Charlie Kirk shot in the neck during Utah debate and has now passed.

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mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
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I don't know, the original report seemed pretty clear about the guy's politics, but then it's been removed as the source apparently subsequently backtracked.

I just would be interested to know if he really was on 'the left', as in my experience the left, are just nowhere near as ruthless as the right (nor, crucially, as competent when it comes to murderous violence and using firearms). The closest examples would be nationalist groups like the IRA (who are _kind of_ leftist, but not exclusively or consistently so - like a lot of nationalist organisations their support is apparently split between "Marxists" and religious conservatives).

That applies even on smaller scales and to non-violent cases - just look at the utterly ruthless Stalinist bureaucratic tactics of the Labour Party right under Starmer compared to the hopeless wishy-washy approach of the left of that party with Corbyn (who failed to purge the party of Starmer's mob when he had the chance). The right don't mess around or worry about moral scruples. It's almost always the left who hobble themselves by worrying about morality.

If there are leftists out there as murderously ruthless as this it's just interesting to know.

I'd be curious to get an idea what side of the spectrum the IRA would be classed as being, because kneecapping your fellow Irishmen because they follow the wrong denomination of the same sky fairy doesn't seem very lefty, but it could easily be a case of when a conflict gets trawled through the mud for long enough that labels like 'left' and 'right' become meaningless.

Some people claim to be lefties until they become a financial success and then become righties, so were they really lefty in the first place and became corrupted or weren't really lefties, just people who saw opportunity.

Thing is, I would expect a rightist to throw around references to "Marxism" or "communism" rather than fascism. Though the report also mentioned that those anti-fascist references are actually in the Helldivers game (not a game I've played at all, so I don't know). So maybe it's from that? Perhaps he's just another contradictory 'politically all over the place' nutter?

I bet I've been called a fascist or worse a bunch of times by right-wingers over the fifteen years I've had an account here, because you know, they "believe in freedom" (then very likely went on to vote for Trump or would have done multiple times if they hadn't died of covid denial). My point being, it's common enough for fuckwits to use pejoratives like "racist" when they're actually the racist. It's an ism, it sounds bad, that's about all the thinking they put into it, much like marxism or communism. Do you reckon even 25% of the Trumpers here have spent as little as half an hour learning about what marxism actually is before they used it in a sentence?
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
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I'd be curious to get an idea what side of the spectrum the IRA would be classed as being, because kneecapping your fellow Irishmen because they follow the wrong denomination of the same sky fairy doesn't seem very lefty, but it could easily be a case of when a conflict gets trawled through the mud for long enough that labels like 'left' and 'right' become meaningless.

Getting into an entirely different topic, but the "kneecapping" was generally aimed at petty criminals and drug-dealers - a way of acting as an alternative police force for communities that didn't trust the official police, i.e. a means of establishing authority within the community (when you don't have your own prison system or all the usual apparatus of a state). I would suspect groups like Hamas and Hezbollah do similar things.

It wasn't something used for those merely of the other religion. The IRA was not technically sectarian the way most of the Protestant paramilitaries were/are, though I think that wavered at times.

Also these groups can also attract people who just like violence (much more so with the INLA, apparently - they degenerated into rival factions fighting over control of the drug trade, as I understand it).

Anyway, what I've heard is that the urban parts of the nationalist movement were more influenced by quasi-Marxist ideology, while the rural parts were more religious and conservative. Something similar seems to be the case with the (non violent) SNP (not implying they are in any way similar to the IRA, but they apparently have a similar split between conservative and leftist support, who agree on the independence thing but little else).
 

eelw

Lifer
Dec 4, 1999
10,334
5,487
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Yes, but I also saw contradictory claims saying his former friend (and fellow gamer) had described him as "very left wing". Though, now I look for that report, it now says




So, who knows? Still as clear as mud.

I mean, those bullet casing inscriptions seem a bit contrdictory - anti-fascist references, plus a homophobic remark. Not to mention they seem a heck of a lot of words to 'engrave' on a bullet casing. Who goes to that much effort? That Luigi guy only inscribed three short words, not long, rambling sentences.
But it’s also shooter learning from other shooters. Let’s plant derogatory words in a false flag attempt.
 
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K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,606
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One interesting thing I’m observing is that right wing figures are souring on Kash. This seems to be for a couple of reasons 1) one of their own got killed and the killer’s dad had to turn him in 2) his interest and capability to help institute the kind of repression they crave is decidedly limited.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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One interesting thing I’m observing is that right wing figures are souring on Kash. This seems to be for a couple of reasons 1) one of their own got killed and the killer’s dad had to turn him in 2) his interest and capability to help institute the kind of repression they crave is decidedly limited.
I know that when I want to create a repressive state, I seek to first alienate all my state security services and gut state capacity. Surely, a winning plan.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,305
47,486
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Kash is a bad joke, but we've known that. Seems the chucklefucks are now aware though. Yep, he was so outraged and motivated by his 'brother' Kirk being shot, he kept his table at Rao's several hours after the shooting.

