“I do not want my calls for resignation to be a distraction from the great work each and every one of you do towards our vital mission,” Ms. Cheatle said in [email to the Secret Service], which was reviewed by The New York Times.
She was monumentally horrible at the hearing yesterday.
Posts
114 comments:
I figured this would make it up here.
She needs the ability to take the 5th in the future and needs representation.
The Regime is doomed.
Well, sweetheart, what did you think would happen? She's incredibly fortunate she wasn't escorted to jail. But hold that thought- President Trump's AG might have some hard questions for her.
Good.
If she resigned (without evidence) does she still get the cushy pension?
She's been a gov employee since Eisenhower ;)
Well, sweetheart, what did you think would happen? She's incredibly fortunate she wasn't escorted to jail. But hold that thought- President Trump's AG might have some hard questions for her.
The investigation needs to continue and she needs to answer for what she did.
Who ordered the Secret Service to stand down and to understaff?
Cheatle took the fall for her superiors who ordered the conspiracy.
Sort of like the debate last month. That's what I was thinking during the hearing, the parts I watched, that she was someone who probably has little experience testiying like this and was probably not prepped very well but it didn't matter because this was just theatre anyway, designed to put pressure on her to resign. Once AOC weighed in with the AR-15 question, I thought, okay the fix is in. Cheatle is out.
She should have resigned last week.
IED is a fated progression from DEI. Just do it!
A small taste of what a DEI Presidency would be like. Why do we continue to put people like this in charge of major governmental and commercial operations? "In diversity is our strength." Really? Did promoting Jill's Secret Service agent from 10 years ago make the Secret Service stronger?
To say she was monumentally horrible, you have to know the actual purpose behind her being there.
"..allowed a gunman to shoot at.."
Shoot at? Trump was shot.
"The investigation needs to continue and she needs to answer for what she did."
If she's out, I don't care about her personally anymore. I care about the mindset that put her in that position. DEI-trumps-competence has got to stop.
Not only does this have to be answered, as the President of the United States might actually be dead right now, but it absolutely EXPLODES the bullet truther narrative of the Rat partisans. President Trump is just fine, and there are no shortage of people to ask intelligent questions about the Biden assassination attempt on his life.
This is the third time I have tried to post this. I don't think it's Althouse's problem, but you can bet that I am weirded out.
"Who ordered the Secret Service to stand down...."
Oh, don't be so extreme. They were told to stand back and stand by.
"DEI" is now morphing into something longer, DEIB, with a "B" for "Belonging."
"I do no want my calls for resignation ..". Cheatle
I would assume she meant:
" I do not want calls for MY resignation ..."
Her stonewalling at the hearing made no sense unless she PERSONALLY was involved in making some bad decisions.
My suspicion is she denied requests by Trump's Secret service detail for more people and better equipment. And she may have been directly involved in some of the bad decisions on the day of the shooting. We'll know later after the investigation.
Good that the Democrats are in favor of having a House investigation, relying on DHS to investigate itself is a bad idea.
Deputy Director Ronald Rowe should now testify before the House.
so do SS have any competent assistant or deputy Chief to continue functions?
The cut out is cut.
Not only does this have to be answered, as the President of the United States might actually be dead right now, but it absolutely EXPLODES the bullet truther narrative of the Rat partisans. President Trump is just fine, and there is no shortage of people to ask intelligent questions about the Biden assassination attempt on his life.
4th try. Is there a problem, Professor, or is Google really losing it?
What is it people and their dumb idea about "gubmit employees". Yeah, those LAZY bureaucrats at the Secret Service. Just sittin around doing nothing and waiting for their pension.
Its like talking about those damn lazy Gubmit employees in the Army and navy. The secret service exists mainly as police force. Maybe, we need to hire a private company, y'know like Crowdstrike, to protect our politicians. Y'know the free market. Put it up for bid, and have them make a profit. And then we do it with the Army. Let Zuckerberg run it.
Crazy.
"Oh, don't be so extreme. They were told to stand back and stand by."
