When I wrote my book on Free Speech in an Age of Rage, I never thought Virginia would become ground zero for rage politics. Yet, recently, the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Abigail Spanberger, told supporters, “Let your rage fuel you.” Then her running mate, Ghazala Firdous Hashmi, seemed to declare the death of the Constitution and democracy … unless they are elected, of course. Now, a shocking series of statements by Jay Jones (the Democratic candidate for Attorney General) from 2022 has been released in which he talks about putting two bullets in the head of a political opponent, “pissing on the grave” of a dead Republican, and asking whether a Republican colleague and his wife were “breeding little fascists.”
In a series of texts, Jones was responding to the eulogies for a Democrat, Del. Joe Johnson, D-Bristol, who was known for working across the aisle with Republicans to achieve bipartisan results.
In messages to Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chester, Jones referred to “the glowing tributes from the Rs,” including by former Virginia House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert. Jones insisted that the deceased “leaked everything to your [Republican] caucus. It’s why Gilbert gave him such a glowing tribute.”
Jones then promised that “if those guys die before me, I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves. Send them out awash in something.”
He did not stop there. He stated, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” To bring that menacing point home, he added: “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
Coyner replied with “Jay. Please stop.”
He responded with “Lol. OK, OK,” but later added, “I genuinely was [asking questions]. I wasn’t attacking you. I was trying to understand your logic.” When Coyner disagreed, Jones replied, “Yes, I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
In yet another message, Jones considered whether Gilbert and his wife Jennifer were “breeding little fascists.”
Notably, such claims of fascism were being raised in 2022 and directed against local Republicans by figures like Jones.
In fairness, these were not public comments, but they are still shocking in the use of rage rhetoric. It was notable that, even with the passing of this legislator at age 90, Jones’ inclination was to attack him for working with Republicans. While Jones may have thought some of it was funny, it does not appear to have been taken that way by the other legislator.
Such “rage rhetoric” is becoming all too common in politics and remains unabated even after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In my book, I note that:
“As shown throughout our history, rage is addictive. It bestows a certain license to shed the confining expectations of reason and civility. … At times, our politics seem like a collective primal scream session where only the loudest prevail. Yet, for some, the license to rage goes beyond the amplification of their own views and becomes a demand for the silencing of others.”
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the bestselling book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
When I discuss violent leftist rhetoric with Dems, they just point to Trump’s trash-talk.
Oooo! Rage rhetoric is shocking only when it spews from lefties? Perhaps righties would like to establish censorship tribunals to shut them up. There must be a solution to solve the irksome free speech problem detailed in that Project 2025 tome.
No, censorship is what leftists do. Why? Because their instincts are always totalitarian. Conservatives write blog articles criticizing rage rhetoric without suggesting the solution is censorship. See above.
That’s the difference. Conservatives believe in a free market of ideas, which includes criticism. Leftists hate freedom and promote censorship, up to and including assassination, as recent events demonstrate.
Examples of Republican censorship include book bans in schools, restrictions on academic curricula, and attempts to hamper DEI initiatives.
They haven’t a monopoly. They may remove books graphically describing sexual acts as inappropriate for children, but remember the leftists banning Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird? I do. Those are works of great literary merit, which cannot be said of those books the right thinks children shouldn’t have to read in school. They have not, as the left has done, attempted to squelch books entirely, pre-publication, nor rewritten authors’ texts to conform them with leftist prejudices.
Ellen Evans,
The Leftists did not move to ban Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird. As far as I can tell a few families in a single school district wanted them banned after they were used by White racists as an excuse to harass Black children; recall how much conservatives want schools to do their bidding? Maybe conservatives need to emphasize not being racist.
Virginia did ban them, Virginia being a state that closed public schools rather that give equal schooling to Black children, not really a Leftist thing to do.
The Supreme court banded DEI because it IS racist.
The left sure wants sex books for young children. I wonder why? Or is it, they want to have sex with them.
You mean books like, “Heather has two mommies” or “It’s Perfectly Normal”, a book on how to masterbait? Those books which were intended for 1st and 2nd graders? If you wanted those in our schools then you, yourself, are a pedophile groomer. Begone foul cretin back to the abyss that spawned you!
Please cite any republican candidate for public office that said they wanted to put a bullet in the head of their opponent.
If there is something heinous in Project 2025 – regarding Free speech – raise it – do not speculate about what you think might be there.
Regardless, Project 2025 is NOT the GOP – Agenda 47 is.
