66 Comments
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Beryl B's avatar

Well said! Thank you for speaking out quickly, unambiguously as a voice of reason about the imperative to act civilly in our democratic discourse!

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Just plain Rivka's avatar

I can’t believe someone at the rally was killed. How awful.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

Terrible.

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EFS's avatar

Thanks for your clear and measured response.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

Let’s all keep lowering the temperature. We don’t need to devolve into Lord of Flies. It’s bad enough someone lost their life tonight and others were critically injured, but there’s still hope we can regain our sensibilities before more violence.

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Lee Saffold's avatar

I agree with you. The climate that has made such violence so common among us must be changed. Public discourse should be on facts related to policy not personality and it should always be conducted with decorum conducive to peace and toward a common goal or purpose.

We should be discussing which policy or platform best suits the aims of our nation rather than how a particular person is some kind threat to us. If we discuss the policies the candidates propose we came determine which policies are good for us and which ones thwart our best interest without seeing a particular person as the sole threat to our goals. If we fight against policies that threaten us there is no harm in killing the policy by voting against it.

There is much harm to our nation in assassinating the person who proposes policies that threaten our freedoms. It is so easy to kill the policy instead of the person proposing it. We must get back to educating ourselves on our civic duties and learning how to have respectful debate and a environment of honor, integrity, honesty, and seeking mutual benefit and helpful compromise where such is possible and stop promoting outrage over every controversial subject.

I pray for peace in our country and the world. Can we stop hating each other and work toward understanding and mutual benefit of all.

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Vicki C.'s avatar

Extreme emotions coupled with extreme rhetoric can too often times lead to extremely unfortunate outcomes. Too many of our politicians and media abuse their positions unwisely to suit their own ends, but while not completely excusing their behavior, I think it would behoove us all to remember in these dark and unsettling days, that the person ultimately responsible for what happened yesterday is the person who intentionally and with purpose pulled the trigger.

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Les Vitailles's avatar

One thing we already know: Democrats in the House tried to remove President Trump's Secret Service protection two months ago:

https://thefederalist.com/2024/07/13/democrats-started-trying-to-strip-trumps-secret-service-protection-just-months-before-shooting/

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Jason Crystal's avatar

I agree that he needs more protection and also RFK has been denied protection for months and months now. This is wrong and must stop.

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Etienne's avatar

So?

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Les Vitailles's avatar

So two months after Democrats started a concerted effort to make it easier for potential shooters to assassinate President Trump, we saw a first attempt.

If there was no direct connection between the two, there was clearly the intent it would lead to this. Why else would you remove Secret Service protection from the leading opposition candidate?

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Etienne's avatar

This is what an extremely dishonest person calls a “concerted effort”: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8081

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Les Vitailles's avatar

I know, I read about that bill ... in The Federalist!

What is the most likely effect of removing Secret Service protection from a leading opposition candidate?

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Etienne's avatar

I dunno. But it hasn’t gone anywhere and had like 8 cosponsors. So, your effort to pin this on the Democratic Party, in addition to being absurd, is inconsistent with your exhortations to “turn down the temperature!” Verdict: you’re either dumb or vile.

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Etienne's avatar

Did the effort succeed? (No.) What was behind it? (I don’t know, but arguing it was deliberate is engaging in the exact bullshit you’re whining about).

Also: The Federalist? Really? lol.

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Les Vitailles's avatar

"Also: The Federalist? Really? lol."

So you claim that the Federalist report that Congressman Bennie Thompson tried to strip Secret Service protection from Trump is a fabrication and that this never happened? Easy google search, even for you.

That the effort failed was pure chance. Probably swallowing lefty propaganda about AR-15: a simple bolt-action rifle in the same caliber would have been far more accurate (in my experience). That's why almost all US Army and Marine sniper rifles not M-16 but Remington 700 bolt-actions.

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Etienne's avatar

You’re dismal.

