Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Together We Thrive: Tucson And America - An Analysis By One Arizona Resident

As an Arizonan I was very proud of the statements made during tonight's gathering in Tucson that discussed the nature of Tucson and our state as a community.

Arizonans have been misrepresented in a very unfair way by certain elements of the left who think we are all bigots and racists who want to live in the Wild West of the early 19th century.

Our laws are being called into question because of the actions of one clearly deranged individual, and we as a community are being deemed irresponsible and uncaring. We are being smeared with generalities by people who do not live here, who may rarely if ever visit here, and who most definitely do not understand what goes on here during the course of everyday living.

Arizonans are generally good, law abiding people with kind hearts and sound principles. We love our neighbors, our state, and our nation. We do not at all reflect the image that has been put forth by those who think we are all gun toting rednecks. We are as diverse and open a society of unique individuals as one will find across this great land. We are Americans who believe (for the most part) in individual liberties, and we understand and respect the responsibilities that come with such rights.

Sadly, there has been a tragedy in our state that has taken from us six of our family. Additionally, a good and decent woman was injured in a catastrophic way that will affect her for the rest of her life. Her injuries may render her unable to function in her role of Congressional Representative, but thankfully she is alive and may recover better than was originally expected.

All involved in the treatment of Gabrielle Giffords deserve the highest of praise. Due to her prominence on the national level it is natural for the media to focus on Congresswoman Gifford’s injuries in a seemingly obsessive way, but her condition is truly remarkable.

Regarding the media:

Paul Krugman should be ashamed of himself for inciting an extremely irrational level of discourse with his hyperbolic rant on Saturday afternoon in The New York Times, just a couple of hours after the shootings took place. His disgraceful misrepresentation of the commentary of conservatives has opened the floodgates for every loon on the left to blame Palin, Beck, Limbaugh, and anyone else with whom they disagree with politically.

To disagree with someone’s politics is fine; to accuse them of murder-by-proxy is irresponsible and embarrassing. Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, and the staffs of Huffington Post and other leftist blogs should go back to Journalism 101, or admit that they are pundits with an agenda and may not be offering facts, but definitely put forward their opinion.

Partisan hacks like Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, who have chosen to make this an issue of politics and finger-pointing rather than a time of mourning and understanding should hang their heads in shame. This guy is a clown and a disgrace to law enforcement. Soon it will come to light that he is guilty of conspiracy to cover up crimes by the alleged murderer Jared Loughner, all because Loughner’s mother worked for the Pima County Parks and Recreation department.

Finally, I must say:

To say the least, I find it fascinating that those on the political right have been very civil in their discussion about the events that took place in Tucson last Saturday, while those on the political left have been extremely irresponsible, simply pointing fingers and attempting to lay blame at all those except the truly guilty Jared Loughner.

It is now considered by many to be fact that Sarah Palin is complicit in the shootings, essentially guilty of murder-by-proxy. Also, she is also believed to have interjected herself into the discussion with the map that was created more than six months prior to Saturday.

By the way; there has been absolutely no mention by the left about the very same type of map that was used by the Democrat Party in the 2004 election.

And even though Jared Loughner is said to have had no interest in politics and never to have listened to talk radio or watch political discussion on television, it seems Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck have incredibly strong influence over his mind.

Of course, that would make perfect sense, given that Loughner was fearful of “though control,” although if I understand correctly it was the government he suspected of such actions.


Up until the moment that the guy went on the cheerleader rant about President Obama, this was a very pleasant gathering.

I mean no disrespect to our President; that introduction was partisan and unnecessary. This is a gathering to celebrate and honor the lives of the fallen, not to raise the roof for an elected official.

Thankfully President Obama recovered the situation well. I believe The President spoke well and offered the correct message, given the situation and the tone of the rhetoric across the nation right now.

And while I agree with President Obama that we should not score political points at a time of mourning, I must compliment him for handling this situation very well, both as a politician and a non-partisan leader of America.

12 comments:

Jen said...

"And while I agree with President Obama that we should not score political points at a time of mourning, I must compliment him for handling this situation very well, both as a politician and a non-partisan leader of America."

I like your blog and love what you had to say for most of this but the above quote I'm having a tough time getting on board with.

He says all the right things but then turns the whole evening into a t-shirt slogan. Looked like politics to me. He's smooth but he is no leader.

Soloman said...

Vineyard -

I would, in hindsight, probably have to agree with your statement.. perhaps even more than my own now that I have a more complete understanding.

I honestly had the event on in the background, and so I did not watch the crowd. I heard what was happening and heard Obama's words, but as I mentioned in the comments to my other post when you mentioned t-shirts, I had no idea until I looked at Proof's post on LCR.

So - now that I know they literally had t-shirts, I am rather disturbed to say the least. This is one like the Kennedy / Nixon debate in 1960 was for Nixon, but in a different way... if you just listened and did not watch or read about it afterword, you could be led to believe that this was an excellent motivational opportunity.

