July 17, 2024

"[I]n the hours after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, we saw J.D. Vance come out with... the most strongly worded of anyone seeking to be his VP."

"Yeah. And it has some factual problems. Here's what he said. He said: "Today [the attempted assassination] is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.' We should say there's no evidence that that's true. We don't know the motivations of the shooter. We don't know that he consumed any of that rhetoric or that Vance is even characterizing it correctly.... I think Vance in a lot of ways, kind of embodies the id of Trump and that instinct to fight. And even though these sort of manufactured statements from the campaign are calling for unity and calling for peace, what Trump really wants... is someone who is going to keep fighting, you know, factual or not."

Said Michael C. Bender on yesterday's episode of the NYT "Daily" podcast, "Trump Picks His Running Mate and Political Heir."

AND: This morning, I'm seeing "'They' didn’t shoot Donald Trump/Despite the lack of any clear motive, the actions of Thomas Crooks have been attributed to the Democratic Party at large," by Philip Bump (in WaPo). It's funny to use the passive voice — "actions... have been attributed" — exactly when you are complaining about the amorphous "They." Once again, I think of the Saul Steinberg image:

Find that image in Saul Steinberg's "The Inspector."

Bump writes: "There is no evidence that Crooks shot at Trump because he had been influenced by anti-Trump political rhetoric, and there is no evidence that Crooks was literally or figuratively part of a collective effort to sideline or kill the former president.... There’s no known connection between the known shooter and the broad, nebulous galaxy of opponents Trump and his allies envision.... So Crooks and his actions become abstract. They did it or they facilitated it or they caused it. And, for the purposes of political rhetoric, that will have to suffice."

129 comments:

Oso Negro said...

Ok. So there is no evidence, whatsoever, that relentlessly propagandizing people has the least impact on their behavior? Who knew? All that money wasted on advertising.

Kevin said...

We don't know the motivations of the shooter.

The motivation was to kill Donald Trump.

Oso Negro said...

And we don't think that the clear contempt of the Democrats (and LLR's) for Trump in the least influenced decisions of whether to prosecute him on novel legal approaches or to give him less than desired security, thus creating the opportunity for some individual or group to act on that?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Why are the left allowed to LIE... endlessly LIE (a few examples: Charlottesville, Ferguson, "bloodbath" - which was a reference to the auto industry - not the self-obsessed dems)

But Republicans are not allowed to speculate -with evidence, that is clear as day.

Oso Negro said...

For my part, I, as many others have been expecting this for some time. And I have the feeling that if the wicked ones, I think it's fair to call them that, succeed in getting him behind bars, he won't walk out.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Kevin nails it.

The motivation was to kill Trump.

I'll add - we do have receipts and evidence of past FBI corruption.
(the Whitmer fake kidnapping plot - the FBI lured a few miss-fits with offers of 10,000 etc...)

Sebastian said...

"led directly to"

Well, depends on the meaning of led and directly, as Dem parsers instructed us long ago. The causal link is a reasonable inference rather than a "fact."

"keep fighting"

In politics, that matters. I'd prefer sticking to "the facts," but in the face of prog fabrications I'll take a feisty approximation as good, maybe even necessary second best

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Good thing Crooks was a lone misfit. The perfect pasty for the "you don't have any evidence!" regurgitating leftist crowd.

RideSpaceMountain said...

"There is no evidence that Crooks shot at Trump because he had been influenced by anti-Trump political rhetoric, and there is no evidence that Crooks was literally or figuratively part of a collective effort to sideline or kill the former president.... There’s no known connection between the known shooter and the broad, nebulous galaxy of opponents Trump and his allies envision.... So Crooks and his actions become abstract."

And that sports fans is precisely how to do it. If there's evidence, you've failed.

rehajm said...

The asymmetry of judgement applied to the political rhetoric of opposite sides is astonishing...

Todd said...

What a total pile of bullsh*t! When anyone NOT left/progressive does anything to anyone left/progressive the left/progressive/msm immediately blame ALL on the right for it stating that the right instigated it and everyone on the right is required to take responsibility for the incitement and to denounce it in the strongest language possible.

Meanwhile, Antifa is mostly peaceful, BLM is just a protest, and the Gaza protests are grass roots. Don't forget all the lefty "long wolf" folks that are NEVER part of anything larger and are just anomalies and can NEVER be used as an example of the climate in the larger left space.

Go f*ck yourself. Sorry, not sorry.

doctrev said...

Who are "they," Steinberg asked.

Ah, some days are funnier than others. I don't know why the left thinks the average person is fooled, or why they think the Biden regime would smooth the way for a "white nationalist" assassin.

But it's not working, and the presidential election is just about over. Biden had better hope President Trump bothers with trials. If you want to have Pakistan-level politics, you have to start asking yourself what happens when you lose.

MadisonMan said...

When I see the VP pick referred to as 'Vance', my mind still goes to Cyrus Vance. That will change soon, I hope.

Rusty said...

"We don't know the motivations of the shooter."
Which brings me to this. What young person in this day and age does not have an internet presence? Who doesn't have saved conversations on their phone messeges?
The shooter is a total blank. Like he lived in a cell for the last couple of years.

narciso said...

Who gives a farthing what carlos slims favorite chimp says you call him a 'threat to democracy' what do you think will happenen'

Jersey Fled said...

When the other side wants to take you down by any means possible or impossible, it’s good to have a fighter on your side. I can live with a little excess rhetoric by Vance after eight years of the massive excesses of the Democrats.

As for Blow ….

gilbar said...

hmmm
can we now ask the NYTs about Gabby Giffords?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Oh look - another Biden lie. Instantly forgiven by his loyalists and hacks in the press.

PackerBronco said...

Most of the bullets missed Trump, so it was a "mostly peaceful" assassination attempt.

Temujin said...

Someone cue the 20 minutes of non-stop, 6 second video clips of leftist reporters, commentators, politicians, celebrities, and our current President and Vice President over the last 5 years telling the world that Trump is Hitler, the end of democracy, the end of the republic, the end of the country, evil, etc., etc., etc.

Then remember, this has been non-stop. For 5 years. On networks around the world, from major and minor US news orgs, 24/7. Drip, drip, drip. Pound, pound, pound. There have been 3 'incidents' around the Milwaukee Convention Center just this week. And people, too numerous to count, on social media telling the world of their sadness that the shooter missed.

I'm not sure if Michael C. Bender has simply missed all of this, which is possible as he's securely inside of that bubble. Or if he simply disagrees with what JD Vance stated. Or if it's the way Vance stated it. There's no direct evidence because he's dead and his social media has been wiped, and the FBI has his phone. We may never know what he thought. Probably not.

I'm pretty sure we heard something similar being paraded out initially for James Hodgkinson, after he shot up the Congressional Baseball game picking off Republicans (and 2 Capitol Police officers).

As for Philip Bump. He's been wrong, so many times, about so many topics, it hardly seems worth the time to write this sentence.

gilbar said...

"There is no evidence that Crooks shot at Trump because he had been influenced by anti-Trump political rhetoric, and there is no evidence that Crooks was literally or figuratively part of a collective effort to sideline or kill the former president....

sounds like the FBI and Facebook have done a GOOD job of cleaning things up!

AlbertAnonymous said...

For years we’ve been told by the left and the media (BIRM) that Trump’s rhetoric lead to the “insurrection” at the Capitol on J6, so much so and so directly that he should be prosecuted and sent to prison for “inciting” the “attempted overthrow of the US government”. Despite his comments to “protest peacefully”.

But Vance can’t, under any circumstances, draw a connection between FJB’s and the progressive left’s (BIRM) and the media’s (BIRM again) doomsday rhetoric and the assassination attempt. Even tho they say he’s evil, worse than Hitler, an existential threat to democracy, a 30 time convicted Felon wanna be dictator authoritarian, who will engage in mass deportations of women and children (maybe even those that are not illegals) and that he simply “cannot” be allowed to become president, he “must be stopped” and we need to put him in the bullseye….

No, Vance’s statement would be irresponsible. It’s just “not who we are”.

No matter how much you hate the media it’s not enough.

AlbertAnonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TickTock said...

I will repost a link that I believe North posted on here yesterday. Great background on the intention/negligence issue from Ted Kennedy - sniper. sorry it is not an active link,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9boJpqiZTQ

My own view is that senior management of the SS and Homeland did not, do not, care if Trump lives or dies. So thre was no need for the Secret Service protection of Trump to be more than a dumping ground for inadequate agents with highly limited resources. The line between malfeasance and intention is very thin here. Almost non-existant.

Quayle said...

Aren’t there a lot of people that take every single word of Trump at face value? Yet is the argument now that words don’t matter? Or is it that OUR words don’t matter but Trump’s words do. I can’t keep these so-called arguments straight.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Firefighter Corey Comperatore’s widow refused Biden call after Trump rally shooting: ‘Didn’t want to talk to him’

I would have taken the call. Tho - it would have been really short.
"Mr. biden - 'f off, you corrupt lying pile of shit. You and your horrid awful family are horrible people who do horrible things. You are greedy, corrupt and vile. The nation prays for your cumupance, you fuckhead."
click.

Jersey Fled said...

I meant to say Bump in my last post, but somehow spellcheck changed it to Blow.

I think I’ll leave it that way.

Dixcus said...

I've seen all the evidence to come to a conclusion: Either the Secret Service conspired to shoot Donald Trump or they were criminally negligent in allowing Crooks to do it on his own accord. Either way, people should be put in prison for this. I hope Trump is alive on January 20 to put these people in prison, but of course, he won't be.

They aren't done killing Donald Trump.

rehajm said...

I would have taken the call. Tho - it would have been really short.

Had she done that she would have had a knock on the door from some agents within hours.

rhhardin said...

John McWhorter wanted Trump killed.

imTay said...

"No evidence" beyond almost the exact same thing happened of Fico in Slovakia, who was also compared to Hitler in the press, because, you know, he wouldn't go along with the globalists.

Bill Crawford said...

"There is no evidence that Crooks shot at Trump because he had been influenced by anti-Trump political rhetoric, and there is no evidence that Crooks was literally or figuratively part of a collective effort to sideline or kill the former president.... There’s no known connection between the known shooter and the broad, nebulous galaxy of opponents Trump and his allies envision.... So Crooks and his actions become abstract. They did it or they facilitated it or they caused it. And, for the purposes of political rhetoric, that will have to suffice."

Make the changes and couldn't this be said of almost ALL the 1/6 demonstrators?

Iman said...

Bump’s a hump. 🤡

Full stop.

wild chicken said...

I was always surprised there weren't more attempts on Trump's life. In fact it was amazing. How many plots were foiled? We never hear.

It makes me think the whole conspiracy theory that the CIA assassinated JFK must be bunk.

Why would they not be able to take out Trump, given all this time?

MadTownGuy said...

Bender: "We should say there's no evidence that that's true."

I think it's time to label a new category of logical fallacies: 'Non quod.' Yeah, I know, ipse dixit kind of covers it, but I think it's easy to say there's no evidence when you don't do the hard work of investigation. It deserves its own label.

Shouting Thomas said...

Scott Adams states quite frequently that Phil Bump is a CIA operative.

Bump played the lead role in Adams’ cancellation, starting with the cancellation of Dilbert at WaPo.

Adams likes to gleefully point to the catastrophic decline in subscribers at WaPo as dating to their cancellation of Dilbert.

Jamie said...

Nailed on the first comment:

So there is no evidence, whatsoever, that relentlessly propagandizing people has the least impact on their behavior? Who knew? All that money wasted on advertising.

Sunstein and Thaler, authors of Nudge, call your office!

Imbuing as much of the culture as possible with a repeated and emotionally charged message in order to influence behavior was a policy under Obama based on that book's research, if I recall.

Butkus51 said...

dem politicians are pretty morose lately.

They failed.

again.

Iman said...

“When I see the VP pick referred to as 'Vance', my mind still goes to Cyrus Vance. That will change soon, I hope.”

It brings to mind John Fogerty’s “Vance Can’t Dance”…

Iman said...

But that was about Saul Vantz… I think

Nancy said...

I would say Crooks' *intent* was to kill Trump regardless of his *motivation*. Say his motivation was to impress Jodie Foster or something similar. The way to do it was to follow the guide of the MSM and assassinate Hitler, so to speak.

doctrev said...

wild chicken said...
I was always surprised there weren't more attempts on Trump's life. In fact it was amazing. How many plots were foiled? We never hear.

It makes me think the whole conspiracy theory that the CIA assassinated JFK must be bunk.

Why would they not be able to take out Trump, given all this time?

7/17/24, 8:29 AM

They didn't. If the CIA really wanted Kennedy gone, they would have called J. Edgar. JFK was killed over the Dimona reactor.

The Las Vegas shooting was likely an assassination attempt on Prince MBS. If you're not suspicious, consider that the casinos supposedly had no recordings of what was going on (?!).

I actually pity people who don't have media literacy. No matter how much money they have, they are very ill equipped for what is coming.

Dave Begley said...

Why do people say we don't know the motivation of Crooks? He was motivated to kill Trump. That was his intent.

Now what actually inspired him to take action is another question. Was he paid? Is he antifa? Seeker of fame?

Quayle said...

“…the broad, nebulous galaxy of opponents Trump and his allies envision.”

I’ve seen enough of the “ the broad, nebulous galaxy of opponents” to conclude that it ain’t so nebulous.

But don’t these writers know that intent (motive) follows the bullet? Which makes the bullet part of that broad, nebulous galaxy.

We should all remember that to the deconstructionist left, words have no meaning except to further the acquisition of power. Which I guess we should apply to them, if that is what they believe.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

The attempted assassination of Trump is not nearly as surprising as it should be

Dave Begley said...

Oso Negro is correct. It reminds me of the advertising industry. Billions is spent on advertising to motivate people to buy stuff. And advertising is done because it works!

The Fake News knew that all their attacks on Trump would ultimately inspire someone to attempt to kill Trump.

Freder Frederson said...

I would have taken the call. Tho - it would have been really short.
"Mr. biden - 'f off, you corrupt lying pile of shit. You and your horrid awful family are horrible people who do horrible things. You are greedy, corrupt and vile. The nation prays for your cumupance, you fuckhead."


Well, Corey Comperatore’s widow has a lot more class than you. This is what she told the New York Post:

"I don't have any ill will towards Joe Biden. I'm not one of those people that gets involved in politics," Helen told the Post. "I support Trump. That's who I'm voting for, but I don't have ill will towards Biden."

She added, "He didn't do anything bad to my husband. A 20-year-old despicable kid did."

Christopher B said...

rhhardin said...
John McWhorter wanted Trump killed.


Worth repeating.

McWhorter is a pretty well known academic and popular author, also offered and accepted an opportunity to write a regular column appearing in the New York Times. He's been a critic, from left of center, of the Progressive obsession with DEI. Not exactly a radical.

And yet he felt free, on a podcast with black conservative economist Glenn Loury, to express a desire that Trump be killed. And defended it against Loury's pushback. Apparently with no fear that he'd suffer any harm to his social standing because of it.

traditionalguy said...

What did you expect. He’s Scots Irish and served in the USMC.

doctrev said...

Christopher B said...

And yet he felt free, on a podcast with black conservative economist Glenn Loury, to express a desire that Trump be killed. And defended it against Loury's pushback. Apparently with no fear that he'd suffer any harm to his social standing because of it.

7/17/24, 8:43 AM

It might have increased his standing. Do conservatives really not know what they're up against, or are they still holding on to unwarranted optimism?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Freder Frederson said...

Someone cue the 20 minutes of non-stop, 6 second video clips of leftist reporters, commentators, politicians, celebrities, and our current President and Vice President over the last 5 years telling the world that Trump is Hitler, the end of democracy, the end of the republic, the end of the country, evil, etc., etc., etc.

And yet it is okay for Trump to go on and on about how Biden has destroyed the country. And Trump is going to root out the vermin (Communists, Marxists, and Fascists) who are destroying our nation.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

in not the FBI - the mob elements of the Biden-Garland-FBI-Soros alliance.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

If not the FBI, the mob elements of the Biden-Garland-Soros-FBI alliance.

imTay said...

"And Trump is going to root out the vermin (Communists, Marxists, and Fascists) who are destroying our nation.."

Yeah, because memesmiths and social media commenters are the same thing as the POTUS and the mainstream press in power.

holdfast said...

Philip Bump should go talk to Sarah Palin.

The MSM and Dems started this particular perverse blame game.

Now they can choke on it.

Freder Frederson said...

The reality is - the collective left are disappointed the FBI's misfit missed.

Maybe you should take your own advice and go fuck yourself.

Kassaar said...

I'd expect a real journalist to investigate Crooks's past rather than circle the Democratic wagons.

Freder Frederson said...

Yeah, because memesmiths and social media commenters are the same thing

Of course, Trump himself says these things at practically every rally.

narciso said...

Because he has destroyed the country and youre ok with it freder, not all of it just where they rule

wendybar said...

Biden and Obama before him HAVE destroyed the country Freder. Keep your head buried in the sand, because the fundamental transformation set us back years racially, and made us more divided than we have ever been ...and then tried to blame it on the guy who went in, (and didn't take a salary, and actually LOST money serving our country unlike the greedy progressives running things today)and tried to clean up the mess they made.

Ficta said...

"But that was about Saul Vantz… I think"

Saul Zaentz. Fogerty originally named the pig "Zanz", but Zaentz threatened to sue, so he changed it to Vanz. Zaentz was real pig.

Kakistocracy said...

The “sloped roof” comment should have ended Cheatle’s career instantly. Even if the roof was dangerous to be on (which it wasn’t at all!), the entire point of the Secret Service is to assume life-threatening risks so that the President doesn’t have to.

How can this level of incompetence rise to such a critical position? It is just incredible.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

So tell us Freder - you must be disappointed the misfit missed.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Poor Freder - musta hit a loyal leftist nerve.

Dogma and Pony Show said...

"When I see the VP pick referred to as 'Vance', my mind still goes to Cyrus Vance. That will change soon, I hope."

When I hear him referred to as "Vance," my mind goes to Vivian Vance. And I hope that never changes.

Readering said...

Never listened to Vance much since I'm not in Ohio, but looking forward to his debate next month.

doctrev said...

Why does Freder sound so familiar...

"Made in Germany during the Weimar period, Metropolis is set in a futuristic urban dystopia and follows the attempts of Freder"

LMAO. The Weimar Republic. Good times for German liberals, that's for certain. Are you happy that the people here consider you lower than vermin, Freder? Would you post your BidenWaffen thoughts with your real name?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

When Biden called half the nation a threat.

pffft - a threat to his corrupt power.
biden Riefenstahl – - Seig heil.

Freder Frederson said...

So tell us Freder - you must be disappointed the misfit missed.

No, I'm not. Unlike many commenters on this thread, including you (hell, your pseudonym and some of the others you have used show disdain and dehumanization of your opponents), I have never wished anyone dead or fantasized about killing people I don't agree with. I have also never advocated genocide as others on this site have.

Iman said...

Thanks, Ficta. I can still see the dancing pig(s)…

imTay said...

"Of course, Trump himself says these things at practically every rally"

I asked you for a quote, and you just repeated the allegation.

Freder Frederson said...

Would you post your BidenWaffen thoughts with your real name?