If Trump's security had been run by the Proud Boys, Crooks would've been taken down before he climbed on the sloped roof.
The SS has been dirty for quite sometime. They erased texts from Jan.5 and 6th after being asked for them by the Oversight Committee officials. Now the SS claims they can’t provide the communications between agents from the day of the assassination attempt?
Someone claimed online that CNN doesn’t usually cover Trump rallies, but somehow was at Butler. Thst can’t be true, can it? Because if it is true it creates a pronounced “what did they know and when did they know it” sort of question.
"Shoot at." Is NYT placating their "he wasn't hit by a bullet" constituency? Is it a third of democrats? Half? How many exactly are denying the evidence in front of them?
Cheatle was put in place because Jill could trust her to suborn the coverup of FJB's medical condition. THAT was her real job.
MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen
I never understood why her very first act after learning of the assassination attempt was not to put her resignation letter on the Resolute desk. Then it's up to the president as to whether he accepts it or not. But this is the first thing you do when an enormous failure happens on your watch, no matter what the cause.
Shouting Thomas said...
Who ordered the Secret Service to stand down and to understaff?
Cheatle took the fall for her superiors who ordered the conspiracy.
The snipers did not stand down.
They shot the shooter precisely when they were told and precisely according to plan.
The only question there is whether the snipers were in on it or just following orders.
I'm sure the Dems have a great corporate "security" job lined up for her.
The quid pro quo was continued omerta regarding July 13.
The Dems run their party like the Mob.
Goetz von Berlichingen said...
Cheatle was put in place because Jill could trust her to suborn the coverup of FJB's medical condition. THAT was her real job.
MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen
I tend to agree.
I don't think she had much to do with the actual events on the 13th other than provide bureaucratic cover.
It will be interesting to learn if she knew of the overall plot though.
She was negotiating her exit.
She knows where all the bodies are buried.
She will either get a direct deposit into her bank or a cushy, do-nothing job that pays a ton.
'Cheatle was put in place because Jill could trust her to suborn the coverup of FJB's medical condition. THAT was her real job.'
And the hookers, the laptop, the cocaine, the meth, etc.
"She was monumentally horrible at the hearing yesterday."
It's just her. All other government officials are not horrible. They are great. They know what they are doing. Super competent. Accountable. The best and the brightest. Mayorkas, Becerra, Buttigieg, Garland, Austen, Khan: we are in good hands! So the green transition is gonna be a big success, managed by the best and--well, you know.
Jamie said...
I never understood why her very first act after learning of the assassination attempt was not to put her resignation letter on the Resolute desk. Then it's up to the president as to whether he accepts it or not. But this is the first thing you do when an enormous failure happens on your watch, no matter what the cause.
Fortunately we are returning to a point where you will no longer be called a misogynist to say this.
I hope we hear about whether there were similar security lapses at several of Trump's other outdoor rallies.
Extreme incompetence would predict an answer of YES (which I'm hoping for).
The other possibility would predict an answer of NO, and that somehow the only event with a major security lapse is also the only event where someone even attempted a shooting.
Oh, don't be so extreme. They were told to stand back and stand by.
Althouse wins her own thread
She should have been fired right after she made the sloped roof is to unsafe statement. If its true then she's incompetent (and extremely stupid) or its a lie meant to cover her ass (and she is extremely stupid.) Either way, she needed to be fired.
Joe Smith said...
'Cheatle was put in place because Jill could trust her to suborn the coverup of FJB's medical condition. THAT was her real job.'
And the hookers, the laptop, the cocaine, the meth, etc.
Excellent point.
She looked sedated and indifferent to her and her agency's incompetence, stunned that she was being held accountable. Maybe for the first time in her professional life. She needed one more day for her lawyer to cut a sweetheart severance deal while hammering out the details of how she will aid the cover up in exchange for several millions more in compensation.
MSOM said...
I hope we hear about whether there were similar security lapses at several of Trump's other outdoor rallies.
Extreme incompetence would predict an answer of YES (which I'm hoping for).
