Ferguson

I don't want to weigh in on Ferguson. Ferguson being my shorthand name for the recent pheonmenon of possibly excessive police violence.

Listen, I got good reasons. I'll put it this way. Rioting to the point of property damage is wrong, and I can't condone it. But I understand where it's coming from. There are an awful lot of police killing an awful lot of unarmed men and boys, for dubious reasons. And it doesn't look good that so many of the victims are black, and they're not firing people over it.

On the other hand, I respect cops. They have an impossible job and it's likely that if they did it strictly by the book, we'd be at the mercy of crime lords and thugs every day of our lives. So I get that in individual cases, it makes sense to shoot before they can pull a weapon on you.

The problem, though, is that I can't give a blanket approval to everybody in any one group. I can't say all the cops aren't hair-trigger racists -- most are not, but some of them clearly must be. And I don't think the rioters are nobly expressing themselves. Most are, but a handful of them nationally are taking advantage of the unrest to wreck stuff and steal things.

So there you have it. How do we solve this? I don't know. I'm a goddam blogger, not Ghandi.

How Do We Prevent Another Newtown Shooting?

Well, let's start with the obvious: Glenn Beck tweeted:

Yes, it has to be guns. Everything else we are doing with our kids is good. Found in toy dept for kids age 6 MONTHS

— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) December 18, 2012

Giving kids pretend iPhone cases OBVIOUSLY leads to school shootings by adults.

Mike Huckabee, on the other hand, is sure those kids were shot because God isn't allowed in schools. That's logical! Either God has no power in places where prayer isn't allowed (I wonder how he got along before language?) or even worse, GOD KILLED THOSE KIDS because he wanted to call attention to the lack of prayer. No wonder it's called "God-fearing"! I'm an atheist and right now, I'm scared s***less.



Neither of these things seems to DIRECTLY address the problem. Some of my crazy far-left lunatics are saying if there were less guns available for sale, there would be less shootings. HA! More sensible heads are prevailing; the solution is to arm the teachers duh. The violent union thug teachers must carry semi-automatics themselves. Of course, no one wants to talk about who's paying for the guns, ammo and training. NOT MY TAX DOLLARS, THAT'S FOR SURE. Let 'em buy that stuff themselves, like they do pencils and books.

Good Luck, Mitt - Duck!

An auditoriumful of people, enraged that you are the Republican nominee. It's a likely scenario this year in Florida.

Hoping to head off violent protesters during the Republican National Convention, Mayor Bob Buckhorn has proposed a litany of items that will be considered security threats during the week-long event.

The list runs from air pistols to water pistols and also includes items such as masks, plastic or metal pipe and string more than six inches long.

Conspicuously absent from the list of potential weapons: Firearms.

That's because state law bans local governments from placing any restrictions on the carrying of guns in public spaces.

"If we'd tried to regulate guns, it wouldn't have worked," said City Attorney Jim Shimberg.

Guns will be banned from the security zone the Secret Service will set up around the convention site, Shimberg said.

But outside that perimeter, in the area Buckhorn as labeled "the clean zone," state gun laws will prevail.

State law bans civilians from openly carrying handguns. But anyone – even protesters banned by the proposed city ordinance from wielding a piece of wood larger than a ruler – may carry a concealed handgun if they're licensed to do so.

So hey, good news - a brokered convention may not exactly be necessary if you know what I mean. If you have been wondering why Rick Santorum has been making noises about being willing to be the VP to Romney, I think that might be making a little more sense now.

No, It's Never Too Soon

Guns are feeling really bad after that Giffords shooting. It wasn't their fault! Guns don't kill people, fans of people kill people! And that's why Arizona is taking the initiative to cheer guns up, with a little honorarium.

Sponsored by 43 of the 90 members of the Arizona legislature, the new bill seeks to make the Colt single-action Army revolver the "official state firearm" of Arizona. In January, lawmakers in Utah moved to make M1911 semi-automatic pistol the official gun of that state.

In a Facebook group advocating for all states to adopt official state guns, the administrator writes, "States have symbols such as flags, birds, dinosaurs, reptiles, insects, flowers, even cookware. None of these symbols would have become necessary without guns and the freedoms they helped our forefathers obtain."

Oh America and her necessary symbols!

That's so sweet! Buck up, guns! Maybe in a couple of years, another state will bestow this honor on a Glock 19!

Volunteers for Replacements? Anyone? Anyone?

You know what? They're just a bunch of crybabies.

Fearing violence from tea party activists, Arizona Legislative District 20 Republican Chairman Anthony Miller and several others tendered their resignation this week following mass shootings that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in critical condition.

Miller, a 43-year-old former campaign worker for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), said that verbal attacks and blog posts from members of the tea party had him fearing for the safety of his family, according to a report in The Arizona Republic.

"Today my wife of 20 yrs ask (sic) me do I think that my PCs (Precinct Committee members) will shoot at our home?" he wrote in an e-mail following the shootings. "So with this being said I am stepping down from LD20GOP Chairman...I will make a full statement on Monday."

