That article also contains material about the seeming underperformance of the Secret Service:
Trump's Secret Service detail was given additional assets that is part of the protocol for the presumptive nominee due to his heavy campaigning, which includes additional manpower, counter-sniper, drones and robotic dogs, the law enforcement official said. On Saturday, there were four counter-sniper teams on site, the official said. Additionally, Trump's teleprompter is protective and the flag and podium banners are made of steel, the law enforcement official said.
A man who was at the rally said that soon after Trump started speaking, he saw a man "bear crawling" up the building. "We're pointing at the guy," said the witness, named Greg, adding, "he had a rifle — you could literally see him with a rifle." He told the BBC that he and others told the police and were pointing him out to U.S. Secret Service agents, and he estimated that the man was on the roof for "three or four minutes" before shots were heard.
Other witnesses told CBS Pittsburgh station KDKA that they also saw the gunman and tried to alert officers before the shooting.
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113 comments:
The next question is "when did they get a DNA sample from a 20 year old rando from Bethel?"
If you're not a conspiracy theorist, you're just clueless.
Doctrev, yes, yes. I saw DNA mentioned in the CNN article and thought—
‘What the heck? He’s 20! Where are they matching this DNA??” Something is not right.
Matching DNA is pretty easy, hair on his brush from searching his house is probably the source.
As noted, and to reiterate: it’s easy to get DNA (or finger prints) but what are they matching it against? Why would any agency have the DNA of a random 20 year old?
Every SS agent who is closely guarding President Trump is one less agent patrolling the crowd, operating an observation drone, or manning a counter-sniper rifle position. Trump's SS detail is only about a third of Biden's bodyguard detail. Robert Kennedy has no Secret Service protection at all. Both campaigns have complained and both have been denied increased protection by the DHS and the SS director personally. Biden could have corrected that situation with one word. That word was unspoken.
@ doctrev
That's what I wondered. I thought they had to have a known sample for comparison.
I guess they did write "a biometric confirmation of his identity". Maybe they used facial recognition or something to get a preliminary ID, then went to his house for his hairbrush or whatever.
Steve said...
Matching DNA is pretty easy, hair on his brush from searching his house is probably the source.
7/14/24, 7:47 AM
That implies they already know who he is, if they are ‘searching his house’ in which case the point about DNA is irrelevant (at most it would be a confirmation, not an identification).
Maybe this sloppy reporting? (Surprise, surprise).
…ah yes. confirmation. But still, how did they get to the point of identification prior to that? My guess is through a local gun store - he purchased the rifle recently and a quick canvas of the stores revealed identification (I do not know what PA specific laws there are).
@stlcdr
That's a good possibility.
That article also contains material about the seeming underperformance of the Secret Service:
This will be the story that demands answers.
4 sniper teams? 4?
And one of them wasn’t on THAT roof? Look at the fucking map. There are 2 blazingly obvious overlapping fields of fire that an overwatch position would take.
Just for general knowledge when you set up a security position you are going to place your units in a roughly L shaped configuration and you will define your fields of fire. This map is obvious. The president is white side. Two sniper positions on the roofs facing the venue. There will be a team on black side watching the Parking lot and there will be a team posted on the high speed route of approach.
The SS was in on this.
I think it was extremely lucky for the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement that the shooter was some 20 year old local guy with, presumably, no real training or access to greater resources. Because as admirably as the agents on the ground reacted to neutralize the shooter and get President Trump to safety, it seems like there was some kind of failure somewhere, that the shooter got onto a roof within range and was able to wound the President and kill and wound others. It's actually kind of unbelievable really.
Is this the same FBI that used false information and forged documents to get FISA warrants to monitor Trump? The same FBI that is still hiding the manifesto of the trans shooter in Nashville? Called the Ft Hood(?) shooting work place violence? The same FBI who said the Muslims who attacked and held a rabbi hostage to release terrorist prisoners was not antisemitic.
The shooter's motive can never be known. They promised.
"Matching DNA is pretty easy, hair on his brush from searching his house is probably the source."
If they didn't know the assassin's identity, how could they find a hairbrush with his DNA on it?
The fact that they have done a DNA match suggests Crooks has some record or reputation. The SS is supposed to keep tabs on nutcases and haters who make threats. Sometimes agents visit these bastards to warn them that making threats against the President can be prosecuted as a felony. Before a presidential visit or a campaign whistlestop by a presidential candidate, the Service routinely interviews people living in that city or nearby who have made assassination threats. Is it possible the SS knew about Crooks and his seething hatred of Donald Trump, and nevertheless did nothing to disuade him or at least exclude him from the vicinity?
