Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in critical condition, 6 others killed in Arizona

[opebo]

Calm down, please. The hate between both sides is probably a cause of that sad event.
Hate has to stop. So, don't throw oil on the fire, please.

Not all Republicans are crazy. Many of them are sane. There is some insane people in both parties and when they take control of one, things are going bad.

In fact, many opposing politicians are having very cordial relationships between themselves.

You really can't equate the two sides here, Max.  One side is more violent than the other, obviously.  Its certainly not very dangerous to be a Republican politician in america.

[opebo]

Opebo: Not currently, but, it is like a scale. One day, it will tip on the other side, and the left-wing nuts will be dangerous.

You're dreaming.  Revolution would be great, but it won't be happening in our lifetimes.

[opebo]

Wow, I just got finished reading the new polices on moderation, infractions, banning, etc., and so I've gone back and deleted all the posts I could find that I made in this thread.  As near as I can tell it is not permissible to express certain views about this event, and I think my views about it might be disallowed, so to be safe I won't mention them.

What can one actually say in this thread?  

[opebo]

This thread makes me cry inside.
I'm not denying that there may have been a political motive, but the attitudes displayed by some posters in this thread is just disgusting.
Anyone who would use an event of violence like this to promote a political viewpoint is pathetic.

Don't worry, according to my understanding of the new c********p policies, and the infraction points I incurred in this thread before that understanding, most posters who have expressed the points of view with which you disagree are headed for banning or 'muting'.  I for one will no longer express any such opinions.

I can't really think of anything to say about the shooting or any other related events, but I just wanted to comment on your concern.

No one is saying he was a teabagger brownshirt.

I don't think it would be allowed to say anything like that, and I would like to remind posters who might hold such views that it is inadvisable to express same.  I'm not clear on whether it would be OK to say "He was NOT a 'tea party' brown shirt" as it might be construed as sarcasm.  Can any right-leaning posters give us feedback on that?  In fact I wouldn't use the word 'brownshirt' at all under any circumstances (except perhaps in the 'what are you wearing today' thread), and I'm not so sure about the term 'tea party' either (clearly 'tea b****r' is not allowed, I think).

I'm only bringing this up because I think many posters who I may personally like or enjoy are endangering themselves in posting their opinions in this thread.

[opebo]

^Hey Opebo, you do realize that the thread you posted in about the new laws is over one year old right? This is not exactly a "new" policy.

Yeah but I just noticed that expressing my political opinions in this thread is not allowed - I received several infractions for commenting about the alleged events and am within a hair's breadth of being banned, so I thought we should all take care to not say anything.

[opebo]

Truncating free speech over this, either de jure (which of course will not happen), or de facto, is at once both futile and unwise. JMO. And I would hope whatever political party thinks they can gain some advantage over this - fails.

Anyway I think it is impermissible to propose such truncation, is it not?  Or to suggest any connection between speech and this event?

By the way, regarding the picture above, and I mean this not as 'trolling' but as a 'joke', if a joke might be allowed - we could probably eliminate a great deal of trouble in this country just by rounding up all the shaven headed b******s out there.

[opebo]

I don't get it - we're making this place more like Thailand, and you complain?

Even if speech were truncated here its more than made up for by other things.  This forum is decidedly lacking in those things.

[opebo]

...its more than made up for by other things.  This forum is decidedly lacking in those things.

Yeah, after Stark's departure the forum is definitely lacking the presence of a pro-pedophilia constituency. 

Well the 'other things' I was referring to range in age from 19-38, so your personal attack is somewhat misplaced.

I don't get it - we're making this place more like Thailand, and you complain?

Even if speech were truncated here its more than made up for by other things.  This forum is decidedly lacking in those things.

Right, so you don't actually care for freedom of speech. Glad we cleared that up.

Saying a preference is one among many doesn't mean one values it not at all.  Of course freedom of speech is nice, but so are other things.

[opebo]

Yes, such as civil, respectful discourse. Or just the fact that Dave wants his private forum to work like that. If you think a country where criticism of the rich and powerful gets you thrown in jail or shot is paradise on Earth it rings hollow to call it fascism when you're not allowed to state that the Republicans killed Giffords (which is a slanderous lie).

Not really.  On an internet forum is precisely where freedom of speech is practical - because it doesn't matter, its all just for fun.  But here in Paradise, letting a load of social conservatives take over just because they're a bit leftist economically is not my idea of fun.  Vive la Ancien Régime!

[opebo]

I don't think the speech does or will represent a turning point in Obama's presidency;

I think the shooting was the turning point.