Thanks Tommy!

Thanks for this Tommy!

I saw Malkin’s piece yesterday and the first words out of my mouth… “When will Tommy push back on this”. Never disappoints.

Point #1: The fact that people are calling this an event is telling. I work in marketing. I wouldn’t call a memorial an event.

Point #2: I expect Tommy and the rest of media to formally request for the personal check of the College’s President, as this will prove the assertion that the funds aren’t being taken from state monies. However, if the State is the one that pays the $60,000, how is that a legitimate assumption?

Thanks for following up; the t-shirts did kind of enhance the whole pep-rally concept thingy though.

Can you tell me what other memorial services had supporting t-shirts? Or is this a first? Just curious. Did the Wellstone memorial have t-shirts too? I don’t think any were handed out at the 9/11 memorial service, and I don’t think there were t-shirts handed out at the Fort Hood memorial service (oh wait a minute, there wasn’t one of those was there???), and I don’t think any were handed out at Virginia Tech either.

Can you just provide a little historical perspective in addition to this story Tommy? Is this a first, where a sitting President comes to speak and memorialize and honor the dead, and part of the ceremony included passing out t-shirts?

The Truth About the ‘Together We Thrive’ T-Shirts at the Tucson Memorial

They were in exceptionally bad taste.

The End.

So instead of calling it a memorial why not call it a celebration of the life of the people who were killed. The only ones who want to cast a negative light on this are the ones who want to find negativity and thrust it on the current administration and lawmakers.

Blame the University, not the President or the Administration for the shirts, but of course the Repubs won’t let that happen, they have to always say something negative.

ice queen said:
Blame the University, not the President or the Administration for the shirts, but of course the Repubs won’t let that happen, they have to always say something negative.

Conservatives are blaming the University. We’re also blaming the President for a lack of decorum. Even he was shown as uneasy with all of the clapping. You can’t spin audio.

I thought his words were ok. However, the theatrics were abysmal. I don’t blame him for the visuals; I merely blame him for not making this about the victims involved.

Not sinister however it is in poor taste for a memorial. Might as well give out party favors at a funeral.

Tommy, you sound more angry at this story than of your side accusing the right of being murders. Your priorities are a little out of whack.

Why was this at the University of Arizona ?
For the student audience , of course .
Whose idea was the design of the shirts ?
What account at the University is for t-shirts ?
Who came up with a SLOGAN for a MEMORIAL service ?
Why did they have a rally and not a service ?

WCinWI said:
Point #1: The fact that people are calling this an event is telling. I work in marketing. I wouldn’t call a memorial an event.

Point #2: I expect Tommy and the rest of media to formally request for the personal check of the College’s President, as this will prove the assertion that the funds aren’t being taken from state monies. However, if the State is the one that pays the $60,000, how is that a legitimate assumption?

And what I meant by that last point was, if the state provides the university any sort of public funding, then taxpayers are subsidizing the cost of those t-shirts. If it is using Booster funds, then this is totally appropriate if the Boosters approved such a measure.

TangledThorns said:
Not sinister however it is in poor taste for a memorial. Might as well give out party favors at a funeral.

Yes.

The history of the Modern Liberals/Progressives is that they do take advantage of memorials, etc. Think of the Paul Wellstone event – it just a big liberal rally.

When Coretta Scott King died, that memorial was political mess. Rush had a good parody on it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGTRzdqab6E

So when one sees the T-Shirts and branding, it’s natural to assume that it’s just another liberal angle on gathering publicity. The Rush parody is hilarious.

The motto of the d-crat socialists is STILL: “Never let a good crisis go to waste by not shamelessly exploiting it to promote lunatic-left extremism.”

For conservatives, this is easy…..its all Obama’s fault. The other 80% of the country is fine with it. This was about and for the people in Tucson, and however they chose to do this memorial is their business. I certainly don’t want Big Eddie and the rest of the Uptight Crew to tell me what kind of memorial service to have. They probably only want life memorials to be solemn tearful affairs. Me, I want to celebrate the deceased’s life.

tatboy said:
I saw Malkin’s piece yesterday and the first words out of my mouth… “When will Tommy push back on this”. Never disappoints.

If your a fan of Malkin it explains your responds.

Chris Christie says Palin Will “Never be President” http://bit.ly/h51o17

Sorry, this is all bullshit. When the president is speaking at any venue, NOTHING happens without express permission of the White House. This doesn’t just go for this administration, but every administration in the modern era has operated under those same terms. No one drapes shirts over the back of chairs at a venue that is hosting the President, without someone on the President’s advance staff giving their OK.

I don’t care who paid for them, or whose idea they originally were. They were distributed with the approval of the White House. Also, it’s disingenuous for any reporter who has worked in the WH press pool to pretend otherwise. You can’t be around the WH media machine and NOT realize that the WH controls – entirely – the optics of any presidential visit.

If you can get a Catholic university to remove it’s seal that bears the cross, you can certainly keep some college kids from distributing tee-shirts.

WCinWI said:
Conservatives are blaming the University. We’re also blaming the President for a lack of decorum. Even he was shown as uneasy with all of the clapping. You can’t spin audio. I thought his words were ok. However, the theatrics were abysmal. I don’t blame him for the visuals; I merely blame him for not making this about the victims involved.

There is plenty to rip this President about since he has been office, but this wasn’t one of them. The University and their President are responsible for letting it turn into a rally complete with shirts. I’m not sure what else Obama could have done. He gave a solid speech and mentioned things about the lives of the people who were lost. You can’t expect him to dress down the students for acting like idiots by being disrespectful, though I’m not inclined to make a big deal out of it. It didn’t appear to affect the families who were attending so it really should matter.

Do you honestly believe that the WH did not give permission or their approval for this to be done? That they knew nothing about it beforehand? That there was absolutely no vetting of any of this? T-shirts draped over each seat and it wasn’t seen by WH officials beforehand?

Do you honestly believe that Obama or any of the other speakers could not have quelled the yelling and cheering with two slightly raised palms or even a couple of words of warning to calm the tone?

Do you think it wasn’t planned that the event would be held in a college where the seats would be packed with his cheering fans?

This reminds me of the Bush team claiming that they had nothing to do with the Mission Accomplished banner.

The media thinks the American people are stupid. We’re not quite as stupid as you seem to think, Tommy. The propaganda and spin coming from the WH and which the media has been pumping out is transparent. And the demonization of conservatives by our so-called objective media is disgusting.

During the upcoming campaign watch how the focus will be on Obama’s pretty speechifying abilities and not on his accomplishments or failures. It’s already begun. And of course, Palin will be used as the distraction.
The economy is in the toilet? Never mind, look over there–it’s Palin! Afghanistan war and predator drones? Let me distract you–look over there, it’s scary Palin.

Tommy, the majority of Americans are on to the game you and your colleagues are playing. And it ain’t working, not this time. Check the latest Gallup poll about this situation.

And where exactly did that $60,000 come from? Ultimately a public university is financed by state and federal tax dollars.

So we did pay for those shirts – or at least the citizens of Arizona did. The tax-paying ones anyway.

Finally – and most importantly – is a t-shirt really appropriate for this event? Really? The carnival atmosphere was alarming and insensitive. The speech was largely predictable and self-serving.

All in all, it smacked of a political rally. The White House could have set the venue and agenda – the argument that the university was responsible for all of the arrangements is ridiculous. Remember, this is the same administration that insisted that all Catholic symbols be covered up when Obama spoke at Georgetown. Tell me that the White House didn’t know every detail of this event down to the number of shirts and design of the tickets.

” My liberal friends went to a memorial pep rally for 6 dead and all I got was this lousy t shirt.”

TACKY! TACKY! TACKY!

Not to mention the nonstop cheering during and after Bible versus.

If I were the family members of the dead, I would have felt sickened.

The Tea Weasel said:
For conservatives, this is easy…..its all Obama’s fault. The other 80% of the country is fine with it. This was about and for the people in Tucson, and however they chose to do this memorial is their business. I certainly don’t want Big Eddie and the rest of the Uptight Crew to tell me what kind of memorial service to have. They probably only want life memorials to be solemn tearful affairs. Me, I want to celebrate the deceased’s life.

I’m sure screaming out to Obama “I Love You” multiple times is a celebration of the deceased’s life. I’m conservative and I don’t blame Obama at all. He gave a good solid speech and isn’t responsible for the action of the arena. I’m sure the President of the University could have given a reminder to the crowd prior to the memorial that is was indeed a memorial.

mcf1757 said:
Chris Christie says Palin Will “Never be President” http://bit.ly/h51o17

Wow, you just made the definitive statement on The Great Tee Shirt Scandal of 2011!

Pack it up and file it away.

That was the one detail that kept gnawing away at me in forming an opinion on the tee shirts: What does Christie have to say about Palin?

I literally cannot believe this….so I’ve got it straight….the memorial had party favors? Jesus, effing christ.

I saw Malkin’s piece yesterday and the first words out of my mouth… “When will Tommy push back on this”. Never disappoints.

-Like a moth to a flame.

If that truly is the case, I’m pretty disapointed that the leader of the free world doesn’t have enough stroke to tell the school “You know, this might be a bad idea.”

musiccityvic said:
There is plenty to rip this President about since he has been office, but this wasn’t one of them. The University and their President are responsible for letting it turn into a rally complete with shirts. I’m not sure what else Obama could have done. He gave a solid speech and mentioned things about the lives of the people who were lost. You can’t expect him to dress down the students for acting like idiots by being disrespectful, though I’m not inclined to make a big deal out of it. It didn’t appear to affect the families who were attending so it really should matter.

The President could’ve started by having a more intimate affair, not at a college. He also could’ve noted at the beginning of the speech that there should’ve been decorum. The President also could’ve used this as an opportunity to not be an ideologue and could call out the professional Left in the media for calling a private citizen as an accessory to murder. He lost it when he didn’t do that.

kit9 said:
Finally – and most importantly – is a t-shirt really appropriate for this event? Really?

The only thing missing was…’Gimme an M! Gimme an E Gimme another M!……’

Here is the deal…

The White House knew in advance of the T-Shirts. Someone at the White House had to give its blessing on the T-Shirts. Had the WH strongly opposed, then there would not be a T-Shirt Gate today.

Personally, I think it was a little cheezy, but that seems to be the way things are run from this White House for the last couple of years…I have just come to expect it. Not only that, I expect there will be no change for the next 2 years. So as long as the President runs for office in 2012 (and does not turn the US into a dictatorship, which I do not believe that is planned – I could be wrong) and I have the ability to vote for him, then I will exercise my right to vote. “That is what makes me Happy!”

Alz said:
The history of the Modern Liberals/Progressives is that they do take advantage of memorials, etc. Think of the Paul Wellstone event – it just a big liberal rally.

I haven’t seen such excited mourners since the Khomeni funeral.

Truth says:
If your a fan of Malkin it explains your responds.

I’m sure you meant to post what she got wrong. Please feel free to do that now. Don’t just shoot the messenger. Man up and prove your accusations.

“If you can get a Catholic university to remove it’s seal that bears the cross, you can certainly keep some college kids from distributing tee-shirts.”

Excellent point, Republitarian. See if Tommy responds. I doubt it. You’re using too much logic. You should be joining in the glorification of Obama instead.

Obama started his career with speeches and that’s all he can do and that’s how he’ll continue. And his media enablers and acolytes will continue singing his praises and making excuses for him as the economy continues to sink and the predator drones are being launched against Pakistan.

Pablo said:
I haven’t seen such excited mourners since the Khomeni funeral.

I nominate you for:

Comment of the Day!

Any donations to replace my now drowned keyboard will NOT be refused!

WCinWI said:
The President could’ve started by having a more intimate affair, not at a college. He also could’ve noted at the beginning of the speech that there should’ve been decorum. The President also could’ve used this as an opportunity to not be an ideologue and could call out the professional Left in the media for calling a private citizen as an accessory to murder. He lost it when he didn’t do that.

Seriously, though. Obama should not been a Leftist ideologue and then suddenly come to the defense of a ideological private citizen who taped a professional video featuring her being against a media and a bunch of evil people. Because that wouldn’t be ideological and partisan, at least not when it’s in agreement with my political views.

Sarah Palin is extremely private, you guys.

If you can get a Catholic university to remove it’s seal that bears the cross, you can certainly keep some college kids from distributing tee-shirts.

–Bingo

I guess it just goes to show them Arizonians are a bunch of tacky rednecks. Cheering at a memorial service, well I never. I remember crying at several of Bush’s speeches, but mostly it was because of his butchery of the English language. I guess we should impeach Obama for giving good speech.

