R. Farook has been identified by multiple news outlets as one of the suspects in the San Bernardino mass shooting that ended in the death of one male and one female suspect in a gunfight with police.

A source told NBC News that Mr. Farook’s brother also is believed to be a suspect.

...

According to the New York Daily News, Mr. Farook’s father, whom the paper did not name, confirmed in an interview that his son inspected restaurants and hotels for health violations, and was married with a child.

He also identified his son as “very religious. He would go to work, come back, go to pray, come back. He’s Muslim.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/2/syed-farook-identified-san-bernardino-shooting-sus/

Way to screw over your son if he's not involved or did this for non-religious reasons, dad.

 

[benjipwns]

B-b-but there's a brown dude who shot up a place and used pipe bombs and has a 'weird name', whatever the hell that means in 2015.

I think the broader concern is that this fans the flames of Islamophobia which can pay the dividends for the GOP because they're scumy enough to capitalize on that. The question is if it can work. I am not so convinced yet, particularly because we need more details. I.e. was this a calculated attempt at workplace violence or was it part of a bigger mission (jihadi-style attack)? Their escape plan tells me they didn't know what the fuck they were doing, had this been a legit ISIS attack for example, I think they would have blown themselves up or had a much better escape plan.

I don't want to promote the idea that ISIS is involved, especially since I doubt it, but didn't they have a long string of seriously hilariously botched attacks in their early going? I think that's where Obama's infamous "jayvee team" comment came from.

Like serious Four Kings style mishaps and idiocy.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

I like it too.

Though it makes me think of Dinesh D'Souza.


I don't support felons losing their rights after supposedly "serving" their sentence.

No, you could say that.

Don't pin that crap on the rest of us.

Gotcha and No Joe.. No.

I dont get this reference i thought it was something about dinesh dsouza too

It was supposed to be a Dinesh D'Souza joke.
I'm sorry. I'll try harder next time.

 

[RustyNails]

B-b-but there's a brown dude who shot up a place and used pipe bombs and has a 'weird name', whatever the hell that means in 2015.

I think the broader concern is that this fans the flames of Islamophobia which can pay the dividends for the GOP because they're scumy enough to capitalize on that. The question is if it can work. I am not so convinced yet, particularly because we need more details. I.e. was this a calculated attempt at workplace violence or was it part of a bigger mission (jihadi-style attack)? Their escape plan tells me they didn't know what the fuck they were doing, had this been a legit ISIS attack for example, I think they would have blown themselves up or had a much better escape plan.

Doesn't make sense at all. The escape plan, the shoot up of county officials, etc. Doesn't add up. Like bdubs said, these ISIS scum are not the variety to mess with podunk towns. They like big targets, like Paris, Chicago, NY. LA was just 60 miles west. Could've gone up to any county gathering. Or a mall. Or a theater. Soft targets are everywhere. So why specifically shoot up county people in a town no one has even heard of inside a disabled services facility. Even ISIS is probably going eeeh you guys.

 

[danm999]

As I read posts here and on comment threads across the web it seems like many are Diablosing (or cheering if you're conservative) over the idea that this single incident just won the 2016 election for the GOP.

Ehhh...

I think it'll take a lot more than what is honestly a pretty routine mass shooting (and I feel awful typing that) to decide next year's election.

Like, let's be brutally honest. There will be another big mass shooting (feel awful typing that too) before November 2016. Maybe even before the primaries begin.

What is going to be awful is that American Muslims are going to continue taking a huge amount of bullshit over this because you know individuals like Trump will make sure that happens.

 

[Diablos]

I don't want to promote the idea that ISIS is involved, especially since I doubt it, but didn't they have a long string of seriously hilariously botched attacks in their early going? I think that's where Obama's infamous "jayvee team" comment came from.

Like serious Four Kings style mishaps and idiocy.

I believe so. Looking back though, Obama's commentary (unintentionally) makes him look inept.

I think it'll take a lot more than what is honestly a pretty routine mass shooting (and I feel awful typing that) to decide next year's election.

Like, let's be brutally honest. There will be another big mass shooting (feel awful typing that too) before November 2016. Maybe even before the primaries begin.

What is going to be awful is that American Muslims are going to continue taking a huge amount of bullshit over this because you know individuals like Trump will make sure that happens.

