Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 12
Explain to me how this isn't mentally unbalanced religious fanaticism.
HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: "God miraculously saved the president's life -- I think it's undeniable -- and he did it for an obvious purpose. His presidency and his life are the fruits of divine providence. He points that out all the time and he's right to do so."
No. of Recommendations: 1
Incredibly stupid magical thinking. Par for the GOP course.
No. of Recommendations: 5
Perhaps someone should point out to Micro Mike that God created Lucifer, too.
God moves in strange and mysterious ways.
No. of Recommendations: 1
He spells Satan as his god--as usual.
No. of Recommendations: 1
I get people are religious (even though I don't get why anymore, since all the evidence is against it). But talk like this should disqualify someone from holding a public office. I know it doesn't, and likely would be unconstitutional to impose such a requirement. But it's a little scary to have someone in power speaking such utter nonsense.
And, yes, I would say the same of someone who talked about Biden, or Sanders, or Harris in that same way. Those folks who make such claims are -I'm sorry- literally crazy.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Explain to me how this isn't mentally unbalanced religious fanaticism.
Thomas Matthew Crooks assassination attempt on the life of President Trump was an accurate,
right on target shot that should have entered President Trump’s head.
But, in that same millisecond President Trump slightly turned his head with the bullet only
grazing his ear.
"God miraculously saved the president's life“
Was it Divine Providence?
It’s not an issue to argue with heathens, they would not understand.
No. of Recommendations: 3
"God miraculously saved the president's life“
Was it Divine Providence?
It’s not an issue to argue with heathens, they would not understand.
******
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have received a death blow, but its fatal wound[a] had been healed. In amazement the whole earth followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
Rev. 13:1-4
No. of Recommendations: 2
Talk about crazy...
Trump had trouble with his connection to 'faith leaders' via an AT&T conference call.
Trump's press secretary, the glib and not too bright Karoline Leavitt had this response to that technical glitch:
“There is spiritual warfare as we all know. It tried to break up our call today, as the president even alluded to.”
"...as we all know..."
Goodbye Enlightenment, hello christo-fascism.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Explain to me how this isn't mentally unbalanced religious fanaticism.
It could simply sucking up to the boss - telling him what he wants to hear.
I’m not convinced Johnson is sincere in these kind of statements. They could be simple lies meant to appease either Trump or the MAGA masses.
However, if they are sincere, then I agree with you.
—Peter
No. of Recommendations: 2
Thomas Matthew Crooks assassination attempt on the life of President Trump was an accurate,
right on target shot that should have entered President Trump’s head.
But, in that same millisecond President Trump slightly turned his head with the bullet only
grazing his ear.
Nein.
An unskilled sniper head shot under pressure - he was lucky to get one that nicked him. Odds are that the podium was in the way so a center mass shot wasn't possible. he wasn't a good shot according to the people who fired with him, and a head shot from a distance is hard. He was lucky he nicked Trump, but Trump not getting shot wasn't a miracle.
No. of Recommendations: 3
An unskilled sniper head shot under pressure - he was lucky to get one that nicked him
Baloney
Crooks was a skilled marksmen..He knew exactly what he was doing.
“AI Overview
Yes, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected gunman in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen's Club and visited the gun range there frequently. Records show he visited the range 43 times since becoming a member on August 10, 2023, including 20 times in his first four months. He also went to the range on several holidays, including Christmas Day, Valentine's Day, and Halloween. On the day of the shooting, he told his father he was going to the gun range, and his father allowed him to use his AR-15-style rifle. Crooks also purchased additional ammunition the same day.
Furthermore, a law enforcement official confirmed that Crooks visited the shooting range on Friday, the day before the shooting, where he practiced firing. He also visited a gun store to purchase more ammunition.”
Crooks was not under pressure. He roamed at will around the rally grounds and had already carefully selected the best place to get off a clean shot.
Fumbling try minimizing the situation.
No. of Recommendations: 3
100-ish yards from a prone position with iron sights isn’t a tough shot with a good AR.
Crooks had a scope, which makes it an easy shot.
Whatever you want to call it - luck, Providence, whatever - by the grace of something Trump still has an intact skull.
Much to the chagrin of several here. Oh, well! Victory (and in this case, survival) are the best revenge.
No. of Recommendations: 4
100-ish yards from a prone position with iron sights isn’t a tough shot with a good AR.
With a good Ar- now that’s the rub.
Plus the pressure of actually shooting at the president of the United States, knowing that police sharpshooters will probably blow you away.
That’s not something they can teach over a bench rest at a gun range.
And then there’s the matter of his friends saying he wasn’t an excellent shooter.
All these folks approaching the issue as if it was just another day at the gun range with an AR, and an easy shot.
It wasn’t.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Plus the pressure of actually shooting at the president of the United States, knowing that police sharpshooters will probably blow you away.
Shooting at a Presidential candidate isn’t a rational act and carries the assumption that it’s a one-way trip. Unless the candidate’s name is “Trump” in which case certain briefings aren’t passed on…
And then there’s the matter of his friends saying he wasn’t an excellent shooter.
That’s the point. You don’t need to be. If I can hit targets at 80 yards while standing and using my red dot then pretty much anybody lying down with a scope can make that shot.
All these folks approaching the issue as if it was just another day at the gun range with an AR, and an easy shot.
And all this avoids the elephant in the room: that such an obvious line of site to Trump should have had a dude on it and the attempt never should have taken place.
No. of Recommendations: 3
Trump should have had a dude on it and the attempt never should have taken place
Finally, something we agree on.