Conservatives must have had a secret symbol tattooed on themselves at birth. How else could they tell that everyone at the memorial were libtards.

On the flip side, its nice to see that conservatives still don’t hesitate to embrace the most absurd B.S. Rush’s job is safe.

blurgh. said:
Seriously, though. Obama should not been a Leftist ideologue and then suddenly come to the defense of a ideological private citizen who taped a professional video featuring her being against a media and a bunch of evil people. Because that wouldn’t be ideological and partisan, at least not when it’s in agreement with my political views.

Sarah Palin is extremely private, you guys.

No – He didn’t need to mention her name. He could’ve used different terminology to get this point across. If he wants to ratchet the rhetoric up, by all means, he gave permission to do just that. This is the attitude of a President that wants to be there for 4 yrs rather than 8. Simple as that.

WCinWI said:
The President could’ve started by having a more intimate affair, not at a college. He also could’ve noted at the beginning of the speech that there should’ve been decorum. The President also could’ve used this as an opportunity to not be an ideologue and could call out the professional Left in the media for calling a private citizen as an accessory to murder. He lost it when he didn’t do that.

I’m a conservative and am as conservative as anyone on this site, but I’m also fair and a realist. Obama, nor any other President on the left or right is going to hammer his base in a public speech, no matter how much he should have. Do I think he believes ANY of what he said, no. Do I think he will change HIS tone, no. But in the context of what he was there for he did what he was supposed to do.

I wasn’t even angry with the cheering. It was more of a disappointing than anything. The only time I got angry was watching that idiot sheriff and the fool from S Carolina standing and clapping when Obama talked about how the dialogue had to be toned down after both of them spent all day ripping Republicans with their talk radio fantasy. Of course, it didn’t surprise me because is the same group that stood and cheered when the Mexican president spoke in Congress and ripped the state of Arizona. They are hypocrites, but you already knew that.

Tommy -

Can you look into the propaganda of OWN? I find it really disturbing that Gayle is allowed a platform to air her “radio” show. Absolutely appalling.

5 Stages of Grief, Revised for Democrats:

1. Denial – “Dude! No way! What? Who? Never heard of her.”

2. Anger – “God, I fu*king hate Republicans!”

3. Bargaining – “Can we blame this on Palin? We can blame this on Palin, right?”

4. Depression – “It’s not working? Shit. I can’t believe they busted us.”

5. Paaartaaaay! – “We like totally need some T-shirts for this bash. And don’t forget the beer bong!”

Thank you so much for clarifying this.

I grew up knowing a distinct difference between funerals and memorial services. I guess it’s regional or something. But I hope somebody slaps me if I ever criticize how someone grieves.

Two stupid conversations. Sarah Palin’s speech was great and the vitriol over the blood libel is ridiculous and the conversation over who provided the T-shirts. They were in poor taste for a memorial but great choice for a pep rally. This event got a bit confused because they tried to make it both a memorial and a pep rally. Put together in less than a full week I think people should only stress that we who expected a memorial were disappointed and those who meant it to be a pep rally should have not tried to do so this soon and should have done a better job of letting the people know the intentions. Why can’t we just call it lesson learned and move on.

I totally agree with the sentiments about the WH having had to know about the shirts. It’s an insult to anyone’s intelligence to suggest otherwise. Seriously; get a clue. It doesn’t pass the smell test, and anyone with an ounce of intellectual integrity knows it.

Secondly, how quick this “debunking” has occurred, vs. how long the “Palin is responsible for the shootings” meme in the media lasted (and in some cases, still does). THAT is what is truly telling here. And it’s a sad, sad commentary on the media, of which this columnist is a part.

WCinWI said:
Conservatives are blaming the University. We’re also blaming the President for a lack of decorum. Even he was shown as uneasy with all of the clapping. You can’t spin audio.

I thought his words were ok. However, the theatrics were abysmal. I don’t blame him for the visuals; I merely blame him for not making this about the victims involved.

You obviously didn’t watch it. It was ALL about the victims and heroes of that day. You people will bleat and moan about anything potus does. Your little manufactured t-shirtgate just blew up it in your collective faces.

WCinWI said:
The President could’ve started by having a more intimate affair, not at a college. He also could’ve noted at the beginning of the speech that there should’ve been decorum. The President also could’ve used this as an opportunity to not be an ideologue and could call out the professional Left in the media for calling a private citizen as an accessory to murder. He lost it when he didn’t do that.

They used a venue that would accomodate the most people, accessible to the community and was secure. The “professional left” was not the only despicable actors in this episode. You seem to have missed things said by people on your side like Rush, Reps Virginia Fox & Gohmert. Your criticisms are simply partisan (from an ideologue) and vacuous.

musiccityvic said:
I’m sure screaming out to Obama “I Love You” multiple times is a celebration of the deceased’s life. I’m conservative and I don’t blame Obama at all. He gave a good solid speech and isn’t responsible for the action of the arena. I’m sure the President of the University could have given a reminder to the crowd prior to the memorial that is was indeed a memorial.

Precisely. You want to place blame? Blame the crowd or the university or it’s president if you had a problem with the atmosphere. Why do you people care anyway? It’s not you who who was being memorialized. Deflecting any blame to Obama just shows you are a partisan.

Tommy Christopher is my grandmother come back to life…
Not just Tommy, but today’s media.
When I was a little kid, my grandmother and her neighborhood lady friends would sit for hours out in her backyard….near the clotheslines, waiting for the clothes to dry. There they would talk….gossip about everything imaginable. Nothing that happened in the neighborhood was too small or insignificant to go on and on and on about….nothing. Sometimes the smaller a topic seemed…the bigger they tried to make it…..day after day…hour after hour.
The only difference in those days and those ladies and today’s media is access to the internet….Twitter etc….anybody can be a “reporter” today. Anybody can lead the gossip charge to the “clothesline”….
OK….OK…..there was one other difference……they never allowed slouching….

Jay Velez said:
If you can get a Catholic university to remove it’s seal that bears the cross, you can certainly keep some college kids from distributing tee-shirts.

–Bingo

Yes, like this: University President: “It’s called decorum, you nitwits. Put the T-shirts down and go look it up.”

In unrelated news today, Unemployment is at a six month high and foreclosures have reached 1 million and are going to get worse. Back to the economy and the Dems and their policies and the job will be finished off in 2012 as the rest are voted out of office (Or is that too caustic for using the words “finished off)

DaTruth said:
I totally agree with the sentiments about the WH having had to know about the shirts. It’s an insult to anyone’s intelligence to suggest otherwise. Seriously; get a clue. It doesn’t pass the smell test, and anyone with an ounce of intellectual integrity knows it. Secondly, how quick this “debunking” has occurred, vs. how long the “Palin is responsible for the shootings” meme in the media lasted (and in some cases, still does). THAT is what is truly telling here. And it’s a sad, sad commentary on the media, of which this columnist is a part.

Amen!

“This type of smear is nothing new, and despite the apparent absurdity of the claim, I checked with the White House, anyway. A senior administration official confirmed the widely-reported fact that the administration had nothing to do with the shirts.”

OR

This type of smear is nothing new, and despite the apparent absurdity of the claim, I checked with Common Sense, anyway. An average guy with common sense confirmed that the widely-reported claim by Tommy Christopher and his buddies that Sarah Palin was somehow involved in the Arizona shootings was nothing short of crazy and an attempt to use a tragedy political gain. Common Sense also confirmed that the attempts of the left to blame Palin for the incident is disturbing, dangerous & irresponsible. Common Sense also confirmed that he doesn’t have much in common with the left-wing media.

WOW Tommy – I guess that means you can convince your pal Keith to stop blaming Bush for the “Mission accomplished” banner that the SHIP put up on their return? Afterall, you lefties have pinned that on Bush for years, despite the truth and fact that it was the SHIP that did it.

And now, you claim Obama had NOTHING to do with the souveniers, and party goodies handed out at the pep rally yesterday?

Funny, just too damn funny.

Oh well. Kind of like the latest article about Palin, absolving the left wing media of their political assassination attempts on the good Governor.

Unbelievable.

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste” -Rahm Emanuel
this one has not been wasted. just couldn’t resist this gotcha piece huh? so can we expect mediaite to call out all the lies the left wing media has spewed about the shooting? doubtful.

Gasket said:
You obviously didn’t watch it. It was ALL about the victims and heroes of that day. You people will bleat and moan about anything potus does. Your little manufactured t-shirtgate just blew up it in your collective faces.

Of course I watched all of it. It was painful to watch. All of the clapping. It was over the top and even Obama was uncomfortable. There will be no lines remembered from this speech.

They used a venue that would accomodate the most people, accessible to the community and was secure. The “professional left” was not the only despicable actors in this episode. You seem to have missed things said by people on your side like Rush, Reps Virginia Fox & Gohmert. Your criticisms are simply partisan (from an ideologue) and vacuous.

So you’re going to use a defense of, “The professional Right was bad too therefore the Left can be bad too?” Wow. Not exactly an intelligent assessment. The folks over at the Jersey Shore come up with more thoughtful statements than that.

Precisely. You want to place blame? Blame the crowd or the university or it’s president if you had a problem with the atmosphere. Why do you people care anyway? It’s not you who who was being memorialized. Deflecting any blame to Obama just shows you are a partisan.

Yes, I am playing blame on a person that is supposed to be the President of the US. If a Republican were at the Head of State position, I’d want him to call out his Conservative counterparts too. You have a media that is calling a body of people and repeatedly stating that a private citizen, are accessories to murder. Sorry if I don’t bow down to your notion of partisan hack when it comes to threats of death on ANYONE.

DaTruth said:
I totally agree with the sentiments about the WH having had to know about the shirts. It’s an insult to anyone’s intelligence to suggest otherwise. Seriously; get a clue. It doesn’t pass the smell test, and anyone with an ounce of intellectual integrity knows it.

Secondly, how quick this “debunking” has occurred, vs. how long the “Palin is responsible for the shootings” meme in the media lasted (and in some cases, still does). THAT is what is truly telling here. And it’s a sad, sad commentary on the media, of which this columnist is a part.

I will ignore your useless first point since it’s based on conjecture. You are making an assertion you can not provide any evidence for. Secondly, who in the mainstream media sphere said that “Palin is responsible for the shootings” quote? Give me a name and a link. There was no debunking needed since nobody said that. Funny you want Palin defended for specious comments directed towards her by lefty bloggers yet you make specious accusations yourself towards Obama. That’s rich. .

You know the teabaggers are worried when all they can come up with is “inappropriate cheering” and t-shirts.

musiccityvic said:
In unrelated news today, Unemployment is at a six month high and foreclosures have reached 1 million and are going to get worse. Back to the economy and the Dems and their policies and the job will be finished off in 2012 as the rest are voted out of office (Or is that too caustic for using the words “finished off)

5 Million mortgages are at least 2 months behind. But at least we have some great looking shirts.

Republitarian – If you can get a Catholic university to remove it’s seal that bears the cross, you can certainly keep some college kids from distributing tee-shirts.

Solid point. That being said let’s move on past this issue. What is done is done. We’ve got ample proof of what occured. No one’s mind is going to be changed on “T-Shirtgate”. If you’re a Dem, you’ll defend BO. If you’re not, you probably won’t. I’m more concerned about Sheriff “Nifong” and his tainting of the case by injecting his knee-jerk reaction before ANY proof on the matter. Thoughts?

WCinWI said:
No – He didn’t need to mention her name. He could’ve used different terminology to get this point across. If he wants to ratchet the rhetoric up, by all means, he gave permission to do just that. This is the attitude of a President that wants to be there for 4 yrs rather than 8. Simple as that.

What would you have liked for him to say? If you could write the one paragraph or sentence that would encapsulate what you wanted Obama to have said, what would it have been?

These shirts are just plain tacky. This was supposed to be a memorial, not a basket ball game. It’s not even the cost although I’m glad the school has a money tree so it doesn’t have to take money from the state or the students. Would it not have been a better idea to use the money for scholarships for any family members involved with this horrible event (The shooting not the pep rally)

Dsiscokid said:
Republitarian – If you can get a Catholic university to remove it’s seal that bears the cross, you can certainly keep some college kids from distributing tee-shirts.

Solid point. That being said let’s move on past this issue. What is done is done. We’ve got ample proof of what occured. No one’s mind is going to be changed on “T-Shirtgate”. If you’re a Dem, you’ll defend BO. If you’re not, you probably won’t. I’m more concerned about Sheriff “Nifong” and his tainting of the case by injecting his knee-jerk reaction before ANY proof on the matter. Thoughts?

Sheriff Nifong!!! Great one..

WCinWI said:
Yes, I am playing blame on a person that is supposed to be the President of the US. If a Republican were at the Head of State position, I’d want him to call out his Conservative counterparts too. You have a media that is calling a body of people and repeatedly stating that a private citizen, are accessories to murder. Sorry if I don’t bow down to your notion of partisan hack when it comes to threats of death on ANYONE.

Yes, you are a partisan hack. Where were you when Rep. Giffords and other Democrats were getting death threats for their health care votes? I was right here when your ilk was saying they deserved it. Where were you when Palin was saying Obama was palling around with terrorists? You do realize he also received a ton of death threats after that BS? Not a peep from conservatives. Spare me your BS ambivalent attitude. You are no different from the other partisans on this site. Obama is responsible for what Obama does. Don’t you guys preach “personal responsibility?” You made your bed, now you can lie in it.

Color Me Badd said:
You know the teabaggers are worried when all they can come up with is “inappropriate cheering” and t-shirts.

No worries here. Once the focus comes back to the Economy and Obama starts making his partisan speeches, the numbers will plummet again and the complete failure of his administration will be complete.

The Left tried hard this week to blame whoever they could on the right and no one bought it, except of course for the 20% who are the Progressives and have no sense of reality. It will get even worse for the Dems with all the redistricting and all those fun mandates for Obysmalcare which are hitting people in their premiums and state taxes on the horizon as well.

Now that the Major Media has lost the crumb of credibility they had left, you lefties don’t need the right to make you look bad, the failed policies and terrible legislation does all the work.

Tommy, your job is not to protect the powerful. Your job is to report to the people, to serve as a watchdog. Remember Watergate when reporters and journalists actually did their job and didn’t spin for the White House? Or take everything the WH tells them as gospel truth.

The whole point is not who purchased the T-shirts, the point is that these things are vetted by the WH at such events and the university had to have had the permission of the WH. Surely you know that. And if you don’t then you don’t belong in this business. If you feel it’s your job to shill for the Obama administration, then apply for a job there.

Gasket said:
Yes, you are a partisan hack. Where were you when Rep. Giffords and other Democrats were getting death threats for their health care votes? I was right here when your ilk was saying they deserved it. Where were you when Palin was saying Obama was palling around with terrorists? You do realize he also received a ton of death threats after that BS? Not a peep from conservatives. Spare me your BS ambivalent attitude. You are no different from the other partisans on this site. Obama is responsible for what Obama does. Don’t you guys preach “personal responsibility?” You made your bed, now you can lie in it.

Giffords used to be a Republican. I liked her. That takes care of your whole health care riot talk.

From what I understand, he did.

Exactly. Obama is responsible for what Obama does. I’m glad you will finally give him the responsibility that he should have taken on Day 1 of the Presidency. Now, I will look forward to you not uttering Bush’s name.

tatboy said:
I saw Malkin’s piece yesterday and the first words out of my mouth… “When will Tommy push back on this”. Never disappoints.

It isn’t “pushing back,” it’s called “finding out the facts.”

People are entitled to their opinions about the propriety of the t-shirts, but they’re not entitled to their own facts.

lonestar77 said:

This type of smear is nothing new, and despite the apparent absurdity of the claim, I checked with Common Sense, anyway. An average guy with common sense confirmed that the widely-reported claim by Tommy Christopher and his buddies that Sarah Palin was somehow involved in the Arizona shootings was nothing short of crazy and an attempt to use a tragedy political gain..

Another pathological liar. Can you please link said articles where Tommy Christopher said Palin was responsible for the shootings? PLEASE DO. I challenge you.

KING in the souvenir shop . Fiddle-dee dee . This is all piffle about the tschotskes . This is a common practice at these types of solemn services . I still have my t- shirt from the Estes Kefauver memorial service . No problem here at all . If this was a campaign kick-off rally , the crowd would have been cheering our magnificent President , instead of being respectful to the grieving family members sitting in the audience .

TfT says:

WOW Tommy – I guess that means you can convince your pal Keith to stop blaming Bush for the “Mission accomplished” banner that the SHIP put up on their return? Afterall, you lefties have pinned that on Bush for years, despite the truth and fact that it was the SHIP that did it.

Superb point!

Tommy Christopher said:
People are entitled to their opinions about the propriety of the t-shirts, but they’re not entitled to their own facts.

Yes . We prefer official facts provided by Robert Gibbs .

TfT said:
Thanks for following up; the t-shirts did kind of enhance the whole pep-rally concept thingy though.

Can you tell me what other memorial services had supporting t-shirts? Or is this a first? Just curious. Did the Wellstone memorial have t-shirts too? I don’t think any were handed out at the 9/11 memorial service, and I don’t think there were t-shirts handed out at the Fort Hood memorial service (oh wait a minute, there wasn’t one of those was there???), and I don’t think any were handed out at Virginia Tech either.

Can you just provide a little historical perspective in addition to this story Tommy? Is this a first, where a sitting President comes to speak and memorialize and honor the dead, and part of the ceremony included passing out t-shirts?

I don’t know the history of these events as relates to t-shirts. If I thought there was enough interest in it, I could probably find out. I do know that every manner of cheesy 9/11 souvenir has adorned almost every person/vehicle/cubicle in this country at some point, The concept isn’t that novel. One of my Twitter followers from Colorado talked about Columbine memorial shirts. I have seen all manner of tchotchkes given out at funerals. There’s a legitimate debate to be had over taste, one I choose to stay out of because I grant the grieving a wide berth.

You’re wrong, though, there was a large memorial for Fort Hood, and Obama spoke at it.

Thanks for proving what sane people already knew.

tatboy said:
I saw Malkin’s piece yesterday and the first words out of my mouth…

I heard Malkin’s spewings on this and I wondered when is someone going to prove that YET AGAIN this HACK wanna-be journalist was talking out of her a$$ and was speaking without the facts. And I thought those one the Right have been cautioning us all over the last week not to JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS about those you disagree especially when you don’t have all the facts. Seems like Michelle Malkin can’t follow her own advice.

But, then again, Malkin was also ticked that people were actually CHEERING at the event because those CHEERS show that people still respect the words and guidance of the President and that simply doesn’t fit with the “President is EVIL and UNAMERICAN” narrative.

BTW, thanks for proving that you’re guided by HACKS like Malkin.

blurgh. said:
What would you have liked for him to say? If you could write the one paragraph or sentence that would encapsulate what you wanted Obama to have said, what would it have been?

What I would’ve liked him to say:

“Please everyone, sit down. Let me begin this by expressing my deep condolences with the family members, friends and community of the victims of this tragedy. We find ourselves, as a nation, amongst a tragedy that affects the lives of every American. Some people out there would like to make this a political tragedy. However, this is not a political tragedy, but a moral tragedy, that will highlight both the good and the bad that is in America. Some want to react and place blame on different individuals that they don’t ideologically agree with, but this is not the time nor is it the reason why this tragedy occurred. To my constituents on the Right side of the aisle and those of you on the Left and those in the Middle, let us place our hearts on this tragedy and treat it as an opportunity for us to remember what is great about our country. Don’t let the peripheral nonsense of the media talking heads on the Right, Left or Middle change what this is about. This is not the time to attack the other side. Gabrielle wouldn’t want further threats to be issued against any politician or citizen to arise from this tragedy and our nation is better than this. Let us remember that Gabby was a strong supporter of the democratic process and in her and also in the memory of the other victims, let us come together to remember this fact. Justice will be served and following that justice, we can learn begin the steps to examining our culture and what ways that we can better ourselves as a society. May God bless Gabrielle, then list the name of all of the other victims, their families, their friends and the community of Tucson. Tucson is America and America is Tucson. May God Bless the United States of America.”

Something to that effect would’ve been great. :)

slickerwick said:
Tommy, your job is not to protect the powerful. Your job is to report to the people, to serve as a watchdog. Remember Watergate when reporters and journalists actually did their job and didn’t spin for the White House? Or take everything the WH tells them as gospel truth.

The whole point is not who purchased the T-shirts, the point is that these things are vetted by the WH at such events and the university had to have had the permission of the WH. Surely you know that. And if you don’t then you don’t belong in this business. If you feel it’s your job to shill for the Obama administration, then apply for a job there.

Your assertion is insulting and wrong. As insignificant as this story seems, I’ve been working since 6 this morning to track it down. These things you think I “know” simply are not true. And they make no logical sense. Given the FACTS, what do you suppose the White House should have done when they learned that the school was distributing a student-designed shirt? Forced them to burn them?

You want to impugn my hard work in the same breath that you urge me to “know” something that the facts don’t support. You ought to rethink that logic, and apologize, while you’re at it.

Color Me Badd said:
You know the teabaggers are worried when all they can come up with is “inappropriate cheering” and t-shirts.

Do you think cheering and T-shirts is appropriate at a memorial? Do you feel that political rhetoric is the problem?

Also, you should all keep in mind the reason I pursued this story in the first place. This all could have been disposed of with a dismissive op-ed based on already available facts. I pursued the details of this story because so many people asked me about it, on both sides, even on this site. You wanted to know, now you know.

Tommy Christopher said:
I do know that every manner of cheesy 9/11 souvenir has adorned almost every person/vehicle/cubicle in this country at some point

Exactly Tommy, and if I go look back at the annals of personal photographs of many of those on the Right (including those on this board) during that era and find even one of them with a UNITED WE STAND or NEVER FORGET or any number of AMERICAN FLAG or other patriotic t-shirts or bumper sticker then it’s time call BS on their latest attempts of manufactured outrage.

These people are even puzzled that there were people cheering at the event because that cheering could have had the distinct possibility that there are still huge swaths of the American public who don’t regard the President as EVIL or UNAMERICAN and that just doesn’t fit into the narrative of those on the Right and the talking point gurus whose words they parrot.

Their mad that there was a celebratory atmosphere to the proceedings yet they didn’t seem at all bothered by the celebratory atmosphere of the Concert for 9-11. Part of healing from lost is celebrating what we still have and particularly, in the case of public loss, showing the world that the community is still united and standing strong. Too bad those at Fox and too many on the Right are too puzzled and confounded with that display of joy to share in that community spirit.

In the end, for those on the Right, this is more about how they have been victimized by their own careless rhetoric and not how there are times when those on the Left, Right, and Center need to come together for the sake of Tucsonans. If that means allowing people to literally wear their grief and unity on their sleeve, then let them.

Tommy Christopher said:
It isn’t “pushing back,” it’s called “finding out the facts.” People are entitled to their opinions about the propriety of the t-shirts, but they’re not entitled to their own facts.

Tommy, these people are not interested in facts. Just whatever reinforces their ideology.

Case in point:

TfT said:
WOW Tommy – I guess that means you can convince your pal Keith to stop blaming Bush for the “Mission accomplished” banner that the SHIP put up on their return? Afterall, you lefties have pinned that on Bush for years, despite the truth and fact that it was the SHIP that did it.

See Tommy despite the fact that the Bush White House long ago admitted that they printed the banner and that Bush administration officials have take responsibility for it and former President Bush himself said it was a mistake; they cling to the lie that was debunked years ago. Reality just doesn’t matter to these people. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4718462-503544.html

Tommy Christopher said:
It isn’t “pushing back,” it’s called “finding out the facts.” People are entitled to their opinions about the propriety of the t-shirts, but they’re not entitled to their own facts.

Okay, fact-finder, are you saying the WH did not see or approve of T-shirts that were prominently displayed on each seat? Are you saying that any props at such events are not given the okay by WH officials beforehand? Are you seriously asking us to believe that?

May I also ask why you would take anything told you by any politician or official as the gospel truth? Is it not your job to be skeptical of those in power and to question what they tell you? Do you also believe that the Mission Accomplished banner was not pre-approved by the Bush administration before Bush stepped out onto the deck in his flight suit?

lonestar77 said:
widely-reported claim by Tommy Christopher and his buddies that Sarah Palin was somehow involved in the Arizona shootings

Yeah, that’s a lie, and you should either apologize, or support that claim with a quote.

