Assassination Attempt Aftermath

We've now hit the "government investigation" stage of the story

It’s been just over 24 hours since the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, and today feels almost surreal. After the adrenaline-packed evening yesterday with new tidbits about the shooting constantly flowing in, the story has hit a lull only that could only be known as an “Official FBI investigation.”

You’ll pardon me if I’m more than a little skeptical the FBI will play this one straight after engaging in the original plot to (politically) assassinate Trump — Russiagate. (And — IMO — the subsequent political assassination attempt that was the ‘insurrection’ of January 6th.)

So while we are getting little bits of information — like the fact that Crooks tried out for his high school’s rifle team and failed to make the cut — answers to the most pressing questions remain out of our reach:

WHY WAS THERE NO OFFICIAL COVERAGE OF THAT ROOFTOP?

How did Crooks seem to know there would be no official coverage of that rooftop?

Assuming this AP story is true:

Why was Trump still speaking on stage? (Especially if civilians were also pointing at the shooter?)

In face of overwhelmingly tough questions, today’s Secret Service press conference held no answers: (Starts at 10:02)

So with the officials stonewalling, I’m replaying yesterday over and over in my head — and it seems clear to me that Trump was saved when he — for whatever reason — turned his head just a little.

Try this exercise:

1. Turn your head to the right.

2. With your finger, trace the path of the bullet through Trump’s ear and ‘hold’ it there.

3. Turn your head back to the front.

Yeah — that’s how close it was.

If you’re a visual learner, this may help you envision it better:

I am not one to believe in Divine Intervention, but………

And of course, this line of thinking sets my brain ablaze. Those of you who have listened to the audio podcast I did with Brian Herr may recall the fundamental idea of “Simulation Theory” is that all possible outcomes of an event actually occur via ever-branching near-infinite realities. So today I’m obviously thinking about that “Trump Dies” reality. What does it look like? Who gets the nomination? (Please not Nikki Haley.) Is there even an RNC convention next week? Is there even an ELECTION in 2024?

I have to snap myself out of this thinking, because this shooting provides plenty of additional questions for OUR political reality: Who’s going to want to “tag in” for Biden at this point — facing an almost-unstoppable Trump? (My guess: Nobody. IMO Biden is almost assuredly the nominee now, barring another debate-like collapse.) Does this change Trump’s VP pick? (More than ever, his VP should be assassination insurance like Kamala was 25th Amendment insurance.) How does this alter the RNC coming up this week? (If you’re the Secret Service, the answer evidentially is “It doesn’t.”)

And amidst the horror and tragedy seemingly everywhere around us, we must remember the real victims of this assassination attempt. I’m speaking — OF COURSE — about the media:

But why would anybody get mad at the media? Aren’t they the clear-eyed reporters of the truth, the ones who hold powerful people accountable for their actions? It’s not like THE MEDIA has fomented this political environment of attacking the other party!

Hold on, I’m getting word now……

“Trump and his supporters envision a new place for violence as their defining political message”? What the actual fuck is going on? Did I awake in some horrific, hyper-retarded mirror simulation? No? This is just our actual news media? Cool, cool.

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Before I send this out, I want to take a few minutes to commemorate the actual victims of this tragedy — including the innocent rallygoer who was killed. His name was Corey Comperatore, and he had just turned 50 years old:

Comperatore was active in ‘the usual’ Trump circles on Twitter — his final post was an excited reply to Catturd about attending the rally. A former fire chief for Buffalo Township, PA, Comperatore was used to protecting others from danger — and he was ultimately killed while heroically shielding his family from the gunfire. His daughter posted the following on Facebook:

So before the answers to the big questions start rolling in and the story moves on, I’d like to take a moment to honor this amazing father, and to offer support to his family — and the other families affected by the senseless tragedy yesterday in Pennsylvania. Their lives have been altered by the actions of a madman, and although those lives will never be the same, perhaps a newfound sense of community will blunt the pain just a little.

Afraid of commitment? Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi — no subscription required!

A couple of GoFundMe links, if you’re so inclined:

For the Comperatore family and Allyson specifically

For all supporters and families affected by yesterday’s shooting

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Biden just made some remarks from the Oval Office, might as well include them: (Starts at 5:30)

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Edit: I didn’t plan it that way, but that picture of the empty podium at the Secret Service briefing is perhaps the perfect embodiment of the story so far.

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New-to-me footage posted by DC_Draino of rallygoers noticing the shooter on roof:

OK - this new footage piqued my interest, so I went back and synced up the audio of Trump’s speech on this video here and on the livestream.

The first line you can hear on the new clip is “If were doing the job, I wouldn’t even be doing this….I’d be at some beautiful…..”

That translates to 6:37 on the livestream — the shooter has already been spotted and is being pointed at by people on the ground. 40 seconds later, you hear a woman calling out loudly (presumably to the police) “HE’S ON THE ROOF”. That happens at what would be 7:17 of the livestream.

The first shots ring out at 8:36 — a full 80 seconds after the woman starts yelling about the guy on the roof. And in the clip, you can see police patrolling near the building. This is COMPLETELY unacceptable.

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Last edit: Video editor extraordinaire MilkBarTV just posted this incredible sync-up of the ‘best’ videos of the event, providing the most comprehensive look at the shooting: