Saying Sarah Palin's crosshairs graphics or spoken words inspired the Tucson shooter does no good. Who knows what sort of cocktail of influences led up to his violent demand for attention? Sicko video games? Slasher movies? Problems in his personal life?
Still, it's well worth looking back at how much rightwing commentators/bloggers enjoyed it when sassy Sarah's firearms propaganda gimmicks bothered Democrats last year. Remember that?
Moreover, when demonstrators showed up at political events packing heat, those same pundits had giggle fits when fussy Democrats protested such shenanigans in that context as implied threats. Instead of responsible reactions from the GOP's leaders, Second Amendment talking points were recited word-for-word with a smirk.
Well, a lot of those tactics were way out of line. That's precisely why the crosshairs graphics were so quickly scrubbed from Palin's web site on Saturday.
Spitting on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) was out of line, too. Remember that? But last year the leaders of the GOP turned a blind eye on all of it, because it seemed to be playing well with Tea Party activists and other hardcore extremists.
Now some of the Republicans who want to pose as responsible leaders have a little PR problem, and it is most surely of their own making.
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6 comments:
Could it be possible that Jared Loughner just really hates having a government that pisses all over his right to freely express himself? Could it be that all of the PC bullshit that has come down the pike during his formative years finally pushed him over the edge?
Does it bother anyone that the media keeps repeating that Jared was kicked out of school for "disruptive" behavior, but when pressed, all that faculty members will say is that he basically said things that creeped them out.
Shades of Cho, all over again. Ostracize the person who has been deemed NOT politically correct, then act surprised when that person lashes out at the nearest authority figure.
Sure, he read a bunch of whacked literature and used drugs, but the only difference between him and the rogues gallery of bizaro-characters infesting our Washington D.C. government, is that Jared didn't have a physician supplying him with his drugs.
It America, if you kill a few people, they call you, "murderer." If you kill thousands, then the call you, "President."
J. Tyler Ballance,
When you say, "the only difference between him and the rogues gallery of bizaro-characters infesting our Washington D.C. government, is that Jared didn't have a physician supplying him with his drugs," you've left reality in the rear-view mirror.
Better watch out. Comments like that might bring somebody from inside the beltway to throw a net over you.
It's also well worth looking back at how much leftwing commentators/bloggers enjoyed it when anti-war protestors bothered Republicans back in 2003. Remember that?
Moreover, when demonstrators showed up at political events with signs that read "kill Bush," those same pundits had giggle fits when fussy Republicans protested such shenanigans in that context as implied threats. Instead of responsible reactions from Democratic Party leaders, First Amendment talking points were recited word-for-word with a smirk.
Well, a lot of those tactics were way out of line. That's precisely why the crosshairs graphics were so quickly scrubbed from the Daily Kos's web site on Saturday.
Spitting on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) NEVER HAPPENED. No video, no witnesses, nothing of the sort.
Now some of the Democrats who want to pose as responsible leaders have a little PR problem, and it is most surely of their own making.
-- my how quickly the tide turns...
So, we're down to the all-the-other-kids-are-doing-it excuse?
Nina Totenburg talked about giving Jesse Helms' grandchildren AIDS with a wink and a smirk. Alec Baldwin ranted about killing Henry Hyde, his wife and his kids on Conan's show. Libs laughed it off. Your narrative, as usual, has zero merit. You should go back into the movie theatre business because you are politically inept.
Anonymous, I'm pleased that you like my writing so much you keep coming back for more.
Thanks for the career advice, but unfortunately, I know even less about current movies than I do about politics. Hey, it's just a blog.
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