The other possibility would predict an answer of NO, and that somehow the only event with a major security lapse is also the only event where someone even attempted a shooting.
Why would it be better for them to leave many windows of opportunity for the FBI to recruit a killer?
Not seeing the mitigation here.
"She looked sedated and indifferent to her and her agency's incompetence, stunned that she was being held accountable."
She reminded me of Nurse Ratched.
Goetz von Berlichingen said...
Cheatle was put in place because Jill could trust her to suborn the coverup of FJB's medical condition. THAT was her real job.
Nah, she was put there to keep her quiet. She was on the Biden protection team during the Obama administration. I'm suspecting she was the female agent who complained about Joe's skinny dipping.
Ha. I just learned today that she grew up in my home town, and graduated from my high school.
She tried to not be the scape-goat. Someone sat her down last night and explained to her that she had to fall on her sword.
She reminded me of Nurse Ratched.
��
Ann Althouse said...
"She looked sedated and indifferent to her and her agency's incompetence, stunned that she was being held accountable."
She reminded me of Nurse Ratched.
+1.
What is really going to bring this regime down is the nation seeing it is manned by Karen.
Darn, I still can't break the emoji barrier.
Yancey Ward said...
She tried to not be the scape-goat. Someone sat her down last night and explained to her that she had to fall on her sword.
Yeah.
Her Criminal Defense Attorney.
In old British novels a delegation would show up at her office and leave behind a handgun with one round chambered.
Dave Begley said: "I'm sure the Dems have a great corporate "security" job lined up for her."
Probably a professorship at Georgetown or the Kennedy School at Harvard.
Its like talking about those damn lazy Gubmit employees in the Army and navy. The secret service exists mainly as police force.
No it's not. Volunteeers in the armed services are nothing like the overpaid and underworked masses at DHS, few of whom actually are a "police force." The Secret Service's main focus is investigating counterfeit currency domestically and worldwide. To accomplish this they have a highly sophisticated forensics lab (which is one reason nobody believes they really tried to solve the cocaine in a glassine bag incident at the white house) that can lift prints from porous surfaces and trace currency via contaminants on its surface.
Second largest operation is the uniformed division provides overwatch security for venues and protectees (like the counter-snipers). Then there is the personal protection services, the ones in suits, who provide security to US high risk targets and foreign dignitaries visiting the US.
as much as to cover for the cheneys, who liz let out of the bag in the memoir,
its funny how those exculpatory communications that sank hutchinson were still available,
Consider fidelifacts a private contractor that worked for the nfl gm et al, they were stuffed to the gills with former nsa, CIA DOJ they were the real version of Gemstone, but with more offiiclal ties,
She reminded me of Nurse Ratched
Well done. I couldn't place it but I think that's what I was trying to come up with...that inappropriately cool demeanor what delivers straight bullshit
Medication time!
Inga: "The SS has been dirty for quite sometime. They erased texts from Jan.5 and 6th after being asked for them by the Oversight Committee officials. Now the SS claims they can’t provide the communications between agents from the day of the assassination attempt?"
Inga, you're funny.
Why do you think those Jan 6 SS comms were lost?
Are you still clinging to that hilarious claim that Trump dove across 5' of Chevy Suburban and SS Officers to try and wrestle control of "the Beast" away from the driver to make a beeline for the Capitol?
LOL
Inga was all over Cassady Hutchinson's perjurious "second" and "third" hand "testimony" that she was coached to selectively provide Nancy's hoax insurrection committee.
She was pretty bad at those hearings. She didn't even bring a basic timeline of what happened. She reminded me of that student who comes to class totally unprepared.
Althouse writes "She was monumentally horrible at the hearing yesterday."
Yes, she was, but Cheatle was only following the example of arrogant stonewalling and obfuscation pioneered by dozens of Biden's lackeys and cutthroats called before Congress to do their Constitution duty to truthfully answer the inquiries of the Legislative Branch.
"She was monumentally horrible at the hearing yesterday."
