So true Katie. Great point, great post.

Katie, I agree with the overall sentiment of your post. But schools are wayyyyyy outside of the bounds of common sense with regard to their zero tolerance policies.

And how do you suppose the schools would react to a kid who wrote something like http://ow.ly/3Ay7C … or this: http://ow.ly/3Ay7O ?

The public schools are run by imbeciles.

Oh, and those are not targets – those are surveyor marks. Look it up.

The Palin hatred is getting just a tad long in the tooth. We get it, OK? Strong, successful, conservative feminists are a threat, therefore must be destroyed. Right. And if you can’t destroy them, go after their kids, a la Kathy Griffin.

Yet, sadly, when a classmate bullied my son by saying something unbelievably cruel, insulting and hurtful in front of a classroom full of peers, I was told that the bully’s privacy rights trumped my right to know what sanction, if any, was imposed on him by the school. All I know is that the school has (upon my insistence) moved my son out of all classes with the boy who’s been picking on him since kindergarten, but our real rights don’t kick in until my son puts a gun to his own, or somebody else’s, head (G-d forbid).

I wholeheartedly disagree with your opinion as stated in your blog. Whose theory is this? I would rather spend my energy focusing on the facts, praying for the victims families, and ensuring justice is served

We need to look at the facts. To make anything POLITICAL out of this massacre is premature.

First off, the suspect, Jared Loughner, is pointing towards the direction of possibly, if not most likely, mentally ill.
-As investigators have shared with the media, he was an individual who like books on communism and authored by Hitler;
-He liked a youTube video showing the American flag burning;
-A friend of his said he was “left wing, quite liberal”.
-He was angry that the military forced a Bible on him upon entering the military;
-Loughner thought the people of AZ 8th district were illiterate;
-Ranted about “mind control and brainwash methods” and had an incoherent obsession with grammar and years;
-Told authorities he acted alone;

These are the facts we have now. I see nothing pointing towards a political agenda, nor Sarah Palin.

I think this is one more example of Sarah Palin’s inability to lead our country. Why would we allow such a hotheaded moron to represent us?? My prayers go out to the victims’ families.

I question why you refer to her as “Governor”. She quit that job for more money and media whoring opportunities at Faux News.

@Jenny – Really? Palin resigned in the face of endless and BASELESS ethics accusations costing the state millions, all brought about by people who are as hateful towards her as your words indicate you are. You really should learn the FACTS before posting such utter nonsense, you know. Foolish is as foolish does.

And, since you obviously have not been paying attention, the shooter is most definitely not a Palin fan either. His views are more in line with liberals – so what’s that now? Those hotheaded, hateful liberals that are always threatening their political enemies with death (see the link to DailyKos above) are actually to blame? Are you ready to own that? Or are you going to continue to cling to your delusions?

Katie, you are absolutely right about the danger in Palin’s rhetoric, indeed it applies to people like Glen Beck as well. They are free to use that type of speech, no matter how reminiscent it is of Timothy McVeigh’s rantings. Images like the one posted above are being scrubbed from TP websites right now, which shows that even if this guy isn’t what he appears to be, they are aware that they have been deliberately inflammatory.

There is absolutely no eveidence that the shooter was an admirer of Sarah Palin, and yet liberals can’t help themselves but to blame her. There is eveidence, however, that he was an atheist and enjoyed reading books by Hitler and Marx. Sounds like a real Palin fan to me…

Katie, you are 100% right on this. The shooting took place in my home town, in the shopping center right down the street from where my grandmother lived and near where I attended junior high. I met Gabby Gifford last spring in the Tucson airport (my kids and I were arriving for a visit and my parents knew her and introduced me). She was one of very few moderate elected officials in Arizona. When I heard what had happened, I immediately called my parents to make sure they hadn’t been there. I’m beyond sickened by what’s happened and I hope Palin and her ilk are held responsible for the role their disgusting, hateful, violent rhetoric played in this incident.

I’m not sure why I am even piling into a comment thread that has already left the bounds of respectful debate, but I couldn’t help myself.

I think the violent rhetoric of both the left and right is dangerous and wrong.

