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Words Matter

by: CA Berkeley WV

Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 17:23:57 PM EST


by CA Berkeley WV

Remember when the half-governor targeted the incumbent in the First District in West Virginia? Well the pit bull targeted Rep. Gifford also. Her opponent expanded on the theme from the Wasilla grifter.

One of those slain in the supermarket parking lot constituent meeting today was Federal Judge Roll involved in an immigration civil rights suit. Remember Big John's reaction to the murder of a federal judge's husband, and Hottub Tom taking on the court involvement in the Schiavo case?

For some, Boehner's giant gavel was the perfect opportunity for  violence against the first female Speaker of the House. The newly brewed freshman class in the House of Representatives had trouble reading the whole Constitution as Job Day One. September 17 is already set aside to honor the document by a person who really cared.
CA Berkeley WV :: Words Matter
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Words Matter | 44 comments
eliminationist rhetoric leads to eliminationist action (4.00 / 4)
This shooting sickens me. My heart goes out to the Roll family, the Gifford's and all of the other rampage victims.

Eliminationist rhetoric leads to eliminationist action. Yes, advertising works.

In a just world, Sarah Palin would have been uninvited from polite company before the logical conclusion of her hate speech came to fruition.

I fear the world is not yet just enough to uninvite her--and others using similar tactics--from polite company even afterwards.

crosshairs (4.00 / 3)

Rahall and Giffords were the only two to win re-election.

Witnesses say Judge Roll was shot first? (4.00 / 1)
Poppa Bush appointee

His 2009 civil rights case: "I-lee-gulls vs The Rancher"

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

[ Parent ]
also? (4.00 / 1)
Two things (seen on twitter)

- Judge wasn't a scheduled attendee.

- Shooter called each person by name as he shot them.

As with all of these breaking news situations it's hard to know yet what really happened.

[ Parent ]
Giffords target (4.00 / 1)
The Pima County Sheriff, who just assailed his state's "bigotry and hatred," is a 50-year veteran of law enforcement.

Says department is "actively in pursuit" of a second suspect -- 2nd man not a shooter.

Says Giffords was the target.

[ Parent ]
someone drove him there, no vehicle found (0.00 / 0)
the karma of Judge Roll in the rights of non-citizens case....

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance
[ Parent ]
the person of interest was the cabbie, (4.00 / 2)
an innocent tool in the violent fixation of the shooter

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance
[ Parent ]
tweets from Michael Moore (4.00 / 2)
summary of his days tweets via his email list:

Dem Rep Giffords shot in head in Az. Sarah Palin had put CROSSHAIRS/ BULLSEYE on Giffords on her website! OUTRAGE! http://mmflint.me/fcHmJf

When Rep Giffords voted in favor of health care bill, her office in Tucson was attacked & vandalized. http://mmflint.me/hKYtR7

Palin "set gun sights on 20 Dems (including Giffords)." http://mmflint.me/fcHmJf Palin site now seems 2 b 2 taking down crosshairs map!

In 2009, another gun nut showed up where Rep Giffords was speaking (at another Safeway) & dropped his gun http://mmflint.me/gPnApk

Giffords opponent held June event 2 "Shoot a Fully Automatic M16" to "Get on Target" & "Remove Gabrielle Giffords" http://mmflint.me/hF1BN5

When Palin put crosshairs on a map w/ Rep. Giffords & 19 other Dem congressmen/women, she urged followers to "reload" & "aim" for Democrats.

RT @RichardKimNYC Giffords was impt brave ally in fight to defeat 2006 AZ anti-gay marriage initiative. i covered in brief http://tinyurl.com/285hk92

Past photo of alleged Tucson shooter (in background) http://yfrog.com/h5oq9gj

Stunning admission by Tucson sheriff: Arizona "a mecca" of hate & bigotry which unhinges the unbalanced http://mmflint.me/hOlRG8 Wow.

Thanks, Keith, 4 ur powerful Special Comment just now & 4 mentioning Glenn Beck's violent fantasies: http://mmflint.me/eTc1LC

Christina Green was the 9yr old killed. She was born on 9/11. Was on student council & only girl on baseball team. http://mmflint.me/dOs1oY

If a Detroit Muslim put a map on the web w/crosshairs on 20 pols, then 1 of them got shot, where would he b sitting right now? Just asking.