Project 2025 is a collection of the independent wish lists of thousands of republicans.
It is nearly 1000 pages long, and while SOME of it might accidentally or otherwise turn into policy, much of it wont.
John,
Project 2025 is a wish list from a small number of billionaires who wish to take economic control of the Federal government. It is currently considered 48% complete in less than one year. Their primary goals are to allow them to buy Federal (citizen owned) property for pennies compared to any other sale, to eliminate all regulations on business operations – hello monopolies, dumping of toxic waste into public waterways, elimination of union protections for workers, and so forth.
Not a politician, but a Fox News “reporter” said he wanted to use lethal injection to remove the homeless from the streets. Not only did he share that on-air with several co-hosts, and all of the viewers, he was given no pushback at the time, not fired, and it appears there is no backlash from the viewers. Conservatives largely appear to enjoy the thought of violently ending the lives of tens of thousands of people.
As to putting bullets into heads, Trump made no special public statement over the assassination of a Democratic party politician, their spouse, and their dog, by a conservative who had a lengthy list of other names and was caught on their way to a second person. Failing to condone is support, as was seen from the entirety of the rest of the Republican conservatives over the matter.
One source is reporting that detained illegal aliens are now asking to be deported quickly so they don’t get shot to death by their supporters.
What used to be career-ending campaign rhetoric is now an applause line. Outrage is rewarded, principles are optional, and opposition for its own sake keeps the base fired up. It does not build a republic. It burns one.
If these are the best candidates the D party in VA can offer, they need to disband the D party there and open the field for a more reasonable party to form.
Suze, they don’t have a candidate problem. The Democratic party is serving up what feeds the raging appetite of the radical elements within their base. The rest of their base aren’t about to demand anything that blurs the line between the parties and threaten a team win.
Alright yes, their candidates have a problem with principles, but that’s the identity of their team. And no one wants to defy the hooligans who demand it or else.
Yep olly. That’s how the KKK was created by out of control dems.
A conservative and a liberal were arguing. The liberal got exasperated and said “I’ll bet when l die you’ll piss on my grave.” The conservative: “No. when l mustered out of the Army, l promised myself I’d never stand in line again. “
LOL
The guy who wants to be in charge of the bullets in Virginia wants to put two bullets in the head of his opposition. If one listens closely he can hear the ringing in the ears of Stalin uttering the exact same words. You got to scramble a few brains to make an omelette. Schumer says that a Supreme Court Justice will reap the whirlwind and soon after a guy hears his marching orders from Schumer and attempts to assassinate the judge. Since a Supreme Court judge is not elected and being in danger of being voted out of office what did Schumer have in mind? Since Schumer refuses to say the name of God I don’t believe that he was calling for the wrath of God on the mans head. The message was loud and clear. I’ve changed my opinion. I used to think that they were just saying things to get elected. I have now come to the conclusion that when they call for bullets and the whirlwind they mean every word of it. They both know exactly what they are doing. ANTIFA members in suits.
But on the positive side, if it weren’t for Schumer we wouldn’t know that guacamole was made from avocados or that when grilling burgers you should put a slice of cheese on the patty when it’s still raw.
*. The birth rate just went down another notch.
In a same world, he’d get one vote. Btw most people learn from good advice, no pain needed. What company has this man kept?
Have a beautiful fall day.
^^^*. Sane , not same.
There’s nothing more to say to them, seriously nothing. They’re abnormal and intend destruction. Republicans need to understand and act.
Close audits after elections in these areas is imperative. Evacuations of sane people trapped in those areas considered. They’re genetically damaged people.
Socialist Dems are on the same path of stoking the fires within . . . b u t , it will be America’s inner most deep state players and funding as well as radical Islamists that will be far worse in the years ahead.
“ In fairness, these were not public comments, but they are still shocking in the use of rage rhetoric.”
It also means someone leaked those texts. Clearly they were from a private conversation. It would be shocking if Turley is assuming the rage rhetoric doesn’t happen in private conversations of the right.
We have rage rhetoric from the right here on the blog all the time. Some of it is outright racist.
Ironically the mere mention of the comments made by the AG and how the Professor characterized it is also an attempt to foment rage. He’s either oblivious to the irony or he’s just being complacent about the right’s own rage rhetoric.
The both sides do it argument springs to life. I knew it was coming. Whoever leaked this sentiment was doing a favor for the people of Virginia. Sadly you won’t hear a thing about what he said from the mainstream media in Virginia. I completely disagreed with Biden’s policies but I never called for his assassination not even in a private conversation. Such words may be a part of your vernacular but attributing such words to others to make your point only lets the rest of us know the content of your moral character. I never say such things, because unlike you, I still believe in the nations ability to right itself without bloodshed in the streets. You should stick to writing editorials for The ANTIFA Times where your talents will be better appreciated.
Think it through,
Yeah, both sides do it. Why shouldn’t that be an issue? Trump made a both sides argument when he defended racists marching in North Carolina
That is a lie…and you know it.
NOPE the left has always been this way. Wake up fool
Hue City is a perfect example of how this works. Your name is on the list for re-education, if you’re educated please show up for mass burial.
“Defended racists”
George still believes the pee tape is real as well.
Another lie george….
Actually that’s not true. I was shocked out of my socks when the Richmond Times Dispatch and all 3 local TV stations ran headline stories about it. Truly amazing.
“It also means someone leaked those texts. Clearly they were from a private conversation.”
Correct – Put Trump did not leak them, Republican may have amplified them after they were released,
but a democrat must have leaked them.
The fact that they are private makes then worse – this is what this guy really thinks when he is not playing to an audience.
“It would be shocking if Turley is assuming the rage rhetoric doesn’t happen in private conversations of the right.”
I have no idea – nor do you.
“We have rage rhetoric from the right here on the blog all the time. Some of it is outright racist.”
Most of what you call “racist” is “antiracist”.
Even on this blog the rhetoric of the right is tame compared to the left.
You get called stupid – those you do not like get called racist, fascist, nazi’s
“Ironically the mere mention of the comments made by the AG and how the Professor characterized it is also an attempt to foment rage. ”
Typical left wing nut argument – exposing our bad conduct is inciting others to bad conduct.
“He’s either oblivious to the irony or he’s just being complacent about the right’s own rage rhetoric.”
That is not Irony.
I absolutely do not want censorship.
I want people like you to tell us all EXACTLY who you are.
You rant about the right – please name any poster on the right – the worst of the worst here who makes arguments as stupid as you do.
John Say,
“Correct – Put Trump did not leak them, Republican may have amplified them after they were released,
but a democrat must have leaked them.”
That makes no sense.. Nobody said Trump leaked them. Why are you jumping to conclusions about who leaked them?
“The fact that they are private makes then worse – this is what this guy really thinks when he is not playing to an audience.”
Or he may have just been talking sh!t like those on the right do when they think their conversations are private. People do engage in just talk and that includes Republican candidates or lawmakers. Professor Turley is taking advantage of the comments to make bigger deal than it is.
“It would be shocking if Turley is assuming the rage rhetoric doesn’t happen in private conversations of the right.”
I have no idea – nor do you.”
I know it happens, because my conservative friends do include me in their group chats. The stuff they talk about is sometimes worse than what the candidate said. Don’t pretend it doesn’t happen on the right.
“We have rage rhetoric from the right here on the blog all the time. Some of it is outright racist.”
Most of what you call “racist” is “antiracist”.
Even on this blog the rhetoric of the right is tame compared to the left.”
ROLF! Riiiight. It’s always amusing when you go out of your way to minimize and dismiss the awful racist rage rhetoric from the right. It’s way worse on their side.
“Ironically the mere mention of the comments made by the AG and how the Professor characterized it is also an attempt to foment rage. ”
Typical left wing nut argument – exposing our bad conduct is inciting others to bad conduct.”
Exposing the hypocrisy that your bad conduct is inciting others while projecting said bad conduct is the norm on the right.
“You rant about the right – please name any poster on the right – the worst of the worst here who makes arguments as stupid as you do.”
Really? John Say, S. Meyer, anonymous, the farmers.
I doubt you have many friends, George, and there is NO WAY conservatives would put up with your condescending horse manure. Or do you behave differently when you’re not anonymous?
Stop lying.
George just named the people who make him feel the dumbest.
It includes every anonymous.
Great. Make a list here of influential leftists assassinated by conservatives, and augment with screen shots of conservative celebrations of those murders. You might get a pennyworth of credibility that way.
george
Or he may have just been talking sh!t
Yeah george death threats are just sh1t talk…. yet it’s been coming from the left for a long time.
NO-one care if it was leaked or not. This loon doesn’t not belong in the party. Well maybe the lib/left. It’s what you all do best!
Once again George pulls some weird assertion from his backside with absolutely zero specificity, substantiation, or attribution.
