September 11, 2025

"Kirk was practicing politics in exactly the right way. He was showing up to campuses and talking with anyone who would talk to him."

"He was one of the era’s most effective practitioners of persuasion. When the left thought its hold on the hearts and minds of college students was nearly absolute, Kirk showed up again and again to break it. Slowly, then all at once, he did. College-age voters shifted sharply right in the 2024 election.... ... I envied what he built. A taste for disagreement is a virtue in a democracy. Liberalism could use more of his moxie and fearlessness.... It is supposed to be an argument, not a war; it is supposed to be won with words, not ended through bullets. I wanted Kirk to be safe for his sake, but I also wanted him to be safe for mine, and for the sake of our larger shared project...."

Writes Ezra Klein, in "Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way" (NYT).

That resonates with something Meade just texted me:

130 comments:

rehajm said...

Liberalism could use more of his moxie and fearlessness

First, Ezra is eloquent in his correctness but the tragedy for liberalism is it does not survive debate. Moxie and fearlessness got nothing to do with it…

RideSpaceMountain said...

"When people stop talking, really bad stuff starts."

"When men stop talking, they reach for their swords. Let's hope we can keep Parliament talking." - Oliver Cromwell

wendybar said...

That is what scares the left.

Peachy said...

The elites in the democratic party created their own nazi monsters.

Peachy said...

This all started with the left's manufacture of antifa brown shirts. ... and piles of bricks in the streets.

Bob Boyd said...

Hmmm...

"ATF and other law-enforcement located an older model imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus. The location of the firearm appears to match the suspects route of travel. The spent cartridge was still chambered in addition to three unspent rounds at the top fed magazine. All cartridges have engraved wording on them, expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology. An emergency trace has been submitted an ATF SLC is working leads generated by the trace."

https://x.com/scrowder/status/1966118431511433267

FormerLawClerk said...

Kirk was practicing politics in exactly the INEFFECTIVE WAY.

He was trying to convince killers to come over from the dark side.

And they showed him who they are.

Don't make his mistake. Stop trying to save these people. They have forfeited their right to be among us.

Lincoln didn't want to kill Americans. But he knew he had to.

Trump is going to have to do the same.

donald said...

Nobody gives enough of a shit about Ezra Klein except for the fellow travelers who now want to kill him just for these words.

RideSpaceMountain said...

“A friend of mine who is a political activist said something interesting the other day, and that was for most people on the left political violence is a knob, and they can turn the heat up and down. with things like protest, and riots, all the way up to destruction of property, and sometimes murder…but for the vast majority of folks on the right, it’s an on and off switch. And the settings are Vote or Shoot Fucking Everybody. And believe me, you really don’t want that switch to get flipped, because Civil War 2.0 would make Bosnia look like a trip to Disneyworld.” – Larry Correia

Original Mike said...

I keep asking for examples of Charlie Kirk's hateful rhetoric. It's a sincere request. So far, I haven't had any takers.

Dude1394 said...

I still cannot get over the joyous “punch a Nazi today” promoted by my liberal daughter years ago. The closest we ever came to estrangement. It is so tremendously hateful and dangerous.

Enigma said...

Consider that Kirk's "Prove me Wrong" event at a college campus strongly resembles Steven Crowder's "Change My Mind" events at colleges (dating to 2018). Crowder has strongly gone after Islam, Che Guevera, Woke, etc.

Crowder's response video to the assassination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8REpcIC-Bg

FormerLawClerk said...

Democrats cannot have a debate with us. They will not debate with us.

They lose that way.

They will kill us instead.

Charlie Kirk isn't the last person on their list. They're not done killing Republican leaders. They intend to murder Trump, and anybody else who pokes their head up on social media and gets some followers.

That's how they're picking the targets: identify the conservative "influencers" them take them out one by one over time ... never too many at once so as to arouse passions. That's how they are going to win. They're going to boil the frog slowly.

All the while blaming us for making them do it.

FormerLawClerk said...

"I keep asking for examples of Charlie Kirk's hateful rhetoric. It's a sincere request. So far, I haven't had any takers."

You won't get any. You're arguing with mentally ill people bent on murder.

They are not people any more.

rhhardin said...

