Congresswoman Shot in Tucson

by leavingwt 442 Replies latest social current

• 

  thetrueone

  The difference to all rhetoric about slanging political opponents is maps such as this one were posted up on Sarah Palin's own political web site,

  not by some overly enthusiast supporter.

  The point is that candidates themselves should act and conduct their campaign in a responsible manner,

  whichever party you represent. Making up placards with subliminal suggestions of violence against political opponents is not being responsible.

  Why was this map quickly removed as soon as it was known of the shooting occurring ?

  

  What if there were placards made up with a picture of Obama's face on it with a bullseye and cross-hair in the middle and it were to be used

  at every Republican rally ? Good thing to do or bad ? Knowing that the placard would be viewed by all of the general public even the

  emotionally unbalanced .

  Remember what happened to President John F. Kennedy , you get the picture.
• 

  BurnTheShips

  The false equivalency should be addressed if we are to make any progress. This is from Paul Krugman:

  Paul Krugman writes on the Arizona shooting in his New York Times column today:

  it’s the saturation of our political discourse — and especially our airwaves — with eliminationist rhetoric that lies behind the rising tide of violence.

  Where’s that toxic rhetoric coming from? Let’s not make a false pretense of balance: it’s coming, overwhelmingly, from the right. It’s hard to imagine a Democratic member of Congress urging constituents to be “armed and dangerous” without being ostracized; but Representative Michele Bachmann, who did just that, is a rising star in the G.O.P.

  Yes, this is the same Paul Krugman who "joked" in his New York Times column:

  "A message to progressives: By all means, hang Senator Joe Lieberman in effigy."

  What makes that "eliminationist rhetoric" even better is the fact that effigies of political figures were burned at Krugman's election night party in 2008, as the New Yorker reported. Talk about a "climate of hate."

  "If Arizona promotes some real soul-searching, it could prove a turning point," Krugman concludes his column today. "If it doesn’t, Saturday’s atrocity will be just the beginning."

  Krugman provides no evidence that "toxic" rhetoric played a role in Saturday's shooting, but if it's soul-searching Krugman demands, perhaps he should start with his own soul.

  http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/paul-hang-joe-lieberman-effigy-krugman-blames-tucson-shooting-rise-eliminationist-rhetoric_526

  People, glass houses, stones, some assembly required.

  By the way, Krugman closed down comments on that article.

  Convenient.

  BTS
• 

  BizzyBee

  To hang in effigy, an image or picture of a person, as a token of public odium.

  Not literal.

  Burn, that does not negate Krugman's premise.
• 

  purplesofa

  Some of my thoughts:

  I watched FOX for some news since this happened, they were getting interviews that CNN did not seem to have.

  I thought Shepard Smith did a good job, I was moved to tears when he released the name of the nine year old girl. Shepard bowed his head and remained silent. By now I am sure the reporting had gotten to him and for me, I had taken in about all I could without finally feeling.

  I never heard of Gabrielle Giffords until this weekend. What a wonderful woman. It seems that something bad has to happen to the most beautiful people before others open their eyes and melt their hearts. People begin to realize the consequences of their behaviour, now I think politicians are collectively becoming fully conscious and it hurts. There is concern, they fear for themselves. Gabrielle was truely a victim. She was not hateful as so many others are and make themselves targets from their own careless, thoughtless words.

  Thanks to the Pima Sherrif for saying what he did. For those that found it wrong or inappropriate, I hope that they do give thought to what he said, let it sink in and make some changes in the way they do business.

  I have often been embarrassed for America with the constant public bashing that goes on. Watching the two parties go at each other like they do is like watching two parents fight constantly. It no doubt has taken its toll. We do not need to see all this plastered over the media. It's not really fixing our problems and isnt that what they are there for? How is it helping people?

  I am sickened at how easy it is for mentally unstable people to purchase guns, that when we see funky behaviour we cannot do more to protect them from themselves and protect our own selves.