Tea party members supporting J.D. Hayworth for senator in the midterm elections accused Miller, an African American, of being a "McCain's boy." One detractor had even made his hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at Miller.

Listen, if you don't want to risk a bullet through the sternum than you have no business going into politics! Or having a difference of opinion with certain constituents! This is America, and people have a right to free speech -- as expressed with muskets.

This Doesn't Encourage Political Assasination Either

People are so sensitive nowadays! Remember how upset people got when Congressman Joe Wilson shouted "You Lie!" during Barack Obama's State Of The Union Address? It's free speech man! Lighten up! In that spirit, a company in South Carolina marketed an item engraved with with Joe Wilson's famous quote. What a splendid way to honor freedom of speech!

Yes, of course it was a rifle part. Specifically a lower receiver, whatever those are:

Wouldn't it be great to have one of those in your rifle when you're out shooting... a duck or something.

Sadly if you didn't get one, you're too late. For whatever dopey reason, the company has withdrawn the item since, I dunno, the last week apparently. Like I say, people are sensitive. Still there's nothing stopping you from scratching You Lie or Death Panel or say a comical picture of the President into the stalk of your rifle, to make... duck hunting more fun.

Similarly, there's nothing stopping me from starting a SURVEY SARAH PALIN movement, with a picture of Palin like this only with a surveyor's mark over it.

Nobody would have a problem with that, especially Palin! She's begging to be surveyed! That is, she would like publicity. Let's give it to her, America! Let her have it!

Now THAT'S Courage!

Daily Caller commenters, fighting for moonbats rights to carry guns to Sarah Palin rallies. All righty then!

Good News/Bad News For Blame Placers

Jared Lee Loughner is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, he's a registered independent!

Over 40% of Tea Party members are Indpendents or Democrats! Most are, of course, Republicans.

But among people who have publicly hinted that certain people need to be killed to feed the tree of liberty, most are Teabaggers.

Best Setup Ever!

Maybe Sarah Palin has finally shot herself in the foot?

- Elayne Boosler, Facebook Status

What? WHAT?

Pima County GOP Website:

Out of respect for the victims of Saturday's tragic events we ask that everyone take a few days away from politics. Your Pima County Republican Party Headquarters will also remain closed until Wednesday morning.

Please take this time to reflect on the events, to pray for the victims and their families, and to honor the memory of those who have fallen.

Respectfully,

Brian Miller, Chairman

Pima County Republican Party

But here is a screen grab from the same guys, last summer.



I guess it's all about messaging.

Or DOES Rhetoric Cause Violence?

WAMK and myself believe that the rhetoric is not the cause of assasinations; that crazy people shoot people and they need to take the sole blame. Here's an alternate view.

At least based on the headline. The rest of the piece seems to agree with WAMK and me. I think. This is why one has to remember that sarcasm isn't always an effective carrier of your views.

That last sentence was sarcasm.

Congresswoman Shot In Arizona

WASHINGTON — Gabrielle Giffords, a Democratic congresswoman from Arizona, was gravely wounded during a shooting rampage Saturday that left at least five others dead during a public meeting in Tucson.


Giffords was shot in the head by an assailant who opened fire with a handgun on a crowd gathered at a local Safeway supermarket for the lawmaker’s “Congress on Your Corner” town hall meeting.


As many as 18 people were shot in the shooting spree, according to local law-enforcement officials. John Roll, a U.S. federal judge, and a nine-year-old child were among the dead.


I want to make a point about this - people who shoot public figures, it doesn't matter what their ideology is. It doesn't matter who they listen to, what they read. They are crazy. If they didn't have access to any pundits at all, they would be just as likely to kill someone. Therefore it follows that rhetoric, no matter how dark or violent the words are, should not be blamed when something like this happens. I sincerely believe this.

But.

It really doesn't look good when there is violent rhetoric followed by violent action. People are pattern-seeking. They want there to be a connection. There are many people who are attempting to blame this shooting on Sarah Palin, which is nonsense. But she brought it on herself. When she published this ad and refused to apologize for it, she was begging to be linked to any violence that crazies might perpetrate over it. And there are a LOT of crosshairs on that map.

Week In Political Violence Roundup

Though I have a political viewpoint, when I'm not on the internet I don't wear it on my sleeve. I don't put bumper stickers on my car, for example. And now and then, I'm reminded of why.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Nashville man says he and his 10-year-old daughter were victims of road rage Thursday afternoon, all because of a political bumper sticker on his car.

Mark Duren told News 2 the incident happened around 4:30p.m., while he was driving on Blair Boulevard, not far from Belmont University.

He said Harry Weisiger gave him the bird and rammed into his vehicle, after noticing an Obama-Biden sticker on his car bumper.

Duren had just picked up his 10-year-old daughter from school and had her in the car with him.

"He pointed at the back of my car," Duren said, "the bumper, flipped me off, one finger salute."

But it didn't end there.