If you frequent right-leaning sites, you encounter mostly right-wing morons.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

@ SpaceMountain. Larry Correia....one of my favorite authors.

That paragraph quoted: Very astute and very true. The switch is off until it isn't.

Peachy said...

Former Law clerk speaks for me.

Ann Althouse said...

"I keep asking for examples of Charlie Kirk's hateful rhetoric."

From what I can see, it's basically about disinclusiveness. He said people who identify as trans are not "normal." He said the U.S. system of government was designed for Christians and won't work without Christians. He held strongly to a principle that subordinated women's bodily freedom to the right to life of the unborn. You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Well, all that pretty much falls into the category of “anything I disagree with is hateful!”

Jersey Fled said...

I’ve been thinking of getting a gun permit for several years now. My wife finally agrees. I’m sure we’re not alone.

Sebastian said...

"It is supposed to be an argument, not a war" Remember 1789. Actually existing "liberalism" always required violence, or the threat of it, to enhance its power over us pagans and heretics. Its left-prog offshoot of recent decades explicitly and repeatedly renounced the civil-disagreement-let's-talk blahblahblah. So, what now righties?

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

You know who else was persuasive…

Dave Begley said...

My biggest fear is that the killer is a professional hitman hired by Putin.

Think about it.

1. No security.
2. A friend and close ally to Trump.
3. Possible future President in 10 years.

FormerLawClerk said...

Dave Begley has gone off the deep end.

rhhardin said...

It sounds like he makes the young person mistake of thinking that principles are not affected by what they say. It circles back. Trump knows that, Vance does not. It's what makes Vance a moron but popular with dogmatists.

Meade said...

“Lincoln didn't want to kill Americans. But he knew he had to.”

True but simplistic, ignoring Lincoln’s anguish over the war and his efforts to avoid or limit force where feasible.

Iman said...

“You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about.”

People should look into their own hearts and - if so inclined - pray about it. Perhaps that will help them to discern who or what is evil. For example, if you celebrate abortion as many do, there is most definitely something wrong and evil about you.

FormerLawClerk said...

Althouse wrote: "You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about."

Democrats aren't going to define what hate speech is in the United States. Those are war words.

The Democrats are already fighting a guerilla war against the United States. You are seeing their casualties pile up. First, they attempted to murder Trump twice. Now they're moving on to Trump's friends and very influential people they have identified using social media. They're picking people off. Anybody who shows promise.

We are already at war. We didn't want it. But that's where we are. And Donald Trump needs to stroll on down to the Lincoln Memorial and grow some balls. It's time to fight.

pacwest said...

After reading the threads on the Kirk assassination the ones that stand out are the ones decrying the immediate blame on the left. "We don't know what the motive was".

THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST! you dumb fucks and you know it does, but let's wait a few days to make sure. What is wrong with you people?

Peachy said...

Defending the unborn is always HATE Speech - to dedicated leftists.

Dave Begley said...

FLC:

It was a professional hit job. The question is who paid for it.

Alexander said...

Sebastian: 1789? The Calling of the Estates General? The Estates renaming themselves the National Constituent Assembly and proclaiming free speech and freedom of religion, and issuing the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen? The Mutiny on the HMS Bounty? William Wilberforce's first speech in Parliament proposing ending the slave trade? The Bill of Rights? The Inauguration of George Washington? The Establishment of the Post Office?!!

What do you have against 1789 exactly?

Quayle said...

“ You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about.”

Because it never occurred to them that someone could espouse a position you cited, based on love? i’m not saying people‘s agency should be thoughtlessly diminished by their fellow citizens, but if we see a fellow citizen hitting themselves in the head with a brick, is it hateful to say ‘hitting yourself in the head with a brick it not a good thing to do and we think you should stop’?

mikee said...

I note the murder in Charlotte is now officially off the air and out of the media, and discussion of the failure of Democrat ideology and policy and governance in America's cities has been stopped successfully Close call there, people almost realized just how idiotic Soros DAs are, with their cashless bail and non-prosecution policies. I will wager a whole dollar that the Kirk murder will be memory-holed in short order also, as was the attack on the Republican representatives at the softball field, the Trump assassination attempts, and heck, even the "Fast & Furious" Obama scandal. All resulted in serious injuries and deaths, all are ignored to avoid publicly showing the vileness of the Left.

