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courtesy of Teh Sadly
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Putz says that people like Gabrielle Gifford’s husband Mark Kelly, in denouncing the “angry rhetoric” on the right — are dishonest and indecent.
To paraphrase Justice Cardozo (“proof of negligence in the air, so to speak, will not do”), there is no such thing as responsibility in the air. Those who try to connect Sarah Palin and other political figures with whom they disagree to the shootings in Arizona use attacks on “rhetoric” and a “climate of hate” to obscure their own dishonesty in trying to imply responsibility where none exists. But the dishonesty remains.
Hilarious.
This is a guy who spent most of the Bush/Cheney years blaming the media and Democrats for the bloody quagmire in Iraq.
Ergo: speeches and news reports can cause history’s most powerful military to lose a war against a defanged third-world country — but the constant drumbeat of violent imagery and rhetoric by wingnuts can’t in any way be connected to pushing armed crazies over the edge.
And remember back in 2008 when McCain/Palin supporters/pre-Teabaggers were caught on camera at rallies shouting “TERRORIST!” and “KILL HIM!” when one of them would mention Obama? They weren’t to blame at all – the media was.
The Angry Left has gotten away with all sorts of beyond-the-pale behavior throughout the Bush Administration. The double standards involved — particularly on the part of the press — are what are feeding this anger.
Media double standards are so infuriating! Crosshairs on political ads, employing the language of armed insurrection, regularly comparing political opponents to Stalinsts and Nazis, telling people the government is going to brainwash their children and kill their grandmothers — meh.
And remember during the Ground Zero [sic] Mosque [sic] hysteria, when bigoted wingnuts started defacing mosques? Yeah, that was all Obama’s fault.
It occurs to me that right after 9/11 we saw the beginning of anti-mosque demonstrations but those quickly dissipated. Why? Probably because right after this march, we had Bush’s WTC bullhorn speech and people started to feel confident that Bush would protect the country. With less confidence in Obama, are they resorting to self-help? It’s a long way from bacon to beheadings, of course, but a sense that the powers-that-be can’t be trusted to protect the country is dangerous and destabilizing.
No such thing as responsibility in the air!
Unless you’re trying to blame Democrats for something.
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Glenn Reynolds is a disingenuous idiot, and he writes for the Wall Street Journal. But I repeat myself.
I dunno but the students at UT forced to take classes from Reynolds could be considered victims as well. Of educational neglect and malpractice
Follow the money!
The rightwing makes a TON of buck$$$ off of hatred & anger, which they use to gin up their base.
Palin is one of their ultimate cash-cows, guaranteed to make a boat-load of buck$$$ off of the rubes who slaver & worship at her feet.
Of course, the elite-corporate owned fascist media will say junk like this. That’s why they hire shills like Glenn Reynolds, who sold his soul to de debbil a loooong time ago. Money talks….
I’d like to say that I’m surprised the wingnuts have already started up with their fictional, delirious, whiny push back memes…but I’m not.
Mark Kelly’s statement was very classy under any circumstances, let alone these.
Hey Reynolds and fellow travelers. You’re way out of your league. Maybe you should just sit down and shut up…ya know…before you dig yourselves in any deeper.
I suppose we should avoid dehumanizing our political adversaries. But, I can’t help but to believe the right is composed of assholes.
Following the Arizona shooting, a tea-bagger ‘organizer’ took snippet’s of things Obama supposedly has said over the last 2-3 years. “…they’ll bring a rope, we’ll bring a gun…” was Obama quoting what some right-winger had said. The bagger made it sound like Obama had said it.
The baggers may have some reasonable points to make, but when they pull stuff like this it discredits anything and everything they say.
A dead kid, a congresswoman in critical condition, a 22 year old nutjob in custody, and these people are going to continue to get more and more disgusting.
I was talking to a friend who lives in AZ Saturday night. He is an avid shooter, loves his guns, loves his Rethuglicans, loves his freedumb. I asked him what he thought about this and his response was passive. I said “they shot a congresswoman and killed a 9 year old kid!”
My buddy’s response? “Yeah. Fuck the congresswoman. I couldn’t give a shit. The kid’s the sad part.”
I ended the conversation.
This is not a one-sided problem. The only thing I have seen on the net that alluded to her possible death is the comment on DK where a poster was so angry with Gifford for voting against pelosi wasthat he said she is “dead” to him. granted, the comment was withdrawn with profuse apology, but it was one of our progressives that made the comment in the first place. The wingnuts have no compunctions regarding vitriolic comment, but there are a lot of things said here about the other side that do not speak comity.
No right wing zealot is free of guilt today no matter what.
A question that has been nagging…
The evidence that has been released so far indicates Gifford was a Loughner target and that he held anti government sentiments.
