Saith the Washington Post:
Anger over the health-care overhaul has led to a nearly threefold increase in recent months in the number of serious threats against members of Congress, federal law enforcement officials said.
The lawmakers reported 42 threats in the first three months of this year, compared with 15 in the last three months of 2009, said Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer, who had information about threats involving both chambers.
“The incidents ranged from very vulgar to serious threats, including death threats,” Gainer said. “The ability to carry them out is another question and part of an investigation to determine what, if any, appropriate steps to take.”
Nearly all of the recent threats appear to come from opponents of the health-care overhaul, said Gainer, who also served four years as chief of the U.S. Capitol Police. And, he said, there have been “significantly more” threats against House members than against senators.
Stir the pot, and the crazy comes to the top. Could you find a crop of suspects who look more like suspects than these most prominent probable threat-bearers and sowers of violence?
Gregory Giusti allegedly threatened Leader of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) if she voted for health care reform:
Norman Leboon allegedly threatened Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) for unclear reasons, and has since been declared unfit for trial due to his mental state:
Larry North allegedly placed pipe bombs in mailboxes in East Texas because he’s angry with the government:
Much of this was clearly ginned up by scaring the gullible into believing the nation is on the brink of communism. The next step in the PR campaign? Point to Leboon for threatening a Republican, and float this appalling question: “Does this represent something new and dangerous, or does it just show that Americans are fed up with government?”
I give it 10-12 minutes.
The real question ought to be: “Does this represent a total victory by well-funded scaremongers who want to change the conversation to anything other than reforming health care, or merely a partial victory?”
ADDITIONAL:
Here’s a nice Friday chuckle:
…A new Fox News poll shows that more Americans have a favorable view of the IRS (49%) than of the tea party movement (36%) [or of either political political party]. …
Fox asked whether Americans felt the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or the Tea Party movement more closely represented their values. The results: 40% said Democratic Party, compared to just 25% and 19% for the GOP and teabaggers, respectively.
And as Greg Sargent noted yesterday… 51% said they’d be less likely to vote for a candidate if Sarah Palin campaigned on his or her behalf.
AND:
Ever wondered what it’s like to live unbothered by irony?
