[kQq9oHeAz6wLLS]

Also a reminder - a left-wing nut shot Scalise during a baseball game. Rand Paul was attacked at his home and had his ribs broken. There was an assassination plot against a conservative-leaning Supreme Court justice.

The right does not own the monopoly on violent nutjobs among their ranks. Sadly, they exist everywhere, left, right, and center.

[Beltalowda]

In Rand Paul's case it was just a conflict with his neighbour over leaves in the garden or some such incredibly stupid thing like that, right? I don't believe there was a political motive behind that one.

[christophilus]

Yep. The extremes have gotten crazier. Hence the thought that civil war or at least a really nasty escalation could happen.

[vkou]

No, they haven't. The left used to have people like the Weathermen, the civil rights movement used to have the Black Panthers. Nowadays, there aren't any groups with their reach or methods, whereas their equivalents on the right have exploded in popularity, mindshare, and political reach.

That explosion is what made Jan 6th possible two years ago, and what will give legs to the next try.

[christophilus]

In my lifetime, no one on the left tried to assassinate a conservative Supreme Court justice until the last few years. It’s gotten more extreme.

The left might not be as crazy as they were in the 60s or whatever, but things are more heated today than at any point in my 30 year memory.