http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/08/arizona-congresswoman-reportedly-shot-public-event/

1/8/2011 1:48:59 PM

I blame the Teabaggers: http://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/132764367/congresswoman-shot-in-arizona

1/8/2011 2:11:00 PM

in before some liberal calls this a "2nd amendment solution"

1/8/2011 2:12:24 PM

in before tea party apologists explain why the violent anti democrat rhetoric used by their politicians didn't have anything to do with this.

1/8/2011 2:25:15 PM

She's dead.

Assassinated in an act of domestic terrorism.

1/8/2011 2:25:59 PM

I can't wait to see what Sarah Palin has to say. Probably something along the lines of "reload."




[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 2:31 PM. Reason : d]

1/8/2011 2:30:29 PM

This is a result of all the right-wing extremist calls for "taking back the government, by any means necessary" and the refusal of the Republican leadership to condemn these statements.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 2:31 PM. Reason : ^^^,^]

1/8/2011 2:30:47 PM

It seems too early to be jumping to conclusions. I've already seen comments like these on my facebook feed:

Quote :

"Sarah Palin put out a gunsight target map including Congresswoman Gifford's district:"

Quote :

"House Leader Boehner made similar incendiary statements. Issa too."

I haven't seen anything to suggest motive at all yet though.

1/8/2011 2:33:33 PM

These live blogs are so crazy:

Quote :

"2:13 PM ET Confirmed Killed Reuters, others confirm that Giffords has died. 2:08 PM ET Giffords Reportedly Dead Rep. Giffords is dead, according to NPR."

Quote :

"2:31 PM ET Still Alive? MSNBC says a surgeon on the scene claims that Giffords is still alive, in critical condition."

1/8/2011 2:34:49 PM

^Looking at the front page MSNBC story right now, it says she has died.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40978517/ns/politics/

Quote :

" U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona and at least six others have died after a gunman sprayed bullets into a public meeting on Saturday, Pima County sheriff's office in Arizona confirmed to National Public Radio. A gunman ran up to Giffords, 40, and shot her in the head as she addressed supporters outside a Safeway grocery store, according to media reports. The gunman was in custody. Giffords, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" event at the store in northwest Tucson, NPR reported. Giffords, 40, a Democrat, is married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly. She took office in January 2007, emphasizing issues such as immigration reform, embryonic stem-cell research, alternative energy sources and a higher minimum wage. The Arizona politician's office had been vandalized last March just hours after the House vote overhauling the health care system, The New York Times reported."

1/8/2011 2:43:00 PM

arizona is on pace to be the shittiest state in the union

1/8/2011 3:02:56 PM

Gonna be an interesting news week. I don't see how this DOESN'T have something to do with gun toting ignorants. I hope this person is tried as a terrorist, would seem to be at a minimum the most fitting fate for them.

1/8/2011 3:11:03 PM

^^


Arizona is among the best of all states. (whether or not you include politics...)

1/8/2011 3:11:31 PM

Oh. I see. Since you said that with absolute authority, I guess your opinion should be held in higher esteem than that of my own.

1/8/2011 3:14:15 PM

Jesus H. Christ!

1/8/2011 3:22:12 PM

Quote :

"Assassinated in an act of domestic terrorism."

Assassination is, by definition, not terrorism. Terrorism is targeted indiscriminately against a public body in order to inspire terror with the intent of achieving political ends. Not trying to be a dick, but words mean things here and if we're going to rant against hyperbole, lets be consistent.

Quote :

"This is a result of all the right-wing extremist calls for "taking back the government, by any means necessary" and the refusal of the Republican leadership to condemn these statements."

Maybe, maybe not. Right now you have nothing to back up your statement with other than the fact that a Democratic congresswoman was shot . . . by a guy with a gun. Seems to be an awful long leap from point a) to point b) with the current evidence.

Quote :

"I don't see how this DOESN'T have something to do with gun toting ignorants."

Your insight is nothing short of brilliant, especially given the fact that most people in TSB are wiling to define assassination as an ignorant event and since it was done by a guy toting a gun.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 3:25 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2011 3:23:38 PM

Quote :

"Dr. Steven Rayle, a former emergency room doctor who now works in a hospice, said that he had witnessed the shootings. He said the congresswoman was standing behind a table outside the Safeway greeting passersby when the gunman approached her from behind, held a gun about a foot from her head and began firing. “He must have got off 20 rounds,” he said. Ms. Giffords slumped to the ground and staff members immediately rushed to her aid, Dr. Rayle said. Dr. Rayle said he performed CPR on some of the victims. He said one of the victims was a young child and appeared to be in critical condition with a gunshot wound. He said that one of the staffers tackled the gunman and that he and others helped detain the suspect. The doctor described the gunman as a white male in his mid-20s with short hair and “dressed in a shabby manner.” [...] The shooting occurred at a Safeway supermarket in northwest Tucson as Ms. Giffords hosted an event, called “Congress on Your Corner, to allow members of the 8th Congressional District to meet her individually. She has held several events since first taking office in January 2007. At one such event in 2009, a protester was removed by police when his pistol fell on the supermarket floor. Last March, her Tucson office was vandalized a few hours after the House vote overhauling the nation’s health care system, the authorities said. Earlier events in Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Sierra Vista, and Douglas had attracted between 75 and 150 people, according to a statement announcing the event. This was her first event since her re-election to a third term in November."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09giffords.html?src=mv

