Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

[walrus]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Who passed out the Tshirts anyway? Seems kind of odd at a memorial service

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

It's always interesting when people have personal contact with and knowledge of candidates, so they can see beneath the carefully constructed media image. If it's not an imposition, could you share how you know him (professionally? socially?) and what you think of him? Thanks.

What's even more challenging, in my mind, is what it would be like to have had contact and knowledge of candidates, but not for a LONG time. I went to high school with a kid who will very likely try to get into politics someday (his dad was in the MN state senate for a while, and spent a long time as the Hennepin County Attorney). He was a total dickwad in high school, but despite the reasonable assumption that he's not the same person he was 7 years ago, I'd still have trouble separating that from my decision making if he ever ran for office near where I am now.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

I wouldn't vote for Palin, but the level of screaming, purple-faced hatred she generates among Democrats is like nothing I've ever seen (I wasn't much aware of politics during the Reagan years).

Apparently you weren't much aware of politics during the Clinton years, either. That was the birth of the nutters, and their dimwitted enablers in Congress even used CDS as an excuse to use impeachment as political theater.

Clinton and Palin are similar in one respect: they are both incredibly slippery. With Clinton it was that irksome, date rapist charm that put everybody who wasn't 100% sold on him on their guard. With Palin it is her utter vapidness -- the absolute lack of any "there" there. There was no way for opponents to obtain a grasp on either -- Clinton wore a tear-away jersey and Palin is simply a media hologram that you can pass your hand through.

Obama and Reagan are similarly alike in that even though it feels like they are Teflon, they are also obviously connected to what they say and that connection is a wedge that can be used to exert force back upon them. Absent that, opponents are tempted to just make LOUD NOISES!!!!11!.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

What's even more challenging, in my mind, is what it would be like to have had contact and knowledge of candidates, but not for a LONG time. I went to high school with a kid who will very likely try to get into politics someday (his dad was in the MN state senate for a while, and spent a long time as the Hennepin County Attorney). He was a total dickwad in high school, but despite the reasonable assumption that he's not the same person he was 7 years ago, I'd still have trouble separating that from my decision making if he ever ran for office near where I am now.

I know a guy like this. I knew him in HS and it wasn't so much that he was a jerk as he was obviously untrustworthy. Now it's 30 years later and he's a DA in NY. I would be very uncomfortable having any business in front of him, but I also know that's probably unwarranted. God save me if people judged my character by who I appeared to be in HS! It isn't that character is fluid (IMHO, it's pretty stable) but judgment grows greatly over the years, and older people, unless they are lazy or sociopathic, recognize that most moral norms are actually a sensible guide to life.

 

[Priceless]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

It's just as silly as this idea that she is passing on assassination orders to her secret army through ads

Where do you get this stuff?

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Where do you get this stuff?

It's a mash-up of two of their talking points.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

*Shakes fist* Palin!!!

Police are investigating a threat against a number of public officials in Wisconsin, including Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, a person within the Republican party told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The source was briefed on the threat but requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to release the information.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Obviously all calls to restrain rhetoric are merely politically motivated calculations.

 

[unofan]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

I know a guy like this. I knew him in HS and it wasn't so much that he was a jerk as he was obviously untrustworthy. Now it's 30 years later and he's a DA in NY. I would be very uncomfortable having any business in front of him, but I also know that's probably unwarranted. God save me if people judged my character by who I appeared to be in HS! It isn't that character is fluid (IMHO, it's pretty stable) but judgment grows greatly over the years, and older people, unless they are lazy or sociopathic, recognize that most moral norms are actually a sensible guide to life.

