Dems, Media Blame Tea Party, Palin for Shooting; S

[rockon]

commentator, From my perspective you cited a perfect example. The campaign promoting this legislation was just as dishonest and erroneous as any campaign against it. It only high lights what has many in this country angry. They completely distrust their own government officials and they have very good reasons for this distrust. As I pointed out Tom DeLay is just another example of this.

[billisonboard]

"...but to say politics didn't play a role is not looking at the whole picture."

I suggest that it is left-right, Republican-Democrat, liberal-conservative, moderate-extremist politics that didn't play a role in the mind of the shooter. An analogy: We are all playing a soccer game and this guy brought out his baseball bat and started swinging. He is simply playing a different game than the rest of us.

[billisonboard]

Jan 11, 2011 13:30:36 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

You forgot to finish....
"....now go out there and mop the field with 'em."

And I'm being nice about the "ending" there.

You are talking about what they say in the locker room. I am talking about what they say to the fan(atic)s.

[privateinvestor]

Jan 11, 2011 13:25:33 GMT -5 EveryWhichWay said:

P.I., if it was yours it shouldn't have been there for the taking.

Ok then use it well

I found another avatar that is similar but without the hypnotic effect

[floridayankee]

Jan 11, 2011 13:30:50 GMT -5 ChiTownVenture said:

Yet the fans do not start firing rounds when the opposition is heading for the end-zone for the winning touchdown. I'm not buying it.

Maybe not rounds but they are definitely fighting.

At least you acknowledged that I said nothing about fighting.

[Deleted]

"I highly doubt Palin is cheering for what this man did...I don't really have any feelings for the lady one way or another, but you attack is just more political BS. "

You guys are nuts on here.. i'm accused of bashing and attacking?.... I never said she'd celebrate... i didn't even say that she invited him to do this.... what i was saying is that she invited the SCRUTINY when she decided to put lock, load and cross hairs over Gifford, et al... Do you think that was a smart move?.... I think she's an idiot because she lacks basic reasoning skills and can't imagine how something like that could end badly for her.... even if she didn't intice anything... it was extremely bad taste... and left her wide open for reproof...

[privateinvestor]

"Being In The Crosshairs" "Being In The Hot Seat" or "Having A Target Or Bullseye On Your Back" are just terms or expressions that have been used forever by politicians. But trying to in any way link Sarah Palin with what happened in Tucson Arizona because she had a campaign ad with "Cross hairs" on congressional districts across the nation that were toss ups last 02 November is a stretch but not expected by those who will use every opportunity to demean and degrade Sarah Plain. But this one is not playing too well in the court of public opinion, and has backfired on the liberals. But if you believe what Keith Olbemann and Rachel Maddow are claiming about his issue then that is your choice but rather pathetic. They like being controversial to improve their viewership on MSNBC

[floridayankee]

Jan 11, 2011 16:14:02 GMT -5 @privateinvestor said:

"Being In The Crosshairs" "Being In The Hot Seat" or "Having A Target Or Bullseye On Your Back" are just terms or expressions that have been used forever by politicians. But trying to in any way link Sarah Palin with what happened in Tucson Arizona because she had a campaign ad with "Cross hairs" on congressional districts across the nation that were toss ups last 02 November is a stretch but not expected by those who will use every opportunity to demean and degrade Sarah Plain but this one is not playing too well in the public and has backfired on the liberals. But if you believe what Keith Olbemann and Rachel Maddow are claiming about his issue then that is your choice but rather pathetic.

Pathetic is putting it lightly. Besides there not being one, single solitary shred of evidence in this witch hunt by liberals...consider for a moment that the "history" between the shooter and congresswoman Giffords goes back at least three years....just a little bit before the palin ad was even around.

But, the black helicopters are still hovering. Maybe the effect of Palin's ad is retroactive and laced with subliminal messages. Perhaps proof of Obama's citizenship is hidden in the fine print somewhere. Damn these government conspiracies!!