Or, as they say about Biden administration personnel, "par for the course."
Cheatle was a Biden person. This suggests that the Biden people are getting pushed aside. Jill's influence is waning.
Point of clarification? I'm pretty sure she resigned from her position as director. I don't think she actually resigned from the Secret Service. I'm assuming her paycheck and pension and health insurance are all still in full force and effect.
Ann Althouse said...
["Who ordered the Secret Service to stand down...."]
"Oh, don't be so extreme. They were told to stand back and stand by."
I see what you did there.
["She looked sedated and indifferent to her and her agency's incompetence, stunned that she was being held accountable.]
"She reminded me of Nurse Ratched."
Oh my... you're on fire today!
No it's not. Volunteeers in the armed services are nothing like the overpaid and underworked masses at DHS, few of whom actually are a "police force.
i'm writing about the Secret Service, and you decide to talk about DHS. Whatever. Its still dumb to talk about "those damn lazy Gubmit workers" at those portions of the Federal Government doing oversight and what are essentially law enforcement functions. We've never had a private sector Army Navy or FBI and idea that we will is absurd.
You might as well privatize the NYC police force.
Losertarians always want to escape reality and talk about their dumb free market uber alles and their stupid "Government is the enemy" philosphy.
Kim Cheatle cannot be allowed to escape accountability by resigning. I cannot believe her I do not know answers, certainly not all of them. If Biden truly regrets the horrendous attack on Donald Trump and his supporters at the Butler rally, then he should appoint a special prosecutor. He won't, of course. Biden does nothing that he's not instructed to do by Lord Zero.
"Once AOC weighed in..."
AOC questioning Cheatle about security policy? No doubt, her prior experience as a bartender prepared her for this moment. It's Clown World, all that's missing are the rubber noses for the players.
Cheatle already retired from fedgov. She was most likely receiving the difference between her pension and the full SES salary, subject to the pay cap for all executive branch employees. So she was making less than $100K for the privilege of getting cursed at by Nancy Mace.*
There is a temporary statute that allows the USSS to hire back retired agents at full salary regardless of their pension, but I don’t think that applies to the Director.
And she left PepsiCo, where I am certain she was getting paid more than any Fedgov worker, plus her pension.
So whatever she was doing all this for, it wasn’t for the money.
JSM
*I’d take a lot less than $100K to have Nancy Mace abuse me, but YMMV!
Years ago I had to review material on the Army Training and Doctrine Command website. There was a section on Congressional hearings with topics titled "So You've got a Congressional Inquiry" and "So You've Been Invited to Testify before Congress."
No big whoop. Just keep your cool.
And regarding Cheatle’s awful testimony:
Cmon y’all, you may be suffering from Gellmann amnesia.
Let’s all recall (justifiably) feeling for people like Flynn, Libby, Navarro, heck even Ollie North, who find themselves at that table.
You’re sworn to tell the truth; the congresscritters are not.
You’re not protected by the Speech and Debate Clause; the congresscritters are.
You can’t reveal classified info, or even unclassified law enforcement info; the congress critters can.
Maybe your Administration will do a Holder and refuse to prosecute you for anything that happens in the hearing; maybe it won’t.
In the specific case of the USSS, you don’t want to set the precedent of talking about the nuts and bolts of protection in front of a worldwide audience. “Terrorists and lone weirdos of the world: here’s how one of you beat us, just in case you want to try.”
And in general, the best way to avoid “garden path” trial tactics is to refuse to enter the garden in the first place, ie, don’t even answer the first innocuous question.
The smartest thing to do is to refuse to show up, then, if subpoenaed, claim as many privileges as you can think of.
Which is what she did.
JSM
North:
I don't see how our statements are in conflict with one another.
MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen
She was useful to the left. I bet she gets a nice insider pay-off.
Tho - her mission of killing Trump - failed. So perhaps not.
"She looked sedated and indifferent to her and her agency's incompetence, stunned that she was being held accountable."
