The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Police Say They Visited Tucson Suspect’s Home Even Before Rampage,” provides some interesting background about Jared Loughner, the 22-year old college dropout who attempted to assassinate Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

Apparently, the police were called to the Loughner home on more than one occasion prior to the shooting, though they refused to release any further details. And an erstwhile friend of Jared Loughner described him as obsessed with dreams and the subconscious, someone who described real life as “hollow.” Mr. Loughner also became very proficient with firearms way before the assassination attempt and increasingly alienated in social settings. Apparently, Mr. Loughner attended one party and retreated to a private room by himself where he was found reading a dictionary.

Meanwhile, the Loughner family was described as somewhat isolated themselves, with the father often becoming belligerent. Yet Jared does not appear to have been locked into any conflicts with his parents at all; in fact, his friend notes that he rarely even mentioned them. Jared’s mother was a manager of a nearby park where she was described by her employers as a reliable steward.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle Giffords continues her convalesence, with no further complications so far. However, it remains to be seen whether she will be able to talk or will even be paralyzed. What an unnecessary chain of events.

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “In Arizona Court, Suspect Waives Bail,” describes the inevitable progression of charges against Jared Loughner for the attempted assassination of Representative Gabrielle Giffords on his way to a death penalty conviction.

Mr. Loughner, for some reason, decided to shave his head — I’m not quite sure whether that would affect a jury positively or negatively — and was led into a Phoenix courtroom heavily shackled. The judge promptly labeled him a danger and flight risk, and denied bail. Mr. Loughner did not reveal how he would plead, and his defense attorney, Judy Clarke, indicated she would move to have the trial take place out of state.

Meanwhile, Representative Giffords continues to struggle for life in a Tucson hospital amid preliminary encouraging signs that she is able to respond to verbal commands with a variety of gestures. Plus, unlike previously reported, she is not in a medically induced coma, just heavily sedated.

And there is no lack of controversy swirling around D.C. as accusations fly about the vitriol in the political dialogue in the past two years, especially from the right wing. A moment of silence was observed at 11 AM by the President and Congress, and makeshift memorials sprung up around Tucson.

The lead story in today’s New York Times, “Federal Charges Cite Assassination Plan,” describes the continuing tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, that, yes, is a result of the recent coarseness and vitriol in our political dialogue. The shooter, a 22-year old college drop-out named Jared Loughner, is sitting in jail claiming his Fifth Amendment rights while Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, from all reports one of the nicest people you could ever meet, is struggling for her life in an Arizona hospital trying to recover from a bullet wound to the head.

Chris Matthews described it accurately last night when he said that our political dialogue goes out in a vast echo chamber, and no matter how sincere the speaker, it affects us all, rational and non-rational alike. The comparing of our President to a Nazi, the characterization of opponents as not just misguided but evil, gives justification to nuts like Loughner to commit their nefarious deeds.

There was another time in America, during the late 1960s, when political dialogue became very coarse as well, and we all know about the assassinations that happen then, plural, not singular. We can all only pray that it remains singular this time, that somehow we can pull back from the brink of the confrontation course the House of Representatives seems to be heading for before it is too late.