NRA and the Russian connection

[ivwshane]

I thought this was a good read about what might be how and why Russia was using the NRA.

https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/5900...-politicians-cultivation-of-nra-ties-revealed

Investigations by Congress and the Department of Justice have revealed that the Russian government has sought to sharpen political divisions among American citizens by amplifying controversial social issues. Investigators have expressed concern about Russian links to the NRA, one of the most politically polarizing organizations in the U.S.

Its amazing how Russia so easily infiltrated conservative groups and institutions.

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

Par for the course.

When your political movement is based on conspiracy theories and and anti-evidence ideology, confirmation bias is just one "alternative facts" news story away.

 

[kage69]

Putin and the NRA have a similar goal - undermining American democracy and to benefit while doing so. Fuck these guys and fuck Putin.

 

[momeNt]

Democracy only functions in a disarmed society where elite teams from the various 3 letter agencies have the firepower. This helps preserve the peace, and preserve American Freedom. The NRA is aiming to tear this country apart at the seam by not allowing us to reach our destiny of peace and disarmament! Huzzah!

 

[kage69]

Democracy only functions in a disarmed society where elite teams from the various 3 letter agencies have the firepower. This helps preserve the peace, and preserve American Freedom. The NRA is aiming to tear this country apart at the seam by not allowing us to reach our destiny of peace and disarmament! Huzzah!

No, the NRA undermines our democracy by it's un-elected officials giving elected officials their marching orders. This isn't difficult to understand. It is entirely possible to allow for 2nd Amendment rights without having people like Marion Hammer holding more influence than congress members or governors.

Nice of you to ignore the issue of association with Russian officials and spies though, way to flail about dude.

 

[momeNt]

No, the NRA undermines our democracy by it's un-elected officials giving elected officials their marching orders. This isn't difficult to understand. It is entirely possible to allow for 2nd Amendment rights without having people like Marion Hammer holding more influence than congress members or governors.

Nice of you to ignore the issue of association with Russian officials and spies though, way to flail about dude.

Can we appoint a senator to make a list of compromised lobbying groups, or is the NRA perhaps the only one? Once they are put on the list, they should have all funding and lobbying registrations stripped.

I have said since mid 2016 that we have been infected with Russians, that our elections are not secure, and I was laughed out of the forum unanimously because nobody thought it would make any difference because Hillary was a lock. Just goes to show you that we always have to remain vigilant.

 

[kage69]

Can we appoint a senator to make a list of compromised lobbying groups, or is the NRA perhaps the only one?

Doubtful to both. You remember how republicans control Congress, right? I wouldn't hold your breath waiting on them to grow spines, morals, or a sense of responsibility to their oaths of office. NRA is more than just a lobbying group though. They are in a category all by themselves, not unlike Faux Noise.

I have said since mid 2016 that we have been infected with Russians, that our elections are not secure, and I was laughed out of the forum unanimously because nobody thought it would make any difference because Hillary was a lock. Just goes to show you that we always have to remain vigilant.

Good to hear even if that's news to me. I recall people laughing at others believing Dump's fake populism, or at the many ways he is unfit for office, but 'laughing people off the forum for worries about Russia'?

 

[momeNt]

Doubtful to both. You remember how republicans control Congress, right? I wouldn't hold your breath waiting on them to grow spines, morals, or a sense of responsibility to their oaths of office. NRA is more than just a lobbying group though. They are in a category all by themselves, not unlike Faux Noise.



Good to hear even if that's news to me. I recall people laughing at others believing Dump's fake populism, or at the many ways he is unfit for office, but 'laughing people off the forum for worries about Russia'?

I may have been laughed out for wishing for Obama to issue an executive order that he remain President through 2016 election until we can verify it is secure from the Russians. Basically extra-constitutional emergency measures. But look at what it would have avoided...

 

[hal2kilo]

I may have been laughed out for wishing for Obama to issue an executive order that he remain President through 2016 election until we can verify it is secure from the Russians. Basically extra-constitutional emergency measures. But look at what it would have avoided...

Seriously? Don't think that would cause just little constitutional crisis? Get real.

 

[momeNt]

Seriously? Don't think that would cause just little constitutional crisis? Get real.

We are already in a constitutional crisis. We have a President that literally said, worry about due process later, he is tampering with an FBI investigation, and half of his staff is compromised in one way or another by Russians???

I think we could have dealt with a small amount of rioting, and honestly it would have been minimal, to have a postponed election, than the world of hurt we are in now.

 

[Jhhnn]

Of course the Russians love the NRA as useful idiots, retarded agents. Guns in the hands of American civilians are no threat to them- just to us.

The NRA raving on about how every American should be able to buy any damned fool gun they want short of full auto serves their purposes entirely. Yeppers- get 'em armed to the teeth & out of their minds, see what happens.

 

[Jhhnn]

We are already in a constitutional crisis. We have a President that literally said, worry about due process later, he is tampering with an FBI investigation, and half of his staff is compromised in one way or another by Russians???

I think we could have dealt with a small amount of rioting, and honestly it would have been minimal, to have a postponed election, than the world of hurt we are in now.

We arrived here by Constitutional means & we'll come out the other side in the same fashion. How & when that will happen is indeterminate but it will happen one way or another. If Congress or the Cabinet doesn't remove Trump prior to the election we'll just need to keep our institutions as strong as we can & vote him out. This Government of the People will survive Trump.

 

[Brainonska511]

Democracy only functions in a disarmed society where elite teams from the various 3 letter agencies have the firepower. This helps preserve the peace, and preserve American Freedom. The NRA is aiming to tear this country apart at the seam by not allowing us to reach our destiny of peace and disarmament! Huzzah!

When was the last time you used a gun to enforce your constitutional rights against an encroaching government?

The day we turn to violence to "protect" our form of government is the day our form of government dies and a likely dictator arises.

 

[momeNt]

When was the last time you used a gun to enforce your constitutional rights against an encroaching government?

The day we turn to violence to "protect" our form of government is the day our form of government dies and a likely dictator arises.

Oh I wasn’t aware rights were a use it or lose it

Also we aren’t using our guns to protect our government we are using our guns to protect or rights.

 

[Jhhnn]

Democracy only functions in a disarmed society where elite teams from the various 3 letter agencies have the firepower. This helps preserve the peace, and preserve American Freedom. The NRA is aiming to tear this country apart at the seam by not allowing us to reach our destiny of peace and disarmament! Huzzah!

There are few people who advocate complete civilian disarmament. It's obviously a complete non-starter in this country so going on as if it might happen is just anti-gubmint fear mongering.

The notion that an armed populace promotes peace & domestic tranquillity isn't really true at all given the results. It never was true that a citizen militia existed to protect us from our own govt, either. It was intended to protect us from hostile govts, hostile natives & armed insurrectionists in lieu of a standing army. Things have changed, of course, to the point that a militia wouldn't stand a chance against a modern military.

 

[Jhhnn]

Oh I wasn’t aware rights were a use it or lose it

Also we aren’t using our guns to protect our government we are using our guns to protect or rights.

From whom, exactly? Our democratically elected govt?

 

[Brainonska511]

Oh I wasn’t aware rights were a use it or lose it

Also we aren’t using our guns to protect our government we are using our guns to protect or rights.

You're the one that basically said our democracy and rights stand because of privately armed citizens. I'm just calling you out on your bullshit.

 

[skull]

There are few people who advocate complete civilian disarmament. It's obviously a complete non-starter in this country so going on as if it might happen is just anti-gubmint fear mongering.

The notion that an armed populace promotes peace & domestic tranquillity isn't really true at all given the results. It never was true that a citizen militia existed to protect us from our own govt, either. It was intended to protect us from hostile govts, hostile natives & armed insurrectionists in lieu of a standing army. Things have changed, of course, to the point that a militia wouldn't stand a chance against a modern military.

You'd think but we have an awful lot of trouble in the mideast with what are basically militias.

 

[Gryz]

Really ?

You got US corporations paying hunderds of millions of dollars to bribe your own politicians. Buying the US presidency costs $1B. (Isn't that what Obama's marketing budget was ?) You politicians might not all be corrupt, but none of them are independent. They are all tainted. Republicans a few factors more than Democrats. But even then, US politics is fucked up. The idea that politicians represent the interest of the people has long gone. Your free press is also not very impressive. Half of your population elected an idiot into the White House. Do I need to continue ?

