The other night, Brian Williams reported on “The 11th Hour” that #MoscowMitch (he didn’t use the term) was willing to move on gun safety legislation, quoting him saying that if Trump indicated he’d sign a bill, the Senate would bring it to the floor. This is what’s known as “Ground Hog Day.” We’ve seen it before.
Never mind that as he was saying it, Trump was telling the Press during chopper talk that he had to see what the Senate brought to his desk, moments before saying they were working on a package and we’d see what happens. Not only have they played this game after every single mass shooting that managed to make the news since 2017, it’s not even a new game!
This has been going on in Republican circles since 2004. During the 2004 campaign, the Assault Weapons Ban passed under President Clinton was going to expire. President Bush said he supported renewing the ban. Republicans controlled Congress. President Bush said IF they sent him a renewal he’d sign it. IF!
He was the President of the United States, the leader of his party, and his party controlled Congress (both houses). He was also touted as a “strong leader.” Republicans like to talk about strong leaders when what they really mean is that they are strong followers. If he were truly a strong leader, and he wanted to extend the Assault Weapons Ban, he would have told his party to send him the bill. So either he wasn’t a strong leader, or he was lying when he said he supported it. I’ll let him choose which.
So the media reported that Bush supported the Assault Weapons Ban even though he didn’t do anything to back it up. The media “reports” that McConnell is willing to bring up a background check bill even though he hasn’t and controls his own agenda. The media “reports” the Trump says he supports background checks because he sometimes says he does.
And here we go, around again.