This diary expands on a comment I made in the rec list diary.
As Congresswoman Giffords' life hangs in the balance, our prayers and good energies go out to the congresswoman, her husband and children, and all her supporters. And we mourn the other victims of this abhorrent and criminal act.
Meanwhile, you know that somewhere out there, even as we mourn and pray, calculations are being made. In the Palin camp, and in the hidden corners of extreme conservative punditry and fear-mongering that have fostered the Palin mystique, the inner circles are humming. They know that a wave is coming at them, and they are preparing to deflect it to their advantage.
We don't know the identity or motives or madnesses of the perpetrator as yet. But that will not affect the round of discussion that has already begun about Palin's infamous "gunsights" graphic from the 2010 congressional elections.
Even as I write this, the Palin camp has sent out their first statement, epressing the Failed Governor's "sincere condolences" and offering their prayers for "peace and justice." They know that they have been playing with fire, and the fire just got out of control, and they are likely to get burned. So they put this out as a placeholder, while they plot their response to the wave of criticism coming at them for creating the atmosphere that encourages tragedy and mindlessness.
And we are all well aware of what that response will be. They will deny any culpability whatsoever, and take deep offense that anyone could dare place any blame on them. They will again claim that they are victims of the media's hatred.
And the minions will guard their queen: over at Red State the pre-emptive spinning begins...:
Unfortunately, the left is using this tragedy to score political points. Rep. Giffords was on Gov. Palin’s target list for defeat this past November. The left claims Gov. Palin has blood on her hands. So does the tea party movement.
Okay. So here we are. Back again at that point in 1954 when Joseph Welch looked into the crazed, narcissistic visage of Joseph McCarthy, and asked
"Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
What will the answer be this time? Will Sarah Palin show that she has any iota of substance in her being, and any sense of the power of fire? Will she own up to her responsibility? Will the major media step up to do its job, or is it completely beyond any redemption? Will we have to turn again to Jon Stewart to give us comfort that at least one individual of integrity works in the media?
And then there's John McCain. I suppose that's a whole 'nother diary. This is his state and his congressional colleague -- and it's also the fruit of his cynical choice in 2008.