No. of Recommendations: 5
One more thing- the guy fired eight shots. This wasn’t a disciplined shooter.
More like pray and spray.
No. of Recommendations: 5
100-ish yards from a prone position with iron sights isn’t a tough shot with a good AR.
Crooks had a scope, which makes it an easy shot.
164 yards. An AR is not a sniper rifle. As much as I like the M16, and fired marksman, there's lots of weapons that are much better for long shots. This fellow wasn't a good shot - people who fired with him said so. So this not a good shot guy puts a scope on it, thinks that fixed his problem - it didn't, but he got lucky.
No. of Recommendations: 4
An AR is not a sniper rifle.
You’re being kind. The AR was designed for one purpose- to put a lot of lead in the air and to keep firing when other guns jammed or were rendered useless by the mud and dust of the battlefield. It was never any sort of precision instrument. Its receiver was/is stamped metal- which makes for being able to produce huge numbers of weapons cheaply. It was a reliable weapon, but not all that capable when it came to aimed, single shot fire.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Oops. I just made a huge huge mistake. I wrote “AR” but was thinking “Ak”. My (big) bad.
Disregard my last post.
No. of Recommendations: 3
That’s the point. You don’t need to be. If I can hit targets at 80 yards while standing and using my red dot then pretty much anybody lying down with a scope can make that shot.
Which makes the point Crooks had aimed for President Trump’s head and at that same second Trump
turned and the bullet grazed Trump’s ear instead.
No. of Recommendations: 1
164 yards. An AR is not a sniper rifle. As much as I like the M16, and fired marksman, there's lots of weapons that are much better for long shots. This fellow wasn't a good shot - people who fired with him said so. So this not a good shot guy puts a scope on it, thinks that fixed his problem - it didn't, but he got lucky.
An AR offers someone in the prone position very little recoil and with a scope you can stay on target.
Note that nobody reacted IIRC to the first bullet. The second bullet was the one that hit Trump, and after that his detail dragged him off the stage.
So at that point it became Try To Hit A Moving Target through a magnified scope, which is a different (and more difficult) shot.
No. of Recommendations: 2
It was a reliable weapon, but not all that capable when it came to aimed, single shot fire.
lol. Your description fits the AK, not the AR platform.
Marines, by the way, can hit with accuracy with an AR…
…out to 500 yards.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Oops. I just made a huge huge mistake. I wrote “AR” but was thinking “Ak”. My (big) bad.
That makes more sense :)
No. of Recommendations: 3
Finally got to fire an AK in Vegas this year. Didn’t like it at all - as a left handed shooter I got hot powder in the face, the thing jerks you offline and the barrel gets stupid hot after only a few rounds.
Mad props to the Warsaw Pact people who no doubt burned all the nerves out of their hands when training with the things.
No. of Recommendations: 4
You don’t need to be. If I can hit target
Yes, you need to be with the weapon he chose. Your insistence doesn't make it otherwise. Shooting is a perishable skill.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Yes, you need to be with the weapon he chose. Your insistence doesn't make it otherwise. Shooting is a perishable skill.
And yet, despite being an awful shooter with the wrong weapon (both according to you) he managed to shoot part of Trump's ear off.
No. of Recommendations: 3
And yet, despite being an awful shooter with the wrong weapon (both according to you) he managed to shoot part of Trump's ear off.
Which miraculously healed within 10 days.
No. of Recommendations: 6
wzambon: Which miraculously healed within 10 days.
“Siri - Does ear cartilage regrow?”
“No, ear cartilage generally does not regrow. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that lacks blood vessels and nerves. This makes it impossible for cartilage to repair itself or regenerate new tissue.”
It's a MIRACLE! God healed our Mad King Donald!!
No. of Recommendations: 1
Which miraculously healed within 10 days.
?
No. of Recommendations: 10
?
Close ups of that ear with a piece missing are available.
Except- ten days after the shooting, withe the bandage finally removed, there is no piece missing. Not even a scab.
And no real medical records about the injury have been released.
A miracle, I tell ya!
No. of Recommendations: 4
Close ups of that ear with a piece missing are available.
Okay.
Except- ten days after the shooting, withe the bandage finally removed, there is no piece missing. Not even a scab.
You know that a vain guy like Trump - whose nickname is literally the Orange Man - has scads of makeup artists to call on, right?
No. of Recommendations: 4
And yet, despite being an awful shooter with the wrong weapon (both according to you) he managed to shoot part of Trump's ear off.
He got lucky, as I said before. He fired 8 shots and one grazed Trump's ear. According to your analysis of how easy those shots were, he should've hit Trump 7 times and only missed once. Why the scope! Easy peasy for even a bad shooter.
No. of Recommendations: 3
According to your analysis of how easy those shots were, he should've hit Trump 7 times and only missed once. Why the scope! Easy peasy for even a bad shooter.
I think the macro point is being lost in the back and forth: the roof never should have been available to him in the first place.
No. of Recommendations: 13
I think the macro point is being lost in the back and forth: the roof never should have been available to him in the first place.
Sorry, non sequitor, the original discussion was whether God intervened and interfered with the bullet headed toward Trump - a miracle and divine intervention. I agree that God didn't intervene when he let the shooter get onto the roof, but that was not any macro point - you've just lost the plot.
No. of Recommendations: 4
Sorry, non sequitor
lol.
the original discussion was whether God intervened and interfered with the bullet headed toward Trump - a miracle and divine inter
You’ve expended a mighty amount of energy just saying what amounts to “nuh uh” on an essentially unprovable topic. You do you.
