A Little Inappropriate, Townhall.com?

I don't think that violent metaphors in politics are a particular problem -- I think they're usually inappropriate, but not particularly harmful. I agree with Joanna Weiss's column in today's Globe, and my column this week will address this.

That said, I do think it's appropriate to avoid those metaphors and images, out of sensitivity and good taste, in the immediate aftermath of the Giffords shooting -- which is why I think it's perfectly appropriate, and not a sign of guilt, if Sarah Palin or others scrub some of those images or language from their web sites this week.

Which is why I find myself kind of stunned that the hugely popular conservative web site Townhall.com is still running this banner across the top of its site: