If you look for angry extremists you will find them.

Nothing happens in a vacuum.

Checking in from Tucson: waiting for another news conference that will be held at 6:00 pm or afterwards.

As a friend pointed out, there will be significant fallout in both the political and mental health realms as a consequence of today's events.

Please, if you can, offer a prayer for the families, friends, and all affected by this tragedy; and for continued skill for the medical personnel involved in caring for the survivors.

As I posted on my facebook, whether your democrat or republican, conservative or moderate, this should not be happening!

Absolutely senseless.

They are announcing now that there are six victims who are deceased including the federal judge and a 9 year old girl. How tragic for all involved. Their families and the citizens of Arizona are in my thoughts and prayers. They also said that 19 were shot in total, which is much higher than the original number of 12.

Looks like they're looking for a second suspect.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us...ffords.html?hp

Exactly!! There is no excuse period for such behavior.

I agree with the sarcasm stated earlier regarding the blaming of conservatives in the media. I have witnessed that on facebook as well this afternoon. There are just as many mentally unstable people on the left that would take the words of the liberal base to the extreme/out of context for ill purpose. No one is at fault here except the gunman and maybe an accomplice if that pans out.

Plus, the gunman has listed the Communist Manifesto as his favorite book -- so I doubt he's a Tea Partier.

Don't try to ascribe reason to a person who is clearly mentally ill. Choosing one point of interest about this man out of many interesting tidbits to try to fit your interests is as self serving as anyone else you're trying to discount. His rants about currencies based on "gold and silver" and unconstitutional "treasonous laws" and flags not mentioned in the constitution could clearly be twisted to have a Libertarian bent. But, I digress. This man appears to be mentally unstable and arguably targeted a Congresswoman because of anti-government delusions. If you are trying to say he was a Democrat, I'd say you are out of line.

Hey, lay the hell off. I'm not trying to fit my interests or to discount anyone. I'm a journalist covering this shit (ergo, I have no political opinions) and I'm just trying to point out that people automatically assuming he's a Tea Party member (or affiliated with anything) is stupid.

"I'd just like to say that when you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths, about tearing down the government, the anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous." -Sheriff Clarence Dupnik

In trying to ascribe a political party to this individual, we only exacerbate the anger. Watching the videos this guy made, it's pretty clear that he's not stable. When John Hinckley, Jr. shot President Reagan, it was because he was obsessed with Jodi Foster, which made NO sense at all. We can't even begin to understand someone's motivation when they would do something like this.

No, you didn't just make that point. If you did a little reading on the internet, you'd see all the claims that he must be a liberal because the Communist Manifesto was his "favorite book", though it's just listed as one of his favorites. It's a thinly veiled dig at Democrats laying the blame on their door. Just stop it. If you are a "journalist covering this shit" do more research before you post shit like that.

Representative Gabrielle Gifford's aides is an AOII.
 

Pam Simon, aid to Representative Gabrielle Gifford's aide is an AOII, University of Washington, 1960's. Not sure exact dates.
She is hospitalized right now.

My thoughts go out to all the victims. Words, not weaponry, are the answer.

I have been fucking reporting and researching on this all day, so lay off with the patronizing bullshit. My comment was in direct response to someone mentioning upthread that many Facebook threads have referenced Sarah Palin/the Tea Party. I noted that someone listing the Communist Manifesto as an inspiration is unlikely to be a member of the Tea Party. That's all. It's absolutely fucking crazy for anyone to attempt to ascribe the shooter's motives to a political party.