U.S. politics isolation tank

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

My condolences to their families.

that said, I can only wonder what sort of utterly useless anti-gun legislation this will spawn. It may be callous to think that, but it is the usual response to such events.

Nah. This will be about hatred in politics. Right vs left. Conservative vs liberal. Tea Party vs everyone.

'Has the rhetoric gone too far?' type stuff.

 

[JMohegan]

This will be about hatred in politics. Right vs left. Conservative vs liberal. Tea Party vs everyone.

'Has the rhetoric gone too far?' type stuff.

There's been a lot of that, yes.

With a sprinkling of other stuff, such as this -

http://www.frumforum.com/did-pot-trigger-giffords-shooting

 

[Keroin]

There's been a lot of that, yes.

With a sprinkling of other stuff, such as this -

http://www.frumforum.com/did-pot-trigger-giffords-shooting

You've got to be kidding.

 

[JMohegan]

You've got to be kidding.

I'd say it was an attempt to mock those who oppose the pro-easy-access gun lobby, but Frum's not usually the mocking type. He plays it straight.

No, I don't think he's kidding.

 

[Keroin]

I'd say it was an attempt to mock those who oppose the pro-easy-access gun lobby, but Frum's not usually the mocking type. He plays it straight.

No, I don't think he's kidding.

It's Reefer Madness 2011.

 

[JMohegan]

It's Reefer Madness 2011.

In all seriousness, I'd say that tragedy makes even rational people irrational at times. Folks look for a reason, or a source to blame, because doing so is a way of grasping on to the illusion of control.

You see this most clearly with the "all things happen for a reason, even if we can't always see god's plan" crowd.

There HAS to be a reason, there just HAS TO. That's a normal, though irrational, human reaction to the abyss.

 

[Keroin]

In all seriousness, I'd say that tragedy makes even rational people irrational at times. Folks look for a reason, or a source to blame, because doing so is a way of grasping on to the illusion of control.

You see this most clearly with the "all things happen for a reason, even if we can't always see god's plan" crowd.

There HAS to be a reason, there just HAS TO. That's a normal, though irrational, human reaction to the abyss.

Agreed.

And of course there are always those with an agenda who are happy to exploit that need for a reason.

 

[JMohegan]

Agreed.

And of course there are always those with an agenda who are happy to exploit that need for a reason.

Yup. Exactly.

 

[intothewoods]

Plus, have you ever listened to David Frum? Square!

 

[JMohegan]

Plus, have you ever listened to David Frum? Square!

Haha, so true. Not quite George Will, but getting there!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Nah. This will be about hatred in politics. Right vs left. Conservative vs liberal. Tea Party vs everyone.

'Has the rhetoric gone too far?' type stuff.

Exactly. I'm sure everyone has seen these two images;

and this was Gifford's tea party opponent, Jessey Kelly's campaign ad;

Palin insists that her crosshair symbols aren't rifle imagery, but merely "x marks the spot" kind of things. But that page came off the web within an hour after the news of the shooting went out.

Conversly I'm seeing right-wingers claiming that Loughner smokes pot so he must be a left winger. Also that reading "Mein Kampf" makes you a lefty.

 

[JMohegan]

Palin insists that her crosshair symbols aren't rifle imagery, but merely "x marks the spot" kind of things.

That was such a stupid fucking thing for her to say.

Yes, and "Don't retreat, RELOAD" means refill your water bottle and keep hiking. Uh-huh.

 

[intothewoods]

Haha, so true. Not quite George Will, but getting there!

Oooh, close call.

Exactly. I'm sure everyone has seen these two images;

and this was Gifford's tea party opponent, Jessey Kelly's campaign ad;

Palin insists that her crosshair symbols aren't rifle imagery, but merely "x marks the spot" kind of things. But that page came off the web within an hour after the news of the shooting went out.

Conversly I'm seeing right-wingers claiming that Loughner smokes pot so he must be a left winger. Also that reading "Mein Kampf" makes you a lefty.

When did Hitler start to = lefty...oh, right. So weird.

 

[Stella_Omega]

And in classic tea party-style rhetoric, one of Palin's aides says that the left is soon going to blame Sarah for Jack The Ripper.

 

[ThorkelGriersen]

In all seriousness, I'd say that tragedy makes even rational people irrational at times. Folks look for a reason, or a source to blame, because doing so is a way of grasping on to the illusion of control.

You see this most clearly with the "all things happen for a reason, even if we can't always see god's plan" crowd.

There HAS to be a reason, there just HAS TO. That's a normal, though irrational, human reaction to the abyss.

A few days ago there was a bad auto accident in Miami with 5 or 6 people killed. The father of one of the dead was on TV having one of those break-downs of which the TV news crews can never get enough. His mantra was: "Why did this happen? He went to church every Sunday:" as if there were a contract that offered universal protection against danger in return for church attendance.

