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
Hey Sarah, At Least Stand By Your Free Speech (Guest Voice)
Hey Sarah, At Least Stand By Your Free Speech by Tina Dupuy Last Saturday morning 20 people were shot in a Tucson Safeway parking lot by a 22-year-old who stated on YouTube he “won’t pay debt with a currency that’s not backed by gold and silver.” Fifteen minutes after the news broke, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tweeted, “The price of gold today is at $1,368.90 an … [Read more...] about Hey Sarah, At Least Stand By Your Free Speech (Guest Voice)
A Moment of Silence
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about A Moment of Silence
Hate Speech – The Right’s Magic Bullet (Guest Voice)
Hate Speech - The Right’s Magic Bullet by Michael Winship The Russian playwright Anton Chekhov had a rule: if you show a gun in the first act, by the time the curtain falls, it has to go off. For weeks and months, that gun, the weapon of angry rhetoric and intemperate rabblerousing, has been cocked and loaded in plain view on the American stage; Saturday morning … [Read more...] about Hate Speech – The Right’s Magic Bullet (Guest Voice)
Poster Boy
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Poster Boy
A Question about Jared Loughner
As the fallout in taking stock of the human pain, impact to our democracy and political implications of the Arizona shootings continues, Marc Ambinder points out that one question seems to be left out: what about his parents and their role in Jared Loughner's life? A must-read HERE. … [Read more...] about A Question about Jared Loughner
Congress Time Out
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Congress Time Out
A Responsible Democracy in America (Guest Voice)
A Responsible Democracy in America by Martha Randolph Carr U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, 63 was one of six people who have died as a result of the shooting Saturday at a Tucson, AZ Safeway grocery store. Fourteen others were wounded with eight still hospitalized and one is reported to be in critical condition. Roll had stopped by to shake Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ hand … [Read more...] about A Responsible Democracy in America (Guest Voice)
Jared Lee Loughner: The Face of Brutality
Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. The official mug shot of Jared Lee Loughner. h/T Talking Points Memo … [Read more...] about Jared Lee Loughner: The Face of Brutality