Duren told News 2 that Weisiger honked his horn at him for awhile, as Duren stopped at a stop sign.

Once he started driving again, down Blair Boulevard, towards his home, he said, "I looked in the rear view mirror again, and this same SUV was speeding, flying up behind me, bumped me."

Duren said he applied his brake and the SUV smashed into the back of his car.

He then put his car in park to take care of the accident, but Weisiger started pushing the car using his SUV.

Duren said, "He pushed my car up towards the sidewalk, almost onto the sidewalk."

Police say Harry Weisiger is charged with felony reckless endangerment in the incident.

Full disclosure here: we don't have Weisiger's side of the story. We don't know if he pointed at the bumper sticker, we don't know if he is anti-Obama at all. Maybe he just hates 10-year-olds. Who doesn't?

Meanwhile, Eric Cantor has been positively victimized by people shooting at him! Okay, not at him, his office. And okay, not exactly at his office.

A Richmond Police detective was assigned to the case. A preliminary investigation shows that a bullet was fired into the air and struck the window in a downward direction, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds. There was no other damage to the room, which is used occasionally for meetings by the congressman.

And okay, not exactly his office. But there is no way anyone could consider this bullet falling from the sky through a window in an unmarked office building anything but a targeted attack on Cantor. It's way more an act of terrorism than the completely random propane line slashing that happened at the address those Tea Party members published.

As a matter of fact, considering that there is no proof that the Tea Party motivated or is behind any violent incidents, one thing is clear now at the end of the week: Fox News is lying to us again. The American people really aren't all that worked up about Obama and the health care bill at all! That's kind of a relief, because it means smooth sailing again. It means those congressmen who are stoppping the sessions are just being, well, lazy dicks. Message: we don't care.

Mixed Message

...several Democratic offices around the nation had been vandalized in the days surrounding the House health care vote. Vandals have struck the Tuscon office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), the Monroe County Democratic Committee headquarters in upstate New York, Rep. Louise Slaughter’s (D-NY) Niagara Falls office, the Knox County Democratic headquarters in Ohio, and the Sedgwick County Democratic Party headquarters in Wichita, KS. The local Rochester ABC affiliate now has more information on the upstate NY vandalism, including an assassination threat against the children of lawmakers who voted for health reform:

No one was inside when the brick was hurled through the Democratic Patry Headquarters on University Avenue. Attached was a note quoting conservative Barry Goldwater: “Exremism [sic] in defense of liberty is no vice”. [...]

[Rep. Louise] Slaughter has been at the center of the push for reform. Last Thursday she received a chilling recorded message at her campaign office. “Assassinate is the word they used…toward the children of lawmakers who voted yes.”

The FBI is now investigating.

Well duh... who pays for all that repair work and secret service protection, and probably funerals and emergency medical treatment... the TAXPAYERS, jocko! You want to tax cuts AND violence against the government? You're paying for bricks AND the glass those bricks break! You're double-dipping yourself! If you guys can't get it together to steal an election, you should sit on your hands until next time. Let's be adult, shall we?

Hey, Jesus is Just Sayin'

Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8

Yeah, it's a bible-verse-based slogan circulating around right-wing circles. Psst! It's code! They think we'll never figure it out because no one outside the big tent prays, and the only time we ever see a bible is when we're in our motel rooms, shooting up and havin' gay sex. As it happens though, The Christian Science Monitor is a fly in the ointment of that strategy.

The psalm reads, “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.”

Presidential criticism through witty slogans is nothing new. Bumper stickers, t-shirts, and hats with “1/20/09” commemorated President Bush’s last day in office.

But the verse immediately following the psalm referenced is a bit more ominous: “Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.”

OMG! This is awful! The people who are quoting this (and putting it on teddy bears and t-shirts and bumper stickers) surely have no idea what 109:9 says! They'll be appalled when they find out!

I just wonder what kind of person is so racist that they'd prefer President Biden over Obama? I mean, ewwwwww.

Von Brunn Not O'Reilly's Problem

Crazy holocaust-museum shooter James von Brunn may have possibly, possibly, also considered shooting up the offices of The Weekly Standard.

...(FBI agents) told staffers that they had found the address of the magazine on a piece of paper associated with the shooter, James von Brunn, and asked whether the Standard had received any threats.

The magazine is about a mile north of the Holocaust Museum, and there's no other indication that von Brunn had targeted it. Von Brunn's published rants included attacks on "neocons," and the Standard has been at the heart of the neoconservative movement.

The suggestion that the Standard may have been a target complicates any view of the racist shooter in contemporary left-right terms. Von Brunn's white supremacist roots put him under the rubric of a "right-wing extremist," but the substance of his views -- which included everything from believing that President Bush may have been in on the September 11 attacks to denying that President Obama is an American citizen -- are too far on the fringe to fit into conventional political classification.

So for what it's worth, this blogger is willing to write off von Brunn as not motivated by right wing hate speech. Clearly he is a bipartisan maniac.