When Congress Was Armed And Dangerous

[elleng]

In the rough-and-tumble Congress of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, politicians regularly wore weapons on the House and Senate floors, and sometimes used them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/opinion/12freeman.html?_r=1&hp

[SharonAnn]

1. Perhaps, but did their constituents get shot and killed?

[wisteria]

2. Things were less civil then. Things have evolved since then until recently. n/t

[wisteria]

3. And, when those who pulled out or used guns and canes were held responsible by the media

they realized their actions had consequences and this type of behavior stopped.

[elleng]

4. Yes, the media and the times were different,

took their cues from the populace, and of course, no 24/7 coverage which today causes media to think they must say things throughout.

It is indeed a different world, and in order for it/us to survive, leaders must be forthright.

p.s., palin should have stopped at her 'criminals are responsible' statement, but it appears someone told her something about 'blood libel,' and she didn't stop but went on to be inflammatory, likely (imo) with no understanding of the derivation.

It MAY be that some influential repugs will step up and shut the b.s. down. Wishing and hoping and dreaming.