Of course this is first cousin to the sole survivor of a plane crash who attributes his survival to his belief in god -- as if the entire 127 who died did not believe. Anything to avoid the idea that some things are random -- or to evade facing up the proximate or contributing cause.

Starting with George Will's [on ABC-TV's "This Week"] comment that the Tucson shooter probably has more in common with Columbine than Oklahoma City, expect to see the idea that all these events are divorced from any context being accepted by the majority of the "public wits."

 

[Homburg]

Nah. This will be about hatred in politics. Right vs left. Conservative vs liberal. Tea Party vs everyone.

'Has the rhetoric gone too far?' type stuff.

What, are irrational gun control calls out of style these days? Man, I'm uninformed.


--

There's been a lot of that, yes.

With a sprinkling of other stuff, such as this -

http://www.frumforum.com/did-pot-trigger-giffords-shooting

Oh, wow, okay, they are. They've taken the irrationality to greater levels and are blaming pot for this.

Wow, yeah.

--

Exactly. I'm sure everyone has seen these two images;


Palin insists that her crosshair symbols aren't rifle imagery, but merely "x marks the spot" kind of things. But that page came off the web within an hour after the news of the shooting went out.

Conversly I'm seeing right-wingers claiming that Loughner smokes pot so he must be a left winger. Also that reading "Mein Kampf" makes you a lefty.

Well, not going to argue the inappropriateness of the scope reticles there. Wow, that's bad timing. But shooting a fully automatic weapon is much more common in Arizona than most other states. I guess locales are more permissive there due to state regs or something, but machiengun shoots are way common in AZ.

Not trying to defend them. Just saying that it's not all that bizarre for that section of the country.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

What, are irrational gun control calls out of style these days? Man, I'm uninformed.

I'm happy to issue irrational gun control calls, if it'll make you feel better.

 

[Homburg]

I'm happy to issue irrational gun control calls, if it'll make you feel better.

The irrational pot control call was sufficient to restore my faith in the inherent stupidity of the public at large. Thanks though.

 

[WriterDom]

That was such a stupid fucking thing for her to say.

Yes, and "Don't retreat, RELOAD" means refill your water bottle and keep hiking. Uh-huh.

List all the images and slogans you want banned and I'll be sure to forward the list to my congressman. I want you to feel safe, after all.

I heard the police were called six times to Jared's college about this guy acting weird and causing disruptions. Maybe we need a three call to the police and we evaluate the kid's mental status law.

 

[JMohegan]

List all the images and slogans you want banned and I'll be sure to forward the list to my congressman. I want you to feel safe, after all.

Such leaps you make, WD. Isn't it ever tiring?

 

[JMohegan]

I'm happy to issue irrational gun control calls, if it'll make you feel better.

Just please, please don't make us go back to the Clinton era. When everyone's 2nd Amendment rights were routinely violated in the most appallingly repressive manner, and people starved for lack of means to hunt dinner.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/01/09/giffords_shooting_assault_weapons_ban/

 

[WriterDom]

Such leaps you make, WD. Isn't it ever tiring?

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” Obama said at a Philadelphia fundraiser Friday night. “Because from what I understand folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”

Condemn that?

Of course not. Sarah didn't say it.

 

[JMohegan]

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” Obama said at a Philadelphia fundraiser Friday night. “Because from what I understand folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”

Condemn that?

Of course not. Sarah didn't say it.

That was a stupid fucking thing for Obama to say. It helped neither his image nor his message, and only made him look like a wannabe tough guy.

It also opened him up to this very predictable response:


John McCain’s campaign immediately accused the Democratic candidate of playing the politics of fear. They also mentioned that Obama said he would use a gun that would be illegal under Obama’s plans to cut down on illegal firearms.

“Barack Obama’s call for ‘new politics’ is officially over. In just 24 hours, Barack Obama attacked one of America’s pioneering women CEOs, rejected a series of joint bipartisan town halls, and said that if there’s a political knife fight, he’d bring a gun,” McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/14/obama-if-they-bring-a-knife-to-the-fight-we-bring-a-gun/

 

[Netzach]

What, are irrational gun control calls out of style these days? Man, I'm uninformed.

They're very old school, H. I don't think that's going to be the message. Shit, Gifford was very pro-2 with less hinderance.

I think it's going to be that Michelle "let's scare 'em" Bachmann may have some interesting soundbites coming back up at her like a repeat falafel belch.

Could be the end of pseudo-terror rhetoric. If you can't handle the idea that you can't just say whatever comes out of your ass when you're in politics, then don't play the game. Or be Joe Biden.

 

[WriterDom]

Such leaps you make, WD. Isn't it ever tiring?

The left makes the leaps.

Cautions about not drawing premature conclusions only apply when a Muslim is the shooter or bomber.