Why was his anti-government sentiment only focused on Gifford? Where is the evidence showing an equal focus on the senator serving Louhgner’s district? If Loughner was in fact anti-government…there should be more evidence. Or was he only certain of “anti” one type of government representation?
Loughner may also have been influenced by American Renaissance, a white supremacist group, may also be involved. This is far-right Patriot movement stuff, exactly where you expect an attack like this would come from.
Right-Wingers Rush to Label Arizona Shooting Suspect a Liberal — While Simultaneously Accusing Left of “Politicizing” Assassination Attempt.
Imagine!
There we have it. It’s all over the place.
The guy is clearly insane, and there is no evidence yet that anyone induced him to murder 6 and wound 14. Why is anyone making this political?
Uh, because the target was a politician?
His target was a politician. His paper trail is political. Because he is mentally something..obviously, means that he didn’t need anyone to induce him to murder, his own mind did…with the probable help of influence from outside of his own mind interpreted by his own mind.
You must be reading “My Pet Goat”.
Until Glen Reynolds, GOP’s Terror Teaparty and Fox Terro Corp have crosshairs mapped on their homes, places of work, and on their hate-churches…Glenn and his GOP Corp of Teaparty Fox Terrorist murderers enjoy sublime impunity….with Fox broadcast megaphones.
Are you immune Glenn? To the poisons you spray, handle, vend proclaiming self-victimhood? Tell me true now Glenn and each “concerned” GOP-professional “victim” Teaparty Fox Fan Terrorist whining past the expanding lake of dead Democrat’s blood: Do you believe yourself immune?
Do you bank on Dem’s, Progressive’s and decent people to yield pro-forma dependably passive to your corporate funded terrorism? Do your corproate owners also bank on self-defeating Dem pacifism?….as demonstarted by the GOP’s castrated Barry Bush Obama? Do Boehner’ you and Jared’s shared plans, ideals,methods and objectives assume Dem’s ishall cower predictably nto submission to GOP Teaparty Fox’s textbook corproate sponsored broadcast terrorists?
Let us know Glenn?. How about your GOP corporate paymasters?
You are aware that he had specifically referenced the congresswoman in screeds that were found at his house….right?
Here are the differences between “the left” during the Bush years and “the right” during the last two years.
1. People did not become enraged with Bush until he started committing actual, verifiable crimes: starting a war under false pretenses, illegally spying on Americans, torturing suspects, undermining the constitution on due process and habeas corpus. They called for investigations and accountability through legal processes. People on the right became enraged against Obama from the moment he was elected, blamed him for the economic meltdown and bailouts that actually took place under Bush, and have irrationally accused him of being a socialist who wants to kill old people, being born in Kenya, and being a secret Muslim who “pals around with terrorists.” They have repeatedly threatened or used violence.
2. Liberals have criticized Obama on principle because he is following the policies of his predecessor and has refused to hold government officials and Wall Street executives accountable for their crimes. Conservatives said nothing or defended him when Bush was breaking the law and running up massive deficits. They became enraged about the deficit once Obama inherited it from Bush and have suddenly discovered a love for the constitution that they imagine establishes a Christian nation.
There really is no equivalence between the two and it is not fair or balanced to pretend there is.
Justice Cardozo was talking about finding guilt in a court of law.
I’m talking about Jared Loughner and Glenn Reynolds being America-hating thugs.
One thing I have not seen is any reference by him to her being Jewish, however, if he was involved with a militia type of organization or white supremacy…same difference…that could be a factor in targeting her.
One of the victims was a Democratic politician, another was a Republican judge, the rest were regular citizens. Loughner told a friend he wanted to be in the national news, and this got him there.
Why are both sides trying to score political points based on what an insane person does?
No, I had not seen that.
The judge was there on a whim..the guy shot randomly after shooting Gifford. Perhaps you should go and investigate some of the writings, etc., that are out there by him. Then decide.
denouncing the “angry rhetoric” on the right
GOP’s Terror Teaparty and Fox Terro Corp have crosshairs mapped on their homes, places of work, and on their hate-churches
GOP Corp of Teaparty Fox Terrorist murderers
GOP-professional “victim” Teaparty Fox Fan Terrorist
Dem’s, Progressive’s and decent people
your corporate funded terrorism?
your corproate owners
Boehner’ you and Jared’s shared plans, ideals,methods and objectives
GOP Teaparty Fox’s textbook corproate sponsored broadcast terrorists?
Most of the killers today want to be “famous.” They are all sick – Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy – and they are all killers because they want to kill. Many of them find a reason – God tells them to kill, their fathers beat them, mother was a drunk. They justify their killing so they don’t have to feel the real guilt. This shooter wanted to kill this particular member of Congress – HER – not some random person.
