Poll: Most Americans Feel Rhetoric, Tucson Shooting Unrelated  —  Nearly six in 10 Americans say the country's heated political rhetoric is not to blame for the Tucson shooting rampage that left six dead and critically wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, according to a CBS News poll.

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.”

Pima County sheriff should remember duty  —  On Saturday afternoon, with his friend Gabby Giffords in surgery fighting for her life, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik railed against the tense partisan politics - “the anger, the hatred, the bigotry” - that prompted the mass murders outside Tucson, in his view.

Doc: Giffords ‘100 percent’ certain to survive  —  Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is “100 percent” certain to survive, said Dr. Peter Rhee, a surgeon treating her for a gunshot wound to the head.  —  “As a physician I'm going to get into a lot of trouble for this, but her prognosis for survival is 100 percent …

Talent no longer a sure bet for Senate race  —  The once likely candidacy of Jim Talent for U.S. Senate in Missouri is no longer a safe bet.  —  In fact, Republican insiders are now hedging against it.  —  While close advisers initially signaled Talent would settle on a decision by the end of 2010 …

Peter King, Leading Republican, To Introduce Strict Gun-Control Legislation  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … Rep. Peter King, a Republican from New York, is planning to introduce legislation that would make it illegal to bring a gun within 1,000 feet of a government official …

Glenn's letter to the American people, politicians, and media  —  While Americans are grappling to understand the Arizona tragedy, the absolute vacuum of leadership on both sides is staggering.  —  We live in a country that has been struck by John Hinckley Jr. and Sirhan Sirhan, Lee Harvey Oswald and Mark David Chapman.

The Wrath of Fools: An Open Letter to the Far Right  —  From: William Rivers Pitt Re: The blood on your hands  —  Rep. Gabrielle Giffords isn't much older than I am.  She served in the Arizona State House of Representatives, and the Arizona State Senate, before being elected …

A Flood Tide of Murder  —  By all means, condemn the hateful rhetoric that has poured so much poison into our political discourse.  The crazies don't kill in a vacuum, and the vilest of our political leaders and commentators deserve to be called to account for their demagoguery and the danger that comes with it.

Blizzard Mystery Solved?  Air Bloomberg Was Seen in Bermuda  —  On the day after Christmas, a request came into the Bermuda airport: a private plane needed to be pulled out of its hangar and readied for takeoff.  —  The pilots seemed a bit anxious to depart.

Mark Halperin: Conservatives should turn the other cheek when scapegoated for murder  —  During a discussion on MSNBC's “Morning Joe” Tuesday, the panel conceded that conservatives and Tea Party activists were unfairly scapegoated in the wake of Jared Lee Loughner's shooting spree in Tucson …

Downturn's Ugly Trademark: Steep, Lasting Drop in Wages  —  In California, former auto worker Maria Gregg was out of work five months last year before landing a new job—at a nearly 20% pay cut.  —  In Massachusetts, Kevin Cronan, who lost his $150,000-a-year job as a money manager in early 2009 …

Supreme Court: Did it just hint at stance on a health-care law challenge?  —  The Supreme Court refused to take up a case examining Congress's authority under the commerce clause, a key issue in a legal challenge to Obama's health-care law.  Two justices dissented.

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.