[Deleted]

"if you believe what Keith Olbemann and Rachel Maddow are claiming"

I don't watch them... don't watch fox either...

... I have said... repeatedly... that i see NOTHING that suggests Palin CAUSED this man to do what he did... i said she's an idiot because she can't moderate herself... she can't think anything through logically and say, hey, this is a bad idea... I should not do this, and if i do this, i will rightly be attracting criticism from the very people i should be working to assure of my seriousness and ability to carry a logical thought through to an effective purpose...

[privateinvestor]

Jan 11, 2011 16:29:32 GMT -5 oped said:

"if you believe what Keith Olbemann and Rachel Maddow are claiming"

I don't watch them... don't watch fox either...

... I have said... repeatedly... that i see NOTHING that suggests Palin CAUSED this man to do what he did... i said she's an idiot because she can't moderate herself... she can't think anything through logically and say, hey, this is a bad idea... I should not do this, and if i do this, i will rightly be attracting criticism from the very people i should be working to assure of my seriousness and ability to carry a logical thought through to an effective purpose...

Palin knew her campaign ad with the cross hairs would be in the news because of the negative vibes it created but that may be why she went with it..the more bizarre or out of the mainstream seems to be in vogue these days during a congressional campaign but I have seen far, far worse and you have too..

[Deleted]

Yes, because like a child, her interest is only in immediate gratification and what can get her as much of what she wants as quickly as possible... she does not think anything through, nor does she moderate herself, nor show an significant gravity of thought or wisdom in her actions... she thinks only of putting on the biggest diplay... and selling herself for as much as she can, for as long as she can...

I have seen worse... but rarely (ever?) so bad, and consistently so, from any character that people insist upon holding up as a viable leader for my country... context...

[dmsm]

If you feel this kind of rhetoric isok in ploitics than something is really wrong here. Whil she might have had othing to do with his shooting she is lucky some nutcase did not take up her cause. There are many reasons to hope that she never makes it to the POTUS stage this was just one of many. if tere was nothing wrong with why remove it? After all it was just liberals wasn't it? I bet it was not. hey if you really believe there was nothing wrong you would not take it down.

[Deleted]

I have been watching msnbc for a couple of days-- just to see what people that think differently than me are thinking, because I can't understand the attack on conservatives about this shooting. I thought, and said earlier, that it seemed to be calming down some, but I just now saw some guy named ED with clips from O'Reilly, Hannity, Beck, and Sarah on his show foaming at the mouth, as are his guests. It is TRUE. They really are trying to shut down FOX and talk radio and free speech. Hard for me to imagine that, because I do not think in that way, but it is true. Geez-- I do believe 2 days of liberal TV is quite enough for me. No wonder some people don't like Republicans in an over the top way.
You know, FOX news ALWAYS has Democrats on, and they usually have a counterpoint person on almost every show. Maybe that is why FOX is #1.
I've been watching way too much TV. Time to go back to internet news and talk radio. CNN I can stomach, msnbc-- how do you people watch it? Oh, never mind-- it is like food for the people that hate anyone not Democrat.

[Deleted]

It is TRUE. They really are trying to shut down FOX and talk radio and free speech.

Or... uh... they are exercising their own free speech? Wouldn't want to shut that down would you?... and Fox and MSNBC extremists are just the same... just two sides...

[Deleted]

Uh, no-- FOX shows opposing viewpoints, I have seen none on msnbc. That is aside from the point that conservative talkers are bnot trying to shut down liberal talk, restrict the internet or the FCC. Just saying...........

[jkapp]

Jan 11, 2011 12:48:56 GMT -5 @commentator said:

As I have said several times and as anyone rational will recognize, the climate of hate, the advocacy of violence, and the deliberate attempts to foster fear and loathing of government engaged in by members of the Tea Party and by leaders and supporters of the Republican Party have all acted to increase the liklihood of incidents like the one Saturday in Tucson.

Rant and rave all you want about how you and you're nasty, dishonest rhetoric are being "targeted." That changes nothing.