WCinWI said:
“Please everyone, sit down. Let me begin this by expressing my deep condolences with the family members, friends and community of the victims of this tragedy. We find ourselves, as a nation, amongst a tragedy that affects the lives of every American. Some people out there would like to make this a political tragedy. However, this is not a political tragedy, but a moral tragedy, that will highlight both the good and the bad that is in America. Some want to react and place blame on different individuals that they don’t ideologically agree with, but this is not the time nor is it the reason why this tragedy occurred. To my constituents on the Right side of the aisle and those of you on the Left and those in the Middle, let us place our hearts on this tragedy and treat it as an opportunity for us to remember what is great about our country. Don’t let the peripheral nonsense of the media talking heads on the Right, Left or Middle change what this is about. This is not the time to attack the other side. Gabrielle wouldn’t want further threats to be issued against any politician or citizen to arise from this tragedy and our nation is better than this. Let us remember that Gabby was a strong supporter of the democratic process and in her and also in the memory of the other victims, let us come together to remember this fact. Justice will be served and following that justice, we can learn begin the steps to examining our culture and what ways that we can better ourselves as a society. May God bless Gabrielle, then list the name of all of the other victims, their families, their friends and the community of Tucson. Tucson is America and America is Tucson. May God Bless the United States of America.”

Sounds good, maybe you should be a speechwriter for Sarah Palin. The one’s she currently has are dismal.

Free Tee-Shirt Giveaways are for the fans of Rockstars at Their memorials and funerals. So what I saw last night was something that I would’ve expected to see after Cobain lollipopped his gauge. It wasn’t something I expect to see at a memorial service for victims of a massacre that’s both affected and effected a change in our entire country.

Whatsmore,.an expression as platitudinal as “Together We Thrive” (See YES WE CAN) could Only from Obama’s camp because his poll numbers are in the crapper and his speech writing team evidently couldn’t come up with anything snappier in a pinch. Good call by Mark Penn though.

I mean Obama will be at Least a Few points up in polls by Monday. And that’s all that matters. Right? Because that other dead guy? Mr. Krentz? Yeah, that’s him. Fuck Him. So Viva Los Lawsuits Holder, and Call 1-800-Dupnik is you’re an ethnic minority (like me) who’s maybe thinking about committing a felony, but you’d like a get out of Yale free card before you Do it. that’s right, Yale. LOL!

Tommy Christopher said:
Yeah, that’s a lie, and you should either apologize, or support that claim with a quote.

Tommy –

Would you like your own quotes implicating Palin or would you like quotes that Lonestar said that there is a claim out there about you? I have some sentences from an article of yours where you imply that Sarah’s an accomplice, which is a harsh thing to do. I don’t believe it was your intent, but it could just be your bias that is an undercurrent.

Puter Boi said:
Tommy Christopher is my grandmother come back to life…
Not just Tommy, but today’s media.
When I was a little kid, my grandmother and her neighborhood lady friends would sit for hours out in her backyard….near the clotheslines, waiting for the clothes to dry. There they would talk….gossip about everything imaginable. Nothing that happened in the neighborhood was too small or insignificant to go on and on and on about….nothing. Sometimes the smaller a topic seemed…the bigger they tried to make it…..day after day…hour after hour.
The only difference in those days and those ladies and today’s media is access to the internet….Twitter etc….anybody can be a “reporter” today. Anybody can lead the gossip charge to the “clothesline”….
OK….OK…..there was one other difference……they never allowed slouching….

Really ironic that you are criticizing me as a “gossip” on a story that actually debunked gossip with actual facts. Well, not really ironic, just stupid.

As for the significance of this story, as I said before, I was inclined to agree it was trivial, but many people who read this site disagreed, so I pursued it.

And no, not just anybody can be a “reporter” today. For example, the people who started this stupid rumor to begin with. I’ll be sure to check their websites for your condemnation. Unless you want to provide a link.

The Lantern of Truth said:
Yes . We prefer official facts provided by Robert Gibbs .

See, that’s another lie. Love the ironic screen-name.

Tommy Christopher said:
Your assertion is insulting and wrong. As insignificant as this story seems, I’ve been working since 6 this morning to track it down. These things you think I “know” simply are not true. And they make no logical sense. Given the FACTS, what do you suppose the White House should have done when they learned that the school was distributing a student-designed shirt? Forced them to burn them? You want to impugn my hard work in the same breath that you urge me to “know” something that the facts don’t support. You ought to rethink that logic, and apologize, while you’re at it.

No, they didn’t have to burn them. They should have asked them to be removed from the seats. When the cross was removed from the Catholic university before Obama spoke there, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t burned. How silly you’re being.

Regarding your response to another poster, As for your umbrage that anyone in the media was linking Palin and conservatives to the shooting–get real. No, no reporter said “she’s responsible.” It was nuance and innuendo and visuals and constant chat about her and her divisive words. And no mention at all about the Daily Kos targeting Gifford and other blue dog Democrats. Somehow it was the fault of hate speech from the right.

And don’t tell me that Palin wasn’t dragged into this by the media. I was watching CBS evening news after the shooting occurred and they showed a clip of Palin. I was waiting for some newsbreaking report on her being linked to the shooting. There was none, just mentions of divisive talk and I thought, why a clip of Palin, why her in particular?

Have you spent days going on aobut Obama’s divisive tone and gun metaphors? Have the media made a big deal about it? Nope, only Palin’s and the conservatives’ tone is mentioned–and over and over again. Tell me again there wasn’t a linkage being made between Palin and the shooting.

slickerwick said:
Okay, fact-finder, are you saying the WH did not see or approve of T-shirts that were prominently displayed on each seat?

Gee, if you found out that the US Federal government forced those who organized the event to take them down, you would say it was just another example of BIG GOVERNMENT telling others what to do. No wonder this President is damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

The only tools that have an issue with the t-shirts are those on the Right and their need to manufacture hate and dissent because it’s the only random thing they can criticize. They couldn’t exactly criticize the speech because it was GOOD and HEALING and that’s the last thing those on the Right want to believe about our President.

slickerwick said:
Are you seriously asking us to believe that?

I’m asking you to stop believing the words of the hacks on the Right who are spewing a downright lie in this case just because it makes the President look bad on a night when he shined. This is almost as petty as those who made fun of Michelle Obama’s dress on his election night. It’s superficial insubstantial BS meant to take away from the true meaning of the moment, a moment of true unity that somehow makes you feel uncomfortable.

And yet, you call yourself an America. If you want to be considered a REAL AMERICAN let alone a REAL CONSERVATIVE you’ll learn that there are moments to put the pettiness behind. If you watched the speech and the thing that struck you most was “OMG there are people wearing T-shirts like it was a sporting event, how tacky” then you really are superficial and the lessons of the tragedy are lost on you.

slickerwick said:
May I also ask why you would take anything told you by any politician or official as the gospel truth?

May I also ask you why you would take anything that spews out of the likes of Michelle Malkin’s mouth as the gospel truth. Especially as it’s been proven that she’s not above lying and being a Right Wing apologists all for personal gain. Sorry, in this case the TRUTH hurts. You are proving that YET AGAIN why fake conservatives who don’t verify their facts are gullible to whatever spewings their talking point gurus spew out just as long as those spewings help re-inforce your irrational hatred of Obama and your willful distrust of government.

You’ve learned NOTHING not even the so-called lessons of those on the Right are IMPLYING this tragedy reveals. They have spent a week telling the rest of the world not to jump to conclusions WITHOUT the facts and yet here you are jumping to conclusions without the facts just because it allows you to hate OBAMA on an, otherwise, flawless night.

BTW, if you even once wore an patriotic shirt after the 9-11 tragedy than I call BS on your fake moral outrage.

Tommy, who has said that the WH had anything to do with the t-shirts or the pep-rally atmosphere? I’m watching Bret Baier and Krauthammer, et al., this minute and they just made it very clear they didn’t (Jonah Goldberg blamed the college president). I also just looked on newsbusters and powerline, and am not seeing anything.

so who exactly is spreading what malicious rumor? and if it is indeed only one or two people, then so what? about 10% of Americans will think or believe the most outrageous things; just look at Loughner! (“controlled by grammar”?)

it wouldn’t be fair if I blamed the entire liberal movement for Keith Olbermann and Special Ed Schultz–Ed being, IMHO, the most vile and useless mammal on television–would it?

slickerwick said:
Okay, fact-finder,

I engaged your first insult as a courtesy. I won’t do it again. If you want to have a conversation with me, act like it. Otherwise, be just another troll.

Tommy -

Ed’s on and he’s got a great clip where he’s attacking the local Tea Party leader in AZ. When you or someone else writes on this, can you at least imply a bias against Eddy for failing Obama’s desire of civility?

michiganruth said:
Tommy, who has said that the WH had anything to do with the t-shirts or the pep-rally atmosphere? I’m watching Bret Baier and Krauthammer, et al., this minute and they just made it very clear they didn’t (Jonah Goldberg blamed the college president). I also just looked on newsbusters and powerline, and am not seeing anything.

so who exactly is spreading what malicious rumor? and if it is indeed only one or two people, then so what? about 10% of Americans will think or believe the most outrageous things; just look at Loughner! (“controlled by grammar”?)

it wouldn’t be fair if I blamed the entire liberal movement for Keith Olbermann and Special Ed Schultz–Ed being, IMHO, the most vile and useless mammal on television–would it?

There are links in the first paragraph. I never said the entire conservative media was promoting the story, but many are. As far as I know, Michele Malkin was the first, you can google if you want to see more.

Tommy Christopher said:
Really ironic that you are criticizing me as a “gossip” on a story that actually debunked gossip with actual facts. Well, not really ironic, just stupid.

Tommy….you have clearly lost your sense of humor.
My post was written with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
The last line should have been a clue.
Take care of yourself.

It is unquestionably true that attempts by figures like Markos Moulitsas to blame Palin for the massacre even as it unfolded (and get in a quick book plug, to boot) were utterly reprehensible, an assault on decency that should have been rejected by any who saw it. Ditto attempts to hang the tragedy on “the left,” or to Rush to weave conspiracy theories about it.- TC 1-11-11

Such an apology would have the added advantage of being the right thing to do. Sarah Palin is not the victim in this story, but neither is she its villain. Her part of this conversation should end, and she should be the one to end it. – TC 1-11-11

While there is widespread outrage over Sarah Palin’s misappropriation of the term “blood libel,” very little attention is being paid to the fact that her response is fixed around the lie that criticism of Palin has centered around the use of common electoral “targeting” metaphors, rather than the specific use of crosshairs, a lie that was called out last March by Gabrielle Giffords herself. – TC 1-12-11

What changed in the last 24 hours, TC?

I do appeciate your interaction with readers, BTW. You seem to do it more than other columnists. Since no human being on the planet can be totally objectionable, let’s settle it for the readers once and for all. Do you politically lean to the Left or Right?

TangledThorns said:
Not sinister however it is in poor taste for a memorial. Might as well give out party favors at a funeral.

So was it in bad taste for OLD NAVY and any assortment of clothing lines to make UNITED WE STAND, NEVER FORGET, and any number of patriotic apparel after 9-11. Our country is tacky when it comes to fashion in some ways but people are forever literally wearing their sympathies on their sleeves.

This was an attempt by the University of Tucson to show those in attendance that they were united in the manner that those, who were mostly college students, would understand. Teenagers and college students have been wearing t-shirts to show affinity of support for decades. It’s not like they were selling Freedom Fries at the event.

Puter Boi said:
Tommy….you have clearly lost your sense of humor.
My post was written with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
The last line should have been a clue.
Take care of yourself.

Yeah, real funny to scare-quote someone’s livelihood. I think you need to reevaluate your sense of humor.

slickerwick said:
Regarding your response to another poster, As for your umbrage that anyone in the media was linking Palin and conservatives to the shooting–get real. No, no reporter said “she’s responsible.” It was nuance and innuendo and visuals and constant chat about her and her divisive words. And no mention at all about the Daily Kos targeting Gifford and other blue dog Democrats. Somehow it was the fault of hate speech from the right.

kinda like that nuance and innuendo and visuals and chants of sara palin and the tea party with their firearms references.

Dsiscokid said:
What changed in the last 24 hours, TC?

I do appeciate your interaction with readers, BTW. You seem to do it more than other columnists. Since no human being on the planet can be totally objectionable, let’s settle it for the readers once and for all. Do you politically lean to the Left or Right?

#1 – Nothing but Palin’s response. I don’t see how those statements are mutually exclusive. I stand by all of them.

#2. Are you kidding? I’m a liberal. I talk about it all the time. But for me, it’s a philosophical bent, not a partisan one.

Tommy Christopher said:
As far as I know, Michele Malkin was the first, you can google if you want to see more.

Malkin, indeed suggesting this on Fox and Friends, just like she suggested that people boo-ed Governor Brewer (even though one of the host said they didn’t hear that) she went on to say they DID without pointing out where and when. Obviously Michelle Malkin is PARANOID and needs to score political points for the Right even if she has to LIE to do so. Obviously she didn’t take her own advice and avoid jumping to conclusions without the facts just because those conclusions fit her need to paint Obama was evil.

Speaking of which, she was clearly upset that people were clapping and cheering the President (although they also cheered Jan Brewer) because that shows that some people still have deep respect for the President and that simply doesn’t fit in with the narrative of the Right who only wants to see him fail. Since his speech didn’t fail, they focused on fashion. And they say people complain that those on the Right can be extremely superficial.

A Kim Bo, Brewer was booed. I’m assuming you were outraged at that, right?

TC, I have a great question for you to ask Gibbs. I’m geniunely interested in the answer to this. Why did Pres. Obama criticize the police in Cambridge for “acting stupidly”, but praised the Sheriff in AZ for a great job, when he’s done nothing but point the finger (in the wrong direction as it turns out). I’m really trying to figure Obama out here.

Tommy Christopher said:
#1 – Nothing but Palin’s response. I don’t see how those statements are mutually exclusive. I stand by all of them.

#2. Are you kidding? I’m a liberal. I talk about it all the time. But for me, it’s a philosophical bent, not a partisan one.

In all fairness, it’s been more than 24 hours since her response was put out. And I think that the individual meant, what’s changed about Mediaite? Why aren’t there more Morning Joe clips or Dylan Ratigan? Do you have a no-Olby zone clause? You could feature him daily as you do Palin. Lots more traffic.

A Kim Bo said:
Malkin, indeed suggesting this on Fox and Friends, just like she suggested that people boo-ed Governor Brewer (even though one of the host said they didn’t hear that) she went on to say they DID without pointing out where and when. Obviously Michelle Malkin is PARANOID and needs to score political points for the Right even if she has to LIE to do so. Obviously she didn’t take her own advice and avoid jumping to conclusions without the facts just because those conclusions fit her need to paint Obama was evil.

Speaking of which, she was clearly upset that people were clapping and cheering the President (although they also cheered Jan Brewer) because that shows that some people still have deep respect for the President and that simply doesn’t fit in with the narrative of the Right who only wants to see him fail. Since his speech didn’t fail, they focused on fashion. And they say people complain that those on the Right can be extremely superficial.

i saw him walk by mccain but he really didn’t seem to happy with the whole thing. i was hoping he would get over that ‘old grumpy man’ thing and congratulate the president on an excellent speech.

#1 – Nothing but Palin’s response. I don’t see how those statements are mutually exclusive. I stand by all of them.

#2. Are you kidding? I’m a liberal. I talk about it all the time. But for me, it’s a philosophical bent, not a partisan one.

______________________________________________________________________

Re: #1- If she stays silent, she’s criticized. She speaks, she’s criticized. Fair enough….?
Re: #2 – Fair enough also. Part of the ire from the Right is when reporters claim they are impartial but report with a Leftist slant. IMO we’d all be better off if reporters, papers, etc. put their cards on the table and be honest with their selves and the readers about their world views. Has Mediaite ever considered hiring a Conservative columnist to counter balanced any “pre-conceived” biasas?

The debate over the venue is a fair one, but I think there’s a persuasive argument that a smaller venue would have excluded people who could have benefitted from the memorial. Remember, this wasn’t a funeral. the intent was to allow a large, hard-hit community to commemorate both the lives lost, and those saved.

But the venue did lend itself to an atmosphere that didn’t conform to conventional standards of reverence and sobriety. Those who were jarred by this have a fair point. Those who are offended about being judged in their grief also have a fair point. Maybe everyone can just cut each other some slack.

Ajolily said:
Do you think cheering and T-shirts is appropriate at a memorial? Do you feel that political rhetoric is the problem?

A: Those are two different issues.

It’s not for you or anyone else to tell other people how to heal. This was held at a college campus, college students wear t-shirts to show fidelity for all kinds of events. Americans the nation over wore all kinds of patriotic t-shirts that might have been seen in bad taste by some after 9-11 but it’s not for you or me or anyone else to tell them what to wear.

As far as political rhetoric, your fake moral outrage against t-shirts is a form of political rhetoric. Do you think it’s appropriate for you to use this manufactured non-issue to distract from the call of unity? Do you think it’s okay for the Right, who has been lecturing us all about jumping to conclusions without facts, to be jumping to conclusions without facts on this non-issue?

A Kim Bo, How did booing Brewer fit in with the calls for unity?

TC -

Here’s another story that you can role with in which MSNBC used Blood Libel as a word. Now if you claim that because it comes from an opinion site that it doesn’t matter, well then I would beg you to look at your own site and 90% of its clips.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2011/01/13/2000-dem-congressman-used-blood-libel-reference-gop-attack-gore-hardba

*roll

Seeing 2012 From My Window said:
A Kim Bo, How did booing Brewer fit in with the calls for unity?

I was frankly disheartened when it went nearly silent when Brewer walked to the stage. I thought Brewer has acted beyond respectful in this whole ordeal and to receive that little respect from the attendees….shameful.

Dsiscokid said:
#1 – Nothing but Palin’s response. I don’t see how those statements are mutually exclusive. I stand by all of them.

#2. Are you kidding? I’m a liberal. I talk about it all the time. But for me, it’s a philosophical bent, not a partisan one.

______________________________________________________________________

Re: #1- If she stays silent, she’s criticized. She speaks, she’s criticized. Fair enough….?
Re: #2 – Fair enough also. Part of the ire from the Right is when reporters claim they are impartial but report with a Leftist slant. IMO we’d all be better off if reporters, papers, etc. put their cards on the table and be honest with their selves and the readers about their world views. Has Mediaite ever considered hiring a Conservative columnist to counter balanced any “pre-conceived” biasas?

#1 – I wrote, and believe, that if Palin wasn’t going to cop to the crosshairs being over the line, she’d have been better served by remaining silent. But you’re right, she was going to be criticized either way.

#2. We do have a conservative columnist who writes less frequently than I do, plus a few guest columnists from the right. Most of our staffers are mainly apolitical, much more media-focused. But most prominent conservatives feel they get a fair shake from Mediaite, even from me.

A Kim Bo said:
Gee, if you found out that the US Federal government forced those who organized the event to take them down, you would say it was just another example of BIG GOVERNMENT telling others what to do. No wonder this President is damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The only tools that have an issue with the t-shirts are those on the Right and their need to manufacture hate and dissent because it’s the only random thing they can criticize. They couldn’t exactly criticize the speech because it was GOOD and HEALING and that’s the last thing those on the Right want to believe about our President. I’m asking you to stop believing the words of the hacks on the Right who are spewing a downright lie in this case just because it makes the President look bad on a night when he shined. This is almost as petty as those who made fun of Michelle Obama’s dress on his election night. It’s superficial insubstantial BS meant to take away from the true meaning of the moment, a moment of true unity that somehow makes you feel uncomfortable. And yet, you call yourself an America. If you want to be considered a REAL AMERICAN let alone a REAL CONSERVATIVE you’ll learn that there are moments to put the pettiness behind. If you watched the speech and the thing that struck you most was “OMG there are people wearing T-shirts like it was a sporting event, how tacky” then you really are superficial and the lessons of the tragedy are lost on you. May I also ask you why you would take anything that spews out of the likes of Michelle Malkin’s mouth as the gospel truth. Especially as it’s been proven that she’s not above lying and being a Right Wing apologists all for personal gain. Sorry, in this case the TRUTH hurts. You are proving that YET AGAIN why fake conservatives who don’t verify their facts are gullible to whatever spewings their talking point gurus spew out just as long as those spewings help re-inforce your irrational hatred of Obama and your willful distrust of government. You’ve learned NOTHING not even the so-called lessons of those on the Right are IMPLYING this tragedy reveals. They have spent a week telling the rest of the world not to jump to conclusions WITHOUT the facts and yet here you are jumping to conclusions without the facts just because it allows you to hate OBAMA on an, otherwise, flawless night. BTW, if you even once wore an patriotic shirt after the 9-11 tragedy than I call BS on your fake moral outrage.

I am neither right nor left; I’m a Libertarian. I never heard of Malkin until I read this column. Nor did I ever wear a 9-11 shirt. I did watch the memorial services of 9/11 and I don’t recall T-shirts being handed out or people whooping it up at the memorial services. Do you? We were talking about memorial services, remember? Not souvenirs sold afterwards. Were there T-shirts and cheering at the Fort Hood memorial?

Speaking of Fort Hood, why we were told to go easy on making linkages to Muslims but after Tucson it was okay to denigrate conservatives and endlessly discuss their violent and divisive words? There was proof that the Fort Hood shooter was linked to Muslim jihadism but no proof that the Tucson shooter was linked to conservatives. Come to think of it, aren’t fundamentalist Muslims as far rightwing as anyone can get? Yet we’re told to tread lightly when they commit horrendous acts. We should not immediately point the finger.

BTW, your capitalized rant directed at me is not what I would call civil discourse (not to mention that it’s very poorly written.) I take it you hate “spewings” from the right but from the left, nyah, not so much. It all depends on who’s doing the spewing, I guess.

The whole tone of Tommy’s article drips with scorn of conservatives and chides them while upholding the ‘truth’ he got from some WH official. Tells ya all you need to know about where he’s coming from.

The Tea Weasel said:
I guess it just goes to show them Arizonians are a bunch of tacky rednecks.

The issue with the screaming Obamabots had nothing to with where they were from(and UofA student body has a large out of state population-30%)but what their politics are. Those classless morons screaming throughout as if it were a Beatles concert were leftists D-bags.

I hate to pile on Tommy, but I assume you read ll of those tweets from Markos & friends too, right?

Seeing 2012 From My Window said:
A Kim Bo, Brewer was booed. I’m assuming you were outraged at that, right?

Sorry, the only person suggesting that she was booed was the same hack, Michelle Malkin who suggested that the WH disttibuted t-shirts. Even those on Fox and Friends denied her insinuations about the boos but with her hawk-trained hate still in her eyes she carried on making the accusations as well as the accusations about the t-shirts and WH’s involvement without even a hint of facts to support them. Don’t stop Michelle Malkin when she’s got her mind made up before she’s got the facts in.

Again, Malkin HEARD and INSINUATED what she wanted to hear and insinuate even though she wasn’t there. I defy you to actually cite WHERE anyone actually booed her instead of constantly taking the word of Michelle Malkin at face value. We’ve already established an unhealthy fascination you have for Michelle Malkin. I’m glad that it didn’t even take her 24 hours to prove that YET AGAIN she’s not above lying for political gain. And YET AGAIN you feel for it.

Dsiscokid said:
I do appeciate your interaction with readers, BTW. You seem to do it more than other columnists

Also, thanks for acknowledging that. There are many times this can be an unpleasant, unproductive space. More commenters like you would definitely result in more interactive writers.

timzank said:
I hate to pile on Tommy, but I assume you read ll of those tweets from Markos & friends too, right?

Read them? I wrote about and condemned them, at least 3 times. Don’t assume. Just read.

kit9 said:
The issue with the screaming Obamabots had nothing to with where they were from(and UofA student body has a large out of state population-30%)but what their politics are

Gee, they were cheering other leaders as well as Republicans. It’s not Obama’s fault that Brewer is not as inspiring but she still served her state well last night. If only you can admit the same about Obama.

Seeing 2012 From My Window said:
TC, I have a great question for you to ask Gibbs. I’m geniunely interested in the answer to this. Why did Pres. Obama criticize the police in Cambridge for “acting stupidly”, but praised the Sheriff in AZ for a great job, when he’s done nothing but point the finger (in the wrong direction as it turns out). I’m really trying to figure Obama out here.

I could offer some possibilities, and there are huge differences between the two situations, but it’s not a bad question. It might work, in some form. I’d much rather ask it of the President, though. Gibbs isn’t likely to conjecture on the subject.

slickerwick said:
while upholding the ‘truth’ he got from some WH official.

Lie.

I could offer some possibilities, and there are huge differences between the two situations,

You’re right, Ft. Hood is a more parallel comparison.

What this is all about:

The MSM was exposed as nothing but heartless political opportunists in their 24/7 coverage attempting to link Palin to this tragedy. Tommy is embarrassed so he scours the internet and finds a couple stupid stories which he uses to bash “right-wing media”. Unfortunately, a couple blogs aren’t anywhere near the same as cable news, national newspapers & the big 3 networks.

It’s a weak attempt on Tommy’s part at saying, “look, they do it too”. More than weak, it’s a wee bit embarassing.

Tommy Christopher said:
lonestar

I’m sorry, “linked”. Word games.

