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Again, Giffords specifically made the connection between Palins imagery and an attack on her. Joel Send a noteboard - 17/01/2011 12:53:08 AM
However, what makes it so egregious in this case is that the Loughners principal target had ten months earlier implied Palins crosshair imagery put her life at risk. Consequently, anyone calling that "blood libel" is quite literally blaming the victim, and Palin doing it is literally adding insult to injury.


I'm not really following that logical flow chart, you maybe want to write it out more clearly? Cause you sound a lot like this

THAT'S the difference. When people jumped up without all the facts and screamed "this is Palins fault" that was unfair (though completely understandable in context). However, going beyond that and calling any such concerns about Palins language "blood libel" is too far also, especially since Giffords has held that very concern ever since Palin used the imagery, which, by that definition, makes the attempted murder victim guilty of "blood libel" also. Palin's objections to the suggestion she motivated Loughner are quite justified, but the way she did it includes Giffords equally justified concern Palins language offers such motive, which seems like blaming the victim to me. Palin doesn't get a free pass just because this guy was PROBABLY unaware of her comments, and certainly not if she takes that as carte blanche to continue the same incendiary rhetoric.
I honestly think Palin was as shocked and horrified by this as anyone, if perhaps for very different reasons, but that simply means she lacks the judgement to lead. Giffords saw what Palins language might do to her ten months before Loughner tried to kill her, but Sarah Palin STILL can't see a problem.

Giffords, like most politicians and public figures, is always right to be on their guard against crazies, politically motivated or not, assuming 'the dog made me do it, because he hates restrictive government leash laws' qualifies as political motivation. She really should have gotten on Kos for the crosshairs too (well, bullseyes I gather). The issue here is that you seem to firmly believe Palin or anyone else can be held even vaguely accountable for this, and seem to be missing the point that for all the violent rhetoric, this danger to Giffords she 'predicted' predates 99% of the population knowing who Palin was. No one should ask Greenpeace to tone down their rhetoric because of the Discovery Channel dude. No one should ask anyone to tone down their rhetoric for fear it might set off someone who is, well, insane.

Giffords didn't refer to anonymous generic politicians using strong language, she explicitly referred to the imagery on Palins web site. If Palin wants to call that "blood libel" she should have the guts to say it to Gabrielle Giffords face, but more importantly if she still insists her language is fine and no cause for Giffords or anyone else to worry she's unfit to lead a Brownie troop.
EDIT: Never mind my redacted paragraph; it's irrelevant to this issue.

