"The editorial (though maybe not O'Connor's speech, which we haven't seen) draws an equivalence between DeLay's metaphorical "attack"--i.e., criticism, and acts of murder. If those in positions of authority have trouble making such distinctions, our civil liberties really may be in danger."
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110008107#bend

True that opinionjournal wouldn't be considered "Tom's "liberial" Media". But it's O'Connor's speech isn't much different than Ruth Bader Ginsburg recent ranting and I believe that got some of the "Tom's "liberial" Media" attention- but I don't pay too much attention to MSM so maybe I'm mistaken. Here's Ginsburg [same link can be found from top link]:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/16/AR2006031601860.html

Now of course "keyword" that got this apparent excitement is *dictatorship*. Though with all the screaming and crying about Bush acting like a dictator- it's doesn't even refer to Bush. AND more importantly the quote is "It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship, but..."
So it could be somewhat disappointing to some that O'Connor doesn't share their twisted view that America is acting like or is a dictatorship, but *still* [after nearly 6 years of the evil Bush and evil wars/etc] quite a distant from a dictatorship. From foaming lefties that's quite rational.
In comparison I bet Reagan or the Contract with American Republicans have caused far more hysterical pronouncement of DOOM from the likes of Ginsburg, et al.