The Arizona Massacre

[RecycleMichael]

I am with guido on this one. Her recovery is a miracle.

I hope she completely recovers and runs for McCain's Senate seat.

I never heard of her before the shooting, but her (and her husband) are remarkable and really fit the definition of hero.

We need all the heroes we can get.

[Red Arrow]

...and runs for McCain's Senate seat.

Was that really necessary?  Is it a condition required for you to wish for her full recovery?

[Gaspar]

I never heard of her before the shooting, but her (and her husband) are remarkable and really fit the definition of hero.

We need all the heroes we can get.

I've followed her for a while on Twitter.  She's a level-headed common sense Democrat.  Plays well with others.

[Conan71]

It's not the event, but the fact that the media seems to think they need to cover every little detail about everything remotely connected to it, and nothing but that.  Next thing you know, they are going to have her hair stylest in an interview telling what she really thought of her dog.

Thank you, that was exactly where I was going with that.  I'm glad you read my writing so well. 

I wasn't speaking to the Giffords incident in particular.  Simply beating stories into the ground to the point of nausea.

[Hoss]

I am with guido on this one. Her recovery is a miracle.

I hope she completely recovers and runs for McCain's Senate seat.

I never heard of her before the shooting, but her (and her husband) are remarkable and really fit the definition of hero.

We need all the heroes we can get.

Being the son of a mother who had received 2+ years of therapy for a brain injury (subdural hematoma is not quite the same as a gunshot wound) they are in for a rollercoaster ride.  My mother is limited on her left side but is the strongest woman I've ever known.  The doctors, at the outset of her injury told her she'd never walk again.  While she doesn't walk like you or I (it takes her a bit to get where she's going) she's walking.  I saw that doctor about 5 years ago (this happened in 1984) and told him to get stuffed (ok, that's being nice).  Worst bedside manner of any doctor I've ever seen.

Prayers go with the family.

I also echo Conan and cust's sentiments.  Quit reporting on every little detail and let the family to their privacy.  Having to deal with the press is more than they need to handle right now.

[guido911]

Another Arizona Massacre threatened?

"It is obvious to me that the wealthy in this country are so well insulated that nothing will pull them off task and that, in order to deal with them, I need to incite people to violence. In a day where those in power are bold enough to eliminate labor unions and the government conducts surveillance on Americans whenever they speak out, the response must be violence," the email opens.

******

"Come visit my agency. Give me a chance to pull a Gabby Giffords."

http://www.wben.com/Emails-Threaten-Attack-on-New-York-Lawmakers/9536093

[guido911]

Giffords looks terrific. Thanking God for her recovery.



http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56762.html

[Townsend]

Meanwhile...

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/01/county-gop-in-giffords-district-raffles-handgun/?on.cnn=1

County GOP in Giffords' district raffles handgun

(CNN) - The Pima County Republican Party, located in Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Arizona congressional district, is raffling off a handgun to raise money nearly eight months after a mass shooting left the congresswoman gravely wounded.

The chairman of the county's Democratic party, Jeff Rogers, said the move is upsetting to a community that's still grieving.

"This is something that pulls a scab off of a wound," Rogers said.

The gun, a Glock, is the same make that Jared Lee Loughner was charged with using to shoot Giffords in the head and kill six others at a meet-and-greet in Tucson earlier this year.

And while local Democrats generally support gun ownership rights, Rogers said this isn't about the Second Amendment–it's about being insensitive.

"They could have changed the prize to an iPad or a set of golf clubs or anything that doesn't conjure up images of that day," Rogers said.

In its Aug. 26 newsletter, the Pima County Republican Party advertised the gun, saying "Help Pima GOP get out the vote and maybe help yourself to a new Glock .45."

One raffle ticket costs $10, and the group hopes to sell 125 tickets. The winner will also receive three 12-round magazines, adjustable grips and a case.

"That's right. For just $10 this gun could be yours," the newsletter said, with a large photo of the gun displayed beneath the text.

