Suspicious packages sent to Clinton, Obama, CNN

[_EAllusion]

To get a left wing equivalent of what Donald Trump and his allies do regarding whipping up violent sentiment, you have to reach to leftists who say that hate speech is violence, it is ok to preempt violence with violence as self defense, and conservative politics is hate speech. The difference is I hear those people on public access radio, not at rallies from the putative leader of the Democratic Party backed by adoring crowds, a giant media apparatus, and most self-identified liberals.

[_Water Dog]

SHOOTER IDENTIFIED

Hodgkinson's Facebook page is largely political, and his profile picture is a caricature of Bernie Sanders as Uncle Sam.
The Facebook feed is filled with anti-Trump sentiments such as "Trump is guilty and should go to prison for treason."
He also "liked" a political cartoon that suggested that Scalise should be fired. On March 22, he posted "Trump is a Traitor. Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co."
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said both in a statement and on the Senate floor that he had learned the shooter had volunteered on his Democratic presidential campaign -- and that he condemned the shooting "in the strongest possible terms."
"I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign," Sanders said.
"I am sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms," he said. "Real change can only come about through nonviolent action, and anything else runs against our most deeply held American values."https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/14/politics/alexandria-virginia-shooting/index.html

Right away, CNN printed that he was a Sanders supporter and Sanders came out and made a statement. But Sanders wasn't advocating violence at his rallies.

President Donald Trump on Friday praised law enforcement for the quick arrest of pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc Jr. and vowed that he and anyone else possibly involved would be prosecuted to the "fullest extent of the law."

Trump, speaking at the 2018 Young Black Leadership Summit at the White House, called the sending of the bombs a “despicable” act that has “no place in our country” and vowed that “swift and certain justice” would be delivered.

“We must never allow political violence to take root in America. We cannot let it happen. I am committed to do everything in my power as president to stop it and stop it now,” he said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald ... in-n924871

[_DarkHelmet]

While it's might not be fair to judge either party for the actions of a single nutjob, I think it is fair to judge individuals for their behavior regarding this story. There were a lot of right-wingers and Trump supporters, including well known right-wing figures, who spread conspiracy theories about this being a democrat false flag operation. Some (including the president) even blamed the media for it. Some are still blaming both democrats and the media for the bombs. So while it may be appropriate to ask the media and the democrats to not blame all Republicans for the action of one right-wing nut job, it is also appropriate to ask republicans to not blame democrats and the media for the actions of one right-wing nut job.

[_grindael]

Trump on Twitter TODAY:

Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!

At a press conference going on NOW, the FBI said they "are not hoax devices".

[_grindael]

"If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell ... I promise you I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise..." ~Donald Trump

"When you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head you know, the way you put their hand over [their head]," Trump continued, mimicking the motion. "Like, 'Don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody, don’t hit their head.' I said, 'You can take the hand away, OK?' ~Donald Trump

"Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!" - Donald Trump praising the man who assaulted a reporter

Trump condoning violence. Prepared statements read off a teleprompter mean little at this point.

[_Water Dog]

While it's might not be fair to judge either party for the actions of a single nutjob, I think it is fair to judge individuals for their behavior regarding this story. There were a lot of right-wingers and Trump supporters, including well known right-wing figures, who spread conspiracy theories about this being a democrat false flag operation. Some (including the president) even blamed the media for it. Some are still blaming both democrats and the media for the bombs. So while it may be appropriate to ask the media and the democrats to not blame all Republicans for the action of one right-wing nut job, it is also appropriate to ask republicans to not blame democrats and the media for the actions of one right-wing nut job.

Well, let's be fair. I mean that's what you're calling for, fairness, right? Nobody was spreading conspiracy theories. They were offering alternative possibilities. Reasonable ones. Guys like Chuck Todd even. It just as easily could be been someone on the left.

I'm still confused and want more information, because these weren't actual bombs. They were fake props. Or in his insane mind did he actually think they were functioning bombs? Is he that crazy? He taped a clock to a pipe and thought he had constructed a functioning bomb? That would really be something. I would love to see this man in a video interview explain what he was thinking. I want to see how nutty he sounds.

Back to your point though, what were these people you speak of responding to? See my screen shots of CNN upthread. They were reporting "Manhunt for serial bomber going after Trump's targets." That's slanderous reporting even after seeing the MAGA van, and they had no clue at that point. So, of course, voices on the right react to this crazy calling it out for what it is. They point out, we don't know. Maybe it's a Bernie Bro. We have no idea. It's a Trump supporter. Okay. A sane person inspired by Trump, or a literal nut who can't be reasonably said to be inspired by anything?

Outliers are filtered out of discussions like this for a reason. Just in the other thread, RI points out that Bill Gates walks into a bar and this increases the average net worth of the bar's patrons. This outlier event tells us nothing about the bar. This one lunatic tell's us nothing about Trump or his rhetoric. Tens of millions of people aren't defined by the actions of one. But the media is very much acting like it does... which is something they don't do when the tables are turned. Where were they just a week ago when white powder was being mailed to GOP offices?

[_grindael]

The FBI just said they were not hoax devices. But of course, that's all fake news, right?

[_grindael]

Actually, it is not slander to report that the bomber was going after people Trump routinely targets.

[_EAllusion]

https://amp.slate.com/news-and-politics ... d-van.html

A White House crowd was shouting “CNN Sucks!” as pictures emerged of the van of the person who sent a bomb to CNN with a CNN Sucks decal on it.

Chalk that up to unfortunate coincidence. Then Trump stood by while the crowd went on a “lock him up” chant in reference to George Soros, another intended bomb target. Trump repeated and encouraged the chant. That is no coincidence. That is the twin effect of promoting false conspiracy theories against Soros and a desire to see him stopped with violence. Trump is an agitator of both.

[_Water Dog]

Actually, it is not slander to report that the bomber was going after people Trump routinely targets.

Yes, I'm sure your attitude would be the same if Bernie's name was inserted into every reference of Scalise, insinuating he's responsible. Okay, let's dial up the hypocrisy knob and revisit all this in a year and see where we are.