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You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / Keep in Mind the Real Victims

Keep in Mind the Real Victims

by John Cole|  March 25, 201012:39 pm| 113 Comments

This post is in: Republican Stupidity, Assholes, Going Galt

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This really is how they think:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who has a following in the Tea Party movement, called the posting of Perriello’s brother’s address “appalling.”

“I think that is way over the line,” he said. “I don’t think it’s close. It’s an appalling approach. It’s not civil discourse. It’s an invitation to intimidation.”

While his organization doesn’t condone such behavior, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Andy Sere said Perriello is not the victim.

“Central and Southside Virginians are the ones who are going to have the bear the burden of increased taxes,” he said. “What you’re seeing is a frustration among his constituents who believe he’s not listening to them.”

I’m sure there is a spirited glibertarian defense for the NRCC in the making over at Reason. Why the hell not- they are defending that lunatic from Gateway Pundit, who thinks it is cool carrying around coffins to congressmen’s houses. But really- they are praying FOR him! Matt Welch believes him, so who am I to judge!

Matt’s real message there is more of the same- ignore the claims and the stuff you hear in the liberal media- the Democrats are just making it up!

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Reader Interactions

113Comments

  1. 1.

    JenJen

    March 25, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    Well, Rep. Steve King says it’s all melodrama. And he says this after CNN’s Dana Bash busted him on Sunday, slapping around a photo of Speaker Pelosi on the House balcony while Teabaggers cheered below.

    Don’t cry for me, People of Iowa…

  2. 2.

    Scott

    March 25, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    Tim McVeigh had to blow up that building! WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA?!?

  3. 3.

    Bulworth

    March 25, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Well, you know, the thing about, ahem, liberal gun laws is that all kinds of people can own guns, even congresscritters. So maybe a little self-defense is in order. Reichwingers certainly believe in that, don’t they? Yes, a teabagger or two or ten might find himself or herself shot, but it’s a Constitutional right to defend one’s property and person.

  4. 4.

    Marc

    March 25, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    An aside to NRCC spokesman Andy Sere: when you defend extremists who’ve gone too far for Ken Cuccinelli, you’re officially batshit insane.

  5. 5.

    Zifnab

    March 25, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    “Central and Southside Virginians are the ones who are going to have the bear the burden of increased taxes better and more affordable health care coverage,” he said. “What you’re seeing is a frustration among his constituents a handful of crazies who may or may not even live in his district who believe he’s not listening to the world revolves around them.”

    Fix’d.

  6. 6.

    beltane

    March 25, 2010 at 12:48 pm

    Thanks for making me even more angry. I hate bullies, always have. Ignoring them won’t make them go away.

  7. 7.

    JenJen

    March 25, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    “Confusing terrorism with patriotism? Sick.”

    Per Contessa Brewer, who just cited that as some of the feedback she’s getting for her reporting on MSNBC today.

    Huzzah!

    And speaking of huzzah, as part of going Galt, does McCain also intend to not appear on, say, Meet The Press this weekend? You know, just in case he were to be asked, or something? I’m certain the nation eagerly awaits his comments on the matter, and so I hope he reconsiders.

  8. 8.

    A Mom Anon

    March 25, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    Again with the same fucking excuses and rationalizing rapists and abusers use. Their victims are exaggerating,lying or had it coming. And the poor poor perpetrator was just driven to do it,wasn’t their fault,nope.

    I think it spoke volumes yesterday when Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn went in front of the media to talk about the extra security 10 Dems had requested and not one fucking Republican could be bothered to join them.

    Someone is going to get hurt and even then these assholes won’t give a shit.

  9. 9.

    Bulworth

    March 25, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    1. There are no acts of violence being perpetrated by angry patriotic Mericans.
    2. The acts of violence by angry patriotic Patriots aren’t really violent.
    3. Acts of violence by angry patriotic Real Americans have occured but are understandable given the unAmerican and unConstitutional vote for HCR.
    4. Americans who refuse to act out violently against Dems who supported HCR, be they members of Congress, or family, friends, or neighbors of the same, are allowing the Terrorists to win.

  10. 10.

    PeakVT

    March 25, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve never understood how such a large group of supposedly intellectually and morally superior people always ends up being the victim. Is there a talibagger in the house that can explain this apparent contradiction?

  11. 11.

    TenguPhule

    March 25, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    We have the Democrats,

    And we have the fucking Domestic Terrorism Supporting Party.

    Short of putting the GOP in prison, I don’t see this ending well.

  12. 12.

    Allan

    March 25, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    Someone shot at one of Cantor’s offices.

    Now the glibertarians will get concerned.

    Oh wait, he brought it on himself by being Jewish.

    Never mind.

  13. 13.

    Bob K

    March 25, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    It must be because he’s Jewish. Kristolnacht has begun? Where was Bill Kristol last night?

    http://www.alan.com/2010/03/25/congressman-eric-cantors-office-shot-at/

  14. 14.

    Bill Rutherford, Princeton Admissions

    March 25, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    But Jesse Walker came all the way over here to tell us Reasonoids don’t support domestic terrorism!

