Let me finish tonight with this.
I am a believer in both political parties including a moderate wing. Republicans need to have people who are more liberal. Democrats can use people who are more conservative.
Why? Because it’s the only way to build a solid, “governing” majority, and because without a majority, a party cannot govern.
Mike Bloomberg is out there punishing those Democratic senators who failed to support the “gun safety” position this spring.
I don’t think it will have its desired effect. I think the senators themselves will fight back against the “Eastern Influence.” If they reverse their votes, their future opponents will say they’ve been bought or whatever by the billionaire mayor of New York.
So I don’t see this kind of thing turning around the vote.
What I do see working is taking the Republican position on gun safety and building on, strengthening it.
It’s far easier to get people to bolster what they’ve agreed to than it is to admit they were wrong.
Think about it. We need to get something done here.
Chris Matthews