Reposting this from an earlier thread:
My questions are [aside from the one everyone's asking about why the rooftop hadn't been secured]:
1. Is it even possible that the Secret Service snipers were not watching the shooter, given that they neutralized him within a second of his getting the shots off?
2. Wouldn't their orders be to shoot to kill anyone brandishing a firearm in that situation, and not wait till he fires it?
3. And wouldn't their orders also be to preemptively surround the target and get him out of harm's way?
Something seems very wrong here.
How did Crooks know which building would be unguarded by the SS?
How many liberals crowing that Trump's would-be assassin was a 2A-obsessed registered Republican even know what AR stands for?
As for dna, I assume a concerned family member called law enforcement and said they suspect the shooter is their relative. DNA is collected from family and the test is done. Not so complicated.
Sally writes, "I think it was extremely lucky for the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement that the shooter was some 20-year-old local guy with, presumably, no real training or access to greater resources."
Yet, without "real training" he managed to position himself in a near-ideal sniper loft and fire at President Trump with less than an inch of inaccuracy.
It is difficult to believe the US Secret Service was so systematically incompetent.
The press is going with "he's a registered Republican." Which he apparently was. But...he's 20. He's never yet voted. This November would have been his first.
What he is also, is a donor to a progressive get out the vote group. He donated a little money to an Act Blue offshoot a few years ago, in his teens. So- neither of these things by itself shows much.
But his actions say everything.
So why is ABC News leading with "he's a registered Republican"?
The sniper’s gun....serial number...identified owner...firearms registry reveal owner...that may have been the lead to find the rest of his info and then DNA for positive ID.
I turned the TV on when I saw a web note that Trump had been shot. CBS News was on.
2 things struck me:
1. One of their "experts" was a guy named Costa, who was brought in by the anchorperson to provide more information and background expertise. He looked like a central casting specimen of the 27 year old who knows literally nothing. He lived up to his booking by saying that this kind of political violence was unprecedented in his lifetime. His lifetime is way too short to be saying anything on TV, and he is ignorant of the attempts on Rep. Scalise and Giffords. For comparison, I well remember the violence against Presidents Kennedy, Ford, Reagan, also MLK and RFK. Unprecedented, my ass.
2. A few minutes later, they announced that the Biden campaign waw pulling all its campaign advertising off the air for a day or 2. They said that this was an act of statesmanship and leadership at a time of great seriousness for our great nation. My immediate thought was that they pulled their ads to scrub them of any mentions of "bullseye" or "targeting" that has become common. They may have fooled some people.
A final thought- it's been said elsewhere but not yet here that I have seen- all the Dems who have compared Trump to Hitler are now expressing relief that Trump's injury is relatively minor and that he will be OK. How many days will have to pass before it becomes acceptable to again say that Trump=Hitler and it would be best if he died?
"without "real training""
I have no knowledge of the person, but I'm in the area. There's a lot of kids who are brought up hunting here.
/The press is going with "he's a registered Republican."/
A true liberal/leftist would advocate for the restriction of assault weapons.
What was the distance from the shooter to Trump?
What type and calibre was the rifle?
Was it scoped?
If it was small bore as many have guessed, and bought off the shelf without being sighted in and scoped, and if the shooter was not a trained marksman, then missing by just an inch was a frighteningly good shot.
Now will this administration approve the increased Secret Service protection previously requested and denied?
Will the criminally negligent denial of all Secret Service protection to RFKJr be reversed?
I am sure that the trusted media will thoroughly investigate the matter and soon explain it all to us in a full, complete, unbiased manner.
Fight.
Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie
The same bureau that investigated the Las Vegas shooting and the January 6th pipe bombs is now investigating the attempted assassination of Trump.
This is also the same bureau that raided Mar-a-Lago.
I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of this soon.
8:24 PM · Jul 13, 2024
The Secret Service has always been inept. If, after the shot that hit Kennedy in the throat, the limo driver had stomped on the accelerator, Kennedy would have survived. But he slowed down instead, waiting for instructions because that was the SS policy at the time.
I have to admit when I saw the number of female USSS agents in Trump's detail I thought he wasn't exactly assigned the A Team. That's not to take anything away from these agents, all of whom are brave and committed patriots I'm sure, but whether right or wrong it was my instinct. What percentage of USSS agents are female and how do they grade overall? I can't help but wonder.
Rich said...
How many liberals crowing that Trump's would-be assassin was a 2A-obsessed registered Republican even know what AR stands for?
