Do you think Speaker Paul Ryan was unwise not to crack down on members who broke House rules, or did he handle it well?

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:25:58 -0400

House Democrats camped out on the floor yesterday to push gun control legislation, creating a bit of bedlam around a scheduled vote Wednesday night. Do you think Speaker Paul Ryan was unwise not to crack down on members who broke House rules, or did he handle it well, given the potential for bad publicity? A Sit-In - Really!??!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 23 at 2016 8:27 PM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:27:26 -0400

The Democrats are already giving themselves bad publicity. Though I do think this made the GOP look weak.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2016 8:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:29:17 -0400

As Napoleon Bonaparte wisely counseled, “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2016 8:29 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:29:41 -0400

This just makes me cringe. A sit in? Really?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 23 at 2016 8:37 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:37:08 -0400

I think Speaker Ryan conducted himself within his Parliamentary Authority but I am very Proud of House Democrats that Stood Up or more Correctly Sat Down for what they believed in. Prayers don't do S**t. Put a bill out there and vote on it. If it doesn't pass, Fine at least it is on Record who is Bought and Paid for by the NRA. John Lewis doing what he is known for and for all the right reasons.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Jun 23 at 2016 8:47 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:47:58 -0400

Ryan was brilliant, He spotted it and called them out for what it was, nothing but a cheap ploy to raise funds...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 23 at 2016 8:51 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:51:14 -0400

It is not surprising that some of the House Democrats decided to hold a sit-in SP5 Mark Kuzinski in the last six months or so of the Obama administration. Obama's Hawaiian grandparents would be thrilled at this spectacle as it would remind them of the liberalism of the 1960s. The irony is that the sit-ins of the 1960s were focused on disturbing the status quo of the authorities who were epitomized by the Congress and Executive Branch. Now it is those in the halls of power who are engaged in sit-ins.
It would have been interesting if any clothes were too tight and they ripped along the seams :-)

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Jun 23 at 2016 8:51 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:51:34 -0400

Why interrupt the democrats whey they are busy showing the world what idiots they are?

Response by SPC James Harsh made Jun 23 at 2016 8:51 PM

SPC James Harsh — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:51:47 -0400

He was asked about the Democrats getting upset and making accusations that he called a recess which turned off the CSPAN and he stated that wasn't out of spite and just procedural, not exact wording. He also mentioned an earlier Republican filibuster which the lights had actually been turned off. I also agree with others that he handled it well when asked about it.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Jun 23 at 2016 8:56 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:56:51 -0400

Sigh...

Were y'all this upset back in 2008, when it was the Republicans doing the sit-in, or were y'all cheering them on?

Obligatory memory refresher:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2008/08/house-dems-turn-out-the-lights-but-gop-keeps-talking-010724

House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking

Blog: House Democrats turned off the lights and C-Span isn't broadcasting it, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 23 at 2016 8:59 PM

SSG John Erny — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:59:29 -0400

Just sayin' Borrowed from Jester Actual.

Response by CW5 Andrew J. Foreman made Jun 23 at 2016 9:01 PM

CW5 Andrew J. Foreman — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 21:01:45 -0400

I really don't care they did a sit in, it's not like the House accomplishes much anyway.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jun 23 at 2016 9:23 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 21:23:43 -0400

First good action since becoming Speaker. Maybe he grew a pair.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jun 23 at 2016 9:30 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 21:30:15 -0400

Why would he? It was a peaceful protest, and it's not like they had anything more pressing to do in either party, so sitting on your ass, is normally how things are done. Ryan can't get mad at them being the GOP is just as bad sitting on their collective asses and doing nothing. I really need a job like theirs. Spend four hours talking smack and taking pics, the other four hours calling everyone and their mother asking for donations. A $174k salary seems about right.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jun 23 at 2016 10:12 PM

Capt Michael Greene — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 22:12:46 -0400

The vast majority of Republican citizens want background checks and support no-fly/no-buy. But Republican leadership refuses to vote, to debate, to form a committee, or even study this matter. So Democratic leaders are using extra-parliamentary procedures to bring the nation's focus on this national disgrace. http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/opinions/kohn-gop-guns/

When was the last time Congress critters were applauded? As Democrats left the House today, hundreds of citizens applauded and cheered their sit-in.

Republican citizens want some gun control. The NRA doesn't. Guess who the Republican leadership is paid by?
The NRA has donated $3,781,803 to members of Congress who are currently in office.
44 of 100 U.S. senators have accepted NRA donations.
249 of 435 U.S. House Representatives have accepted NRA donations.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/nra-donations/

Who wants background checks? Most Republicans

Paul Ryan has backed closing the "gun show" loophole, and most Americans agree, but now that Obama is taking executive action to do so, he's against it.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jun 23 at 2016 10:33 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 22:33:57 -0400

Looks like Hell froze over.

Pelosi said the sit-in would continue "until hell freezes over."