X// george
We have rage rhetoric from the right here on the blog all the time. Some of it is outright racist.
_____________________________
Coming from YOU bud.
Strange way to text a colleague from the opposite political party and poke fun at the deceased, but not surprising otherwise. All the unashamed sentiments of Leftwing rage-fueled ideology and political rhetoric texted out in honest fashion. “Moving on Policy” is the means to the End, and making people “Feel Pain” is the means to the means apparently. Mr. Jones may be right that discourse, debate, and ideas don’t move people, rather emotion, manipulation, fear and pain do. Today’s Rage-Speech may mirror that of Colonial 1775-76, or that in Bleeding Kansas more than the social and political tumult of the1960s. Regardless, calls to “tone it down” will not be heeded by many and political action will certainly result, as bi-partisan compromise and stalemated gridlock will not be tolerated by the agitated masses. Leftist Fueled Rage will be met with resolved rage and we know who will claim victimization status in the aftermath.
Why would it be strange? It was a private conversation. Do you think MAGA political candidates and close friends don’t engage in awful racist or crude commentary? They seem very fond of using the Signal app to have those conversations. I bet if they were exposed Turley would be equally “shocked”.
Ok “UNPROFESSIONAL” then. But go ahead and excuse-make for it
George continues to make unsubstantiated assertions.
When pressed he just outright lies and claims he has “conservative friends”
86 the wholly unconstitutional communist American welfare state.
The entire communist American welfare state is unconstitutional including, but not limited to, admissions affirmative action, grade-inflation affirmative action, employment affirmative action, quotas, welfare, food stamps, minimum wage, rent control, social services, forced busing, public housing, utility subsidies, CRT, DEI, WIC, SNAP, TANF, HAMP, HARP, TARP, PBS, NPR, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Energy, Obamacare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Social Security Supplemental Income, Medicare, Medicaid, “Fair Housing” laws, “Non-Discrimination” laws, etc.
Article 1, Section 8, provides Congress the power to tax for ONLY debt, defense, and “general Welfare”–ALL or THE WHOLE WELL PROCEED through governmental provision of security and basic infrastructure–omitting and, thereby, excluding any power to tax for individual Welfare, specific Welfare, particular Welfare, favor, or charity. The same Article enumerates and provides Congress the power to regulate ONLY the “Value of money,” “Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes,” and “land and naval Forces”.
Further, the 5th Amendment right to private property was initially qualified by the Framers and is, therefore, absolute, allowing no further qualification, and allowing ONLY the owner the power to “claim and exercise” dominion over private property.
On the legal side, see Helvering v Davis (1937) where the Supreme Court held that Social Security was constitutional. On the political side, if Republicans want to run against Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in 2026 and 2028, I’m sure the Democrats will be quite pleased. — Concerned Citizen
Yep we are stuck with SS that is going “Broke” before our eyes.
Jeez what pieces of sh!t these Democrats are these days. I say, as they seek ye shall they receive, give it to them. The worm has turned with the execution of Charlie, understanding and tolerance gone! Communists are simple to grasp, it’s basic. If you oppose them they will kill you, if you agree with them they will take all you have then kill you.
Though I walk through the valley of death I shall fear no evil, for he is always at my side.
How funny. I just spoke about this jerk, and as usual the libs trashed me. Like it’s OK then threaten others.
This is what the dem-o-rat party has reduced too.
Virginians vote for Jones at their profound peril. The guy is a jerk. Full stop.
And these progressive, indoctrinated thugs thought they had eternal control over the message.
Isn’t it grand to watch their own words become a real reference on who these ghouls are?
If enough citizens had enough courage, this horde of malcontents and haters would never see the inside of any office with ANY power or control over any part of a citizen’s life – not even dog catcher.
Expose the underbelly of this cabal of those who wish to destroy this nation by the slight of hand of promising to protect what they secretly despise.
They’re just words. Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you.
Then please explain the reasoning behind the (soon to be determined unconstitutional) legislation known as “Hate Speech” laws? If sticks and stones…. were true we would have had no reason (other than as a sop to their slow-witted urban base) for such laws that abridge the 1st amendment and we will discovers, soon, that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was in error when he used the analogy of shouting fire in a crowded theatre to predicate this horrible legislation. It is as foul of our constitution as the other progressive misstep about Roe.