  15. 15.

    ChrisS

    March 25, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    It’s not terrorism if you’re right.

  16. 16.

    LuciaMia

    March 25, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Today’s RW talking points.
    “It’s shameful, but there’s been nasty talk on both sides.”

    Bullshit.

    And Cantor whining that Dem politicians might be using these threats for political advantage.

    Right. All these Congressman who’ve had death threats on them and their children should just shut up about it.

  17. 17.

    Bob K

    March 25, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    @ChrisS

    IOKIYAR?

  18. 18.

    ChrisS

    March 25, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    It’ll be funny when most of these yahoos are prosecuted under the Patriotic Act that they supported so vigorously.

  19. 19.

    ChrisS

    March 25, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    @Bob K:

    Yep.

    It’s also not terrorism if you’re white.

  20. 20.

    cleek

    March 25, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    @ChrisS:
    i’ll be surprised if a single one of them is charged with anything more than vandalism.

  21. 21.

    Punchy

    March 25, 2010 at 1:06 pm

    But what’s really important about all of this is that Jesse James slept with an ink whore.

  22. 22.

    Bubblegum Tate

    March 25, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    @Bulworth:

    Hahaha! Nicely done. Mark Noonan would like to offer you a guest blogger spot.

  23. 23.

    Allan

    March 25, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    I look forward to the NRCC posting the home address of Andy Sere on its website.

  24. 24.

    Fleas correct the era

    March 25, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    I use the Clark Hoyt / NYT professional journalism heuristic: Since the people who threw the bricks, cut the gas-lines, delivered the coffins, etc., have not directly stated that they intended these as threats, why, there’s no reason at all to believe that they intended them as threats. The very idea!

    If it’s good enough for The Paper Of Record, it should be good enough for all of us, amirite?

  25. 25.

    Al Swearengen

    March 25, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    No, they need to be asked, “How do you think Carnahan’s two young sons felt about the scary crazy people with the coffin in their front yard? Did they ‘Deserve it?'”

    Then when they give the inevitable yes, “Really? What the fuck is wrong with you, you cruel asshole? When you think this little game you’ve built around politics is more important than terrorizing an innocent child?”

  26. 26.

    catclub

    March 25, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    Along the lines of they forget nothing and they learn nothing…

    The right wing has never gotten the idea in non-violent civil disobedience.

    It requires that you be non-violent,
    and it requires that you get arrested for your actions.

    They just do not get it. Perhaps they think that if they do it, it would not be illegal – hence they should not be arrested.
    But that is the whole idea they did not get.

    The efficacy of violence – they also seem to have learned all the wrong lessons from the Weathermen. i.e. “We should do that too, look how influential William Ayers is.”

  27. 27.

    LuciaMia

    March 25, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Mike Savage published a book a while ago, saying that liberalism caused mental illness. But he got it wrong as to which party it would effect.

  28. 28.

    Violet

    March 25, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    @Al Swearengen:

    No, they need to be asked, “How do you think Carnahan’s two young sons felt about the scary crazy people with the coffin in their front yard? Did they ‘Deserve it?’”

    They’ll claim the kids have seen worse on Halloween and in video games. It’s all the fault of liberals for not promoting family values.

    See how easy that is?

  29. 29.

    ericblair

    March 25, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    “Central and Southside Virginians are the ones who are going to have the bear the burden of increased taxes,” he said.

    ‘Cuz us Northern Virginians who actually pay a shitload more tax to Richmond than we get back don’t count since we’re a buncha commies anyway. Thanks for reminding us, tool. Time to dust off the NoVa separatist movement.

  30. 30.

    Allan

    March 25, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    @catclub: I too enjoy the extent to which the Republican Party is adopting the sure-fire successful strategies of Code Pink and PETA.

    It’s nice that even when they copy us, they manage to copy our failures.

  31. 31.

    Some Guy

    March 25, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    Republicans have desperately tried to pretend they were taking the high ground in defense of liberty (which has been a lie for a long time, but Palin’s nomination sealed that letter with big lip-sticked sneer).

    The fallout from HCR passing and the ridiculous childishness, mixed with menace, has really removed any fig leaf of principle Republicans tried to hold up. They are bare-butt naked in all their petulant, violent, fearful glory. What a nasty sight.

  32. 32.

    Discsmasher

    March 25, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    What does he mean by “Central and Southside Virgininians” bearing the brunt of this bill’s taxes? Are Northern Virginians exempt from the tax? Last I checked, some of the wealthiest parts of Virginia were in the North.

  33. 33.

    BC

    March 25, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    These statements were what abusive husbands were telling authorities for years:

    She deserved it – if she hadn’t done x, y, or z, then this would not have happened.

    We stopped accepting this from abusers several years ago, we need to call political parties on it.

  34. 34.

