Convergence

Not OK.

Three things have come together to make a perfect storm for the GOP, and I'm not even talking about the Austerity Bomb.

Harry Reid has vowed to reform the filibuster to get rid of the unanimous consent to proceed and make parties actually filibuster from the floor of the Senate as opposed to the silent filibuster they use now.

Daniel Inouye's death, may he rest in peace after a truly legendary life, means that Patrick Leahy will take over as Chair of the Appropriations committee.  This in turn means that Dianne Feinstein will take over Judiciary.

Any assault weapons ban will come out of Judiciary, and Feinstein has already vowed to introduce one.

Early next year, we could have the spectacle of the first non-painless filibuster be against an assault weapon ban.

All signs point to the fact that Newtown has changed the dynamics of the gun safety debate.

January will let us know for sure.