Matt Drudge has a way with words

[DemocratSinceBirth]

On his web page in large red letters the Mormon Church Shooter is referred to as the "MAGA Maniac." If it wasn't so tragic I would have a laughing emoji. I know the Mormon Church has had a controversial past but I have found Mormons to be kind and thoughtful .

[WarGamer]

1. Drudge hasn't had a hand on the website for years

[Iris]

2. I agree. I've know a lot of Mormons in my life and they generally are kind

and they are true to their values.

[kimbutgar]

3. Drudge used to be so right wing and now its a readable site with some good articles.

And he hates the orange turd!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. A poster said he has no hand it it but AI says he still owns it and has editorial control

[BannonsLiver]

35. He had a falling out with Trump before the 2020 election that has been documented.

Is he writing headlines these days? I have no idea. Nor does anyone else. Drudge is very reclusive. But despite what the poster downthread says, there's no evidence that he has completely ceded control of the website.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. He definitely used to lean right, now he's a provocateur.

MAGA Maniac is priceless...

[BannonsLiver]

37. Yes he sure did.

My impression is that he was/is more of the W Bush/Karl Rove variety of GOP rather than a RWNJ populist.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

39. Drudge flipped to blue with the rise of Trump

[AZJonnie]

4. Surprisingly enough Drudge Report has become a somewhat reasonably fair arbiter re: political stuff over time

I know some fairly liberal people who keep Drudge Report in their news rotation because of it

[Sneederbunk]

5. I did not know that the shooter has been identified as Mormon.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. He hates Mormons. That's why I called him the "Mormon Church Shooter" .

MAGA Maniac is so much better.

[GopherGal]

12. MAGA Maniac is redundant and too open to ambiguity...

it could be describing the entire Rethuglican party.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. I like the alliteration.

Mega MAGA Maniac.

[Nanuke]

8. I don't think yesterday's shooter was Mormon. I believe the CK shooter once was.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. See Post Seven

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. And there's a theory the shooter was avenging Kirk's death.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. It's not a theory. It is a junk "rumour" with no facts, no credibilty, just crap speculation.

Please don't push garbage fantasies.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. There you go again.

I guess you don't remember the last time you disrespected me, but as I said then, "I will be the bigger poster, take the high road, and not respond in kind."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. Correction on facts is not disrespect. You didn't post a fact and I pointed that out.

You will not be able to post facts to corroborate your bogus hypothesis. Instead you have taken personal affront over being corrected.

It is disrespectful to let a person continue to be deluded as to motive in a situation like this. I was respectful enough take the time to correct you.

I did not attack you; I attacked your "theory" about a motive referring to Kirk.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. My comments require no elucidation.

I refer you back to post #15. Thank you in advance.

[H2O Man]

22. It is, of course,

one of two theories making the rounds. From what I see here, you merely noted that it is a current theory, rather than saying it is a fact. I'm not sure why that you noting this would upset anyone. The other theory is that his SO, who was or had broken up with him, was a Mormon.

Obviously, no one on DU knows why he did this. It is possible we will learn that one of the two theories is correct, or if they are both wrong.

What we do know now is that it was an act of hate. We all benefit from taking the high road. It can be tempting to respond in kind ..... yesterday, on an internet site I have been posting essays advocating non-violence and rational communication, two human beings looked to start arguments with me. I have no need or desire to argue with anyone at this point in my life. I try to be patient with those who prove incapable of engaging in meaningful discussions rather than meaningless nonsense.

Note: The only exceptions would be on internet boxing sites, if some fool argues that Ali's "anchor punch" didn't drop & stun Liston, or if some assclown says Ali was a "draft-dodger." In those instances, I feel no pity, and engage in a verbal exchange that is as close to Ali's attack on Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. It's hard to get in the mind of a MAGA Maniac.

But if I were to get in a mind of one the theory is not implausible.

[H2O Man]

28. Right.

We have a history of violent attacks on houses of worship. We don't want to be like those saying museums and libraries shouldn't include information on slavery. We also have a history of someone -- usually a man -- hurting or killing a SO during a break-up.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. Theories are based on facts and observations. There are no facts / observations pointing to Kirk as a motive

Without facts or observations there is no theory and idle speculation should not be tarted up as a "theory" thereby fooling some as to the legitimacy of meaningless nonsense.

If someone wants to claim that there is a "theory" the moon is made of green cheese, that is not a theory because it is not based on any observation or fact. Similarly the idea that the shooter was motivated by the killing of Kirk. It may come to pass later that something is discovered, but that does not validate a "theory" that is not a theory and is only time-wasting speculation.

[H2O Man]

26. Theories are

"a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained." Rumors are "a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth." There is, without question, theories that are rumored, with the obvious example of "rumors of war."

Both theories and/or rumors may be found to be true, partially true, or not true at all. Exactly as I noted, without any chance of error, there are two theories being rumored on the internet -- a misguided hatred of Mormons, and the break-up of his relationship with his SO. Now, independent of this incident, it would seem obvious that this country has a history of violent attacks on religious institutions, and a solid history of people -- most often men -- injuring or murdering a SO at the time of a break-up.

