Been loathe to just pluck random comments as representative. Democrats have denounced the killing, expressed shock, as have most on the left. That there is a consensus that runs from hasan and jacobin to schumer and jeffreys speaks to what the actual broad view is of the "left." And that hasn’t stopped some elected Republicans from blaming half the country for the killing.
But this kind of comment (not this one specifically) is more than just an isolated or rare response - it does represent a strain of thinking on the left, what jacobin calls "a competitive lack of empathy" that is real and not worth pretending otherwise. No one is bullying anyone into mourning. Not trying to make you "feel" anything, or shame anyone. It's not about decorum or respect or performative grieving. And it's not about defending Charlie Kirk's worldview even a little bit.
But I do want to persuade anyone who hated Charlie Kirk's politics to care that he is dead, to be stricken by it, if not because it's a moral horror, than because of where it may lead. That is especially important when leaders on the right are using this killing as a pretext for a crackdown.
But also, we live in a depraved era. It's difficult not to let it harden us, whatever the justification. Fighting that impulse is worthwhile not for the sake of "civility" or "norms" but out of love for ourselves. Not feeling isn't victory, it's defeat.
So far today we learned that Trump secretly gave away our COVID supplies to Putin, that Trump quashed the 4500 tips about Kavanaugh’s rape allegations, & that Kamala Harris is going to expand Medicare to cover home care for seniors and hearing/vision.
So those are your options.
Ironically, the only person on that stage who supports Post term abortions is Donald Trump in the form of school shootings that he says we have to just “get over”
I cannot wait for JD Vance to try to look folksy and try to make an analogy about lawnmower repair or something during the VP debate and Walz turns into Marisa Tomei on the stand in My Cousin Vinny.
I served for years with @GovTimWalz in the house. We always got along well, and when we would argue issues it was always with respect.
He will make a great VP to @KamalaHarris
@Concrndmcsodep@KIONnews The placard was on the front of the car because she was driving the people the placard belongs to. So..... She was legal. No need to have kittens about this.
.@POTUS is getting an updated briefing on from USSS director Kimberly Cheatle, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall, per White House official.
In this horrible moment, encouraged to hear President Trump’s team indicate that the former president is doing well.
An entire nation must speak with one voice today to completely and unequivocally reject all political violence.