However, making a political point about Sarah Palin in the context of this horrible tragedy is……distasteful. I don’t think any connection has been suggested by the facts of this case, and drawing a connection to prove a political argument is just…..disturbing. Especially in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

This in in reply to those of you who refer to Laughner as an admirer of Hitler and Marx and a left-wing liberal in the same post. Please look up the terms (fascist defined as a person who is dictatorial or has extreme right wing views:Hitler) and communism (a form of government that uses extreme methods to control its citizens and deny them basic human rights). Unfortunately people like Sarah Palen, Glen Beck and Russ Limbaugh use these terms inappopriatly in order to manipulate emotions and to justify their messages of hate. I am quite sure that the aforementioned commentators and political leaders will deny responsibility for any of their inflamatory vitrol being influential in Laughner’s violent act, but it is clear that this kind of political rethoric could lead the emotionally unstable to act upon the suggestion to put their identified apponents in the “cross-hairs”.

even eliz haseelback thought the crosshairs ad was beyond…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/26/elizabeth-hasselbeck-sara_n_514561.html

and palin herself has just removed it from her site .. so it never happened, right?

maybe this rhetoric of violence can end here. retire the “reload”

Gah. Yes, violent rhetoric is bad. You know what else is bad? Using a completely unrelated tragedy to bash or shame people (or religions, or political groups, or whatever) with whom you disagree. It’s silly to play pin-the-crime-on-the-party, here.

As far as what Palin thought would happen would she published that map…I imagine she thought that people would think the same thing as when they hear that a company is “targeting” a certain demographic. Target is a pretty commonly used metaphor in politics, and I think its safe to say that Palin is appalled by what happened.

Katie you are so wrong on this, there are way too may ways to be a target with out then refering to any type of weapon what so ever & the website you refer to was obviously geared towards getting her removed from office through the election process.
I assume that if we remove anything that has anything to do with guns or targets we will stop the violence ans sensless murders just like if we remove all the talk about drugs that that problem will go away too!

It is true there is a lot we don’t know about this case and the shooter’s motivations or precipitating factors… other than the fact he was mentally unstable. But Katie’s point is an excellent one: Palin’s map, as well as so much other vile political rhetoric that we hear from Limbaugh, Beck and Coulter among others, crosses a line from what is considered hateful but protected speech into what is considered speech that threatens or incites violence or mayhem. We prosecute people who yell “fire” falsely in a crowded theater; we expel students who threaten violence against classmates. The big question is why media outlets are allowed to publish and broadcast this kind of speech. When I say “allowed” I don’t necessarily mean under the law, because that’s a really fine line for the government to prosecute without chilling free speech. I mean “allowed” by the citizenry. All of us can take a stand if we can get the information to do so….

I’d like to see a daily list published of all the advertisers that support programming like Glenn Beck’s, so that I could actively boycott those businesses. And as long as an outlet like Fox continues to employ him, the boycott should probably extend to ALL of its advertisers. Maybe as a result of this incident some blogger or website will organize such a list so at least some financial pain can be associated with outlets that broadcast this kind of garbage.

And now, a comment to “Ellen” — Do you have a life or are you still logging on to this thread every few minutes to make more hateful and uninformed comments? By the way, surveyors marks look significantly different than cross-hairs (YOU look it up: http://tinyurl.com/3x8twz5). Also the phrase “dead to me,” once commonly used by Northeasterners especially of Italian heritage, but now a term used even in texting (abbreviated YDTM) and meaning, more or less, “F you” (but in a friendly way) doesn’t mean literally wishing someone is dead, it means you disown them, you don’t want to hear from them or see them again.

Anneub – What exactly is “right-wing” about national SOCIALISM again???

Seriously, Ellen, settle down. Not everyone who thinks Sarah Palin is horrid is some sort of leftist. Palin is intentionally extremist and divisive which is the sole reason she gets any attention at all. The same with Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, et al. The problem is that people like you have so dishonestly redefined terms that even complete moderates, like Obama, for example, are portrayed as leftists. It’s completely ridiculous and only the least intelligent and politically unsavvy among us falls for it.

Right on Katie. Unfortunately Sarah Palin and her ilk don’t give a rat’s ass but she sure loves the spotlight.

excellent article

I find it interesting that people who rant against those pulling politics into this discussion are completely ignoring the FACT that this took place at a POLITICAL RALLY, which the Congresswoman was headlining.

Now if this had taken place at, say, a mall and the Congresswoman just happened to be there as a patron you might have a leg to stand on.

One of the greatest travesties of this is that a family has lost a child. A child in whom they were encouraging to be interested in America and its government and for that he is dead.

Heartbreaking.

This post is a beyond distasteful attempt at capitalizing on a tragedy that was in no way, shape or form related to Governor Palin.

Apparently Sarah Palin took this target map off of her website after the shooting today. Obviously, she or someone in her office was concerned about a possible connection. Now, I certainly don’t think Ms. Palin was encouraging people to become assassins but to have a map with crosshair marks targeting certain officials is, at best, using appallingly poor judgement.

The shooter sounds like he may have been mentally ill but we will have to wait and see what investigators eventually learn about his motives.

My sister-in-law was only a mile or so away from this shopping center at the time of the shooting and it is only by chance she wasn’t shopping there with her children today. My heart goes out to all of the victims and their loved ones.

Please read the DAILY KOS – blog of liberal pundit Kos — he uses the words ‘target’ and ‘bullseye’ in this particular blog entry of his. And, read below where I have pasted what I found to be the most interesting part of his writing on a particular day (1/25/08 — yes. that’s right – 08) – he has included Gabrielle Giffords’ name on his ‘target’ list. In ’08! So why don’t you all cut the crap about Sarah Palin and blaming today’s atrocity on her and the TP movement.

Read on: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/25/1204/74882/511/541568 (Link to entire blog entry of that date)

Who to primary? Well, I’d argue that we can narrow the target list by looking at those Democrats who sold out the Constitution last week. I’ve bolded members of the Blue Dogs for added emphasis.

Ackerman, Gary (NY-05)
Altmire, Jason (PA-04)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)
Baca, Joe (CA-43)
Baird, Brian (WA-03)
Barrow, John (GA-12)
Bean, Melissa (IL-08)
Berkley, Shelley (NV-01)
Berman, Howard (CA-28)
Berry, Marion (AR-01)
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
Bishop, Timothy (NY-01)
Boren, Dan (OK-02)
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03)
Boucher, Rick (VA-09)
Boyd, Allen (FL-02)
Boyda, Nancy (KS-02)
Brown, Corrine (FL-03)
Butterfield, G.K. (NC-01)
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18)
Carney, Chris (PA-10)
Castor, Kathy (FL-11)
Cazayoux, Don (LA-06)
Chandler, Ben (KY-06)
Childers, Travis (MS-01)
Cleaver, Emanuel (MO-05)
Clyburn, James (SC-06)
Cooper, Jim (TN-05)
Costa, Jim (CA-20)
Cramer, Bud (AL-05)
Crowley, Joe (NY-07)
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28)
Davis, Artur (AL-07)
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04)
Dicks, Norman (WA-06)

Donnelly, Joe (IN-02)
Edwards, Chet (TX-17)
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08)
Emanuel, Rahm (IL-05)
Engel, Elliot (NY-17)
Etheridge, Bob (NC-02)
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08)
Gillibrand, Kirsten (NY-20)
Gordon, Bart (TN-06)
Green, AL (TX-09)
Green, Gene (TX-29)
Gutierrez, Luis (IL-04)
Harman, Jane (CA-36)
Hastings, Alcee (FL-23)
Herseth Sandlin, S. (SD-AL)
Higgins, Brian (NY-27)
Hinojosa, Ruben (TX-15)
Holden, Tim (PA-17)
Hoyer, Steny (MD-05)
Kanjorski, Paul (PA-11)
Kildee, Dale (MI-05)
Kind, Ron (WI-03)
Klein, Ron (FL-22)
Lampson, Nick (TX-22)
Langevin, JIm (RI-02)
Lipinski, Dan (IL-03)
Lowey, Nita (NY-18)
Mahoney, Tim (FL-16)
Marshall, Jim (GA-08)
Matheson, Jim (UT-02)
McCarthy, Carolyn (NY-04)
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07)
McNerney, Jerry (CA-11)
Meeks, Gregory (NY-06)
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03)

Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05)
Moore, Dennis (KS-03)
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08)
Murtha, John (PA-12)
Ortiz, Solomon (TX-27)
Nancy Pelosi (CA-08)
Perlmutter, Ed (CO-07)
Peterson, Colin (MN-07)
Pomeroy, Earl (ND-AL)
Rahall, Nick (WV-03)
Reyes, Silvestre (TX-16)
Richardson, Laura (CA-37)
Rodriguez, Ciro (TX-23)
Ross, Mike (AR-04)
Ruppesberger, Dutch (MD-02)
Salazar, John (CO-03)
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)
Scott, David (GA-13)
Sestak, Joe (PA-07)
Sherman, Brad (CA-27)
Shuler, Heath (NC-11)
Sires, Albio (NJ-13)
Skelton, Ike (MO-04)
Smith, Adam (WA-09)
Snyder, Vic (AR-02)
Space, Zach (OH-18)
Spratt, John (SC-05)
Stupak, Bart (MI-01)
Tanner, John (TN-08)
Ellen Tauscher (CA-10)
Taylor, Gene (MS-04)
Thompson, Bennie (MS-02)
Udall, Mark (CO-02)
Wilson, Charles (OH-06)
Yarmuth, John (KY-03

Not all of these people will get or even deserve primaries, but this vote certainly puts a bulls eye on their district. If we can field enough serious challengers, and if we repeat the Donna Edwards and Joe Lieberman stories a few more times, well then, our elected officials might have no choice but to be more responsive. Because if we show them that their AT&T lobbyist buddies can’t save their jobs, they’ll pay more attention to those who can.

p.s. Four Blue Dogs voted to protect the Constitution — Baron Hill (IN-09), Mike Michaud (ME-02), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), and Mike Thompson (CA-01). They apparently realized that being supposed “moderates” didn’t necessitate selling out to Constitution for George Bush’s imperial presidency.

I live in Arizona. I was out and about and didn’t hear the news until late this afternoon. My feeling is that the fact that this rhetoric has been expounded, encouraged, approved, passed on and not roundly panned by the talking heads makes it seem to be OK. So it’s OK to think that way and if you think that way then it’s OK to act out your thoughts. That is the ultimate problem when we let this kind of lanugage go unchallenged.

In the past year, the rest of the country and world has seen a picture of Arizona that implies that most who live here are either illegal immigrants or people who want anyone who looks like they might be from another country to go back where they came from and will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal. I’m here to tell you that there are people here who are rational and reasoned and gasp! liberal. Not many and we are drowned out by the nutcases who get elected, but we are here. My mom, who lives in a slightly saner state, asked me about our leaders – are they members of the tea party? I said, no, they’re worse. If this is where our country is headed, be afraid.

Not surveyor’s marks: Palin calls it a bullseye in her own tweets.

“Remember months ago ‘bullseye’ icon used 2 target the 20 Obamacare-lovin’ incumbent seats? We won 18 out of 20 (90% success rate;T’aint bad)”
http://twitter.com/SarahPalinUSA/status/29677744457#

SarahPalinUSA is the genuine Palin account: see CNN.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/14/is-palin-getting-ready-to-tweet-again-2/

This is sad – and the comments are sad – what I had hoped might come of this was some kind of general understanding that the vitriol being spewed on both sides of this ever growing divide is a horrible thing that might have dire consequences. That, seeing something as terrible as this, we all realize that what has been said far too often been taken to extremes

That there is really no more discussion in American politics anymore – only self-congratulating and mockery. That facts have been overridden by emotions. That we now listen to our ‘gut’ more than we read about the details and actual happenings.

And I don’t mean Palin or Obama – I mean we as a nation. The News Networks – ALL of them.

But no – It doesn’t take a day before I read the words ‘socialist’ , ‘communist’, ‘tea partiest’ etc.

I am afraid we will never be able to look each other in the eyes again

No one is suggesting restricting anyone’s speech. The load of bull is that when someone is held responsible for that speech, i.e., roundly condemned for thier inflammatory and irresponsible speech, they immediately go on the whine about how their freedom of speech is being restricted (Dr. Laura). The politicians and politically oriented celebrities (because that’s what Palin is at this point) make irresponsible, inflammatory comments because they know it will guarantee them press coverage.
Authorities are saying this guy almost certainly did not act alone, and they are seeking his accomplice. I’ll reserve my judgement of what the motives are once the investigation is concluded.

RC, you’re desperation for moral equivalence is showing.

Great post, Katie. I couldn’t agree more.