    Colette

    March 25, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    @Bulworth:

    1. There are no acts of violence being perpetrated by angry patriotic Mericans.
    2. The acts of violence by angry patriotic Patriots aren’t really violent.
    3. Acts of violence by angry patriotic Real Americans have occured but are understandable given the unAmerican and unConstitutional vote for HCR.
    4. Americans who refuse to act out violently against Dems who supported HCR, be they members of Congress, or family, friends, or neighbors of the same, are allowing the Terrorists to win.

    Excellent. You left out only one:
    5. These acts of violence are not really perpetrated by angry patriotic Real Americans, but by libtard commie provocateurs pretending to be angry patriotic Real Americans in order to make the right look bad.

  35. 35.

    Some Guy

    March 25, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    @Discsmasher: Is he referring to his district? That is even better: the real victims are anyone who might vote for me.

  36. 36.

    IndieTarheel

    March 25, 2010 at 1:28 pm

    It’s not terrorism, it’s “enhanced protest techniques.”
    __
    /headdesk

  37. 37.

    someguy

    March 25, 2010 at 1:28 pm

    The difference between Cantor and harmless family members of Dem congressmen is that Cantor brought it on himself. Cantor is just reaping what he has been sewing.

  38. 38.

    Bulworth

    March 25, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    @Discsmasher: Maybe he was referring to the location of the VA Dem congressman’s office. Or rather, the home of the brother of the VA Dem congressman. Which acts of violence was Cantor poopooing?

  39. 39.

    Xenos

    March 25, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    @someguy: I don’t see how Cantor brought it on himself, as like any prominant Jew he has probably attracted the attention of antisemites long before the current unpleasantness. At least with Stupak or Perriello you can connect their recent prominance to the unprecedented attacks on them.

  40. 40.

    Svensker

    March 25, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Cantor is just reaping what he has been sewing.

    Plant a quilt, reap a quilt, is what I always say.

  41. 41.

    Napoleon

    March 25, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    @Discsmasher:

    Last I checked, some of the wealthiest parts of Virginia were in the North.

    And they also happen to be the least white, the least Christian and with a higher percentage of immigrants.

  42. 42.

    Shygetz

    March 25, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Shorter Reasonoids: “Burning crosses on niggers’ people’s lawns is free speech in the finest American tradition!”

  43. 43.

    Sentient Puddle

    March 25, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    And as the story updates, via TPM:

    Late late update: The Associated Press is calling this a “possible gunshot” and describes the office as that of a political consultant for Cantor, not his campaign office.

    But Cantor’s spokesman, Brad Dayspring, tells TPMDC that it was indeed his campaign office.

    And then…

    Late late late update: From the local paper: “Cantor, in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, said he doesn’t know whether the shot was random or aimed at the building.”

    Beginning to smell like a hot serving of bullshit and chips.

  44. 44.

    jibeaux

    March 25, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    @ericblair:

    I was wondering about what the heck that was supposed to mean. Aren’t the taxes we’re talking about on $250k+ folks, and doesn’t Loudon county have about the highest per capita income of any county in the nation? Oh, shoot, I’m inserting facts into the rhetoric again. That TOTALLY breaks the rhetoric.

  45. 45.

    Mouse Tolliver

    March 25, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    Cantor’s refusing to release the threatening emails. Bet he’s hiding them because they don’t support his false equivalence. How much you wanna bet they came from a disgruntled rightwinger who’s pissed at Cantor for not being rightwing enough? Look at what happened to Scott Brown.

  46. 46.

    Paris

    March 25, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    and this in the comments:

    I believe life begins at conception and abortion should therefore be illegal. The one legitimate role of the state is to protect the lives of its citizens. And I do not object to birth control, but I am under no illusions that its availability does anything to reduce unwanted pregnancy. It is more available and effective now than at any time in history, yet we still have millions of unwanted pregnancies.

    Very libertarian. And what a better time to be ‘protesting abortion’ than when multiple acts of violence have been perpetrated against members of congress for signing a bill that will not pay for abortions.

    I have usually placed libertarians in the ‘people whose thinking has not evolved past 13 years of age’ but now I’m inclined to group them in with ‘people who have cognizant deficiencies’.

  47. 47.

    LD50

    March 25, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    @Bill Rutherford, Princeton Admissions: Walker doesn’t really mind domestic terrorism, he just thinks it’s not terribly effective, is all.

    After all, if he condemns it morally, that would alienate his readership, and we can’t have that, can we?

  48. 48.

    Gregory

    March 25, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    @ChrisS:

    It’s not terrorism if you’re right white.

    Fixed.

  49. 49.

    LD50

    March 25, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    @Discsmasher:

    What does he mean by “Central and Southside Virgininians” bearing the brunt of this bill’s taxes? Are Northern Virginians exempt from the tax? Last I checked, some of the wealthiest parts of Virginia were in the North.

    He’s deliberately excluding northern Virginia — you know, those FAKE Virginians — since they went for Obama in ’08. He’s just standing up for the Virginians who count.

  50. 50.

    YellowJournalism

    March 25, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Just got finished watching Karl Rove on Fox whine about how this wouldn’t be happening if the Democrats would just keep it all hush hush. It was basically, “How come nobody cared when I got death threats even though nobody knew? The Democrats need to be more like me when I got threatened. It’s all the Democrats fault that they’re being targeted because this is a crappy bill and they’re going public with the details.”

