Jared Loughner’s Friend Tells GMA: ‘He Did Not Watch TV, He Disliked The News’

[BREMPRO]

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jared-laughners-friend-tells-gma-he-did-not-watch-tv-he-disliked-the-news/

See video interview below text on link (mug shot)

"ABC News’ Ashleigh Banfield filed a fascinating report on the Arizona Shooting Tragedy today, but it was unfortunately missed by many in NYC because of snow coverage. And its a shame, because the brief interview with alleged assailant’s former “best friend” Zach Osler reveals some insight into the troubled mind of Jared Loughner. “He did not watch TV, he disliked the news” Osler averred, shortly after becoming quite emotional when faced with the unsettling mug shot of his former friend.

Osler continued, “he didn’t listen to political radio, he didn’t take sides, he wasn’t on the left, he wasn’t on the right.” Instead, Banfield reports that Osler pointed to a web-based documentary called Zeitgeist, that focused on currency based economics that “poured gasoline on his fire” as Banfield reports. “The Zeitgeist documentary had a profound impact on Jared Loughner’s mindset” Osler claimed."



I'm troubled by the rush to judgment without all the facts (ie that it was Palin's target map and RW rhetoric that caused this tragedy). It looks more like from this interview of a close friend that a troubled, isolated, mentally unstable young man was fueled not by RW radio or the tea party rhetoric as much as by conspiracy theory movies about currency (Zeitgeist) and 911 (Loose change) often associated with the left, haliciongenic drugs, a breakup from a relationship, a downward spiral of lost jobs and hopelessness caused by untreated mental illness and/or drug related paranoia. The toxic political environment and absurdly loose gun laws in Arizona sure didn't help.

[EFerrari]

1. Oh, please. What "rush to judgement"?

The right wing advocates for guns at political rallies.

The right wing blocks mental health care parity.

The right wing uses the language of assasination and suggests guns and bullets are solutions to political problems.

The right wing pushes distrust of government as we see in the films "Loose Change" and "Zeitgeist".

In what sense is this a "rush" when they've shaped everything that made this situation possible?

[BREMPRO]

8. some truth

but the investigation is not complete and we don't know his motives.

The fact that the right advocates for guns at political rallies may or may not have affected him. we don't know

The right IS responsible for blocking funding for mental health- clearly an issue that needs more attention and is perhaps the real tragedy here.

The right wings use of the language of assasination is deplorable and despicable, but may not have had an impact on Laughner. There is no evidence in the investigation to date that this is the case.

The right wing pushes distrust of government yes, BUT the movies "Loose Change" and "Zeitgeist" come from far left sources, NOT the Right Wing Loonies.

You are drawing a conclusion based on the "shape" or "climate" created by the right. Laughner may be a square peg that doesn't fit so neatly into that round ass hole.


We can use the situation for political battles, and the right wing's volitale language, but it's important to separate that from the mindset of Laughner and wait until we know more to find out the "why" and what actually influenced him.

Since this friend hasn't been in touch with him for two or three years, I'd like to hear more from people who were close to him more recently, and Laughner himself.

[EFerrari]

13. There is such a thing as being so open minded that your brain falls out.

For me, this isn't about defending Democrats or even, the left. It's about an intervention in a dangerous and toxic political environment.

People don't live in a vacuum. We live in a social context. And as Sheriff Dupnick said, mildly at that, Arizona is a petri dish for extremism. He's right. There's recent study after study that proves that.

It doesn't matter who "wins" this in the media in a way. There will be more funerals. The only reason to even debate this is to stop it, not to win. And even if we manage to make the slightest bit of difference, we're still three or four events before this violence is over. I'd bet on it but it's too sad.

[BREMPRO]

14. I agree that we should intervene in this "toxic political environment"

and clearly this tragedy has inspired some strong debate about that. I also think democrats should grow some courage and take the cause of gun control back-take on the NRA's insane no law is good law gun policy. Without the 2004 repeal of the assault weapons ban, the 31 round clip he used would not have been available and fewer people would likely have been killed or injured. We can do something about that, and we can lobby for more mental health resources.

My point is, that you seem to fail to acknowledge, is that the evidence so far in the actual investigation (as opposed to the armchair investigation) is pointing to causes (mental illness/isolation/delusions/drugs, conspiracy theories from Zeitgeist/Loose Change, and longstanding hatred of Giffords), other than the toxic climate created by the RW as being more prevalent in his motives. I'm not saying it didn't have an impact on him, or that we shouldn't be doing something to tamp down the violent revolutionary rhetoric, but we just don't know enough about his motives or state of mind to draw clear conclusions yet, and i'm especially troubled by conclusions that are politically self serving.

[EFerrari]

16. And, you know, I'm not. I don't think the left or the Democrats are self serving enough.

They rarely respond to any crisis without overtly forwarding their opponent's agenda. That's how they roll after Reagan.

This whole "politically self serving" bs is just that. Obama concedes mightily to the right as his opening move in any negotiation. Even the most feisty Democrats like Pelosi do little better.

Most of these people wouldn't put out their own hair if it was on fire for fear they'd be called "partisan".

