Febrile politics of Giffords shooting (BBC)..gotta read the comments

[SoCalDem]

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Febrile politics of Giffords shooting

Mark Mardell | 21:00 UK time, Saturday, 8 January 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2011/01/febrile_politics_of_giffords_s.html

We do not, as I write, know what lies behind the shooting of a Democratic congresswoman and others in Arizona at a political meeting.

snip

While we don't know if the motive behind the shooting was political, it is very clear that it was immediately politicised, at least on the internet. Twitter was immediately full of accusations that the right had created a climate of hatred where this could happen. The right responded in fury. Some pointed out this wasn't based on evidence. One claimed an illegal immigrant was responsible, another that it was done by the left to harm the right. Much of the criticism was aimed at Sarah Palin.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had been one of 20 names on a "hit list" issued by Palin, complete with graphics of a rifle-like telescopic sight. Ms Palin meant, of course, that Ms Giffords was to be targeted by voters in the mid-term elections. The congresswoman herself had warned of the danger of the site, after her office was vandalised in March. She said: "We're on Sarah Palin's 'targeted' list, but the thing is that the way she has it depicted, we're in the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they've got to realise that there are consequences to that action." Ms Palin hasn't directly commented on whether she thinks there were consequences to her actions but she did issue a statement saying: "My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today's tragic shooting in Arizona. "On behalf of Todd and my family, we all pray for the victims and their families, and for peace and justice."

snip

It is just too soon to say if this shooting will have any lasting impact, although there will no doubt be new calls for a more moderate, less emotional discourse. But there is an irony. The rhetoric and debate that instantly sprang up around this crime show the volatile, febrile nature of American politics and those passions are unlikely to disappear overnight.

[iamtechus]

1. Palin's list?

I really don't think that Palin is bright enough to compile and disseminate a coherent list of idealogical enemies. She has a puppet-master. Who is it?

[physioex]

3. Surely.....

Just follow the monied interests. Oil companies, banks, Fox Broadcasting.

[DrDan]

2. the comments seem to me to be pretty much what I would expect here

[Kolesar]

4. The NRA honchos are coming to work early this week

They are going to have to plan their PR effort to respond to this mass murder. Maybe hold a rally in Arizona like they did right after the Columbine shootings.