    And don’t get me started on Cantor having a press conference telling Democrats not to use the violence and threats as political weapons all the while using the violence and threats against him as political weapons against the Democrats.

    And let me make it clear that I think the violence against Cantor is just as reprehensible and sickening as anything that has gone on against the Dems. A bullet through a window is a very serious threat against anyone. But he forgets that Democrats have been speaking out against the violence from any side all week long and have been asking their Republican peers to do the same, which only a few have done. (And most of those were those conditional type statements that partially blame the Democrats and excuse the behaviour.)

  51. 51.

    Evinfuilt

    March 25, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    @Mouse Tolliver:

    The threatening emails Cantor received were probably like

    Cantor,
    Please vote for Healthcare to prevent people from dieing due to Insurance Malfeasance.

    To him, OMG liberals are threatening death.

  52. 52.

    ericblair

    March 25, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    Aren’t the taxes we’re talking about on $250k+ folks, and doesn’t Loudon county have about the highest per capita income of any county in the nation?

    Sure, and Fairfax County is a close second and has a bigger economy than Vietnam. The Norfolk area rakes in some bucks too because of the Navy presence. The rest of the state, doesn’t. The state government cheerfully takes the taxes and proceeds to fuck NoVa over. It’s always an eye-opener driving from the potholed, crowded highways in NoVa to the nice, generous, uncrowded interstates around Richmond.

  53. 53.

    YellowJournalism

    March 25, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    And I do not object to birth control, but I am under no illusions that its availability does anything to reduce unwanted pregnancy. It is more available and effective now than at any time in history, yet we still have millions of unwanted pregnancies.

    Well, the problem there has to do with the fact that for some, it isn’t as easily available, and for others, availablility means nothing if you’re not educated enough to understand how to properly use it.

  54. 54.

    Paris

    March 25, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Eric Cantor isn’t reaping anything. He’s a liar.

    Wasn’t he last seen quoting a news story about a fake memo that some how made its way to a reporter? Just like Cheney used to do?

    Cantor was shot at the way Lou Dobbs was. Not at all.

  55. 55.

    Sentient Puddle

    March 25, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    And yeah, is Cantor honestly complaining about receiving threatening emails? Come the fuck on. That sort of stuff comes with being a public figure.

  56. 56.

    Calouste

    March 25, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    @Paris:

    Also a nice example of flawed causality there. If you look up the statistics, you’ll see that countries that have free availability of contraception and a liberal attitude towards sex and sex education (say, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands) do have far lower rates of teenage pregnancies and abortions (both indicators of unwanted pregnancies) than the United States. If you want contraception to be effective, you have to teach kids how to use it properly.

  57. 57.

    eemom

    March 25, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    Kookinelli is a poster child for what happens when people don’t fucking VOTE.

    Every pearl-clutching, “unmotivated,” “disllusioned” firebagging twit in this state who didn’t drag their ass to the polls last November bears responsibility for this abomination of an AG.

  58. 58.

    Steve

    March 25, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    @eemom: Maybe so, but isn’t Cuccinelli about the only Republican saying the right thing here?

  59. 59.

    LD50

    March 25, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    The one legitimate role of the state is to protect the lives of its citizens.

    “Unless the state displeases conservatives. Then we have the right to shoot at politicians.”

    And I do not object to birth control, but I am under no illusions that its availability does anything to reduce unwanted pregnancy.

    Ah, so there are still unwanted pregnancies, therefore birth control does NOTHING to prevent them. Wonderful wingnut logic.

    ACTUALLY it is an established fact that the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country has plummeted since the introduction of the Pill, tho I suppose it’s unpalatable for a Republican to admit that.

  60. 60.

    LD50

    March 25, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    @Allan: My prediction is that it was done by some even-stupider-than-average teabagger who shot at Cantor because he assumed he must be a Democrat since he’s Jewish.

  61. 61.

    AuldBlackJack

    March 25, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    “……who believe he’s not listening to them.”

    Yes, the irrefutable logic of wife beaters from all over this great land.

    ‘Why are women abused? Because they just don’t listen’
    ‘If you didn’t make me so angry, I wouldn’t have to hit you’

    Fuckin’morons.

  62. 62.

    ericblair

    March 25, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    @eemom: Kookinelli is a poster child for what happens when people don’t fucking VOTE.

    Amen. I’m sure a bunch of Dems stayed home at the end of that ridiculous campaign where the sort-of Democrat Deeds pretended not to be a Democrat and the winger McDonnell pretended not to be a Republican. Well, this is what we get when you don’t get out there and vote.

  63. 63.

    Pangloss

    March 25, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Did Cantor have a backward “B” on his face?

  64. 64.

    Persia

    March 25, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    @Allan: Do you think they’ll get out the puppets next?

  65. 65.

    andy

    March 25, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    Only somewhat related, but I am rather disturbed that Jim Hoft actually penned a sentence as maudlin as this:

    “We prayed for the babies who will never feel the warmth of the sun or a gentle spring rain.”

    It’s as if Thomas Kinkade were painting with words instead of, uh, light.

  66. 66.

    LuciaMia

    March 25, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    Ah, so there are still unwanted pregnancies, therefore birth control does NOTHING to prevent them. Wonderful wingnut logic.

    The same kind of logic the Church uses to oppose birth control: it’s not 100 percent effective.

    That’s like saying, ‘seat belts don’t prevent 100% of injuries in a car accident, so therefore you shouldn’t bother wearing a seat belt.

  67. 67.

    Ed Drone

    March 25, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    @Svensker:

    Cantor is just reaping what he has been sewing.

    Plant a quilt, reap a quilt, is what I always say.

    Are you implying he’s quilty? Without a trial? How unAmerican!

    My wife is a seamstress and knitter, so maybe ‘ripping’ what you’ve been ‘sewing’ are what’s involved.

    Ed

  68. 68.

    ericblair

    March 25, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    @andy: “We prayed for the babies who will never feel the warmth of the sun or a gentle spring rain.”

    Or the care of a doctor. Oh wait, no we didn’t.

  69. 69.

    Ed Drone

    March 25, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    @YellowJournalism:

    A bullet through a window is a very serious threat against anyone.

    Isn’t it about time for Lou Dobbs to revive that ‘shooting at my house and family’ tale, where a nearly-spent hunting round bounced off his siding, there in the midst of rural NY in hunting season? I suspect he’ll flog that dead equus for a day or three, starting soon.

    You betcha!

    Ed

  70. 70.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Interesting…these kooks are wasting tax payer dollars to challenge this in court (guess I don’t get so worked up over a legal challenge than when fuckers like Beck and Palin rally the villagers into violent frenzies). Interestingly nobody every challenges the legality of the mandatory Social Security and FICA deductions on every American paycheck (except maybe union teachers?).

    Interesting that these people continue to make s-lism claims when this is NOT a realistic argument. S-lism is Venezuela where if Chavez is pissed at an industry, he nationalizes them. Value is then lost for shareholders and companies that work with them. Chavez jails and closes down news networks/reporters who question him. THAT, my friends, is s-lism (almost a constitutional dictatorship the way Hugo has rigged the rules that govern what he can and can’t do as an elected leader).

    America is not taking over insurance companies nor is America shutting down Fox News or arresting Limpballs and Shrek. Sorry, you righties can throw a dictionary term at me all you like but it doesn’t mean shit. Collectivism is their argument? If that bothers you idiots so much, move away because society IS collectivism. We all have an interest to keep America safe, prosperous and growing. We may not fully agree 100% on how to do that BUT we do debate the points and enact the laws. Losers go home, wake up the next morning and continue arguing their point of view.

    If you claim to be Christian and you hate collectivism what the HELL is religion you idiots? Collectivism.

    Definition: Collectivists focus on community and society, and seek to give priority to group rights over individual rights.

    So basically are we a NATION or are we these fiefdoms that have no set leaders, laws or rules? Give me a fucking break please…

  71. 71.

    Short Bus Bully

    March 25, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    I’m all for arming congresscritters. Some wingnut steps on their property with ill intent send some hot lead downrange.

    If they understood the irony of this it would probably melt their minds but strict adherence to Glenn Beck ideology prevents that so we’re safe.

  72. 72.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    @Allan:

    Using the rightie argument here: Where’s the proof? Are we sure it’s not a set up?

    I hope the man is okay. Nobody should be doing this but I find this odd. Is this some attempt to set up liberals to be worse than cons?

  73. 73.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    @LuciaMia:

    The pull out method is not 100% effective yet the church has pushed that idea on young men. So why not just say don’t have sex at all? Argh, people are truly de-evolving.

  74. 74.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    @Pangloss:

    Hehe, I too find this a bit suspicious. Righties may get angry for me saying this but I find it quite odd somebody would shoot at his office vs. throwing bricks or calling up and making threats.

    Weird. Guess it can’t be a liberal because using rightie stereotypes we supposedly don’t own guns.

  75. 75.

    Tony J

    March 25, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    @LD50:

    More likely Cantor was sitting at his desk with half a bottle of bourbon inside him weeping tears of despair and frustration while sending out twitters along the lines of “OMG. Our Base = Crazy MoFos. (Sad Face) Just shoot me.”

    And a WOLVERINE! stepped up with a cheery “Yessir!”

    You can tell this is true because the bullet, a) Didn’t hit him, b) Didn’t hit the right building, and c) Didn’t actually hit anything.

  76. 76.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    @ericblair:

    They prayed for babies that never felt what? Where are the prayers that somebody will adopt these unwanted children? THAT is the problem in our society. The same right wing that forces a woman to have an unwanted child is the same bunch of a-holes that cut funding for foster homes.

  77. 77.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    @Paris:

    Amen. If the right don’t believe that black congresmen were spat on or that Periello’s brother had his gas line tampered with, I don’t think I believe this is real.

    Somebody is staging something here.

  78. 78.

