I don't know about North Carolina, but in at least some states, kicking someone counts as assault (battery?) with a dangerous weapon.

I think you raise a great question, and the videos are, well, disgusting. But please don't leave it to that. Please explore this topic in a lengthier article. What McCain's representing at the moment, or allowing himself to affiliate with, is pretty frightening. I was semi-shocked by his response last night (the political cynic in me knew he couldn't afford to alienate any voters right now).

The way he was almost in tears last night about Obama's "negativity"—i.e., Obama doesn't think McCain's proposals can work—while slurring Obama personally and allowing these goings-on at both his (McCain's) and Palin's rallies is truly scary. And I'm saying this as a middle-of-the-road "Let's give them the benefit of the doubt" sort of election observer.

As far as I'm concerned this should be the focus of Salon's coverage. Because McCain's rallies are starting to resemble those once held in Nuremburg.

...the one at this Ohio rally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

I think this clip needs to be added to the mix, Joan. Keep up the good work.

While the Right in this country has always been smug in their condescending view of those who are "other", I believe they have through it all maintained a certain victim mentality...of always circling their wagons and believing they are the ones who are being persecuted and lambasted, even when they were at the height of their power, and controlled many, many aspects of our culture, society and government.

I think the anger, frustration and lashing out we are seeing in these mobs is just the first sign of what the Right is going to go through as they are, for the first time truly, being shown to middle America for what they truly are. They are going to wake up soon, and see what it feels like to REALLY be on the receiving end of all the anger, deviciveness, hate and sel-righteousness that they have been spewing out for decades.

It is finally starting to come home to roost for them, and instead of acting like real adults and being rational and objective, it will only drive them deeper in their trenches, radicalize them even more, and force them to change their tactics to even more aggressive and arrogance ones.

American society is finally driving these folks into a corner (the first step to stamping them out), and they are not going to go as easily as we all believe...they are going to fight back with even more closed-mindedness, more radicalism, and eventually (if their flames hate and fear are stoked) violence.

Which is why, for the first time in my life, I actually fear for an American politician to be assassinated.

...and I am really thankful for my Atenolol.

Try as I might, my evolving cynicism simply isn't strong enough to ward off the sinking feeling I feel every time I experience the unmitigated and enthusiastic hate coming from conservative America. It makes me sad, it drains my hope, and it withers my enthusiasm for the nation.

What is it about those people that is so invested in hate? Why do they apparently have to have an enemy all the time? There is something in the mentality of a conservative that makes their lives unfocused unless they have someone to hate.

I fear for a President Obama. Some God-fearing, good, conservative Christian is going to feel that it is his patriotic duty to kill Obama. It's lurking just beneath the surface of those videos. You can feel it. And a great many conservatives would quietly approve.

Joan, I'd love to see an article by you on the propensity of the right for hatred and enmity. You or someone else smart, please explain this to me!

Oh, right. There's no way to spin imagery this ugly to support their myopic worldview, so they just don't post. The people depicted in those videos are by no means mainstream Republican America.. but they are tolerated by the great mass of "conservatives". First they came for Obama..

therefore, acceptable?

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/12/crush-the-obamedia-narrative-look-whos-gripped-by-insane-rage/

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/13/more-democratic-rage-not-on-the-front-page/

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/12/pds-mobsters-in-philly-lets-stone-her-old-school/

and yes, the other posters whom compared this right wing anger to both nuremburg, germany and hitler's furer! true, isn't assault a crime in all 50 states, even the most right wing ones where the sherriff often takes the side of the redneck locals? [ the video showing that deputy , of all people, up on that platform at palin's rally in PA? that uniformed, on duty cop should never have been allowed to side with anyone!]

and cute & fuzzy bunny, what you said about these right wingers being in their end times, squeezed out finally; well for the most part, that may be true in these politically correct times where even two, partnered lesbians [ maybe?] could live reasonably safely/semi-openly; down in places like monck's corner, SC .

but will they completely go away? that is the question. I mean I am sure that canada has it's rednecks, too. and perhaps not every redneck is an extremist like some of these assholes shown at mc cain/palin rallies? I mean country perfomer gretchen wilson actually had infused rap in one of her country songs; that and nashville considered her to be " too feminist/outspoken independent woman for nashville." [ sign of change from what's shown in mc jerk/moosemuffin's rallies]

I mean right here in 80% republican southbury CT just last week, young " billy bob skoalchewer" apparently felt so angered by my gay rights stickers and anti-mc cain [ bush's 3rd term= mc cain] that he both blasted his 4x4 truck's horn and hollered out at me in the stop and shop parking lot!

a brand new crop of hank williams, jr supporters, I guess. yet I learned that hank williams, jr's son, hank williams III- is living in new york city, performing country-rap music; and not 100% sure if he's gay, but he is well known in the gay club scene.[ and unlike his father, he'll vote obama , I bet!]