A 20 year old who donated to democrats and this is likely his first election.
He registered Republican to vote for Nikki Haley in the primary.
I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of this soon.
Blue-Ribbon Vulpine Commission Declares Henhouse Massacre "A Mystery"
Wasn’t DNA collection a likely objective of that Covid vaccination program?
Wasn’t DNA collection a likely objective of that Covid vaccination program?
mindnumbrobot said...
I have to admit when I saw the number of female USSS agents in Trump's detail I thought he wasn't exactly assigned the A Team. That's not to take anything away from these agents, all of whom are brave and committed patriots I'm sure, but whether right or wrong it was my instinct. What percentage of USSS agents are female and how do they grade overall? I can't help but wonder.
Trump is a big boy. But.
Watching that team try to carry him out was embarrassing and pathetic. 2 of those men should have been easily been able to do it. That woman should have been pushed out of the way.
The who thing is absurd. The SS needs to be purged for a wide variety of reasons after this. It is not a functioning organization.
Just an old country lawyer said...
What was the distance from the shooter to Trump?
What type and calibre was the rifle?
Was it scoped?
I am hearing 150m 223 off the shelf AR.
At that range Iron sites would be more than sufficient. I haven't heard anything about his competency or how long he had the rifle.
If he was untrained I would be curious to know ho zeroed the rifle for him.
As to motive, maybe Crooks was upset because Trump associated his last name with Hillary and Biden?
"The shooter's motive can never be known. They promised."
You just wait, 'suicide by cop'. just like with Rand Paul and Steve Scalise.
Fandor said...
The sniper’s gun....serial number...identified owner...firearms registry reveal owner...that may have been the lead to find the rest of his info and then DNA for positive ID.
7/14/24, 8:17 AM
Pennsylvania prohibits registration of guns.
https://x.com/chadwick_moore/status/1812352853736047050?s=46
130 yards they are now saying.. any deer hunter can make that shot. But this punk forgot the wind... 10 mph wind (and the flags on the stage show there was a good wind) would make a 5.56mm round move 3 or so inches... yes a miss right there if he aimed right for the forehead.
But I suspect he was not a good shot to begin with... just a punk with a gun that the Secret Service let in cause THEY DID NOT PUT SOMEONE ON EACH OF THE ROOFS!!!!
But they did make sure he could tell no tales...
Achilles said...
"Just an old country lawyer said...
What was the distance from the shooter to Trump?
What type and calibre was the rifle?
Was it scoped?
I am hearing 150m 223 off the shelf AR.
At that range Iron sites would be more than sufficient. I haven't heard anything about his competency or how long he had the rifle.
If he was untrained I would be curious to know ho zeroed the rifle for him."
Normally you sight in a AR-15 at 50/200 yards. Slightly high at 130. Easy shot even with an off the rack AR-15.
BUT, I suspect he just shot the gun at a range and was no deer hunter or sharp shooter or anything. Punk with a gun. And since he knew that building was unoccupied.. I bet he sighted it in at 130/150 yards (if he knew what he was doing.)
It's been reported that the shooter was about 150 yards away from Trump. That's not a long shot for a rifle. Looking at the Google Earth photos, the roof of that building is an obvious weak point. If they didn't have enough Secret Service agents, a couple of cops could have been up there.
"it seems like there was some kind of failure somewhere, that the shooter got onto a roof within range and was able to wound the President and kill and wound others. It's actually kind of unbelievable really. "
That's with being told about the guy allegedly twice.
I did hear a report that there were multiple potential threat potentials coming in at that moment.
Quoted from @CynicalPublius on X:
1. Democrat fascistic rhetoric inspired this and is its root cause.
2. Biden deliberately denied Trump adequate security.
These are facts. Don't let conjecture obscure them.
Yup. Pretty much that simple.
"It's been reported that the shooter was about 150 yards away from Trump. That's not a long shot for a rifle."
I grew up in rural PA, and deer rifles capable of making that shot were pretty common, and shooting woodchucks from a sporting distance was a popular pastime there too. Nobody would give a second look at somebody buying such a rifle there.
Many comments question why the secret service had not secured that particular building. Add to that - it would seem the shooter knew it was not secured.
Day of the Jackal assassination scene
Eerie. Though Trump really didn't move his head at the last second.
Ambrose said...
Many comments question why the secret service had not secured that particular building. Add to that - it would seem the shooter knew it was not secured.