It occurs to me reading these comments that when a teen bullies someone we don’t ask about their politics either. I wish that this graphic had been made more public before the shooting, but I guess it is human nature that we only think of these things when something actually happens. I’m sure it was not Sarah Palin’s intent that anyone die. At the same time, it was in bad taste and this is exactly why – Americans have been assassinated on American soil by Americans. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy, and I wish that everyone would back down from the partisanship and really, really consider whether it is time to cut the rhetoric – starting with ourselves, not the other guy. In this way we really can raise our kids into a better future.

From the NYT this morning:

Fox News is reporting that the suspect in the Arizona shooting may have been influenced by American Renaissance, which the news channel describes as a pro-white racial publication.

On its Web site, Fox News cites an internal department of Homeland Security memo that says the alleged shooter, Jared Loughner, may have ties to the publication or the group that puts it out.

According to Fox News: “The DHS memo states that there is “no direct connection” between Loughner and the group, “but strong suspicion is being directed at AmRen / American Renaissance. Suspect is possibly linked to this group. (through videos posted on his MySpace and YouTube account.). The group’s ideology is anti-government, anti-immigration, anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government), anti-Semitic.”
_________________________________________________________________

Giffords is Jewish and was opposed to the new immigration legislation in AZ. Racism sounds like the most likely motivation to me.

Great post, Katie.
Imagine if law enforcement found a Middle Eastern man with a map like this.
He’d likely be accused of plotting a terrorist attack!
All politicians who engage in violent imagery and rhetoric should reflect on the attendant hazards.
Anyone who does so runs the risk of inciting the crazies and the extreme fringe.
As for Sarah Palin, she really needs to grow up and take responsibility for that crosshairs map.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=375184908434

I think that people are missing a large point here. Whether you’re conservative or liberal. Whether you love Palin or Obama, it doesn’t matter. Somehow, our political rhetoric has gotten to the point where violence (even if it is only metaphoric) is becoming part and parcel of the way that politicians and pundits speak to one another. It’s become permissible to use this lock-and-load rhetoric to make our points. Technically, we have a right to do that. But just because we have a right to do something, doesn’t make it something we *should* do.
Politics should be about civil discourse. Both sides are guilty of turning it into a mudslinging–or worse–arena, and BOTH sides need to take a step back and see what their own rhetoric has been and the ways that their rhetoric may have been turning what should be a civil, safe, DEMOCRATIC discussion into a place where people no longer have access to their representatives. That’s only hurting US, the people. The gunman didn’t fire at a liberal or a conservative; he took aim at all of us and our ability to speak our opinions freely, without fear of violence BECAUSE of those opinions.
That’s what our country was founded on.
And I think that Katie has a very valid point. Whether or not we can call anyone responsible other than the gunman is an irrelevant–and impossible–point. But why can’t we hold our elected officials to the same standards that we hold our fifth graders to? Whether those marks on Palin’s map were targets or surveyor’s marks is irrelevant. The larger message was to reload and take them out. It’s a type of rhetoric that she’s been using since the election– when McCain of all people had to step in and neutralize some of the hostilities that her rallies were creating. Her own running mate recognized then the dangers of using certain forms of rhetoric to whip crowds up. But Palin isn’t the only one guilty. Politicians and Pundits on the right AND the left are guilty of turning our political arena into something less than civil, less than democratic. We the people should expect more from them. We should demand more. And it shouldn’t take a shooting to bring attention to the issue.

Sarah Palin is not directly responsible for this. But, yes, your kids would be expelled and probably arrested if they put out a map similar to the map Mrs. Palin put on her website. I think that says it all.

The author isn’t blaming Palin for anything, she’s merely pointing out how in certain contexts (school, specifically) a map with crosshairs on it or rhetoric about reloading and “taking out” opponents would never be allowed to stand. But because it’s politics and adults, the gun/shooting rhetoric and images were not only allowed to stand but were even applauded in some circles.

Obviously Palin had nothing to do with this. I don’t think any rational individual would say she is responsible.

Recently a returning vet was suspended from university because he wrote an essay about being addicted to killing. Given the climate post VATech, the school had no choice but to remove him from the student body until an psych evaluation could be done to determine that he was not a serious threat. Many people felt that this was an outrage and that as a veteran, he should have been allowed to use the rhetoric of addiction when discussing killing and that to remove him from the school was a clear sign that the school hated America. However, if the young man in question had not been a veteran, would there have been the uproar?

