Posted on 01/09/2011 5:40:28 AM PST by tobyhill
A few days, or at the very least, a few hours – in an earlier era, people would have taken a breath before plunging into a remorseless debate about the political implications of an obscene act of violence.
Not in this era.
Within minutes after a gunman’s shots—bullets that killed a federal judge, a nine-year-old girl and four others, and left a congresswoman clinging to life—activists of all stripes were busy, first on Twitter and blogs, then on cable television, chewing on two questions that once would have been indelicate to raise before the blood was dry:
Who in American politics deserves a slice of blame for the Tucson murders? And what public officials find themselves with sudden opportunities for political gain from a tragedy?
By day’s end, the argument that the political right—fueled by anti-government, and anti-immigrant passions that run especially strong in Arizona—is culpable for the Tucson massacre, even if by indirect association, seemed to be validated by the top local law enforcement official investigating the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).
“When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government—the anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous,” said Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, an elected Democrat, at a news conference Saturday evening. “And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”
Some Republicans responded with indignation—why should the alleged act of an apparently deranged young man with a record of barely coherent, and only vaguely ideological rantings get charged to their account?
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Dupnik declares immigration law an 'embarrassment'
"The state's sweeping immigration law is a "national embarrassment" that Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said he'll enforce only if he's forced to.
"This law is unwise. This law is stupid, and it's racist," Dupnik said Wednesday. "It's a national embarrassment. … If I were a Hispanic person in the state, I would be humiliated and angered."
Mentally unstable nutjob to be sure.
The gun is not the villain here but the shooter is.
When one has a complaint or a grievance, there are muvh better, far better ways to express ones protest or feelings than by using a weapon.
One can write letters, make phone calls, send wires or emails, begin an appropriate boycott, start a state petition or initiative at the grass roots level, vote in elections etc. These are the ways right thinking people make their voices heard and they can do so in large numbers but they do not have to start out as large numbers especially at the grass roots level.
The point is violence is counterproductive and destructive.
For a moment I thought you were referring to the turd of a sheriff from Pima County?
Thanks for posting this, very interesting compilation of observations.
One gets the impression they are going to move on this...to drop down the censor on speech.
The code word appears to be “rhetoric,” they start saying speech and folks will identify their efforts as violations of our Rights.
Liberals can’t blame themselves; it’s just not in their nature. It’s ALWAYS someone else’s fault. Always.
But Conservatives better be clear and definite about what leftism is, and what conservatism is. And that is far far deeper than today's Media can relate.
Johnny Suntrade
Excuse me? Show me evidence of anyone other than liberal DemonRATs that trot in front of the nearest microphone and spout lies to try to make cheap political gain by blaming conservatives, Sarah Palin, talk radio, and anyone else that dares oppose the communist goals?
The victims were still bleeding while they ran breathlessly to trot out their hate and display their utter disregard for civility and truth. And they must be held to the fire for their lies.
It is high time to turn Alinsky on them, if we don't, they win.
Dupnik’s press conference was an incoherent, rambling mess. And his finger-pointing irresponsible. What an embarrassment.
I am so angry this loon shot these people it is something we never want to happen..he was a Marxist lover he was a people hater something we here are not.
I have been prayer for the congress woman and asking God to spare her life without any after effects to her brain..From what I have read about her she is very good woman..I pray for her family to get through this awful tragedy..
In short, he demonstrates that he is every thing other than a right wing Republican, and that its high time we start looking at homosexuals like Loughner, Pfc. Bradley Manning, and Barney Frank as threats to public safety and national security.
I received an email from the Chief Rat, Alan Grayson, this morning. For the most part, he behaved himself, but their was this:
“I know nothing about the man who shot Gabby, and what was going through his mind when he did this. But I will tell you this - if he shot Gabby out of hatred, then it wasn’t Gabby he was shooting, but rather some cartoon version of her, drawn by her political opposition.”
Howsabout:
This would NEVER have happened if WE COULD SEE THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!
Goes to show that Michael Savage’s famous saying has become true, “liberalism is a mental disorder”.
Between the vigils proclaiming ‘you can't kill hope with a bullet’ (what the hell does that mean??) and the talking heads analyzing the political ramifications of it all, I was left shaking my head.
Here it is in simple form, NBC - the guy was a mentally unhinged NUT who wanted to make a name for himself by shooting someone famous. It wasn't some elaborate plot to destroy ‘hope’ (i.e. the liberal dream.) He killed because he had a diseased brain and a desire for recognition.
Trying to make liberal martyrs out of this tragedy is beyond disgusting.
Some Republicans have scrambled to portray alleged shooter Jared Lee Loughner as an unbalanced loner, and pointed to a high school classmate’s account that, four years ago, he had left-wing views.
Another House Republican went a step further, saying: “From what I can tell on the web this guy looks liberal. He’s definitely crazy.” On talk radio, other conservatives did the same, emphasizing that Loughner seemed far-left.
And there's your "balance" as to the supposed ideology of the left-wing assassin.
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