Sarah, what she did and did not do

[DonCoquixote]

OK, I am a liberal (despite what some may think.) I can admit I despise Palin, however, I do think that we, as liberals, are unwittingly feeding her ego by making her point-woman for the far right. Do I believe she has used tasteless and violent imagery, yes. Do I believe she wanted Giffords to be shot, no. I think the problem comes in that she enables people who have used much nastier imagery to slide under the radar, both by legitimizing them, but also because we liberals focus so much on her, we do not focus on clearer targets.

Want some examples, ok. Gifford's opponent used "targets" of his opponent and encouraged people to fire m-16 ammo.

http://firedoglake.com/2011/01/08/giffords-opponent-jesse-kelly-held-june-event-to-shoot-a-fully-automatic-m16-to-get-on-target-and-remove-gabrielle-giffords/

And of course, wel all know about "second-amendment remedies."

http://www.marconews.com/blogs/he-is-that-guy/2011/jan/08/palinangle/

Now, this imagery is OT subjective. They cannot say "but but but, you use cross-hairs too!" But of course, these folks lost elections, so we focus on a person who is NOT EVEN IN OFFICE, yet because she gets under our skin, still gets to determine the tenor of the discussion!

So, we need to take the focus off Sarah P., and onto the many people whose actions are so blatant that even Joe GOP cannot offer an explanation; Heaven knows we have the ammunition, because Hell makes sure the GOP keeps making it. We need to focus on groups, because groups cannot be brushed aside as "oh, it's only one bad apple", no it is not, the tree is rotten to the roots!

[Demstud]

1. Might be the most horrible handling of criticism I've ever seen

Her original imagery and comments didn't bother me as much as the way she's handled the criticism. Maybe because I'm a big sports guy, I'm just used to that kind of talk when trying to fire up your team in competition. She probably could have released a single statement explaining the imagery, showed sympathy for the victims and families, and maybe even take a small dig at her opponents for politicizing the tragedy. I think most people would have bought it. Instead, she first outright lied about things any rational person could clearly see acting overly defensive, then changed direction 180% turning it into an aggressive attack on all her political detractors even going out of her way to rub everyone's faces in even more over the top violent imagery, and tops it off with some anti-semitic comments. And she's still not done!

[EFerrari]

2. She got people to yell "kill him" about Obama at her klan rallies.

Is that nasty enough?

I think the focus on Palin is appropriate and merited.

[DonCoquixote]

4. I wont deny she is nasty

But in the midst of so much focus on her, we A) wind up making her important and B) wind up ignoring people that clearly did say things that have no wiggle room.

[EFerrari]

5. None of them should skate, agreed. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Sarahpac put Gabrielle Gifford's name on a list under a map with gun sights

one of which was located over the Congresswoman's district. (Which is where the shooting occurred)

This is specifically what she is being criticized for.



More generally the RWers have been saying things like:

If we can't win with ballots then we will win with bullets

The tree of liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots

A revolution every now and then is a good thing

If Brown can't do it then a Browning can (with a picture of a handgun)

I am not saying we should kill all the liberals, I think we should leave a few alive. Two per campus, as living fossils and a reminder of what these people stood for

Obama's plan is for white slavery

Kenyan

Socialist

Muslim

Death Panels

Job Killing Health Care Bill

Second Amendment Remedies

Etc. Etc. Etc.




We know mentally ill people exist in this country. We know that they have access to firearms thanks to the (R)s success at limiting gun control.

Isn't it reasonable to assume that if you continuously spew out the hate speech seven days a week for years that eventually some mentally ill person will snap?



It is a simple numbers game. I can't tell you who will snap or when but the odds are it will happen and people will die because of it.