Regardless if Loughner was inspired by the teabaggers or not...

[Odin2005]

...the way the teabaggers have so reflexively reacted to this is what is so deeply troubling to me. it indicates that their first gut reaction was that it was one of them that did it that that they needed to cover their asses, whether Loughner himself is associated with them or not is not relevant to that point.

[Skittles]

1. they reacted like guilty people

which is EXACTLY what they are

[somone]

2. Exactly - and he did what they had dreamed of doing themselves

[Fleshdancer]

3. And to add to your point....

Regardless if Loughner was inspired by the teabaggers or not, the violent rhetoric on the right has simply gone too far. If we don't fight it, then it will only get worse.

You're 100% correct regarding the teabagger reaction to all of this. Instead of taking a step back and asking themselves if they have gone too far, they continue to justify their actions. They want all the power of leadership with none of the responsibility.

[freshwest]

4. I've already read an AZ Tea Baggers say on another site...

That the shooting was the first step in taking the country back and that they will make sure she is replaced with a Tea Bagger.

They are proud of this and emboldened when not on camera. On the blogs, it's all coming out.

Also I read a youtube comment saying the shooter made a mistake because she's not dead!

[guardian]

10. Link??? n/t

[Barack_America]

5. It also shows that they're fully aware of the violence they may be inciting.

They wouldn't have been so quick to distance the suspect from their message if they were unaware of the dangers of their rhetoric.

[Overseas]

6. He seems to have been a fan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/09/jared-lee-loughner-rightwing-rants

[ashling]

7. There was a post on here yesterday that included a Free Rep

post about how "this is what she wanted " death panels,etc.

does anyone have that link?

[Kievan Rus]

8. Their reaction reminds me a lot of how they reacted after...

three police officers in Pittsburgh were murdered by a wingnut TeaKlanner two years ago. The wingnuts were all trying to cover their asses too after that happened.

[Odin2005]

9. Yup, I remember that.