The takeaway is that most of the time, an asassin’s political leanings generally have little or nothing to do with their actions, eg: Reagan was shot to impress Jodie Foster. However, causitic political environments create a scenario where a deranged individual can get more bang for their buck. So while this dude may not have been a card-carrying Tea Party member, he most certainly seized on the environment they have created to make a bigger statement than he otherwise could have.[/quote]
Afx: But, if we’re going to be fair, there was an element within the Democratic Party during the Bush (Dubya) years that actively agitated under the banner of “Bush = Hitler” and advocated for the assassination of a sitting president.
Both parties, GOP and Dems, have been co-opted by their most virulent and reactionary elements with a sadly predictable result. I don’t think this incident was that result; I think this incident was caused by a mentally ill person, but the tone and tenor of political discourse (such as it is) is much more vitriolic, with an undertone of repressed violence.