Remember, the Secret Service has to be prepared every time but the shooter only had to get lucky once. I doubt the agents on the other roofs felt any need to conceal their presence which makes me think minimal observation by the shooter might have allowed him to to locate the unoccupied roof. The security team probably did the best they could with the manpower allotted, and planned that an overwatch would be sufficient.
They could have blocked the roof's line of sight with the bleachers. They probably will in the future.
Joe Biden gave a speech very, very close to a farm I own in McHenry County, Illinois. Police were all over my property and even blocked my access road, no one can get in or out. Not a big deal since the buildings consist of a 1950s style barn that is essentially useless, and a dairy shed my tenant uses for storage. But noone told me -- look, get your butt over there and secure the buildings.
Anyways, how the hell did the shooter know he would have access to the rooftop? Was the building unlocked? It doesn't look the building has a rooftop hatch, so did the shooter have a ladder or something? And how on earth does a ret*rded 20 year old with an automatic rifle and a scope he bought from Walmart or something hit his target within one inch. Over 400 feet away? And knowing a sniper would put a bullet in his head 2 seconds later. So odd.
I grew up in Bethel Park. I looked up the killer’s parent’s address and they live a few blocks from my parent’s former house. I used to have to drive past there on my way to the local mall. I don’t know why but it is a strange feeling and makes this event all the more real, as if I knew the would be assassin in some small way.
back in 1980's (WAY past the statue of limitations), i worked 2nd shift in Des Moines as a Computer Operator (IBM System370.. Back when computers were cool). I'd take a break every night before 18:30 (6:30pm), which is when nightly processing started. I'd OFTEN go a block away, to the top of a parking ramp (across the street from the Ruan Building); where i'd have a smoke (What would i smoke? I'm not sure we're THAT far past the statue of limitations)..
One evening i walk up the top of the parking ramp, and head over to the wall where i'd usually take my tokes.. As Soon as i got there (and BEFORE i'd taken out my smoking stuff); an OFFICIAL LOOKING plainclothesed MAN, in dark glasses confronted me; DEMANDING to know WHAT i thought i was doing..
Since what i'd planned on doing was not something i cared to mention; i told him "just wanted some fresh air"; and he told me: "GET IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.. IF YOU DON'T WANT TROUBLE!"
I thought that was WEIRD, but discretion is the better part of valor; so i left, and went back.
At work that evening, i was reading the Des Moines Register.. And saw that President HW Bush was giving a speach that night (at 8pm or so).. I put 2 and 2 together, added 12 and carried 5..
And realized that Offical Man MUST HAVE BEEN Secret Service. The Pres wasn't giving an outdoor speech.. He was JUST going to be driving by.. And they WEREN'T ALLOWING strangers to be on ANY ROOFS along the way.. I wasn't carrying ANYTHING (well, OKAY; i was carrying a pipe and a lighter, and something to smoke), but i had NOTHING that could have been big enough to be a gun, or a bomb, or EVEN a very good camera.. And they stopped me as soon as i got in the view of the street..
Serious Question:
Is the New Improved DEI SS so freaking incompetent that they didn't have someone on the roof 135 yards away from President Trump? Or did they intentionally NOT have someone on the roof?
Keep in mind, back in the '80's they wouldn't let dope smokers get high on rooftops THREE HOURS before the Pres would be driving by
Easier to get close to Trump if you are a registered Republican that if you are a registered Democrat. This means nothing.
Biden did speak a word about this pre assasination attempt
President Biden, July 8, 2024: "We’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye."
The obvious point is the limited SS detail. I have worried about this for months. The nasty rhetoric was increasing and the Biden handlers knew the risk level was increasing. I'm already seeing lefties say it was a "stunt" and "a MAGA script." I expect ease more denial from the left soon.
Rich writes, "A true liberal/leftist would advocate for the restriction of assault weapons."
No true Scotsman would deny the incisive wisdom of Rich's inane opinions.
Not ready to blame the Secret Service for any failures at this point.
The roof was wide open and obviously closely covered by snipers. The shooter was killed in few seconds. Determined assassin can jump out, gain a few seconds and fire a few shots before taken down under any circumstances.
Eyewitnesses claiming they saw the shooter setting up on the roof shouldn’t be taken at their words. A lot of strange things are being told right now. For example, somebody immediately claimed the shooter was a Chinaman.
stlcdr said...
…ah yes. confirmation. But still, how did they get to the point of identification prior to that? My guess is through a local gun store - he purchased the rifle recently and a quick canvas of the stores revealed identification (I do not know what PA specific laws there are).
