Merged Rep. Giffords Shot In Tucson

[slingblade]

This attack has quite literally brought me to tears. I did not vote for Congresswoman Giffords, nor do I agree with much of her politics, yet still I suffer from hearing of her wounds. For an attack against a duly elected Representative of this country is not a personal crime. It is an attack against every person in this nation. The would-be assassin has rejected the one thing that binds all Americans together: liberty. He has rejected the concept of self-governance by attempting to assassinate the Congresswoman. He has rejected that the People ought to choose their own laws by electing Representatives. He has written with gunpowder and blood that his own beliefs of governance are the only ones that can be acceptable. And that makes him a tyrant.

I hope that this is explained to him on the day of his sentencing, so that he may be deprived of the self-consolement of, "I did this for the country!" or, "I helped free people". No sir, you did not. You are a want-to-be despot who has rejected the right of the people to choose their own governance.

Nominated.

 

[novice skeptic]

Without clarification from him I actually agree. He noted the US flag as an unknown flag. The actual physical red white and blue flag as "unknown" because it was not in the Constitution. His lacking trust in God and imperviousness to be forced to believe might be a "God of the money" sort of deal. "Your God is Capitalism." However, being an atheist and being looney atheist rhetoric is still a strong possibility.

Curiously, if he does turn out to be an atheist would this be the first attempted political assassination by a confirmed atheist in the US?

I could be wrong but I believe Leon Czologosz was an atheist. Anyone know Squeaky Fromme's religious beliefs? I'm guessing paganism of some sort.

 

[Merko]

The assailant's statement that he does not trust in God appears to be both a reference to the inscription on US currency, as well as to his own lack of belief. His delusions appear to be primarily focused on something related to US currency (which according to him should be based on gold or silver).

 

[The Fallen Serpent]

Nominated.

Seconded.

 

[Noztradamus]

You don't think there is a difference between a bullseye and a crosshair?

As a metaphor, no.

Here's a hint; you throw darts at one and aim a gun with the other. I'll leave determining which is which entirely up to you.

Apparently there is someone who has never heard of archery

 

[deepatrax]

It was a publicized Gabrielle Giffords event. Judge John Roll was not scheduled or expected to be there.

I think you missed my point...

I don't think this lunatic's motives were Left/Right political...this guy was clearly out of touch with reality and I'd be surprised if he knew of any of the political positions of Rep. Giffords, who btw supported the Second Amendment and strong immigration enforcement.

 

[Rolfe]

I see this thread has grown quickly.

Can anyone tell me if there is a list of dead/injured anywhere? I have a cousin living in Tucson. I don't want to call her mother this time of night just to worry her.

Rolfe.

 

[novice skeptic]

Not for everyone, sadly.



I don't think anyone ever suggested it was criminal, just in poor taste.



There's this cool thing called "google":


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/sharron_angle_floated_possibil.html

I wonder if this sort of thing is what she meant. Do you have another interpretation?



Sure. And sometimes murders emerge from movements, like the person who assassinated Dr. Tiller or, say, the 19 hijackers that perpetrated 9-11.

Just murderers being murderers or do we need to look deeper?



Yes. I condemn glib references to politically motivated violence. You support them?



I've never suggested Palin should be arrested. I do think, however, that we need to scrutinize the hyperbole coming out of the right over these last few years.

The groundwork for Dr. Tiller's murder was laid by years of propaganda in the fundamentalist community about abortion doctors being agents for Satan and such. It's not idle chat. The same is true of the wide-eyed hysteria of Angle, Beck, and other figures on the right.

Hatred comes from all places.

http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621

 

[Fnord]

... an attack against a duly elected Representative of this country is not a personal crime. It is an attack against every person in this nation...

Wrong. It was an attack against the victims only. As heinous as it was, there is no need for anyone except the victims and their families to go all emo about it.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I hope that this is explained to him on the day of his sentencing, so that he may be deprived of the self-consolement of, "I did this for the country!" or, "I helped free people". No sir, you did not. You are a want-to-be despot who has rejected the right of the people to choose their own governance.

If that Youtube channel is really his, any explanation at sentencing will be lost on him.