Is it fair to judge someone's character by what they were like in law school? There's a couple of people I know will run for office, or at least spend a career in politics at one level or another, and one of them was perhaps the least sincere person I've ever met. If I ever see him on a ballot, I'd probably donate to his opponent even if the closest competitor was a member of the green party or communist party.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

MSNBC: Obama to Americans: 'We can be better'
WSJ: Obama Calls for a More Civil Nation
LA Times: Obama urges Americans to debate 'in a way that heals'
WaPo: Obama calls for healing, not blame
Politico: Barack Obama's speech: Eulogy with a powerful message
Guardian: Barack Obama's Tucson speech rose to the moment and transcended it: Obama spoke more like a pastor than a politician, carving out a moment of calm amid the toxic rhetoric
NECN: Obama urges nation to live up to expectations of youngest Ariz. victim

It's funny, the author of the piece you quoted is pining for Kirsten Powers. Interestingly, it sounds like she was far more critical of the speech than those evil right wingers were.
Some Tweets:

I can't believe that i didn't like this speech and Charles Krauthammer @jonahNRO and @allahpundit loved it.
Thought he nailed the inspiration and healing (no surprise) but missed opp to shut down the "political rhetoric caused it meme"
You have to look at it in totality...if it didn't cause it then why go on and on about civility etc.
I hardly think a bunch of Hallmark greeting card pablum about civility is going to stop another shooting.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

this indeed would be a political crime. if the man is sane. the Tucson case is a mental health issue and not a politcal one. anyone - from either side - who tries to make it political is at best a fool.

The diehards continue to scrounge around trying to find equivalence. The one tiny difference here is that Loughner actually DID try to kill Ms. Giffords whereas this Washington dude was (thankfully) all mouth. Has he done anything to make his threat a reality? Bought a gun? Followed the congressman around, etc? Absent that, they'll play hell getting him convicted of anything. This would be a perfect place for an application of the Chicago Way: send Joey Bagodonuts over to break his kneecaps.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

The diehards continue to scrounge around trying to find equivalence.

Except nobody is. But keep at it.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Obviously all calls to restrain rhetoric are merely politically motivated calculations.

Yep.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Is it fair to judge someone's character by what they were like in law school? There's a couple of people I know will run for office, or at least spend a career in politics at one level or another, and one of them was perhaps the least sincere person I've ever met. If I ever see him on a ballot, I'd probably donate to his opponent even if the closest competitor was a member of the green party or communist party.

Character judgments are always "fair" -- TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS -- but they should also be contextual. You probably don't see the best in somebody during a messy divorce, for example.

OTOH, you have to ask yourself whether you want somebody sincere in office. As Richard Nixon said about, well, almost everybody on his staff, "he's an asshole, but he's our asshole."

But yeah, I have met one or two people in my life who if they ever ran for office I'd work very hard to prevent them from getting anywhere near a position of public trust. And I've met rafts of people who I consider unfit to date my daughter purely for reasons of character.

 

[Priceless]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

It's a mash-up of two of their talking points.

Ah, now it makes sense.

 

[geezer]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Where do you get this stuff?

I'm referencing the AZ shooting of congresswoman Giffords and others by a deranged individual with no political affiliations.
Immediately after the shooting, Paul Krugman (NYT) and Keith Olbermann made and announced the assumption on their respective outlets that Sarah Palin must be somehow responsible (as is their habit since "Bush's fault" became dated). This delicious little bit of news was picked up throughout the mainstream media, and someone dug out an old campaign ad of Palin's that showed "crosshairs" on "targeted" districts. It was revealed by multiple "news" outlets that these crosshairs did not in fact represent targeted voting districts, but rather orders to her secret army of killers, including Loughner, to shoot Democrats in those districts. The meme became so popular that it's still circulating as fact among Democrats a week later in spite of being nonsense on its face.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

That was either an excellent ironic parody or the quintessential summary of what it's like to be inside a right winger's head.

I'm voting parody.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

That was either an excellent ironic parody or the quintessential summary of what it's like to be inside a right winger's head.

I'm voting parody.

I'll go with the other option.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

Nothing to see here. All is well.

having had an opportunity to meet, interact, hold discussions with and in some cases socialize with many politicians, they are just another cross section of America. some are kind and caring, others stupid, some slick, some brilliant, some nice, some nasty, most have a health self esteem. some are in it for money or power, others truly called to serve.

the reaction to Sarah Palin is way overblown. I believe these reactions say way more about the person making them than it does about Sarah Palin herself.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Arizona Congressman Gabrielle Giffords Apparantly Survives Assassination Attempt

I'll go with the other option.