And how is it any different from the climate of hate generated by the left towards bankers, Wall Street, the Tea Party, and conservatives? Also festering fear and loathing of people with wealth...

The saying about pointing a finger comes to mind...or a pot and a kettle.

[lakhota]

Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”

www.laprogressive.com/election-reform-campaigns/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/

[rockon]

While the hard left continues to demand civility between the opposing parties they keep posting demeaning statements about anyone who from the opposing party or anyone who has a different view then theirs. Reply #76 is just another typical example. If you want civility quit aggravating the situation and work towards understanding each others position.

[privateinvestor]

What the lefties fail to realize is that this Arizona Shooter is a pot smoking, chronically ill person who went untreated. He was rejected by the Army, expelled from High School and later Junior College. And his parents were warned their son needed treatment before being re admitted to schools..

With that being said how many more like this guy are out there waiting to implode and can do the same thing in your town??

[mmhmm]

That, toughtimes, is the correct way for anyone to respond, regardless of political affiliation. What I'm seeing here, and in the media, is finger-pointing and name-calling from both sides. It seems it's more important to establish which side of that imaginary bone of contention you're standing on and to hell with the fact that six people are dead, others are wounded, families are grieving, and a nation is traumatized due to the actions of a mentally ill individual who should not have been walking the streets, mumbling to himself. Devisiveness is the order of the day. It's politics, as usual. Sad. Really sad.

[rockon]

toughtimes, Your reply is absolutely correct but it the only correct response from everyone it has nothing to do with one being a conservative and that has been many people's complaint. The left seems focused on assigning blame rather the looking at the real causes.

[floridayankee]

Jan 11, 2011 18:56:46 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

I have been watching msnbc for a couple of days-- just to see what people that think differently than me are thinking, because I can't understand the attack on conservatives about this shooting.

In one word...politics. They're crying about divisive politics how? By blaming the right of course. Alinski must be proud at the herd of sheep being rounded up by political talking heads these days. Change the channel.


ETA:

That, toughtimes, is the correct way for anyone to respond, regardless of political affiliation. What I'm seeing here, and in the media, is finger-pointing and name-calling from both sides.

I'll second that. I'll stand up with anybody from the left or the right that wants to quit pointing the finger at dems and/or repubs and point them where they belong...at the idiot behind the trigger.

Everybody else that wants to blame palin, obama, dems and/or repubs can call the talk shows and whine with the rest of your party.

[billisonboard]

floridayankee,
Do you mean the author of "Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals"? At least on the Vintage Books edition that I have in front of me, the name is Saul D. Alinsky with a "y" at the end of it. It is a most excellent book and I enjoy all to find a copy and read it. #smiley#

[floridayankee]

Jan 12, 2011 10:39:09 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

floridayankee,
Do you mean the author of "Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals"? At least on the Vintage Books edition that I have in front of me, the name is Saul D. Alinsky with a "y" at the end of it. It is a most excellent book and I enjoy all to find a copy and read it.

Imagine that an endorsement of "Rules for Radicals" from Bills. What a surprise.

And, really, "picking" on my typing/spelling skills...or lack thereof?

Really?

Pretty weak Bills.

[billisonboard]

Jan 12, 2011 10:47:29 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

Jan 12, 2011 10:39:09 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

floridayankee,
Do you mean the author of "Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals"? At least on the Vintage Books edition that I have in front of me, the name is Saul D. Alinsky with a "y" at the end of it. It is a most excellent book and I enjoy all to find a copy and read it.

Imagine that an endorsement of "Rules for Radicals" from Bills. What a surprise.

And, really, "picking" on my typing/spelling skills...or lack thereof?

Really?

Pretty weak Bills.

I simply corrected the spelling of the name of an author of a book that I was recommending for all to find and read. That you took it as a personal affront is out of my control.

As far as my encouraging people to find and read the book, do you not encourage people to go to original sources to find out accurate information? Or should they just rely on others to tell them what the book says?