All of this to say: the poster’s argument isn’t that Palin is involved, but that the rhetoric of violence, a rhetoric we try to teach out of our children, can have unforeseen and tragic consequences.

Also, I want to point out that Giffords herself is pro second amendment despite the concerns she had over the map. In every single way this incident is sad and confusing.

The Palin hatred is getting just a tad long in the tooth. We get it, OK? Strong, successful, conservative feminists are a threat, therefore must be destroyed. Right. And if you can’t destroy them, go after their kids, a la Kathy Griffin.

Really? The only person who was in danger of being destroyed yesterday was not a
successful, conservative feminist. I really have a hard time believing someone could post something like this without seeing the horrible irony.

And RC: D’OH:
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253055&kaid=127&subid=171

The map I see there has “Target”/dart targets on STATES (not people) that are targeted not for removal but for winning back. There’s a huge difference between saying, for instance, I sure hope my team beats that other team in the game today and saying, I sure hope their quarterback is knocked out with a horrible head injury.

Or at least I see a difference.

No one’s saying that violent, shooting, reloading rhetoric was directly responsible for this behavior. No one who is not directly involved is going to be charged or face trial. But there is certainly nothing but good to come from people thinking about how they use their national platforms for good or for ill, to promote positive changes or to threaten and demean those who disagree with them.

And surveryor’s marks? Really? Can’t someone just say, wow, that was a bad idea, even though I had no intention of inciting actual violence, and I will avoid that sort of imagery and incitement in the future?

Please,if you are moving to Canada,leave your guns at the border!!!

> I think that people are missing a large point here. Whether you’re
> conservative or liberal. Whether you love Palin or Obama, it
> doesn’t matter. Somehow, our political rhetoric has gotten to the
> point where violence (even if it is only metaphoric) is becoming
> part and parcel of the way that politicians and pundits speak to
> one another. It’s become permissible to use this lock-and-load
> rhetoric to make our points.

I see what you’re saying but I think you’re missing part of the point yourself: it’s not just lock-and-load rhetoric – people have actually been bringing loaded guns to political events in the last 18 months, see here for example. It’s in this kind of environment that Palin and others are very intentionally using this kind of language and imagery.

You are right… there’s something very disturbing about putting crosshairs on a human being in the way the DCCC did or an AZ candidate did http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epdJWNA65oY&feature=youtu.be long before Palin dd.

Thee shooter was obsessed with his Congresswoman long before Palin was a twinkle in McCain’s eye.

There’s no point staying stuck on stupid, just keep your own side of the street clean.

Wow.

These comments are truly enlightening about the current state of political thought…

Me, I’m with you Katie. And Clarence Dupnik. I felt so relieved when someone finally called a spade a spade.

This has NOTHING to do with civility; there isn’t a problem with incivility, with a lack of politeness, rather, politicians are actually calling for the permanent elimination (which translates to “death”) of others who do not share their political views — what else can you call a “2nd Amendment Solution”?! The implications are crystal clear.

(And trying to pretend those are “surveyor’s views” after the fact is beyond lame, and another pathetic attempt to deflect responsibility)

How can such language be encouraged or even tolerated in a civilized democracy? Why don’t political leaders put an end to it?

And let’s stop the ridiculous attempts to be even-handed about this: it is the right wing, and many Republicans, who are responsible for the overwhelming majority of this toxic rhetoric.

Question is, why do the American people and condone it? Why is this toxic rhetoric acceptable? As Katie points out, there is a different set of standards for the behaviour of children; why the lack of consistency?

(People who are saying that the shooter was crazy/drugged are missing the point: angry eliminationist rhetoric creates a toxic national climate, and it is inevitable that someone will take it to the next level and act on it, be they a coldly calculating Timothy McVeigh or a troubled Jared Loughner.)

Wingnuts trying to defend the insanity Sarah Palin’s discourse and hateful rantings.

This is all about Sarah Palin, and the republican brand of hateful language.
It empower the unstable.

Oh, please. This is all about Sarah Palin? You have seriously got to be kidding. I’m not even a Palin fan, but come on people. Take off the blinder and open your minds. Both political parties are equally guilty.There are ample examples available. I suppose we should ban all language that could be misinterpreted by the unstable now, too. Seriously?

