National Rifle Association gearing up for a fight
Washington (CNN) - The National Rifle Association is gearing up to face one of the strongest challenges to its cause in many years: recommendations from an Obama administration working group on gun violence that are expected to address assault weapons and high-capacity magazine clips.
CNN has learned the NRA is also preparing an ad campaign, expected to include both print and television advertisements, that would begin soon to help mount its opposition to new gun restrictions. NRA officials refused to discuss specifics.
FULL POST
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's husband deploying to Afghanistan
(CNN) - The husband of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Michael, received a tearful goodbye from his family Thursday as he prepared for a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.
A captain in the South Carolina National Guard, Haley will undergo a month of training in Indiana before beginning his Afghanistan deployment as part of a unit that will teach Afghan farmers to grow sustainable crops.
FULL POST
Clinton swaps stories about health
(CNN) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is back on the job and trading stories about her health.
Less than a week after returning to work from her health ordeal – a virus, a concussion and a blood clot - Clinton discussed dehydration and medical tests with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
FULL POST
Panetta orders military cost-cutting in case Congress stalemates on spending
(CNN) - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ordered the military to begin implementing cost-cutting measures aimed at mitigating the risk of significant budget cuts should Congress fail to reach a deal in coming months to avert or soften them.
"We have no idea what the hell is going to happen," Panetta said Thursday.
FULL STORY
NRA says Biden meeting missed the target
(CNN) - The nation’s largest gun lobby left a Thursday meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and his gun control panel “disappointed” and perceiving little ground for compromise and said it would move forward on the issue independently.
“In a sense, they were checking a box,” National Rifle Association President David Keene said on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” “They were able to say we've met with the NRA, we've met with the people that are strong Second Amendment supporters.”
FULL POST
CNN's GUT CHECK for January 10, 2013
CNN's GUT CHECK | for January 10, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle
DEVELOPING: BIDEN RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURBING GUN VIOLENCE TO COME BY TUESDAY… A federal task force looking for ways to curb gun violence will have a set of recommendations by Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden announced. Speaking during a week of meetings with disparate groups on various sides of the issue - including some for and others against stricter gun controls - Biden, who oversees the task force, said the recommendations, to be given to President Barack Obama, will serve as a beginning. “This doesn't mean it is the end of the discussion, but the public wants us to act,” he told reporters. – Josh Levs
BLISTERING NRA RESPONSE: “We were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment,” said a statement from the NRA. “While claiming that no policy proposals would be ‘prejudged,’ this Task Force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners – honest, taxpaying, hardworking Americans. It is unfortunate that this Administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation's most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen. Instead, we will now take our commitment and meaningful contributions to members of congress of both parties who are interested in having an honest conversation about what works – and what does not.”
HICKENLOOPER’S PROPOSAL: COLORADO GOVERNOR WANTS UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON GUN SALES… “Let me prime the pump: Why don't we have universal background checks for all gun sales,” he said, prompting a long standing ovation from the crowd of state lawmakers and law enforcement workers. Federal law exempts gun purchasers from undergoing background checks during private transactions, including at gun shows. However, the first-term governor said it's "not enough" to focus solely on weapons. He also requested support for a “comprehensive overhaul” of the state's mental health system that will “make it easer to identify people with mental illness who are a danger to themselves and others.” – Ashley Killough
CNN's GUT CHECK for January 10, 2013
CNN's GUT CHECK | for January 10, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle
DEVELOPING: BIDEN RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURBING GUN VIOLENCE TO COME BY TUESDAY… A federal task force looking for ways to curb gun violence will have a set of recommendations by Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden announced. Speaking during a week of meetings with disparate groups on various sides of the issue - including some for and others against stricter gun controls - Biden, who oversees the task force, said the recommendations, to be given to President Barack Obama, will serve as a beginning. “This doesn't mean it is the end of the discussion, but the public wants us to act,” he told reporters. – Josh Levs
BLISTERING NRA RESPONSE: “We were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment,” said a statement from the NRA. “While claiming that no policy proposals would be ‘prejudged,’ this Task Force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners – honest, taxpaying, hardworking Americans. It is unfortunate that this Administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation's most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen. Instead, we will now take our commitment and meaningful contributions to members of congress of both parties who are interested in having an honest conversation about what works – and what does not.”
HICKENLOOPER’S PROPOSAL: COLORADO GOVERNOR WANTS UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON GUN SALES… “Let me prime the pump: Why don't we have universal background checks for all gun sales,” he said, prompting a long standing ovation from the crowd of state lawmakers and law enforcement workers. Federal law exempts gun purchasers from undergoing background checks during private transactions, including at gun shows. However, the first-term governor said it's "not enough" to focus solely on weapons. He also requested support for a “comprehensive overhaul” of the state's mental health system that will “make it easer to identify people with mental illness who are a danger to themselves and others.” – Ashley Killough
By the Numbers: Presidential Cabinets
(CNN) - President Barack Obama is preparing for his second-term Inauguration and with that comes the inevitable Cabinet shake-up.
Here's a look at presidential Cabinets, by the numbers:
FULL STORY
Latest debt ceiling fix-it: IOUs
New York (CNNMoney) - The list of sorry ways to address the unthinkable is growing. Call the latest debt ceiling work-around the IOU Plan.
Edward Kleinbard, a tax and legal scholar, has offered up a contingency plan he thinks President Obama could adopt without causing a constitutional crisis if Congress pushes the country to the brink of default: Issue IOUs that can be sold and traded in private markets.
FULL STORYNBC gun magazine decision expected by week's end
Washington (CNN) – A decision is expected Friday on whether there will be any criminal charges brought over the display of what appeared to be a high capacity gun magazine during a Meet the Press broadcast.
D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan received the results of an investigation by city's Metropolitan Police Department, and is weighing a decision, spokesman Ted Gest said Thursday.
FULL POST
From CNN Politics
- Defense secretary defends abortion policies at center of Senate nomination hold-up
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Justice Department moves to end consent decree with Seattle Police Department
- Why the mass shooting cycle remains predictable and permanent
- Untitled
- Illinois took action after the Highland Park shooting. But the assault weapon ban there still faces legal hurdles
Recent Comments