Ever think that maybe he had a Pennsylvania driver's license in his wallet, that was in his back pocket? I know that doesn't jibe with the what Hollywood has trained some of you to think about people who are assassins, but stranger things have been known to happen.
Biometric confirmation could be as simple as a facial scan match against a picture in a drivers license database. Biometrics covers DNA, fingerprint, facial scan, and many other types of biological measurements as form of identification.
"At that range iron sites would be more than sufficient. I haven't heard anything about his competency or how long he had the rifle.
Very few "off-the-shelf" AR-style rifles have rear sights of any kind, though the combination of an integrated front sight/gas block paired with a Picatinny rail is a common configuration.
@ NorthOfTheOneOhOne
Right in the post it says,
"Federal investigators said the gunman was not carrying identification, so they analyzed his DNA to provide a biometric confirmation of his identity...."
Like every one I watched the video. I was struck that the woman agent was so short compared to Trump and her blocking was ineffective. I saw that 3 of the agents were woman and thought that they could not prevented a second head shot.
However I also saw that Trump was had his arm over her shoulder and was letting her help him down the stairs. He probably appreciated the effort.
Trump was angry and showed that. His instinct to show no weakness was on display. Raw courage. However this was a major shock to 78 year old man.
I have often wondered how easy it would be to kill Trump He is in crowds so much. He is just about impossible to protect.
The country just got a big problem. The SS survives on its rep. Let wackos or professionals think the SS is slipping and lots more folks think they can make history. I'd say the risk went up by a factor of 10
OT: Bet Melania is pissed at lots of people today
- SS
- Biden
- DNC
- MSM
- Donald
In most cases, SS blocking is supposed to involve pushing the protected person into a crouch, so it doesn't matter how tall the agents are. There's always going to be tension between the security needs and the protectee's public persona, and there's only so much they can do if the protectee insists on standing tall and being seen.
Tom,
In a job that involves being a literal shield for the President, what advantage does a woman hold?
If Biden doesn't fire the entire chain of command from the person who made the call not to have uniformed local Law Enforcement on that roof all the way up to Mayorkas, we are justified in concluding that he wanted something like this to happen.
Randomizer said...
It's been reported that the shooter was about 150 yards away from Trump. That's not a long shot for a rifle.
No. But it's a long shot for someone who doesn't practice a lot and it's a long shot for a 5.56. Shooting at paper targets is one thing. Shooting at a target that moves is something else entirely.
WSJ is reporting the rifle was bought by his father. So he didn't just buy it off the shelf for this. Will be interesting to hear what the father has to say. Did he give his son the weapon? Was it not secured and the son just took it? He's got some 'splainin' to do.
"Four counter-sniper teams"
If you look at the rally site on Google maps, there are 2 clusters of roof sites that are obvious close-in shooter sites. One was in back (southeast) of the stage, and that was fully occupied by the SS counter-snipers. The other was the AGR cluster of buildings, whose closest concealing ridgeline was about 370 north of the stage. Easy shot, good cover until the last moments, and that's where the deed was done.
With four counter-sniper teams available, how was that roof left open to the shooter? Just the presence of a uniformed officer on the roof would probably have been enough to deter a sniper from setting up, and they couldn't be bothered to make that happen?
It's almost as if they cared more about killing a potential sniper after he was done, than about preventing it from happening. Priorities.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170124201801/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2612814/
""As a public servant for nearly 23 years, I struggle not to violate the Hatch Act. So I keep quiet and skirt the median," she wrote. "To do otherwise can be a criminal offense for those in my position. Despite the fact that I am expected to take a bullet for both sides."But this world has changed and I have changed. And I would take jail time over a bullet or an endorsement for what I believe to be disaster to this country and the strong and amazing women and minorities who reside here. Hatch Act be damned. I am with Her.""
There is video that shows two SS agents fumbling with their guns, and sunglasses while Trump is placed in a vehicle. Not a good, professional, look.
That the secret service did not secure a rooftop roughly 100 yards from Trump's podium leads me to believe: that the ss leadership even at ground level are a bunch of idiots; that they're complicit in the attack ( really I think they are too incompetent to have identified the kid and cooperated with him); that like most of the bureaucrats in DC they are not capable of doing their assigned jobs. Incredibly poor tactics by the secret service - not securing the high ground -, but after seeing the total tactical disaster of the withdrawal from Afghanistan I am not the least bit surprised that the secret service is as poorly led and unqualified as the Defense Department.
@ Rusty The shooter was only a bit over 100m yards from the target. Would not take much practice to be accurate at 100 yards. Practically point blank for a rifle. Hell I can hit the bull at 100 yards with my 12 GA slug gun and fire maybe 5 rounds a year through it.