Yes it was, points for catching yourself :P

Yeah, sorry; I can't help being a little curious, but perhaps another time. ;)
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OK, I'm Officially Sick of the "Blood Libel" BS. - 16/01/2011 12:18:22 PM 2109 Views
Why are they calling it "blood libel"? - 16/01/2011 12:23:47 PM 959 Views
Because if the facts were as they represent them those words would be applicable. - 16/01/2011 12:49:22 PM 1137 Views
It's not entirely clear to me whether you're aware of this or not, but... - 16/01/2011 01:12:22 PM 1182 Views
That's why I said, "popularized". - 16/01/2011 01:46:52 PM 1129 Views
I think Alan Dershowitz dealt with this nonsense already - 16/01/2011 02:34:10 PM 1495 Views
Interesting. I didn't realize it was so wide-spread. - 16/01/2011 03:10:28 PM 1037 Views
She wasn't even the first to use the term that week either - 16/01/2011 10:10:35 PM 1064 Views
I don't know that "expert" has anything to do with it. - 16/01/2011 10:18:54 PM 1056 Views
Re: I don't know that "expert" has anything to do with it. - 16/01/2011 11:30:38 PM 962 Views
Oh please don't you start to - 17/01/2011 02:34:43 PM 912 Views
I for one hadn't noticed it before. - 17/01/2011 10:25:57 PM 1095 Views
it was used here and nobody commented - 17/01/2011 10:37:07 PM 974 Views
LOL, I totally forgot that got posted here - 17/01/2011 10:54:26 PM 1022 Views
It's funny you should say that... - 18/01/2011 10:32:59 PM 1062 Views
Re: It's funny you should say that... - 19/01/2011 03:29:52 PM 1043 Views
It was permissible to ignore until it became a rallying cry. - 20/01/2011 04:27:23 PM 1085 Views
A rallying cry is hardly illegal - 20/01/2011 05:32:45 PM 1128 Views
I never said it was. - 20/01/2011 06:59:39 PM 1225 Views
Oh, I noticed that one alright. - 18/01/2011 10:25:23 PM 904 Views
compared to the way similar terms are used? - 19/01/2011 06:58:02 PM 1046 Views
I meant I hadn't seen it used in different contexts before. - 19/01/2011 07:35:00 PM 1023 Views
Indeed, my response to Legolas references Wikipedias quotation of him. - 16/01/2011 10:24:09 PM 1108 Views
Re: Indeed, my response to Legolas references Wikipedias quotation of him. - 16/01/2011 11:09:21 PM 1146 Views
Again, Giffords specifically made the connection between Palins imagery and an attack on her. - 17/01/2011 12:53:08 AM 1291 Views
That means precisely nothing - 17/01/2011 03:59:07 PM 991 Views
It means everything. - 18/01/2011 08:34:55 PM 1236 Views
I'm trying to understand your logic - 19/01/2011 12:50:28 AM 844 Views
There are two points: - 19/01/2011 02:47:48 AM 1051 Views
Re: It means everything. - 19/01/2011 05:55:02 PM 875 Views
That's simply illogical. - 20/01/2011 01:08:51 AM 1260 Views
the old step one steal underwear step three profit argument - 19/01/2011 06:01:14 PM 1136 Views
that is some twisted and bizarre logic - 17/01/2011 02:38:41 PM 1082 Views
So I am a little confused on something... - 16/01/2011 02:38:59 PM 1125 Views
Palin putting Giffords district in the crosshairs and Giffords implying at the time she feared this - 16/01/2011 11:21:36 PM 1263 Views
If I understand what you are saying correctly... - 17/01/2011 07:07:56 AM 1001 Views
I'm sorry you so badly misunderstand. - 17/01/2011 08:33:47 AM 1018 Views
Re: I'm sorry you so badly misunderstand. - 17/01/2011 04:24:01 PM 1079 Views
The Secret Service does guard Congressmen, just not all of them automatically. - 18/01/2011 09:13:39 PM 892 Views
No, they don't - 18/01/2011 10:19:34 PM 1093 Views
Really? Cannoli says differently, and I believe he's right on that one. - 18/01/2011 10:50:51 PM 1169 Views
You seem to be reading what you want to from what I said - 19/01/2011 01:27:32 PM 1027 Views
I read what you said & understood it as you restate here, hence I referenced local police (twice) - 20/01/2011 02:15:17 AM 1059 Views
The problem here is your ignoring normal policing powers to concoct an absurdity - 20/01/2011 04:20:25 PM 1126 Views
More absurd than the notion such incitement warrants no notice? - 20/01/2011 05:42:47 PM 1141 Views
Your shifting your original premise, *again* - 20/01/2011 08:24:18 PM 988 Views
No, you're simply missing the point of it. - 20/01/2011 11:09:57 PM 1007 Views
There is no point - 21/01/2011 12:22:30 AM 1035 Views
If I had no point I wouldn't bother, but fair enough. - 21/01/2011 01:20:32 AM 1287 Views