[ Parent ]
Sen. Manchin statement (4.00 / 2)
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll and several others:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, and all of the innocent victims of this unspeakable and horrific tragedy. Gayle and I offer our heartfelt sympathies and pray for comfort to the families of all those killed and injured."


Sen. Rockefeller statement (4.00 / 2)
ROCKEFELLER STATEMENT ON THE SHOOTING IN ARIZONA

"Sharon and I were shocked and saddened to learn of today's shooting in Arizona. This senseless act violates who we are as Americans, and I know that my fellow West Virginians mourn this tragedy. We are praying for all those who were victims of this terrible violence--Congresswoman Giffords, U.S. District Court Judge John Roll, and so many other innocent people. May they and their families find some comfort in the support and faith of our nation."


i wonder... (4.00 / 3)
...if wingnut Charleston Daily Mail editorial writer Don Surber still thinks it's funny to pray for the deaths of public officials?
i wonder... (4.00 / 3)
...if Joe Manchin has any second thoughts about his 'Dead Aim' commercial

As i said back in mid-October:

Dead Aim at Who?

I am deeply troubled by Manchin's campaign ad "Dead Aim."

Two things stand out as really wrong with this ad:

(1) An embrace of eliminationist symbolism.

This ad is violent, hateful, and should never have been made.

Joe is not out hunting for game, he's not shown getting target practice at a shooting range, he's firing a high powered rifle to make a political point. His chosen target is legislation strongly associated with Nancy Pelosi. While he's aiming the gun he says the President of the United States' name.

The strong subtext of this ad is violence--and physical elimination of opponents, if necessary--is somehow acceptable. It is not.

Physical violence has no place in politics. I would call out any WV Republican who made an ad like this and I think it's despicable that someone calling themselves a Democrat has done it.

Joe Manchin should be ashamed of himself.


[ Parent ]
Dead Aim (4.00 / 1)
Just as guilty as all the others who have used this symbolism for political purposes. Guns and other threats of violence should have no place in our political discourse. Given the violence and assassinations in our nation's history, you would think we would know better by now.
[ Parent ]
Words Matter (0.00 / 0)
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

Sure, words matter. Do you all know who spoke those words?

The shooter obviously displays signs of mental illness.  Obviously paranoid, quite possibly schizophrenic.  Who's fault is that?  Palin?  Boosh?  

welcome to West Virginia Blue (4.00 / 2)
Welcome to West Virginia Blue, StephanieWV.

I'm somewhat confused by your comment. I am having a hard time figuring out how a 2003 sermon given to a small audience a thousand miles away would have anything to do with the assassination attempt in Arizona yesterday--much less a sermon on a completely different topic.

I do share your concern about how our society deals with mental illness. If indeed the shooter was suffering from untreated mental illness, it is yet another tragedy that any warning signs went unnoticed and his condition went untreated. I am in favor of providing all US citizens with universal healthcare including full mental health coverage, how about you?

I also agree with what the head of the local law enforcement agency in that area had to say yesterday:

'When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government,' Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik told a news conference.

'The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.

'And, unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.'

He added: 'That may be free speech. But it's not without consequence.'

So, yes, even if Sarah Palin is by no means the worst offender among those spewing hatred and violence, she does bear some responsibility for contributing to the climate that encouraged what happened yesterday. And, as Mrs. Palin spent much of yesterday purging content from around the web, perhaps she is feeling some sense of responsibility, too.

[ Parent ]
Thanks for the welcome. (0.00 / 0)
Please, for YEARS liberal bloggers and pundits attacked then President Bush with unparalled vigor.  Did you complain about their venomous attacks?

Race has nothing to do with this discussion, yet once again liberals choose to inject race into the matter. Words matter, but they did not kill or injure those poor people.  A gun didn't kill or injure those people.  A man did that.

I absolutely am opposed to "universal healthcare" along with other government take-overs and intrusions upon the lives of private citizens.  What I would do is repeal the HMO Act of 1973, allow citizens to purchase prescription drugs manufactured in the USA from Canada and other countries, and institute serious tort reform.  One of the most innovative ideas I've heard come down the pike to lower the cost of healthcare is allowing patients to purchase negative outcome insurance.  Such insurance would drastically reduce the burden of malpractice insurance on hospitals, doctors and other medical professionals and allow the compensation to go to victims of medical mishaps etc instead of generating enormous wealth for a small group of predatory attorneys.