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 24 at 2016 12:59 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 00:59:59 -0400

I think Ryan was wise to not get into a donnybrook with them; they were acting childishly and there was no point in lowering himself to their level. He was also wise to wait them out and pass a couple of pressing bills before adjourning early for the July 4th recess.

Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made Jun 24 at 2016 1:03 AM

Cpl Benjamin Long — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 01:03:27 -0400

I think he handled it well... if he would have forcibly removed them they would have howled like screaming goats...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 24 at 2016 1:31 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 01:31:56 -0400

http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-06-23/democrats-sit-down-and-take-stand-social-media

Democrats sit down and take a stand with social media

Democratic members of Congress staged a sit-in for more than 24 hours demanding a vote on new gun control legislation — all streamed live on social media.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 1:37 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 01:37:23 -0400

Publicity. But the wrong type to bring attention to the wrong topic. No comment.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 2:29 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:29:33 -0400

Personally in my opinion he did just fine.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jun 24 at 2016 6:39 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 06:39:43 -0400

SP5 Mark Kuzinski While I generally think it is unwise not to enforce rules and laws and think that he should have been more heavy-handed in doing so, in this case, not doing so allowed these idiots to show the country how juvenile they are.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 24 at 2016 7:54 AM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 07:54:10 -0400

Can they really call it a "Sit in"? I mean it went from 180 to 20 in just 16 hours. To top it off, after 16 hours everybody took a 14 day vacation. These liberals are such sissies that if they would have to have been there for another 16 hours they would have been voting to repeal all gun control.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 24 at 2016 9:38 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:38:18 -0400

Forcibly evicting the petulant members of Congress would only have shone a spotlight on their cause. Leaving them to sit and stare moronically at the cameras is far better. Look at the photos of them and try to imagine it's a few years from now. What do you think you're looking at? Now, imagine the imagine of them being herded from the arena by Capitol guards. That would have been fodder for their campaigns, wouldn't it?

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Jun 24 at 2016 10:13 AM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:13:49 -0400

I think he did all he could do. What else could he have done? Nothing.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 24 at 2016 11:03 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 11:03:06 -0400

This stuff will happen every now and then because a group will only think in the moment and then do stuff which isn't helpful to moving the country forward. Another chance lost to work on the Radical Islamic Terrorist problem. Paul Ryan was thinking in the long term because these people are not going away soon and he has to work with them. So like kids, you're best to let the temper tantrum blow over so some civilized brain cells can reactivate.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 11:08 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 11:08:43 -0400

Politicians sitting on their asses doing nothing ... Textbook example of SNAFU.

Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made Jun 24 at 2016 11:09 AM

Cpl Benjamin Long — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 11:09:04 -0400

In the picture to the bottom left... are they sitting down on a floral mat.... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA flower power... so they are doing the hippie thing

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Jun 24 at 2016 2:19 PM

SGT Paul Mackay — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 14:19:53 -0400

unwise

Response by CPO Greg Mcandrew made Jun 24 at 2016 2:45 PM

CPO Greg Mcandrew — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 14:45:02 -0400

the dems acted like kids

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 24 at 2016 7:44 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 19:44:35 -0400

The Democrats showed the world what fools they are. And cannot be taken seriously. I don't know what was worse. Having Oral sex in the Oval Office. Or having a buffet in the White house chambers.

Response by SPC Chris Bain made Jun 25 at 2016 12:02 AM

SPC Chris Bain — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 00:02:01 -0400

When toddlers don't get their way they sit on the floor and throw a tantrum.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 11:30 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 23:30:50 -0400

Practicing civil disobedience has certainly proven to be a viable tool to prompt law makers to take action and address uncomfortable or overlooked issues throughout this country's history. The problem here is that it's intended to be used by people who have no power or voice, not by those who actually participate in and ultimately have a hand in our legislative process. When used as it was by the house democrats it becomes nothing more than a crass PR stunt designed to generate positive publicity for their next campaign while actively avoiding their responsibility to address and vote on issues, negotiate compromises and enact effective legislation.
In that respect Speaker Ryan is absolutely unwise not to address the issue from the podium to remind his childish peers that they are responsible for participating in the legislative process and by failing to do so they are embarrassing themselves and ignoring their duties at the expense of their constituents.
I don't agree with people who advocate that the sit in should have been broken up or the house democrats removed from the floor but I do think they should have been chastised for their behavior in the moment. They certainly should be excoriated in the media and by house republicans as well as their constituents for the reasons I've outlined above as we move forward.

Response by MSgt Wayne Morris made Jun 26 at 2016 9:14 AM

MSgt Wayne Morris — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 09:14:51 -0400

To get clear, clean water first you have to get the pigs out of the pond.

Response by PFC Amthony Murray made Jun 28 at 2016 8:08 AM

PFC Amthony Murray — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 08:08:54 -0400

I find it ridiculous that he allowed the democrats throwing a temper tantrum to proceed.