The Politicized Mind  —  Before he allegedly went off on his shooting rampage in Tucson, Jared Loughner listed some of his favorite books on his YouTube page.  These included: “Animal Farm,” “Brave New World,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” “Through the Looking Glass” and “The Communist Manifesto.”

The “Politicized Mind” Of Gabrielle Giffords  —  David Brooks is astonished, sickened, appalled that an attempted assassination of a sitting congresswoman should be immediately regarded as something possibly ... wait for it ... political.  In fact, Loughner must be seen in a context in which politics does not exist:

Rep. Peter King Says Muslims Aren't ‘American’ When It Comes To War  —  Rep. Peter King (R-NY), the new chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, has promised to launch a series of investigations of Muslim Americans beginning in February.  “I've made it clear that I'll focus the committee …

“On Extreme Right And Left” Ctd  —  This goes back to my debate with Pejman.  David Corn insists that the difference between right and left rhetorical extremism is that the right has “institutionalized their side's craziness.”  Juan Cole is blunt.  George Packer concedes that George W. Bush …

And Speaking Of Krugman And Double Standards At The Times...  OK, I am back in Arizona.  Pejman has a great piece on inflamed rhetoric which reminds me of this jaw-dropper - a Democratic Congressman who last fall said a Republican candidate for Governor should be shot has a guest piece in today's NY Times talking about civility.