Not The Same

 We still don't know who assassinated Charlie Kirk, and given the rank incompetence of Kash Patel's FBI, we might not catch the guy. At this point, we have to hope some local police make the case. The leak of lies that there were "trans markings" on the bullets shows where the priorities are from the top of the FBI and whatever remains of the rank and file after Trump's purges.

As Marshall points out, the simple fact is that the MAGA Right is deeply steeped in and tolerant of violence. The obvious example is January 6th, but Trump's language is always infused with violent imagery and threatening language. That does not limit his appeal in certain segments of the Right, but increases it. The poll Marshall cites says that only 39% of Trump supporters agree with the statement that political violence has no place in American society. For non-Trumpers, that number is 66%. 

There have obviously been cases of left wing violence, but the volume and intensity from the right is higher across the board. The Butler would-be assassin was not apparently driven by political beliefs, but the whacko in Florida who tried but never got off a shot has some amorphous left wing views but is mostly just nuts. (He's representing himself in his trial that just started and it's going about as well as you might expect.)

Just recently, we had the assassination and attempted assassination of two Democratic state legislators in Minnesota and the fire bombing of the governor of Pennsylvania's house. 

Because the appeal to violence is so much more prevalent on the right, we really do have to hope that Kirk's assassin has either crazy views or far right views (but I repeat myself), not so much for partisan advantage, but because it will derail (though not end) the calls from violence on the right. 

It's Utah. It's not just Utah but Provo, which is REALLY conservative. Idaho ain't that far away. The shooter clearly was adept with a rifle to hit Kirk in the neck from that distance. He's a white dude. The only clear sign that he might be to the left is the target. Kirk, however, had enemies to his right. 

In much the same way that Butler was perpetrated by some cookie cutter school shooter type which led to Trumpists being somewhat impotent in their anger, we had better hope that whoever shot Kirk is not a dyed in the wool leftist, because Trump and his myrmidons are baying for blood and perfectly willing to engage in slaughter in their holy war against pronouns and windmills.