Beyond E.J. Dionne's Absurdism

The National Rifle Association wields power that would make an Afghan warlord jealous because the organization is thought to command legions of one-issue voters ready to punish any deviationism from the never-pass-any-new-gun-laws imperative. [More]

Dionne impresses me as being just ignorant and insulated enough to believe that.

As for the Luntz poll, the argument seems to be we can believe it because he's a weasel-wording republican tool.

Right.

We've seen the fraud of the "terror watchlist" for what it is. What seems clear is neither Luntz nor any in his poll supporting it are so informed.

The other thing we haven't established? How did Luntz confirm any of his respondents actually are NRA members? After all, as long as we're talking pollsters:

Roughly 20 Million Americans Align Themselves With NRA

Polling data indicates that 10% of households claim to have an NRA member. That means roughly 20 million Americans align themselves with NRA. This number is obviously higher than actual NRA membership and is explained by the fact that many people who identify with NRA consider themselves members even if their membership has lapsed. (Zogby International, 2000)

I note the new poll was sponsored by Mayors Against Guns. Y'know, if they spent more time making sure their members weren't dipping into the poor box...

[Via William T]

Epiphany

“You guys understand how significant this is?” Luntz asked the press breathlessly when he came back into the room behind the glass. “This is real. I’m having trouble processing it. Like, my legs are shaking.” [More]

Ah, a parallel Pauline Kael effect that so many establishment Republicans also seem to suffer from, and we're going to see a lot more legs shaking, not to mention fists.

As for Frank Luntz, what more is there to say than this?

About Last Night

More than anything else, a Thomas Pynchon quote comes to mind. Especially while watching the Luntz post-game wrap-up.

Anyone who's read my past assessments of him knows I'm no Trumpeter. But after watching last night's total and undisguised virtual assassination attempt by Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace, and continued (and wholly unjustified) crowing by Liz Peek and other establishment media whores in their desperate attempts to manipulate public opinion, my low opinion of controlled opposition Faux News just sank even deeper.

These media conspirators-- what else would you call them? -- aren't really attacking The Donald -- he's just an avatar for people attracted to him because they're sick and tired of all the evil bullshit and don't know where to turn, but know it's not toward the RINOs. Those are the ones the elitists really have contempt for.

It looks from where I'm sitting, despite desperate attempts to convince everyone otherwise, like the hit job backfired and all the damage was from blowback. Look for the politics of personal destruction to go to the next level. And if that doesn't work, I won't be surprised to see things get even more personal.