    Mouse Tolliver

    March 25, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Bet Cantor’s phantom shooter that fired the “possible gunshot” (that didn’t leave a bullet hole, a bullet, or even a spent shell casing) was dressed like pimp.

  79. 79.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    @LuciaMia:

    I can’t think of ONE dem congresscritter that has egged on any violent group the way Bachmann and many other righties have.

    When they were trying to remove unruly idiots from the gallery, rightie congresscritters egged these people on.

    I saw some jerk off from Oklahoma on Ed Schultz’s show using that nonsense that the far left has done some bad things like it justifies what the powers that be on the right have been doing.

    Sorry, I can’t think of ONE dem that has egged on the anarchists and the far, far left fringe that tends to go to extremes the way the right does with their nuts.

  80. 80.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    @Mouse Tolliver:

    Really – no proof huh? Hehe, I smell desperation.

  81. 81.

    eemom

    March 25, 2010 at 2:42 pm

    @Steve:

    He’s just not as stupid as some other wingnuts. Condemning violence is pretty much a no-brainer, especially for an AG.

    But Kookinelli is also the one using my fucking tax dollars to fund his very own bullshit lawsuit alleging that HCR is unconstitutional on the ground that the South won the Civil War, or something.

  82. 82.

    Mister Papercut

    March 25, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    @Sentient Puddle:

    But Cantor’s spokesman, Brad Dayspring, tells TPMDC that it was indeed his campaign office.

    If this is a Cantor campaign office, you’d have to really know what you’re looking for. (I mean, it took me some deep Googling before the updates on the name of the consultancy came out.)

  83. 83.

    Bender

    March 25, 2010 at 2:48 pm

    From out of the mouths of babes:

    Again with the same fucking excuses and rationalizing rapists and abusers use. Their victims are exaggerating,lying or had it coming.

    “Exaggerating…”

    Cantor’s refusing to release the threatening emails. Bet he’s hiding them because they don’t support his false equivalence.

    “Lying…”

    Eric Cantor isn’t reaping anything. He’s a liar.

    “or had it coming…”

    The difference between Cantor and harmless family members of Dem congressmen is that Cantor brought it on himself. Cantor is just reaping what he has been sewing.

    Yeah, those Ball-Juicers are just like rapists and abusers!

    And from someone who obviously hasn’t seen the Big Media Wing of the Democratic Party whining nonstop about (and blaming Republicans for) how “their” congressmen are getting v- and e-mail threats:

    And yeah, is Cantor honestly complaining about receiving threatening emails? Come the fuck on. That sort of stuff comes with being a public figure.

    Forget it, Jake, it’s Ball Juice!

  84. 84.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    @eemom:

    Yet they don’t sue over the fact that the government has taxed us for social security, FICA and other things on our paychecks.

  85. 85.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    And from someone who obviously hasn’t seen the Big Media Wing of the Democratic Party whining nonstop about (and blaming Republicans for) how “their” congressmen are getting v- and e-mail threats:

    So you think it’s okay that people are threatening these people? Cantor doesn’t deserve it either but I do NOT believe that somebody shot his office window or he gets death threats.

    If he does get threats, it’s more than likely it’s the extreme left but wake up…the stuff these wack jobs on the right are doing is being given a thumbs up and a wink by the powers that be.

  86. 86.

    Chyron HR

    March 25, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    @Bender:

    You seem unduly agitated. Are you that upset that your brothers-in-arms failed to kill Rep. Perriello’s relatives?

    Or are you the one the FBI is investigating for the attempted murder?

  87. 87.

    Sentient Puddle

    March 25, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    @Bender:

    And from someone who obviously hasn’t seen the Big Media Wing of the Democratic Party whining nonstop about (and blaming Republicans for) how “their” congressmen are getting v- and e-mail threats:

    I’m going back to sleep. Come wake me when we’re talking about actual violence or vandalism. You might have something with Cantor, but short of that there’s no comparison you can draw here.

  88. 88.

    Polish the Guillotines

    March 25, 2010 at 3:06 pm

    I remember years ago watching some news docco about road rage. One of the incidents was some guy who got cut off by some other dude, then walked up to his car at a light and shot him dead.

    They asked the shooter (who of course is serving time) if he regretted what he did, and his response was essentially, “I’m sorry that other guy decided to cut me off.”

    That’s who we’re dealing with.

  89. 89.

    CADoc

    March 25, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Dem congresspeople are getting a taste of what doctors who do legal abortions have had to put up with for years…threats and people picketing their houses. And direct physical violence has happened, we all know that. I recognize the same modus operandi at work.

  90. 90.

    Tom Q

    March 25, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    My take on Cantor’s whatever-it-was:

    He staged it very oddly. A short, prepared statement, with no questions allowed.

    And the two things he threw out — I got threatening Emails (which I won’t let you see); there was a gunshot at my office (or maybe the office next door, on I-can’t-remember-the-night, plus it might have been a random shot) — miraculously, laser-like, create a seeming equivalence to precisely what Dems have been complaining about over the past few days (based on a clear, evidence-backed pattern).