TC, I have a great question for you to ask Gibbs. I’m geniunely interested in the answer to this. Why did Pres. Obama criticize the police in Cambridge for “acting stupidly”, but praised the Sheriff in AZ for a great job, when he’s done nothing but point the finger (in the wrong direction as it turns out).

Good post. I believe as far as AZ is concerned the Sheriff’s assumption could jepordize the case against this murderer. It’s one thing for a pundit, blogger, or commentor to give an opinion, but a Law Enforcement agent to assign blame before the facts are in (within hours of the crime!!) is disturbing

Tommy,

Why don’t you identify the “senior administration official” who is your source ? Sixty grand is a lot of pocket money for a college student to spend on T-shirts. And the turnaround on them was somewhat “remarkable.” Sounds like you got played.

slickerwick said:
Speaking of Fort Hood, why we were told to go easy on making linkages to Muslims but after Tucson it was okay to denigrate conservatives and endlessly discuss their violent and divisive words?

I never told fake conservatives to not make any linkages to Muslims after Fort Hood. I know that some on the Right can’t help themselves when it comes to justifying their irrational fear of Muslims.

Still the biggest proponent for advancing the case against political rhetoric and unintended consequences was Gabrielle Giffords herself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8oQi1ty1hs

If you ever want to sympathize with the REAL victims (ie. not Palin, not the Far Right wing media) then maybe you would respect the words of one of them. Again, you don’t have to live with the consequences of careless rhetoric, Gabrielle Giffords and even African-American Arizona Tea Party members (one who recently left the party due to similar vitriol) as wells as other public officials do.

And now Sarah Palin does because it’s called backlash, a defining fixture of leading the Free World. Whether she can handle that backlash with grace and dignity remains to be seen. So far she hasn’t.

slickerwick said:
Come to think of it, aren’t fundamentalist Muslims as far rightwing as anyone can get?

As far as too many on the Right are concerned, fundamentalist Muslims aren’t so much on the far right as they are (or better yet ALL MUSLIMS are) convenient scapegoats. But thanks for the willful ignorance and false equivalency all the same.

slickerwick said:
I did watch the memorial services of 9/11 and I don’t recall T-shirts being handed out or people whooping it up at the memorial services. Do you?

Obviously you’ve never been to an Irish wake. I do remember that precisely five days after 9-11 (which is the same number of days this service took place) I went a David Byrne concert, who is one of those quintessential New York transplants whose band Talking Heads is so connected with the city. At the show, I saw many of my friends for the first time since the tragedy and we wondered whether we should really be there and really enjoying ourselves in the wake of what happened. But when the show started and particularly when he was singing songs directly about New York we all sang out with all our hearts because we were all, in that moment, acknowledging what it was about New York and what it was about being American that felt so good when so much in the previous days made us feel so bad. Relief and release is a part of grieving and it’s not up to you or me or anyone else to suggest to others who need to find a way to unite again as a community how to do that.

slickerwick said:
The whole tone of Tommy’s article drips with scorn of conservatives

No, it drips of scorn of the willfully ignorant and the gullible who are using fake outrage about T-SHIRTS to avoid listening to the President and admitting that he has a point and has the capacity to inspire. If that willful ignorance is too often a fixture of the Right then so be it. Maybe uniting is beyond the capacity of some on the Right just like compromise is. They rather complain about fashion and cheering.

But it’s no wonder not even you can bring yourself to label your affiliations as “conservative”. I would be embarrassed, too, if playing the victim and t-shirts where my takeaway from tragedy.

david r said:
Why don’t you identify the “senior administration official” who is your source ? Sixty grand is a lot of pocket money for a college student to spend on T-shirts. And the turnaround on them was somewhat “remarkable.” Sounds like you got played.

Gee, if only those on the Right were so critical about the now known lies that led us into Iraq you might not look like such a sour grapes loser right now. And what we spent there makes $60,000 look like pocket change. Spare us the fake moral outrage. If your takeaway from tragedy is t-shirts and too much cheering, then you’re part of the problem.

lonestar77 said:
It’s a weak attempt on Tommy’s part at saying, “look, they do it too”. More than weak, it’s a wee bit embarassing.

Almost as weak as all those fake conservatives who’ve gotten their panties in a bunch over t-shirts. Anything to ignore the success of the President and even the likes of Jan Brewer last night.

Dsiscokid said:
Why did Pres. Obama criticize the police in Cambridge for “acting stupidly”, but praised the Sheriff in AZ for a great job, when he’s done nothing but point the finger

Because the Sheriff didn’t falsely arrest someone. I thought the Right was all about FREEDOM except for the freedom not to wrongfully imprison someone. Spare us, another Arizona Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, is equally hyperbolic but since the vast majority of his highly opinionated rhetoric is aimed at the President, the Federal government, and Mexicans it’s okay. Again, more false equivalencies by a fake conservative.

Tommy Christopher said:
Lie.

What lie? It’s there in your article that you spoke with a WH official. And your headline reads “.. the truth about.. the T-shirts… ” What lie???

A Kim Bo, in your posts you keep referring to “fake conservatives.” Do you mean they are pretending to be conservatives? What the hell does that mean exactly?

Seeing 2012 From My Window said:
I could offer some possibilities, and there are huge differences between the two situations,

You’re right, Ft. Hood is a more parallel comparison.

It’s simple. Obama was asked a pointed question about the Crowley-Gates case at a live Press Conference with the press fully knowing Gates was Obama’s friend. That case by the way had little to do with race (from Obama’s perspective) – the media (especially the rightwing) just blew it out of proportion. He was simply defending his good friend who happened to be black. It’s a post hoc deduction.

Sheriff Dupnik was “thanked” in a similar way all other LEO and first responders of PIMA county were.

It’s simply not an “apples to apples” comparison. It would have been if Obama had been questioned directly about Dupnik’s comments.

A Kim Bo said:
Gee, if only those on the Right were so critical about the now known lies that led us into Iraq you might not look like such a sour grapes loser right now. And what we spent there makes $60,000 look like pocket change. Spare us the fake moral outrage. If your takeaway from tragedy is t-shirts and too much cheering, then you’re part of the problem.

This is wrong on so many levels. First of all, I’m not “on the right.” I voted for Kerry, Gore, Clinton, Dukakis and McGovern. It’s just a matter of being a thorough journalist. Sure, Bush lied about Iraq. I think Obama is lying about Afghanistan, most likely. And what the Army spends has nothing to with what a student ostensibly spends on T-shirts. I’d suggest you put down the bong, but on second thought, keep it going, and have a good looking girl bring over some beer. Enjoy your youth.

A Kim Bo, for someone who rants against “spewings”, you sure do a lot of it. And you keep hurling insults at other posters. Where’s the civil discourse that the President advised you to maintain? So let me give you a taste of your own medicine. You are a ‘fake’ liberal who spews talking points from the left.

Since you appear to be a liberal, can I ask you how you feel about Obama sending unmanned predator drones to Pakistan, a country we did not declare war on, drones that kill civilian men, women, and children?

Do you feel passionate about defending this president only? Or were you championing Bush with the same fervor?

What do you think of Obama targeting Al-Awlaki, an American citizen, for assassination, something that even Bush didn’t do? These are criticisms directed toward Obama that you read in leftwing columns. Obama, in other words, is criticized by the left, not just by conservatives. In many ways, he’s quite rightwing. And I, as a LIbertarian, have to agree.

I’m defending conservatives being slimed by the media because I know propaganda when I see it, I know hypocrisy and double standards when I see them. And I know media corruption when I see it. I don’t believe in defending the government against criticism. The government should be scrutinized and anything they spout should be taken with a grain of salt. The government, including this administration, is not some weakling to be shielded from verbal attack. And when the media slyly and cynically links their ideological opponents to mass murderers, it gets my dander up.

so who paid for them???

It’s really irrelevant though. Who cares? It’s interesting how a solemn occasion always, for Democrats, becomes a pep rally.

They just can’t help themselves. It’s their narcissistic nature.

Alas, poor Barack!! Unwittingly duped again by his hero worshiping handlers.

Dagnabbit!! This sincerety thing is a bitch to handle…

Wow. This is a smear? Really? But the week-long effort by the left to implicate Sarah Palin (and other political opponents) in the murders on Saturday aren’t?

david r said:
Why don’t you identify the “senior administration official” who is your source ?

As it happens, I wrote a bit about sourcing recently. Not sure if I covered “on background,” but there are links to it in this piece either way:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/exclusive-the-hills-sam-youngman-blasts-keith-olbermann-over-professional-left-comments/

The short answer is, because my source and I mutually agreed on the attribution. There are a variety of reasons for a source to request to remain on background, and a variety of reasons for a journalist to use them.

david r said:
Tommy,

Why don’t you identify the “senior administration official” who is your source ? Sixty grand is a lot of pocket money for a college student to spend on T-shirts. And the turnaround on them was somewhat “remarkable.” Sounds like you got played.

If that was my only source, you might have a point. I guess you didn’t read the piece too closely.

slickerwick said:
while upholding the ‘truth’ he got from some WH official.

This is the lie. My article contains multiple named sources, in addition to the White House source.

The origins of Together we Thrive — http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H Why it is right there on Obama’s web site. Pep rally indeed.

Together we Thrive — that is what bacteria do.

Word of the day — Dupe’Nik — http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2011/01/word-of-the-day.html

WCinWI said:
Conservatives are blaming the University. We’re also blaming the President for a lack of decorum. Even he was shown as uneasy with all of the clapping. You can’t spin audio.

I thought his words were ok. However, the theatrics were abysmal. I don’t blame him for the visuals; I merely blame him for not making this about the victims involved.

What the hell speech were you listening to if you didn’t hear President Obama spend the VAST MAJORITY of the speech talking about the victims involved–each and every one, with details about their lives?

Kim Barker said:
Almost as weak as all those fake conservatives who’ve gotten their panties in a bunch over t-shirts. Anything to ignore the success of the President and even the likes of Jan Brewer last night.

They pine for the days of Bush speeches, where all in attendance had to take “loyalty oaths” …
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31019-2004Jul31.html
…and people wearing t-shirts they found objectionable…
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=14041

slickerwick said:
Since you appear to be a liberal, can I ask you how you feel about Obama sending unmanned predator drones to Pakistan, a country we did not declare war on, drones that kill civilian men, women, and children?

I’ll take that on. You’re mistakenly equating liberalism with pacifism. President Obama ran on a PLATFORM of taking the fight to Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan and increasing US campaigns in both places.
http://www.geo.tv/9-10-2008/24517.htm

One can disagree with that policy and not be called a pacifist, and equally–one can be a liberal commander in chief and escalate wars–hence, FDR, LBJ, Clinton (Kosovo).

73aaodkt23 said:
so who paid for them???

It’s really irrelevant though. Who cares? It’s interesting how a solemn occasion always, for Democrats, becomes a pep rally.

They just can’t help themselves. It’s their narcissistic nature.

Alas, poor Barack!! Unwittingly duped again by his hero worshiping handlers.

Dagnabbit!! This sincerety thing is a bitch to handle…

And the families of the victims and survivors told you how they hated this when?

–Cobra

kit9 said:
The issue with the screaming Obamabots had nothing to with where they were from(and UofA student body has a large out of state population-30%)but what their politics are. Those classless morons screaming throughout as if it were a Beatles concert were leftists D-bags.

Well of course they were. Anyone who isn’t a regular Fux Views addict is.

Its nice that the people who showed up for the memorial (and those in the adjacent venue listening by remote) would be judged as classless by someone as classless as yourself.

BTW, whatever poster questioned the “turnaround” (art setup and screenprinting) on the T-shirts obviously has NO CLUE how fast T-shirts can go from concept to reality in a modern screenprint facility. You should restrict your commentary to your (evidently limited) area of knowledge. I can turn out my first t-shirt in less than an hour using a “hobbyist” home setup.

Gasket said:
I will ignore your useless first point since it’s based on conjecture. You are making an assertion you can not provide any evidence for. Secondly, who in the mainstream media sphere said that “Palin is responsible for the shootings” quote? Give me a name and a link. There was no debunking needed since nobody said that. Funny you want Palin defended for specious comments directed towards her by lefty bloggers yet you make specious accusations yourself towards Obama. That’s rich. .

I invite you to re-read my line about intellectual integrity. It’s a concept you should learn, because you are entirely devoid of it –and it’s quite clear to everyone else. Embarrassing, man.

