One Year After Giffords Shooting, 'Morning Joe' Panel Sees Romney Out to 'Kill' Opponents

One year ago, America's media were shouting from the rooftops about the need for more civil political discourse following the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

Less than three days after the anniversary of that horrible event, the gang at MSNBC's Morning Joe gleefully discussed how Mitt Romney is going to "kill" any of his Republican presidential opponents that try to attack him (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):

Host Joe Scarborough informed those in attendance that all of the remaining candidates "need to understand Mitt Romney is on his way to the nomination and that South Carolina is their Waterloo."

"They've got a choice," he continued. "They can either attack Mitt Romney or they can go asking for positions, speaking positions at the - I'm dead serious - at the Republican National Convention in Tampa because that is the last stop."

The group - consisting of co-host Mika Brzezinski, Time's Mark Halperin, New York magazine's John Heilemann, and Willie Geist - all appeared to agree that Newt Gingrich would continue to attack Romney.

Scarborough added, "They're all collectively going to have to beat Mitt Romney in South Carolina or it is over."

Halperin responded, "Romney has run his campaign on a primal principle: Kill anything that might kill you. If they go after him, he'll kill them."

"Well, they're dead anyway," replied Scarborough.

Heilemann joined in, "I have a pronoun problem. You're saying Romney will kill his challengers?"

"If anyone down there starts to pose a threat to him in a serious way," answered Halperin, "he will kill them."

"And what I am saying is," replied Scarborough, "they are dead if they don't attack him."

"So this is going to be fun," exclaimed Heilemann to laughs and cheers from the audience. "This is going to be fun!"

For the record, the Giffords shooting occurred January 8, 2011. Subsequently, placing targets on a map designating political opponents was considered hostile and virulent.

I guess it's okay when you euphemistically talk about conservatives killing each other.

In fact, "This is going to be fun!"