Tell it to Charlie Kirk. His brothers and sisters in arms hear his words and they spring into action. He knows full well that sooner or later his orders will be heard and carried out by his fellow comrades in arms. A question should come to mind. Is anyone on the right calling for a speeding deadly projectile to penetrate the head of someone with whom they disagree? They’ll try but the both sides argument does not stand up to the scrutiny of those who are among the sane.
WOW and he wants to become the AG?
Jezzzzzzzzzz
Sadly, our modern-day Democrats are fast becoming the potential instruments of future History’s worst stories.
Do these people not understand that they are against their fellow citizens? This speech has a very intended purpose — to pit one against another and it is a type of racism. It is manufactured anger! Seems it works. So why stop? When you have not ideas to offer, anger, hate and bullyism which is the best way to speak and to get attention. Poor folks — is this the county of the Founders?
The whole agenda of the democrat/communist party is to trigger a full scale new civil war. They started the shooting already. Steve Scalise, Charlie Kirk, bombs under TV vans. Bullets fired into a station. It’s heating up and they are fully on board with that.
“The whole agenda of the democrat/communist party is to trigger a full scale new civil war. ”
That may be true, but the question is, how can they expect to win? There are significantly more than a half-billion firearms in the hands of US citizens (estimates vary). What fraction of those do they suppose are in the hands of sympathizers to their cause? Unless they can recruit US military to aid them (highly unlikely, imo, that would appear to be a suicide mission.
They don’t “have to win”. The destruction of the society is the goal, enabling their masters, the Chi-Coms to invade and seize control.
Destruction of society is a return to hunter/gatherer. That seems unlikely.
The “Chi-Coms” are making a great deal of money with their hybrid of central-planning and capitalism. Central planning has been hugely effective at massive public works and infrastructure projects and their nearly hands-off capitalism has allowed the growth of a tremendous number of technology industries.
They have no need to invade. The American Oligarch class has been hollowing out the middle class for decades, closing American factories, consolidating numerous core industries from dozens and hundreds of competitors to just a handful. This is particularly troubling as consolidation happens in the information media, broadcast TV and radio, the remains of newspapers, and major on-line social media companies. Sinclair Broadcasting, answering to a single person, has nearly 80% penetration of US broadcast TV markets.
One person can force local newscasters to present a message that looks like it’s local, but is instead orchestrated from a central planning office; and they have.
It’s a conservative’s dream to sink the ship of America in selling out to the Chinese. It’s why the billionaires are buying remote islands where they are building fortified bunkers with decades of food stored in them and you aren’t invited.
The most frightening aspect of your report is the serious possibility that this kind of language will be called the “lingua franca” of the Democratic Party, and worse it, may win. Then, we are in deep trouble. There is no more collegial language such as “I respect my opponent but he is wrong.” It has turned to “I have reserved two bullets for his head, after which I will piss on his grave.”
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2025/09/29/let-your-rage-fuel-you-part-deux-n3807315 the Democratic party is a danger to civil discourse and if given enough power will turn that discourse into nationwide violence – it is coming.
Now fully nihilist, having consciously rejected all facts which clash with their ideology and all human values as such, what can remain inside the heads of the left wingers? Rage. That’s it. Nothing else. You can’t have positive emotions such as love, respect, affection, etc., unless you have values which the left has now consciously discarded. And the object of that rage is not just Republicans. It’s freedom, individual rights, and the destruction of Western civilization. If the left accomplishes its goal, they will then fight over the rubble with their new allies, their ‘blood brothers and sisters’, followers of Islam, as the Nazis fought with the communists after their ‘nonaggression pact’ had served its purpose.
Please don’t forget Islam is only allied with the Left as a matter of convenience,. To them, the left is also among the infidels, to be exterminated when possible.
There are calls for this dumbass to withdraw his candidacy. He does not deserve to be in a paid public office. Of course he, like Spanberger, will just ignore this. Being a democrat means never having to say you are sorry.
I’m grateful they speak like that. People should speak like that, particularly politicians. We need to know who they really are. And despite the fact that they call moderates and conservatives fascious, there behavior demonstrates without doubt that it is they who are fascist. We cannot let them win again. They had 4 years under Biden and will only be emboldened now that Trump has stopped them.
Whoa!! What a nice guy? Perfect example of the kind of hate and rage is coming from our leftist friends. Yesterday the annony moron suggested I take a shovel and beat a woman with it. I responded, “Why would I do that? I am not a leftist. I might donate to the Republican candidate. That is what MAGA people do.”
You nailed it Upstate.
The left is the party of hate and terror!
Such a warm and loving message from the tolerant Right.