Back at it.
Back at it. Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com

Last week I was all like WHERE IS SITTING SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS DURING SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OF CONNECTICUT'S FILIBUSTER? The Washington Post said the campaign thought about sending the senator to go do his job and represent his constituency in Vermont, who overwhelmingly want stricter gun control laws, but it "didn't work out" to have Bernie there. What he seemed to be doing instead was preparing to sit alone in a closet, recite a revision of his stump speech, and tell his followers to run for local office and become good citizens. This despite the fact that he effectively lost the Democratic primary the week before.

Now House Democrats, led by Georgia congressman John Lewis, are holding at sit-in on the floor of the House, asking for a vote to address gun violence. Though Republicans turned off the cameras and declared the session over, many Dems are still sitting. And look who's joining his sort-of colleagues on the floor:



Today, Sanders told C-Span "It doesn't appear that I'm going to be the nominee," the most straightforward admission we've had so far that he will take the loss. (He told C-SPAN he'd welcome a seat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which sounds like a good place for him. Watch your back, Patty Murray!)

So, even though Bernie obviously isn't a House rep, even though the Senate approved additional mass shootings the other day, even though it doesn't really look like Ryan wants to hold a vote, even though this is all "juuuuuuuuuust theater," it's good that he's there.

As Senator Cory Booker reminded everyone at the filibuster, important pieces of legislation often fail many times before they pass. Bernie's high profile brings attention to the issue. It shows that he'll actually show up on this issue and that he's still listening to his supporters even though he doesn't think he's going to be the nominee. So, good for him.

And on that "this is all just theater" tip: Politics is theater. It's just that Democrats have been bad at it for so long. (Obama is one of of the Dems' only good actors.) And theater has value. Even if Ryan doesn't allow a vote, this sit-in reflects the concerns of these representatives' Democratic constituencies. When I see my reps at a sit-in, they're showing me that they speak my language. And, hell, if congress can't get anything done anyway, they might as well look like they're trying. God forbid this new enthusiasm for action—even if it's just a show—inspires people to vote, to call their reps, and get involved.

Here's Paul Ryan's number: (202) 225-3031. Call him and be like, "UGH, just call a vote. Oh, and by the way, I'd prefer freedom from AR-15s over the freedom to own one. Just sayin'."