Top Links: How does President Obama get a ‘big’ gun control package past the NRA, GOP?

Top Story: Big or small, President Obama faces opposition to any gun control package he offers. Here are a few of the obstacles.

• “The most obvious threat to his plans is on the House side, where there is virtually no appetite among majority Republicans for further gun restrictions.” (Steve Kornacki)

• However, Senate Democrats in purple states could also oppose pieces of the president’s package, including an assault weapons ban. (The Fix)

• “Democrats lost control of Congress in 1994, in part, because of Bill Clinton’s advocacy of gun control, [Rahm] Emanuel pointed out.” (National Journal)

• And then there’s the time factor: “Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the chamber’s top Republican, has warned the White House that it will be at least three months before the Senate considers gun legislation. And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said it is immigration, not gun control, that is at the top of his priority list after the fiscal fights.” (Associated Press)

• Already, one House GOP member is threatening impeachment over the president’s plan. (Mediaite)

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• The House passed the $50 billion in additional Hurricane Sandy aid—despite about four-fifths of House Republicans voting “no.” (New York Daily News)

• “Only 48 House R’s voted yes on #Sandyspending bill against 179 R nays. Even #fiscalcliff bill had 85 Republican yeas.” (Chad Pergram)

• One Republican did reverse his “no” on the first Sandy relief bill to a “yes” on the much larger supplemental aid bill. (Greg Giroux)

• “My GOP donor acquaintances in NYC are all business people, they think these guys in the House are complete idiots.” (Reformed Broker)

• So what’s on tap for the House GOP’s annual 3-day retreat that begins today? ”The leadership has yet to cobble together anything resembling an agenda, and their members are complaining about what they describe as poor messaging. Right now, House Republicans don’t know how to challenge Obama and whether it’s even worth the fight.” (Politico)

• Foreign Policy is reporting that Syria has indeed used chemical weapons on its people. (The Cable)

• However, there’s some room for doubt over how deadly these chemical weapons were. (Noah Shachtman) and (Danger Room)

• Missing your “Daily Crazy” courtesy ex-Rep. Allen West. Fear not: He’s launching an online show. (The Hill)

• And Rupert Murdoch, keepin’ it classy: “How did fat lady who fell thru street get to 400 lbs? Welfare, stamps, etc? Then leave us all with 20yrs immense health bills.” (Rupert Murdoch)