Can't let the groypers ruin dinner!
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,606
46,263
136
Kash is a bad joke, but we've known that. Seems the chucklefucks are now aware though. Yep, he was so outraged and motivated by his 'brother' Kirk being shot, he kept his table at Rao's several hours after the shooting.

Can't let the groypers ruin dinner!

When you understand the entirely self interested lives of conservative influencer grift it makes total sense. Kash just wants to use the FBI jet to fly to sporting events and dine at hard to get into restaurants. Making him Director and expecting him to work is a hilarious idea.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,606
46,263
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But not just the FBI Director being incompetent. It’s all the lifetime upper level agents that got purged to create the vacuum.

Sure, an idiotic ideological purge that strips the agency of most competency is about the only thing they’ve managed to do because it’s pretty easy.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,305
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bafkreia4go7pkao5rojihx7oz5jbofjv2fqv4mdjfovb6l2bn3bqh4s7va@jpeg
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,726
10,028
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I know that when I want to create a repressive state, I seek to first alienate all my state security services and gut state capacity. Surely, a winning plan.
That is exactly what you do to dismantle and destroy Democratic Institutions, to replace them with sycophantic henchmen who do nothing but obey the dictator.

Also... "gut state capacity"?
You smoked something?
ICE alone has more budget than Russia's military.

America's growing gestapo is huge.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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That is exactly what you do to dismantle and destroy Democratic Institutions, to replaced them to sycophantic henchmen who do nothing but obey the dictator.

Also... "gut state capacity"?
You smoked something?
ICE alone has more budget than Russia's military.
1757773868591.gif
ICE has limited resources in terms of manpower. The DOJ has fewer real lawyers, with more political appointees having to personally sign and argue cases. Other police services have been reassigned from their core duties to help ICE, leading to morale problems and capability gaps. And the National Guard units being called up for bullshit reasons are picking up trash and generally being demoralized.

That's not a recipe for creating a lasting repressive state, especially in a country with a long memory and tradition of being a relatively open and free society. We don't have repressive dictatorship/monarchy/etc in our collective consciousness as a form of prior government like people in Russia did.
 

eelw

Lifer
Dec 4, 1999
10,334
5,487
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That's not a recipe for creating a lasting repressive state, especially in a country with a long memory and tradition of being a relatively open and free society. We don't have repressive dictatorship/monarchy/etc in our collective consciousness as a form of prior government like people in Russia did.
I’m sorry, if that were the case, they would have seen the warning signs from the first term and not re-elected the wannabe dictator. Potato (sorry potatoes for the insult) for brain Americans will only remember that (hopefully Dem controlled house and senate in 2027) were unable to repair the damage done this past 8 months. Mark my word, this is a highly possible outcome.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,866
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It's nice to see Charlie's wife helping to tone down the violent rhetoric:

“You have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country and this world. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.“
Saw it posited that she must not be much of a person to have married Charlie Kirk. She damn well proved it with that statement. A monster.

Edit: Looking again at it I doubt she wrote that. Some operative did. Dishonesty is rampant in Republican quarters. But maybe she did, if so, monster!

Whoever wrote it, it's nuts. This was the action of a sole individual. Anyone with any sense knows that. A single magat right winger killed another magat right winger in a style that right wingers are particular enamored of - with a gun. In the big picture of violence in America, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. What can she do? Nothing. She's not gonna take on hubby's mantel and tour college campuses, write books and do podcasts.
 
Last edited:
Dec 10, 2005
28,648
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I’m sorry, if that were the case, they would have seen the warning signs from the first term and not re-elected the wannabe dictator. Potato (sorry potatoes for the insult) for brain Americans will only remember that (hopefully Dem controlled house and senate in 2027) were unable to repair the damage done this past 8 months. Mark my word, this is a highly possible outcome.
It's a possible outcome, but we shouldn't assume that it is a certainty. There is no point giving up in advance.
 
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Nov 29, 2006
15,880
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Had no clue Groypers existed.
Today may be the first encounter with that word.
i’ve heard the term before, but never looked into what it was. sounds like we have a right on right wing war brewing. Wouldn’t be surprised if CK fans target Fuentes now.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,072
11,250
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i’ve heard the term before, but never looked into what it was. sounds like we have a right on right wing war brewing. Wouldn’t be surprised if CK fans target Fuentes now.
It's been interesting seeing all the right wing cockroaches scuttle back to their dank foetid nests now that its turned out that there's a good chance that the shooter was further to the right than Charlie was!
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,620
3,000
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for two days, Imgur, 9Gag and Reddit were *swamped* wiith MAGA calling for the extermination of 'libruls.
i won't lie, i spent nearly the two entire days blocking accounts. i must have blocked 200 people at least, lost count.

then this
aGyorb6_460swp_webp.jpg
and all the sudden they went extremely quiet