And then you start crying about a few Russians. And some tweets and a few paid advertisements on Facebook.

Grow a fucking pair.
You got big problems. With yourselves.
The Russians are hardly relevant. The Cold War is over. This is not the fifties anymore.


Americans are pussies.
They can not do any introspection. They can not do any reflections. It's always other people. It's always the bad guys. You are never to blame. Bwah, bwah, bwah.

 

[Commodus]

Really ?

You got US corporations paying hunderds of millions of dollars to bribe your own politicians. Buying the US presidency costs $1B. (Isn't that what Obama's marketing budget was ?) You politicians might not all be corrupt, but none of them are independent. They are all tainted. Republicans a few factors more than Democrats. But even then, US politics is fucked up. The idea that politicians represent the interest of the people has long gone. Your free press is also not very impressive. Do I need to continue ?

And then you start crying about a few Russians. And some tweets and a few paid advertisements on Facebook.

Grow a fucking pair.
You got big problems. With yourselves.
The Russians are hardly relevant. The Cold War is over. This is not the fifties anymore.


Americans are pussies.
They can not do any introspection. They can not do any reflections. It's always other people. It's always the bad guys. You are never to blame. Bwah, bwah, bwah.

Remember, the Russians didn't just stoke tensions on social networks. They compromised voting systems and the DNC. Thwarting Russian interference isn't just a nice-to-do thing; it's imperative, and Trump explicitly refuses to do it.

And I'm really tired of this "oh, the whole system is messed up" throw-your-hands-up attitude. Yes, the US and its government are really in need of fixing, but we're not going to get that fix by throwing our hands up and hoping for the ideal fix that may never come. The central goal is bringing back responsible government, and that means ousting Trump/Republicans through the most practical way possible: voting for Democrats. You can worry about deep systemic reform when the country's leadership isn't bent on burning things down.

 

[Jhhnn]

Really ?

You got US corporations paying hunderds of millions of dollars to bribe your own politicians. Buying the US presidency costs $1B. (Isn't that what Obama's marketing budget was ?) You politicians might not all be corrupt, but none of them are independent. They are all tainted. Republicans a few factors more than Democrats. But even then, US politics is fucked up. The idea that politicians represent the interest of the people has long gone. Your free press is also not very impressive. Half of your population elected an idiot into the White House. Do I need to continue ?

And then you start crying about a few Russians. And some tweets and a few paid advertisements on Facebook.

Grow a fucking pair.
You got big problems. With yourselves.
The Russians are hardly relevant. The Cold War is over. This is not the fifties anymore.


Americans are pussies.
They can not do any introspection. They can not do any reflections. It's always other people. It's always the bad guys. You are never to blame. Bwah, bwah, bwah.

Actually, we're just trying to help people see whose side they're on. The truth is that Putin's boys came down for Trump in a brilliant, audacious & completely unprecedented way. They did it playing off decades of mind rot put out by our own right wing. It's a whole new departure in the art of propaganda. We could debate the effectiveness until hell freezes over but that effort was clearly made & they obviously intend no MAGA. Quite the contrary.

People need to wise up & not get chumped again.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

It looks as if his use of Twitter has done far more damage to our country. So now between the 1st Amendment and the 2nd Amendment and your crapping all over the 4th Amendment you lefties are picking your enemies. It's not the Russians you guys hate, it's the Constitution.

 

[UberNeuman]

It looks as if his use of Twitter has done far more damage to our country. So now between the 1st Amendment and the 2nd Amendment and your crapping all over the 4th Amendment you lefties are picking your enemies. It's not the Russians you guys hate, it's the Constitution.

.

oh, ladies... oh gentleman, please step aside...

 

[imported_tajmahal]

.

oh, ladies... oh gentleman, please step aside...

Thank you. I'm glad I could bring a little reality into this thread. Just the idea that all you Hate America lefties are the good guys and the NRA is the bad guy.

 

[ivwshane]

Thank you. I'm glad I could bring a little reality into this thread. Just the idea that all you Hate America lefties are the good guys and the NRA is the bad guy.

Gramps, you haven't been living in reality for years and all you've brought to this thread is your faux outrage. Your piss poor understanding of the 2nd is only out matched by your piss poor understanding of the 1st amendment.