Hell no. Althouse knows my real name. I had to email her to request removal of comments that defamed me and accused me, with zero evidence, of serious and despicable felonies (Michael K initiated the defamation and then others piled on).

BTW, Fritz Lang (the director of Metropolis) turned down a lucrative position in Hitler's administration and fled Germany for the United States.

Wince said...

Vance didn't say "they" or allude to the "Democratic Party at large."

Vance said, "The central premise of the Biden campaign..."

RCOCEAN II said...

So much of WaPo/NYT reporting is opinion and propaganda. Just bald assertions. Do some reporting and then tell us the facts. We'll decide whether its a conspiracy or not.

RMc said...

Does anyone doubt that if someone shot at Biden (or any Democrat) that the media would be blaming right-wingers, regardless of the shooter's actual politics (or lack thereof)?

Remember the DC sniper attacks 20 years ago? The press breathlessly pointed the finger at "angry white men in a box truck" before it was revealed that it was actually two black dudes in an old Chevy. (Yes, really.)

Achilles said...

Freder Frederson said...

The reality is - the collective left are disappointed the FBI's misfit missed.

Maybe you should take your own advice and go fuck yourself.

Readering has already been challenged and failed.

Here is your chance to show you actually did not want Trump killed Freder.

This is out list of things we want:

1. An end to stupid warmongering.
2. Borders that function.
3. Deportation of illegals here lowering our wages and receiving more from the government than we get paid to work.
4. A government that does not make up crimes to jail political opponents.
5. An open transparent auditable election with reasonable voter verification and registration efforts.
6. Adherence to the second amendment.
7. A Secret Service that does not try to get the next president killed in an obvious plot by shooting him in broad daylight at a political rally.
8. And end to the censorship of political views by government and giant corporations.
9. Acknowledgement that you lied about Russian Collusion.
10. Acknowledgement that you lied about COVID origins.
11. Acknowledgement that you lied about Hunters laptop.
12. Acknowledgement that Trump did not rape E Jean Carrol.
13. Acknowledgement that Trump did not steal classified documents
14. Acknowledgement that Trump did not defraud the banks he paid back

Say that Trump and his supporters are acting in good faith and want the best for this country.

If you can't say that then you are just part of the violent murderous cabal and as you so eloquently put it go fuck yourself.

Big Mike said...

That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.

Note that Bump and Bender believe all sorts of (dare I say it?) Malarkey about Donald Trump with a whole lot less reason. You get as you give.

Friendo said...

He's either an idiot and really believes this bullshit, or it's pure sophistry and he thinks his readers are idiots.

Brian McKim and/or Traci Skene said...

The word "stochastic" hardest hit.

EdwdLny said...

We don't know the motivation ? Really ? Even the dead people who "voted" for joey bidet know what the motivation was. Good grief. It's no surprise that this assassination attempt and the attempted slaughter of Republican congressman was also committed by a lib. And this person in the Butler shooting was a lib. Some retribution is deserved.

mxgreen said...

Was it Bump who said there’s no known connection between Trump's statement that, "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard," and the rioting that thereafter occurred?

Leland said...

Regarding "They", it isn't the people on the Right or Trump's campaign saying "no motive is known". When the FBI says "no motive is known", what they really mean is that the FBI has yet to determine if the person acted alone or were they part of a larger operation and was just the shooter. In short, was it the motive of the shooter to kill Trump for his own purposes or other purposes? So asking questions about "They" is an appropriate thing to do, and you can start with all the people who might wish Trump ill will, which includes the Democrats.

BUMBLE BEE said...

That settles it.
Crooks was aiming for Trump's ear!
Sing Along!

I won't grow up - I don't wanna go to school.

doctrev said...

RMc said...
Does anyone doubt that if someone shot at Biden (or any Democrat) that the media would be blaming right-wingers, regardless of the shooter's actual politics (or lack thereof)?

7/17/24, 9:56 AM

I figured that would have happened. If Trump was "removed," I have zero doubt they would have found a MAGA windup toy to "retaliate." But now that is quite impossible. The Secret Service couldn't withstand something like that, and at any rate they would only get Kamala for their pains.

Iman said...

Per Bongino, a local counter-sniper team was assigned to that roof, did not show up. SS was supposed to provide oversight, and they obviously failed at that

The SS Chief has been ordered to shut her mouth.

Michael K said...

The Field Marshall alleges:

Hell no. Althouse knows my real name. I had to email her to request removal of comments that defamed me and accused me, with zero evidence, of serious and despicable felonies (Michael K initiated the defamation and then others piled on).

How did I "defame " you? By quoting you ?

Iman said...

…and keep it shut.

Hassayamper said...

Remember the DC sniper attacks 20 years ago? The press breathlessly pointed the finger at "angry white men in a box truck" before it was revealed that it was actually two black dudes in an old Chevy.

A damned clever and effective apparatus it was, too, and easily replicated. We are lucky there have been no copycats.

stlcdr said...

...but 'they' do know that it was Trump's rhetoric which motivated the shooter.

