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Pete Gigliotti's avatar

I see this as the beginning of the march toward martial law. Yes, I'm that concerned.

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Karin Barnaby's avatar

I agree. "Political violence" is exactly what Trump wants and has always wanted. Given Trump’s close adherence to the tried-and-true fascist playbook, Kirk’s murder should, at the very least, raise some suspicion about its perfect "political" timing just when the Epstein debacle seriously threatened to undo the Trump presidency. Also, in view of Trump’s/MAGAs’ instantaneous politicization of this murder via completely unwarranted accusations and much-too-ready-made calls for reckoning and vengeance, this looks suspiciously like made-to-order timing to erase all concerns about the Trump/Epstein crimes, while perfectly setting the stage for Trump’s decisive military takeover of our country.

N.B. The perfect timing of : 1) Epstein’s “suicide” before he could testify, 2) Ivana’s “accidental fall” down the stairs, the day before she was to testify, 3) the phony “assassination attempt” before the election, 4) Charlie Kirk’s murder to distract attention from the Trump/Epstein crimes, while justifying Trump’s military takeover of our country.

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STUART SCADRON-WATTLES's avatar

An even more telling window on our national pot boiling is the behavior of the House of Representatives. When Johnson interrupted a House vote to call for a moment of silence, he got it. Immediately afterwards, Democrats and Republicans began yelling at each other about the incident.

“A house divided cannot stand.”

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Kay Duren's avatar

Thank you, Steven. I feel so weary even as I know it's not about me; it's about us and we must stay strong. You are a bright light inviting me to stay present.

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Barry Darnell's avatar

Of course he escalates. He isn’t capable of peace keeping or compassion. He just wants to use every opportunity for leverage and destruction. That’s all he is, he isn’t complicated.

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Linda Silfven's avatar

Trump is a damaged, blighted human being, incapable of common decency. He is treating Kirk like an American hero with flags at half staff and the Medal of Freedom. Nonsensical.

I read this AM that he has changed his mind about sending the Nat’l Guard to Chicago.

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Marina Oshana's avatar

I couldn’t agree more.

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Homi Hormasji's avatar

"This was no oversight, nor some reckless mistake. This was an opportunity taken by Trump to escalate his war against liberals. At such an unsettling moment, his threats from our Oval Office were especially repugnant, albeit the latest iteration of his ongoing enterprise to build a police state and silence dissent."

Exactly, Steven. The fascist in the White House is out to consolidate all power by unleashing violence across the land.

We cannot allow our country to devolve into civil war and chaos at the behest of this monster. We HAVE to stop him. The next major protest - "No Kings Day 2" - is planned for Saturday, October 18. Let's work to ensure that there is a massive turnout, running into the multimillions.

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PipandJoe's avatar

Perfectly expressed. Thank you.

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Leakie's avatar

I expect nothing less from Trump. He spews hate wherever he goes. What was his reaction to the murders of the Minnesota elected official and her husband and the almost death of two other people? What's that, Donald? I can't hear you.

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David Buehrer's avatar

Yes, and why does this event, and Trump and his supporters' reactions to it, seem so predictable? This is far-right accelerationist theory being triggered in real time. I fear, a year before the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, that we're in serious trouble as a continuing democratic republic.

https://www.isdglobal.org/explainers/accelerationism/

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Monet Lion's avatar

I live in Utah County where Charlie Kirk’s death occurred yesterday. After the shock to our nation and a particularly harsh reality for Utah residents to absorb, the rhetoric is monumental. Truth and reality will be tested by each of us.

Was this an assassination or a killing ? Both are being debated,

but we do not know if this was a “politically motivated assasination. Of course, either is still murder and will ultimately be decided by our justice system. Tragic.

Note: Utah has very permissive gun laws: no purchase permits,no gun registration, or waiting periods for those 21 +. Also, recently approved is the CFP ( conceal firearm permit) to openly carry on COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

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Tammy Barnes's avatar

Thank you for the information about guns and Utah. Americans' love affair with guns is truly appalling. Utah is a place we like to visit for it's natural beauty but I will think twice about going there now.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

An assassination is the murder of a public figure. Charlie Kirk was a public figure. This was an assassination, a murder, and a killing, all three at once. Anyone who's debating either/or is playing with their toes.

I do hope residents of Utah and other anti-gun-control states will consider pushing for stronger gun-control measures. Meanwhile, I'm perversely grateful that this happened in deep-red Utah and not, say, my home state of Massachusetts. The "radical left" rhetoric is bad enough as it is, but if this had happened in MA, CA, or NY the vitriol would be far worse and potentially lethal.

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Monet Lion's avatar

A killing is the act of ending someone's life, and can occur for many reasons, while an assassination is a specific type of killing—the murder of a prominent public figure, typically a government leader, for political or ideological purposes. The key differentiator is the motive and the public prominence of the victim, which transforms a general act of killing into an assassination. 

And we do not know motive .

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Ellen Deschatres's avatar

I am SO glad you’ve given voice to the abomination of this speech from someone who is supposed to be the president for all Americans. I was feeling the same way, yet I am so conflicted over the horror of the shooting of Charlie Kirk and the rage I feel when Trump turns this into a feeding frenzy for ‘his’ people, whom he calls the real Americans, the patriots, those who love our country, etc etc. These are desperate times, but they call for measured responses!

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Sharon C Storm's avatar

The felon is not capable of a measured response. His narcissism demands he call out anyone who doesn’t agree with him 100%.

The timing of this seems very fishy to me. Could this be a distraction from the possible release of the Epstein Files, and just another excuse for him to send troops to blue cities?

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John Worner's avatar

Well said Steven. When fear is what you know, then hate is what you sow.

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Al Draycott's avatar

Thank you Steven: Yes ever since that man came down the golden escalator with his beautiful wife he did nothing but disparage everyone and everything. Mexicans are nothing but drug dealers, rapists, and criminals. I'm going to build a wall . He can't seem to speak a word without attacking someone. His MO is threats, intimidation and revenge. Its all about his grievances. After that despicable act of murder he was incapable of bringing calm and quiet reflection, no he just kept stirring the pot of hatred. I lay the fault squarely on the shoulders of Mr. Trump.

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Bob W's avatar

Keep in mind…a Pot allowed to continue to heat up…will eventually boil over!!! Then what????

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

The water eventually evaporates and the bottom of the pot gets scorched. If you're lucky, you catch it before it starts a fire.

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Katherine Boyd's avatar

Thank you, Steven. You said exactly what needs to be said.

It is ironic, to say the least, perhaps even karmic, that Charlie Kirk lived and died by the gun. And it is a tragedy that Trump blames the “radical left“ for his assassination. Trump has done nothing but foment resentment, anger, violence, and revenge. This is how he’s lived his own life.

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