However, now that I know the truth, I see it more like an Oprah show with the studio audience that is getting the free stuff just for sitting there.

Just a conservative girl said...

Sol:
Happy Birthday first of all. Secondly, I am glad to see you posted on this as I was interested to see what someone who is more local (at least compared to me) would say.

I think Obama did a good job with the speech. This is the type of crowd that he excels with.

True enough that the tshirts were distasteful, and I don't see how the white house wouldn't have known about it as everything with any president is very scripted in advance. But, that doesn't necessarily mean that they did it.

I don't believe in telling others how to mourn, it isn't my place. But the cheering was out of place. It seemed more of pep rally, but they ate it up. The people in attendance seemed to want it this way.

He hit the right notes and reached out to the families of the greiving and the people in the middle. Which is what he needed to do. People that don't like him are going to find fault with it, but I think that those that don't have very strong opinions on him will feel it was good.

I was very touched by Michelle showing real emotion when they announced that the congresswoman opened her eyes. We don't see that very often and it was nice to see. She comes across as very cold to me and this softened her.

I will be interested to see how the far left reacts, they may not be happy with him reaching out to republicans and saying that the rhetoric needs to stop.

LL said...

A well written, thoughtful analysis, Soloman (and a happy belated birthday).

Anonymous said...

Hey again brother...

My two cents:
@JACG: You're right on with your thought of this being a pep rally. It started that way with the idiot that did the introduction to the crowd. It continued that way throughout the speech (rally cry) and ended that way the cheering and applause.

This, like all other presidential affairs, was a scripted event from top to bottom. I cannot say that I agree with the extremely cheerful tone of the room but I think it was far better than an hour or more of sobbing and blubbering. For that we could watch a daytime soap or Desperate Housewives.

I cannot speak with certainty but I can all but guarantee that the shirts were done not by the Obama's group but instead by the university or a local political/activism group. Shirts like this are exactly the sort of thing that small groups do on a daily basis all across our country. It's how they spread their message. In this instance, though, it was out of place and should not have been allowed. All-in-all, if that was a stand-out moment of the event then I think it went pretty well.

@Vineyard: Every event every attended by a politician, President or otherwise, is a political event. Like it or not that's just the way it is. He has a job to do as a "Democratic" President that will be done at each and every available opportunity. Just as each other party member, regardless of party affiliation, does at every other political event in this great county. Left undone we would only have one party and that would hardly be a "party" at all. What would the media and all of the bloggers of the world be left to do?

Pedaling said...

Here's my thoughts for what it's worth:
Obama blew it again.
Why do I ever have hope in him?
When will I ever learn?
His words were fine I guess, but the atmosphere HE created was disrespectful. I don't know, call me crazy, but I have never heard a speaker introduced at a MEMORIAL SERVICE like a rock star, stirring up the crowd.
Obama could have said something or gestured, right as he walked in and heard the crowd act inappropriately for the occasion. But he didn't.
If I didn't know better, I'd say he enjoyed that response. It's almost like he's saying to the majority as his poll numbers plummet..."See how many people still adore me!"
I could go on, but suffice it to say, I am disgusted. It was a MEMORIAL for heavens sake, not a pep rally!

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

Very good my man, but I only have one question. What the hell is wrong with being a "Gun toting redneck"?

Jen said...

Anonymous,

I did not suggest these events are not political, I just find it ridiculous and insulting to all of our intelligence that BO suggests we not turn these situations into political events, as he did just that in a totally obvious and tacky manner.

I would have had more respect if he had his little pep rally and didn't pretend he was more concerned with the tragedy of my home state then the unveiling of another political catch phrase for 2012.

I gotta know, you listed some other examples of politicians giving these types of speeches(and I agree with what you are saying), but was anyone so brazen as to have shirts prepared and tag lines while they spoke?

msspurlock said...

It was just another Obama campaign rally, complete with Soros-funded T-shirts.

Teresa said...

Happy belated Birthday, Sol!

I thought Obama's speech was good and ended on a positive note which helped lift up Arizonans at such a sad time.

I think your right about Sheriff Dupnik. I actually sent his department a message via email that he should stop his hateful rhetoric against conservatives.

Obama or some other speaker should have told the students politely to be quiet and respect the victims and their families.

Anonymous said...

@Vineyard:
If you go back and re-read my comment you'll see the following; "In this instance, though, it was out of place and should not have been allowed."

I also noted that I am all but certain that Obama didn't authorize the shirts. Nobody that I've read has proven that he did. This is exactly the kind of mud slinging BS that is so freakin' ridiculous. It happened, it's over, and it's done with. On the right - complain all you want about the left. On the left - complain all you want about the right. What does it get you? 5-10 minutes of lost time and higher blood pressure.

@Teresa:
Well said.

commoncents said...

Likewise a belated Happy Birthday!

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