Left Blames Trump for Kirk Murder
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, "Bluesky," the progressive alternative to Elon Musk's "X," warned its users "glorifying violence or harm violates Bluesky's Community Guidelines. We review reports and take action on content that celebrates harm against anyone. Violence has no place in healthy public discourse, and we're committed to fostering healthy, open conversations."
This warning was followed by numerous posts praising the assassination and suggesting future targets that included Musk, podcasters Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, and, of course, President Trump.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) denied that characterizing Trump and MAGA as Nazis could bear any responsibility for inspiring the assassination, saying "accurately portraying the policies of the Republican Party is protected free speech. The Democratic Party cannot be blamed if some person who doesn't understand our rhetoric decides to use violence to prevent a fascist takeover of our country. We tried to use the more civilized methods of impeachment and election fraud, but when this failed we shouldn't be surprised that less civilized options are tried."
Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill) blamed Trump for Kirk's assassination, saying "I think the president's rhetoric often foments violence like we saw on January 6 when rioters initiated a new era of political violence. And the president? What did he do? Pardoned them. I mean what kind of signal does that send to people who want to perpetrate political violence. He should not be surprised that one of his minions would be taken out by an opponent of the fascism he is trying to foist on America."
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) issued a statement deploring gun violence, but added "Charlie Kirk spread infinite amounts of disinformation about LGBTQ+ people. His association with anti-trans bigots like 'Teens Against Gender Mutilation,' Riley Gaines, Chloe Cole, and Pastor Junsun Yoo make it hard to mourn his passing."
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) said "Kirk's invitation for debaters to try to prove him wrong was a trick. He urged prayer to a god other than Allah. He rejected Islam's command to fight the infidels, He objected to allowing transgenders to enter women's restrooms and compete in women's sports. He opposed aborting unwanted children. He should have known that these hateful ideas would inspire others to strike him down. Ironically, he was shot in the midst of expressing his disapproval of the slaughter of school children by transgenders."
Jonathan Chait writing in "The Atlantic" said "Trump's insistence on punishing the assassin will not end the cycle of violence because it fails to understand that opposition to fascism inevitably has to turn to violent methods to prevent the destruction of our democracy. Trump could've used his defeat in the 2020 election as an opportunity to end his disastrous entry into politics. Instead, he was determined to seek revenge on those he perceived as his enemies. The mayhem we see today would never have happened if Kamala had won last November."
Trump defended his call for justice, saying "for years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today. My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law-enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country. From the attack on my life in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year, which killed a husband and father, to the attacks on ICE agents, to the vicious murder of a health-care executive in the streets of New York, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others, radical-left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives."
In related news, a suggestion by Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers that the European Parliament observe a moment of silence to honor Kirk was rejected by EP President Roberta Metsola on the grounds that "first, procedural rules require that tributes be formally submitted at the opening of a plenary session. Since the opening session took place before Mr. Kirk was killed, the soonest we could take up the proposal for a moment of silence would be at our October session. Second, the fact that it is members of Germany's AfD and France's Identity Liberties movement--both right wing parties--that want the moment of silience is an irrefutable argument against it. In as much are we are trying to outlaw these parties I feel it would be inappropriate to respond to their request. Anyway, I doubt it could obtain the consent of the majority."
Dems' Soft on Crime Policies Enable Murder
Prior to Charlie Kirk's murder at the hands of a political fanatic, 23 year-old Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina by a dangerous lunatic named Decarlos Brown Jr. Brown had been previously arrested 14 times over the past decade for crimes including assault and robbery. In January of this year he was again arrested. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and advised to seek psychiatric care. Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes authorized the release of Brown based solely on his written promise to appear for a future court date. While he was free he boarded a train and stabbed Zarutska to death after she made the ill-fated decision to sit in a seat directly in front of Brown.
