Friend Of Rep. Shot In Rampage Shares Eerie E-Mail

[sabra]

Source: thebostonchannel

BOSTON -- A friend of the Arizona congresswoman who was shot and seriously injured in a shooting rampage this weekend is sharing an e-mail she wrote the day before the massacre.

...

"(Giffords) is a good enough friend that I wanted her to be on that short list of people that I was telling about my new announcement," Trey Grayson, who was just named Harvard Institute of Politics director.

Grayson, who is still Kentucky's secretary of state, received a congratulatory e-mail from Giffords last Friday, one day before the shooting in Arizona.

"It really is kind of eerie some of which she was talking about," he said.

In the e-mail, Giffords wrote, "after you get settled, I would love to talk about what we can do to promote centrism and moderation ... We need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down."

"She and I had talked about it over the years," Grayson said. "Which is really this tone and rhetoric that's gotten out of control."

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/26452045/detail.html

[Catherina]

1. We need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down

We need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down."

"She and I had talked about it over the years," Grayson said. "Which is really this tone and rhetoric that's gotten out of control."

And sadly, ironically, the partisans are ratchetting it up.

[bushisanidiot]

2. Promoting centrism and moderation is an excellent goal

Giffords could have been our first female POTUS. Still can, if she's willing and able..

[JDPriestly]

4. Look, the center has moved so far to the right, thanks to the

extremist rhetoric, that I, who was a centrist most of my life, can no longer support it. The term "centrist" means something different to each individual. It is meaningless.

I am a Democrat, a nonviolent Democrat.

We should not all feel compelled to follow the leadership of centrists. I would speak out strongly against any "centrist" who wanted to lower Social Security benefits, for example. I think that the selling of the extension of the tax cuts for the rich as a "centrist" measure was quite dishonest. That was a radically conservative measure.

Centrism is a term that is defined subjectively.

The issue is not centrism. The issues are extremist rhetoric and action and the use of violent metaphors and images in political speech.

Television programs in which guests are not given enough time to explain in a little depth their points of view, programs in which people are permitted to talk over each other and aggressively try to prevent the others on the program from being heard need to change their tone. If you have something worthwhile to say, if your ideas make sense and stand the test of rational discussion, then you do not need to scream over those who disagree with you.

So the issue is nonviolence not only in actions but in communication. It is unacceptable for people to attend town hall meetings and scream to such an extent that speakers cannot be heard. That was the technique of the Tea-Baggers and has also, sometimes, been the technique of some on the left.

It is not a matter of political point of view. It is a matter of civil discourse, of showing respect for those who disagree with us.

[BobbyBoring]

10. Far right loons say

Centrist don't exist. "They're just fence sitters afraid to take a stand".

How do you deal with that mind set? It's all Us or them now~

[EOTE]

14. You should make this an OP.

It's an extremely important point that you make. Certainly the vitriol and lack of respect need to change. And while it certainly sounds good to promote centrism, as you say, the word really has no true meaning when it comes to politics. If scientists were "centrists", they'd have to think that the earth could just as well be 6,000 years old opposed to several billion. People should be encouraged to promote a political system that most accurately reflects their views, that's the heart of democracy. It's how they go about promoting that system that needs to change.

[Myrina]

15. +100

Thank you.

[No Elephants]

22. +1

Oddly enough, I thought I WAS a centrist Dem until I got bored posting with Republicons and came to DU.

[demokatgurrl]

32. Much agreed

Partisanship is not evil per se. In fact, I'd like to see a bit more of it from Democrats and a little less conciliation. But there is no need for hate speech, threats, or promotion of violence. Just reasonable disagreement between rational people. Is that too much to ask?

[defendandprotect]

6. No ... we have one right wing party now and one radical right wing party ....

anyone in the center of that is on the RIGHT!

Look to FDR for guidance on appropriate response!!

Pretty much nothing he didn't comment on!!

[truedelphi]

20. + 1. n/t

[No Elephants]

23. +1 Or LBJ or RFK or HST or HHH.