Here's to federal prosecution of the rock-throwers assaulting ICE agents.

Peachy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Original Mike said...

"You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about."

Thank you for your answer, Althouse.

It's what I expected. Their "hate" are positions they disagree with. They twist the meaning of words to justify their actions. And to justify their claims both sides engage in it. It is a position I reject.

Meade said...

“I’ve been thinking of getting a gun permit for several years now.“

You already have a permit. For home and self-defense, get a firearm. Better yet—get more than one, learn gun safety, and practice your shooting skills.

rhhardin said...

Shortest path through the thesaurus from hateful to beneficent

hateful despicable abject submissive respectful gracious beneficent

Just put a pointer to where stuff falls and it will tone down the rhetoric.

(Any 3 words in a row mean the same thing in some context; in going to an opposite you bring up a series of contexts)

1986 program.

mikee said...

Alexander: 1789 marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Some say it has all been downhill from there for Europe.

Peachy said...

Charlie Kirk has repugnant ideas to the Trans-coddling they/them child abusing left, and the pro-abortion left - but mostly - Charlie Kirk was an effective and kind speaker who listened. ... and Charlie Kirk was popular with some young people who wanted to show up and listen to him.
This so enraged the left, they had petitions to get Kirk banned from speaking.
That alone was enough for the democratic terrorists to want him dead. The communist march thru education has been very effective. Charlie Kirk made a dent and began to help peel away some of the dark influences of the communist left. That is not acceptable to the demon left.

Every young person in that audience has now been terrorized by the shooter. Most Leftists delight.

Eva Marie said...

From the comments at the NYT:
“So sad for his family and our country as well that this is where we are today. Feels like the 60s again. But hey NY Times, I never heard of the guy until yesterday and I’ve been reading the Times for decades. Maybe there should be better coverage of conservative points of view here.”

Meade said...

Peachy said...
“Former Law clerk speaks for me.“

Pretty sure Charlie Kirk would want you to speak, think, and act for yourself.

Greg Hlatky said...

I see the Althouse definition of "inclusiveness" is adopting without limit every Democratic position and that any quibbling can be construed as hateful.

FormerLawClerk said...

"You already have a permit."

That's God damned right. The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America is your permit.

And I second the notion to get some training. And remember that gun use is a perishable skill, like piloting. If you don't train constantly over the course of your time shooting, you will lose the skill.

It is not easy to shoot a gun; it is even harder to shoot someone with a gun in a tense situation that may appear out of the blue with zero warning. You simply MUST train for those experiences so that when they happen, your body won't react by pumping you so full of adrenaline that you are ineffective.

Find a gun store in your area and make friends with the owner or employees there. If you live in Illinois, or other states where lawless governments have illegally eliminated the 2nd Amendment (hey, Trump, are you listening???) then MOVE from those places.

Until Trump grows some balls and starts taking these illegal actions on at the state level, you have to choose carefully where you plant your family.

Bob Boyd said...

@ Begley
There are a lot foreign interests who would love to see civil strife in America. Let's see if a prominent left wing person is killed in the near future.

FormerLawClerk said...

"Pretty sure Charlie Kirk would want you to speak, think, and act for yourself."

And so does Former Law Clerk.

I'm sure I'm reflecting everyone's frustration, but definitely don't let me put words in your mouth. Speak yourself and add your voice to the chorus calling for change in our country.

john mosby said...

Killing people for protesting on a college campus - where have we seen this before?

Antifa and migrants comin'
We're finally on our own
This autumn I hear the drummin'
One dead in Utah

Gotta get down to it
Lefties are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago
What if you knew him and
Found him dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

JSM


FormerLawClerk said...

"It was a professional hit job. The question is who paid for it."

I agree that it was professional. But suggesting the Russians did it is precisely what a Democrat talking point sounds like.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Solzhenitsyn in The Gulag Archipelago said, “Every man always has handy a dozen glib little reasons why he is right not to sacrifice himself.”

Many on the left think they have nothing left to lose. Many on the right have lots to lose, for instance, their fucking country. Many on the left no longer have any "glib little reasons for not sacrificing themselves." Many on the right are beginning to run low.