Mayor Vi Lyles (D) called the murder "a tragic situation that sheds light on problems with society safety nets related to mental health care. We can't lock people up just because they're crazy. That would violate their civil rights. Our only option is to let them wander around until they commit a crime that calls for incarceration. Occasionally, that crime turns out to be murder. It's a bad break for the victim, but it's the price we have to pay for a free society. At least Ms. Zarutska led a normal life and died quickly without suffering. The same can't be said for Mr. Brown who was homeless and mentally ill. I think he deserves at least as much sympathy as does his victim."
Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC) said "North Carolina's justice system failed Iryna Zarutska. She came to Charlotte looking for safety and a better life, but instead, she was brutally murdered by a repeat offender who never should've been let back on the streets. Judge Stokes had the chance to protect the public and chose not to. It's clear that she's unfit to hold this consequential position and should be removed from the bench immediately."
President Trump asserted that "the heinous murder of Ms Zarutska was the foreseeable result of the Democrats' soft on crime policies. The man who killed her had a lengthy criminal record, was diagnosed as mentally ill, yet was still released by a judge. This innocent young woman was attacked from behind by a man more than twice her size who walked away muttering 'I got that white girl.' One of the foremost responsibilities of government is to protect citizens from criminals. Democrats cannot be trusted to carry out this responsibility."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) called Trump "a hypocrite. Everyone knows it is the Republicans who won't support sensible gun controls. If the police and the military were the only ones allowed to have guns there would be far fewer crimes like the ones committed against Charlie Kirk and Ms Zarutska."
Judge Dismisses Charges Against "Alternate Electors"
District Court Judge Kristen Simmons dismissed charges of election fraud against 15 Michigan Republicans who agreed to be the state's electors in the 2020 presidential election. "Historically, there have been other instances where the issue of which electors really represent the voters' choice has been disputed," she observed. "This is not fraud or a coup d'etat. It is a precautionary step in case recounts or reassessments of vote tallies reverse the results initially reported after the vote counting has been concluded. Both Democrats and Republicans have used this step. Once the winner is determined only one set of electors actually casts electoral votes."
"I believe they were executing their constitutional right to seek redress," Simmons added. "Criminal charges aren't warranted. The attempt to prosecute these citizens constitutes what is currently called 'lawfare.' This is a misuse of the legal system in order to persecute, intimidate, and destroy political opposition. It is the antithesis of democracy."
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) denounced the decision, saying "if they can get away with this, well, what can they get away with next?"
Simmons pointed out "none of these people 'got away with' anything. The issue was ultimately resolved via the normal vote counting process. The electors for the Biden-Harris ticket were declared the winners and went on to cast their votes. Biden became president and Harris vice-president. No harm was done, No crime was committed."
Mamdani Can't Convince Sharpton
In an interview on MSNBC "PoliticsNation" host Rev. Al Sharpton asked New York City mayoral candidate ZohranMamdani "you say you want to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund a bigger budget for the changes you want to implement in how the city is run. How will you keep them from leaving?"
"When you ask New Yorkers what is it that is making them feel uneasy in this city, you often hear from them about the cleanliness of our city, the safety of our city, the affordability of our city. We are not asking to raise these taxes for the sake of raising taxes," Mamdani responded.
"Well, if I lived in New York I'd be in that top 1%," Sharpton said. "I don't see how free buses and letting more prisoners out of jail would improve my life. Won't the millionaires who do live in the City be similarly skeptical?"
"Where do you live?" Mamdani asked.
"In New Jersey," Sharpton replied. "I moved because of the high taxes and soft-on-crime policies."
"But you do work in the City," Mamdani pointed out. "Don't you feel like you owe the City something for this privilege?"
"What privilege?" Sharpton exclaimed. "I've worked hard to get where I am. Nobody's giving me any privilege."
"I believe we're all in this together," Mamdani explained. "Those who have done better have an obligation to the collective to share the wealth they've gained. It will be my obligation as the mayor of the City to do whatever I can to ensure a more equitable distribution of this wealth."
"That sounds like communism to me," Sharpton complained. "I'm glad I don't live in your jurisdiction."
"Not yet," Mamdani admitted. "But being mayor is just the next step toward my collectivization of the United States. One day you will be in my jurisdiction and I will govern you as I deem necessary for the good of the whole."
