US Representative Shot

[Zundfolge]

David Frum is whining about how lax Virginia's gun laws are ... but the shooter is from Illinois, where they have most of the gun control laws antis claim to want.

Either the shooter illegally bought his guns OR he's got an Illinois FOID card. Looks like Illinois gun control works eh?

[JohnnyEgo]

This democrat-republican shit is getting as bad as religion. The more heated everything gets, the more the extremists on either side feel license and support to take action. I'm pretty sure that 99.9% of those who identify themselves as Democrats are just as horrified as those who identify as Republicans. And yet rather than build common cause around that feeling, it took about 30 seconds for everyone on either side of the spectrum to assume their talking point positions. I'm tired of all fucking sides.

[davsel]

This democrat-republican shit is getting as bad as religion. The more heated everything gets, the more the extremists on either side feel license and support to take action. I'm pretty sure that 99.9% of those who identify themselves as Democrats are just as horrified as those who identify as Republicans. And yet rather than build common cause around that feeling, it took about 30 seconds for everyone on either side of the spectrum to assume their talking point positions. I'm tired of all fucking sides.

Not likely

[Bailey Guns]

This democrat-republican shit is getting as bad as religion. The more heated everything gets, the more the extremists on either side feel license and support to take action. I'm pretty sure that 99.9% of those who identify themselves as Democrats are just as horrified as those who identify as Republicans. And yet rather than build common cause around that feeling, it took about 30 seconds for everyone on either side of the spectrum to assume their talking point positions. I'm tired of all fucking sides.

Uh, yeah...that's why they're called extremists. On the other hand, since November, which side has ratcheted up violent rhetoric, and violence, as a means of making a political statement? That's right...democrats. And not just the extremists. We have so-called comedians holding a likeness of the president's severed head. We have plays that depict the killing of someone that looks suspiciously like the president. We have pop singers talking about how shes thought of blowing up the white house. Riots. Destruction of property.

The left is completely unhinged. Out of their fucking minds. The right has never behaved this way, as a group, during my lifetime anyway. So don't try to piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. The left and right are not the same. The don't behave the same, they don't believe in the same things, they have opposite visions for the country.

We are bombarded with calls from the left, and not the extreme left either, for calls of unity, tolerance, stop the hate, blah, blah, blah. They don't mean that shit for a second. Sure, they want unity. On their terms. Fuck that. It's akin to the leaders of the former Soviet Union saying they just wanted peace. Sure they did. They wanted peace when they'd spread their brand of communism across the planet.

Anyone who believes the left and right are the same is a fool.

Having said all that, I don't blame anyone on the left what for what this asshat did any more than I blame the gun. He owns it. All of it. Not Bernie Sanders or anyone else...unless he had help.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Uh, yeah...that's why they're called extremists. On the other hand, since November, which side has ratcheted up violent rhetoric, and violence, as a means of making a political statement? That's right...democrats. And not just the extremists. We have so-called comedians holding a likeness of the president's severed head. We have plays that depict the killing of someone that looks suspiciously like the president. We have pop singers talking about how shes thought of blowing up the white house. Riots. Destruction of property.

The left is completely unhinged. Out of their fucking minds. The right has never behaved this way, as a group, during my lifetime anyway. So don't try to piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. The left and right are not the same. The don't behave the same, they don't believe in the same things, they have opposite visions for the country.

We are bombarded with calls from the left, and not the extreme left either, for calls of unity, tolerance, stop the hate, blah, blah, blah. They don't mean that shit for a second. Sure, they want unity. On their terms. Fuck that. It's akin to the leaders of the former Soviet Union saying they just wanted peace. Sure they did. They wanted peace when they'd spread their brand of communism across the planet.

Anyone who believes the left and right are the same is a fool.

Having said all that, I don't blame anyone on the left what for what this asshat did any more than I blame the gun. He owns it. All of it. Not Bernie Sanders or anyone else...unless he had help.

I agree with you in general except that I DO blame some on the left who have been actively trying to stir up hate and violent activity. They have been actively promoting and encouraging violence. He still owns his actions but the promoters of political violence own their words and encouragement.

[Dave_L]

I do not see how either side can meet in the middle in today's highly charged, media fueled, society. There is no give and take any longer. Its all or none with this new breed of politics.

[RblDiver]

I do not see how either side can meet in the middle in today's highly charged, media fueled, society. There is no give and take any longer. Its all or none with this new breed of politics.

While you're probably 99% true, there are a few people I've met online which is developing a new middle ground. A few on both sides realize that things are going crazy, and that the powers of government are out of control. A few former Obama supporters have come forward realizing that the Pen and Phone precedent was great when it was working for them, but bad now that Trump's in office, and are catching on that perhaps neither side should have those abilities. Same for other actions by Congress, etc.

Yeah, it's very tiny and you're right that there's a huge polarization, but I still try to maintain just a smidge of hope.

[sigmanx]

While you're probably 99% true, there are a few people I've met online which is developing a new middle ground. A few on both sides realize that things are going crazy, and that the powers of government are out of control. A few former Obama supporters have come forward realizing that the Pen and Phone precedent was great when it was working for them, but bad now that Trump's in office, and are catching on that perhaps neither side should have those abilities. Same for other actions by Congress, etc.

Yeah, it's very tiny and you're right that there's a huge polarization, but I still try to maintain just a smidge of hope.

A polarization that I think hasn't been seen since 1861.

Sent from my 2PQ93 using Tapatalk

[hollohas]

A few former Obama supporters have come forward realizing that the Pen and Phone precedent was great when it was working for them, but bad now that Trump's in office, and are catching on that perhaps neither side should have those abilities.

That realization is temporary. The next time they are in the majority, they'll start to appreciate that precedent again and likely expand it.

[JohnnyEgo]

I'm willing to bet there are a fair number of Democrats all around you. They probably bag your groceries, cut your hair, watch your kids, and in general, go about life just being people. And then there are a few that are assholes. I am sure you hate it when they paint us with a broad brush. I suppose this is your opportunity to do the same.

I disagree with the Democratic party platform and most of their political positions. I don't assume that everyone who disagrees with me is an asshole who hates America and seeks violence as a means to achieve their goals. It's too easy to rush to our familiar corners and repeat the same old lines, but that just gets us where we are now. I'm tired of it.