They've no idea how much they have to lose, and they do not want their enemies to reach their level of fatalism. They think this is some kind of co-extinction where we're trapped in the USA with them.

If it's co-extinction they want, it's simple extinction they'll get.

john mosby said...

I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in [colleges] and in the [campuses], where all [leftists] come together; I have said nothing secretly. - John 18:20

Imitatio Christi. JSM

Wince said...

As Althouse points out, "hate speech" is now reduced to hate paraphrasing by the people who hate you.

Humperdink said...


"He was one of the era’s most effective practitioners of persuasion.”

Which is why he was killed.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Shooty shooty
Pew pew pew
Let’s all learn what guns can do
Lefties in the USA
Love to nod their heads and say:
“Those guns you bought were from a store”
“You can’t fight a civil war!”
“Fight our army, you will lose!”
“We also have guns that we can use!”
But that isn’t where the story ends
They have homes, and kids, and friends
Leftists threaten you with bombs?
Just remember: they have moms!
Your idle boasts aren't idle threats
You think we can’t find you…
Wanna bet?
Where will you keep your family safe?
There's no place we can't bomb or strafe
Please send transtifa and drag show queens
Against 40 million AR15s
They're outnumbered ten thousand to one
That is why we've kept our guns
Don’t forget, because it’s true:
They are trapped inside with you

Humperdink said...

“You already have a permit ………….

The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America is your permit.”

Not in NY state if it’s a pistol.

Peachy said...

So sorry I liked something Former Law Clerk stated.
I should have specified that I agree completely with his post at 8:32.

Amadeus 48 said...

I am surprised at D. Begley's confidence that it was a "professional" hit job. Really? 140-160 yards? Any competent marksman with a scope could do that. How many left-wing lunatics with military experience are there out there? Many, I think. They sure sound off on X and Bluesky. Look at the profiles of people gloating over this.

How about the rehashes of Crooks's attempt on Trump? They sort of provide a blueprint of how to do it wrong--it is a short step to how to do it effectively.

I predict that the killer will be a veteran with mental problems who wanted to shut up an effective voice from the right.

Dave Begley said...

FLC:

I wrote that my "biggest fear" was that Putin ordered the hit. I didn't speculate that he did order it.

If you did actually write judicial opinions, you should know to be precise in your reading and writing. I am.

Nancy said...

NYT readers comments on Klein piece are virtually unanimous that Kirk was beyond the pale.

gilbar said...

"He was one of the era’s most effective practitioners of persuasion."

That's WHY they killed him.

FormerLawClerk said...

"suggesting the Russians did it is precisely what a Democrat talking point sounds like."

Begley, you're suggesting it. As I said. Very precisely. But I'll take you at your word. I would be amazed if that's how this all shakes out.

Peachy said...


I live in a blue state and an extremely blue leftist town. I am bombarded with leftist bullshit and lies as soon as I step out of my home. The left are assassinating people... murdering people ... children.... allowing crime and criminals to walk free.

My rage against what I see as absolute evil - is sparked. I see that Former Law Clerk has very similar feelings.
I often say the same about author RJ Rowling. She speaks for me. Why? I am not the best writer. I'm not a writer at all. When someone writes with such clarity, and wisdom, and yes - righteous correct anger - I eagerly say so.

Peachy said...

A or B?
A) Dems hired another assassin
B) Democratic MSNBC insanity, inspired a terrorist.

Yancey Ward said...

Little Ezra is smarter than the usual progressive- he knows how damaging this event is to the movement. He is to urge his fellow travelers to back away from the abyss. I think he is far too late to the party.

Original Mike said...

"I wrote that my "biggest fear" was that Putin ordered the hit. I didn't speculate that he did order it."

How is that not 'speculation'?

FormerLawClerk said...

Not in NY state if it’s a pistol.

New York State is a ROGUE state, run by a criminal organization. Trump should confiscate New York and return it to the Constitution.

Lincoln didn't let rogue states defy our Constitution. He declared war on them. And Trump needs to do the exact same thing. Get himself up on Mt. Rushmore.

Peachy said...

omg - The left are blaming "The Russians" now?

I doubt the Russians care or even know who Charlie Kirk is.

gilbar said...

hakeem jeffries warns US all..
don't politicize this; or he'll have YOU shot

Humperdink said...