[zipity]

I thought, and said earlier, that it seemed to be calming down some, but I just now saw some guy named ED with clips from O'Reilly, Hannity, Beck, and Sarah on his show foaming at the mouth, as are his guests. It is TRUE. They really are trying to shut down FOX and talk radio and free speech. Hard for me to imagine that, because I do not think in that way, but it is true. Geez-- I do believe 2 days of liberal TV is quite enough for me. No wonder some people don't like Republicans in an over the top way.

There are obviously some on the far right and some on the far left that are trying to use the shooting to make a political statement. The wing nuts from both sides have unfortunately taken over this debate. Some are pointing at Palin but don't believe that Palin isn't using this as an opportunity to stand up and take shots back at the left.

This isn't about Palin, Beck, Hannity or about Chris Matthews, Jon Stewart or any other specific person, WELL at least it shouldn't be. This is about what Americans think of as entertainment these days. Turn on the TV and for the next 30-60 minutes some personality, left or right, does their best to whip you up into a frenzy. At the end of 60 minutes, the TV cameras turn off, the personality gets a pat on the back and goes home to his or her family. They probably have friends who lean right and others who lean left. Off tv they're fairly normal people, on tv/radio, they're making a buck. The problem isn't with them, the problem is with their audience. For the audience, 60 minutes ends and its a completely different story. Some of the audience might laugh and dismiss what they've heard, some might be angry for a little while but they realize that Fox/MSNBC/NPR/Daily Show... are entertainment so they get over it and move on. BUT a small group just can't shut it off. For many reasons they can't move on so they fixate on it. Of that group some may talk to friends, some may post here but for a few it just keeps building up and eventually they snap. That may or may not be the case with this event in Arizona, we don't have enough info yet to be able to say either way. BUT that was the case on July 27, 2008 at a Unitarian Church in Tennessee, that's why Daniel Hayden was arrested for threatening to kill people on Twitter. Google it, there are numerous examples of people who committed or threatened to commit violent acts because of their political beliefs.

The debate has turned to blaming individuals, that idiotic. Everyone should be free to express their political views. What should be discussed is how that discussion takes place. Do we act like mature adults and voice our opinions or do we emphasis our opinions using fear, hatred and any other tool that can whip our listeners into a frenzy. Do we play with dynamite or do we treat each other with respect? Everyone here has the choice of how they present their views, so do our politicians and entertainers.

[workpublic]

one thing i've noticed, there has been a marked reduction in politicians arrogance towards their constituents.

[floridayankee]

Jan 12, 2011 11:04:29 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I simply corrected the spelling of the name of an author of a book that I was recommending for all to find and read. That you took it as a personal affront is out of my control.

As far as my encouraging people to find and read the book, do you not encourage people to go to original sources to find out accurate information? Or should they just rely on others to tell them what the book says?

So much innocence, assumption and a total derailment from the OP all in one post.

Alinsky with a Y would be proud young padawan.

[deziloooooo]

"The problem isn't with them, the problem is with their audience."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lot of truth in that one line.

The ones doing all the rhetoric are just doing what they are hired to do,,,in a way, think actors hired to play a part.

Now the audience..that's a different thing.... either understand they are seeing a play, musical put on for amusement or actually believe that what they are seeing is real.

Responsibility is on them as to what they go away with after watching the play, musical.

Tapping their foot and humming the lines that were presented or murmuring under their breaths ,,"such stupidity and BS "...I think to many go away tapping their toes and humming the lines.

My opinion of course.

[billisonboard]

Jan 12, 2011 11:24:03 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

Jan 12, 2011 11:04:29 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I simply corrected the spelling of the name of an author of a book that I was recommending for all to find and read. That you took it as a personal affront is out of my control.

As far as my encouraging people to find and read the book, do you not encourage people to go to original sources to find out accurate information? Or should they just rely on others to tell them what the book says?

So much innocence, assumption and a total derailment from the OP all in one post.

Alinsky with a Y would be proud young padawan.

What can I say, you brought him up. I just recommended the book.