Freder Frederson said...

How did I "defame " you? By quoting you ?

You are really an idiot. You asked me if I still had kiddie porn on my computer. You don't remember that?

Hopefully Althouse will delete both your comment and my response.

Mind your own business said...

The Left only switches to this kind of blame-logic when they might be held responsible for what happened. And they never want to be held accountable for anything.

If this had happened to Biden, they would be screaming how it was all Trump's fault.

Oh, wait. They still are claiming that.

Narayanan said...

what if the "Crooks" we saw parading around and on roof is the squirrel?
real shooter somebody else? [from inside through window?]

hombre said...

"[1]There is no evidence that Crooks shot at Trump because he had been influenced by anti-Trump political rhetoric, and [2]there is no evidence that Crooks was literally or figuratively part of a collective effort to sideline or kill the former president...."

As usual, the evidence points to Bump as nitwit, unless, UNLESS, his goal was to deny the obvious, point one, and to deflect from the real issues, point two. Few think that Crooks was part of a plot. It's possible, but the more likely scenario is that the SS facilitated an "any old shooter will do scenario" and waited until the last credible moment to take him out.

JK Brown said...

Well, "they" have been issuing propaganda for years to demonize Trump as someone who must be stopped at all costs. And some of "they" have acted out in words and performance desired violence against Trump. Not unlike how the NSDAP in 1930s Germany used constant recitation to push Germans to take/accept actions against Jews.

But I'm starting to think the "motive" may be more "Hollywood". The shooter tried to join his high school rifle team but was so bad that not only did he not make the cut, was told not to come back. I would have thought we'd heard by now, but it could be the find that he went on a mission to become a good shooter. Then in a bad moment in the shooter's life, Trump was nearby and he could "show them" He is a good rifleman.

An easy perpetrator to interdict if those protecting Trump had not been so negligent.

JAORE said...

The question I have is, was the person/staff in charge of the Afghan withdrawal, or the SS Director/staff bigger idiots?

I'm sure the number of heads rolling from gross incompetence for both issues will even out ..... at zero.

Earnest Prole said...

I’m sure we can all agree they are bad and we are good.

Rusty said...

Freder Frederson said...
"So tell us Freder - you must be disappointed the misfit missed.

No, I'm not. Unlike many commenters on this thread, including you (hell, your pseudonym and some of the others you have used show disdain and dehumanization of your opponents), I have never wished anyone dead or fantasized about killing people I don't agree with. I have also never advocated genocide as others on this site have."

You know what's comin' dontcha.
Freder you dumbass.
First off nobody here has advocated genocide.
No. Of course you've never wished anyone dead. You have black block and other violent activists for that.
No one here wants to know what you fantasize about.

Michael McNeil said...

You can delete your own response yourself, Freder.

cfs said...

Yet time after time Trump and other conservatives have been accused of being directly responsible for violence of others. January 6th is the most obvious example. However, each time there is a shooting or an attack of any time we hear the democrats and their loyal talking head's comments.

"Senator, can we admit that the ______ incident is due to Trump's violent rhetoric? Yes Jake, it's obvious the shooter (attacker, racist, whatever) was influenced totally due to former President Trump's calls for violence."

I bet I can find several instances of the above conversation on CNN almost word for word.

Freder Frederson said...

First off nobody here has advocated genocide.

Both Michael K and Mike (MJB Wolf), and I am sure others did, advocated genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Of course they couched it in terms of the Israelis should treat the Gazan's like the Romans treated Carthage. Dear corrupt left, go Fuck yourselves (or whatever she was calling herself at the time) suggested that Israel turn Gaza into glass, implying she wanted Israel to nuke Gaza (apparently she was unconcerned that the fallout would make most of Israel unlivable).

No. Of course you've never wished anyone dead. You have black block and other violent activists for that.

I have always condemned political violence. If you can't produce contrary posts, then you are just a liar.

No one here wants to know what you fantasize about.

Apparently, Michael K does.

Freder Frederson said...

I bet I can find several instances of the above conversation on CNN almost word for word.

I'll take that bet.

Freder Frederson said...

You can delete your own response yourself, Freder.

True, but I can't delete Michael K's post I was responding to.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

"'They' didn’t shoot Donald Trump/Despite the lack of any clear motive, the actions of Thomas Crooks have been attributed to the Democratic Party at large," by Philip Bump

1: Tell it to Sarah Palin, WRT Gabby Giffords. Where the shooting actually WAS by a mentally deranged individual with no political component, but that's not what the Democrats and the press, BIRM, said

2: "The Democrats" didn't personally shoot Trump. What they did do is call for "someone to rid us of this pestiferous political candidate.". and the n the Democrat Biden Admin crippled his Secret Service protection

3: If Tump is "literally Hitler" or even "practically Hitler", or a "threat to Democracy", then you should be happy that someone shot him, and sad they failed to kill him.

If Trump is not those things, then you should stop lying, and stop claiming that he is.

