This is not a similar case to the McCain volunteer that carved a backwards "B" into her face because the accused perpetrators did not claim to be Republican. We don't really know why they did the vandalism, but there is nothing concerning bearing false witness as there was in the McCain volunteer case. It may have nothing with politics---perhaps they worked there and were fired.

If Obama and Biden actually called this guy on the phone to express their condolences, like McCain and Palin did for the backward B crazy person, then MAYBE we'd have a case in parallel scale.

So you start off suggesting that the attacks were done by leftists in order to discredit Republicans, but then the evidence you produce, taken at face value, seems to indicate that the attacks were done by leftists because they are of a faction that hates Obama?

The "Ariel Attack" sentiments you quote-- given the caveat that there is very little solid to indicate she had anything to do with the attack-- is actually not all that uncommon if you read gay blogs. There's a certain group who have become convinced that the only reason we haven't repealed DADT and DOMA already is because Obama is secretly an evangelical christian pulling out all the stops behind the scenes to defend heteronormativity or whatever.

The difference is that on the left, the radicals are marginalized and minimally tolerated. On the right, they elect them to office...

There is no equivalence to the Backwards B incident. The perpetrators have not tried to accuse falsely their political enemies, the Colorado Dems have not embraced the false accusation with premature enthusiasm, and there has been significantly less facial disfigurement.

This appears to be just what it is: a small group of vandals whose political leanings do not fit neatly into either political party. They appear to be anarchists - the same people who turn every Anti-WTO demonstration into a gas-masked free-for-all and then watch as the Democrats, Liberals and Progressives take the blame for it.

Anarchists are anarchists. They are not a fringe of the left in any way. If anything they are an offshoot of the Randian libertarianism that has driven conservatives and the GOP off the edge of rationality.

This article is a black mark on Zack Roth's record. The meme that he is attempting to create is specious and reckless.

Eric, I would quibble with your use of the term "nihilists" to describe the prospective perps. This implies that they are against all government and laws, which is probably not the case. They just want a "perfect" government, ie. one that is at minimum extremely liberal. Rather than being nihilists, they are idealists. They feel very strongly about what they see as unjust laws. They share a strong affinity with the radical(mainstream?) right, which talks alot lately, since a Dem and a Black man at that are in the White House, in that they believe that the injustices that they see require not merely illegal, but violent action.

The issue can be confusing. Even Thoreau, among the inventors and great annunciators of civil disobedience, lauded John Brown for taking up arms against slavery. That is, there are wrongs that are so egregious that they amount to tyranny. Where do we draw the line? Perhaps, rightly or wrongly, they felt that the line had been crossed. This does't make them nihilists.

But are we now being reminded that the right doesn't have a monopoly on political violence?

Well we're at least being reminded they don't have a monopoly on teh stoopid.

What It Seems?

Why would you ever assume Republicans did this? Does the GOP have a long history of window breaking? I would think that there are enough left/right wing hate groups out there (not to mention an endless supply of nuts and vandals) that a reasonable person would not form any opinion until the facts were in.

"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Maybe its time to question your motives rather than the motives of the GOP Bogeyman.

I think it is weird to imply that this is at all like the 'B' carver. I don't think it is appropriate to make the connection. Seems for facts are needed to get clarity on what is going on here and it actually doesn't help the situation to make this implication.

It seemed to us in writing this post earlier that the goal of the attack was to discredit conservatives, by getting them blamed for it.

Why did it seem that way? Because it would make for a good headline? Apology accepted, but please try to keep from drawing conclusions like this, in the absence of facts, in the future. That's just not good journalism.

Wow -- imagine a conservative site coming up with something like this. An honest assessment of the known facts of a story which don't paint a pretty picture of the progressive side of things..

This is the thing about TPM and other progressive blogs - you guys generally tell it like it is, letting the chips fall where they may, whether or not it's to our benefit, on the face of things..

Very open minded, very well done - I trust you'll continue with honest, straightforward updates on this story and look forward to reading them, as always!

Thanks!

Could you explain to me why "anarchists" are "leftist." I don't know nuffin' much abouot "anarchists."
I will google it in the meantime.
Thanks.

p.s. The photo above is surely of a very pretty girl, yes?
The Schwenkler?

Have to give um credit for creativity! Right out of a Lee Atwater play book!

If I read the report right, the second person arrested was linked to a Gay/Lesbian group that may have a beef with the Obama administration's lack of support for the cause. I wonder if this is the motivation rather than some attempt to frame-up conservatives. Just wondering.

Knew something was fishy when I read yesterday the culprits escaped on bicycles. No self respecting righist ride bicycles. Now if they had escaped in a pickup truck.

"Nihilist"? "Twisted"? Regardless of who knew what when, this is irresponsible language. Anarchism is not a nihilist philosophy (and, pace some comments higher up in the thread, it predates Rand by centuries); it's one of the roots of the modern left. I doubt Proudhon, Bakunin, or Emma Goldman would have agreed with your characterization. This is really a shameful botch of an article.

If you have ever been to 'Liberal Oasis' or 'Riverdaughter' you will find leftists who hate Obama. They are better known as PUMAs and while this woman may not have been one of them if you go read these blogs you will see deranged hatred like you see on right wing sites. Frankly, it is odd and a bit scary. But it exists.

Some very good internet investigation and reporting in this post. However, can we refrain from using the phrase "political violence" when it's an act of simple vandalism? There is a bright line of distinction between breaking a window in an empty office building at night, and committing violence, which means attacking living things.