@gilbar. See my comment at 9:23. Thinking alike.

Yancey Ward said...

Whether or not the shooter is caught probably depends on the real motive of the shooter himself. If he is a leftist, then he will almost certainly want to get the credit for the shooting so will either act to reveal himself after or will have already provided his identity in social media posts prior to yesterday. I think is highly unlikely this was a paid hitman- a hitman would have chosen a completely different venue and time of day given Kirk apparently had little security in place.

Peachy said...

I think the shooter is long gone. mafia style.

Amadeus 48 said...

FLC has gone ultra. Beware provocateurs.

Wince said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
john mosby said...

Wow, RSM. We’ll have to call you Dr RSM from now on. Well done! JSM

Wince said...

In the timing, manner and venue chosen, the shooter's goals were at least four-fold:

1.) Kill Charlie Kirk.

2.) Maximize the chances of escape and preserve the threat of killing again.

3.) Intimidate others on one side of the debate.

4.) Squelch public speech by visiting speakers on college campuses through the imposition of prohibitive security requirements.

jim5301 said...

What is the logic of not releasing the picture of the shooter?

Humperdink said...

You can travel through NY state with a pistol if the ammo is separated from the firearm and both are locked in the trunk or rear compartment. Another restriction: You are not permitted to stop in the state except for gas.

Captain BillieBob said...

"It was a professional hit job."

No.

buwaya said...

It seems to me that E.Klein had nothing good to say about C.Kirk before he was assassinated. Makes me wonder about sincerity.

Howard said...

The logic of not releasing the photo at this time is because law enforcement does not want to be bogged down with thousands of false sightings that people will mistakenly make trying to be helpful

Sweetie said...

The Left has no Charlie Kirk because of all their lying. They can't have a Charlie Kirk. And that's on you Ezra Klein.

Robert Cook said...

"...the tragedy for liberalism is it does not survive debate."

Sure...to people who refuse from the outset to give "liberalism" any credence. Otherwise, it does. It is responsible for all advances in human society.

Eva Marie said...

CFP reporting Antifa and trans phrases engraved on the ammo.

doctrev said...

RideSpaceMountain said...
but for the vast majority of folks on the right, it’s an on and off switch. And the settings are Vote or Shoot Fucking Everybody.
9/11/25, 8:30 AM

If that's true, it implies Correia has never read Heinlein. Violence is indeed a continuum, and denying that only justifies inaction. How far back do we have to reach for an example- the KKK? The Founders?

Achilles said...

Yancey Ward said...

Little Ezra is smarter than the usual progressive- he knows how damaging this event is to the movement. He is to urge his fellow travelers to back away from the abyss. I think he is far too late to the party.

I am not even going to speculate on the WSJ article I just read.

If that is true then shit will get real.

Peachy said...

Walk Away

Only the brave walk away. Cowards stay.

Captain BillieBob said...

RSM said
"....but for the vast majority of folks on the right, it’s an on and off switch."

I'm a patient guy, until I'm not. Then all bets are off.

Achilles said...

Robert Cook said...

"...the tragedy for liberalism is it does not survive debate."

Sure...to people who refuse from the outset to give "liberalism" any credence. Otherwise, it does. It is responsible for all advances in human society.

Liberalism is not the problem. I am a liberal.

The problem is people who believe the government should take money from some people and give it to other people. This is an inherently violent act and the very essence of redistributionism is political violence.

The left is just violent by nature of their ideology at a fundamental level.

doctrev said...

Yancey Ward said...
Little Ezra is smarter than the usual progressive- he knows how damaging this event is to the movement. He is to urge his fellow travelers to back away from the abyss. I think he is far too late to the party.

9/11/25, 9:37 AM

The NYT had to close comments about an hour after opening them, because they were just proving all the stereotypes about Bluesky types. Their problem is simple, President Trump is absolutely going after their networks. Some will be arrested, and some will be brought to justice.

Original Mike said...

There is no way I would call the modern left "liberal".

Sebastian said...

"What do you have against 1789 exactly?" Oh, you know, just the Terror, the Vendee, Napoleon.

buwaya said...