[bbgrunt]

7. it's a goal that becomes ever more difficult as the economic divide widens.

[fascisthunter]

13. no, it's not... I think the Democratic Party has been watered down enough

thanks but no thanks.

[Lorien]

19. Today "Centrism" is just another word for Reaganism. Old Right Wing politics

There's no way in Hell that I'd ever sign on to "Centrism" for what it now represents.

[No Elephants]

24. +1

[defendandprotect]

28. +1000% .... exactly!!

[No Elephants]

21. I disagree. We should have at least two clearly distinguishable Parties, else we will have beauty

(or wealth) contests instead of elections, or elect those who are best at dodging the tough issues.

[defendandprotect]

29. Agree --

[24601]

34. Are you seriously suggesting that a blue dog could win the

Democratic nomination? Had she not been shot, most on DU would be castigating her. If you think I'm wrong, name another blue dog you would support during the primaries..

[derby378]

35. Suuuuure, if you want the teabaggers kicking sand in your face every day at the beach

Otherwise, what everyone else said.

[leveymg]

3. The problem with centrism is that it serves the status quo, even an unsustainable one.

That feeds the centripital forces that drive the left-out extremes toward conflict. The moderate center grows increasingly disconnected from the rest. The result of a centrist-dominated system is eventual chaos.

Sorry. But the Middle Way is what got us to this precipice. They're incapable of real reform, are intolerant of radical change, even if it's the only way to prevent the system from destroying itself.

Pleasantries and good manners are nice. But, that won't save us.

[Plucketeer]

8. When lies and sleight-of-hand proceedures

are the bread and butter of a party's MO, it takes unreasonable bluster and heated rhetoric to convince your base that you're working on their behalf. When the leader of the house dismisses the CBO's projections as "their opinion", THAT right there is all you need to know about the sincerity and forthrightness of the party he commands. So - talk nicey-nice with the cretins and expect them to go thru a metamorphisis of reason and truth??? Hell, Obama's been trying that tactic for TWO years and it's only cost us.

[defendandprotect]

5. Not responding is certainly not the way, however -- think we have to look to FDR ... for replies!!

Requires strong, educatonal responses -- but calling the crooks "crooks" and the

"banksters" just that!

It also involves denying the right wing an audience -- turn off the TV's!!!

And, when KO or Maddow report on the right wing ... I don't want to see huge videos

of them and a full report on what they said. Do they honestly think that's what they

would do for us?

No -- show them in small pics with a line thru their faces --

Stop promoting right wingers like Newt and Palin as though they have some real meaning!

They don't -- they are simply the destroyers -- always have been.

True of the entire right wing.

[DumpDavisHogg]

11. We must start at the LOCAL level

We can't just focus on national elections. History shows us that big ideas usually get their start at the local level.

A lot of us live near big cities that have been reliably Democratic for years. We'll have a lot more success getting our ideas enacted there than nationally. And if Congress says no, we can just say, "Bite me, Congress. We're paying more than our share of taxes."

Let's take our ideas to city hall, not Congress. Most of Congress doesn't listen or care.

[No Elephants]

25. I agree, but we should not have to "start" to be Democrats.

If I wanted to start something, it would be a new party.

[defendandprotect]

31. Well, that's a lingering question .....

i.e., "Is there anything left of the Dem Party worth saving or able to be saved?"

and wonder if it can be honestly answered here at DU?

[defendandprotect]

30. Agree with your overall idea ...

however, our state and local governments -- at least here in NJ -- were taken

over long ago by wealthy. Despite the fact that in NJ we still have a lot of

Dems in office!

Trust you might have fared better?

But still -- agree with you that pushing against it can't hurt -- Greens have

made some inroads in local stuff.

Another problem is talking to your neighbor! That's always a fully charged situation,

especially since so many have swalled the right wing propaganda over the last decades.

Lies between us like landmines!