The more important question, the one I respectfully suggest you consider, is why you have been going after a respected member of our community? This isn't the first time we've seen this. Do you really think you are contributing something of value here? Or might you consider not going after this person, for the benefit of everyone?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

29. I explicitly limited my "going after" to the so-called "theory". Then the person went after me. . . . nt

[H2O Man]

30. I've read

a few of these. I like both of you, and am objective. Your dislike of this person comes through. You are better than that, and at this time in history, we need everyone to be their better selves.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. If I dislike someone I usually put them on "Ignore", lest I post something I will regret

[Bernardo de La Paz]

34. I too like DemocratSinceBirth & we had pleasant exchanges over the years. I attacked the "theory" not the person

I read all of their posts in the thread and had no beef or anything to contribute except one sentence in one post. The OP that started the whole thread is a fine observation.

[Demsrule86]

23. I think that was part of it...when we lived in Georgia, there were few Episcopal churches

like none in our town. The Baptist church was a big church with Sunday school and activities for the kids. I like the pastor at first. But let me tell you the prejudice against Mormons, Catholics, 7th day Adventist, Jehovah Witness, and Orthodox Jews was rampant. Evangelical was the one and only and it only got worse. I left because I had run into the pastor in the store and he was overly friendly. I was young and blonde...(still blonde). The next thing I know he wants to counsel me without my husband...God apparently suggested it...hmmm. I left the church and never talked to him again...this guy was Pastor Johnny Hunt ...from the poolroom to the pulpit...who later was sanctioned for his actions in regards to women. He is no longer with the church but is still active in Johnny Hunt ministries. My instincts told me to run and I did. I was right in the end.

'Johnny Hunt is still involved in ministry through his organization, Johnny Hunt Ministries, and regularly preaches at churches and conferences, despite credible sexual abuse allegations against him. A defamation lawsuit he filed against the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and others was mostly dismissed in early 2025, though one count related to a tweet remains.

https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/dismissal-of-sbc-sbc-ec-guidepost-from-hunt-suit-ends-more-than-2-years-of-litigation/

[Norrrm]

31. Franklin (and Billy) Graham say Mormons are not Christians According to them, Catholics are not Christians either.

Franklin (and Billy) Graham say Mormons are not Christians

According to them, Catholics are not Christians either.

https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/october-2012/can-an-evangelical-christian-vote-for-a-mormon/

"We need something like what Jerry Falwell did in the 1980s. We need a “moral majority”-made up of Christians, Jews, Mormons, Catholics and many others of faith-to come together to take a stand for our religious freedoms and rights."
https://web.archive.org/web/20150222160421/https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/october-2012/can-an-evangelical-christian-vote-for-a-mormon/

[Demsrule86]

38. I heard it in that church...the funny thing is my Dad Was Catholic.

He snuck us over and had all five of us baptized. My Mom did not like the idea of the pope and was raised a Baptist. I the Catholic church some years ago...you were not supposed to set foot in a Catholic church according to Baptist...and Dad said we had to confess if we went to church with Mom...very confusing.

[hlthe2b]

11. Yes. My experience too. I rembember stepping in to assist a teen girl collapsed in a seizure

stepping off the school bus many years ago, with everyone else shrieking or doing nothing to help. I finally found a young boy who appeared to be her younger brother and asked him if she'd ever had an episode like this before, and he adamantly stated no. But then he sheepishly stated that she'd been given a Mydol tablet by the school nurse for that "girls thing" and had told him that she'd not told the nurse she'd never taken it before. The seizure was timed almost perfectly to 45 minutes later (when the caffeine Mydol contains would have hit close to maximal effect. I then asked him if they were Mormons, and yes, that was the problem. While they don't (traditionally) ever use caffeine and are thus sensitive, not all will have such an extreme reaction, but clearly, this young girl did. I positioned her to avoid injury and stayed until the ambulance could come, giving the EMTs the history, and since they were one person short, helped them start an IV to administer some Valium.

She recovered fully, and later on, the full family came to my house to thank me so profusely, I was struggling to hide my embarrassment. But, yes, very nice people who never failed to greet me (and tell everyone in the neighborhood what I did to help).

Sad that the RW so wants to categorize the "other" so that everyone becomes their "enemies." Sigh...

[Champp]

13. #MAGAmaniac are disgraceful specimens

in unwitting service to Elitist Billionaire Dark Lords

[Easterncedar]

16. I don't see how that follows

He was referring to the murderer as a maniac, right? Not the mormon folks he killed?

I am no fan at all of mormonism. There’s some weird sexist things going on there. I have relatives in it. And the book? Yow.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. The shooter is the MAGA Maniac.

[Easterncedar]

18. Right. Why the comments that drudge is insulting mormons ?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. I added those comments to show my affection for them.

[617Blue]

27. More accurate than CNN