I can't believe Trump said we need to "take out" Muslim families. That's fucking insane. I cannot believe the frontrunner for any party in the US is actually saying that. The Third Reich would be giddy over the US having a politician running for President as the Republican frontrunner who openly says these kinds of things.

 

[B-Dubs]

Doesn't make sense at all. The escape plan, the shoot up of county officials, etc. Doesn't add up. Like bdubs said, these ISIS scum are not the variety to mess with podunk towns. They like big targets, like Paris, Chicago, NY. LA was just 60 miles west. Could've gone up to any county gathering. Or a mall. Or a theater. Soft targets are everywhere. So why specifically shoot up county people in a town no one has even heard of inside a disabled services facility. Even ISIS is probably going eeeh you guys.

I'll add, that if this was ISIS, we would know for sure by now. They'd be shouting it from the rooftops and sending letters claiming responsibility anywhere and everywhere. There's be no guesswork, we'd know for sure.

 

[benjipwns]

If I'm putting together available information correctly. His dad says he was a health inspector, this was a county end of the year party which I would assume county health inspectors might be invited to, the feds suspect that one of the suspects went to the party to ensure someone was there. It's some messed up workplace thing that happens to involve Muslims, if the suspects are correct.

They seem to have just gone overboard in how they were handling the workplace dispute, I assume influenced by the police and their paramilitary tactics.

 

[benjipwns]

I can't believe Trump said we need to "take out" Muslim families. That's fucking insane. I cannot believe the frontrunner for any party in the US is actually saying that. The Third Reich would be giddy over the US having a politician running for President as the Republican frontrunner who openly says these kinds of things.

FDR was a winner and he didn't care how the Third Reich felt about Japanese internment, that's loser talk.

EDIT: Oops, almost forgot. Something, something, ask the al-Awlaki family about a President taking out American Muslim families without trial.

 

[RustyNails]

If I'm putting together available information correctly. His dad says he was a health inspector, this was a county end of the year party which I would assume county health inspectors might be invited to, the feds suspect that one of the suspects went to the party to ensure someone was there. It's some messed up workplace thing that happens to involve Muslims, if the suspects are correct.

They seem to have just gone overboard in how they were handling the workplace dispute, I assume influenced by the police and their paramilitary tactics.

I was hearing "christmas party" being thrown around and somehow that sets off the inner terrorist of a Muslim. But then, I've never heard of someone celebrating christmas 3 weeks before it.

But if I may poke hole in the workplace dispute story, why 3 people? Is that county office really so bad that you can find 3 people willing to shoot it up?

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

I still think authorities are not concrete on the number. We know there were two since there were two sets of weapons and two dead suspects but beyond that, who knows.

 

[B-Dubs]

I was hearing "christmas party" being thrown around and somehow that sets off the inner terrorist of a Muslim. But then, I've never heard of someone celebrating christmas 3 weeks before it.

But if I may poke hole in the workplace dispute story, why 3 people? Is that county office really so bad that you can find 3 people willing to shoot it up?

It's not too different from something like Columbine, which had multiple people involved. At the point we're at now, we can't really rule anything out but we can assign probability values to each possibility.

 

[benjipwns]

His brother was also a suspect apparently, which would be the third guy. Since a man (main suspect) and woman were killed by police.

Christmas Party/End of the Year Party, same thing really. And it's a government office, they're taking the next three weeks off on paid holiday. I mean, they were holding their party on a Wednesday!

This could be an interesting story that comes out after everyone stops paying attention like the Boston Bombers and their weird shit. Or the Arizona/Giffords shooter and his interesting theories on language.

 

[RustyNails]

Christmas Party/End of the Year Party, same thing really.

Dammit, but Jesus isn't born yet. Why dont you people understand.

 

[benjipwns]

Dammit, but Jesus isn't born yet. Why dont you people understand.

He'll clear it up when he comes back. And settle the War on Christmas.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Racing Extinction tonight really concluded well with "listen, 70% people don't give a single fuck about the environment for its own sake, you have to make it about the money." that every good environmental movement today has been about (other than the religious, anti-capitalist ones which are effective but are creepy as shit...). I'm glad environmental groups finally learned economics.

I think the impossibly hostile and gloatingly dishonest reaction to climate change from certain political parties and business interests showed environmental groups how cynical people actually are. In the long run, that's good for environmentalism is now that they know what people really are.

 

[Plumbob]

So does this shooting help Trump's bid to be the nominee? That seems likely to me.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

So does this shooting help Trump's bid to be the nominee? That seems likely to me.

