DEMOCRATIC ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN SHOT BY GUNMAN

Stories like this continue to make me happy I don't live in Tucson anymore. What a shithole. It's good for a reminder on the sub-zero MN days.

Phoenix, for the record, is even worse.

How do we go about kicking Arizona out of the Union? Maybe we can give it back to the Indians or something. What a shitty place.

Cant wait to the constant denial of any correlation.  "Taking a stand" and "cross-hairs" over Democratic districts, including Giffords. 

With all due respect to your "right-wing extremism" knee jerk reaction, can we hold off for a moment before we start the finger pointing?

It's not like this forum has a strong track record in the profiling department.

http://www.chud.com/community/forum/thread/118719/oh-god-tea-partier-handiwork

http://www.chud.com/community/forum/thread/123092/car-bomb-found-in-times-square

Jesus Christ.

I'm actually a little surprised it took this long for something like this to happen, especially in this shitty state. And if anything, I thought it would happen to my congressman, Grijalva, who is much more liberal and outspoken. Giffords has tried to strike an as reasonable and sensibly moderate tone as possible.

Just awful.

If I was a betting man -- and I am -- I'd lay good money that this one was politically motivated.

The saddest thing about it is I can't even say I'm surprised. All this Tea Party-stirred hatred had to explode somewhere.

It's a legitimate point, Closer, because those threads do make many of us look like assholes (in fact, I think I said somewhere in the Times Bomber thread that 'if this guy ends up being another muslim terrorist, I'm going to look like a jerk').

So, while the circumstances certainly appear to point in that direction - and while Arizona is still undeniably a shitty place - your point is well taken. Fortunately they have the cocksucker in question in custody, so we should be able to waterboard him into admitting his motivations.

Of course it was politically motivated. To think otherwise is either incredibly naive or the product of sticking one's head in the sand.

I'd be less inclined to think that it wasn't a republican nut job if one of the mouthpieces for that side of the aisle didn't use fucking cross-hairs over the district that Giffords was shot in to stir up her base.

To that end, there are a lot of people sweating hard right now and praying to Jeebus that this is some unaffiliated whacko, because the culpability is going to be impossible to deny when the shooter is revealed to have Glenn Beck all over his DVR.

Absolutely disgusting. I too am surprised that this hadn't happened sooner.

I'm sure it is politically motivated.

My point is that, according to this forum, that tea party anger exploded when that census worker was killed.  Then again when someone tried to bomb Times Square.  Thats not even to mention the numerous members who would have anxiety attacks every time Obama spoke in a public forum due to fear of his impending assassination (I was too lazy to look up the "When is the first attempt on Obama's life?" thread).

I know that many here would love to score some internet forum political points, but as of right now you all know about as much as me, which is to say close to nothing.  Howsabout we hold off on grabbing our pitchforks until we have some facts as opposed to conjecture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Closer 

I'm sure it is politically motivated.

 

My point is that, according to this forum, that tea party anger exploded when that census worker was killed.  Then again when someone tried to bomb Times Square.  Thats not even to mention the numerous members who would have anxiety attacks every time Obama spoke in a public forum due to fear of his impending assassination (I was too lazy to look up the "When is the first attempt on Obama's life?" thread).

 

I know that many here would love to score some internet forum political points, but as of right now you all know about as much as me, which is to say close to nothing.  Howsabout we hold off on grabbing our pitchforks until we have some facts as opposed to conjecture.

I hear what you're saying, but the Tea Party isn't really making it easy on themselves with all their constant hate speak and ignorance.  It's not as if all of us are sitting around without any cause to suspect these people of violent behavior.  Personally, I wasn't saying that there was a clear connection just yet.  I just found the Palin map with the cross-hairs right over the district (with the congresswoman named) worth noting. 

I think it's a useful thought experiment to imagine what would be happening right now if this were a Republican Legislator.

Wow, 2011 is just starting out all sorts of fucked.  A school shooting and a fucking assassination in the first week?

Pace yourself, 2011.  No need to blow all of your crazy in the first 7 days.  Space it out a little...

Some people (re: republican talking heads) think it's mexican cartel, but I doubt it.  Hitting a US congresswoman would be EXCEEDINGLY bad business and the group responsible would be promptly raped through their eyeballs.

