Tucson

Having been politically active for the last six or seven years, I can just imagine the scene at yesterday's event in Tuscon. I can picture the Congresswoman, her aides, the constituents who care enough about civics to want to hear and speak with her. Most of all, I know from experience just how vulnerable these events can be. There is no security to speak of. After yesterday, that is likely to change forever. At the very least, private security will be hired for each event, and the presence of armed guards will become commonplace at meet-and-greets, fundraisers, and town-halls. In certain districts, especially those that are split red-blue like AZ-08, staff members will be very touchy about strange mail, phone calls and emails.

I would not be surprised if Congress appropriates money for federal elected officials to use for additional security. Sad that we go to places like Iraq in the hopes that we can make them more like us, and we are acting--politically at least--more like them.

Note: I was going to make this post a screed about Fox Noise, Palin, Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, etc. But you know, those boys are just a symptom. If we had a thinking electorate, those dudes would be ranting at the newspaper in impotent rage. If...