Wednesday Links: Jodie Foster Inspires Stuff

* Jodie Foster is an inspiration to everyone who is confusing.

* Yeah. There's an inauguration app.

* Bad Lip Reading is getting into sports.

* Martin Luther King was a righteous nerd.

* You'll watch this once, and then 20 more times today.

* David Brooks teaches and gets and lesson in humility.

* Recently discovered photographs of the Russian Revolution.

* Tim Heideker shows us how President Obama will get the flu.

* Each course of this week's Dinner Party is more amazing than the last.

Tags: Communism, Daily Links, David Brooks, Energy & Oil, Guns, Jodie Foster, LGBT, Martin Luther King, NRA, Russia, Sports, Star Trek, Texas, The Atlantic, Tim Heidecker

NRA Accuses Barack Obama of Acting Like He's President [VIDEO]

Shortly before this afternoon, when President Obama announced a series of executive orders directing federal agencies to study the mechanics of taking things from cold dead hands, the PR mavens at the NRA launched the above ad campaign.

Did you know that the president's children have Secret Service protection that other families don't have? This is not because of various death threats spouted by kooks, terrorist wannabes and NRA-coddled gun nuts. No! It's because President Obama is an "elitist hypocrite."

I mean, look at all the other stuff besides "security" of which non-Obamas don't receive a "fair share."

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Tags: Advertising, Barack Obama, Guns, Malia Obama, NRA, Sasha Obama

Tweet Untweet: Nerf Rifle Association

Hey Obama, you can have my Nerf gun when you pry it from warm, mitten-covered fingers.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) January 16, 2013

 

Tags: Barack Obama, Guns, NRA, Tweet Untweet, Twitter

Ron Paul Blasts NRA for Ron Paul-ish Reasons

During last week's press conference, the NRA's executive vice president Wayne LaPierre suggested that government-provisioned armed guards in school were the only reasonable way of protecting children from gun violence. It all came off a little unhinged; just about the only organization of mostly adult men that's more dedicated to being around your children also starts with an N but ends in -AMBLA. It's disconcerting.

Nevertheless, if a dangerous idea was going to find support, it may as well be found with our national oracle of crank ideas, retiring congressman Ron Paul…

 "While I certainly agree that more guns equals less crime and that private gun ownership prevents many shootings, I don't agree that conservatives and libertarians should view government legislation, especially at the federal level, as the solution to violence. Real change can happen only when we commit ourselves to rebuilding civil society in America, meaning a society based on family, religion, civic and social institutions, and peaceful cooperation through markets. We cannot reverse decades of moral and intellectual decline by snapping our fingers and passing laws."

Even Paul hates the NRA's idea! But of course, he announced his opposition in the most classically Paulite manner: it's principled and insightful and — unless you happen to already agree with him — a touch crazy.

He's right about one thing: the NRA cares more about the fate of gun manufacturers than it does about libertarian ideals, otherwise it wouldn't be so keen to put more guns in the hands of government agents. As for everything else? It's about what you'd expect muskets constitutionalist who came of age when front-loading muskets were the arms being sanctioned by the 2nd Amendment.

Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Tags: Guns, NRA, Ron Paul

Tweet Roundup: NRA Reactions

We learned a lot from today's NRA press conference. Chiefly, that Mortal Kombat and Natural Born Killers are responsible for gun violence (better re-think that next I Love the 90s! episode, VH1). We also learned that we need more people with guns in our schools. Looks like these NRA leaders really have their finger on the pulse of the nation, which is good. At least they'll know how to check vitals the next time someone gets shot.

And what did Twitter have to say about all this?

We can all agree there should be a national database of guys with pet snakes.

— Trevor S (@trevso_electric) December 21, 2012

Oh good, the armed school guards will be unpaid volunteers. Because what we need are people into hanging around schools with guns for free.

— Josh Barro (@jbarro) December 21, 2012

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Tags: Guns, NRA, Tweet Roundup, Twitter