In an interview on CNN's "American Newsroom," Pima County GOP Chairman Mike Shaw defended the raffle, saying it's a tradition the group has had for years.

"The person who won the raffle last time hasn't picked it up yet," Shaw said. "So we decided to raffle it again."

When pressed on whether the group was worried the raffle might be insensitive, Shaw pointed to a 2008 article in the Arizona Capitol Times, where Giffords weighed in on the Supreme Court hearing that eventually lifted the gun ban in Washington, D.C. Giffords spokesperson at the time, C.J. Karamargin, told the paper that Giffords, herself, owned a Glock and regarded gun ownership as a constitutional right.

Giffords' office declined a request for comment.

Handgun and rifle raffles are not rare for political fundraisers, and they've been known to bring in thousands of dollars at a time. Republican Parties in Illinois, Maryland and Oregon have used the practice.

Loughner has remained incarcerated at a federal prison in Missouri since May, while federal authorities ask for more time to restore Loughner's mental capacity to withstand trial.

– CNN's Bill Mears contributed to this report.

[Conan71]

Poor taste and total disconnect with the locals.  Really reinforces my desire to bolt the GOP completely, but closed primaries keep me here...

[Hoss]

Poor taste and total disconnect with the locals.  Really reinforces my desire to bolt the GOP completely, but closed primaries keep me here...

As keeps me in the (D) column.  My brother and I were discussing this last night.  He's a little more conservative than I am, and used to be a big Bill'O fan.  Not any more.  He thinks we should abolish parties entirely.  I cannot say I haven't thought that out loud myself.

[AquaMan]

We seem hopelessly entrenched in a two party, us vs them, scenario. Its reflected in the rest of our society too at all levels. Ford or Chevy. Dog or cat. Right or left. Psychology/Psychiatry. Nature/Nurture. Mac/PC. And its been that way a long time. Anyone who is pragmatic enough or flexible enough to find benefit from both sides is hated by both and considered weak or innefective at best. That leaves the extremists to control the reins of the parties. They use singular issues to do so: guns, religion, race etc. Real people have beliefs and interests that just don't fit into one side or the other and thus lose interest in the whole process.

Perhaps that is driven by the spread out geographic nature of our country. It seems the easy answer is multiple parties. If we were to open up the process to multiple parties that formed alliances with each other it would get pretty complicated with such a wide, diverse nation. We're hampered by a poorly educated electorate as well. Liberals in San Francisco have different issues than a liberal from Tulsa. Arizona Republicans certainly see the world differently than Republicans in Oklahoma. It seems unworkable. 

England can do it because of the compact size of their nation. They are comfortable with alliances because of their density and proximity to other countries. Keep in mind that when this system was devised, we were but 13 colonies butted up against each other pretty much along the coast.

[Conan71]

I want to join the Plaid Cymru Party of Wales 

[AquaMan]

I want to join the Plaid Cymru Party of Wales 

See? i can't join that party. I have Welsh ancestry but...I hate plaid! Never heard of them but knowing you its something satirically funny. I'll look it up.

[AquaMan]

Our family on my mother's side has continuously owned and resided in Bodorgan Castle (more of a manor really) in Wales since the 5th century. Myricks. The people are clever, contrary and dedicated to their heritage. Any female of the brood who takes on a different last name must leave the manor. 

You won't like their party though. Socialist, nationalist and you'll have to learn Welsh.

[Townsend]

Our family on my mother's side has continuously owned and resided in Bodorgan Castle (more of a manor really) in Wales since the 5th century. Myricks. The people are clever, contrary and dedicated to their heritage. Any female of the brood who takes on a different last name must leave the manor. 

You won't like their party though. Socialist, nationalist and you'll have to learn Welsh.

Irish.  Castle Townshend in Southern Ireland near Skibbereen.  Met my distant cousins this last Spring.  Strange ducks.  Beautiful country.

Should we find a Brit and take his wallet?