"But so what? It's not as if those cowards will actually act on their threats. For better or for worse, this isn't a country in which media figures -- even hugely controversial ones -- are routinely attacked by anything more dangerous than a cream pie." Kos

Well, here's part of a wiki entry of the assassination of Alan Berg.

On June 18, 1984, Alan Berg was shot thirteen times in the driveway of his home next to his Volkswagen Beetle. While no one was ever convicted of Berg's murder, a group called The Order, a white nationalist organization spawned by George Lincoln Rockwell's American Nazi Party, was suspected of being behind it. Ultimately, several members of The Order, most notably the getaway driver, David Lane, were convicted of conspiracy, as well as violations of Berg's civil rights and the RICO statutes. Lane was sentenced to what is essentially a life sentence.

During the trial, it was revealed that after receiving death threats from The Order, Berg (a gun control proponent) unsuccessfully applied for a handgun permit with Denver Police Chief Ari Zavaras less than a year before his death. spelling corrected

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Berg

Why is this relevant to all of the discussion that has gone on in the recent weeks? It is because there is a real threat. Why some people in the blogosphere seem to not recognize this fact is that sitting safely behind the keyboard in your home allows you to express yourself in a way similar to how Berg ran his radio show, safely behind his microphone. Berg obviously feared for his life and rightly so as he was murdered.
 What will it take? There have already have been numerous outings, if someone will do the work to out someone, is it not comprehensible that murder is not that far off?
 The blogosphere needs to take a long hard look at what has gone on and look at what the repercussions might be and deal with them on a realistic level. That means reporting threats to the proper authorities and following up to make sure that they are not taken lightly.

Believe it or not, that is the actual headline. From the original article.
 Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall has fired 76-year-old Drusilla Synal, a poll worker for more than a decade, for opposing the use of the touch-screen machines as she cast her ballot during an early voting session Aug. 23 at the city's library.

McFall said Synal began to "announce to everyone in the polling place" her dislike of the touch-screen voting machines and was asked to leave by the precinct manager.

"She was rude, abrupt and loud. She made it clear she was a poll worker," McFall said. "I called (her) the next day. She admitted being opinionated. She admitted as well that she doesn't like the equipment and she doesn't care who knows that."

Synal's reply, Synal acknowledged she speaks her mind, but was "dumbfounded" when McFall called and fired her the next day, explaining to Synal that offering her opinion of the machines was "OK at a Winn-Dixie, but not at the polls."

"I'm upset this has become such a big deal and I'm in the middle of it. I figured I could say I didn't want to use it," Synal said of the new voting machine. "I wasn't there as a poll worker. I just went in to vote."
Read the remainder of the article at http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newEAST01POL082906.htm.

I diaried this because of ongoing irregularities in the Volusia County Elections Office. Let's give a shout and fill her e-mail box with BOO-Ann, Hooray-Free Speech. You can reach her at, amcfall@co.volusia.fl.us

 Today was just like most days, the sun shining, birds chirping, and cats who want to be fed. So, I rolled down the driveway to get the paper just like every Sunday. Came back in, poured the coffee, and brought it and the paper to the table. Conflict rages toward war so says the headline.
 But, what is this I'm seeing? A photo, in color, burned out vehicles and a charred road. A baby lying face down on the side of the road, no shoes, blue pants, and a white shirt. Civilians hit hardest in fighting
 Well, that was the end of a perfectly good Sunday morning. But, that is the point, isn't it. Kudos to the Daytona Beach News Journal for having the guts to put this on the front page. If only other news outlets had the same.