'Tom,
In a job that involves being a literal shield for the President, what advantage does a woman hold?'
None, unless they are great at driving or surveillance or shooting, etc.
The ones I saw were too small to tackle a 14yo boy if needed, and too short to shield a 6'3" man.
But they would be great to go undercover in the crowd.
In other words, put people in a position where they can excel...
Joe Bar said...
There is video that shows two SS agents..
--
Women, by the way.
Whole lotta panicked pony tail swishing.
Well, I was wrong. My guess was that a pencil-necked geek couldn't possibly have pulled this off and suspected a possible Jihadi avenging Soleimani because of the planning and foreknowledge required to get into position undetected and the suicidal commitment.
Is it possible the SS did not have a man on that building because they had good coverage of the roof of the building by the sniper team?
And if the sniper team had coverage and saw the gun how long did they have the shooter in their sights and how long did they wait for permission to fire if protocol required that permission?
Although I said that if whoever makes the decisions for Biden doesn't fire the whole chain of command up to Mayorkas, they are implying that they supported the assassination attempt, I don't actually expect there to be any accountability.
For that we can thank first Bill Clinton, but most of all that useless nepot, George Bush, who didn't fire a single person after the gigantic intelligence and federal law enforcement catastrophe that was 9/11.
Memo to Bush and all subsequent "leaders" who think that by not firing people you're ensuring that they'll work harder and do better "going forward": You are not Leto Atreides, and these are not heroic Fremen warriors. You are primarily a media creation and they are fundamentally bureaucrats (yes, even in the military chain of command). You don't inspire, and they don't do heroic things. You only get bureaucrats to do their jobs when they constantly fear for their precious careers, and to do that, you cashier people even when the primary fault is in their underlings because they hired, promoted, or insufficiently supervised those underlings.
You'll know if Trump is going to be effective in his second term by how many government employee careers he ruins. Fear is the ONLY thing that motivates bureaucrats.
I would suggest begging a bunch of retired Secret Service agents--particularly those who resigned in disgust--to come out of retirement and then firing everyone who was hired since 2008 and letting those old guys rebuild the agency from the ground up.
In a job that involves being a literal shield for the President, what advantage does a woman hold?
In other words, you can't identify any fault in what she did; you just don't like that she's a woman.
We all saw Trump moving around and creating daylight between himself and the male agents too. Every one of the male agents waited too to hustle Trump away. If the protectee won't cooperate, even the toughest of Internet tough guys won't be able to protect him perfectly. There was a huge security hole here, and I hope we find out all about how that happened, but meanwhile, I'm not going to crap on a woman who did her job.
Tom t.
I 'm saying she is inherently compromised for that position.
Cocksucker Biden saying there'e no place for political violence after spending three + years calling Trump Hitler and a threat to America.
Fuck off.
'In other words, you can't identify any fault in what she did; you just don't like that she's a woman.'
I don't like that she's a SHORT woman, and far too small to either shield a tall man or tackle a large attacker if needed.
I also have issues with the other agent near the limo who looks to be borderline obese.
I expect agents on the front line to look like motherfucking Navy Seals.
The Secret Service is a third rate federal law enforcement agency frens. The top tier guys go into the FBI and BATFE. Those two outfits do the critical tasks like arresting people outside of abortion clinics, storming the homes of the president's political opponents, or not talking to House committees. That kind of critical execution requires top-tier door-kickers. The SS and DHS are on a much lower tier in the fed LEO hierarchy, and are along with Ag Dept auditors and Postal Inspectors and such like barely in the game at all. However, shitty as they may be the SS should still be provided to Robert F Kennedy Jr and we all know why. (ie, Because something's better than nothing). Though in SS's case barely.
First rule of Secret Service training: Never, ever drop your sunglasses.
'First rule of Secret Service training: Never, ever drop your sunglasses.'
It might just be me, but I am tired of the tough-guy cool sunglasses look.
If you're looking into the sun they help.
But in 3 other directions, anything between your eye and reality is a hinderance. It makes vision worse.
Put your glasses on those strap things that skiers use to wear around their necks.
Then you can put them on and take them off as necessary without needing to hold them with a hand that might require holding a gun.
Not yet verified, but an SS sniper supposedly said he had the shooter in his sights for three minutes before Trump was hit and couldn't get permission to fire.
Hmmmm.
geometric logic of ears
Also report that a cop climbed to the shooter's roof but retreated off roof when shooter turned and pointed rifle at him.