Your fears are vastly misplaced.

Instead, it would be much more productive to take a cold, hard look at how the right wing sets the tone in this country, from the president's inaugural prayer to the number of domestic terrorists that the SPLC and Homeland Security are tracking. To look at how the media softens the violence of their rhetoric, denies it and justifies it. To note that the right owns the media.

People in this kid's condition probably don't stick very closely to any political party. But if the culture all around them drenches them in violent right wing rhetoric, they are subject to those suggestions, even if they can't identify them.

[wisteria]

22. If you put aside this young man's mental illness and you simply consider that as soon as these

terrible murders occurred, both sides were ready to blame the other for his actions this in itself proves we need to all put the over the top rhetoric aside and try and find some common ground.

[BREMPRO]

25. +1000!

[EFerrari]

28. No, because the left does not engage in this kind of terrorism

and to call it even is to mis-characterize reality. Saying "both sides do it" is simply to enable the whole mechanism.

The right will not put aside this kind of rhetoric, it's all they have. As usual, what happens when someone makes a call for such an action, the left self-corrects and the right continues.

This is an asymmetrical situation and requires an asymmetrical solution, imo.

[groovedaddy]

26. That the right wing is creating a "climate" should be beyond dispute. How much that influenced

Loughner, if at all, is unknown at this point. He may not have watched mainstream media, but it sounds like he did read on the internet. I'm sure investigators will be looking at this and any other reading material he perused. And, who knows, given that he is still alive, he may have something to say about his motivations.

[jtown1123]

27. Very few people in their 20s watch TV news (except maybe Maddow and Olbermann)

There was a recent study that a majority of 20 somethings get their news from the internet.

[BREMPRO]

17. Jon Stewart's take on Tuscon tragedy. Doesn't "Blame" toxic political environment.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jon-stewart-doesnt-blame-toxic-political-discourse-for-arizona-shooting-tragedy/

[emilyg]

18. Many judged before facts.

[EFerrari]

20. And many were right to conclude from their experience

that the violence being encouraged by the right wing had finally happened.

[emilyg]

21. I didn't have any such

experiences. I am waiting impatiently for more facts.

[EFerrari]

29. Did you miss the Napolitano report about right wing domestic terrorists?

Or, the report from that that police association that was posted here in the last few days which ran down how right wing loners outstrip anyone in downing LEOS? Multiple reports about right wing extremism and violence in Arizona on Amy's show, also posted here? Cenk's piece, which ran down multiple instances of shooters triggered by right wing media? Lots of information posted this week.

Another run down here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x176149

[tularetom]

2. He may not have thought he was on the "right" but

his beliefs about government mind control and hoarding gold certainly reflect the thinking of the libertarian right.

[LiberalFighter]

3. We need the facts. But Zach Osler does not have all the facts either.

Unless he was there with Jared a hundred percent of the time.

[dkf]

4. The accusations did their job and pushed Palin over the edge.

She took the bait.

[Ricochet21]

6. Exactly

and megalomania moved in. She's nutso. And she's in love with herself.

[BREMPRO]

11. no love lost there- happy to see Palin squirming and using anti-semetic slurs

to defend herself. Keep digging.

[Ricochet21]

23. I've done her astrology chart

she is only ONE DAY different than El Beck. That's funny. She is so lost in her "mission" of the megalomaniac. It's getting pathetic. As always, it's not them, it the goofs that follow her.

[Arctic Dave]

5. Since he is still alive, I'm sure we will get a better snapshot of

his mental health and his reasoning.

[BREMPRO]

10. agreed, Although he is said to not be cooperating with investigators.

Interested in what they find on his computer, and a mental health evaluation.

[Mark Maker]

7. Oh sure and next they'll be telling us that he smoked dope

listened to Slipnot and was into role playing internet games too.

Anything to deflect from the truth that he's a teabagging RW extremist.

[BREMPRO]

9. OK, where is your direct evidence that he was a Tea Bagger/RW extremeist?

There has been none that I've seen so far. I hear these claims, but see only circumstantial evidence.

[Jefferson23]

12. Ok, what am I missing here? The shooter has to be a RW'er

in order to have been influenced by political discord and violent images? This film is based on bullshit, but it is political
in nature. The shooter was oblivious to US news but focused on this film and his friend suggests there was
already a fire before the content of the film made it worse for him.

Interesting.

[Lint Head]

15. He sure was into YouTube.

[jwirr]

19. Many of us here on DU do not watch tv or listen to radios either but

we know what is going on. He used the internet just like we do so he could have been as well informed as we are. The same friend also said he would talk about Gabby when she passed some stupid bill or such. So if he was not getting any news from anywhere then how did he know that Gabby passed a bill. The one thing you are right about is we have a lot more to learn but we are not sure he did not know about things like Sarah's map either.

[BREMPRO]

24. good point. when they dig through his computer this should become more clear

I'm very interested to hear about his obsession with Giffords, the when, why and the sources of his hatred of her. Also if there is any evidence there that he was influenced by RW teabaggers or LW conspiracy theories.