  I am glad Sarah Palins name was brought up with this, while I don't blame her, she certainly is a very negative, self-centered person. In contrast, she fails terribly in comparison to the woman that Gabrielle Giffords is.

  I broke my New Years Resolution to quit watching news, but I am glad I did. How inspiring Cynthia's mother is, all the people that used their heads and de-escalated the horror going on. The love shown when a husband shields his wife to save her life, a little girls dream to know about how our government works, getting involved, learning, these are our children and grand children, how precious they are.

  I wish I was a better writer, and could express what I think and feel more clearly. Maybe someone can help me out?

  purps
• 

  SixofNine

  I think you expressed yourself very well, purps.
• 

  BurnTheShips

  Not literal.

  Neither is a map of electoral targets.

  Burn, that does not negate Krugman's premise.

  Krugman's "premise" is completely one-sided. It is an attempt at extracting partisan advantage only hours after a tragedy (and before any of the facts are in). In light of Krugman's own past, it is hipocrisy. I often read him, and he is no stranger to being over the top with his hyperbole, as the effigy quote demonstrates. That this piece got past the NYT editorial board stains them as well.

  America's "Newspaper of Record" has painted half the country as guilty to a heinous crime by association (even though there is none) on its front page.

  BTS
• 

  thetrueone

  I am sickened at how easy it is for mentally unstable people to purchase guns, that when we see funky behavior we cannot do

  more to protect them from themselves and protect our own selves.

  I think a lot of people would agree with you Purps, it was shocking to hear that even one of the people(guys) who supposedly took down

  the attacker was carrying his gun with him but he said he didn't want to pull it out in case it started some confusion

  on to who was the attacher. What ? people are allowed to to carry guns with them wherever they want even into shopping malls ?

  The statistics of probability apply, where there are easy obtainable firearms to the public, there is most likely going to an increase of gun

  violence occurring within that designated public..
• 

  llbh

  Hey BTS what were your allusions to Europe all about?? People in the UK are very very rarely shot, even by the police, who mostly do not carry guns. There is a not culture of gun ownership in Europe, though laws do vary. Any shooting makes National headlines.

  You yourself threatened violence to HS, so maybe words and ideas would be more persuasive than the threat of violence ,whoever uses it. Violence mostly produces pyrrhic and short victories

  Maybe the one thing that might come out of this is more polite debate in politics in the US.

  David
• 

  james_woods

  The statistics of probability apply, where there are easy obtainable firearms to the public, there is most likely going to an increase of gun

  violence occurring within that designated public..

  The morning TV news reported that the congresswoman was a supporter of gun ownership rights.
• 

  beksbks

  The issue of violent rhetoric has been discussed over and over again in at least the last two years. The bulk of it is coming from the right, there can be no denying it. More important, it is coming from leadership on the right. Beyond the violent imagery is a bigger issue. The fear mongering. The false notions that the current government is a monster coming to take away your freedoms and put you in a camp. This is the bigger problem, the ratcheting up (on false premises) of fear and mistrust of the United States Government. This is obviously coming from the right.

  To try to compare a few mild (in the scheme of things) comments by a print columnist to Rush Limbaugh's over the top screaming, or Glen Beck's school of insanity, or Michelle Bachman's utter lunacy, or Sharon Angels "2nd amendment solutions" is to be a hypocrite.

  The right is scrambling to paint this guy as on the "left", a "liberal". I have not seen anyone try to paint him as on the right, even though it was a Democrat that was shot, and his anti government attitude is evident. He seems all over the map to me, just plain mentally ill.

  As for those trying to connect this to further gun control, I do believe that a kid who is kicked out of community college for violent outbursts and told to get a mental health evaluation in order to come back, is certainly not someone who should be able to purchase a gun (think VA Tech). There also appears to be a lot of focus now on the fact he smoked marijuana. I'm sure we will see anti marijuana discussions increase as well.