No presidential event like this has “surprises” that the WH advance team isn’t aware of. That’s not “conjecture”. But for the sake of argument, let’s go with your thesis. And if we do, you’re really saying the advance team would not have been doing its job had it NOT known about the shirts. Pick your poison, sonny, but it’s not going to work out well for you either way. And on Palin? You really can’t be serious. Really? Come on…tell me you’re joshing.

http://weaselzippers.us/2011/01/10/anti-gun-nut-chris-matthews-blames-palin-and-bachmann-for-arizona-massacre/

I guess Matthews and Fineman aren’t really trying to tie Palin’s campaign map and other gun metaphors into the Arizona shootings, right? You’re clueless, dude.

Kim Barker said:
So was it in bad taste for OLD NAVY and any assortment of clothing lines to make UNITED WE STAND, NEVER FORGET, and any number of patriotic apparel after 9-11

If they were being handed out at the memorial after 9/11 it damn well would have been.

So, if the POTUS does something Old Navy did he should we should be OK with it? You don’t expect more from the President than anyone else?

slickerwick said:

Have you spent days going on aobut Obama’s divisive tone and gun metaphors? Have the media made a big deal about it? Nope, only Palin’s and the conservatives’ tone is mentioned–and over and over again. Tell me again there wasn’t a linkage being made between Palin and the shooting.

Now we’re getting somewhere. FINALLY someone with the courage to call out BHO’s divisive tone and gun metaphors? I’m glad to hear someone say this so forcefully. That rhetoric is NOT helpful.

Can I assume that you feel equally put off by the rhetoric of Angle and others?

mndasher said:
Word of the day — Dupe’Nik — http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2011/01/word-of-the-day.html

Speaking of DOPEnik.

Here is some news that has not been covered regarding Deputy DOPEnik;

Worst Large Cities for Crime (>500,000 pop.)
.

1. Tucson, AZ
Tucson has one of the highest property crime rates in the country, especially larceny. On the bright side, Tucson has a low murder rate.

Deputy Doofus Dopenik’s district is NUMBER ONE inthe US thefts.

Instead of whining and crying about talk radio and the Tea Party…MAYBE HE SHOULD BE DOING HIS JOB.

Car thief rings and gangs also work out of Pima and Yuma counties in stealing cars. They steal them from neighboring counties and take them across the border. Pima County is the gate way for cars that are stolen into Mexico from Arizona, through Pima and Yuma.

TC -

You might want to do more research as it was just revealed that the T-shirts use a phrase from Organizing for America.

http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/2011/01/13/together-we-thrive-slogan-first-used-by-obamas-organizing-for-america-february-of-2008/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FireAndreaMitchell+%28Fire+Andrea+Mitchell!+Exposing+Liberal+bias+cause+the+MSM+doesn%27t+have+to.%29&utm_content=Twitter

” Together WE Thrive ” was originated by Obama ‘s Organizing for America in 2008 ..

‘ Co-wink-ee-dink ‘ ? I think NOT !!

Tommy…. you are just as big a liar as the Democrats and Obama… Together We Thrive is all Obama, all Democrat and the Memorial was a pep rally, you liberal liars…

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H

jamesphilip said:
Tommy…. you are just as big a liar as the Democrats and Obama… Together We Thrive is all Obama, all Democrat and the Memorial was a pep rally, you liberal liars…

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if “Together We Thrive” were the slogan for Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

More false accusations based on an agenda and not the facts….

After this week, you’d think some people would have more common sense.

“This type of smear is nothing new, and despite the apparent absurdity of the claim, I checked with the White House, anyway”

Oh yeah, we can certainly trust the bunch of liars in the whitehouse! They lie to us on a regular basis and we believe each and every lie.

You’re a fool.

Wow……..I have seen competency in their job, TC, like this since Mayberry RFD went off the air and Barney Fife retired.

I guess checking to see if this “slogan” had roots beyond what you were spoon fed by like minded WH toadies was just too tough. What…..late for a Brazilian manscaping session?

Sorry Tommy….but this not only walks like a duck (the timing aspect of getting the design done, approved by whoever approved it…school prez or whoever, getting the screens manufactured…..I know a bit about this from my younger days in T shirt shops….then the sheer time it would take to produce 10K of these and package and ship them to the venue) it quacks like a duck (NOTHING happens at ANY event the president attends that the WH doesn’t approve and that the Secret Service doesn’t check out with a microscope…..I worked at a country club in Palm Springs Cali where FORMER president Ford was scheduled to speak. FORMER President Ford. Let me state that again……not a sitting president who has a history of receiving threats…….a FORMER President who had been out of office for some time……the SS came in and background checked EVERYONE. And I mean EVERYONE. I was a bus boy so I know if checks got down to me they truly did check everyone. I know for a fact they checked me because they found out about my history with LE and I was forced to take that day off) and now we have evidence of feathers (the “slogan” having been a part of the Obama litany since 2008)

I think this qualifies to be labled……..Anatidae….or more commonly…..Duck.

Quackl Quack Tommy….and stay classy bro!!!

^^ Should state “haven’t seen competency….”

Tommy Christopher said:
It isn’t “pushing back,” it’s called “finding out the facts.” People are entitled to their opinions about the propriety of the t-shirts, but they’re not entitled to their own facts.

It appears you asked a question and then accepted the answer. The answer should have been who paid for the shirts not who didn’t pay for the shirts. So, Tommy, who paid for the shirts?

Judge Mental said:
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if “Together We Thrive” were the slogan for Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

I’d bet hard currency it was…..that is until they see how well these Tshirts and the whooping Arsenio Hall crowd was received.

RichS said:
It appears you asked a question and then accepted the answer. The answer should have been who paid for the shirts not who didn’t pay for the shirts. So, Tommy, who paid for the shirts?

And we all know that if you get the same answer from a couple of different sources that HAS TO BE FACT. It is such a FACT that Tommy ran in here right away (rather than find out the actual slogan has been “around” for going on 3 years…….at Obama election HQ) to slam those who had the timerity to point out his bias and bullshit. “Them’s the facts” he proclaims.

Regardless of who provides them…………..

Tommy Christopher said:
You’re wrong, though, there was a large memorial for Fort Hood, and Obama spoke at it.

Yeah the one where there were “challenge coins” placed at each memorial not T shirts at every seat.

Big diff….you’re right for once.

there should have been a private memorial service for the families and friends of the victimes. period.

The opening “Blessing” by that Mexican-American professor and a lot of the remarks made by the University President were statements supporting “Dream Act” type legislation as the “Immigrant Rights” groups are trying to change the image of the Illegal Immigrants:

http://uspatriots.weebly.com/dream-act-image.html

Oh, one other question Tommy, when they said the bookstore new a vendor that could turn them around fast, how long a time is fast, who was the vendor and how could they have produced 14,000 (that was the size of the crowd in the structure) in less than four days. They did all that work that fast and for under $5.00 per shirt. There is something about all of this that doesn’t sound right.

RichS said:
Oh, one other question Tommy, when they said the bookstore new a vendor that could turn them around fast, how long a time is fast, who was the vendor and how could they have produced 14,000 (that was the size of the crowd in the structure) in less than four days. They did all that work that fast and for under $5.00 per shirt. There is something about all of this that doesn’t sound right.

Again, people with ZERO knowledge of the screenprinting industry are posting. T-shirts can be had for less than $3 and single color printing for less than $1 per pull (print). Automated presses can turn 1500 shirts an hour. Multiple presses, instock shirts easy-peasy. I imagine the screenprinter did OK on that deal.

People should stick to what they know. But then there would be 85% fewer posts here. BTW I may have inadvertently been the source of the “Together We Thrive” quote used in the Tucson Memorial, as I have used that several times over the years in discussions with my employees. Maybe I should sue the Memorial’s organizers…but no…that would not be the American thing to do.

I may have inadverten

FYI, after National Championship sports games, licensed screenprinters turn out incredible numbers of T-shirts for purchase by the winning team’s fan. Those shirts are often on the shelves before fans can get out of the stadium and reach the store. And of course the T-shirt bootleggers are on the street with their wares in less than 2 hours….

Rush discussing this now – I guess we’ll get another Rush post later.

Pep Rally had to wait until the t-shirts were ready; tying it directly to team Obama.

RDS coming soon to mediaite, to go along with the extreme PDS on display.

See, even Rush talks about stuff he has a

TfT said:
Rush discussing this now – I guess we’ll get another Rush post later.

Pep Rally had to wait until the t-shirts were ready; tying it directly to team Obama.
.

On display is Rush talking about something he knows nothing about. But then, he has built an empire on the backs of dittoheads.

The Tea Weasel said:
FYI, after National Championship sports games, licensed screenprinters turn out incredible numbers of T-shirts for purchase by the winning team’s fan. Those shirts are often on the shelves before fans can get out of the stadium and reach the store. And of course the T-shirt bootleggers are on the street with their wares in less than 2 hours….

Well then if that were the case, the Republicans should’ve had their t-shirts handed out since we won in Nov. :)

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. That might be the new mantra of the GOP. The problem with the T-shirts is that Rush decided his depiction made him look too fat, wasn’t in the center of the picture, and he wasn’t in front. Palin refused to sign off because she wasn’t holding a gun and she wasn’t guaranteed a portion of the proceeds. Newty was pissed because Rush’s jowls obscured half his face. Michael Steele complained he was the wrong shade of color, which Rush heartily agreed with. I think they will get their differences ironed out just in time to hand the tees out at Obama’s inaugural in 2013….

The Tea Weasel said:
Shoulda, coulda, woulda. That might be the new mantra of the GOP. The problem with the T-shirts is that Rush decided his depiction made him look too fat, wasn’t in the center of the picture, and he wasn’t in front. Palin refused to sign off because she wasn’t holding a gun and she wasn’t guaranteed a portion of the proceeds. Newty was pissed because Rush’s jowls obscured half his face. Michael Steele complained he was the wrong shade of color, which Rush heartily agreed with. I think they will get their differences ironed out just in time to hand the tees out at Obama’s inaugural in 2013….

Another epic fail to what Obama wants our nation to be. Why must you disrespect the Prez?

The toxic right will not stop at anything. Time to ship their sorry @$$es off the coastline line and dump them in the ocean. Maybe a place where we need a reef or something. How incredibly ignorant and stupid can humans get?

I cannot believe the pettiness on display here. T-shirts? Cheering? Really? In the African American church I ministered at, cheering and applause at funerals and memorial services was common. As a liberal Christian who firmly believes in the Gospel imperative of shared responsibility, I found George W. Bush’s presidency antithetical to everything I hold dear. But his finest moment, I believe, was at Ground Zero, when the bits and pieces of those killed by the cowards hadn’t even settled. He yelled into a megaphone [paraphrase]: “I can hear you. America can hear you. And the terrorists who sponsored this will hear from us! ” What was the crowd’s response? Boisterous cheering and thunderous applause!! Was that decorous? Respectful of the dead? Hell, no. Was it a magnificent moment? Hell, yes. Our president just gave a magnificent speech that focused on the victims of this tragedy, especially the littlest victim. The most callous anti-Obama pundits of Fox news admitted it. Something is terribly wrong with those of you who cannot see that.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2656595/posts

rockloper said:
The toxic right will not stop at anything. Time to ship their sorry @$$es off the coastline line and dump them in the ocean. Maybe a place where we need a reef or something. How incredibly ignorant and stupid can humans get?

First, your post answers your own question. Second, is that a threat of violence? From the loving left?

Sorry John but I found the wild cheering and T shirts very distasteful. Obamas speech and behavior was very respectful and well done. The University should be assumed of themselves for not clarifying there intentions and for having a pep rally a little too soon after the tragedy. If I had been a family member I would have been very hurt. I think it should be a lesson that you can’t combine a pep rally and a memorial.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2656595/posts

God they hate truth.

John in Philadelphia said:
Something is terribly wrong with those of you who cannot see that.

Is now my turn to tell you that “something is terribly wrong” with you b/c you disagree with me?

I thought the speech was fine but not a home run much less a grand slam.

I’m from new Orleans and I know all about and approve of party time wakes that celebrates the life and good times of those now gone.. But I’ve never been to a FUNERAL or a wake for a child or of multiple deaths due to mass murder that was like that.

I thought BHO was a bit taken aback at first by that very rah rah rally atmosphere but adjusted well to it. I think the University president carries much of the blame for b/c he looked and sounded as if he was at the big game leading the rally for the home team.

If I am terribly flawed I guess I’ll just have to soldier on as best as my marred soul can do,

Conservatives don’t let facts get in the way of their manufactured outrage.