She relied on the "cannot comment on an ongoing investigation" trope which worked so well for her peers.
She was clearly shocked the Dems didn't back her up.
I suspect she'll show up teaching at Harvard's Kennedy School this fall.
Where she will receive a standing ovation at her first class.
Cheatle needed to have her bum bounced on every single one of the Capitol building steps as she was kicked out. At Pepsi she kept the Fritos safe; as Dr. Jill's buddy she kept reports of the vegetable's mental condition from escaping.
Oh grow up. Bureaucrats have specialized in ass covering since the days of Hammurabi. It is as though you think history started yesterday
Whether it’s Biden accepting the resignation of his Secret Service director for not doing enough to investigate threats against Trump, or Trump firing his own FBI director for doing too much to investigate threats by Donald Trump, presidents of both parties have made tough calls about the leadership of federal law enforcement.
Rich said...
Whether it’s Biden accepting the resignation of his Secret Service director for not doing enough to investigate threats against Trump, or Trump firing his own FBI director for doing too much to investigate threats by Donald Trump, presidents of both parties have made tough calls about the leadership of federal law enforcement.
You know that Trump fired Comey because Comey provably lied to him and afterwards Comey claimed he was right to lie to Trump.
You also know that the FBI "investigations" into Trump were completely fabricated crap and frame jobs.
You are just dishonest scum.
Howard said...
Oh grow up. Bureaucrats have specialized in ass covering since the days of Hammurabi. It is as though you think history started yesterday
I agree with this.
The entire SS detail at Butler PA should be arrested and everyone in the chain of command between Cheatle and the site commander as well.
Yeah, Great Work guys! Your only reason for existing is the President doesn't get shot. Good job, bros. Good job. You're everything we've come to expect from a lifetime of government service.
LLR-democratical Rich: "Whether it’s Biden accepting the resignation of his Secret Service director for not doing enough to investigate threats against Trump, or Trump firing his own FBI director for doing too much to investigate threats by Donald Trump, presidents of both parties have made tough calls about the leadership of federal law enforcement."
It's bizarre how you seem to believe this is an effective tactic. One can only assume that you are truly a Dunning-Kruger case study and/or you are generally surrounded by generally stupid people for whom this type of thing does work and so you trot it out at Althouse blog.
Probably a combination of the 2.
Let's stipulate that she needed to resign. I am concerned that happened too quickly and partly because some people wanted to fix blame rather than take the time to understand how July 13 happened. What factors and pressures might have contributed? Even with Cheatle gone, is the Secret Service able to fulfill their primary purpose effectively or not?
Most of the personnel at Trump's attempted murder were NOT USSS but DHS employees drafted to fill in. They pulled his "standing agents" to go guard Jill. She had 12 standing agents at her event, an indoor, friendly, 15-minute visit with Italian-Americans, and Trump had 3 to cover a huge outdoor venue. Now does the Glock juggler make sense?
What you saw at the RNC was Trump's normal USSS contingent.
I wonder if she was prepped by Harvard’s lawyers.
he was a slow child often dropped on his head, yes the investigation has to continue,
narciso said...
as much as to cover for the cheneys, who liz let out of the bag in the memoir
What is this about?
She shouldn't be allowed to resign. She should be fired with extreme prejudice. Her security clearances should be revoked immediately. Her laptop and comms and whatever other tech she has should be seized and all data frozen pending investigation. She should be "escorted" from the building with a heavy guard. And most of all, her pension and all other benefits should be denied. I don't want my tax dollars paying for her retirement. She should be so humiliated that she won't be able to get a job as a dog catcher in the Odanah.
If Cheatle had aggressively pursued answers and fired a few people by last Wednesday, she could have come to Congress with answers instead of evasions. Her career could have been on the upswing, instead of over.
She fundamentally didn't have it in her to do her job, even when it would be obvious to any sensible person, that drastic action was needed.
Everyone in this administration gets run out of town on a rail within days of appearing in public! Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, America!
The latest story coming out is that someone, SS or LEO, was assigned to that roof the shooter used but complained was too hot and left.
