AZ Chairman resigns: "I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."

Washington Post ^

[Reese Hamm]

Some Arizona Republican party officials resign after Tucson shooting By Emi Kolawole

While federal lawmakers debate how best to increase safety for themselves and their staff, some Arizona Republican party officials are choosing to leave office in the face of threats.

A conflict that has been going on between local Arizona Republicans came to an end in the wake of the shooting in Tucson on Saturday when Arizona's Republican District 20 Chairman Anthony Miller and several others chose to resign.

The Arizona Republic reports that Miller, 43, a former campaign worker for Sen.John McCain who was re-elected to a second one-year term last month, has been concerned for his family's safety by constant verbal attacks and blog posts from some local committee members with tea party movement ties.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Cowards.

[bmwcyle]

Most likely no one cared and would ever shoot him.

[Carley]

Would you put your safety in the hands of someone like Sheriff Dipstick?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Dipstik’s hate and vitriol has painted a bullseye on the back of every Republican in Arizona. He has declared open season on us. This is going to get very ugly. IMHO.

[scrabblehack]

State committeeman is a *huge* step down from US Representative.

How often has a state committeeman ever been assassinated or suffered attempted assassination?

4 US Presidents (successful), at least 4 unsuccessful (out of 44).

US Senate: Robert F. Kennedy (successful), John Stennis (unsuccessful) — 2 out of maybe 200 in the last 42 years?

US Representative: Leo Ryan (successful) and Gabby Giffords (unsuccessful) — that’s 2 in the same time period — maybe 1200 or so?

There might be more to this story than meets the eye.

[sgtyork]

Or have awful lefties posed as Tea Partiers and made threats?

[MurrietaMadman]

Sounds like RINO’s finally have a slogan.

[Vendome]

Opportunistic, manipulative and craven.

[the rifleman]

No one safety is in any ones hands but their own. Except in an air strike.

[Stepan12]

Courage not under fire :-|

[Cincinatus]

Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

King Henry V, Act IV, scene iii

[maine yankee]

“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country”