Just wanted to take a moment to direct some of my outrage at this weekend’s events in Arizona at John McCain, who reached a level of cockheaded fuckedupitude of which even I had previously believed him incapable when he issued what the NY Times called “one of the strongest statements” regarding the 22-year-old shooter that killed at least six people, wounded 14, and has left Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition with a bullet hole through her fucking head:
“I am horrified by the violent attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords and many other innocent people by a wicked person who has no sense of justice or compassion. I pray for Gabby and the other victims, and for the repose of the souls of the dead and comfort for their families.”
I’m sorry, what? Could someone explain to me nice and slow how someone who has played an increasingly significant role in cultivating the dangerously partisan political environment that our country is currently suffocating in could have the audacity to act shocked and horrified that something like this could have happened to a woman who was already receiving threats because of her pro-health reform, anti-insane Arizona immigration law stances? What the fuck?
In his many years on this earth, one would think that McCain would have managed to come across the folkloric warning to be careful what you wish for.
The Dobler Effect 
The response of politicians and the media-horde alike seems to be, “wait…we used rhetoric? No, no, not us. Let’s just take the politics out of this tragedy.”
Nothing shocks me anymore.
Me, neither. I find myself feeling outraged without the shock. And tired of feeling outraged, and not really sure what to do about the outrage anymore, anyway.
I like to think our country wasn’t always filled with such shitheads, but I guess I don’t have much evidence for that.
It has been interesting watching the systematic take-down of blog posts, twitter posts, and other assorted e-media by the Palin team that has anything to do with, “target”, “reload”, “take-out” and other assorted firearm and death related rhetoric that was directed toward Gabby. The Internet never forgets, Sarah.
Unfortunately the cavalcade of shit and stupidity is still gaining steam. This incident has inspired: “Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pennsylvania, said he will introduce legislation making it a federal crime for a person to use language or symbols that could be perceived as threatening or inciting violence against a member of Congress or a federal official.”
This seems to grossly miss the point that one of the six people dead from this shooting was “Congress or federal official.” 5 others, including a 9-year-old girl are dead. 18 non “Congress or federal officials” are injured – and the knee-jerk reaction by Rep. Brady is t introduce legislation to protect his own federal-fucking ass?
The urge to type in all caps is utterly overwhelming.
I continue to be conflicted on the political rhetoric. It’s stupid, childish, and irresponsible. As much as I want to lay this tragedy at the feet of all those politicking fucktards it is still logically equaling (in my head) the calls to ban violent video games and ‘explicit lyric’ music on the grounds that they too are responsible for inciting or inspiring violence and murder. Multiple studies continue to conclude that this train of thought is wrong.
At least, so far, no one is showering the shooter with rose-petals. And that is a small victory for reason and rationality.
Some sort of critical thinking needs to get injected into the political rhetoric, and maybe this will be the tipping point. It’s a god damn shame a little girl had to die before the politicians woke up.
And not only did Palin’s people edit that shit, but they did so even while saying how crazy it was for anyone to pin any sort of responsibility on politicians like her who spread this sort of rhetoric around. “All this harmless stuff we wrote? We’re gonna delete it… ’cause it’s so harmless.”
Assholes.
Hello, ah, Mr. Frankenstein? Did I get that name right? Ok, good. We’re just stopping by your castle today because reports of a horrible monster, stitched together from various sources, is on the loose. It’s already killed a small child. Have you any information regarding this monster?
Dicks.
Dingdingding.
Need moor gun z.