    It just seems a bit convenient, and not answering questions makes my antennae go up.

    I’m sure it’s plenty for Fox, and Cantor may have figured, based on the experience of the last year, that it would fly with the rest of the press as well, muting anything Dems said from here on out.

    But I think he miscalculated on that last one. When the press was in “Obama-the-Failure” mode, they probably would have swallowed it without much skepticism. But, right at this moment, they’re in the manic phase of their mood-swing, meaning they’re inclined to think Obama’s ascendant and thus less likely to take the GOP-preferred point of view. It seems like the VA press, anyway, is poking holes in the story.

  91. 91.

    Bullsmith

    March 25, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    So Cantor announces he’s been shot at and instead of condemning violence, he condemns talking about it for partisan advantage, as he is himself doing at that very moment in time.

    Awfully convenient that Cantor got shot at in a way that can’t be confirmed and involves no police investigation. Shouldn’t he have called the cops, and shouldn’t they be fielding questions. Smells a bit, doesn’t it?

  92. 92.

    Chuck Butcher

    March 25, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    There are, unfortunately, guns fired in cities. I do find it odd that nothing was made of this when it happened – if it did. I also find it odd that the only news I can find of it is post news conference.

    No representative should ever have to worry about violence directed at them. People who claim to be leaders should reflect on the impact of their words.

  93. 93.

    FlipYrWhig

    March 25, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    I hate this motherfucking bullshit about the “burden of higher taxes.” That’s what all this is coming from, the mistaken assumption that the health care bill raises taxes on hardworking (white) Americans in order to give free health care to lazy, entitled (black, Mexican) not-quite-Americans. It’s utterly and completely false. They just keep pushing it because it _feels_ like something their Nightmare Straw Librulz would do to them. My guess is that at least a good two-thirds of the people who are opposed to the health care bill think that’s how it works, and that’s why they’re all engorged with blood.

  94. 94.

    Mouse Tolliver

    March 25, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    OK so there was a bullet. Here’s the police statement.

    — EDIT BLOCKQUOTE FAIL — March 25, 2010

    The Richmond Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism at the Reagan Building, 25 E. Main St., Richmond, Virginia. A first floor window was struck by a bullet at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23. The building, which has several tenants including an office used by Congressman Eric Cantor, was unoccupied at the time.

    A Richmond Police detective was assigned to the case. A preliminary investigation shows that a bullet was fired into the air and struck the window in a downward direction, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds. There was no other damage to the room, which is used occasionally for meetings by the congressman.

    The Richmond Police Department is sharing information about the incident with appropriate law enforcement agencies.

    At this time there are no suspects. — END EDIT BLOCKQUOTE FAIL —

    Odd. So it wasn’t fired directly into the building. A gun was fired near the building, and the bullet crashed through the window on the way down?

    Anyone else think something about this doesn’t add up?

  95. 95.

    jenniebee

    March 25, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    @Mister Papercut: hey! that’s my neighborhood – 2 miles tops from where I live.

    Incidentally, Tuesday night when we were walking the dog, Hubbykins and I counted no less than 5 cop cars driving slowly and checking down alleys and side streets, looking for someone on foot. You either accept that some risk is part of living here, or you move.

    But now I know the truth, and that is that all those things were actually collateral damage in the course of liberal domestic terrorism aimed at Eric Cantor’s consultant’s unmarked and nondescript office. What’s worse, they never sent me an invitation to participate. I feel so left out.

  96. 96.

    Sentient Puddle

    March 25, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Preliminary report from the police:

    A Richmond Police detective was assigned to the case. A preliminary investigation shows that a bullet was fired into the air and struck the window in a downward direction, landing on the floor about a foot from the window. The round struck with enough force to break the windowpane but did not penetrate the window blinds. There was no other damage to the room, which is used occasionally for meetings by the congressman.

    Fired into the air and struck in a downward direction makes this sound like this was a random shooting happening far away, and the bullet just happened to come down on the window.

    It’s possible that I might be parsing this wrong.

  97. 97.

    Allan

    March 25, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: I wonder how many teabaggers refused their higher-than-usual income tax refunds this year?

    “Don’t you try to trick me into believing that Obama actually gave me a tax cut, you dirty LIEbural ACORN scum!” must be a common refrain at H&R Block offices across America.

  98. 98.

    Mouse Tolliver

    March 25, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    Is there ballistics expert in the house? Bullet breaks window, but bounces off window blinds. How far away from Cantor’s office would the shooter have to be for that sort of thing to happen?

  99. 99.

    Ash Can

    March 25, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    I call bullshit on Bender. There was an “Evil Bender” post here the other night that sounded for all the world like Bender lifting his veil for a moment — something perfectly sensible, ending with something to the effect of “back to snark tomorrow.” Bender’s just another Atanarjuat. Or maybe they’re the same person.

    So relax, all.

  100. 100.

    Bullsmith

    March 25, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    Shot in the air, downward motion, enough force to break the window but not to get past the venetian blinds. That must be a very particular amount of force. Curiouser and curiouser. But at least there’s a police report, that’s helpful.

