I watched the medical team press conference at noon. I have to say, I remain so impressed with the professionalism and determination of the medical trauma teams at the University Medical Center in Tucson, and elsewhere. It is comforting to know that even in a mid-sized city such as Tucson, such trauma teams are available. Of course, the reason such teams exist and are so competent at dealing with gunshot wounds is the legacy of gang and other violence in cities.
Robert Muller, FBI Director, also just held a press conference, ending at about 1:20 p.m. Here are some highlights, in the order they appeared in the conference (my paraphrase, not quotes)
Formal charges expected this afternoon against Jared Loughner. Still trying to determine if anyone else involved, still investigating. No information at this time to suggest any specific threat remains.
As to motive, too early to speculate. Filing in federal court this afternoon may elaborate. Weapon purchased in November 2010. Photo of individual released appeared to be entering the Safeway with Loughner, but no belief that the person was a participant. Suspicious package found did not contain any explosives, but not sure why it was left near Giffords’ office.
Has seen allusion to American Rennaisance group in the media, but still investigating. Premature to say motivations of individual or to draw inferences from generalized hate speech on internet, particularly for lone wolves or lone offenders.
Appears Giffords was the target. Possible future charges under domestic terrorism statute.
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Comments
The Sheriff is now blaming "talk shows, state legislature for allowing everyone to carry a gun anywhere, anytime" and that Arizona is the "Tombstone" of the United States.
The sheriff just gave a political diabribe that has nothing, NADA, to do with this shooting saying there was a time when we put mentally disturbed people away.
What a disgusting man he is. When the sheriff, in charge of an investigation, uses a tragedy to make political hay, he should be replaced, post haste because he is incapable of not letting his political stance get in the way of doing his job.
retire05: Yeah. Just like Newt Gingrich blaming liberal society for that woman who murdered her own kids. And used it as an argument to vote GOP. It's disgusting how these political leaders and bloggers take advantage of these tragedies. Gingrich, Olbermann, Limbaugh, all them. Remember how everyone tried to blame WACO on Clinton and Reno? We're in agreement on this one. Awful.
@retire05:
I agree with you. DHS Sec Napolitano also needs to be called out. Apparently they are continuing to push the meme of "white nationalist" ties before anything is really known…but they want to plant the image firmly in the minds of the public…while deflecting from the tough questions about this incident.
Disgusting and irresponsible.
… "A law enforcement memo based on information provided by the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by Fox News suggests that alleged gunman Jared Loughner — accused of killing six people, shooting Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and wounding 12 others — may have ties to the American Renaissance group, though it's unclear if he was directly affiliated with the publication or group…"
It appears that this is a very troubled young man, but taking the next step and deeming him a "white nationalist" is a bridge too far.
Had. Enough.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/09/arizona-suspected-gunman-no-stranger-to-trouble/
Any direct quotes from Gingrich or Limbaugh to back up those claims?
"Remember how everyone tried to blame WACO on Clinton and Reno?"
Um, they were in charge. It was their operation. If not the people in charge, who do you propose deserves the responsibility for it going bad, worse, and then really, really, really, bad? Bob Dole?
Well, I guess that would also include Jesse Jackson, Sr. since he was photographed shaking the hand of the head of the American Renaissance group. Quick, someone at MSNBC start laying blame at Jackson's feet. (snark)
Quirk: as a Texan who was on top of the Waco story from the git-go (and knowing some of the Texas Rangers involved in the investigation) I can tell you that the blame that should have been laid at the feet of Clinton and Janet Reno was never really done. And it goes back to Ann Richards, who denied the Texas Rangers the ability to investigate the Branch Davidians because she didn't want a political "firestorm" over a group of radicals who considered themselves "Christians". So when you start your b/s, be sure the person you are addressing doesn't know more than you do.
For you to try to equate the actions of a lone nut to the actions of the full force of our federal government shows how lame you are in your arguments.
I blame Koresh for WACO. He torched the place. He was suicidal. But others here can point the finger and capitalize on it if they want.
For the Gingrich quote, see the previous post on this blog. I put the direct quote there.
See, here's the problem. All this finger pointing. Everyone can dig up their favorite quotes to demonize their opponent. Mr Jacobson shows how he can do it too.
I have a question I'd love Mr Jacobson to answer: Does he have a problem if left wing bloggers produce a web site with scope-sights over the universities with right leaning bloggers and then provide the list of names of those bloggers, with a tweet sent out telling lefists that it's time to RELOAD on the effort to take out all those right wing bloggers. And another left wing blogger saying that "2nd amendment remedies" may be necessary to deal with the problem of right wing bloggers?
I hope not.
I've yet to hear Mr Jacobson condemn rhetoric from all sides. Because he's playing a game. The finger pointing game.
Quirk, I think I should point out to you, that you are pointing yourself. And while you point that bony finger, you have THREE pointing back at you.
Don't you have some bridge you need to sit under?
I admit it. I am pointing when I point out the pointing. I'm playing the pointing game.
Now can you all admit it as well. You're just playing the pointing game. Let's not be holier than thou. I'm not holy. Nor is anyone here. Nor Mr Jacobson.