Shame on you. You expect trolls to actually know what they are typing about. /s
The shooter could have been influenced by reading the Communist Manifesto, watching re-runs of “Gunsmoke”, William Burroughs novels, the movies “Full Metal Jacket” and “Sin City” and playing “Grand Theft Auto”. When the influences are found, they must be eliminated.
The GOP is worried that they might be held liable for the shooting.
I hear many things from the right recently. If one opposes the separation of church and state, freedom of speech, equality under the law, while championing a large, standing army and an executive imbalance regarding the separation of power of the branches of government, what conclusions can be drawn? How can one supposedly love America but be against so many of its foundational principles? Something else is going on.
LOL..um…no?
I’ve done this and what I see is a very mentally ill individual. Who probably should have been locked up when he threatened to kill before, but wasn’t. Who should never have been able to get a gun, but did.
Are we going to have to shut down the First Amendment because an insane person might be induced, in his sick mind, to engage in violence based on what he hears?
Do we ban violent movies, such as Natural Born Killers, because an insane person might engage in violence based on what he saw in the movie?
All I’m saying is that I think this was not a political crime and it is premature at best to try to spin this horrible tragedy into political points by either side. And I’m on the Left.
Or dare we suggest, Killer Instinct or Natural Born Killers.
Can you provide the proof that Obama was quoting someone else when he made that remark? Because I have researched it and have not seen any such context. Obama made the comment at a fundraiser in Philadelphia. There are no claims that he was quoting what someone else said. He said, “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun. Because from what I understand folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”
http://www.politicususa.com/en/Obama-Violence
I just gave you a link in the comments at my Diary BT I wish I had wrote what you just said.
http://my.firedoglake.com/thingscomeundone/2011/01/10/dont-use-the-shooting-of-a-9-year-old-to-push-politics-just-lie-down-and-die/#comment-258946
I’m betting the framing of this issue as a function of the “Angry Left” will emerge the dominant media perspective.
http://my.firedoglake.com/thingscomeundone/2011/01/10/dont-use-the-shooting-of-a-9-year-old-to-push-politics-just-lie-down-and-die/#comment-258946
Without clicking on the link, (I just had lunch), I’m going to guess that there were no examples listed…
Strawman.
Please point to one person advocating the “banning” of speech. People are saying the right should tone down their violent rhetoric.
I haven’t seen anyone here advocating any of the things you point out.
LOL. I was waiting for someone to throw that out. Good luck with that.
So all of these are random acts by insane people who always just happen to pick left leaning targets, is that your position? Why, if they are not “induced” to make them, are there never any right wing people or institutions attacked?
Yep. I thought I lived thru the W years, but somehow I missed the part where Gore put Rs in cross hairs on a map.
Right.
And I don’t remember elected Democrats standing on the floor of the House and comparing Bush to Hitler or Stalin.
Shit. This was the party of Lincoln. How far from the path they have strayed…
We must not stop there. Everything offensive must be identified and eliminated before it offends anyone.
/sarcasm
Reagan. Only one I can think of off hand…and maybe a radio guy.
No – Obama really did screw up the narrative on this – again destroying a talking point the left should have had.
Barack Obama during the 2008 Campaign as he spoke to a Philadelphia Fundraiser on June 13, 2008:
“WALL STREET JOURNAL: Mobster wisdom tells us never to bring a knife to a gun fight. But what does political wisdom say about bringing a gun to a knife fight?
That’s exactly what Barack Obama said he would do to counter Republican attacks: “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” Obama said at a Philadelphia fundraiser Friday night. “Because from what I understand folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”
The comment drew some laughs and applause. But it also struck a chord with his Republican rival. John McCain’s campaign immediately accused the Democratic candidate of playing the politics of fear. They also mentioned that Obama said he would use a gun that would be illegal under Obama’s plans to cut down on illegal firearms….”
Our leader Obama has once again let the GOP off the hook as he leads in a “bi-partisan” manner.
Yeah. Or compared anyone to Hitler. Or had the DNC fund rallies where they encouraged people to come armed…
How about we just limit the offenses to stopping murder after all whats the point of free speech if your dead?
Okay. Now name one that wasn’t thirty years ago.
He’s probably always been a closet repuke.
With each passing day, I’m more convinced that the universe I inhabit is only superficially similar to the one the right wingers occupy.
Hey…yer changin’ the rules…um..tick tock, tick tock…I can’t think of any.
It’s an eleventy-dimensional thing, dontchaknow.
The guy who shot Reagan wanted to impress an actress who might have been a Lefty for all know that does not make the shooter a Lefty.
Exactly.
Ah! Of course…like the chess game.
I never suggested he was….just that he did it 30 years ago (next March 30th I believe)
Your point about limiting freedoms in pursuit of safety is a good one and a dynamic in US culture that does not seem to get enough attention. Trading away freedom for the semblance of safety appears to me a behavior that affects many folks across the entire political spectrum in the US. It seems an insecure reaction to our environment. What might such imbalanced efforts toward safety say about the supposedly richest, strongest nation on the planet or its article of faith that is American Exceptionalism? We are invincible with God on our side, yet terrified at the least affront? Is nothing more important than being harmed, including freedom?