She'll make a great warden in a women's prison.
Despite the fact that they're both orange, I guess being in charge of guarding Doritos isn't the same as being in charge of guarding Trump.
The latest story coming out is that someone, SS or LEO, was assigned to that roof the shooter used but complained was too hot and left.
I’ve seen that too. The damnable thing is how plausible it is.
She resigned? PHEW!!! Glad that's over...
Have the New Soviet Democraticals crafted a deal with the Biden Crime Family to appoint Hunter as the new Secret Service Director?
The New Soviet Democraticals still playing word games and pretending Trump wasnt shot.
"Secret Service Director Resigns... Kimberly A. Cheatle gave up her post Tuesday after security failures that allowed a gunman to shoot at former President Donald J. Trump at an open-air rally."
Uh no NYT.
Shot President Trump. Not just shot at.
A LLR-democratical Rich headline if there ever was one.
Don and Don Jr both had high praise for the secret service agents surrounding the president.
She's not so smug and arrogant now. But it's just an early retirement buy out in real terms, not really a punitive action. There will be no actual shame. She'll land a nice 6 figure gig or book deal. Jim Comey stuff.
Howard: "Don and Don Jr both had high praise for the secret service agents surrounding the president."
That is certainly the gracious thing to do....after their team openly, transparently, allowed the shooter to shoot you...but you'll still have these cats around for awhile.
Maybe "gracious" isn't quite the right word there under those circumstances, eh?
Althouse said: "They were told to stand back and stand by."
Pretty sneaky sis.
Drago said...
Howard: "Don and Don Jr both had high praise for the secret service agents surrounding the president."
That is certainly the gracious thing to do....after their team openly, transparently, allowed the shooter to shoot you...but you'll still have these cats around for awhile.
Maybe "gracious" isn't quite the right word there under those circumstances, eh?
I don't think Asset Protection had anything to do with trying to kill Trump. Maybe the team leader but that seems unlikely. It sounds like they were all Homeland Security interns that were pulled in last minute because Cheatle stripped Trump's team and sent them to a hotel for 15 minutes with Jill.
It was the SS agents that were inside the AGR building watching the shooter climb on the roof through the windows and the sniper team that shot the assassin that Trump has a beef with.
Apparently only 3 actual SS agents were left at Butler PA. Seems like a manageable number.
I would have asked one single question if I were Cheatle. Why wasn't someone on that roof? I would have found out who was responsible and they'd be gone. Then I'd report that to the Committee. Meanwhile I'd be finding out who over the years promoted the person who decided to leave the roof uncovered. That would be the report - did those people have flawed histories?
But Cheatle was close to Jill Biden. She was used to promoting people who would cover up Joe's decline, not people who were good at security. She's gone but her deputy is there - still not a person who knows how to do security, I would bet. This what is meant by corruption. When Trump gets in he'll have to find real security people.
LEO officers from the SS and below are obviously evading responsibility, hoping that media attention will shift. We cannot let this happen.
And no, Cheatle’s resignation does resolve or absolve a goddamn thing. This smells like a fucking cover-up.
Achilles asked:
Why would it be better for them to leave many windows of opportunity for the FBI to recruit a killer?
Not seeing the mitigation here.
The big question: Was this a deliberate setup for an assasination, or is the secret service extremely incompetent? There really isn't a third option. I really hope that they are incompetent since the other option is much worse.
If they are incompetent enough to accidentally allow this to happen, then their incompetence would probably have led to lapses at several other events. Lapses that went unnoticed because no one happened to try to shoot Trump at those events.
But if it turns out that every other event was handled perfectly, and that the only attempted shooting just "happened" to occur at the only event with a major lapse, then it really looks like something intentional. (I assume that we would have heard if wannabe shooters were apprehended at other events.)
So I'ld like to know how they did at other events. I hope they are so incompetent that there were other lapses. Horrible as that would be, the alternative is worse.
Incompetence is easier to correct than a deep state that is actively trying to get Trump killed.