I support, obey, and defend COTUS.  Nothing in COTUS allows for the federal government to confiscate the fruits of the labor of American citizens to provide healthcare for others.  Adding yet another entitlement to a nation struggling economically mired in debt to nations like Communist China will bring America to her knees.

[ Parent ]
equally equal (0.00 / 0)
I have never wished a politician dead. There are many I'd like to see retire from public office, but none whom I'd wish violence upon. I will continue to equally condemn violent or hateful speech whomever the target--straight, gay, white, black, Christian, Muslim, atheist--and whatever the political views of the perpetrator.

How about you?

What version of the constitution do you support, obey, and defend? Do you think we're all equally equal? Or, only those of us who are white and male and land-owning, like those the founding father's thought deserved to vote?

p.s. You are losing credibility fast if you want to me to believe that "for YEARS liberal bloggers and pundits attacked then President Bush with unparalled vigor."

First off, most of the liberal vitriol was directed at Cheney and Rove. Bush was mostly more as a puppet, hardly worth getting equally upset with.

Second, what happened during the Bush era was pretty mild compared to the Presidency of Bill Clinton. The volume of venom and vitriol directed from the right at Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea was far in excess of anything that less responsible parts of the left said about President Bush.

That doesn't make any of it right. I point that out just to show you'll need to show a little bit better grip on facts around here if you want to be convincing.

[ Parent ]
Clem (0.00 / 0)
And those evil liberal bloggers and the way they locked up any peaceful protesters at events...oh wait, that was people in the Bush administration.

Also I like the conflation of liberal bloggers and elected Republican leaders.

Liberals who blog about wanting to end unjustified wars or wanting to make sure uninsured people don't die because they don't have healthcare is the exact same as Republicans talking about killing Democrats and liberals they disagree with.

Also showing up with a protest sign equals showing up with assault rifle. Same thing in their world view

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

[ Parent ]
Pakistan (0.00 / 0)
What do you call Pakistan?  Obama has infiltrated Pakistan.  When is he going to bring the trooops home?  I want the troops home.  That's part of the reason I didn't vote for McCain, he wouldn't bring the troops home.  When is Obama going to deliver?  
[ Parent ]
Mired in debt (0.00 / 0)
Actually our indebtedness to to the Chinese can be attributed to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How would you handle health care for uninsured children, the critically ill and those with pre-existing conditions who are often victimized by predatory insurance companies?

[ Parent ]
Debt (0.00 / 0)
Who controlled the Congress that authorized all of that spending on war & destruction & occupation?

You're looking at the issue of healthcare backwards, DB.  Instead of trying to figure out how the federal government can cover everyone, we need to figure out how to make healthcare more affordable to average Americans. Throwing good money after bad will no solve the problem.

[ Parent ]
speaker haster and leader lott & frist: you have no grip in facts at all! (4.00 / 2)
tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, last one only passes w/ cheney tie breaker vote, medicare part d, and iraq. there's your deficit. 1% impact of tort reform not worth the imblance of corporate acess to courts by shutting off citizens.

so what would you have said to defunding troops in active combat in 2007 when congress changed hands? honestly?

and we are down from 160k to 50k in iraq. THAT is what was discussed in the campaign. afpak border not changed from previous policy much.

do not expect to not be challenged on facts. they are stubborn things. and i have heard tend to have a liberal bias.

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

[ Parent ]
The Republicans (4.00 / 2)
controlled the House of Representatives 1997-2006  and the Senate from 1995-2000 and 2003-2006. During 2001-2002 the Democrats held the majority by a one seat margin.

Universal health care, Medicare for All, whatever you want to call it, IS the way to bring costs down while offering care to everyone.  

[ Parent ]
The general welfare (4.00 / 1)
The constitution calls for the support of the general welfare of the people. I guess you don't like that part of the constitution.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.
[ Parent ]
Stephanie (4.00 / 1)
The problem is when you have politicians like Palin and pundits like Beck and Limbaugh constantly ratcheting up the eliminationist rhetoric the insane feed off it. Of course for every Rev. Wright there's also the Pat Robinsons and Jerry Falwells who say America deserves every bad thing that happens to it because of our freedoms. I'm sure you want to point out their terrible quotes for the sake of consistency, am I right?