Pick one, and stick to it

Michael K said...

I would suggest that Field Marshall Freder read up on the history of the Sudetan Germans after they lost the war they started.It was pretty ugly. The Arabs never learned that lesson. Instead they ruminate on Mohammed's rage that the Jews did not buy his story. As for Gaza, the Israelis gave it back, complete with a functioning economy, and the Arabs destroyed it. They prefer welfare, like Freddy's favourite political party.

Leland said...

If Freder isn't your real name, how can you be defamed? If I were to write: "That sock puppet over there committed heinous acts", I might be lying about the sock puppet, but I'm talking about the puppet, not the person whose hand in is the puppet. If I knew the name of that person and said they committed the heinous act; then perhaps it is defamation if you can prove it was a malice lie. But we haven't yet established who controls the sock puppet, and the sock puppet is quite heinous and should stop its heinous actions.

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

"We don't need no stinkin' EVIDENCE!" That sentiment has never stopped Democrats from blaming
Republicans for some tragedy." Witness the Giffords shooting by a deranged loner.

Rick67 said...

"There is no evidence that Crooks shot at Trump because"

And so far it appears we'll never know. I read the piece by Sean Davis. And I see the comments by Achilles. I don't want to think they are right. But it's hard to get past the long list of improbable failures by the Secret Service. Before Crooks pulled the trigger they had opportunity to arrest.

Prof. M. Drout said...

Shouldn't the head of the Secret Service be some crusty old Vietnam veteran with an eyepatch and a hook hand?
Why the hell are we stuck with THIS personification of failure?
Oh, I know, she comes to the Secret Service after having been the head of security at . . . Pepsi. Yes, Pepsi. I mean, I'm sure she has a splendid record of achievement protecting the nation's stockpile of Fritos, but really?
This same woman thinks a 5% roof pitch is too dangerous for agents to stand on: are they hiring field agents in wheelchairs? (Actually a wheelchair can handle a 5% pitch).
She said that the buck stops with her. The Secret Service just had its greatest failure since the JFK assassination, and she hasn't fired anyone or resigned in shame. How is that "accepting responsibility"? (Answer, it's not in Normal world, only in government world).
If you are inclined to argue that she shouldn't step down in a moment of crisis because someone needs to run the agency, then why hasn't she announced that, ashamed of this disaster happening on her watch, she is donating her entire salary to the dead man's family? Or maybe signing over her Federal pension to them? Or stepping down immediately after firing the people on the ground who made the idiotic decisions that brought within an inch of a glide-path to becoming Yugoslavia?
"Accountability" means that you suffer the consequences of bad decisions--whether those bad decisions are yours directly or were made by the people you hired/fired, promoted/demoted, and supervised. When is there going to be accountability for government workers whose fuck-ups lead to loss of life or freedom?

But there's no accountability for ANYTHING here. People have been fired and cancelled and abused because they object to a 50-year-old bearded dude in a dress in a women's locker room because that means "they LITERALLY want to erase trans people," but people employed by the government make obviously idiotic decisions that lead to catastrophic losses and everybody stands around with "who farted?" looks on their faces for 10 minutes and then they go about their business as if nothing ever happened.

Jon Ericson said...

We must be out of Flit.

Freder Frederson said...

I would suggest that Field Marshall Freder read up on the history of the Sudetan Germans after they lost the war they started.It was pretty ugly. The Arabs never learned that lesson. Instead they ruminate on Mohammed's rage that the Jews did not buy his story. As for Gaza, the Israelis gave it back, complete with a functioning economy, and the Arabs destroyed it. They prefer welfare, like Freddy's favourite political party.

And your point is? And the Sudeten Germans did not start the war. It was the Austrians or the Bavarians (depending on which you consider Hitler). So are you saying that genocide is sometimes justified?

Mason G said...

"When is there going to be accountability for government workers whose fuck-ups lead to loss of life or freedom?"

Aside from the occasional low-level schlub tossed under the bus just for show, never. But you knew that already.

Static Ping said...

The reasoning is not wrong, but it is self-serving. The author would not be making this argument if it was some blank slate inexplicably taking a shot at Biden or Harris or Obama. We know this because in similar situations, they bent over backwards to find something - anything - to blame Republicans.

Also, we do not trust the FBI to tell us the truth. We rightfully do this because they are proven liars and partisans.

Rabel said...

For those who don't know, Freder Frederson was the industrialist's son and the protagonist in the movie "Metropolis."

He was excessively melodramatic too.

Michael K said...

Idiot Freder just won't quit. The reason the Czechs were sacrificed is because the German speaking people who were in the area that would have to be defended were all rabidly pro-Nazi.

cfs said...

Freder Frederson said...
I bet I can find several instances of the above conversation on CNN almost word for word.

I'll take that bet.