The Tea Weasel said:
Again, people with ZERO knowledge of the screenprinting industry are posting. T-shirts can be had for less than $3 and single color printing for less than $1 per pull (print). Automated presses can turn 1500 shirts an hour. Multiple presses, instock shirts easy-peasy. I imagine the screenprinter did OK on that deal. People should stick to what they know. But then there would be 85% fewer posts here. BTW I may have inadvertently been the source of the “Together We Thrive” quote used in the Tucson Memorial, as I have used that several times over the years in discussions with my employees. Maybe I should sue the Memorial’s organizers…but no…that would not be the American thing to do. I may have inadverten

Thank you. I ask questions when I don’t know. Where you born with this knowledge?

That still leaves the question of who paid for the shirts unanswered.

“Together We Thrive” is a very generic term. It in no way originated in 2008.

RichS said:
Thank you. I ask questions when I don’t know. Where you born with this knowledge?

That still leaves the question of who paid for the shirts unanswered.

Where I born? I be borned in de South. The question of payment was asked and answered in previous posts.

It appears you asked the questions as if there was some deep dark conspiracy to uncover. I suggest, in the future, you use this remarkable search tool called “Google”. Rather than having to type out a long question, and wait for a knowledgeable person to come along and answer it, you could find the answer all by yourself. Not only that, you could verify the info from multiple sources, and therefor be better informed when entering into public discussion. Unless, of course, you feel like the internet is liberally biased and the information there is at odds with what you might get from other news sources.

In the end, unless you are trying to pin the “blame” for the tees on the Obama White House, it matters not where the tees came from. It could be that the shirts were meant as physical mementos to remind those who attended of how they felt during this time, and maybe have them carry forward a desire to implement a better America. Schmaltzy, I know, but sometimes America needs a little schmaltz in its daily life to leaven the harshness of events like this. Maybe you don’t wear tees, but for a large segment of the American (and world), imprinted tees are little wearable reminders of milestones in the owners life. And most everybody likes free stuff.

“Together We Thrive” sounds like a great campaign slogan.

RichS said:
It appears you asked a question and then accepted the answer. The answer should have been who paid for the shirts not who didn’t pay for the shirts. So, Tommy, who paid for the shirts?

What do you suggest I do? Ask the question, then throw the answer in the garbage?

The University’s answer was pretty clear that nobody had paid for the shirts as yet, but that they would ensure that the funds were not drawn from a source that includes tuition, state allocations, tax dollars or student fees.

RichS said:
Oh, one other question Tommy, when they said the bookstore new a vendor that could turn them around fast, how long a time is fast, who was the vendor and how could they have produced 14,000 (that was the size of the crowd in the structure) in less than four days. They did all that work that fast and for under $5.00 per shirt. There is something about all of this that doesn’t sound right.

Funny, you’re all over my extremely well-sourced and detailed reporting, but seem to have no problem with Michelle Malkin’s completely unsourced and proven-false reporting. Even Malkin’s most loyal protege’ has debunked this story.This is the problem. When someone believes a crackpot story, no amount of facts will ever change their minds.

The information the college gave me is more than sufficient, and consistent with commonly accepted fact and the laws of physice. As several commenters have pointed out, t-shirts can be made quickly, in large quantities, under the right conditions. I ran a business 15 years ago that focused heavily on t-shirts, and even then, the shirts could be produced quickly. Delays are caused by backlogged orders, but in this case, I’m sure the vendor put the college at the front of the line, given the time constraint.

Frankly, I’m not sure I would have printed the vendor’s name without their permission. The level of lunacy over these shirts is kinda frightening.

Sometimes it’s better just to mind your own business and stop trying to make “a statement”.
“Together We Thrive” ? OK— what does that have to do with our empathy for the victims and their families?
From a University yet? I don’t like it and it could mean almost anything from homelessness to wars to “donate to your food bank” to …..whatever…..makes NO SENSE.

nellieou said:
” My liberal friends went to a memorial pep rally for 6 dead and all I got was this lousy t shirt.” TACKY! TACKY! TACKY! Not to mention the nonstop cheering during and after Bible versus. If I were the family members of the dead, I would have felt sickened.

Obama looked unusually uncomfortable during the cheering…..Watching it I wondered what the heck they were cheering ABOUT…..it happened again and I turned it OFF. I am NOT an Obama fan, but I truly sympathized with him. He was shocked.

X-3 said:
“Together We Thrive” sounds like a great campaign slogan.

The liberals rehashed it. Here’s one reference from 2008:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H

If you want to know what “thrive” means in liberal-speak, just think about the state of the inner cities after 50 years of utter liberal control. “Thrive” doesn’t mean what you think.

It’s like “hope”. When Obama talks about hope (which he doesn’t much anymore), what he means is that we are to hope that things don’t get too bad.

While we’re on it, when Obama talks about “sacrifice”, what he means is that we ALL have to sacrifice some of our success (some with jobs, some with pay, some with benefits, some with being forced into smaller homes, etc.) in order that we all can be “equal.”

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2011/jan/14/did-white-house-brand-arizona-memorial-service-log/

Alz said:
The liberals rehashed it. Here’s one reference from 2008:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H

If you want to know what “thrive” means in liberal-speak, just think about the state of the inner cities after 50 years of utter liberal control. “Thrive” doesn’t mean what you think.

It’s like “hope”. When Obama talks about hope (which he doesn’t much anymore), what he means is that we are to hope that things don’t get too bad.

While we’re on it, when Obama talks about “sacrifice”, what he means is that we ALL have to sacrifice some of our success (some with jobs, some with pay, some with benefits, some with being forced into smaller homes, etc.) in order that we all can be “equal.”

What I am reading are YOUR interpretations. Thanks for telling us absolutely nothing of importance.

DaTruth said:
I invite you to re-read my line about intellectual integrity. It’s a concept you should learn, because you are entirely devoid of it –and it’s quite clear to everyone else. Embarrassing, man.

No presidential event like this has “surprises” that the WH advance team isn’t aware of. That’s not “conjecture”. But for the sake of argument, let’s go with your thesis. And if we do, you’re really saying the advance team would not have been doing its job had it NOT known about the shirts. Pick your poison, sonny, but it’s not going to work out well for you either way. And on Palin? You really can’t be serious. Really? Come on…tell me you’re joshing.

http://weaselzippers.us/2011/01/10/anti-gun-nut-chris-matthews-blames-palin-and-bachmann-for-arizona-massacre/

I guess Matthews and Fineman aren’t really trying to tie Palin’s campaign map and other gun metaphors into the Arizona shootings, right? You’re clueless, dude.

Intellectual integrity involves supporting your THEORY with CREDIBLE evidence or facts. Not specious allegations & CONJECTURE. Maybe the teacher (you) should get back in the classroom and re-learn his trade before sanctimoniously lecturing anyone on integrity and truth. .

Without disclosing my political leanings (I’M A VOLUNTARYIST!), I will say that the turn-around time on the shirts is waaaayyyy fast. I imagine that their were probably hundreds of micro-steps involved in producing these shirts as well as conceptualizing and fast-tracking them.

At what point in this process did the actual shirt order or orders get placed? My guess is that it would have to be no sooner than the official decision to hold a FREE memorial service, regardless of whether the President would be in attendance or not. The earliest public announcement of the event I could find was on the UofA news site, dated January 10th. So, generously putting the time of the order at 9:00 AM on the 10th leaves just 2 days for production. If we push the receipt of said shirts to as late as 12:00 PM on the 12th, that only leaves 4 hours for volunteers to fold and place each of the 14,000+ shirts.

Total time to produce without any executive decision-making or procedural events whatsoever, 51 hours. It’s worth mentioning that the shirts were dark blue in color and at least a 2-color print job.

OK, now tell me what I should do or what I’m lacking in. Tear apart my conspiracy theory and attack my sanity!!!

Tyranny News Network – http://www.tyrannynews.com/

According to Fitzenberger, the shirts were designed by a University of Arizona student, and they cost about $60,000. “The University will pay for them,” she noted. “No tuition, state allocations, tax dollars or student fees will be used.”

Somebody want to explain how this math works? Where does the university’s money come from again?

Tommy Christopher said:
Funny, you’re all over my extremely well-sourced and detailed reporting, but seem to have no problem with Michelle Malkin’s completely unsourced and proven-false reporting. Even Malkin’s most loyal protege’ has debunked this story.This is the problem. When someone believes a crackpot story, no amount of facts will ever change their minds. The information the college gave me is more than sufficient, and consistent with commonly accepted fact and the laws of physice. As several commenters have pointed out, t-shirts can be made quickly, in large quantities, under the right conditions. I ran a business 15 years ago that focused heavily on t-shirts, and even then, the shirts could be produced quickly. Delays are caused by backlogged orders, but in this case, I’m sure the vendor put the college at the front of the line, given the time constraint. Frankly, I’m not sure I would have printed the vendor’s name without their permission. The level of lunacy over these shirts is kinda frightening.

Please explain the math of where the 60 grand came from without any tax dollars or tuition dollars? Seems like magic.

Also, as an aside, it is no testament to Mediaite credibility that staff comments cannot be voted on.

Tommy Christopher said:
The University’s answer was pretty clear that nobody had paid for the shirts as yet, but that they would ensure that the funds were not drawn from a source that includes tuition, state allocations, tax dollars or student fees.

So, that narrows it down to two choices–either the John Birch Society paid for them or the DNC paid for them.

Alz said:
The liberals rehashed it. Here’s one reference from 2008:http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H If you want to know what “thrive” means in liberal-speak, just think about the state of the inner cities after 50 years of utter liberal control. “Thrive” doesn’t mean what you think. It’s like “hope”. When Obama talks about hope (which he doesn’t much anymore), what he means is that we are to hope that things don’t get too bad. While we’re on it, when Obama talks about “sacrifice”, what he means is that we ALL have to sacrifice some of our success (some with jobs, some with pay, some with benefits, some with being forced into smaller homes, etc.) in order that we all can be “equal.”

Correct, and beind created equal in no way means “equal outcomes.” Of course, the commies tried that in Russia, but it appeared that some were more “equal” than others.

Alz said:
The liberals rehashed it. Here’s one reference from 2008

I was not serious when I advocated “togther we thrive” as a legitimate campaign slogan but it would be no less than what I would expect from 0bama and his crowd.

To those comments in the link, I am left with the question: If there is no competition, how do we ever get that “better mousetrap?” Competition is the key! And the basis for competition is the chance for competitors to win. Without the hope of winning, we devolve into mediocrity. Not everyone deserves a “prize.” All we deserve is the acknowlegement that we are all created equal and are given the rights to pursue happiness. (pursue is the operative word.)

Reading the link reaffirmed my belief in these tenets.

Good lord, to put this to bed, here is the scenario for T-shirts..

Receive order, check with supplier, he says I have 5,000 blue shirts I can have you today, and 10,000 tomorrow. Blue works. Extras in case of bad prints. Place order. Tap Tap Tap (waiting) Receive/make artwork. Scan into computer. (3 minutes), cut masks (30 minutes) ( helpers are prepping ink, and ordering extra for stock) Apply masks to screens (2 hours) Test screens and registration. Adjust as necessary. (30 minutes). Mount screens into automatic presses and begin production. First hour: 1000 shirts, second third fourth hours, 4000 more shirts. Send shorts thru tunnel dryer as they come off press. Clean screens and press. Go home.
Arrive at work, drink coffee, prep presses and screens, read paper, UPS arrives, start printing. Print until done (screenprinters work until job is done). Box up for delivery next morning as they come off dryer.
Seems like a lot of work to the uninitiated, or to conspiracy theorists, but it is what it is. Its what screenprinters do. They can make you some nice mugs to go with your tees, or even screenprint shampoo bottles or electric meter faces. Get over the tee shirt conspiracy thing.

oops, of course if the printing plant has six presses…..OMG its a tee shirt tsunami!

The truth is that it’s a pretty obvious campaign stunt.

Just so I’m clear as to the time-line here; the Arizona shooting takes
place mid-morning on Saturday, January 8th. And the custom-made T-Shirts
are draped on the over 14,000 seat-backs at the memorial site by 4:00
PM on Wednesday, January 12?

Let’s be VERY generous based on statements made by the involved parties, and estimate the shirts were ordered at 9:00AM on the 10th. Estimating the latest possible time for arrival of the shirts as 12:00PM on the 12th gives only 51 hours production time.

Ahhhhhh. I see. So, the shirts were ordered before the shooting. Now THAT’S the US psyop force I’ve grown to distrust!

http://www.channel.pk/watch-aaj-tv-live-streaming.html
is also a good source of latest news like these so you can enjoy there