Dear Mrs. Palin,

I listened to your statement regarding the Arizona tragedy.  I admit, it is the first time since the 2008 campaign that I have chosen to watch video of you.  I also admit that I find your lack of knowledge regarding the issues to be profoundly disturbing given your stance on this situation.

To say that political discourse has always been violent is a straw-man argument.  It is like saying people have always smoked cigarettes.  But I don’t expect you to see the fallacy of your position.  If you stop and think about it, the "political violence" you reference was usually settled between the POLITICIANS by duelling.  Innocent people weren't part of the equation.  Not that you should let THAT stop you, though.

Political discourse in and of itself is not the issue here – it is the deliberate use of inciteful dialogue and violent rhetoric that we, the people (you know – the ones the POLITICIANS supposedly WORK FOR) object to. You know - the political equivalent of shouting "FIRE!" in a crowded theater.

You, Mrs. Palin, are just as guilty as the rest.  If you doubt that, please consider your campaign statements, the graphics used on your website, and your continued inability to grasp the consequences of your own rabble-rousing discourse.

We, the people, are TIRED of politicians that foment an “Us Vs. Them” atmosphere more suitable to a declaration of war. 

We are TIRED of politicians that feign ignorance when their violent rhetoric is thrown back in their faces as their “base” exercises their own violent tendencies in response to the pulpit-thumping. 

We are TIRED of watching malcontents take up arms at the slightest imaginary provocation (for it is most definitely “imaginary” when their lives are not being placed in jeopardy).

Mostly, we are TIRED of pompous windbags that refuse to accept responsibility when they have loosed the monster from its chains.  The fact that you deliberately chose a phrase as offensive as blood libel supports my assertion that you are not well-grounded in reality.  I hope you have the inclination to now go and read up on that phrase you so casually and callously threw out there. 

Blood libel?  Hardly.  What is being called out in the media right now, what is being spread from blog to blog, is the ringing statement from mainstreet America that we’ve had enough. 

The hatred must stop. 

The ends DO NOT justify the means.

I hope those words were simple enough for you.