It says something about the political climate, that I blogged the other day without knowing the facts, and just assumed the shooting in Arizona was politically motivated. It is more likely that it was motivated by a crazy person taking aim at the government (in the form of a Representative), for trying to control his mind.
As a blogger I posted my thoughts before actually delving into the story, and went with what I first thought was the reasoning behind the attack. The fallout from this attack WILL probably be about gun laws, political discourse, and as a side point, mental illness.
This great piece was in the New York Times today. It's worth reading.
There is no question that politics has gotten uglier, and I have to wonder if the Trent Lott-Tom Daschle handshake at the end of the Clinton impeachment vote would happen in today's climate.
Maybe we shouldn't have cross-hairs poised over congressional districts, and maybe we shouldn't try to invalidate elections with spurious claims of foreign birth. Maybe we shouldn't paint one party as selfish rich people looking to trounce on the rights of the poor, as bungling white men trying to destroy women and minorities, and as hopelessly backwards as they cling to values.
Either way, kudos to Arizona for trying to stop Fred Phelps and his sick band of followers from "protesting" at the funerals.
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