If we label this gunman as a ‘fringe character’ we will miss an opportunity to recognize what is really going on in this country. The daily hateful rantings of the pundits with microphone­s is fueling a terrible and scary tide in our country towards a growing epidemic of disrespect­. Everything is a ‘sound bite’ and everything is a conspiracy that is being ‘spun’ by the government­, banks, media, and corporatio­ns to deceive us all into a New World Order. When is common sense and civility going to return? I don’t feel very optimistic on this sad and tragic day.   And P.S. shame on Sarah Palin for posting a map with gun sighting cross-hairs!