Gabriella Giffords Assasinated...

[Anonymous]

point is that referring to certain political offices as political "targets" is pretty commonplace and not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, but if this were a class picture and a student put cross hairs over people he wanted to "get rid of", that student would be expelled, no questions asked.

It is unconscionable that we allow such sick behavior from our politicians. Just another example of how Sarah Palin is to inexperienced to understand the implications of her actions. I'm sure she didn't intend anything like this to happen, but responsible public leaders know there are impressionable wackos out there that take things like this too far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:THIS is the rationale for killing a member of congress, in the killer's own words:

"The majority of citizens in the united states of America have never read the united states of America's constitution. You don't have to accept the federalist laws," the video's titles say. "In conclusion, reading the second United States constitution, I can't trust the current government because of the ratifications: the government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar. No! I won't pay debt with a currency that's not backed by gold and silver! No! I won't trust in god!"

So much is missing from your post. The guy is mentally unstable and described by some of his friends as a "pot-smoking loner" who rambles and says things that don't make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but if this were a class picture and a student put cross hairs over people he wanted to "get rid of", that student would be expelled, no questions asked.

It is unconscionable that we allow such sick behavior from our politicians. Just another example of how Sarah Palin is to inexperienced to understand the implications of her actions. I'm sure she didn't intend anything like this to happen, but responsible public leaders know there are impressionable wackos out there that take things like this too far.

Do you think it's unconsionable that we allow our ministers to SHOUT repeatedly from the pulpit, "G . . . D . . . America!" ? It's amazing how you're describing Sarah Palin. She's not my kind of candidate either, but you're giving a very one-sided viewpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but if this were a class picture and a student put cross hairs over people he wanted to "get rid of", that student would be expelled, no questions asked.

It is unconscionable that we allow such sick behavior from our politicians. Just another example of how Sarah Palin is to inexperienced to understand the implications of her actions. I'm sure she didn't intend anything like this to happen, but responsible public leaders know there are impressionable wackos out there that take things like this too far.

Do you think it's unconsionable that we allow our ministers to SHOUT repeatedly from the pulpit, "G . . . D . . . America!" ? It's amazing how you're describing Sarah Palin. She's not my kind of candidate either, but you're giving a very one-sided viewpoint.

I'm not the other poster, but the only people who can influence what that minister said are the people in his parish. I don't see how you can point the finger at a bunch of posters in Washington DC for not somehow correcting that. You can direct that to the people who put money in his collection basket, but that is not us.

But Sarah Palin is effectively a national politician. And the earlier poster is saying that it is unconscionable that we, the people, give her support when she does things like this.

So you are really going to have to find another liberal counter-example, one in which we are culpable for their prosperity or success. Otherwise take your rant to a board in Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:point is that referring to certain political offices as political "targets" is pretty commonplace and not a big deal.

Giffords thought it was inappropriate, and she said so in her own words. Her commentary starts at about 2:10 on this Youtube video. Also, Palin has pulled the graphic. So obviously she does not feel that it is appropriate in retrospect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7046bo92a4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but if this were a class picture and a student put cross hairs over people he wanted to "get rid of", that student would be expelled, no questions asked.

It is unconscionable that we allow such sick behavior from our politicians. Just another example of how Sarah Palin is to inexperienced to understand the implications of her actions. I'm sure she didn't intend anything like this to happen, but responsible public leaders know there are impressionable wackos out there that take things like this too far.

Do you think it's unconsionable that we allow our ministers to SHOUT repeatedly from the pulpit, "G . . . D . . . America!" ? It's amazing how you're describing Sarah Palin. She's not my kind of candidate either, but you're giving a very one-sided viewpoint.

How is a minister's generalized ranting equivalent to an incitement to violence against specific individuals in the manner of the PalinPAC map? We don't know if Loughner ever saw the actual map (although Palin had it posted on her idiot Facebook page) point is, it is so beyond the pale incendiary to condone and even celebrate a map with crosshairs drawn over human targets...well, it just goes too far.

[Anonymous]

Don Coorough, 58, who sat two desks in front of Mr. Loughner in a poetry class last semester, described him as a “troubled young man” and “emotionally underdeveloped.” After another student read a poem about getting an abortion, Mr. Loughner compared the young woman to a “terrorist for killing the baby.”

Whatever he is, he's not a liberal.

[Anonymous]

I worked for Senator Harris Wofford in 1994, when we were beaten during the so-called Republican Tsunami. During that time, the NRA put out an ad featuring Harris' face in the middle of a bullseye, along with the text: "let's target the real problem in Washington." His opponent, Rick Santorum, said he didn't ask for the ad to be run, but declined to ask the local NRA to pull the ad.

This kind of vitriol and hate-mongering is nothing new, but with the internet, it reaches folks on the fringes faster. It's irresponsible. Whether or not this terrible violence can be demonstrably linked to Sarah Palin's crosshairs does not matter. The rhetoric is designed to rile people up. It's trading in anger.

The pols accept the money from these nutjobs, they accept the ads. Then when violence strikes they call it a "tragedy" as if it just happened and wasn't caused or cultivated.

It's long past time for accountability on these kinds of things. Pay attention to what mainstream GOP members say and more importantly, DO about this. Can you imagine if Sarah Palin is a candidate in 2012, what kind of shit will be hitting the fan courtesy of the hate her campaign would stir up? Mainstream republicans need to shut this down, for their own sake if nothing else and if they care about this country.

Jeff, I'm surprised this is in the politics forum. It is bigger than just politics. It's really about humanity, which I lose more and more faith in every time something like this happens.

[Anonymous]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfEcZlO-APE&feature=related nuff said

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfEcZlO-APE&feature=related nuff said

Democrats should condemn Bill Ayers and join Republicans in their call for more nail-bomb control. Additionally Obama should put Bill Ayers in jail.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the shooter is trying to get a job teaching at the Universtity of Chicago like Bill Ayers. He also has visted the White House many times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfEcZlO-APE&feature=related nuff said

Democrats should condemn Bill Ayers and join Republicans in their call for more nail-bomb control. Additionally Obama should put Bill Ayers in jail.

How is it that in the midst of a great tragedy, in which many people were killed, you feel the need to redirect discussion to a thing that happened forty years ago? You are sick in the head. I'd hate to see your MySpace page.

[jsteele]

I'll do something a bit out of character and defend the right wing -- at least to an extent. Back when Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood, many were quick to call him a Muslim terrorist. I argued that it was more a case of a troubled individual who happened to be Muslim and the event was comparable to Columbine rather than a terrorist act. Similarly, I think the attack on Giffords also is a Columbine-type attack committed by a troubled individual. While that individual may have espoused particular political views, at this point, I believe his mental issues are more of a factor than his political views.

That does not mean that I condone the near-constant embrace of violent language by a large number of right-wing figures. Such rhetoric is condemnable and I condemn it. Whether it is Sharron Angle's "2nd Amendment remedies" or Sarah Palin's targets, it has no place in our political discourse. The same is true for Democrat Joe Manchin's advertisement showing him shooting the cap-and-trade bill. I think anyone who has to react to a piece of paper with a gun has severe masculinity issues, but that's a whole different discussion.

As for the poster who is trying to redirect this discussion to focus on Bill Ayers, he should probably stick to sniffing Sarah Palin's underwear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the shooter is trying to get a job teaching at the Universtity of Chicago like Bill Ayers. He also has visted the White House many times.

Posters like 00:12 prefer to limit their criticism to Republicans. The Bill Ayers' types get a free ride to do and say just about whatever they want.