Notes and scenes from the opening of the 50th Arizona Legislature
January 10, 2011
by Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings …First, a report (via Facebook) from Taegan Goddard's Political Wire: "President Obama will go to Tucson, AZ on Wednesday" No details at this time, but will post as they become available. …Committee schedules are in flux this week because of Saturday's massacre. Some are expected to meet, but the … Read more
Tucson Stands United Against Fred Phelps’ Church of Hate
January 10, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Fred Phelps, the most vile, evil creature imaginable plans to come to Tucson to exploit the funerals of the victims of the massacre on Saturday to promote his agenda of blind hatred in the name of God. Westboro Baptist Church to Use Tucson Massacre to Promote Agenda of Hate: The Westboro Baptist … Read more
Robert Lowry, Republican candidate in Florida, fired at target with opponent’s initials written on it
January 10, 2011
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by David Safier In October, Florida Republican candidate for congress Robert Lowry, running against incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz, went to a gun range and fired at a target which had the initials DWS next to the silhouette's head. Lowry, by the way, proclaimed himself the Tea Party candidate. Here's what happened. The Southeast Broward Republican Club gathered at … Read more
Rep. Allen West’s first choice for chief of staff, Joyce Kaufman: “If ballots don’t work, bullets will.”
January 10, 2011
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by David Safier Newly elected Florida Rep Allen West is a piece of work all by himself. But let's look at his first choice for chief of staff, talk show host Joyce Kaufman. During the summer, she said this during a rally: “And I don’t care how this gets painted by the mainstream media. I … Read more
“Don’t Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!” Sarah Palin, March 23, 2010
January 10, 2011
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by David Safier Lest we let this piece of violence-laced rhetoric slip as we remember Palin's U.S. map with rifle sights on Democratic districts, on March 23, Palin tweeted, "Don't Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!" Here's the complete tweet: The tweet is addressed to conservatives and "lovers of America." The message is in quotes, to make … Read more
Post from a reader
January 9, 2011
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by David Safier
Regular BfA reader and commenter Phillip Keuter sent me this post. You can read the full post after the jump.
I would take this idea that Mr. Safier expressed about violence-laced political rhetoric a step further. It's not just that so much of the rhetoric is laced with violent images and violent metaphors, it's also that so much of the rhetoric from certain places is not even connected with reality. That dynamic always leads to trouble, whether you're in a marriage, running a country, prosecuting a war, publishing a newspaper, or teaching in a classroom.
Examples abound. First is the quote above from Jesse Kelley: "They're destroying this nation, and while I'm still breathing, I will not let it happen." Glenn Beck makes references to the Weimar Republic and hyper inflation. Death Panels, Socialism, Marxism, Hannity calling the Wall Street Journal the "Liberal Left Wing Media.” Bush invaded Iraq — did they attack us? Were they friends with Al Queda? Crazy-making. Plain and simple crazy-making when you stop basing your decisions and your rhetoric on what is real.
And right now? What is the current Frank Luntz nine seconds or less soundbite currently in fashion? "Jobs-Killing" Health Care Bill. It's not connected to reality…it's connected to a win-at-all-costs-and-damn-the-torpedoes-and forget-the-consequences approach to political warfare. And yes, when you conceptualize politics as "war" and lose your moral bearings (i.e., the ends justify the means), and your rhetoric is not based upon anything connected to reality but instead is connected to military references (see http://teapartypatriots.ning.com/ … "Stop the Tyrant!" "1st Brigade" etc), then you have left the reality based world and live in a crazy-making fantasy.
What does it take for a Republican to admit his/her party’s political language is out of control?
January 9, 2011
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by David Safier Most Republicans are acting outraged — nothing new about that — that Democrats are concerned about the vitriolic rhetoric we're hearing from the right. If the Rs can out-outrage the Ds by, say, shouting down Sheriff Dupnik for commenting on the vitriol and hate (Kyl and others) or making the Star's cartoonist/columnist … Read more
What Were Jared Loughner’s Politics?
January 9, 2011
By Michael Bryan The right wing desperately wants America to believe that Loughner is not one of them. They are grabbing onto every scrap and rumor to paint him as a leftist. Homeland Security and Fox News (of all sources) don't agree: According to a law enforcement memo based on information provided by DHS and obtained … Read more
