Fearing tea party violence, four Arizona Republicans resign

[Xalioniaf]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/fearing-tea-party-violence-arizona-republicans-resign/

Fearing violence from tea party activists, Arizona Legislative District 20 Republican Chairman Anthony Miller and several others tendered their resignation this week following mass shootings that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in critical condition.
Miller, a 43-year-old former campaign worker for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), said that verbal attacks and blog posts from members of the tea party had him fearing for the safety of his family, according to a report in The Arizona Republic.
"Today my wife of 20 yrs ask (sic) me do I think that my PCs (Precinct Committee members) will shoot at our home?" he wrote in an e-mail following the shootings. "So with this being said I am stepping down from LD20GOP Chairman...I will make a full statement on Monday."
Tea party members supporting J.D. Hayworth for senator in the midterm elections accused Miller, an African American, of being a "McCain's boy." One detractor had even made his hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at Miller.
"I wasn't going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday," Miller said. "I love the Republican Party but I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."
District 20 Republican Secretary Sophia Johnson, first vice chairman Roger Dickinson, former district spokesman Jeff Kolb also followed Miller's lead and quit.
"This singular focus on 'getting' Anthony (Miller) was one of the main reasons I chose to resign," Kolb reportedly wrote to another party activist.
Arizona state Sen. John McComish, who had supported Miller as chairman, told the paper that this battle for local party leadership is more extreme than others he'd seen.
"It's too bad," McComish said. "He didn't deserve to be hounded out of office."
Kolb explained that Miller had been elected chairman even after Sheriff Joe Arpaio made a personal appearance for tea party candidate Thomas Morrissey.

Spoiler:

Oh god I haven't posted a new thread in forever.

 

[Skaw]

B-b-b-b-but violent rhetoric in the political atmosphere isn't hurting anything!

 

[ShomeGhuye]

So here's a question: Does this make the shooter a terrorist? Or just stick with crazy person?

 

[Raesvelg]

Still just a crazy person.

Kinda wondering where all these "ZOMG VIOLENT RHETORIC!!" people were 6 years ago...

 

[ShomeGhuye]

Still just a crazy person.

You're probably right. On point: Some family friends have a kid who works in the office of one of New Jersey's political figures. It sounds like he's become extremely paranoid, avoiding the public at all costs or some such.

 

[Raesvelg]

Always a certain amount of mass hysteria after one of these anomalous events.

 

[Skaw]

Still just a crazy person.

Kinda wondering where all these "ZOMG VIOLENT RHETORIC!!" people were 6 years ago...

To say the level of the rhetoric going on today is has been going on since during the Bush presidency, when the main outlet for the rhetoric was both in power and happy, is a laughable grasp at equivalency that just doesn't. Yes, the left did it, but again, they were viewed as the fringe, not the base. It's inappropriate no matter what, but the intensity and acceptance of it just aren't comparable.

They simply weren't hearing enough to the point of concern. But then along came a black man, and a loss of power. So then the hate and the violent rhetoric ramped up from the side that is the majority contributer.

 

[ShomeGhuye]

Oh heeeellll yeaaahh! Raes vs. Skaw - GO!

 

[Raesvelg]

To say the level of the rhetoric going on today is has been going on since during the Bush presidency, when the main outlet for the rhetoric was both in power and happy, is a laughable grasp at equivalency that just doesn't. Yes, the left did it, but again, they were viewed as the fringe, not the base. It's inappropriate no matter what, but the levels and acceptance of it just aren't comparable.

Oh, so I guess I was imagining all those "Assassinate Bush" and "Wanted: Dead or Alive" posters I was seeing. Thanks for clearing that up.

And really? It's the fringe, eh? So, why is it only the fringe when it's liberals with you Skaw? Hmm? Why aren't a handful of noisy people who disagree with you also part of a "fringe"?

They simply weren't hearing enough to the point of concern. But then along came a black man, and a loss of power. So then the hate and the violent rhetoric ramped up from the side that is the majority contributer.

Oh, of course, all conservatives are racists too. How could I forget?!?!

 

[Skaw]

Oh, so I guess I was imagining all those "Assassinate Bush" and "Wanted: Dead or Alive" posters I was seeing. Thanks for clearing that up.

And really? It's the fringe, eh? So, why is it only the fringe when it's liberals with you Skaw? Hmm? Why aren't a handful of noisy people who disagree with you also part of a "fringe"?

No, you weren't, but they weren't being pushed as fact by a major mediaentertainment outlet, with strong connections to one party that a huge chunk of people take as gospel. The people who spewed hate against Bush were alienated and shunned but the majority of the Left. This is what seperates the whole base/fringe argument.

Oh, of course, all conservatives are racists too. How could I forget?!?!

Not all of them, but it certainly helps that a portion of the base actually is. Theres no way you can tell me you haven't at least heard or read of people barking that Obama is going to make the Whites the next slave race. It helps paint an imagery of America of something these people don't want. The same with those that incorrectly call him Muslim pandering to the religious right. It's a big change that they didn't want, nor can they deal with it even today. I deal with mostly people who vote republican down the line(remember, I sell firearms) and the amount of people who can't help but make uneducated or ill informed comments about not just the president, but the nation itself is pretty sickening. Even people in a position of leadership over others such as Pastors.

Yes, not all conservatives are like that. My brother, and my coworker Rich can easily be put under the conservative umbrella, have zero care over me dating a black girl.

 

[Raesvelg]

No, you weren't, but they weren't being pushed as fact by a major mediaentertainment outlet, with strong connections to one party that a huge chunk of people take as gospel. The people who spewed hate against Bush were alienated and shunned but the majority of the Left. This is what seperates the whole base/fringe argument.

Uh...

Huh...

Tell that to Kieth Olbermann. And Randi Rhodes. And Betty Williams. And I can go on.

Ironically, what got Randi Rhodes fired from her job was not calling for the assassination of Bush, but calling Hillary Clinton a bitch.

Go figure.

Not all of them, but it certainly helps that a portion of the base actually is. Theres no way you can tell me you haven't at least heard or read of people barking that Obama is going to make the Whites the next slave race. It helps paint an imagery of America of something these people don't want. The same with those that incorrectly call him Muslim pandering to the religious right. It's a big change that they didn't want, nor can they deal with it even today. I deal with mostly people who vote republican down the line(remember, I sell firearms) and the amount of people who can't help but make uneducated or ill informed comments about not just the president, but the nation itself is pretty sickening. Even people in a position of leadership over others such as Pastors.

Righto. I deal with people who buy books, I suppose, so my interpretation of what it means to be conservative is radically different from what yours apparently is.

And therein lies the incredible flaw in your position. You base your opinion solely on what you choose to see from a very limited cross section of the populace, coupled
with what you choose to see from a handful of obnoxious mouthpieces more interested in selling their opinions that formulating valid ones.

And I said "choose to see" for a reason.

See, while Bush was in office, I heard crazies on the left saying pretty much the same thing that the crazies on the right are saying now, only with the roles reversed.

That's because they're crazy.

And frankly, I think pretty much anyone who says "I'm a liberal" or "I'm a conservative" hasn't done their homework. The vast majority are just attaching themselves to a party line because they're too lazy to do the research for themselves and figure out their own opinions on the matters in question.

Me? I'm a centrist. I'd like for the political dialogue in this country to return to something, shall we say, more gentlemanly, and divorce ourselves from this increasingly bitter divide between two fringe groups and the people they sucker into buying their bullshit.

But I don't blame the actions of the clinically insane on the rhetoric of the crazy and exploitative.

 

[Valandil]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/fearing-tea-party-violence-arizona-republicans-resign/

"I wasn't going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday," Miller said. "I love the Republican Party but I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."