The news is reporting she's in critical condition.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 3:27 PM. Reason : ]

1/8/2011 3:25:23 PM

Quote :

"Maybe, maybe not. Right now you have nothing to back up your statement with other than the fact that a Democratic congresswoman was shot . . . by a guy with a gun. Seems to be an awful long leap from point a) to point b) with the current evidence."

True. Should have prefaced with "I think".

1/8/2011 3:29:05 PM

Flipping back and forth btw cnn & fox. Its interesting to hear the different angles they're taking on this story.

1/8/2011 3:29:46 PM

Quote :

"Your insight is nothing short of brilliant, especially given the fact that most people in TSB are wiling to define assassination as an ignorant event and since it was done by a guy toting a gun."

I apologize for not elaborating on how this is probably some cut and dried Republican gun nut for you to get the point, kindly fuck off.

http://www.congress.org/news/2011/01/08/rep_gabrielle_giffords_dariz

Seems to have a pretty reasonable middle of the road view on handling illegal immigration (my theory for why she was blasted).

1/8/2011 3:34:20 PM

1/8/2011 3:40:55 PM

Fuck Arizona.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 3:45 PM. Reason : and Sarah Palin. bitch is a fucking nutjob]

1/8/2011 3:44:36 PM

I'm sorry what? Fuck Arizona for electing this congresswoman in the first place? Fuck Arizona for not stopping this guy (about whom we know next to nothing) from attempting to assassinate her? What exactly is the point you are making here?


^^ As much as I loathe Sarah Palin, arguing that using weak targeting metaphors in a political ad caused this guy to shoot Rep Giffords is a bit of a stretch.



Looking to score political points here or only being willing to view this through a preconceived political prism is juvenile (to be kind).

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 3:51 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2011 3:49:30 PM

No. Fuck Arizona for breeding this kind of fuckwad that would shoot a defenseless woman from behind in the head with an automatic weapon (and oh yeah, killing 6 other people and hitting children in the process). I realize these people can come from anywhere, but Arizona seems to be creating these people at a faster rate. As far as I know, there haven't been other states where a congressperson has been shot while at a supermarket holding a public meeting.

And Fuck Sarah Palin because her rhetoric is telling people to get behind this kind of shit. You seem like one of the more rational people on this board. You have got to be able to put the clues together. Young white male + automatic gun + killing a Democrat who has been "targeted" by Sarah Palin = Sarah Palin supporter who took her words a little bit too literally. I'm willing to bet quite a lot of money on it. I'm 100% sure Sarah Palin is appalled at this event, but her irresponsible rhetoric has at least played a part in this and it's not hard to speculate on that. I'm really surprised that you're so quick to jump in and defend her when all signs point to this as the most logical conclusion at this point. You're really giving people free reign to play the "I told you so" card when the facts come out.

1/8/2011 4:07:12 PM

Maybe he's a sexist who believes women should be shopping in supermarkets not holding public office.

1/8/2011 4:11:11 PM

Maybe.

1/8/2011 4:11:46 PM

Quote :

"IMStoned420 Anti-Republican"

Thank goodness this partisan IMStoned420 fucktard isn't, and will never be, a judge.

Such irrational rage and lack of intelligence doesn't serve anything worthwhile.
Except: Maybe he needs his own left-wing talk radio show....

1/8/2011 4:12:37 PM

Look, nutcases aren't motivated by the whims of a single person. This guy (or guys) probably have a long list of grievances they have against the government and they likely came up with that list semi-independently. However, it's certainly the media and the incessant hate spewed (and on both sides, really) by our public leaders that fuels these guys and gives them a purpose. Sarah Palin seems to be one of the more tamer ones out there in the right wing echo chamber, but maybe thats just because she is a woman (and hot).

1/8/2011 4:14:09 PM

I'm fed up with the political process altogether. That status is meant as much of a slam against Democrats as it is Republicans. I don't vote for Democrats. I vote against Republicans.

1/8/2011 4:18:28 PM

I don't vote for Libertarians. I vote against Republicans and Democrats.

1/8/2011 4:19:38 PM

Suspect's video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHoaZaLbqB4

Draw your own conclusions.

Quote :

"Young white male + automatic gun + killing a Democrat who has been "targeted" by Sarah Palin = Sarah Palin supporter who took her words a little bit too literally. I'm willing to bet quite a lot of money on it."

