In the wake of the Tucson carnage, there has been considerable discussion here and elsewhere about gun possession and carry laws. Some have speculated that private gun possession would have reduced the death and injury toll in Tucson. Others have speculated that the toll would have increased with the presence of additional guns. What both sides have in common is that they … [Read more...] about Let’s Have A Rational Conversation About Guns
My Life as a Gunman
During my teens and early twenties, I fired weapons at people, who were often shooting back. It was not a pleasant experience but, after V-E Day in Germany, when most of our food was being sold in British and French black markets, I was persuaded to go deer-hunting not so much for sport as out of hunger. In early morning, sighting a brown hide and preparing to fire, I … [Read more...] about My Life as a Gunman
Sarah Palin Video: “America’s Enduring Strength” (UPDATE 4)
Four hours ago Sarah Palin posted this video response to the tragedy in Tucson. In it she addresses the debate that followed about whether the harsh political rhetoric played a role. Slickly but simply produced, beautifully written and clearly delivered uncut directly into the camera, she has struck the exact right tone to ensure her continuing political influence: The … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Video: “America’s Enduring Strength” (UPDATE 4)
“The Nature of Someone’s Delusions Is Affected By Culture”
Yes, it's true, it's really really true, and it's not all that difficult to understand. Really. … [Read more...] about “The Nature of Someone’s Delusions Is Affected By Culture”
The Posterboy for Political Vitriol and Partisan Hatred Strikes Again
Just when you think Rush Limbaugh can't get even more divisive and politically obscene, he strikes again with THIS NEW LOW. In the past, GOPers picked up Limbaugh's shock lines which in some cases seemingly became strategy for the party. This has been one they have not used when it comes to the Arizona shootings. Will we now see that this is parroted by some wannabe Rush … [Read more...] about The Posterboy for Political Vitriol and Partisan Hatred Strikes Again
Arizona Aftermath: Real Second Amendment Remedies (Guest Voice)
Arizona Aftermath: Real Second Amendment Remedies by Karl Frisch Growing up, my father -- now retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after 35 years of service -- frequently took me shooting and to just about every gun show within a 100-mile radius of our Southern California home. In fact, as I write this, several of the guns from his collection are on … [Read more...] about Arizona Aftermath: Real Second Amendment Remedies (Guest Voice)
Arizona Shooting Tragedy: Christina-Taylor Green
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Arizona Shooting Tragedy: Christina-Taylor Green
Many Shades of Crazy
My partner Steve at Newshoggers says Crazy Is As Crazy Does. He's right of course, everything points to Jared Loughner being a paranoid schizophrenic. That doesn't mean that others don't have blood on their hands. The NRA and the politicians who are too cowardly to stand up to them. Fact - if the Brady Law was still in place Mr Loughner would not have been able to … [Read more...] about Many Shades of Crazy
Anger is illogical
This seems apropos of the moment: … [Read more...] about Anger is illogical
Creating Enmity With Words
No, this is not about the shootings in Tucson -- at least, not in any direct sense. This is about Rep. Peter King (R-NY) accusing Muslim-Americans (all Muslim-Americans) of being uncooperative with anti-terrorism efforts, of being disloyal Americans and, in fact, of not being real Americans at all when it comes to defending the United States: … [Read more...] about Creating Enmity With Words
It’s Not About Him, It’s About Us!
Yes, another post about the climate of "political rhetoric" that at this point is surely unneeded. I'll make it quick, because it's something that I have yet to see pointed out. Personally, for quite some time I've been expecting there to be something like Tuscon, and I believe that there will be more incidents like it in the next few years. This is because we're going … [Read more...] about It’s Not About Him, It’s About Us!
Plutocracy: US Media Concerned about the Political Influence of the Super Rich
Conventional wisdom used to be that Europeans envy the rich, while Americans hope to emulate them. Now, Americans are increasingly concerned about rising inequality and the influence of the tiny elite of the super rich. Plutocracy is a very popular topic of discussion in the US media at the moment. I am quite surprised. It can't be a coincidence that even mainstream and … [Read more...] about Plutocracy: US Media Concerned about the Political Influence of the Super Rich
Tucson Rorschach Test
Verbal reactions should be almost as spent now as the bullets on the Safeway parking lot, but the fusillade of shooting mouths is heavier than ever. As families go about burying victims, their deaths are translated from horrendous personal loss to political posturing that denies them the humanity they deserve. Reading from Left to Right, start with mouthy Sheriff Clarence … [Read more...] about Tucson Rorschach Test
A Better Option
For those interested in remembering the death of Christina Taylor Green in a positive way: TUCSON - The family of Christina Taylor Green, killed in the shooting in on Saturday, has announced the creation of a charitable memorial fund to honor her life and memory. The fund will be held by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. John Green, Christina's father said, … [Read more...] about A Better Option
Extremist Rhetoric, Violence and American History
The massacre in Tucson has generated a major and intense debate across the country about whether the overheated political climate---the rhetoric, the “vitriol, “extremist speech”---has influenced or motivated the Tucson shooter to commit his dastardly crime. Just as reflected in the commentary on this site, the national opinion runs the gamut, from holding the shooter solely … [Read more...] about Extremist Rhetoric, Violence and American History
Mutual Respect: What America Owes Itself and the World (Berliner Morganpost, Germany)
After the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, what can the American people do to bring their politics back to a place where differences don't devolve into a veritable war against the opposition? According to columnist Peter Craven from Germany's Berliner Morganpost, "it's time to revive the rules of civilized coexistence and fair political discourse." Even if the … [Read more...] about Mutual Respect: What America Owes Itself and the World (Berliner Morganpost, Germany)
America in Anger’s Clutches: Polityka, Poland
The world is looking on, wondering what will happen in America next, after the massacre and assassination attempt on an Arizona Congresswoman last weekend. In this article from Poland's Polityka, columnist Tomasz Zalewski asks if this is the beginning of a wave of political violence like the one that claimed the lives of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. in the … [Read more...] about America in Anger’s Clutches: Polityka, Poland
Sanitizing Extremism: Palin and Beck on Violence and War
Politico: Sarah Palin reached out to Glenn Beck over the weekend, and Beck read some of their email exchange on his radio show this morning. "Sarah, as you know, peace is always the answer. I know you are felling the same heat, if not much more on this," Beck wrote. Beck expressed concern about Palin's safety, and urged her to hire the same Los Angeles-based security … [Read more...] about Sanitizing Extremism: Palin and Beck on Violence and War
Political Rhetoric and Political Violence: Are Conservatives to Blame for the Arizona Shooting?
In the wake of Saturday's deadly shooting in Arizona, the assassination attempt on Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, with fingers being pointed (justifiably, I think) at the likes of Sarah Palin (and the Tea Party, as well as much of the Republican Party), much of the talk today is about political speech: Do Palin and others deserve any of the blame for what happened … [Read more...] about Political Rhetoric and Political Violence: Are Conservatives to Blame for the Arizona Shooting?
Jon Stewart Gives Up the Murrow Mantle
A Stewart fan, I tuned in to The Daily Show last night... Glynnis MacNicol called it an emotional, moving monologue. OTB's Doug Mataconis calls it the smartest reaction of anyone to the tragedy in Arizona. I was disappointed; I thought it a rambling abdication of the Murrow mantle. Not for its perspective -- did anyone really expect the Restoring Sanity maestro to take … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart Gives Up the Murrow Mantle