This statement conscisely sums up what a lack of leadership the United States faces in the 21st century. Can you imagine where we would be today if George Washington or Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy had shared this sentiment? Whatever happened to taking a stand for what you believe in? It reminds me of Boondock Saints:

"Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men. "

 

[Hexx]

I'd say it's just the vocal minority (who tend to scream really really loud) that give a bad impression of what republicans are. My best friend and coworker is republican all the way, but makes very sensible arguments as to why he disagrees with a lot of Obama's policies etc, unlike the screamers (coughteabaggerscough) who talk as loudly as they can about all sorts of idiotic conspiracy theories and such. Unfortunately I believe Skaw has a point where he said that republicans tend to idolize their lunatic fringe (Beck, O'Reilly, Limbaugh) to the point where politicians seem to be listening to these talking heads all because the majority of their voting constituents ALSO listen to them. How often do you here of some democratic radical talking head making headlines? I'm sorry but I cant really recall that last time.

 

[Raesvelg]

The easy answer is to judge him as a crazy old coot who affiliates himself with the Tea Party, rather than taking what one reactionary asshole says as a precis of the platform of an entire political entity. I will say that the Tea Party is going to fuck itself over pretty hard in the long run if it doesn't take much stronger measures to divorce itself from the fringe element that clings to its coattails.

 

[Raesvelg]

Oh, there's no question that the Tea Party is as guilty of political expediency as any other political party. Part of the reason I'd really rather do away with parties entirely, when you get right down to it. In order to be taken seriously, a party requires a certain level of membership and, shall we say, a certain degree of... volume in the public arena, and as a consequence, tend to associate themselves with people that they really ought to ostracize instead, especially if it's a smaller party just trying to step onto the public stage.

 

[Lucki]

Oh, there's no question that the Tea Party is as guilty of political expediency as any other political party. Part of the reason I'd really rather do away with parties entirely, when you get right down to it. In order to be taken seriously, a party requires a certain level of membership and, shall we say, a certain degree of... volume in the public arena, and as a consequence, tend to associate themselves with people that they really ought to ostracize instead, especially if it's a smaller party just trying to step onto the public stage.

Yea, but is there any better way to run a democratic republic?

 

[Lucki]

This might be a silly analogy, but I've certainly never seen Libertarians or Pot Party members calling for people to "reload" or make remarks parallel to revolution. In the case of Pot Party members, it might be because they're too damned lit (hey! You don't really see "The Rent Is Too Damn High" party members taking to DC for a rally to restore low rent either!) to do so.

Don't Google Pot Party, and definitely don't click on the first link.

 

[Raesvelg]

I dunno, we have some wacky libertarians in these parts. I have heard open calls for violent revolution during political conversations around the store. Of course, my boss also bought into that "Liberty Dollar" scam, so it's possible he attracts a more defined fringe element than normal.

Quoting on me Droid is a pain, btw, so I'll do it this way. Lucki, that largely depends on how you define "better". In my opnion, it would be better to have a political system in which our representatives are beholden solely to their constituencies, rather than their parties or more importantly, campaign contributors. Call me crazy, but I think thatg my vote is worth just as much as the vote of the guy, or more importantly, the corporate entity or lobbying group, that has millions of dollars to throw at the candidates they're trying to buy.

 

[Lucki]

Quoting on me Droid is a pain, btw, so I'll do it this way.

Tapatalk works very nicely with quoting

*hintityhinthinthintMiros/Reeve*

Lucki, that largely depends on how you define "better". In my opnion, it would be better to have a political system in which our representatives are beholden solely to their constituencies, rather than their parties or more importantly, campaign contributors. Call me crazy, but I think thatg my vote is worth just as much as the vote of the guy, or more importantly, the corporate entity or lobbying group, that has millions of dollars to throw at the candidates they're trying to buy.

You're not crazy, I agree with you. Our vote should be just as valuable, if not more so, than some faceless corporation or lobbying group. I just don't know how one would go about changing our current voting system.

 

[Xalioniaf]

Don't Google Pot Party, and definitely don't click on the first link.

I got as far as googling.
What the fuck?