A tragic Tucson shooting prompted conservatives to hurriedly scrub websites of anti-Rep. Gabby Giffords' comments. The right wing launched a massive communications effort to absolve any responsibility for creating the volatile national setting resulting in this tragedy. It was predictable to await citing of Ronald Reagan's statement stating the individual, not society, as the cause; individuals must accept responsibility for their actions. Ironically, Reagan is not the ideal role model for this since he broke the law numerous times as President and was not accountable for his actions. There was no mention of creating the fear and paranoia which fomented violence.
"For example, we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is, that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they have to realize that there are consequences to that action," Rep. Gabby Giffords said in an interview with MSNBC.
"Hang on, let me just tell you what I'm thinking. I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong? I stopped wearing my What Would Jesus Do band, and I've lost all sense of right and wrong now. I used to be able to say, "Yeah, I'd kill Michael Moore," and then I'd see the little band: What Would Jesus Do? And then I'd realize, Oh, you wouldn't kill Michael Moore. Or at least you wouldn't choke him to death." "And you know, well, I'm not sure. " Glenn Beck, before the Tucson massacre.
"We Christians would do well to adopt the Muslim strategy. When someone sues to remove the Ten Commandments from a public area, attack, beat and maybe even KILL them. When a federal appeals court rules that Christian Nativity Scenes in New York Schools can be banned while Jew Menorrah's [sic] a[nd] Muslim Crescents can remain in the same schools, the Judges on that court should be attacked, beaten and if necessary, KILLED."
— Hal Turner, Commentator, Website post attacking " JEW NEWSPAPERS," Feb. 6, 2006
"If this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies." Sharon Angle, failed Nevada candidate for representative and avid Tea Party member.
“It’s ok. Christina Taylor Green was probably going to end up a left wing bleeding heart liberal anyway. Hey, as ‘they’ say, what would you do if you had the chance to kill Hitler as a kid? Exactly.” Tweeted to Palin's Twitter account. Ms. Green, 9 years old, was killed during the shooting.
"We should do to the LIBERALS what Hitler did to the JEWS. Give them a chance to renounce LIBERALISM; if they do not, send them to the ovens. Tweeted to Palin'sTwitter account.
Patriotic Americans don't have to become dangerous psychotics like liberals, but they could at least act like men. Why hasn't the former spokesman for the Taliban matriculating at Yale been beaten even more senseless than he already is? According to Hollywood, this nation is a cauldron of ethnic hatreds positively brimming with violent skinheads. Where are the skinheads when you need them? What does a girl have to do to get an angry, club- and torch-wielding mob on its feet? Ann Coulter, Columnist.
Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade declared, "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims." (My note-this is bunk with particular attention to Timothy McVeigh, a Caucasian American Christian militia member and Terry Nichols, Caucasian American Christian militia member who detonated a massive bomb at the Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which killed 168 people. Both were anti-government extremists.)
1. I am appalled shocked and disgusted by the senseless attack upon Rep. Gabby Giffords and nineteen others on January 8, 2001 resulting in six deaths. The uncivil level of discourse emanating primarily from republicans, conservatives, neo-conservatives and their counterpart talking heads the past few years has caused great concern. Few are taking responsibility for the violent vitriolic utterances with the primary defense being the individual, not the hostile environment caused this sad episode. This writer is of the opinion those who stirred the pot created fear and paranoia thus manufacturing an explosive national milieu. When the conservative movement's True Believers are fed a steady diet of extraordinary warnings intended to induce a paranoiac, panicked fear -- They're Destroying America! They Want to End Your Liberty! Health Care Reform is the End of America! and simultaneously a steady diatribe of suggestions the solution is simply to do away with them. They are, indeed, responsible for their words and violent acts are unfortunately validated by individuals through careless vitriolic utterances from unprofessional politicians and talking heads. Those in charge needed to have toned down the volatile rhetoric before inevitable consequences occurred. This is not meant to imply a direct link to the shooter, but means emphatically conservatives, talking heads and others created the explosive environment violence thrives upon.
The following has been paraphrased from an web article written by Brent Budowsky, in article entitled: Right-wing death threats rise: Republicans should condemn Rush Limbaugh. Just in the past two and a half years, here's the record of "isolated incidents" amassed so far (information has been added onto):
--July 2008: A gunman named Jim David Adkisson, agitated at how "liberals" are "destroying America," walks into a Unitarian Church and opens fire, killing two churchgoers and wounding four others. (My note-Adkisson's statement: "This was a symbolic killing. Who I wanted to kill was every Democrat in the Senate & House, the 100 people in Bernard Goldberg's book. I'd like to kill everyone in the mainstream media. But I know those people were inaccessible to me. I couldn't get to the generals & high ranking officers of the Marxist movement so I went after the foot soldiers, the chickenshit liberals that vote in these traitorous people. Someone had to get the ball rolling. I volunteered. I hope others do the same. It's the only way we can rid America of this cancerous pestilence." (Note..Bernard Goldberg is a regular on Fox News Bill O'Reilly's Factor program).