[eomer]

9. A civil but vibrant discourse, not centrism.

With great admiration for a remarkable person, I respectfully disagree with Rep. Giffords. My views on immigration are not centrist in this time and place, but they should be. By that I mean that in my opinion this country should move its center and it is both my right and duty to work on making the center move. To respond to those who resort to violence by deferring to their views at the expense of my own would be to give up and abandon any dream of a democratic (small d) nation. A vibrant civil discourse is one (but not the only one) of the essential elements of a democracy. I dream that one day we will be such a democracy.

[high density]

12. "Centrism" doesn't exist in this country

Half of the nation is living in an alternate reality created by Fox News and the entire country is suffering because of it.

[GeorgeGist]

16. Interesting choice of words ...

We need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down.

[No Elephants]

26. Yes, she meant Dems. OF COURSE, I am hoping and, yes, praying, for her full recovery, but

because she is a human (by all reports, a very lovely person, too), not necessarily bc I agree with her politics.

If she meant vote classic Dem, but tone down your rhetoric so Dems get elected, i am more than fine with her sentiment.

If she meant, Dems need to take 3 Umbrella Steps to the right so DINOs get eleted, i'm not a fan of all her political views.

[RainDog]

17. It's time for a re-alignment

Who in this nation represents the best of the Republican Party? The Republican Party that rejected witch hunts, that understood the value of things like an interstate highway building program to keep infrastructure and this nation strong, that recognized the need for a social safety net and taxation that paid for it?

The same Republicans that left the party and endorsed Obama in 2008.

The reality is that Fox News and its mouthpieces have pulled the Republican Party so far to the right it is now the party of extremists. In order to find voices of moderation, Republicans need to engage in bipartisanship to indicate that they recognize the damage their own party has caused in weakening our nation by giving too much power to corporate interests and no power to the common interests.

Teddy Roosevelt understood this when he busted monopolies and brought down the gilded age fat cats so that they were not more powerful than the govt. in influence.

The Republican Party that now exists, with Palin as a spokesperson for the hateful teabaggers - that party needs to distance itself from those people. It needs to stop funding them.

It needs to stop taking money from powerful interests that support undermining this nation by destroying the middle class.

And, when pigs fly, I guess we'll see that happen.

[No Elephants]

27. interstate highway building program was for defense (nominally, anyway) and for

auto manufacturers and oil companies. http://www.crossingwallstreet.com/archives/2009/06/whats-good-for-general-motors-is-good-for-america.html

Anyway, I believe a Dem Congress was responsible for a national highway system. Ike did not veto, though, that's true. However, Adlai Stevenson was far superior in so many ways to school segregationist General Eisenhower.

Rich Teddy Roosevelt left the Republicon Party--after it left him.

Sorry, after Abe Lincoln, Republicons were always worse.

[defendandprotect]

33. It needs to stop taking money from powerful interests that support undermining this nation ...

by destroying the middle class" --

Unfortunately, we also have a Democratic Party doing the sasme thing ---

and we have to equally call upon them to STOP!

The people funding the T-BAGGERS -- Koch Bros/oil industry -- are the same people

who funded the John Birch Society -- but the reality is the T-BAGGERS are bought

and paid for and run by Dick Armey and out of a PR firm which guarantees them

coverage!

They are also the same people traditionally funding the GOP -- and the GOP gave

start up funding for the "Christian Coalition" -- Richard Scaife funded Dobson's

organization -- and other wealthy right wingers funded Bauer's organization.

Ir's all bought and paid for --

It's the only way the right wing can rise -- buying support -- and using political

violence!

Faux News is also doing what the right wing elites want it to do -- the reason for

their creation.

T-BAGGERS, Republican Party, Wealthy elites -- all the same people --

Same for "Pro-life" murderers and NRA -- gun manufacturers ---

All part of the same thing.

The right wing can only rise via political violence -- and they need more of it.

[DeSwiss]

18. Centrist = Lukewarm

luke·warm - Adjective: tepid, indifferent, listless, warmish, unenthusiastic


- Lukewarm? Naw you can keep it. Nothing ever gets done with lukewarm. Lukewarm is only good for cleaning permanent press clothing......

K&R