One thing to say about denying RFK SS protection. SS seems understaffed as it is. Should have been more (and better) in PA yesterday.
'SS seems understaffed as it is. Should have been more (and better) in PA yesterday.'
Spending more would cut into the Ukraine money laundering operation...
I'd guess that the DNA match was to one of the commercial DNA sites like 23andMe or Ancestry.com. They may have hit his record directly or one of his close relatives.
Take a good look at the graphic layout showing the shooter's location in relation to the stage and SS sniper locations. You can NOT look at that graphic and not come to the conclusion that this was either a total security failure or a conspiracy to allow the assassination of President Trump.
The #1 security rule for open air venues is to control or at least constantly surveil the high ground. That shooter was in clear, exposed sight on top of high ground in easy shooting range of the stage.
People need to be fired and/or jailed. And Trump needs his own, serious security detail, preferably with former military. The SS can no longer be trusted to do the job.
James K said...
Day of the Jackal assassination scene
Eerie. Though Trump really didn't move his head at the last second.
I've watched teh video. Trump most certainly did turn his head ~1 second before the bullet arrived. It was a smooth turn, not a jerked one, so he wasn't doing it in reaction to the shot
Tom T. said...
In a job that involves being a literal shield for the President, what advantage does a woman hold?
In other words, you can't identify any fault in what she did; you just don't like that she's a woman.
She's too short to do the job.
The other women looked like incompetents / cowards, she didn't. She was doing the job to the best of her ability.
But, since she's a foot shorter than the person she's supposed to guard, "the best of her ability" isn't good enough
For that we can thank first Bill Clinton, but most of all that useless nepot, George Bush
Reagan wouldn't let heads roll over the '83 Beirut bombing. The USMC did have a catharsis, but who put them in a vulnerable building and ordered that sentries have unloaded weapons? Bud McFarlane, a former artillery officer, was part of putting them at the low-lying airport, and he got a promotion to NSA.
Reports are the shooter's parents are two mental health professionals. And no one has asked- "With two mental health professionals as parents how did he end up shooting at a president?" Why? I think that everyone assumes that with two mental health professionals as parents, of course their kids are going to be screwed up. It's a movie trope. The comedy What About Bob? is the first that comes to mind. And, no talk from anyone about his siblings. So presumptively he has none- an only child.
As more comes out we're likely to find out he was on no team sports. Not a member of any youth group outside school. And very possibly not a member of any organized team or group inside of school. Never truly socialized.
Children, especially today, need to be made part of some social group or team. My 4 boys were all Scouts from when they were old enough to age 18. All were on track by our encouragement. Everyone on a track team gets to participate even if they aren't the stars. My wife saw to it they were all altar servers. And 3 of 4 received recognition for it. I've heard many a parent of a loser say "He wasn't interested in any of those things." Uh- doesn't matter. You're the parent. Make them participate in group activities with others. My one girl was involved in many in school activities. After a few Girl Scout meeting, looking at their literature and whatnot, they became a big "No!" for proper raising of a daughter. BSA was yet Scouts USA, and American Heritage Girls wasn't yet around. My granddaughters are in AHG troops.
No guarantee of success. But as a parent you owe it to your children to stack the odds in favor of their future success as well as you can. And you don't have to be a helicopter parent to do it.
"According to sources, a police officer backed away when the would-be assassin pointed a rifle at him, just moments before he then fired in Trump's direction, clipping his ear."
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13632985/Donald-Trump-shot-rally-assassinate-gunman-crooks-biden.html
News reports have been kind of confusing about the range -- 100 yards -- 100 feet- -- 100 meters. Understandable in an era in which "regular" people don't go into the military (and anyway we Americans don't embrace "metric" measurements). When I was in Army Basic (1969), we shot targets at 300 m (which is close enough for Government work to 300 yards), and I mostly hit them. It isn't that hard if you practice. THERE IS NO EXCUSE, SO FAR AS I KNOW, why the would-be murderer's perch was left unprotected.
Is there an excuse I've missed?
Oh yes. Jonathan Willis, the Secret Service sniper who took out the shooter has publicly confirmed that he had the shooter in his sights for three minutes before the shooter shot Trump and the spectators. Secret Service brass would not give him permission to shoot.
Any questions?
"But, since she's a foot shorter than the person she's supposed to guard, "the best of her ability" isn't good enough"
Hard to argue with that. If one of your responsibilities is to protect someone by being able to put yourself in the line of fire (is that actually a responsibility? I don't know, but will go with that for the sake of this argument), then bigger is better. Right? After all, how many 5'-4"/135 lb. linemen are there in the NFL, anyway?