--October 2008: Two neo-Nazis are arrested in Tennessee in a plot to murder dozens of African-Americans, culminating in the assassination of President Obama.
--December 2008: A pair of "Patriot" movement radicals -the father-son team of Bruce and Joshua Turnidge, who wanted "to attack the political infrastructure" -- threaten a bank in Woodburn, Oregon, with a bomb in the hopes of extorting money that would end their financial difficulties, for which they blamed the government. Instead, the bomb goes off and kills two police officers. The men eventually are convicted and sentenced to death for the crime.
--December 2008: In Belfast, Maine, police discover the makings of a nuclear "dirty bomb" in the basement of a white supremacist shot dead by his wife. The man, who was independently wealthy, reportedly was agitated about the election of President Obama and was crafting a plan to set off the bomb.
--January 2009: A white supremacist named Keith Luke embarks on a killing rampage in Brockton, Mass., raping and wounding a black woman, killing her sister, then murdering a homeless man before being captured by police as he is enroute to a Jewish community center.
--February 2009: A Marine named Kody Brittingham is arrested and charged with plotting to assassinate President Obama. Brittingham also collected white-supremacist material.
--April 2009: A white supremacist named Richard Poplawski opens fire on three Pittsburgh police officers who come to his house on a domestic-violence call and kills all three, because he believed President Obama intended to take away the guns of white citizens like himself.Poplawski is currently awaiting trial.
--April 2009: Another gunman in Okaloosa County, Florida, similarly fearful of Obama's purported gun-grabbing plans, kills two deputies when they come to arrest him in a domestic-violence matter, then is killed himself in a shootout with police.
--May 2009: A "sovereign citizen" named Scott Roederwalks into a church in Wichita, Kansas, and assassinates abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Bill O'Reilly, Fox News The Factor had repeatedly labeled Dr. Tiller, "Tiller The Killer," but quickly absolved himself of any responsibility after the doctor was murdered.
--June 2009: A Holocaust denier and right-wing tax protester named James Von Brunn opens fire at the Holocaust Museum, killing a security guard.
--February 2010: An angry tax protester named Joseph Ray Stack flies an airplane into the building housing IRS offices in Austin, Texas. (Media are reluctant to label this one "domestic terrorism" too, but at least one Congressman labeled Stack as a "hero")
--March 2010: Seven militiamen from the Hutaree Militia in Michigan and Ohio are arrested and charged with plotting to assassinate local police officers with the intent of sparking a new civil war.
--March 2010: An anti-government extremist named John Patrick Bedell walks into the Pentagon and opens fire, wounding two officers before he is himself shot dead.
--May 2010: A "sovereign citizen" from Georgia is arrested in Tennessee and charged with plotting the violent takeover of a local county courthouse.
--May 2010: A still-unidentified white man walks into a Jacksonville, Fla., mosque and sets it afire, simultaneously setting off a pipe bomb.
--May 2010: Two "sovereign citizens" named Jerry and Joe Kane gun down two police officers who pull them over for a traffic violation, and then wound two more officers in a shootout in which both of them are eventually killed.
--July 2010: An agitated right-winger and convict named Byron Williams loads up on weapons and drives to the Bay Area intent on attacking the offices of the Tides Foundation and the ACLU, but is intercepted by state patrolmen and engages them in a shootout and armed standoff in which two officers and Williams are wounded. Williams claims he had been watching Fox News for awhile and was grateful Glenn Beck had told him the truth.
--September 2010: A Concord, N.C., man is arrested and charged with plotting to blow up a North Carolina abortion clinic. The man, 26-year--old Justin Carl Moose, referred to himself as the "Christian counterpart to Osama bin Laden” in a taped undercover meeting with a federal informant.
--January 2011: A 22-year-old gunman named Jared Lee Loughner with a long grudge against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and a paranoid hatred of the government walks into a public Giffords event and shoots her in the head, then keeps firing, killing six people and wounding 14 more. Gifford miraculously survives.
--January 2011: A backpack bomb with the potential of killing or injuring dozens of people is found along the route of a Martin Luther King Day “unity march” in downtown Spokane.
--"My tears are flowing and I am stunned and angered that Gabby Giffords was savagely gunned down while performing her congressional duties." So said Minnesota Republican Representative Michele Bachmann in response to to the January 8 mass killing in Tucson. But less than a year ago, Bachmann called for resistance to cap and trade legislation, "I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue," adding, "Thomas Jefferson told us, having a revolution every now and then is a good thing."
--Rep. Tom Perriello's (D-VA) brother's address was erroneously posted online by a Tea Party blogger who invited activists to descend on the house. A gas line outside the brother's house was cut.
--Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) was the target of threatening faxes and phone calls, including death threats.
--A brick was thrown through the window of the Democratic Party office in Rochester, New York.