I rather like Correia's current book series "Son of the Black Sword". Good job of world-building. His other stuff is rather juvenile/pulpy. He got better.

n.n said...

Liberalism is a philosophy of divergence. Progressivism is a philosophy of monotonic change. Conservativism is a philosophy of moderation. Principles matter.

Achilles said...

Howard said...

The logic of not releasing the photo at this time is because law enforcement does not want to be bogged down with thousands of false sightings that people will mistakenly make trying to be helpful

Another reason is that if this person is arrested many of us expect him to be free and alive in some years. John Hinckley
jr. is free as a bird with no restrictions as of 2022.

We have noticed that our government never really holds these people or the organizations that support them accountable.

We have noticed that on some level Trump is allowing us to be hunted and persecuted. Our government has allowed the leftists to be violent and criminal on many levels. They use the government to steal and when that isn't enough they throw BLM riots. They celebrate people being stabbed on subways and let the murderers walk free.

If Trump doesn't correct this expect Pinochet to win in 2028.

Peachy said...

These deranged lunatics are celebrating that a young man with young children was murdered.

Peachy said...

Original Mike - I agree.
"Liberal" is not accurate in any way.
These people are Democratic Progressive Authoritarians.

Maynard said...

You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about.

Yes. To modern day liberal activists, disinclusiveness means that you do not adopt their propaganda. Thus, you spew hate speech.

Just who are the Nazis in this psychodrama?

D.D. Driver said...

"From what I can see, it's basically about disinclusiveness. He said people who identify as trans are not "normal." He said the U.S. system of government was designed for Christians and won't work without Christians. He held strongly to a principle that subordinated women's bodily freedom to the right to life of the unborn. You can defend things like that as not based on hate, but I think that is what the people who are saying "hateful" are talking about."

But they also take it a step further and make it life or death. If you oppose "trans-inclusiveness" it will lead to teenagers committing suicide. Your beliefs are literally killing children. Same thing with abortion. If you oppose abortion, women will get illegal abortions and die. This is how they justify violence. In their twisted minds, it's just "self defense." You are trying to "kill them." This is the rhetoric of the modern left.

n.n said...

A nation, a community in transition, where trans indicates a state or process of divergence from gender (i.e. sex-correlated attributes), from humanity (e.g. elective abortion), equality (e.g. DEIsm, political congruence), etc.

D.D. Driver said...

"There is no way I would call the modern left "liberal"."

The modern left cringes at the word "liberal." They demand to be called "leftists."

Eva Marie said...

“The NYT had to close comments about an hour after opening them, because they were just proving all the stereotypes about Bluesky types.”
That’s interesting they closed the comments. I didn’t think they were out of line. For the NYT they were rather reasonable.
1. Closing comments at NYT
2. Firing Dowd
3. TMZ apology
The lefties really are running scared. Interesting.

Peachy said...

Again - the left cannot run from this:
The left's terrorist inspiring words: Repeated daily.

"Trump is an existential threat to democracy"
"Trump is Hitler"
"Trump is a fascist"
"Trump is a King"
"Trump's supporters are fascists"
"Trump is a Nazi"
Trump's supporters are Nazis"
"Trump is a dictator and he will end our democracy"

All of those words come out of elite democrats in positions of power. That rhetoric emboldens the violent leftist cultists to act.

victoria said...

Read the Wall Street Journal editorial. They say it is time for the President to be the united, not the divider. He is doing just the opposite. Mean, nasty and vicious. He is attaching and attacking the left, baselessly. Is this what we can expect the nect 4 years? Heaven help us, it will destroy the right. And may just destroy democracy in the process.

The Drill SGT said...

OT on this 9/11,

Here's to Rick Rescorla, a true American Hero:

of the 2700 Morgan Stanley employees that day, only 13 died. 4 of the 13 were Rick and his team. Rick was last seen on the 10th floor of the Tower, shortly before it collapsed, headed back up to check for stragglers...

Absent Friends...

Peachy said...

Sorry Victoria - YOUR Party is the Party of Lies, rage, and violence. Why don't you figure it out, and stop deluding yourself.

Original Mike said...

"And may just destroy democracy in the process."

I'd call shooting your political opponents destroying democracy.

