Are we really to believe that if a politician poses in a photo, aiming a gun at a target, that they are ipso facto contributing to an atmosphere of hatred and violence?
In that case, are advocates of this argument willing to blame the victim? Because Gabrielle Giffords did the same.
Of course, Gabrielle Giffords did nothing to contribute to the actions of her attacker. Nor did Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck or the Tea Parties or anyone else other than the gunman.
I suspect some of what we’re seeing is the desire to lash out at somebody. The gunman’s been caught. He’ll face a trial soon. But in the interim, everyone else in society, particularly those who admired Giffords, want to do something, to take some action that will satiate their need for justice and/or vengeance. They can’t tackle the gunman. He’s already in custody. They can’t change anything that has already occurred. So they’ll find some other figure they already disliked, assert some implausible connection between a word or a graphic and this horrific act, and do what they can to get the others with “blood on their hands.”
"I suspect some of what we’re seeing is the desire to lash out at somebody. "
I think that the bigger issue is our desire to have a meta-narrative for every story. This can't simply be a random act of violence by an isolated nutcase. Oh no. We have to delve deeper and frame the story in some kind of narrative that attracts enough readers/viewers. The left has been repugnant in its desire to blame the right for this act, but the media's insatiable desire for a story behind the story is what is primarily at fault for what we're seeing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLet us hope that Gabrielle Giffords gets the last word on the subject.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBoy, if I do not Thank Albert R. Gore, Jr every day I am a lesser Man. This internet is amazing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusecool pic.
FYI, that is an AK varriant.
It is a posed pic. however
No ear pro, safety is on.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThey are under some sort of roof,
so structures+rifles=very,very loud
They're also endlessly trying to show us all (and each other) how much more noble, moral, high-minded, and, well, BETTER than the rest of us they are. That level of insecurity is palpably obvious in other areas (money, sex, workplace, etc. etc.) so why it should be less clear when we see it in politics is beyond me. "I'm not a brat! I'm NOT! I'm NOT! I'm NOT!" but substitute "craven political power-lover" for "brat" and you've got it exactly.
Then, from that position of lofty superiority, they can tell us how we're all "voting against your self interest" by daring to disagree with them on election day.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy first thought when I saw this picture was:
"If she (or one of her aides) had been carrying half of that kind of firepower on Saturday, we wouldn't be having a conversation on the current state of political discourse in this country. We'd be talking about there being one less nutcase in this world."
Of course, if something happens to the shooter, the Left will be here in force to tell me what a horrible person I am for indulging such "hateful rhetoric".
Obviously, my comments will have been the final straw for some other irresponsible nutcase to take action ...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm sorry, but this is exactly what is wrong with the right.
"I suspect some of what we’re seeing is the desire to lash out at somebody".
No, the Left has been itching for an incident like this, to use it like Clinton used OKC. Intimidate any sort of criticism against them, start up gun control, eliminate talk radio.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot only is the safety on, but she doesn't even have her finger on the trigger, and the butt of the stock is positioned on her shoulder in such a way, that the effects of the recoil will be very painful, it might even make the stock slip off her shoulders. Also, the soldier on the left seems like a Brit (I could be wrong).
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@ramon and @.300Wnchstr.Mgnum are the reasons I trust the sheepdogs more than the sheep. I only noticed the elbow wasn't up, the butt wasn't engaged in her shoulder, and her sightline was whacked out.
Maybe the sheepdogs need to teach the Left how to protect themselves.
I'm praying for Gabrielle.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSarah Palin's cross-hairs graphic, the vandalism of Rep. Giffords office after the health care vote, the death threats, the gun culture and extremely hostile environment in Arizona (especially in her district) are all valid points for discussion.
The Tea Party and right-wing rhetoric is never substantive, it is always general, paranoid and defensive. This is the populist conservative movement I'm referring to mainly, but even the National Review can help feed into the narrative by the "Obama is a socialist" (therefore an enemy of America and he's a legitimate target, etc.).
Most commenter at the NRO tend to get personal and are always excluding key facts in order to substantiate a point or general argument.
It is good that this discussion is out in the open. It is healthy when one end of the political spectrum gets called out for institutionalized repugnant rhetoric.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe rifle has a 3-position selector - it's a full auto with a machined receiver. I suspect it's a refurbished AK-47 with a plastic butt stock.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe left, being inherently more vicious than the right, almost automatically attempts to make propaganda out of this type of incident. But we see also the natural human desire revealed in the saying, "Don't just stand there, do something," that leads to thoughtless but otherwise decent folks blaming whatever first comes to mind, whether it be political opponents, firearms or strong rhetoric.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@sweasel That is the most important thing out of all of this, that Rep. Giffords, and the other wounded have a speedy and full recovery
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe photo shows a wholly inappropriate firing position for that rifle (or any other); she's obviously afraid of it, and as a result, she's very likely to fire it inaccurately. She should be leaning into it, not away from it (the way she's holding the rifle, it's in danger of being dropped; I can see it's only an AK or AK derivative, but still...). This person needs some more classroom instruction with an unloaded weapon.
Hopefully, it's not on full-auto and the magazine is not fully loaded.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI understand that Obama is hotfooting his way to Arizona in order to take every possible political advantage of the situation. Perhaps he'll take Bill Ayres with him.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@ Spare parts. Hey high speed, elbow should be down in CQB.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe left has turned up the vitriol and called for it to end at the same time. We all know when the rhetoric will be toned down, and that's when the nutcase is discovered to be far from being a "man of the right" during trial. There will be no apologies, no new recriminations, just a bit more silence.
Just like Lee Harvey Oswald. He was a communist, but you'd never get a left winger to admit it willingly. Better to have the illusion they've built in their minds rather then the truth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis article is in poor taste. When are both sides of the political spectrum going to just let us grieve and take in the enormity of what transpired on Saturday? Here's my advice to both sides of the political aisle: show some civility.
With the tragic events in Arizona made worse by the relentless reporting of unsubstantiated information, speculation and outright lies, how do we as a society even have a moment in time to properly mourn the victims that perished and pray for those clinging to life. There is no civility in the coverage, no decorum and quite frankly no humanity left in it.
Think for a moment if one of the dead or if Representative Giffords was a member of your family, what would you be doing today? It’s my hope that your single focus would be praying to God for recovery, for healing and for some sort of understanding. Understanding for how deranged human beings commit heinous acts. Understanding for how the power of prayer can bring miraculous results both to our physical bodies and to our hearts and our souls.
A nine year old girl lost her life Saturday,and the media is focused on pinning the act of a lone madman on some political group. Just stop. Let us pray, let us mourn, let us return to some semblance that we are human, compassionate individuals that are full of sorrow and loss right now. Can we please return to our humanity? Can we please return to a civil society?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe little 9-year-old girl's father insists that he's not going to allow the incident to be used by those who would ban both free speech and gun ownership. We must always be ready to defend what's right and proper. Teel the Leftists that they are in poor taste. The article is just reacting to their opportunistic attempts to sway public opinion.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHer finger isn't on the trigger.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse