The End of Palin's "Don't Retreat, Reload"

Candles, flowers and signs are shown outside the offices of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., during a candlelight vigil for Giffords Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz.

/ AP Photo/Matt York

Savage America has reared its head again, with another shooting rampage, this time targeting a U.S. representative and leaving at least six individuals dead and a dozen wounded. 

This attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other human beings by a 22-year-old with a Glock 19 9mm semi-automatic pistol was called "a tragedy for Arizona and a tragedy for our entire country" by President Obama.

His sentiments were echoed across the political spectrum, making the terrible tragedy one of few things the two parties have easily agreed upon in recent memory. 

Perhaps this incident will bring about some "soul searching," as Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik suggested in his remarks before the press.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik pointed to "vitriolic rhetoric that we see and what we see on TV and how our youngsters are being raised" contributing to a United States of America that is no longer "nice."

"That may be free speech but it's not without consequences," he said.

Giffords' fellow  Arizona Democrat, Rep. Raul Grijalva told MotherJones, "We're feeding anger, hatred, and division for quite a while. Maybe it is time for elected officials and leaders in this country that have been feeding that disease to realize that there are consequences to it."

During the midterm election campaign, Sarah Palin placed Giffords in the "crosshairs" of a "target list" of lawmakers she wanted to see beaten.

Giffords responded on MSNBC to Palin's "crosshairs" targeting, stating, "The way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district, when people do that, they have got to realize there are consequences to that," she added.

At this point, we don't know much about the suspected shooter, Jared Loughner, or an alleged second suspect. It's unclear whether Loughner's act was influenced by a toxic overdose of vitriolic political discourse, or to what degree the verbal war of politics fed his apparent "anger" and "hatred" and placed Giffords in his crosshairs.

In a YouTube video, which features text listed as his "final thoughts," Loughner urges people to "read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws."

"I can't trust the current government because of the ratifications: The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar," he wrote.

His alleged writings make him out to be a mentally disturbed outlier, not a rogue Tea Partier, who fired point-blank at the Arizona Democrat's head.

Perhaps this gross and mad act of violence, which took the life of a 9-year-old girl, a judge and others who had productive lives to lead, will shock politicians and partisan pundits into higher degree of civility, or at minimum tone down some of the divisive, corrosive rhetoric.

Presidential aspirant Sarah Palin, famous for her trademark, gun-blazing "Don't retreat, reload" phrase and crosshairs, will have to retool her rhetoric if she plans to switch from her Fox News political punditry perch to elective politics.

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Daniel Farber is editor-in-chief of CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter.

[NJ.Joey]

Extremist<----->Moderate
Extremist<----->Moderate

Which of the above represents the Republican and which represents the Democrat? It's hard to tell isn't it? In reality, moderates in both groups have more in common than not. There may be fundamental idealogical differences, but they're not worlds apart. I have friends that are both Republicans and Democrats. We can typically have spirited political conversations... often strongly disagreeing... then go out for drinks together. We certainly don't hate each other. In fact, I would venture to say that as friends, we're as close as friends could be. Our political views would never stand in the way of our helping each other out. The problem today is that the extreme, on both sides, have taken over. There is no room for moderates to have intelligent discourse when people on the extremes are screaming at each other. It's hard for people to have meaningful discussions when people on either side of them are screaming that they "want their country back" or "Palin is responsible!". The quality of the educational system in the United States has plummeted over the years. You really can't have intelligent conversations among people without the "intelligent" part. Lacking the intelligence to argue rationally, we're left with pretty much one thing... and it happens to be the most powerful thing... and that is fear. The less people know about how the country runs and the less they question things, the easier it is to target them with fear. There simply is no stronger human instinct than that of self-preservation... fear being the primary component of that. It's only by understanding things that you can get over irrational fear. Without understanding, the side that exploits fear the best will "always" win. Things like compassion, hope, consideration, trust, and just about any positive characteristic will always get trumped by fear. That's what extremists on both sides exploit.

The fact of the matter is that what we see in the media makes it harder for people from both parties to have intelligent discourse. If a Democrat or Republican has a view that differs from the most extreme of their party, they immediately get shot down. The truth is that all Democrats are not pro-choice. Most are, this is true. But even those that are pro-choice can agonize over coming to that position. They don't simply think that "killing babies is okay" as they would be portrayed by the extreme right. Likewise, most Republicans are pro gun. Certainly, there are plenty of Republicans that would support tighter gun controls (or even enforcement of existing regulations). Every Republican does not run around with a handgun at their side... they're not the "gun wielding" nut jobs that the extreme left would portray them as. Unfortunately, when the extremes on both sides hold the control, there is little room for moderates. You can have a perfectly competent Republican candidate, who might be the best thing since sliced bread... but if they come out in favor of tighter gun controls, they will "never" be elected. The same with Democrats. If a Democrat ran for office as pro-life, they would have very little chance of being elected. There are likely sporadic cases in both situations where these people might be elected, but with even the smallest elections becoming national media grabbers... and getting national support from respective political parties, the likelihood of someone getting the backing of their party that doesn't follow their party's mantra is pretty slim.

The problem is that moderates, by their nature, are moderate. Getting moderates to take control back from extremists is a tough thing to do. How do you get civil people to take back control when they're up against people who can't be reasoned with and who are willing to take steps that go well beyond what a reasonable person would be willing to do?

Unfortunately, our country has really become two gangs where people follow their respective leaders without question... namely out of fear. Those that do question are quickly reprimanded. If you're not in either of the gangs, you're pretty much powerless and basically irrelevant.

I wish I had a solution for getting out of the mess we're in... but I don't. Again, I really think it comes back to education. The U.S. needs to get back on top so people can think for themselves instead of following talking points and being led around like sheep. They need to question those in power and hold them to what they do... not just want they say (the two being worlds apart in today's politics). It's taken a long time for our education system to decline as much as it has. It'll take just as long to fix it... and even longer for the product of that improved system to grow up and start moving our country to a more civil discourse. Hopefully we'll make it that long.

[inthemiddleman]

The problem (as I see it) is there's no middle anymore. We've been hoodwinked into taking sides, so now we spend all our time bickering amongst ourselves and listening to our preferred rhetoric, the sole purpose of which, is to incite more discorse. We're getting what we deserve! Our inability to come together on ANYTHING (term limits for all elected officials, for example) because we're too busy defending our position is going to result in the continued raping of our constituion and the shoveling of the Big Business agenda down our "collective" throats.

Insist that the next elected official you cast a vote for (regardless of the side of the isle they sit on) will push for legislation that limits their time in office to a max of 2 consecutive terms. When politicians become less concerned with re-election than they are with doing the peoples business, then maybe things will improve. Or, we can all just continue to be puppets and rant and rave while this country goes in the crapper.

[sgreco1970]

So rather than reach out to the families of the victims, palin has spent 3 days screaming and stamping her feet and refusing to take any accountabilioty whatsoever, much more concerned with her own image than the people left in misery by a tragedy she helped to cause.

[snidewoman]

She had nothing to do with this, but is just as bad as this article for making it about her.. it's not about her.. a 9 year old was killed by a mad man.. when did it become about anyone else but a nut and a poor little victim. Shame on everyone using this ... shame on CBS, shame on Sara Palin and shame on you.

[san850]

This quote bears repeating and remembering: "One of the hallmarks of a fanatic is an amazing ability to rationalize every foul deed and to usually blame the victim." Palin and her followers are fanatics.

[snidewoman]

What? Who's blaming who here.. was your post meant to be funny?

[Dont_Tread_on_me]

Nobody seems to remember the Jimmy Kimmel show where he showed Cross-Hairs on then-President Bush. Yeah, Liberals are "OK" with down with Palin for a political map, and nary a word on Cross-Hairs on a sitting Predident.
How hypocritical.

To repeat a previous comment:
How about we consider ALL who have made less-than-flattering comments about politicians.
One person CANNOT create all the fuss -- only the MULTI-MEDIA is empowered to do that!
** Obama: to his followers: "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun." - June 2008.
** Obama to His Followers: "Get in Their Faces!"
** Obama on ACORN Mobs: "I don't want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I'm angry!"
** Obama to His Mercenary Army: "Hit Back Twice As Hard"
** Obama on the private sector: "We talk to these folks? so I know whose ass to kick."
** Obama to voters: Republican victory would mean "hand to hand combat"
** Obama to lib supporters: "It's time to Fight for it."
** Obama to Latino supporters: "Punish your enemies."
** Obama to democrats: "I'm itching for a fight."

[sgreco1970]

Ah once again, a right-wingnut proffers the proposition that if the democrats do it, its ok for the republicans to do it.

[snidewoman]

EXACTLY... CBS doesn't care about a 9 year old killed by a mad man.. all they care about is scoring points against Sarah Palin.. who by the way had zero to do with this event.

I am more then digusted with the media over this event.. to use this tragic event to further an agenda is beyond reprehensible.

[simpleconservative]

Lets face some simple facts. The Democratic parties mouthpieces in the old media are constantly looking for a political edge for their very dull sword. Immediately following President Kennedy's assassination the alphabet networks opined that the killer must be part of the right wing extremists that made up the Texas gun lobby. Later when Lee Harvey Oswald was identified as a communist/ socialist there were no retractions, corrections or clarifications, simply silence. At the time we had no alternative media sources and they thought that was fine and dandy. This is an old play in a very old Democratic party playbook and for those of us that have lived enough years to see these people operate know full well that filthy lies and despicable behaviour's are lubrication for the Democrat's machine! As to silencing talk radio and Fox news, they would love to eliminate the competition so that they can continue on their partisan path pretending they are fair and balanced. There is nothing a leftist hates worse than a clear message that illuminates their lies and prevarications!

[wothers]

What we say and do has consequences, we as a society have to recognize this and we also have to recognize that people that are held in respect above other people influnce other people. People that are in public office or are looking to be in public office have to understand that they influnce others with what they say and do, this also is true for people in the entertainment industry as well, it is about time to start understanding this. Take responsibility for your actions and start acting like adults, now if this upsets some people then maybe those people should take a second look at them selfs and how thay act in lite of the receant events that happened in Arizona. (please excuse the spelling errors)

[wothers]

What we say and do has consequences, we as a society have to recognize this and we also have to recognize that people that are held in respect above other people influnce other people. People that are in public office or are looking to be in public office have to understand that they influnce others with what they say and do, this also is true for people in the entertainment industry as well, it is about time to start understanding this. Take responsibility for your actions and start acting like adults, now if this upsets some people then maybe those people should take a second look at them selfs and how thay act in lite of the receant events that happened in Arizona. (please excuse the spelling errors)

[gig76]

Sarah Palin makes up words since she obviously doesn't use a dictionary much less spell check. Saying that she makes up words as Shakespear did is showing her ignorance. Shakespear didn't have a dictionary although in the 21st century, we have an abundance of dictionaries. Therefore, go and invest in a dictionary at a local bookstore, go to the internet dictionary. Learn the root of words, where derived, and how used as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, active, or passive, how conjugated in past, present, future tense, helping verbs used with certain verbs or not, and most importantly, how to pronounce and annunciate the word with sounds, just in English. Try Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, German, Slovic, Russian, Swedish, Finnish, French, Italian, the languages are many. Therefore, the usage of language determines civility of its citizens and its intelligence. Countries that are intelligent are more economically sound, wealthy as a whole, and healthy inside out. What does all of these lone wolves tell us? America is very very unintelligent and is becoming a 3rd world country fast. It's prominence in global competition is dropping to all time highs. Therefore, if Limbaugh prefers Cage Fighting Rhetoric with his listeners, that's just what he has. When his language is bent towards dumb down versions, he inspires ill intelligent listeners, meaning he doesn't want anyone listening to him to be more intelligent than he is. Therefore, Limbaugh is a dumb down radio show. Limbaugh is a cult leader in forcing his listeners to stay only as smart as he is, which isn't saying much at all. Limbaugh is dumb down rhetoric 101, very basic and inflicts ill upon his listening audience. Same with Fox News -- Cult like to keep its listeners only as smart as it is, which isn't saying much for Fox News. With a correspondent like Palin who makes up words with no meaning is a huge reflection on Fox News Boards, Investors, General Management. In other words, they aren't too intelligent, and want their audience to be the same -- dumb down versions making America vulnerable to a more intelligent civilization.

[ktownkris]

What the h*ll are you talking about? Do you understand the things you are writing? better yet do you really beleave them. If I had to guess you just got out of school and haven't been in the real world very long.

[Alfredo_Fettucine]

I thought about posting a line by line commentary on your fractured use of the language to make your point. But after a while, I got tired and needed a nap.

[CarloCaraluzzo]

But when Rock or hip hop musicians put cross hairs on CDs the conservatives start crying about saving the children. Where were those crys when Palin?s flunkys were painting cross hairs over democratic districts? And where were they when the Bush admin was painting the country blue and red?