chuckwoww

If we can put the Arizona shootings aside for a moment I'd genuinely like your opinion on something. I know Palin's pro-Israel credentials are impeccable but was the blood libel comment a good tactical move or not? I'm assuming she plans to run in 2012.

Next you guys will convince yourselves Palin is a victim... http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/01/sarah-palin-blood-libel-jews-giffords-killing/1

OK you two. Palin is blameless. No politics involved. Nothing to do with all the gun talk. Just some nutty kid with a Glock. There, that's settled. Next.

I think Palin bears some responsibility but you obviously don't. Every action seems to get a reaction these days. People have such low attention spans anyway it probably all gets forgotten pretty fast. Last week Wikileaks, this week Arizona, next week something else. I believe Sarah has quite a team working on press releases, updating Facebook and Twitter etc. They know how her core audience thinks (if that's the word). Somebody must think the 'blood libel' stuff will go down well with Jews.

It makes for an interesting intellectual debate which will be totally wasted on Palin supporters. I liked the linguistics professor Deborah Tannen... I'll bet those who are using "blood libel" are unaware of its original meaning. Unfortunate as this use will (rightly, I'd say) seem to many, it's an inevitable process that linguists call "semantic bleaching": over time, words and phrases can lose their literal meaning, as they are used in more and more tangentially related ways. It seems that "blood libel" is being used to mean "an outrageously unfounded accusation," borrowing an element of the phrase's original meaning while losing its literal context and content. This doesn't mean that it isn't useful to remind people of the phrase's original meaning, but I suspect that won't stop some from continuing to use it in new ways, because the emotional overtones of the phrase feel right to them.

Looking for a more in depth debate on blood libel than Hugh provides? Try this... http://www.politico.com/arena/archive/what-should-obama-say-in-tucson.html All part of the dumbing down process IMO. Kinda like throwing Hitler and Holocaust around. Ultimately it cheapens the brand.

According to this his parents can't understand why it happened... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110111/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot

I notice Julian Assange is using the 'incitement to murder' line. I think he has a case. >In a statement overnight, Assange condemned the violent rhetoric against him by a number of US politicians and media commentators and demanded that those responsible face prosecution. He drew parallels between the language used against him and WikiLeaks and accusations that similar rhetoric led to the shooting of Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona at the weekend. "When senior politicians and attention-seeking media commentators call for specific individuals or groups of people to be killed, they should be charged with incitement -- to murder," Assange said.< http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/assange-vows-more-leaks-fears-death-penalty-20110112-19mvx.html

Just one lone crazy guy.

Some people just can't take the pressure. I must admit I was surprised it was a young 'liberal' and not some Tea Party dude that did the shooting. Now politicians will be scared to leave the golf course. It will probably all come down to a big government contract for Blackwater.

Interview with school friend of Loughner. Kinda interesting. http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/jared-lee-loughner-friend-voicemail-phone-message?page=1

The gun thing in America has gone way beyond Constitutional rights and protecting property from criminals. For many it's a love affair with the hardware itself. Not sure how that relates to the Arizona shooting....just a thought.

To think Arizona used to be my favourite State. "The general unsightliness of the capitol makes it a fitting home for today’s Arizona legislature, which is composed almost entirely of dimwits, racists, and cranks. Collectively they have bankrupted the state through a combination of ideological fanaticism on the Republican right and acquiescence and timidity on the part of G.O.P. moderates and Democrats. Although dozens of states are facing budget crises, the situation in Arizona is arguably the nation’s worst, graver even than in California. A horrific budget deficit has been papered over with massive borrowing and accounting gimmickry, and the state may yet have to issue IOUs to employees and vendors. " http://harpers.org/archive/2010/07/0083023

I think that will involve some kind of national lobotomy.

Here come the gun discussions. I wonder how the NRA will get their heads around all this in the run-up to 2012? It's going to be interesting to see what replaces the gun rhetoric, if anything. Arizona will be the place to watch.

That is precisely the GOPs problem. They may want to nominate somebody moderate but they can't win without the support of the angrys. Bet they try to shut Palin up at least until the funerals are over.

Well good luck with that dave. I think what we're seeing is the result of political polarization and a general dumbing down. Government by sound bite and media spin. Maybe the shooting in Arizona will make people think but not for long IMO. The only thing that might make a difference is a rapid improvement in the economy.( But not by printing more money).

Darn it. There go all my illusions. And I was banking on Palin in 2012. Seriously, that 10% is important. They vote. The rest seem to be in a coma.

Good stuff eh carew, that Charlie Krauthammer really knows how to keep wars going. I can't decide who I like best...Beck or O'Reilly....razor sharp intellects and huge balls. Those guys are really in touch with the pulse of America.

Just a memo from FOX so don't quote me... "strong suspicion is being direceted (sic) at American Renaissance, an organization that Loughner mentioned in some of his internet postings and federal law enforcement officials are investigating Loughner's possible links to the organization. The organization is a monthly publication that promotes a variety of white racial positions. "The group's ideology is anti government, anti immigration, anti ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government), anti Semitic," according to the memo which goes on to point out that Congressman Giffords is the first Jewish female elected to high office in Arizona. A recent posting on American Renaissance's website on January 7 begins with an article entitled: "Exit poll: Whites are Different." The site goes on to list anti-immigration articles. Investigators are also pursuing Loughner's alleged anti-Semitism. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken command of the investigation." http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/01/09/dhs-memo-suggests-shooter-may-be-linked-racist-organization

Going to be interesting when they find the second guy. An older man would be my guess. Vietnam Vet? Neo-nazi?? Angry old hippie (not OH!!) or beer belly gun nut? Some kinda guru behind this young clown.

Great summary LK. I would add that I doubt if the young shooter ever had a coherent political thought in his life. The Tea Party will probably say he was a Liberal and vice versa. His head is most likely full of garbage and bits and pieces he's picked up on the internet. (Check out the 'comments' on yahoo to see what passes for political discourse among the keyboard generation.) Plus girls probably laughed at him.

Info on the ALLEGED shooter Jared Loughner. Seems like the kind of guy one might run into on Sukhumvit late at night. http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2011/01/08/the-crazed-internet-rantings-of-jared-loughner

Guess Sarah ain't happy with moose. You betcha. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/09/palin-targets-health-care-law-supporters-on-site/1

Fuck he's funny....one of my favorites... FtSbnql66j8