Stop the cycle of partisan hate

[Armand Tanzarian]

Old news, but: crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/knoxville-church-shooters-manifesto

This is by the man who walked into a UU church and started shooting people. These are his own words:

"Know this if nothing else: This was a hate crime. I hate the damn left-wing liberals. There is a vast left-wing conspiracy in this country & these liberals are working together to attack every decent & honorable institution in the nation, trying to turn this country into a communist state. Shame on them....

"This was a symbolic killing. Who I wanted to kill was every Democrat in the Senate & House, the 100 people in Bernard Goldberg's book. I'd like to kill everyone in the mainstream media. But I know those people were inaccessible to me. I couldn't get to the generals & high ranking officers of the Marxist movement so I went after the foot soldiers, the chickenshit liberals that vote in these traitorous people. Someone had to get the ball rolling. I volunteered. I hope others do the same. It's the only way we can rid America of this cancerous pestilence."

"I thought I'd do something good for this Country Kill Democrats til the cops kill me....Liberals are a pest like termites. Millions of them Each little bite contributes to the downfall of this great nation. The only way we can rid ourselves of this evil is to kill them in the streets. Kill them where they gather. I'd like to encourage other like minded people to do what I've done. If life aint worth living anymore don't just kill yourself. do something for your Country before you go. Go Kill Liberals.

Here's the lesson: Hate breeds hate. We have had Hannity, Drudge etc. advocating violence and demonizing leftwingers and liberals. Limbaugh wishing death upon Sen. Ted Kennedy, and so on. Well here's your end result; a delusioned man, stuck in the echo chamber of conservative media, went out and killed someone for being liberal.

[schizophonic]

Well, he sure showed us how good and decent people act.

[Lady Renae]

Personally, I'd be happier if they didn't publish these statements when the psychos make them. It only legitimizes them, and it can encourage others to follow in their footsteps. I think it's a far better choice to just summarize the statement if you're going to say anything about it at all.

[Aqualung]

holy shit.

[Death]

I am not surprised one bit.

On the faaaaar faaaaar right board I frequent I have heard all those sentiments and been threatened many times.

[m52nickerson]

Not that we saw hateful behavior at McCain/Palin rallies during the election.

[JonathanE]

It is time to tone down the rhetoric though. The Republicans have fed this insanity for 3 decades, so it's going to take some time. I haven't heard a left-leaning person advocate armed revolution since 1973, though. By wrapping themselves in the flag AND religion, they have done the country a great disservice, polarizing and legitimizing divisiveness.

[ironbite]

Well that's one way to stop the cycle of partisan hatred...

Ironbite-can't hate the other side if they're all dead.

[ltfred]

Mar 11, 2009 16:09:31 GMT -5 JonathanE said:

It is time to tone down the rhetoric though. The Republicans have fed this insanity for 3 decades, so it's going to take some time. I haven't heard a left-leaning person advocate armed revolution since 1973, though. By wrapping themselves in the flag AND religion, they have done the country a great disservice, polarizing and legitimizing divisiveness.

Divisiveness isn't the problem. Democrats and Republicans are allowed to disagree, Democrats are allowed to shout at Republicans and call them names, Republicans can do the same. Both parties don't actually have to agree on everything, or even anything: that is, in fact, usually a good thing.

But personalities on radio/TV/print DO NOT get to advocate murder, have it carried out and then walk away scot-free. Rush Limbaugh should be in the dock right now, alongside Anne Coulter.

[The Lazy One]

Mar 11, 2009 17:30:42 GMT -5 ltfred said:

Mar 11, 2009 16:09:31 GMT -5 JonathanE said:

It is time to tone down the rhetoric though. The Republicans have fed this insanity for 3 decades, so it's going to take some time. I haven't heard a left-leaning person advocate armed revolution since 1973, though. By wrapping themselves in the flag AND religion, they have done the country a great disservice, polarizing and legitimizing divisiveness.

Divisiveness isn't the problem. Democrats and Republicans are allowed to disagree, Democrats are allowed to shout at Republicans and call them names, Republicans can do the same. Both parties don't actually have to agree on everything, or even anything: that is, in fact, usually a good thing.

But personalities on radio/TV/print DO NOT get to advocate murder, have it carried out and then walk away scot-free. Rush Limbaugh should be in the dock right now, alongside Anne Coulter.

Personally, I think Ann Coulter needs to go spend a little time with the FBI, but that's just me.

[peanutfan]

Mar 11, 2009 17:30:42 GMT -5 ltfred said:

Mar 11, 2009 16:09:31 GMT -5 JonathanE said:

It is time to tone down the rhetoric though. The Republicans have fed this insanity for 3 decades, so it's going to take some time. I haven't heard a left-leaning person advocate armed revolution since 1973, though. By wrapping themselves in the flag AND religion, they have done the country a great disservice, polarizing and legitimizing divisiveness.

Divisiveness isn't the problem. Democrats and Republicans are allowed to disagree, Democrats are allowed to shout at Republicans and call them names, Republicans can do the same. Both parties don't actually have to agree on everything, or even anything: that is, in fact, usually a good thing.

But personalities on radio/TV/print DO NOT get to advocate murder, have it carried out and then walk away scot-free. Rush Limbaugh should be in the dock right now, alongside Anne Coulter.

Especially after they try to blame tragedies like Columbine on video games.

[ltfred]

Mar 11, 2009 17:56:16 GMT -5 The Lazy One said:

Mar 11, 2009 17:30:42 GMT -5 ltfred said:

Divisiveness isn't the problem. Democrats and Republicans are allowed to disagree, Democrats are allowed to shout at Republicans and call them names, Republicans can do the same. Both parties don't actually have to agree on everything, or even anything: that is, in fact, usually a good thing.

But personalities on radio/TV/print DO NOT get to advocate murder, have it carried out and then walk away scot-free. Rush Limbaugh should be in the dock right now, alongside Anne Coulter.

Personally, I think Ann Coulter needs to go spend a little time with the FBI, but that's just me.

Trial, FBI style mob-violence, whatever. There needs to be some investigation and punishment to prevent it happening again. There are laws against inciting violence. The US is supposed the be a nation of laws, right?

I think one of the most deliciously ironic events that could possibly occur right now would be for Anne Coulter and/or Rush Limbaugh to be arrested, thrown into Guantanamo without trial (don't want to waste give our human rights to these terrorists, after all) and then repeatedly 'not-tortured' (it's just letting off steam). Probably not a very nice or legal thing, but ironic nevertheless.

[Thejebusfire]

Mar 11, 2009 14:52:32 GMT -5 Lady Renae said:

Personally, I'd be happier if they didn't publish these statements when the psychos make them. It only legitimizes them, and it can encourage others to follow in their footsteps. I think it's a far better choice to just summarize the statement if you're going to say anything about it at all.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[perv]

Mar 11, 2009 16:09:31 GMT -5 JonathanE said:

It is time to tone down the rhetoric though. The Republicans have fed this insanity for 3 decades, so it's going to take some time. I haven't heard a left-leaning person advocate armed revolution since 1973, though. By wrapping themselves in the flag AND religion, they have done the country a great disservice, polarizing and legitimizing divisiveness.

I advocate armed revolution.

(According to The Political Compass I'm a left-leaning libertarian.)

[Death]

The irony. I posted about this on the other board. Got a threat. lol

"the anonomy of internet has made way too many more bold then they really are, sooner or later they pay for it"