Uh...Last I checked conservatives didn't list the Communist Manifesto as a favourite book. - 16/01/2011 03:05:07 PM 1305 Views
You're awesome at missing points, aren't you? - 16/01/2011 07:26:30 PM 1043 Views
where is the accountability for those committing slander? - 17/01/2011 02:52:40 PM 972 Views
Libs hate Mein Kampf and We the Living; conservatives hate the Communist Manifesto: He's neither. - 16/01/2011 10:06:02 PM 991 Views
conseartives hate Mein Kampf and liberals stil read the Communist Manifesto - 17/01/2011 02:57:22 PM 985 Views
That first line is says it all. - 18/01/2011 09:34:06 PM 1070 Views
Nazis had more in common with communist then capitalist - 19/01/2011 04:10:09 PM 1176 Views
The founder of fascism called it "the merger of corporate and national power". - 20/01/2011 02:51:09 AM 1061 Views
and that is supposed to mean something? - 20/01/2011 06:06:18 PM 1062 Views
YOU are cherry picking. - 20/01/2011 07:50:21 PM 1001 Views
It is to be expected that this site would be libtard central... - 16/01/2011 05:23:53 PM 1282 Views
See my reply to Dragonsoul above. - 16/01/2011 07:30:40 PM 1111 Views
Yeah, your first was better - 16/01/2011 09:48:58 PM 925 Views
Palin didn't really have anything to do with this, but it makes sense she's blamed. - 16/01/2011 10:19:51 PM 1009 Views
Pretty much. - 16/01/2011 11:44:35 PM 1067 Views
Did they ever catch the person(s) that vandalized Gifford's office? *NM* - 17/01/2011 03:30:36 AM 490 Views
politcal offices are vandalized on a regular basis *NM* - 17/01/2011 02:41:29 PM 459 Views
She only asked if they caught the guy, she didn't accuse anyone, Sarah. - 18/01/2011 11:27:18 PM 957 Views
OK Olberman when did I imply otherwise? *NM* - 19/01/2011 02:48:41 PM 500 Views
"Political offices are vandalized on a regular basis". - 20/01/2011 03:16:39 AM 1147 Views
Took you this long, huh? - 17/01/2011 01:53:31 PM 903 Views
I am sick of the desperate attempts of liberals to find a way to use a tragedy - 17/01/2011 02:31:18 PM 931 Views
I'm just curious. - 17/01/2011 03:23:47 PM 893 Views
Re: I'm just curious. - 17/01/2011 03:28:04 PM 1045 Views
I always said I'd do that after Bush was re-elected. - 18/01/2011 11:52:45 PM 918 Views
like I said a matter of faith - 17/01/2011 04:27:51 PM 909 Views
I find it interesting... - 17/01/2011 05:31:54 PM 1062 Views
I mention her looks solely because... - 20/01/2011 02:30:42 PM 945 Views
If slander, not mine, Giffords' (at least you don't err like Palin and say, "libel" ). - 18/01/2011 11:14:23 PM 1116 Views
mark you calendar today is the day Joel offically went around the bend into insanity - 19/01/2011 05:28:06 PM 933 Views
A mirror will show me who's to blame? On whom have I put a crosshairs? - 20/01/2011 03:23:43 AM 986 Views
so it is all a matter of faith for you - 20/01/2011 05:48:44 AM 920 Views
No, it's fairly straight forward logic. - 20/01/2011 03:25:56 PM 1036 Views
sorry Joel but you haven't - 20/01/2011 03:29:49 PM 828 Views
It's there; in this thread alone people from both sides of the aisle have acknowledged that. - 20/01/2011 05:51:21 PM 919 Views
only in your does the connection exisit - 20/01/2011 06:39:35 PM 968 Views
No. - 20/01/2011 07:35:09 PM 1040 Views
dude wake up - 20/01/2011 08:54:33 PM 1174 Views
So in your opinion... - 17/01/2011 05:27:58 PM 916 Views
How 'bout simply color coding them? - 18/01/2011 11:21:03 PM 959 Views
Why not just blame Giffords? - 17/01/2011 06:07:14 PM 1253 Views
Indeed, why not; Sarah Palin does. - 18/01/2011 06:58:01 PM 1087 Views
The irony of this thread is not lost on me. - 19/01/2011 04:09:01 PM 1099 Views
Exactly. *NM* - 19/01/2011 04:51:40 PM 543 Views
Bizarre thread for that Soapbox - 19/01/2011 05:17:58 PM 837 Views
You missed the point, obviously. - 19/01/2011 06:04:23 PM 948 Views
so you are saying it is the same old RAFO - 19/01/2011 06:47:24 PM 1022 Views
The thread has admittedly degenerated - 19/01/2011 07:02:12 PM 865 Views
Check your NB. Noted you a response. *NM* - 19/01/2011 07:04:58 PM 524 Views
That I knew it would go this way is why I avoided looking closely for so long. - 19/01/2011 11:20:44 PM 1101 Views
Hey, now. I have to step in. - 20/01/2011 04:44:49 PM 1130 Views
I'm just saying a significant link can be demonstrated. - 20/01/2011 07:07:27 PM 1175 Views
Re: OK, I'm Officially Sick of the "Blood Libel" BS. - 22/01/2011 05:49:44 PM 1115 Views

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