If this shooter was just a crazy Beck/Rush listener, then I hope this blows back on them, and HARD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Closer 

I'm sure it is politically motivated.

 

My point is that, according to this forum, that tea party anger exploded when that census worker was killed.  Then again when someone tried to bomb Times Square.  Thats not even to mention the numerous members who would have anxiety attacks every time Obama spoke in a public forum due to fear of his impending assassination (I was too lazy to look up the "When is the first attempt on Obama's life?" thread).

 

I know that many here would love to score some internet forum political points, but as of right now you all know about as much as me, which is to say close to nothing.  Howsabout we hold off on grabbing our pitchforks until we have some facts as opposed to conjecture.

I hear what you're saying, but the Tea Party isn't really making it easy on themselves with all their constant hate speak and ignorance.  It's not as if all of us are sitting around without any cause to suspect these people of violent behavior.  Personally, I wasn't saying that there was a clear connection just yet.  I just found the Palin map with the cross-hairs right over the district (with the congresswoman named) worth noting. 

Most def.  And if it does turn out to be a big tea party supporter, hopefully come next election this incident will hasten the party's expulsion from office.

I'm thinking if the shooter's demonstrably a big Hannity/Beck fan, we'll never hear about it.

And I think Zhukov's thought experiment is an excellent, excellent point. If this were a Republican congressperson shot - and we had a leading Democratic figure with campaign collateral featuring crosshairs on the person shot - the right wingers would be splooging themselves in righteous indignation.

The surgeon at the press conference just confirmed that a child was one of the fatalities.  Jesus.

Closer, I get what you're saying, but unlike the census worker and the Time's Square bomb, an attack on a politician is far more likely to have been politically motivated.  Could be a Glenn Beck, Tea Party type, could be some other kind of loon.  I'd still put money it being political at its root.  And Closer, people have been worried about attempts on Obama's life for good reason.  It's been a concern from the start of his campaign simply because he's black.  However irrational, I had friends and family tell me they didn't want him to run because they thought he'd just wind up getting killed, and it would be devastating for our country.  In light of all the Republican and Tea Party vitriol over the last two years, it is a legitimate and serious concern.

Honestly, if it turns out to be a Tea Party type, it's not going to mean shit.  Republicans will downplay the significance of his political affiliation and equivocate whoever did this with violent acts from the "left" throughout American history.

If we've got a dead 9-year-old because of a right-wing-instigated political assassination, we might as well raze this fucking country and start the hell over. I seriously feel sick. I'm going to go play poker now and pretend I live in a place where people act like decent, intelligent, forward-thinking human beings.

I can't WAIT to see Palin and Beck and Limbaugh try to distance themselves from this.  It'll sound like a Scooby-Doo character running, only not as comical.

As fucked up as it sounds, watch them try to turn it on Obama for dividing the country.

The shooter is Jared Laughner.  Check out what he did to his Facebook before he headed out, this guy is just a barrel of laughs:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001952074770

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Dickson 

I can't WAIT to see Palin and Beck and Limbaugh try to distance themselves from this.  It'll sound like a Scooby-Doo character running, only not as comical.

Palin already put out some bullshit message about how she's praying for Giffords' recovery and her family.

Nothing will come from this. Every Republican extremist, like Palin, Beck, Angle, Kelly and others, who issued out veiled threats and instigations to violence will just tut-tut this guys actions. Everyone will all be very sorry but it won't mean shit.
 

According to a recent update, his name is Jared Lee Loughner, not Laughner as originally reported.  I wonder if Loughner is pronounced like "loner."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormin 

The shooter is Jared Laughner.  Check out what he did to his Facebook before he headed out, this guy is just a barrel of laughs:

 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001952074770

That looks like something someone just slapped up in the last hour or so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuddL 

Closer, I get what you're saying, but unlike the census worker and the Time's Square bomb, an attack on a politician is far more likely to have been politically motivated.  Could be a Glenn Beck, Tea Party type, could be some other kind of loon.  I'd still put money it being political at its root.  And Closer, people have been worried about attempts on Obama's life for good reason.  It's been a concern from the start of his campaign simply because he's black.  However irrational, I had friends and family tell me they didn't want him to run because they thought he'd just wind up getting killed, and it would be devastating for our country.  In light of all the Republican and Tea Party vitriol over the last two years, it is a legitimate and serious concern.