----

I just saw your "bet" and in five seconds found this:

"How moments from Trump's background foreshadowed January 6 violence"

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/10/13/january-6-violence-hearings-trump-monologue-tapperctn-vpx.cnn

And from MSNBC:

‘We’ve never had anything like this’: The effect of Trump’s violent rhetoric on his base

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljWJutVqXew


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnOj96L1yF4

"CNN interviewed 10 presidential hopefuls on white supremacy and violence. Watch what they said about its ties to Trump"

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/04/politics/cnn-democrats-presidential-candidates-gun-violence-trump-white-nationalist/index.html

I'm not going to waste time looking for more because you have heard the media, especially CNN and MSNBC, over the years blame many acts of violence on Trump and conservatives.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljWJutVqXew

Michael K said...

I have some reading material for Freder./ Here is a description of the scene.

During the October 7 attack at the Nova festival, many people, many of whom already wounded, had taken refuge in this ambulance. Hamas soldiers attacked the ambulance (a war crime), riddling it with bullets, throwing hand grenades inside, and then shooting it with an RPG to set it on fire.

Sharon further explained that there were three waves of attacks on October 7: (1) elite Hamas commandos, (2) regular Hamas soldiers, and (3) Gazan civilians who came to loot, pillage, murder, and take more hostages. She remarked that, of the three waves of attacks, they feared most the Gaza civilians.

Just a few highlights for Freder.

The Godfather said...

The issue isn't the shooter's "motive". There's always a nut job out there who wants to kill a president or presidential candidate -- maybe because the President just won the Civil War, or maybe because the shooter wants a date with Jodie Foster. The issue is why the shooter was given a chance to shoot Trump. The duty of the Secret Service is to protect the President and Presidential candidates, and in this case the Secret Service clearly failed its duty. Why?

There are two possible reasons for the SS failure: Perhaps the Secret Service was simply incompetent, that its failure to secure a roof top that was ideally situated for a sniper to shoot Trump was clumsy and unprofessional. Or perhaps the Secret Service wanted to facilitate the murder of the chief rival of President Biden, the boss of the SS. Which is it?

I DON'T KNOW. But if the first explanation (incompetence) is correct, then Pres. Biden should fire Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the Secret Service, ASAP. If Biden doesn't fire Cheatle for incompetence, the obvious inference is that Biden doesn't object to the Secret Service exposing his principal political opponent to assassination.

Jim at said...

And yet it is okay for Trump to go on and on about how Biden has destroyed the country. And Trump is going to root out the vermin (Communists, Marxists, and Fascists) who are destroying our nation.

I must've missed the time some Trump fan attempted to kill Biden because of what Trump said.

Got a link, liar?

Mikey NTH said...

I guess Bump doesn't like it when the broad brush comes right around and coats him and his. The goose doesn't like the sauce he gives the gander.

Rusty said...

Freder Frederson said...
"off nobody here has advocated genocide.

Both Michael K and Mike (MJB Wolf), and I am sure others did, advocated genocide of Palestinians in Gaza."
You've earned your moniker well. Look up the meaning of genocide and then get back me. Read a goddamn book fer chrisakes.

Craig Mc said...

"There is no evidence"

Aside from all the evidence that Philip Bump wilfully ignores. Which is pretty much his entire shtick.

Iman said...

It bears repeating: Bump is a hump.

John said...

Philip Bump is the Ellsworth M. Toohey of journalists.

Readering said...

Interesting. GOP now rejects a VP debate prior to Dem convention on Aug 19 on theory that the Veep nominee likely won't be Harris. (Because Pres nominee likely not Biden.) Also seems to be disagreement on network. CBS v Fox.

Milwaukie guy said...

I stopped reading Superman comics because Superman didn't kill Hitler.

Narayanan said...

The goose doesn't like the sauce he gives the gander.
=================
aren't goose and gander already cooked/ing?
and we're ready to plate!!

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Readering said...
Interesting. GOP now rejects a VP debate prior to Dem convention on Aug 19 on theory that the Veep nominee likely won't be Harris.

Never interfere with an enemy in the process of destroying himself.

It's good advice from Napoleon. I could see them debating Harris, just to make sure Joe stays on the ticket. But that's probably an Everly cute move on my part.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

And yet it is okay for Trump to go on and on about how Biden has destroyed the country. And Trump is going to root out the vermin (Communists, Marxists, and Fascists) who are destroying our nation.

1: They actually ARE destroying the country.
2: If you are too stupid to understand the difference between "our opponents suck, and their polices are destroying America" and "our enemy is an evil monster who will destroy democracy", then I'll just encourage you to go off to bed and enjoy your nap, because your'e clearly too stupid to have a worthwhile debate with.

Your problem is that America saw from 2017 - 2019 what "Trumpism" does, and it doesn't destroy America.

Whereas they've also seem what Democrat policies do, from 2021-2024. And what those policies do is destroy employment for Americans, drive up inflation, deprive us of control over our bodies (LA school district is STILL fighting to keep their Covid shot mandate), and destroy availability of goods and services, which mutilating children and setting them up to be drug addicts for teh rest of their lives.

So you simply can't argue on policy.