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09 Jan 2011 22:34

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Politics: Max Headroom: Sheriff Clarence Dupnik takes on “vitriolic rhetoric”

  • To simply the current societal argument going on right now: Some are arguing that the current anger and rage in our country’s politics have influenced events like the Gabrielle Giffords tragedy in Tucson on Saturday. Pima County, Az. Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has perhaps been the leading voice for this kind of opinion. Many conservatives have been of the other opinion on this whole issue. This piece on Fox News, led by Megyn Kelly narrows the two points into one convenient video. Dupnik has some valid points, but Kelly arguably wins – she sticks to her guns and keeps asking for hard evidence, not speculation. She never gets it.
  • Olbermann’s repudiation hunt “If all of these are not responsible for what happened in Tucson, they must now be responsible for doing everything they can to make sure Tucson does not happen again.” It takes a few minutes for Olbermann’s main point to become clear, but when it does, it shines. The reason why it shines? Because he criticizes himself and his own side in the clip. That’s why it sticks to your bones.
  • The most heart-wrenching Story “I just assumed they got into a car accident.” When Christina Taylor Green went to witness Gabrielle Giffords speak on Saturday, she went with the kind of ambition that most nine-year-olds don’t have. And that’s what hurts the most about this incident. Gabrielle Giffords is still holding on and may make it. But her potential successor did not. You could feel it from the way her mom talks. Our heart breaks for her.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 19:56

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U.S.: Jared Lee Loughner charged: Gabrielle Giffords shooting update

  • NO the second person of interest wasn’t involved at all source
  • » Other updates: Jared Lee Loughner has been charged with five separate criminal charges, including multiple counts of murder and attempted assassination of a U.S. congresswoman – with evidence in the incident coming from, on top of other sources, surveillance tape. Loughner, by the way, isn’t talking, but he did leave a note on an envelope for investigators scoping out his home: “I planned ahead.” With the envelope was a letter from Giffords in appreciation of Loughner’s visit to a similar 2007 event as the one on Saturday. Oh, and the initial 911 call was released. Whew.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 12:08

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U.S.: Did Jared Loughner have ties to racist, anti-Zionist group?

  • claim A report from the Department of Homeland Security suggests that Gabrielle Giffords shooting suspect Jared Loughner has ties to American Renaissance, a group they called “anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government) and anti-semitic.” Hmm.
  • denial The group’s founder, Jared Taylor, denies this: “I have absolutely no idea what DHS is talking about. We have never used the term ‘ZOG.’ We have never thought in those terms. If this is the level of research we are getting from DHS, then Heaven help us.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 09:51

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U.S.: Posted without comment: Today’s Arizona Daily Star front page

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Jan 2011 22:20

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U.S.: To recap: Here’s what happened to Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson

  • one bullet went straight through Gifford’s brain – she’s currently getting heavy medical care
  • six number of deaths in the attack, including a judge; 13 more (beyond Gifford) were injured
  • nine the age of the youngest victim, an innocent bystander caught in the middle source
  • » A second suspect? Authorities are currently looking for a 50-year-old man who reportedly helped main suspect Jared Lee Loughner with the crime. He hasn’t been caught yet.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

08 Jan 2011 22:00

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Politics: On Gabrielle Giffords, Sarah Palin, tonal problems, etc.

  • Probably the most interesting take we’ve seen on this whole incident comes from James Fallows. “It is legitimate,” Fallows writes, “to discuss whether there is a connection between that tone and actual outbursts of violence, whatever the motivations of this killer turn out to be.” The suspect – we don’t know what was going through his head, and who knows if we will. But a generally vitriolic political environment can have an unwieldy, uncontrollable result in the wrong hands. The reason why things like Sarah Palin’s “Take Back the 20” or her congressional opponent’s gun-shooting event worry us have nothing to do with Palin having a direct role in the shooting, but with the way that general anger and rage has played an influential role in our political climate. You have to be careful with this kind of imagery. A good comparison Fallows makes is the JFK assassination, where he offers a suggestion that Lee Harvey Oswald’s motives may have been influenced by the general anger and discontent in Dallas at the time of Kennedy’s visit. Arizona has a lot going on right now. It’s fair to draw comparisons, even if on the surface, they aren’t so clear. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Jan 2011 17:24

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U.S.: Why Gabrielle Giffords got into politics, in her words

  • I first got involved with politics because I was frustrated when I was opening up my newspaper every single morning and seeing my great state of Arizona continuing to be at the bottom, whether it be poor-people funding, or mental health funding, or making sure that we could preserve our beautiful open spaces and in life you can either complain about something or you can try to fix it so I decided to run for political office.
  • Rep. Gabrielle Giffords • Explaining why she chose to get into politics. This is probably how a lot of people feel. Whatever happened to the congresswoman is a significant moment, one that really makes us sad for our country at large. Look … whatever happened with Jared Loughner, whatever his motives, whatever, elected leaders should not be put into situations like this. Giffords comes from a good place. Remember that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

08 Jan 2011 17:05

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U.S.: Jan Brewer speaks on Gabrielle Giffords shooting

  • “Gabby’s more than just a colleague. She’s been a friend.” Jan Brewer sounds very emotional in talking about Giffords. “She never really played partisan politics,” she said. “She is a very gracious elected servant.” (Live from CNN) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Jan 2011 16:13

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Culture: Some weird viewing: Jared Loughner’s YouTube videos

  • Here’s some videos from Jared Loughner’s YouTube channel. In case you’re completely confused, so are we. The other clips are even more confusing. This kid had some major issues, apparently. Mind control and racism among the things brought up here.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink

08 Jan 2011 16:04

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U.S.: Jared Laughner: The reported suspect in the Giffords shooting

  • Born 1988. A freaking kid. Why did Jared Laughner do this, anyway? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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