 

Honestly, if it turns out to be a Tea Party type, it's not going to mean shit.  Republicans will downplay the significance of his political affiliation and equivocate whoever did this with violent acts from the "left" throughout American history.

Thats fair.  As I mentioned above, there's really no doubt that this is political...why else would you shoot a congresswoman for the love of God? 

I'm confident, though, that if this does turn out to be a tea party dude, it'll mean something to enough people to hopefully result in a change next election.

ETA The person who did it is a terrorist, and should be treated as such.
 

Interesting... after seeing that link my intuition is that he's just really, really crazy.  Doesn't strike me as a conservative type with that books list (those are some of MY favorites, yikes).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Dickson 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormin 

The shooter is Jared Laughner.  Check out what he did to his Facebook before he headed out, this guy is just a barrel of laughs:

 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001952074770

That looks like something someone just slapped up in the last hour or so.

Yeah, you're going to have a hard time convincing me that this is for real. It's like right-wing nut job's lame attempt at being a "serious" Obama supporter.

So tragic. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families, and to our nation.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Decade 

Absolutely disgusting. I too am surprised that this hadn't happened sooner.

It has, kind of. Gifford's office was vandalized after the healthcare vote: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2010/03/right_wing_blogger_tied_to_van.php

I have no doubt this attack can be linked to Palin targeting specific Dems in her "crosshairs". I hope she gets called out for the terrorist that she is.

Judge John Roll Dead: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/08/judge-john-roll-dead-killed_n_806239.html

R.I.P.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Classitup10#p/a/u/1/nHoaZaLbqB4

Killer's whacked-out YouTube page.

Lots of talk about "brain washing" via education and how people should speak "one language" and not be "illiterate."  Hmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Kate 

That census worker clearly was killed for political reasons as well, or at least his killing was deliberately covered up in order to make it look political. I guess you think he carved FED into his own chest?

 

These is a TEA PARTY assassination. They are responsible. They have been using violent rhetoric and clearly are trying to encourage a lone wolf to act out. The events of today are what Sharon Angle was talking about when she referenced "SECOND AMENDMENT SOLUTIONS" to political problems

 

I am sorry, that is just how I see it and I won't pretend otherwise

Are you going to pretend otherwise if it turns out you're wrong? Like, if the facts don't bear you out?

No, of course you won't.
 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36033690#36033690

"We're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, and the way she has it depicted, it has the cross hairs of a gun sight over our district. And when people do that, they have got to realize that there are consequences to that action." - Rep Gifford commenting on her district office being vandalized after the historic health care vote.

From one of the almost incomprehensible YouTube videos:

"The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's constitution.

You don't have to accept the Federalist laws.

Nevertheless, read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws.

You're literate, listener?"

What does this sound like to you guys?  Anyone in the media?

She's still alive:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47244.html

What a tragedy.  Hopefully she'll pull through.  From the news reports here, she appears to be a fighter.  Still, there were others who did die, and a child no less.  Such a shame.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunwukong 

Reactions to the shooting.

The Sarah Palin reaction seems to have been combined with somebody else's -- I hope they clean that up so we can see it all in its resplendent glory.

I can honestly believe that it never dawned on Palin that her dumb shit would have consequences because she's just an idiot, but fuck you, Michele Bachmann.

Guys, while it looks pretty likely this was a Tea Party thing, maybe we could hold off on leaping to assumptions? Seriously? It's really not a good idea to immediately try to politicize something before the facts are in. It seems kinda ghoulish, like certain people are happy to be vindicated. Honestly, this is exactly the kind of behaviour I despise from the modern right. Let's not jump on that bandwagon, OK? If Loughner is just a lone nut (and when someone is as crazy as this guy appears to be, I feel like politics are somewhat irrelevant anyway) it doesn't make the Tea party any less assholish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Kate 

And.. a Federal Judge is dead. But of course, it's not a right wing attack. We shouldn't jump to conclusions...

 

No, as a matter of fact we fucking shouldn't.

God I just realized the guy goes by three names. Why does that stereotype keep getting filled. Is it just the media using the middle name all the time?