Eva Marie said...

victoria, we can smell the fear.
You’re not afraid of us on the right, you’re afraid of what you’ve unleashed on the left. And you want mean ol’ Trump to protect you. Can you say please?

deepelemblues said...

Read the Wall Street Journal editorial. They say it is time for the President to be the united, not the divider. He is doing just the opposite. Mean, nasty and vicious. He is attaching and attacking the left, baselessly. Is this what we can expect the nect 4 years? Heaven help us, it will destroy the right. And may just destroy democracy in the process.
What you can expect the next four years is resolute stamping out of radical left violence that has attempted multiple assassinations, and succeeded yesterday, and has also perpetrated several massacres in the last two years. Your fear that not tolerating such violence will destroy "the right" and "democracy" notwithstanding.

Peachy said...

DD Driver - the left are shape shifting assholes. First they want to be called liberal - then they soil the word liberal...
Then they move on to "progressive" - then they soil Progressive.
We normals refer to them as the French derived "Leftist" - which makes some of them mad. You are now saying they like it? OK fine. Leftist, it is.
Progressive Neo-Marxist Leftwing Democratic Socialist Authoritarian - I think that is most accurate.

After this heinous assassination - The Democrat Party is also a trans-rage terrorist organization.

buwaya said...

"Mean, nasty and vicious" pretty well describes the secular priesthood that runs most US universities, and who define the inner life of the left. C.Kirk spent his life arguing back against these people by counter-preaching to their students/victims.

Hey Skipper said...

For those suffering from bothsidesism.

I keep asking for examples of Charlie Kirk's hateful rhetoric. It's a sincere request. So far, I haven't had any takers.

Here is some examples AI tossed up:

During an appearance on Fox News the day before his death, Kirk falsely claimed that white people were disproportionately attacked by Black people in the U.S.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kirk claimed that attacks by Black individuals on white individuals occur at three times the rate of white-on-Black crime, despite Black people making up only 13% of the U.S. population.
(correction: 15 times)

He also made comments comparing Islam's Prophet Muhammad to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and claimed that Islam was "at odds" with Western values.


Which is the closest AI came to providing actual examples — the rest was just accusations.

And here are more from Instagram:

Charlie Kirk’s Top 11 Most Heinous Statements & Remarks (documented & reported):
1. Said gun deaths are “unfortunately worth it” to preserve the Second Amendment.
2. Called transgender identity a mental disease, needing “brain treatment.”
3. Refused to use people’s correct pronouns: “I will not call a man a woman.”
4. Demanded a nationwide ban on gender-affirming care.
5. Quoted scripture about homosexuality as an “abomination” deserving death.
6. Called Martin Luther King Jr. a “myth” and said the Civil Rights Act was a “huge mistake.”
7. Promoted the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.
8. Spread COVID-19 misinformation likening masks and vaccine mandates to “medical apartheid.”
9. Suggested mass incarceration as a fix for the housing crisis.
10. Advocated for public, televised executions even for children to watch.
11. Dismissed Black competence and made demeaning statements about Black women:
He claimed that Michelle Obama and other supporters of affirmative action “lacked the brain processing power” to understand arguments on those policies.

He also made undermining comments toward Black pilots, saying, “If I see a Black pilot, I’m gonna be like, ’Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’”


As for the last, I can't imagine why.

All of which proves that for progressives, everything contradicting progressive shibboleths is hate speech.

mccullough said...

Trump was shot too. He attacked “the Radical Left” because they are violent. He could have just said “the Democrats.” He gave the Democrats an out. Obama took it.

As far as “professional,” Oswald & Ray killed JFK and MLK. They aren’t pros either. The left-wing nut who almost killed Trump wasn’t a pro either.

Carlos the Jackal is dead

Temujin said...

Ezra Klein coming off as thoughtful and I have to agree with his view on this tragedy. It is a tragedy for all of us, even those who are afraid of having to debate actual ideas.

But my gut tells me that Klein will move off of this 'can't we all just get along' phase in less than a week. But at least for now he's proven the old adage that even a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while.

I agree with Peachy that "The Democrat Party is also a trans-rage terrorist organization."

Among other things.

Hassayamper said...

10. Advocated for public, televised executions even for children to watch.


I used to think this would be appropriate, but now I think the best way to handle executions would be in the juvenile jails, with all the inmates marched in to watch. Very salutary for them to see where their path will lead them if they don't change their ways.

