Former President Bill Clinton.
“I’m hoping there will be a lot of good debates that go beyond turning this into politics.” Clinton speaking from Haiti Tuesday on the one year anniversary of the earthquake with BBC News 
The former President is the latest official to weigh in on the use of Political Rhetoric and the possible connection to violence. Or as some argue, is the entire debate getting to close to violating first amendment rights of free speech.
Six people were killed in the Arizona shooting that also gravely wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D- Ariz, who was holding a "Congress on Your Corner" event in front of agrocery store, and injured 14.
Jared Loughner, 22, was charged Monday in federal court with two counts of murder and two other counts of attempted murder. He is being held without bail.
Democrats and Republicans continue to point at each other, almost like a circular firing squad.
Republicans and Tea Party folks are hammering away on mental illness and that Loughner had held a grudge for at least three years against Giffords dating back to when he met her in 2007.
Democrats focus on harsh criticism that has been aimed there way and at government over the last few years. The parties are now even focusing on personalities.
Sarah Palin is hardly the first politician to use gun or military imagery in campaigning.
Palin's supporters note, even President Obama has used similar metaphors, telling Democratic donors in 2008, "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun."
Palin's also made the call for followers to "reload" as they rallied to capture Congress.
So does incendiary rhetoric bear some responsibility in this tragedy.
All we can say for sure, in this case is that Congresswoman Giffords herself had previously raised concerns about Sarah Palin's map: "The way that she has it depicted has the cross hairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they have got to realize there are consequences to that action." Giffords said.
It’s been widely reported that Palin offered her condolences for the shooting and did email conservative talk show host Glenn Beck:
"I hate violence," Palin wrote Beck. "I hate war. Our children will not have peace if politicos just capitalize on this to succeed in portraying anyone as inciting terror and violence." Palin said.
This political discord is obviously an issue for the entire country.
Shouldn't all of us be able to at least agree the volume should be lowered?
New Yorkers should feel fortunate to the degree that mayor Michael Bloomberg has been a national leader on tightening gun control and laws–even spending his own money to do it and suing gun shops in states far away from NYC.
A footnote to all of this. It’s not talked about often, but many of us still remember in 2003 when City Councilman James Davis of Brooklyn was assassinated by an angry and deeply troubled individual in the balcony of the Council Chambers at City Hall