The attack on Paul Pelosi and the continuing radicalization of the Republican Party and the far right

California Congresswoman Jackie Speier speculated about the motives of the attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband just after it happened.

SFGate.com bent over backwards in this piece to say, now, Speier doesn't have any actual evidence for this: Congresswoman speculates on Paul Pelosi attack motive, gets challenged by KTVU anchor 10/28/2022.

I'm not sure why, since the article also reports her clearly saying that she doesn't have any particular evidence for it and explains the reasons for her speculation.

I wish more journalists would make such reservations like this about foolish, dishonest or (these days) insane claims politicians make.

But in Jackie Speier's's case, it was an informed speculation than seems to have been accurate. She has the unique status of being the only person who experienced the Jonestown massacre in 1978 (she nearly died from her wounds) and the murderous Trumpista attack on January 6 last year.

So she actually has had reason to reflect on what motivates fanatical murderers.

Dave Neiwert did this post a few days before the attack on Paul Pelosi: Ye’s dive into the antisemitic abyss green-lights a wave of eliminationism from the right Daily Kos 10/25/2022:

In the past week, a range of right-wing public figures — particularly pundits and politicians — have openly voiced eliminationist and antisemitic sentiments. These range from Donald Trump’s tweets calling on Jews to “appreciate” his support for Israel, to Lara Logan’s outrageous interview on Newsmax in which she described “globalists” who “dine on the blood of children,” to Tucker Carlson’s vicious attacks on a Black MSNBC host, claiming she and other black people were trying to incite a race war. And of course, the raving antisemites of the white nationalist movement have been excitedly joining in by demanding Jews leave the country.

The far right on the whole in the US has not been sobered up by the January 6 coup attempt. The radicalization, including specifically the radicalization of the Republican Party, actually seems to be accelerating.

There's always a question in cases like this how much the reporting on a person committing such acts may actually encourage similar acts, particularly by people who at the moment heavily radicalized and looking for a reason to hurt somebody. But here are some early reports:

• Ariana Bindman, What to know about alleged Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape and his 'creepy' group San Francisco Chronicle 10/28/2022
• Summer Lin et al, Accused Pelosi attacker David DePape spread QAnon, other far-right, bigoted conspiracies Los Angeles Times 10/28/2022
• Kelly McClure et al, Suspect in Pelosi attack had a dark internet presence Salon 10/28/2022