Last night’s Statehouse hearing on gun registration didn’t interest me much; the fate of the bill is a foregone conclusion (it’s dead), and the hearing was just a bit of political theater. But there were some entertaining moments on Twitter that I’ve plucked from the everflowing Tweetstream.
The Ethan Allen Institute, for example, got all poetical.
“Violence comes from the heart, not the barrel of a gun.”
— Ethan Allen (@EAIVT) February 11, 2015
Aww. They’re right, you know. An inanimate object can’t initiate violence. But a gun is one hell of an expediter.
There was this bit of reportage from the Vermont Press Bureau’s Josh O’Gorman, revealing which side of the debate cornered the market on boorishness.
opponents repeatedly admonished by senators for clapping after testimony they support. Also booing testimony they don’t like. #vtpoli
— Josh O’Gorman (@Josh_VPB) February 10, 2015
My favorite, though, was a brief dominance display by two of the lesser players in the 2014 election season. First, consistently losing political consultant Darcie Johnston, chief flag-waver for Dan Feliciano’s doomed campaign; and second, Brent Burns, who briefly helmed the Scott Milne effort.
In the State House supporting gun rights is @DanFeliciano #vtpoli #2016 pic.twitter.com/9UpchAELmj
— Darcie L. Johnston (@DarcieLJ) February 10, 2015
@DarcieLJ @DanFeliciano how many people do you think care? 4%? My guess is 1. Just you.
— Brent D. Burns (@bdburns) February 10, 2015
Ooh, scorch! The “4%” is, of course, a reference to Feliciano’s underwhelming share of the vote. Ball’s in your court, Ms. Johnston.
@bdburns @DanFeliciano has a lots friends here. #2016 #navysniper
— Darcie L. Johnston (@DarcieLJ) February 10, 2015
“#navysniper”? A bit of resume inflation, perhaps? Feliciano did serve in the Navy, but according to one source, he “spent six years as a sonar technician.” Yeah, well, sonar/sniper, same diff. Mr. Burns begs to differ.
@DarcieLJ @DanFeliciano being an expert marksman is different than being a sniper. I’m an expert marksman. RU? pic.twitter.com/vSMNDOhGPR
— Brent D. Burns (@bdburns) February 11, 2015
After this, the two parties adjourned the contest. Burns resisted the temptation to add “[mic drop],” which he would have been absolutely justified in doing. Johnston returned to her lair to, presumably, plot strategery for Feliciano’s 2016 campaign.
Next time, six percent!