-------
Old message for context:
I hope we hear about whether there were similar security lapses at several of Trump's other outdoor rallies.
Extreme incompetence would predict an answer of YES (which I'm hoping for).
The other possibility would predict an answer of NO, and that somehow the only event with a major security lapse is also the only event where someone even attempted a shooting.
Why would it be better for them to leave many windows of opportunity for the FBI to recruit a killer?
Not seeing the mitigation here.
MSOM said...
The big question: Was this a deliberate setup for an assasination, or is the secret service extremely incompetent? There really isn't a third option. I really hope that they are incompetent since the other option is much worse.
I fully understood your point and what you were going for.
I am just telling you that there is no incompetence explanation here. Everything that I have posted about the tactics and techniques still applies if it happened once or if it happened many times.
None.
They either wanted him dead once or they wanted him dead many times.
You people need to deal with that.
The sniper who killed the assassin did a good job. If he missed and Crooks got opportunity to keep firing, Trump and others probably dead
Question remains, why did he wait?
Following orders?
Concern over being railroaded for "murder" if he shot first?
Couldn't believe it was actually happening?
FullMoon
The sniper who killed the assassin did a good job. If he missed and Crooks got opportunity to keep firing,
you are NOT serious (are you?) the sniper Held fire until..
a) Trump was down
b) Crooks had unloaded his clip
" why did he wait? "
Patsy had to become certified?
I still believe the key to separating incompetence from conspiracy is deposing the Agent in Charge the day of the rally. There was an on-site commander. Even if the USSS was too incompetent to appoint one, LLEO would have certainly asked. Name that person! Who was it? Maybe it was short fat chick who could not holster her pistol.
Why was she so bad?
She surely had walkthroughs of (a) what happened at the rally, (b) the planning, (c) likely questions at the hearing.
So, what made her think she could get away with her responses at the hearing?
Why did it take so long?
Why doesn't anybody in this administration behave like a responsible human being?
Why is the first impulse pure bullshit?
tolkein said...
"Why was she so bad?"
She was hired using a template, not for her competence. She's a good progressive apparatchic. Those were the only qualifications she needed.
I think she realized that she was being set up to take the fall for something even worse, and that's why she bailed.
She's obviously culpable for the refusal to increase the size of the detail--Mayorkas probably didn't even have to give her a wink and a nod--but I can't imagine that she would be included in planning the hit or even in knowing about it. Her responses about the roof being too steep or it being too hot outside are just so extravagantly stupid that I have to believe that they were made up by her on the spot, and therefore not talking points given to her by someone who is not incompetent.
She probably didn't know the assassination attempt was an inside job--she probably wouldn't have the relevant information if she relied on just the Times and the Post--and then she realized / was told by one of her old contacts in the USSS, and got the hell out of Dodge, realizing that she came a couple of millimeters away from never having a safe night's sleep again for the rest of her life.
You can see the phase transition in the media happening before your eyes as the story crystalizes into "Secret Service Incompetence Allows Lone Wolf," conveniently leaving unexplained why THAT building, why the shooter knew to bring his gun to THAT rally, how he knew where to position himself, why the sniper team delayed, etc., etc.
Seems very much like the Russia Hoax, in that the whole story feels like it was creative-writing workshopped. In this case, a bunch of people who started out with "Republicans think the government is incompetent, so let's go with that" (c.f. "Republicans hate the Russkies, so let's go with that."). But in both cases, they get it subtly wrong for the same reason: that they don't know or speak to any actual Republicans: in that Republicans hate Communists, not Russians, and Republicans don't (or didn't, until now) think the front-line, weapon-carrying people in Federal Law Enforcement were incompetent. Evil, yes, but not incompetent.
And Oso Negro is right: the Team Leader / Agent in Charge, who made the call on the Ag building being outside the perimeter, is the most likely candidate for being part of the conspiracy. If we ever get a name (which I doubt we will) that allows for digging, I'd be willing to bet there will be FBI experience or FBI liason work.
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