Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford of Southern Arizona Shot At Constituent Event

[ASUADPi]

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

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

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

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.

[ADqtPiMel]

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

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

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.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

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.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

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.

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.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

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.

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.

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

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

His favorite is all over the place, from Communist Manifesto to Mein Kamp. He also enjoy We The Living. Karl Marx, Adolf Hitler and Aynd Rand are his favorite authors all opposite of each others.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

His favorite is all over the place, from Communist Manifesto to Mein Kamp. He also enjoy We The Living. Karl Marx, Adolf Hitler and Aynd Rand are his favorite authors all opposite of each others.

I'm aware. I'm trying to point out that you can pull out any one silly detail ascribe his motives to it. (And clearly I'm not doing a very good job of it, but we'll blame it on a long, hard day.)

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I'm aware. I'm trying to point out that you can pull out any one silly detail ascribe his motives to it. (And clearly I'm not doing a very good job of it, but we'll blame it on a long, hard day.)

Truce.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Truce.

Truce. I'm sorry about your congresswoman. I met her several times covering the 2006 freshmen and she's fantastic.

[AZTheta]

Checking in from Tucson, where the city is reeling from this morning's events. This is still a very small town in many regards, despite achieving a population of over a million in the metropolitan area. There are few people in town who've not been touched in some way by the violent, senseless shootings. Federal Court Chief Judge John Roll, a highly respected attorney and justice here, went to law school with my former husband; he and his wife sat near us at U of A basketball games. He was a devout Catholic who was on his way home from mass when he stopped in to say hello to Rep. Giffords. He was, simply, in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am heartbroken for his wife Maureen, their children, and grandchildren. Tucson has lost a truly great citizen today.

Originally Posted by AGDee

"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.

Yes, Dee, you are right on the mark in your assessment of the suspect. Sheriff Dupnik has been in law enforcement in Tucson for approximately 50 years (he will be 75 years old quite soon). He was, as was Mayor Walkup and almost every other official who spoke today (other than the highly trained chief of trauma surgery), close to or in tears much of the time while addressing the media. We are listening to people who've known each other and worked together for many, many years. Their hearts are broken as well.

Originally Posted by moe.ron

His favorite is all over the place, from Communist Manifesto to Mein Kamp. He also enjoy We The Living. Karl Marx, Adolf Hitler and Aynd Rand are his favorite authors all opposite of each others.

The suspect in custody is, from many accounts, suffering from serious mental issues. To ascribe political motives to such a wildly unstable mind at this time seems counter-productive. Thank you, moe.ron, for pointing out how erratic the suspect's writings are.

It was just another beautiful Saturday morning in the Sonoran desert, people were going grocery shopping at the Safeway, Gabby Giffords was hosting yet another open forum for her constituents...and what else is there to say? The suffering that is happening in so many homes and hearts this evening overwhelms me. I pray for deep peace, acceptance, and compassion.

Hold your loved ones just a little closer in your hearts.