Krugman: Climate of Hate

[RedEarth]

When you heard the terrible news from Arizona, were you completely surprised? Or were you, at some level, expecting something like this atrocity to happen?

Put me in the latter category. I’ve had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach ever since the final stages of the 2008 campaign. I remembered the upsurge in political hatred after Bill Clinton’s election in 1992 — an upsurge that culminated in the Oklahoma City bombing. And you could see, just by watching the crowds at McCain-Palin rallies, that it was ready to happen again. The Department of Homeland Security reached the same conclusion: in April 2009 an internal report warned that right-wing extremism was on the rise, with a growing potential for violence.

Conservatives denounced that report. But there has, in fact, been a rising tide of threats and vandalism aimed at elected officials, including both Judge John Roll, who was killed Saturday, and Representative Gabrielle Giffords. One of these days, someone was bound to take it to the next level. And now someone has.

.....

So will the Arizona massacre make our discourse less toxic? It’s really up to G.O.P. leaders. Will they accept the reality of what’s happening to America, and take a stand against eliminationist rhetoric? Or will they try to dismiss the massacre as the mere act of a deranged individual, and go on as before?

If Arizona promotes some real soul-searching, it could prove a turning point. If it doesn’t, Saturday’s atrocity will be just the beginning.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/opinion/10krugman.html?src=me&ref=general

[slackmaster]

1. The incident had nothing to do with any kind of climate

It's not about politics. The assailant is a paranoid schizophrenic.

[harun]

2. When was he diagnosed with that?

[handmade34]

3. this is what I wrote in another post....

"...during the 2008 elections I went to Obama events and I went to McCain/Palin events... the crowds, the behavior, the atmosphere was so very different at the events that I was stunned. At one event, Hank Williams Jr, sang and one of the songs was "Country Boy Can Survive". When he came to the lyrics (specifically)

"For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45..."

the crowd actually cheered. I was aghast.

After the event I was driving my car (w/1 small sticker OBAMA) out of the parking lot and I can't count the number of times people, gave me the finger, called through their window that I pal around with terrorists, I love terrorists, etc...

I am just a little old lady and no threat to anyone and I was really abused.

much of it started there and it continues... yes I blame Sarah Palin and other right wing politicians and the people who encourage that behavior..."

why is it that generally the comments from right wing people find this act "incomprehensible" while everyone on the liberal side is saying, "we saw this coming" that seems to say something!!!