Also, I am not a troll. I think I raise important points. Tragedies occur. The right takes advantage of them. The left does. They start finger pointing. And secondary finger pointing pops in the press. And here on the blogs. And it's primarily noise. Entertainment I suppose. Certainly not seriously achieving anything. I have no pretensions that I'm achieving anything here. You shouldn't either. Nor Jacobson.
Quirk, you raise nothing except in your own mind. And yes, I am pointing to the irresponsibility of the left wing media who seems to have their Hanes all in a wad because they are no longer the party in power.
But for all rational thinking people, the statements of those like Paul Krugman should be a wake-up call; politics trumps honor.
American people have the right to expect more from those who call themselves "journalists".
@Capt Quirk:
"I think I raise important points".
I'm sorry. I'm not seeing any "important points" in your posts. Could you expand that thought?
"Certainly not seriously achieving anything. I have no pretensions that I'm achieving anything here."
So why do you continue? Except to troll/inflame? Your statement in effect admits that you are indulging in deliberate troll behavior.
"The right takes advantage of them."
Please give an example of how a "spokesperson" for the right has "taken advantage of" the tragedy of the shooting.
IMO, quite the contrary. Rep Boehner, arguably the highest ranking R, has said the House is going to suspend for a bit out of respect for Rep Giffords, and ordered that flags be at half mast in honor of her staffer that was killed.
He also stated that an attack on Giffords is an attack on every member of the House.
How is that "taking advantage"??
Give me an example of a statement by someone from the Right since the shooting specifically "taking advantage" of this horrible situation.
@retire05:
Don't let Sheriff Dupnik off the hook.
His partisan actions have been repugnant and deserving of our derision and contempt.
Is the Journolist alive and well? In any event they have succeeded, quite brilliantly, in spinning the blame for the Giffords tragedy onto the shoulders of Sarah Palin. I was driving around today and heard CBS News on the radio, which led with with the Giffords story each broadcast. And as part of the lede story, heard by millions, CBS claimed that Sarah Palin targeted Gabrielle Giffords.
Ezra Klein, Washington Post, Journolister: "Sarah Palin's call to "Commonsense Conservatives and lovers of America: Don't retreat, Instead — RELOAD!" That was linked to a map in which gunsights were placed on the districts of various vulnerable Democrats. One of them was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's. "It's time to take a stand" was written across the top of the map."
Paul Krugman, New York Times, Journolister: "Giffords' father says that “the whole Tea Party” was her enemy. And yes, she was on Sarah Palin’s infamous “crosshairs” list."
Felix Salmon, Reuters, Journolister: "Sarah Palin literally put a gun sight on Rep Giffords"
Matthew Yglesias, Center for American Progress, Journolister: "Sarah Palin shouldn't politicize this by pulling down her web page showing a rifle target over Gabby Giffords." Retweeted by mattyglesias and 100+ others
and
"SarahPalinUSA Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: "Don't Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!" Retweeted by mattyglesias and 100+ others
Dave Weigel, Slate and MSNBC, Journolister:
"Fox News streams video from AZ vigil, cuts when dude says "and WHY, Sarah Palin…"
Twitter
Brad DeLong, Department of Economics, U.C. Berkeley, Journolister: "Gabrielle Giffords: MSNBC talks to Rep. Gabrielle Gifford about the death threats, vandalism and harassments.Sarah Palin has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district and when people do that, they’ve gotta realize there are consequences to that action.”
Whatever the left has done equally in this regard has disappeared down the memory hole.
I expect the next trick will be to try and pin Jared Lee Loughner, a Kerry supporter in the 2004 election, to the right. The "leaked" Homeland Security document "connecting" Loughner to white supremacists might be the beginning of that campaign.
"One veteran Democratic operative, who blames overheated rhetoric for the shooting, said President Barack Obama should carefully but forcefully do what his predecessor did. “They need to deftly pin this on the tea partiers,” said the Democrat. “Just like the Clinton White House deftly pinned the Oklahoma City bombing on the militia and anti-government people.”
Another Democratic strategist said the similarity is that Tucson and Oklahoma City both “take place in a climate of bitter and virulent rhetoric against the government and Democrats.”
"This Democrat said that the time had come to insist that Republicans stand up when, for example, a figure such as Fox News commentator Glenn Beck says something incendiary."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47294.html#ixzz1AZzMjcua
"Never let a serious crisis go to waste."
Another item that is so very sad about all of this is that I am sure Representatives will begin to change their interactions with members of the public.
When I read about her "Congress in your Corner" meetings, which she has apparently conducted for year, I found it endearing and in keeping with the spirit of a Representative who obviously deeply cares about her constituents.
I hope that our Members as well as Reps as lower levels have the courage to not be intimidated by this senseless act and continue on with only minor adjustments to their protective services.
What is also remarkable is the advancements that have been made with regard to brain injury. This was said to be because of all the experience with brain injuries in Iraq. That a bullet could pass through someone's brain and the doctors even talk about a complete recovery is, well, something.