Finding out after the person you were trying to protect was shot that you would have stopped the bullet if you weren't so short but you really tried isn't a consolation prize, is it?
hombre said...
Oh yes. Jonathan Willis, the Secret Service sniper who took out the shooter has publicly confirmed that he had the shooter in his sights for three minutes before the shooter shot Trump and the spectators. Secret Service brass would not give him permission to shoot.
Any questions?
Yes. Do you have a URL for that?
Seen on Twitter:
You shoot into a crowd of Trump supporters, like in Butler, you hit hardworking men adored by their families.
You shoot into a crowd of leftists, like in Kenosha, you hit convicted sex offenders and pedophiles.
Huh. What are the odds?
Joe Bar said..."There is video that shows two SS agents fumbling with their guns, and sunglasses while Trump is placed in a vehicle. Not a good, professional, look."
Agreed. I've become very cynical in recent years, but even I was surprised by that video. Something has gone very wrong with either training, recruitment, or as I suspect, both.
'But, since she's a foot shorter than the person she's supposed to guard, "the best of her ability" isn't good enough'
The woman who grabbed Trump and was in front is a keeper.
I want her on my side in a bar fight.
But she's too tiny for the assigned role.
Joe Smith said...
'But, since she's a foot shorter than the person she's supposed to guard, "the best of her ability" isn't good enough'
The woman who grabbed Trump and was in front is a keeper.
I want her on my side in a bar fight.
I doubt she can do much there, either
But she's too tiny for the assigned role.
She could protect kids. Or a short wife.
But she's too damn short to be protecting the President
Maybe she can drive?
Hombre, regarding the statement by the SS sniper that he had the shooter in sight for minutes but was not given the Go to take him out by SS brass, if accurate, that's likely why they haven't yet made any kind of statement so far. They're scrambling to come up with some kind of plausible cover statement. It's also consistent with my earlier observation that they had to have already had him in their sights in order to have such accuracy with a head shot immediately after the shooting began. He also likely disobeyed orders on his own once he heard the shots.
I fully expect that to be confirmed once the communication records are revealed.
random SS thoughts:
1. there are some useful roles for female SS agents. - protection of female principals. - undercover work on the crowd side of a rope line.
2. however, there is a reason every male on an NFL O line is at least 6.3 and 250.
3. We need to know the commo nets. could the local LEOs cue the sniper teams?
4. on the countersniper Rules of engagement, if they had eyes on the shooter for 3 min,
a. who did they think was a guy in civilian clothes pointing a rifle at the stands?
b. they should have seen the uniformed cop on the ladder?
c. why didn't they announce GUN and trigger protection mode by the SS on Trump?
Paul said...
Normally you sight in a AR-15 at 50/200 yards. Slightly high at 130. Easy shot even with an off the rack AR-15.
BUT, I suspect he just shot the gun at a range and was no deer hunter or sharp shooter or anything. Punk with a gun. And since he knew that building was unoccupied.. I bet he sighted it in at 130/150 yards (if he knew what he was doing.)
Army standard is 25/300. I decided to go 50/200 when using a reflex optic but if I had magnification I went 25/300. Tbh anything under 100 meters using sites was pretty much unnecessary.
Most people I know who seriously shoot range zero at 100 and use their tics or do the math.
The FBI is in charge. We are never going to get any real answers about who was with him and who helped him out.
The Drill SGT said...
random SS thoughts:
1. there are some useful roles for female SS agents. - protection of female principals. - undercover work on the crowd side of a rope line.
2. however, there is a reason every male on an NFL O line is at least 6.3 and 250.
3. We need to know the commo nets. could the local LEOs cue the sniper teams?
4. on the countersniper Rules of engagement, if they had eyes on the shooter for 3 min,
a. who did they think was a guy in civilian clothes pointing a rifle at the stands?
b. they should have seen the uniformed cop on the ladder?
c. why didn't they announce GUN and trigger protection mode by the SS on Trump?
All of this.
Are we supposed to believe there were no radios for this detail? I saw people who were obviously on different teams with different kit sets but they all had to have radios. If they did not sync at least one full group channel...
If they see a guy with a gun approaching the asset and they have eyes on there is no way they just let Trump stand there and talk. Even if they can't engage preemptively due to some ROE they pull Trump to the side and clear the threat.
There is no way this was a legitimate operation.
The SS leadership needs to commit ritual seppuku.
The democrat catspaw was clearly not an elite athlete or trained assassin ninja. This video is unreal.
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