become an "snl" skit at a time when the nra is claiming it has all of this great power. they were still able to bring members of the senate to heel, including some democrats. i'm wondering as a tactic. if becoming a joke, becoming a punch line. becoming a right wing insane. >> giving them the benefit, punch line, i think it's hugely offensive and incredibly derogatory and the suggestions are fairly dramatic. >> right. >> and apocalyptic. >> why would you want to associate yourself with the precivil war south. you're going to fight the federal government. that's what the nra is for. how does that give you more power with let's say moderate democrats on capitol hill? why should they bother? it used to be that their power was in their bipartisan support. they could call on democrats as well as republicans. why would any moderate democrat want to be associated with them and get an a rating from them any more? >> john, you revealed that you went to an actual nra convention a while back. when the message was distinctly more moderate. >> i was writing about one of