Democratic Congresswoman Among 12 Shot in Arizona

Gabriel Sherman:

Here's A big problem with the NYT's coverage of Giffords. They run A1 piece today headlined IN GIFFORD'S DISTRICT, A LONG HISTORY OF TENSION

and then, 1400 words into the piece they report: "Whether all that had anything to do with what happened here on Saturday is another matter"

As Brooks points out, there is NO evidence Loughner paid any attention to conventional politics. He was a madman bent on his own destruction

Loughner was very mentally ill, his politics had nothing to do with current climate. And yet NYT on A1 links shooting to "rising tensions."

We could have prevented it. His community college prof worried he'd bring a gun to class. We should shift debate to treatment, not politics

http://twitter.com/gabrielsherman

 

Tim Pawlenty on whether the Tucson shootings will change the nature of political rhetoric: "I think it clearly does."

 

Tim Pawlenty must not own a computer. Or a TV. Or radio.

 

If multiple presidential assassinations (and attempts) in this country's history haven't changed the nature of political rhetoric I don't know why anyone would think this would.

Things may be toned down for a few months but it won't last. It never does.

 

Screw idealism, right? After all, it was a Reagan trait and we all know how liberals feel about Reagan (sigh).

 

On a nationwide basis the tone of political discourse was far worse in the late 60's than it is now - and that was without the internet or cable news.

 

But they're not politicians.

No, just at least in one case, a slightly above average campaign supporter.

 

And our military, which is loved and respected today, was spit at back then.

 

So you've never heard anyone say or suggest Obama is going to take away people's guns, and you've never heard of "death panels" or that Obamacare is going to let grandma die to save money.

That's quite remarkable that you could miss all that.

 

Even if the violent rhetoric and imagery did not contribute to this incident - and it appears not to have, directly - I think that we should probably still come to the realization that it is in poor taste. I think while everyone was playing dress-up at the Tea Party rallies, for example, we had forgotten that these things actually do happen sometimes. I don't advocate scrubbing all of our discourse of references to American history, but I do think that citizens and, especially leaders, should be more cognizant of lines they may be crossing. Again, in the name of good taste, if nothing else.

 

I haven't searched around enough today, but I'm wondering if there are many, "This sure puts sports in perspective" columns.

On one hand, it's a total cliche. On the other, I remember actually feeling that way on and after 9/11. Sports will never matter to me in the same way they did before that day. And that's a good thing.

 

Compared to the 60's riots tea party rallies were well .. tea parties.