Margaret didn’t say it had to be a lefty attacker…the question was about right wing targets or institutions.
Hey Glenn: How’s that lobotomy working out for you? Metal plate holding, is it? Haven’t popped any rivets yet? Let’s us know if you need a torque wrench…
Ok so then when was the last time a Lefty shot anyone over politics Joe Klein seems to think Ed is as bad as Lou Dobbs lying about Immigrants spreading leprosy because he opposes the war in Afghanistan.
Typical MSM thinking
My Mistake.
Yep, I saw that from Joke Line and linked to it earlier. Well, we already knew he was a douche.
hahahahahhaha
caause its very important to keep up THE VIOLENT political discourse
The word “victim” has different meanings, and the most general meaning is: a person who suffers some loss. It can be reasonably argued that whenever a bully-culture nation-state incubates and exports terror and whose political officials are assassinated, then all of humanity suffers some loss from both the acts of terror and the assignations, all of humanity is a victim of these crimes against humanity and crimes against individuals.
The simplistic, divisive distinctions between the political Left and Right, liberals and conservatives, ad infinitum, ad naseum, for scapegoating contributes to confusion and gives energy to the dynamic of victims and victimizers.
It is reportedly against the law to even promulgate “politics by assassination”, let alone practice it, because it is difficult for even the most objective, neutral scholar to avoid giving the appearance of approving of the physical elimination of public officials and elected politicians who are deemed to be egregiously violating their oaths of office. Yet in a bully-culture nation-state, who stops the bully government and how is it stopped in broad daylight?
Glenn Greenwald had something to say about this today:
http://www.salon.com/news/wikileaks/?story=/opinion/greenwald/2011/01/10/fear
The U.S. Government currently and for at least the past ten years has been using terrorism against its own citizens with impunity. The word “terrorism” in this context is not exaggeration — it means the act of terrorizing; use of force or threats to demoralize, intimidate, and subjugate, especially such use as a political weapon or policy.
The American Empire, the world’s greatest superpower, acts like the world’s biggest bully and the world’s most extreme terrorist organization.
The U.S. Government’s attempted, secret, sealed subpoena issued to the Twitter website was unsealed only because it was legally contested by Twitter, who refused to be intimidated. The harassment of Twitter and possibly other websites (Facebook, Google, eBay’s Skype) by subpoenas from the U.S. Government to find evidence against Julian Assange and Private Bradley Manning is a shocking spectacle for the global village of the whole world to watch. It reveals the ugly, dark side of hypocrisy and secret double-standards.
David Dayen has a fresh cross-post available: Jared Loughner and Political Rhetoric
And George Wallace, in 1972. Wondering if it is significant that neither he nor Reagan died.
“This is a guy who spent most of the Bush/Cheney years blaming the media and Democrats for the bloody quagmire in Iraq.”
_________________
This is an argument ad hominem circumstantial, a common feature hereabouts, which does nothing to disprove his statement and makes the rhetorical efforts of “Blue Texan” look feeble.
You’re right. What does that is his inability to provide any examples.
Humanist. Jane wants you to submit a page to her regarding the charge sheet for Manning that you wrote about to put together with her other stuff. It was one where you described each of the charges, etc. You can probably contact via Admin or “?”. Just passing along the info.
And he could have been influenced by that real nasty stuff in the Bible. We should ban it.
The Right are clearly very worried about this, and are sending out signals to their airheads to circle the wagon. They don’t expect to influence the middle; they are simply trying to shore up their base. To do this, they have to get a narrative out that the base can use to stop their ears. What makes this risky is that the killer is in custody, and they don’t know what he might say. Mad or not, he could finger someone. If I were his lawyer, that’s exactly what I would do. Plead madness and claim that ‘Beck made me do it.’ That is the Right’s nightmare scenario, and I think it is almost certain to happen, if the young man doesn’t entirely disintegrate. Since he’s not being held in solitary like Manning, he probably will be fit to stand trial.
The continuous violence-promoting crapstream coming from the wingnuts is bad enough that we don’t need to exaggerate it. The Secret Service debunked the ‘kill him’ chant allegations.
To be fair Eric Cantor apparently was also targeted and he definitely is a target on the right side of the aisle. Although nothing suggests the person in that case got his opinion of Cantor from anyone on the left.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/35152.html
Please. Putz’s whole op-ed is ad hominem.
Booyakasha!
Life During Wartime cartoon: http://www.joshbrownnyc.com/ldw391.htm
Why,
Is Jared a right wing nut?
If so, please point to proof of that belief.