Great article!!! I get your point Katie!!! Now, I am still hoping Sarah Palin could one day master the ability of thinking before speaking.

I may be repeating what someone else has said, but I can not blame Sarah Palin. I blame the mentally ill man with the gun. This is a major problem in this country; spinning out of control and blaming everyone and everything for every probelm. Why not blame the founders of this country who gave us the right to bear arms? Same as blaming Sarah Palin…..

It is interesting how very very upset the right wing are (the comments above!) by the perfectly suggestion that if you really don’t want politicians shot in at political rallies it is a bad idea to post their names online with gun targets associated with them. Guilt? Shame? An apology and a promise to do better in the future would be more cathartic and … patriotic.

A much better blog post on the same topic. Avoids the rhetoric.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/01/09/the-immediate-aftermath-of-tragedy/

http://www.verumserum.com/?p=13647

Here’s a link to the Democrats’ map targeting (with bullseyes!) different states, AND to profiles and PHOTOGRAPHS of “targeted Republicans.” Again, this comes from those ol’ peace-lovin’-would-never-use-violence-inciting-language Democrats. This is far worse than Palin’s map.

I simply CANNOT believe that you are taking advantage of a terrible tragedy to perpetuate your political agenda. This post is reprehensible – a slap in the face to those who lost loved ones. Unbelievable. You should be ashamed of yourself.

This thread is long and many have noted things like the target map at the DCCC and some of the stuff from the Daily Kos, but the problem goes much further than those things. I did a long post and you can find links to the following at An American Housewife in London, as the hyperlinks didn’t cut and paste with the text.
Here is a Sniper’s Wanted bit from the early Bush years.
Want to compare death threats against Obama and Bush?
Here is John Kerry talking about killing President Bush.
Or check out the vampire/Joker meme when the socialist poster of Obama came out?
The previous link has a bit on the Bush snuff film, the one where the movie makers–Brits actually, so not directly on point for my argument–used actual footage of Bush to create an assassination scene of a sitting president. It won a prestigious award at the Toronto Film Festival, and an Emmy.
Then there are the political porn shots of McCain, sneaky outtakes, embellished and leaked from a photo shoot with The Atlantic, including one with a chimp taking a dump on McCain’s head.
See also the violent rhetoric of the JournoList.
Here’s Palin hanging in effigy for Halloween. If I recall, it took a week for that display to come down.
Remember who said ‘if they bring a knife, we bring a gun’? Hint, it wasn’t just Sean Connery in describing the Chicago Way in The Untouchables; it was the guy who wants to know who’s ass to kick, the guy from Chicago who seems to like fighting metaphors.
Continuing on, there is that 10/10 campaign from the summer, the one with the exploding schoolchildren who didn’t plan on using things like crappy energy saving light bulbs. Turns out, there was more behind the cloak of ecological righteousness, including 50 commercial planes dive bombing New York, and angry threats from a child.
Or how about the “So Right, Its Wrong”, the article about Conservative women the writer would love to hate fuck,* a screed that contained such gems as, “You get this one pregnant, she stays pregnant. Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it?” Playboy took the article down, as did Politico who posted it, apparently without really reading it even though they managed to clean up the language. RedState got the screen shots though.
If it seems that the time has long passed for debate about vitriol in American political discourse, I will quibble little, save that we must keep in mind that, regardless of rhetoric, madmen exist and no amount of pretty talk is going to change that. Any argument, however, that men are inspired to madness by aggressive rhetoric must acknowledge the source, strength, and focus of the rhetoric. The “climate of hate” most assume comes from the Tea Party, talk radio, and Fox News actually emanates from the left, who so hate the ideas coming from the Tea Party, talk radio, and Fox news–ideas like skepticism regarding global warming, lack of trust in powerful, centralized government, and reservations about Keynesian economics–that they, themselves, are inspired to dream of raping us, defecating on us, beheading us, shooting us… Faced with the failures of its own ideas, the left resorts to violent fantasies about breaking the right into submission. All the while the left seems quite unwilling to own up to its own vitriol.

Oh sweet jeesus that dude was wacked out crazy and thats it. grow a fuqin brain people. Just look at him.