Here’s an almost comical story about an earlier time DC Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis got in trouble with a gun. Back in 2004, after he shot out the tires of neighbors who were ‘disrespecting’ him, Seattle authorities simply misplaced his casefile and so he was never charged with a crime. Some great original reporting and quotes from local officials in Seattle.
I’ve been reading through your responses to my question below about whether the country is prepared for a full-on government shutdown or is at all aware it might be coming. Lots of fascinating answers. But TPM Reader PJ’s email caught my attention because in addition to addressing that question I think he captures some of the present — dare I say it — malaise of the moment, at least for a large cross-section of the political nation …
I think the dominant reaction is going to be a straining on the part of people to understand the issue, yielding to eventual frustration with the GOP as the parameters of the governing crisis become clear, yielding no lasting outcome on the system because of gerrymandering and the distance in months from the next Congressional election.
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I’m curious to hear what you think of this. I don’t think the country’s prepared for a full on government shutdown over Obamacare. Or a full on government shutdown over anything for that matter. I don’t mean the country won’t be able to handle it. I mean, I don’t think anyone is expecting it. The country thinks this stuff ended back in 2011 and 2012 and doesn’t have any real idea we might be about to take another ride on this roller-coaster. And yet, as Sahil Kapur reported this evening, John Boehner and the House leadership seem poised to hoist up the white flag and turn the whole thing over to Ted Cruz and the Tea Party who claim at least that they believe the country will rally around them if they shut down the government in a vain effort to repeal Obamacare.
What do you think? Send me your thoughts?
“Aaron Alexis was accused of tampering with his roommate’s car on July 5 while he was living in Fort Worth, Tx, according to a police report obtained by TPM via a public information request filed with the Fort Worth Police Department.” Read more.
This is the best friend from Fort Worth who said Alexis was a great guy. But only a couple months ago he’d kicked him out and called the police of Alexis alleged tampering with the fuel tank of his car.
I’ve been hearing for a while from Republican friends that I’m going to be surprised when we find out it’s not going to be a cakewalk for de Blasio when it comes to the general election against Joe Lhota. But I’m not feeling surprised. The new WSJ/NBC Marist poll puts de Blasio up by a mere 43% margin. Read More
Boehner readies to give in to Ted Cruz, plans government shutdown over Obamacare.
Behind the mystery of the Navy Yard massacre AR-15 that never was.
I wish it were otherwise. But here’s why this latest mass shooting atrocity is not going to revive the push for stricter gun control laws which are just dead dead dead.
Fox News talking heads aren’t sure what’s to blame for the Navy Yard shooting, but they’re pretty confident it’s not guns.