I usually don’t merely cut-and-paste, but the following is much too on-point, too valuable to simply link. For the full article, (click here) If you want an exhaustive documentation of not just the derailing of the right-wing, but how right-wing populism (in actuality early-stage fascism) has now become mainstream, read, Over the Cliff: How Obama's Election Drove the American Right Insane. It’s prescient that my friend Karen loaned me this book last week, right before the shooting in Arizona.
Terror in Arizona: Just Another “Isolated Incident”
Funny how that list keeps mounting
Predictably, there’s the usual wringing of the hands from the faux liberal contigent concerned that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. For examples of this see Jon Chait at even the “liberal” New Republic, and Jack Shafer at Slate.
I call bullshit on that. For them this is just another “isolated incident” because Jared Loughner is just “a lone nut.” Sure, there are lots of complicating factors, not the least of which the shooter is clearly deranged. But there are also some factors that are simply undeniable. For example,over at Daily Kos, one blogger has started to document how many of the individuals targeted by Palin's crosshairs have actually been subjected to violence and/ or threats and intimidation tactics. What follows is merely the tip of the iceberg. But I challenge you to read this and tell me that the twisted motherfuckers on the right don’t have blood on their hands.