He's gonna be talking deporting U.S. citizens if they're muslim soon. That's the only next logical step.

 

[Metaphoreus]

The "Let's add everyone on the no-fly list to the NICS database" idea--which the president brought up in his off-the-cuff response to this shooting--is terrible. Set aside that when he gave the answer, he probably had no idea if that policy would have made any difference in this case. The no-fly list is notoriously lacking in any due process, which taints the entire proposal. The government shouldn't be depriving individuals of their Constitutional rights because some bureaucrat decided to add someone's name to a list for some reason that never needs to be explained.

In other news of interest:

Supreme Court Blocks Native Hawaiian Election Vote Count. The vote was 5-4 with a conservative majority. The injunction, which prohibits "counting the ballots cast in, and certifying the winners of, the [challenged] election" is not a decision on the merits of the case, and is temporary--it lasts until the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issues its opinion in the case. I don't know enough about the specifics of the case or the arguments on either side to have an opinion about which side is right. I've seen people decry the election as racist (in that it discriminates between people based on ancestry), but the general response is that it's no different from Indian tribes having their own government structures, which sounds reasonable to me as an initial matter.

Texas Sues to Block Syrian Refugees. I was under the impression that states were basically powerless to stop the resettlement of refugees within their borders, but Texas has come up with an argument that says otherwise. Here's the complaint (PDF) in the case, and below are some excerpts summarizing Texas' argument:

7. The Refugee Act of 1980 establishes a framework for collaboration and cooperation among the federal government, the States, and local volunteer agencies such as the Committee in resettling refugees.

. . .

19. The Refugee Act of 1980 requires that the federal government “shall consult regularly (not less often than quarterly) with State and local governments and private nonprofit voluntary agencies concerning the sponsorship process and the intended distribution of refugees among the States and localities before their placement in those States and localities.” 8 U.S.C. § 1522(a)(2)(A) (emphases added).

20. The Federal Defendants have breached this statutory duty of advance consultation with Texas by: 1) preventing Texas from receiving vital information to assess the security risk posed by the refugees in advance of their arrival, and 2) refusing to consult with the State in advance on placement of refugees in Texas.

Also, I was unaware of this:

11. As a baseline protection for such authority [of Texas to protect its residents], federal law excludes refugees who have provided material support to terrorists. 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B). Previously, the President admitted less than 100 Syrian refugees per year. The President announced a policy goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year. To accomplish this goal, the President granted a waiver to refugees who provided material support to terrorists if, among other things, the support was “insignificant” and the refugee “poses no danger to the safety and security of the United States.” Exercise of Authority Under Section 212(d)(3)(B)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 79 Fed. Reg. 6913 (Feb. 5, 2014).

Immigration Case on Track for 2016 Supreme Court Ruling:

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Texas’s request for a 30-day extension to file its opening brief on President Barack Obama’s deferred-deportation program, in a move that leaves open the possibility the high court will rule on the plan next year.

The justices gave Texas an eight-day delay, heeding calls from the Obama administration to keep the case on track for a potential decision by the end of the court’s term in June. The administration is seeking review after a federal appeals court blocked the program.

Under the court’s normal scheduling practices, a 30-day delay would have prevented consideration of the case until the court’s next term starts in October 2016. The court gave no explanation for the decision, and there were no recorded dissents.

Frankly, I'm surprised by this, because the Court could have punted the case into 2017 (when it could be moot, depending on how the presidential election goes) by following its ordinary course of operations.

 

[Foffy]

So be it. I'm really tired of the GOP throwing up the 'thoughts and prayers' line and then they go right back to doing absolutely nothing to address this, if not doing quite the opposite by being a megaphone for the NRA et al the next day.

In a broader sense, Murphy was saying the formula doesn't work. You can't just offer your sympathies to the victims, particularly if you are in the US House or Senate/running for President, and think this is an appropriate response. At this point it's about as offensive as saying nothing at all, because that's basically what they're doing. NOTHING. Anyone can offer their thoughts and prayers. Only a very small portion of Americans have been granted the rare opportunity to address the various issues plaguing this country on a daily basis, i.e. gun violence and crazy people and how easy it is for them to get their hands on one.

I am more worried about crossing paths with one of these people (I'd like to call them domestic terrorists) than ISIS. Seriously.

Isn't this the whole reason people are finally calling this out, but the people being called out are being offended and calling it an attack on religion?