interesting...

A sinister shrine reveals a chilling occult dimension in the mind of the deranged gunman accused of shooting a member of Congress and 19 others.

Hidden within a camouflage tent behind Jared Lee Loughner's home sits an alarming altar with a skull sitting atop a pot filled with shriveled oranges.

A row of ceremonial candles and a bag of potting soil lay nearby, photos reveal.

Experts on Sunday said the elements are featured in the ceremonies of a number of occult groups.

They came for the Communists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Communist;

They came for the Socialists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Socialist;

They came for the labor leaders, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a labor leader;

They came for the Jews, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Jew;

Then they came for me -

And there was no one left to object.

Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Pastor,

1892-1984

Except, not all left wing policies agree with a more active government like left liberatianism, this is where you are wrong there are also authoritarian right wing ideas, which fascism is one, for example, in an ideal marxist society, there would be no state, not anything like the fascism, which depends on nationalism.

Also Kaz, I think you are mistaking leninism for Marxism, lenin believed that there needed to be a stage of authoritarian rule to restructure a non capitalistic socieity, with Marxism, the overthrow of capitalism would lead to a socialism stage whith social control of the economy in the hands of a democratic state, and eventually to the irrelevance of the state

Defend it would be that one believes such a prayer is an appropriate one to use.  I would speak mainly from a Christian perspective here, and what Jesus taught.  It would be like the correlary to Godwin's Law, that states that once Hitler is brought you, the discourse has gone too far and can't be justified in any manner to continue.  I do see the issue with Gifford, and what came out of it, as a time to review current political language being used. 

Actually, Godwin's Law only says that as an online discussion continues, the probability of a comparison to Nazis approaches 1. See NinjaguyDan's post above.

Maybe there is a good reason for people to cool their rhetorical jets. I'm all for it if it helps people focus on issues rather than personal attacks (although Jack Shafer has a great article up on Slate in defense of heated political rhetoric), but not for this reason. This kid was so far gone that it's impossible for me to believe that current mainstream political debates/shouting matches/whatever have anything to do with his shooting up a Safeway. The parallels between him and the Columbine kids or Cho-seung Hui are too great to ignore.

And already people who want to silence others are sharpening their legislative knives. Just look at Bob Brady's suggestion that it should be illegal to draw bullseyes or crosshairs on a map. Not only is it yet another allusion to the harebrained theory that this kid, with his long history of mental problems and deviant behavior, was inspired by a relatively obscure map on Sarah Palin's website, it's sadly ironic that he would do this in "honor" of Giffords, who stood on the House floor to read the First Amendment not even a week ago.

You would be a LOT better off using the Nolan chart instead (the chart you used above is one of an Republican slant on things that believes, while they want to restrict things like gay marriage, abortion, and drug use) they actually stand for liberty and freedom.  The problem is that such a person doing this isn't for personal liberties, but wants economic liberties.

The Nolan chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_chart

I think the Chinese abandoned communism when the leadership started to preach, "Getting rich is glorous" so now they play more free markets, and state investing, but crack down on civil liberties in other areas.  Basically, bribe the people with a chance to get rich, but don't question the leadership. 

There are a whole lot of people here confusing the economic ideals and social ideals of fascism. Not everything is clearly "right wing" or "left wing". In the case of fascism (and Nazis in particular), there's a decided split between those ideals, one being slightly left-leaning while the other is far right.

When mention Godwin's Law, I mention the correlaries people have shot off of it, in that, once Hitler pops up, people begin to realize maybe the discussion has gone too far (one of the correlaries is the discussion will soon end).

I also do think there is need for people to cool it, but would ask people do a personal assessment of the situation and decide on their own, rather than we have some thought police rules that would come down from above that end up trying to ban things.  I have argued that a nation where people don't police themselves locally will be governed from politicians above, likely nationally. 

Best thing here is to get a pulse on what is going on, and see how things could be turned for the better, even if what had happened doesn't quite match to the situation.  Like now, this shouldn't be talk of how the Tea Party flames hate, but should be insane people.  In this, discussion of personal liberties and how to properly use them would be on order.  Mentioning responsibilities, besides arguing for "rights" would be constructive here I believe.

Well if we go by the Nolan chart that Richard showed, Fascism would be the lower left of the box, low economic and personal freedom, so in that sense it would be split as it would incorporate the lack of freedom from both the left and right wing