Some clarifications about Palin and “angry talk”:
It’s possible that Palin, even before today, could have committed a federal crime with her speech and imagery specifically by inciting violence. The best example is that image with the crosshairs, but I’m told there are endless examples of violent pep-rally talk. I’m not convicting her outright but maybe federal prosecutors ought to put it to a jury. If she didn’t break a law yet, there ought to be one. This is not political speech.
But you still will really want to avoid “eye-for-an-eye” sentiments in the near future, because we can’t have an opposite-and-equal reaction. Prosecution is part of our (mostly) peaceful criminal justice system. Vigilante justice isn’t.