  101. 101.

    Sentient Puddle

    March 25, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    Thinking about it a little more, if it landed about a foot away from the window, that suggests the bullet had to have struck the window at an angle pretty damn close to straight down. If this were a deliberate shot, you’d have to get pretty close to the window and aim for that spot one foot away from the window.

    Otherwise, about the only realistic way you could get the sort of angle you’d need is if the bullet had been falling due to gravity for quite some time. Say, if it was fired by some dumbass into the air quite a ways away.

    ETA: Some parts of the report are somewhat ambiguous to me (I’m not sure what to make of the blinds), and I’m not a ballistics expert by any means, so nobody should take my word as gospel. I’m just saying in terms of physics as I know it, this doesn’t add up.

  102. 102.

    Svensker

    March 25, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    I dunno, trying to figure out the trajectory of the bullet that broke the window in Cantor’s building and who might have shot it off smacks of sand boxes and toy tanks to me. If I worked in Cantor’s office, I’d be a bit freaked out that a bullet went through the glass until the police figure out who did it and why.

    That said, screw Cantor for saying that threatening Congresscritters and their families is not a big deal. And that Dems are WATB for minding.

  103. 103.

    Michael

    March 25, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    Anybody reminded of this?

    In June of forty-three there was a military coup
    Behind it was a gang called the G.O.U.
    Who did not feel the need to be elected
    …
    They had themselves a party at the point of a gun
    They were slightly to the right of Atilla the Hun
    A bomb or two and very few objected
    …
    Yeah, just one shell and governments fall like flies, kapow, die
    They stumble and fall, bye bye
    Backs to the wall, aim high
    We’re having a ball
    The tank and bullet rule as democracy dies
    …
    The lady’s got potential, she was setting her sights
    On making it in movies with her name in lights
    The greatest social climber since Cinderella
    …

  104. 104.

    Michael

    March 25, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Is there ballistics expert in the house? Bullet breaks window, but bounces off window blinds. How far away from Cantor’s office would the shooter have to be for that sort of thing to happen?

    Minimum of 500 yards with something subsonic, given the physics (it would be a very sexy beast in the hands of a really dumb shooter).

    Since the physics don’t work out at all, I’ll call bushshit on Cantor. Of course, it is a given, since he’s a republican.

  105. 105.

    jenniebee

    March 25, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    @Mouse Tolliver: Oh geez, that address is worse than I thought. It’s fine during the day, but it’s only two blocks away from the 3rd Street Diner, one of the few places in Richmond that’s open 24-7. That place attracts some odd fellows (including, incidentally, one of Cucinelli’s predecessors as Commonwealth’s Attorney who, according to my brother, used to hold court there regularly, in the wee hours of the morning, on work nights, every work night, full of energy, draw your own conclusions). That’s a truly “the freaks come out at night” neighborhood.

    Not the good freaks though. The Art Fags prefer the Village coffee shop on Grace, and the trannies do their after-parties at the Denny’s on West Broad (at least, they used to. Ever since that Denny’s remodeled the place has really lost its kitsch value).

  106. 106.

    Mister Papercut

    March 25, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    @Svensker: Obligatory Pedantry: it was neither his building nor his office. (I realize this is by design, however.)

  107. 107.

    gwangung

    March 25, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    Is there ballistics expert in the house?

    No, but I’ve watched CSI….

  108. 108.

    Michael

    March 25, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    That’s what all this is coming from, the mistaken assumption that the health care bill raises taxes on hardworking (white) Americans in order to give free health care to lazy, entitled (black, Mexican) not-quite-Americans. It’s utterly and completely false.

    Strapping Young Bucks and Cadillac Driving Single Welfare Moms impregnated by said Strapping Young Bucks are eating yore cheetoze.

    I red it on Red State and FR, and heard it on Fox News.

  109. 109.

    daryljfontaine

    March 25, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    @Michael: I’ve been calling her Sarah Peron in my personal circles for a while. Good on you, digging up a song that’s from the London cast but not the Broadway cast.

    “Slightly to the right of Attila the Hun” has been in my phrasebook since the 80s, and describes the last decade or so entirely too well.

    D

  110. 110.

    The Populist

    March 25, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    @Bullsmith:

    Further backing up the claims of many (myself included) who had their bullshit detectors go off.

    It’s now become clearer he’s using this to blame the dems for escalating violence. Whatever he’s doing, he still doesn’t get it. The nonsense his party is spewing on their propaganda network is making the crazies take it to a whole new level.

  111. 111.

    Honus

    March 25, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    @Al Swearengen: Then when they give the inevitable yes, “Really? What the fuck is wrong with you, you cruel asshole? When you think this little game you’ve built around politics is more important than terrorizing an innocent child?”

    What he said

  112. 112.

    Cacti

    March 25, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    So Virginia’s top law enforcement official thinks crimes against property are merely bad form.

    Wow.

  113. 113.

    Pug

    March 25, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    Did Cantor have a backward “B” on his face?

    Cantor put a backwards “O” on his face.

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