Breaking News Events

[Nat]

Giffords Still Alive and in surgery

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in surgery in critical condition after being shot at a public event Saturday.

Several media outlets reported that Giffords had been killed, but a UMC spokesperson and C.J. Karamargin with Gifford's office confirmed the congresswoman initially survived the attack and is in surgery.

[Nat]

This is supposedly the shooter's youtube channel

and this appears to be by him too

made back in october

[Diavolo]

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, speaking about Arizona:

"When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And, unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.

"It's not unusual for all public officials to get threats constantly, myself included. And that's the sad thing of what's going on in America. Pretty soon, we're not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people who are willing to subject themselves to serve in public office."

At what point does Glenn Beck's name get mentioned?

[Novelafemme]

I just returned home from a candlelight vigil outside of University Medical Center where Congresswoman Gifford and 10 other shooting victims are being treated. The atmosphere here in Tucson is one of shock and disbelief. Tonight there are five vigils planned. A dear friend of mine is on Gabrielle's staff and my thoughts were full of panic when I first heard the news. Fortunately, she is safe and alive but grieving heavily over the loss of life today.

So many things NEED to change, but first and foremost Arizona gun laws need to be seriously addressed. The suspect had serious mental health issues as well as a criminal history yet was still allowed to purchase a firearm, no questions asked.

I have so much more to say...right now my heart is heavy and I just don't know what to say about the state of the world right now. Honestly, I'd like to take the nearest shuttle to a new planet.

[katsarecool]

I am deeply saddened too! I am glad that your friend is ok!

[Peach]

Keith Obermanns take on yesterdays tragedy. I adore this man.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/...mann/#40983401

[Toughy]

but first and foremost Arizona gun laws need to be seriously addressed. The suspect had serious mental health issues as well as a criminal history yet was still allowed to purchase a firearm, no questions asked.

While I do understand this sentiment, stricter gun laws won't change anything. Over the years States and the Feds have passed hundreds of gun laws and crimes committed with guns continue to stay the same or increase.

Anybody who wants a gun can get one regardless of legislation. I can walk out my door and get a gun in half an hour. I will be buying the gun on the street, not in a gun shop. Gun laws are for law abiding citizens. Criminals/extemists don't give a shit about the laws and they have access to guns on the street.

Legislating who can have a weapon based on mental status is a huge ass problem. You can't just blanket say if you are mentally ill you cannot own a gun. It ain't that easy. I would venture that half of the folks on this site could not buy a weapon if mental illness was an exclusion criteria.

What MUST be addressed is the climate of hate and fear being created by extremists who continue to get a bully pulpit from the mainstream media. I know Walter Cronkite is rolling in his grave. His kind of journalism seems to be gone.

[UofMfan]

They make me sick!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_806319.html

[Toughy]

If Westboro got no more publicity, I wonder what they would do?

I don't care if they go to any funeral for anyone.....stop talking about them.....stop saying where they will be........ignore them in the media. Let the cops deal with them where ever they show up.

[UofMfan]

"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

~Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)




To me, ignoring is not a viable option.

[Toughy]

I feel like quoting the They came is like using a sledge hammer to shell pecans.............

Wesboro Church is made up of about 30 or so folks with most of them being close bio family. They have been around at least 20 years spewing their vitriol at funerals and other events. They are not newsworthy. The membership is stable over those years. They are not a growing grass roots or corporate movement.

I think we have forgotten what 'news' means. There was a time when the News Department of TV and radio stations was a stand alone department that did not have to make a profit or have high ratings. The news was too important in a democracy.

Today the News Department is in the Entertainment Department. The news must turn a profit and have high ratings. I doubt Walter Cronkite would be a news anchor today. What is reported is driven by that need for profit and ratings.

[UofMfan]

We are all entitled to our opinions.

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by Toughy

I feel like quoting the They came is like using a sledge hammer to shell pecans.............

Can we call that Toughy's Law which is a corollary of Godwin's Law?

Wesboro Church is made up of about 30 or so folks with most of them being close bio family. They have been around at least 20 years spewing their vitriol at funerals and other events. They are not newsworthy. The membership is stable over those years. They are not a growing grass roots or corporate movement.

These are the groups that I would like to see the media take a long, hard look at.

I think we have forgotten what 'news' means. There was a time when the News Department of TV and radio stations was a stand alone department that did not have to make a profit or have high ratings. The news was too important in a democracy.

I also think that journalists have forgotten what their jobs are, as well. Over the next few days we're going to be put through the usual spectacle cycle. Several people will make comments on national TV about the violent rhetoric in modern political discourse. There will be denials that statements about 'second amendment remedies' or maps with the names of members of Congress iin the crosshairs have any corrosive or poisonous effect on our discourse. Equivalencies will be made to the left-wing radicals of the 60's (and here a valid point will be hard to argue against) but there will be a suggestion that since the left-wing radicals got away with it (which they didn't, by the way) now it's the turn of the right-wing radicals. The news media will paint almost precisely this picture of things because, well, false equivalency has become the new American pastime.

Today the News Department is in the Entertainment Department. The news must turn a profit and have high ratings. I doubt Walter Cronkite would be a news anchor today. What is reported is driven by that need for profit and ratings.

Absolutely! I doubt that Cronkite, Murrow, or Daniel Shchorr would be able to work today. Perhaps it's time for the media to recall that it is unofficially the Fourth Estate and is the *only* industry granted explicit Constitutional protections.

Cheers
Aj

[Soon]

[Soon]

"You need to riot": Right-wing uses violent rhetoric

[Nat]

Meet Daniel Hernandez - the intern credited with saving Gabby Giffords' life



The fact that he is Latino and gay in intolerant Arizona - and also a hero - is not escaping media attention. He's also only 20 years old and already has the composure and leadership skills beyond most seasoned politicians. I hope he stays on the political radar.

[Jet]

omg what a f**ckin nightmare

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by Jet

omg what a f**ckin nightmare

I'm confused. Did you just call him ugly? I really hope I misread you, cuz that is totally irrelevant.

[MsDemeanor]

Newly-elected Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R) gets it right. I hope the backlash from the anti-drug law and order folks don't get him to change his mind. From his inaugural address:

For violent and repeat offenders, we will make you pay for your crimes. For other offenders who want to change their lives, we will provide the opportunity to do so with Day Reporting Centers, Drug, DUI and Mental Health Courts and expanded probation and treatment options. As a State, we cannot afford to have so many of our citizens waste their lives because of addictions. It is draining our State Treasury and depleting our workforce.

linklyloo

[Nat]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

I can't wait to see how they blame this one on the gays.

And here you go -