# Hypothetical: The reaction if it had been Sarah Palin instead of Gabby? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 10, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057 "2011-01-10T02:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/81 "2011-01-14T18:09:36Z")
I don’t find Sarah Palin to be a credible source. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/82 "2011-01-14T18:12:47Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Are you guys wringing your hands over the climate of hate you’ve built? If Palin is killed, will we be treated to endless editorials about the climate of anger and hate on the left? I’m sure you’ll be glad to provide examples of this. No doubt you can provide links to John Edwards’ website where he’s calling for somebody to target (wink wink) Sarah Palin. And if not Edwards, surely Dennis Kucinich must be inciting people to violence - he’s as liberal as they come. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/83 "2011-01-14T19:49:16Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Are you guys wringing your hands over the climate of hate you’ve built? If Palin is killed, will we be treated to endless editorials about the climate of anger and hate on the left? Examples, please. Please link to the most prominent Dem or lefty who’s even implied that physical harm of any sort should be done to Palin. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/84 "2011-01-14T20:16:59Z")
Most Libs see Palin like a poorly trained puppy. It makes messes for others to clean up after. We don’t get very angry . We tolerate it because it is cute. She does not get us angry. When she makes statements we wonder how dumb will this one be. She rarely disappoints. There are crazies all over. There are people who will assassinate a politician because they think it will make them immortal., part of American history. There are nuts who threaten pols every day. But threats against Palin are way overrated. She is in danger from nutcases, not Liberals. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/85 "2011-01-15T02:33:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I highly doubt the OP is asking about the board’s reaction. Correct. I was speculating about the national reaction. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t believe there would be any celebration on this board by liberals if Palin was murdered (probably not a lot of full body sobbing either, but no condoning of murder), and even if anyone did, they would be condemned and first and foremost by other board liberals. Not condoning on my part. I thought we learned from JFK, MLK, RFK, Malcolm X, Patrice Lamumba and attempts on Reagan, Ford and Wallace that assassinations are counterproductive to a cause. > [@Wilbo523](#): > > One might argue that being an author, motivational speaker, news analyst and nature show host, are more real jobs than being a politician. Real to what? Certainly not to CV of being the person with the most power in the free world. Scary! Addendum: Anybody that says the shooting of Giffords wasn’t political and the act of a psycho is a hypocrite beyond description. She was a political figure and was targeted. It was political. Maybe it was done by a psycho but that’s not the point. This wasn’t some random shooting in a high school or a post office. Furthermore, very innocent people got killed because there was some political motivation. Get real! Just as if it was Palin there would be no way that anybody with any cognition could describe it as the random act of a crazy person. The naysayers and deniers need to put the shoe on the other foot. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/86 "2011-01-15T02:55:13Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Correct. I was speculating about the national reaction. Seriously, to what end? The only thing it does is encourage partisans to take this fantasy world and make it their own. The Usual Suspects on the right declare that lefties would rejoice; the Usual Suspects on the left declare that teabaggers would riot. Both sides pulled their declarations right out of their asses; the closest either side comes to evidence is somebody else’s fantasy. It’s absurd and humiliating for anyone who plays along. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/87 "2011-01-15T03:00:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Seriously, to what end? The only thing it does is encourage partisans to take this fantasy world and make it their own. The Usual Suspects on the right declare that lefties would rejoice; the Usual Suspects on the left declare that teabaggers would riot. Both sides pulled their declarations right out of their asses; the closest either side comes to evidence is somebody else’s fantasy. It’s absurd and humiliating for anyone who plays along. Just as it’s absurd for the Pentagon to play war games, right? Get real! You are being absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/88 "2011-01-15T03:03:11Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Just as it’s absurd for the Pentagon to play war games, right? Get real! You are being absurd. No, not as it’s absurd for the Pentagon to play war games. What on earth are you talking about? Are you putting forth this hypothetical to train yourself for an actual conflict? Your telling me to get real is pretty awesome, though. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/89 "2011-01-15T03:20:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > No, not as it’s absurd for the Pentagon to play war games. What on earth are you talking about? Are you putting forth this hypothetical to train yourself for an actual conflict? > > Your telling me to get real is pretty awesome, though. A lot of people make careers of thinking of hypothetical situations, planning for them and developing contingency plans. That’s a good thing. The Pentagon develops hypothetical scenarios, plays war games and makes contingency plans. Although 99.99% is utterly useless it is still necessary for preparedness. Hypothetical questions are necessary. Sorry you can’t see that. But when you are a typical conservative that is driving down they highway and steering by looking through the rear view mirror it is understandable why you would think that way. Example: What actually would happen if a Cat 5 hurricane hit New Orleans. That will never happen, why plan for it. It’s just hypothetical. Oooops! Get real! That would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/90 "2011-01-15T03:26:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I think it obvious that an assassination attempt on Sarah Palin would be ten times the sensation… Hell yes. The finger pointing over rhetorical demonization (in the other direction) would make this week pale in comparison. That’s not a value judgment of anyone, in either the real or the hypothetical circumstances, just saying that the scale of the reaction is naturally going to be proportional to the prominence of the target individual. And I don’t see why the suggestion that some people might “riot” over it should even be remarkable. I just assume that, in the present tense and troubled times, an assassination attempt on _any_ nationally-recognized figure of right _or_ left would lead to some unrest in the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/91 "2011-01-15T03:31:49Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > But when you are a typical conservative that is driving down they highway and steering by looking through the rear view mirror it is understandable why you would think that way. Did…did I just get called a typical conservative? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/92 "2011-01-15T03:35:43Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Did…did I just get called a typical conservative? You tell us. Sort of sounds like it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/93 "2011-01-15T03:59:04Z")
I’m supposed to tell you what you called me? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/94 "2011-01-15T17:25:51Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m supposed to tell you what you called me? “That’s metaphysically absurd, man! How can **I** know what **you** hear?” -Firesign Theatre, _Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers_ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/95 "2011-01-16T18:46:46Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Are you guys wringing your hands over the climate of hate you’ve built? I’m still waiting for evidence that we libruls have been building a climate of hate against anyone, **Sam**. Whatcha got? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/96 "2011-01-16T21:15:21Z")
How about just your single favorite, strongest example then,\*\* Sam\*\*? As a, let’s say, demonstration of your good faith. Can you do at least that much, in the cause of fighting our ignorance here? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057/97 "2011-01-19T04:01:35Z")
I’ve nudged him by PM about this thread. We’ll see if that does any good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-reaction-if-it-had-been-sarah-palin-instead-of-gabby/567057.md?page=4)