--Rep. Anthony Weiner's office in Kew Gardens, New York, had to be evacuated after suspicious white powder was found in an envelope mailed to the office.
--A thrown brick smashed a window at Rep. Louise Slaughter's district office in Niagara Falls, New York.
--Slaughter also received a message claiming that "snipers were being deployed to kill those members who voted yes for health care," according to Politico.
--The FBI arrested a California man for making threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
--A tossed brick demolished a window at the Sedgwick County Democratic Party headquarters in Wichita, Kansas.
-A devoted Glenn Beck fan left a serious of death threats (Kill the fucking Senator!) on the voice mail at the office of Sen. Patty Murray.
2. Today, January 12, 2011, marked the President of the United States coming to Tucson. Mr. Obama visited recuperating victims at University Medical Center and then delivered a moving speech during a memorial service at McHale Center. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin posted an eight minute video on Facebook again portraying herself as a "victim.". Ms. Palin has been particularly volatile with hate filled messages since 2008. She portrayed herself as a victim of blood libel thus infuriating both Christians and Jews alike by using the phrase. Blood libel is a disparaging term used for centuries to identify a myth where Jews allegedly killed Christian children for their blood. Palin displayed her typical vindictive paranoia instead of respect for the dead being eulogized in a memorial attended by the President and other dignitaries, reflecting upon a national tragedy and consideration for the massive outpouring of support for victims and decedents alike. She is only thinking of herself while Gabby Giffords is fighting for life. Subsequently, Palin's basic values and hence, credibility must be questioned in length. Past problems within her family include a daughter, Willow, breaking and entering homes to party with other teenagers (note-Palin interceded resulting in only the boys being indicted; the girls walked away scot free!); homophobic slurs on Facebook uttered by both Willow and Bristol with only Bristol apologizing; Track, the eldest son, being arrested by police for vandalizing a school bus's brakes prompting him to enlist in the Army to avoid trial; and of course, Bristol having a child out of wedlock. Children are reflective of their parents and in this case, the sight is not very positive. Best for Sarah to be seen and not heard unless there is a desire for more light shined upon skeletons in her closet. Unfortunately, she must be regarded as an angry insecure person who lashes out at the slightest hint of criticism, whether true or not; greed indicated by leaving the governorship for more dollars; and a constant obsession to be in the public light regardless.
3. Anyone who adheres to the Republican Party should reconsider in light of GOP actually instituting death panels. The 9/11 responders were held in limbo by Republican Senators who bickered over the Responders Bill. Many of these brave souls are suffering from various diseases emanating from that day in September. Some are destitute from medical bills while others are counting the days until the Grim Reaper appears. Meanwhile, Republican Senators are turning their backs on them, i.e. particularly John McCain who is finally showing his true selfish colors. It is simply disgusting that Republicans are willing to play obstructionist games while brave souls are suffering unto death. The bill finally passed after $3 billion was cut by the GOP (Grand Obstructionist Party).
4. Another Republican death panel is active in Arizona where Guv Jan Brewer cut funds for AHCCCS, the AZ version of Medicaid. Guv zeroed in on transplants and other major surgeries describing them as "Cadillacs." Thus once again, good people are facing the specter of death simply due to an inability to obtain bone marrow replacement, heart transplants, etc.; a total cost of $5 million to provide. "Deer In The Headlights" feels these are unnecessary and is willing to let Arizonans die for the belief (three so far). It is utterly cruel, but Brewer has little compassion except for her misguided ideology. She hasn't made any cuts in the guv's office and could sell one of her two aircraft to cover the $5 million.
3. The Arizona Nationalist Socialist Party (Nazi) is patrolling the border to enhance security and show their colors. Undoubtedly, this made Sheriff Jimmy Arpaio happy since he enjoys having his picture taken with the group. Another public servant, AZ Senator Russell Pearce, enjoyed hobnobbing with the Nazis until it became a public relations risk, but this didn't stop him from soliciting far right input in the writing of SB 1070, the controversial immigration bill. Obviously, politics is more important than the millions who died in WWII fighting Hitler's adherents. My take....its shameful and shows a disrespect toward those Americans who paid the ultimate price during that conflict. Oh, J.T. Ready, the Arizona National Socialist leader, was court-martialed twice by the Marines while serving and then escorted quietly out their door with a bad conduct discharge. Somebody needs to box their ears and also, clue "Deer In The Headlights" Brewer about reality. Arizona now has 16 hate groups with Tucson gaining a white nationalist group according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Certainly not a notable achievement. It's not a good year for those dedicated to true Republican principles and conservatism. Barry Goldwater would roll over in his grave.
Pearce is shown with J,T. Ready at a National Socialist rally in Phoenix. Also present was Sheriff Joe Arpaio in support of Ready. J.T. Ready was allegedly implicated in the murder of Mexican border crossers and later committed suicide after killing his girl friend, her daughter, daughter's boyfriend and their baby. This is Arizona politics and the acceptance of an ideology so many Americans and Allies died fighting during World War II.