Seeing as this video implies that the suspect is at least an Atheist, if not an anti-Theist, I think your Palin connection might be a bit off.

Quite simply put, if this video is an accurate representation of the suspect, this man is not sane.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 4:27 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2011 4:23:52 PM

start at 2:40.

he's an anti-government zealot. a batshit crazy variant of the "take back america from the socialists" Ranting about gold standards and such.

dude is a true libertarian extremist.

and crazy as fuck.

and he could very well be a palin supporter based on her (presumed) economic/political positions. remember, the Palins are associated with the Alaskan separatist movement.

1/8/2011 4:34:52 PM

watching that video reminded me of some the rants I see in here sometimes

1/8/2011 4:37:52 PM

Dude is fucking crazy. I believe that is something we can all agree upon.

1/8/2011 4:38:37 PM

^^^ I started at 0:00 where I realized right off that he not only has a poor grasp of logic but also of the English language.


Anti-government? Sure. Seems more anti-authoritarian as a whole, which describes a lot of people.

1/8/2011 4:42:51 PM

Yes, but the zealotry which he has shown tends to belong more to the extremist libertarian crowd.

1/8/2011 4:44:29 PM

As a rule of thumb, people who go on murderous rampages are not so much political idealist as much as psychopaths who are just mad at the world. This is why incendiary language and thinly veiled euphemisms can be dangerous when you don't appreciate the lunacy of your audience.

1/8/2011 4:47:08 PM

^^ Or extremist anarchist. Early reports from people who knew him in Arizona describe him as left of center with serious 2012 obsessions.


1) Pigeonholing any human being is asinine.
2) Pigeonholing someone as complex (and I use that as a neutral adjective) as this guy apparently is is fucking asinine.
3) Trying to make political points by dragging Sarah fucking Palin into this is pathetic / disgusting.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 4:51 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2011 4:50:20 PM

Quote :

"Dude is fucking crazy. I believe that is something we can all agree upon."

Well, I agree. It's just sad how quickly this became a political issue.


"Did you hear? Someone shot a politician!"

"OMG!! What were the political leanings of the politician and the shooter?? This is highly relevant!!"


...not much different from:

"Did you hear? Someone shot a guy!"

"OMG!! What were the races of the victim and the shooter?? This is highly relevant!!"

1/8/2011 5:01:15 PM

^ truth

1/8/2011 5:03:06 PM

This event:

was hosted by her opponent.

1/8/2011 5:04:19 PM

I think when a politician is assassinated, politics is pretty directly put into play.

1/8/2011 5:04:19 PM

No, to make that comparison fair it would be:

Quote :

""Did you hear? Someone shot a black guy!""

1/8/2011 5:04:42 PM

Yeah I take back my assassination comment. Dude also killed a kid. He's completely insane.

Palin is still a cunt though.

1/8/2011 5:11:27 PM

Quote :

"I think when a politician is assassinated, politics is pretty directly put into play."

Quote :

"I think when a politician is assassinated, politics is pretty directly put into play."

Quote :

"I think when a politician is assassinated, politics is pretty directly put into play."

QFMFT


anyone who denies this, either has a very limited grasp of reality, or is attempting to deny/minimize based on the fear that they may have to inspect their own belief system.


Oh, and by the way: "In Before Page 47"





[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 5:13 PM. Reason : ]

1/8/2011 5:12:42 PM

Quote :

"I think when a politician is assassinated, politics is pretty directly put into play."

Agreed. The problem I have is people flying off the handle making assumptions about the shooter based on their own personal prejudices and political views . . . before they know a single fucking thing about the shooter.

1/8/2011 5:19:46 PM

^^
anyone who posts/thinks that either has a very limited grasp of reality, or is attempting to deny/minimize based on the fear that they may have to inspect their own belief system.

^
Dude, this guy shot up a bunch of innocent people. He's crazy.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 5:22 PM. Reason : ]

1/8/2011 5:20:15 PM

It isn't so much that she is a politician, it's that she was killed in public at a rally. Anyone thinking this wasn't politically motivated is a moron. I suppose there are some scenarios where this isn't political, but they'd be way out on the narrow tail.

1/8/2011 5:25:21 PM

Quote :

"in before tea party apologists explain why the violent anti democrat rhetoric used by their politicians didn't have anything to do with this. "

Liberals have been hoping for this for awhile. We have heard it everytime some act of violence was reported it was always a right wing teabagger....until he was wasnt. Well I hope you boys arent disappointed yet again. Left media really loves to jump the gun.

Look eyedrb said gun, someone needs to do something about that. lol

Seriously, the targeted districts Ad is the reason? (honestly HOW MANY people have seen that picture before today? I hadnt)

This is pretty sad, Im really hoping she pulls through. Too bad we dont have a swift death penality huh.

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 5:36 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2011 5:35:39 PM

setemup

[Edited on January 8, 2011 at 5:39 PM. Reason : ]

1/8/2011 5:39:07 PM