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Etienne's avatar

I’ve also seen no evidence to confirm that the shooter / Republican at the rally was intending to assassinate Trump. Just lots of problems with your thinking here.

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Forest Dweller's avatar

According to X Community Notes, that photo is not of the shooter.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

Thank you for the heads up Forest. I’ll do some research and update accordingly

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Jason Crystal's avatar

removed until can be verified.

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Forest Dweller's avatar

It could be correct. Hard to tell with all the information coming at us. Thanks for taking a look.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

From what I can tell it is, but I’ll wait for more reliable sources to confirm.

I’m more interested in the motive.

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Julie's avatar

First, they gaslight the country, he wasn’t shot, it was glass; second, they do it right and succeed next time. They’ll probably use one of Hill and Bill’s guys…

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Jason Crystal's avatar

Look, we have to try to reserve judgment until we learn what shakes out of the investigation before we jump to conclusions. If we don’t get real answers and transparency after a reasonable amount of time, I’ll be the first to put on my tinfoil hat, I have plenty of theories. Let’s see what happens over the 2 weeks, I’m trying not to jump to cynical conclusions.

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Julie's avatar

I am 70 years old and jaded at this point… you are right, and I am wrong (not being sarcastic)… but I still expect the worst; no resolution, endless investigation as the perps just wait for the news cycle to put something new and shines in front of the public…

Have you noticed, that’s the new normal… Democrats do something appalling, illegal, or a mixture of the two, the media is just horrified enough, and then we all move on with no consequences for anyone

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Jason Crystal's avatar

I appreciate your perspective. I think the lack of accountability is on both sides, and why so many Americans have become so frustrated with politics.

I don’t think it’s truly about Ds and Rs.

Both have escaped accountability on everything from the disastrous Covid stuff, the terrible border policies, and the ballooning fiscal deficits that both are happy ignore, and much more.

How do they do it?

They’ve divided the country evenly and made us hate each other (social media helped) to the point we’re too busy destroying one another to hold them accountable to competently govern.

Yesterday I hoped would be a wake up call for many to step back from the tribalism that’s destroying us from within, but reading so many posts and comments today, I really don’t think most people have learned anything.

Everyone is just becoming more entrenched in the positions they already had.

I actually think you’re right, and I share your skepticism about the future. That said, I’m trying reallllly hard to keep an open mind and be optimistic………. while I stockpile food, water, and ammunition course.

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David Merrifield's avatar

Fuck that, I already know: These people are too corrupt to investigate anyone.

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Julie's avatar

/cough… I’m pretty sure all I did is voice an opinion about what will happen, and that after agreeing that Jason was likely correct in his assessment and advice.

So, what was the lie? Im curious as in reading your posts, it seems like we agree about what’s happening, but clearly I pushed a button.

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Jul 15
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Julie's avatar

To whom are you referring.., hard to follow threads sometime.

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David Charles's avatar

Man, you’ve got bad to say about everyone. Make you feel like a tough guy?

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David Merrifield's avatar

Julie, you’re a liar. May you burn in hell.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

Hey David, I really don’t like to moderate, but please keep the debate discourse civil here.

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David Merrifield's avatar

Jason, He’s President Trump to you, not “former” President Trump. Watch your mouth.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

He's not the former president? I looked up the etiquette on this and that's totally appropriate to say. Please dismount from your high horse David.

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David Charles's avatar

Trump is Trump.

Translation: Rasptutin

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Jason Crystal's avatar

Hey David, I don’t fully understand. Can you elaborate on the point you’re trying to make?

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David Charles's avatar

Means the more they try to kill him, the more they fail.

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Jul 14
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David Charles's avatar

Alleged? What are you babbling about?

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Jul 15
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David Charles's avatar

Uhm, nope, you’re just an asshole.

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Julie's avatar

Andrea feels very smart using a great big word where it doesn’t quite fit… but her statements give lie to any pretence of intelligence.

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David Charles's avatar

Agreed. I have a feeling “Andrea”

Is one of, at least, two accounts on here who are the same person.

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Jul 14
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Jason Crystal's avatar

Clearly you learned nothing from the incident if that's your response. Political violence is wrong BUT....

This rhetoric directly contributes to the problem.

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Jul 14
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Jason Crystal's avatar

Yes, I would say that if the incident concerned Biden.

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Jul 14
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Jason Crystal's avatar

I condemn anyone there who participated in violence on Jan 6th. I’m uncertain why you so confidently think you know my beliefs on issues from reading a handful of editorials.

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Jul 14
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Jul 14
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Jason Crystal's avatar

You assume the worst because you’re projecting your own sinister thoughts on others. I condemn political violence against all political candidates, there’s no place for it in America. Even though there are many politicians I hate with a passion, I don’t believe they should be harmed in any circumstance. We can vote them out of office which sends a stronger message. Most Americans believe this except for a small, but vocal minority on both sides.

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David Charles's avatar

It’s really kind of rare to find someone as stupid and hateful as you, yet, here you are.

You ARE EXACTLY what you accuse others of being.

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David Charles's avatar

You shouldn’t assume everyone is as stupid as you are.

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Lee Saffold's avatar

Andrea, would I be misunderstanding you if I drew the conclusion from your post that you oppose violence but not the rhetoric that promotes it?

It seems that you do not like the violence of the person who just attempted to kill former president Trump while advocating the notion that he is the “ greatest threat to humanity” which is an idea that might motivate a person to want to justifiably eliminate that “threat”.

Why would you not, instead of railing against the person of Trump, patiently speak out against his states policies he promotes as being the problem instead of his personality being the issue. Voters have no influence over anyone’s personality but they can vote against his policies by choosing the candidate whose purpose agenda furthers policies that you believe are good for our country.

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Jul 14
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Jason Crystal's avatar

I agree, there is low confidence in government right now and both sides of the political aisle are already spreading lies. I see people on the Left claiming Trump staged this in large numbers, and I am also seeing people on the Right claiming Biden is attempting to assassinate a political rival. It looks like they’ve identified the shooter and hopefully understanding the motives better will help stop misinformation from spreading that could lead to more violence. I will update the blog post soon with that information.

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Etienne's avatar

What in the character and behavior of Trump, his circle, and his supporters would make it unreasonable to question whether something else is going on here? It just seems quite reasonable to ask questions.

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Etienne's avatar

This take aged about as well as you have.

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Jul 14
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Etienne's avatar

Turns out the shooter was a fellow traveler (of yours).

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Jason Crystal's avatar

I don't know many republicans who donate money to far Left political orgs. I think there's still a lot we don't know about this individuals motives. I also don't think it changes anything either way.

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Etienne's avatar

ActBlue isn’t far left but also the guy registered as a Republican 7 or so months after the reported donation. So that seems pretty germane. Also, you know, the whole engaging in political violence thing is very right wing coded.

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Jason Crystal's avatar

The guy never voted in an election first of all. Second Biden has been calling Trump a dictator who will end democracy if he wins this election.

If Biden, and presumably his voters, actually believe that Trump is a threat to democracy and will end it if he wins, then why not support his assassination attempt? Wouldn’t that be patriotic if that view was genuine.

The answer of course, as you know a full well, Biden and his surrogates have been demonizing Trump for political expediency, to win votes.

Now you want to distance yourself from years of that activity. Sorry, we have eyes, ears, and brains. While a lot remains unknown, there is no denying the Lefts demonisation of the Right, and ALSO vice versa has catches up the temperature and put us on the precipice of Civil War.

Let’s not start playing gotcha now over minor details. There’s enough blame to go around, the question is what do we do now and how do we want to move forward?

I want to move forward in a world where we debate policies, not personalities, and without political violence. You still want to play gotcha. I’m over that, and I hope everyone else is too.

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