 

[Kthulhut Fhtagn]

As a metaphor, no.

You don't think crosshairs are just a tad more inflammatory?

Apparently there is someone who has never heard of archery

I didn't know that was still a popular means of assassination. Silly me...

 

[The Mutha]

I see this thread has grown quickly.

Can anyone tell me if there is a list of dead/injured anywhere? I have a cousin living in Tucson. I don't want to call her mother this time of night just to worry her.

Rolfe.

I haven't seen a list of victims, but it's only 3:15 in the afternoon in Tucson right now. (Unless her mother isn't in Tucson and if that's the case - never mind... )

 

[Drudgewire]

This attack has quite literally brought me to tears. I did not vote for Congresswoman Giffords, nor do I agree with much of her politics, yet still I suffer from hearing of her wounds. For an attack against a duly elected Representative of this country is not a personal crime. It is an attack against every person in this nation. The would-be assassin has rejected the one thing that binds all Americans together: liberty. He has rejected the concept of self-governance by attempting to assassinate the Congresswoman. He has rejected that the People ought to choose their own laws by electing Representatives. He has written with gunpowder and blood that his own beliefs of governance are the only ones that can be acceptable. And that makes him a tyrant.

I hope that this is explained to him on the day of his sentencing, so that he may be deprived of the self-consolement of, "I did this for the country!" or, "I helped free people". No sir, you did not. You are a want-to-be despot who has rejected the right of the people to choose their own governance.

 

[dtugg]

I haven't seen a list of victims, but it's only 3:15 in the afternoon in Tucson right now.

4:15

 

[Ausmerican]

May have? You can't wait to find out? Are you sure this isn't Bush's fault?

applecorped, I think you misunderstand what I mean. I am not suggesting Palin or her stupid map had a damn thing to do with this shooting. I am saying that it sure looks like Palin or her people were afraid it may have had something to do with it.
As far as the moronic Bush comment goes, are you mistaking me for another poster?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Wrong. It was an attack against the victims only. As heinous as it was, there is no need for anyone except the victims and their families to go all emo about it.

Yeah, I thought it was a bit over the top myself. Although, maybe he was trying to catch the attention of the Academy.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Seconded.

Thirded.

 

[Rolfe]

I haven't seen a list of victims, but it's only 3:15 in the afternoon in Tucson right now.

It's 11.15 at night in Scotland though, which is where both I and my cousin's mother are located.

I realise Tucson is a big place, and it's highly unlikely Alison or her husband were anywhere near the incident, it's just a bit unsettling.

Rolfe.

 

[Frank Newgent]

I haven't seen a list of victims, but it's only 3:15 in the afternoon in Tucson right now. (Unless her mother isn't in Tucson and if that's the case - never mind... )

Mountain Time not Pacific Time.

ETA: northwest side of Tucson is where it was.

 

[TraneWreck]

So what is the best evidence we now have about this incident, counselor? I've asked you this three times now, and you have yet to respond or even link to the facts of this incident presented in this thread.

That's pretty telling, to me.

I don't know what you mean.

The facts about the incident seem to be that a 22 year old white male approached Congresswoman Gifford from behind, put a Glock 9mm to her head, and shot. He then proceeded to fire on the crowd killing at least a federal judge and 9 year old girl. People in the crowd returned fire, someone tackled him, he was taken into custody.

This Congresswoman had her campaign office vandilized and someone was caught dropping a gun at a town hall meeting about health care. She was in a heated campaign against a Tea Party backed candidate who, with the help of outside funding most notably from Sarah Palin's PAC, said all sorts of hateful things about her being "Un-American" and worse.

The political climate of the country is highly charged right now with many high profile memebers of the right hinting at or outright advocating violence against enemies they portray as "communists" and "traitors" and worse.

Thus, it's a reasonable suspicion that this attack was motivated by that sort of thing. Maybe it wasn't, but whatever the motivation of the shooter, such acts of violence should make everyone, regardless of politics, take a closer look at their rhetoric. We should roundly condemn anything that implies or advocates violence or demonizes opponents.

But I have to wait until we know why he shot, if we ever know why he shot, in order to draw these conclusions?