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.
[ Parent ]
Consistancy (0.00 / 0)
The constant is liberals blame conservatives (and lately libertarians) for every tragedy to befall America.  As much as I dislike Rush Limbaugh, as pathetic as I find Glenn Beck, and as silly as I find Sarah Palin, they did not commit this crime.  They did not put a gun in a young man's hand and send him out to shoot up a crowd of innocent people.  More than likely, he had other voices in his head compelling him to do it.  More than likely he had family members, friends, school teachers, and coworkers from his past & his present who knew how sick he was yet did little or nothing to help him.  Still, even they are not to blame.  Nobody is to blame but Jared Loughner and anyone who may have conspired with him or aided him in carrying out this vicious crime.  
[ Parent ]
Stephanie (4.00 / 3)
I'm sure you know more about the case and law enforcement than the sheriff of the county, who is laying the blame on those I cited who have incited violence through their eliminionist rhetoric.

By your reasoning, Charles Manson should never have been convicted. He didn't shoot anyone or put the guns in anyone's hands either. He just encouraged a bunch of crazy followers.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

[ Parent ]
Let me get this straight..... (0.00 / 0)
You're now comparing Sarah Palin & Rush Limbaugh to Charles Manson? You are utterly devoid of credibility, Carnacki.
[ Parent ]
Stephanie (4.00 / 1)
I was just pointing out how flawed your "reasoning" is, that by saying those who promote violence are in no way responsible for the actions committed by others. Clearly this issue has struck a nerve with you which explains why you're defending the indefensible.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.
[ Parent ]
carnacki -- check your email. n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Clem (4.00 / 1)
The one about the lottery I won in England after my email was selected at random?

Left you a voice mail.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

[ Parent ]
that was you? (4.00 / 1)
The connection wasn't so good and I thought it was just another distant relative asking for a moneygram to get bailed out of trouble.

We got ripped off so badly last year, I swore we'd never fall for that scam a third time. ;-)

[ Parent ]
you two are such germs (4.00 / 1)
[ Parent ]
quotes from an American diplomat in that sermon, too (4.00 / 2)
all those AME parishioners shooting out GOPers offices, yeah I remember that.

Repeated rhetoric taking political disagreements to the remedy of the bullet, you're making the equivalency argument? Really?

Facebook pages are being scrubbed. A legal term is contributory negligence.

But you must think that politicians and pundits should not consider dialing it back a couple of notches because once a black man said something mean. And I had to wonder why Art 4 Sect 4 was left out of "The Reading".

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

[ Parent ]
Are you....... (0.00 / 0)
BMD/biomechanicaldude?
[ Parent ]
IDK. RU2? (0.00 / 0)
M R DUCKS

A R NOT

O S M R
C M EB TOW

L I B
M R DUCKS

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

[ Parent ]
CA Berkeley (0.00 / 0)
I guess that whole "Reload" comment of hers was in reference to surveyor markers now.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.
[ Parent ]
David Gregory of Meet the Press just mentioned (4.00 / 3)
Manchin's ad.  We sure have gotten a lot of national press since he's been in office.

Is that Steve's sister?

MadAnne (4.00 / 1)
Republican talk and ads using violence probably outnumbers Democrats by 100 to 1. Why did Joe have to be the 1?



When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

[ Parent ]
I don't think he was number 1. I was only half listening (0.00 / 0)
 and heard DG talking about it.
[ Parent ]
the third way with no labels (0.00 / 0)
Funny how the Democrat that provides a bipartisan example is, arguably, the very most conservative one in all of the Senate.

In this case the all-mighty-balance-seeking press will embrace the Dem label for cover, but they would more accurately label him with his preferred no-label third way conservative views.

[ Parent ]
Palin's crosshairs included Rahall (4.00 / 2)
CREDO is reporting that Sarah bragged that Rep. Giffords and Rahall are the only ones she targeted who are still in office.  I hope he has excellent security.  Take much care Congressman.  
Words Matter | 44 comments
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