Peachy said...

The Evil Tim Walzian Left are calling for more.

"PART 2. URGENT. FYI. It’s not only the sky place. It’s here too!!! [on X]

Here are calls to target JK Rowling, Elon Musk and Donald Trump and they are on X!!! Charlie Kirk was just the beginning. They are calling for more!"

link

Mary Beth said...

It was a professional hit job.

Based on the information we have, how would it appear different if it had been a non-professional who got "lucky" and panicked and ran after the first shot?

Eva Marie said...

“Read the Wall Street Journal editorial. They say it is time for the President to be the united, not the divider. He is doing just the opposite. Mean, nasty and vicious. He is attaching and attacking the left, baselessly. Is this what we can expect the nect 4 years? Heaven help us, it will destroy the right. And may just destroy democracy in the process.”
What the WSJ is saying (in my opinion) is we need to protect the left in order to save the right. IOW they are saying it is within our interests to save the lefties from the most radical elements of the left. Lefties know they can’t denounce the radicals. They know Kirk’s fate awaits them if they do. Maybe swifter and harder. That’s what’s behind Klein’s very conciliatory essay, the swift firing, the TMZ apology. They know their fringe groups better than we do.
Daddy . . . help!

buwaya said...

" white people were disproportionately attacked by Black people"
This is absolutely true. Blacks are by far the most violent group in the US as a % of the population. The old Justice Department crime reports statistical breakdown of race with both perpetrators and victims showed that blacks were committing violence vs whites at several times the rate whites were committing violence to blacks. I seem to recall this reporting protocol was abandoned about the year 2000.

Peachy said...

Here is Part One of a small sample of the Insane mentally ill violent left - inspired by MSNBC, Tim Walz, 86-Comey, CNN, Adam Schitt, PBS newz, NPR, Rachel Maddow, The View, & Most every Democratic in power..

n.n said...

Trump, Rowling, Kennedy, Musk, Reagan, Gabbard et al are apostates of left-wing theology, where mortal gods and goddesses bray, and acolytes prey, they are "burdens" of left-wing ideological ethics and liberal progress foreign and domestic.

Mr. T. said...

This from the founder of Vox-

Which has been a source of peddling far left smears, libels and incitement of violence by leftists.


Go pound your Hamas-loving desert sand, Klein. And take your transurrectionists who'se dicks you suck every night with you.

Yancey Ward said...

"Why don't you figure it out, and stop deluding yourself.

If Vicky didn't have delusions, she would have no thoughts at all.

n.n said...

Planned Perphood (PP) enjoys bipartisan support from the right for capital offenses, and the left for Capitol offenses, social progress, and other purposes.

Dr Weevil said...

buwaya (10:04am) on Larry Correia's writing style: "He got better." I couldn't help hearing that as implying that Correia had been turned into a newt.

jim5301 said...

they released the photo. He appears to be wearing a black shirt with a picture of an American flag and a bald eagle.

Gospace said...

Ann Althouse said...
...
He said the U.S. system of government was designed for Christians and won't work without Christians...

I've seen this said by many others also. So let's ask a serious question or two.

Could the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution be written by and/or used to govern muslims?

Could the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution be written by and/or used to govern Hindus?

The answer for both those religions is obviously NO! Non-muslims are second rate citizens or marked for death by islam. The caste system of Hinduism makes a mockery of equality.

I have enough familiarity with those two religions to opine that. Not familiar enough with the beliefs Buddhism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, or others to opine, but suspect the answer is no.

Judaism appears to be compatible- since Judaism and Jewish people have been part of the American state since it's founding.

Peachy said...

May a million Charlie Kirk's bloom.

The corrupt vile evil pro-trans terrorist organization that is the modern democratic party -- cannot kill all of us.

Gospace said...

should end italics. If not-

buwaya said...

I saw (didnt meet, crowds) Mr. Correia once. He is an extremely large man (6 and a half feet tall or more) with an intimidating aspect, and I'm not small myself. He would make an extremely large newt. I would flee.

PM said...

While I'm happy to use and read social media, I'm sorry it exists.

Peachy said...

X is swarming with pro-leftist violence. one example.

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