Just One Thing: A few summarized thoughts (with more detail to come) about Saturday
A few points about the miraculously unsuccessful attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday. First, my thoughts are with the family of Corey Comperatore, the dad and former fire chief who was killed after being struck in the head by a bullet as he rushed to cover his family members with his body. Second, this is a security failure of massive proportions, almost incomprehensibly incompetent to leave a roof just 150 yards from the president available for anybody to access. Third, a week ago, Joe Biden told donors that it’s time to “put Trump in a bullseye”. That follows a left-wing magazine putting a Hitlerized picture of Trump on the cover and Democrats everywhere calling Trump a fascist and threat to democracy. Fourth, Donald Trump is now even more likely to win the election.
See the video at the end of the blog for the key 2 minutes.
I have no idea whether the shooter actually had a political motivation versus being a loner-loser who wanted to make himself famous, even if also dead, but in any case the left is truly encouraging violence by things like this:
This is the most important thing, though:
BREAKING: JUDGE DISMISSES CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AGAINST TRUMP
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the one case where I thought Trump was clearly guilty of a crime. The ruling is based on an interesting argument -- that I suspect is correct, but that doesn't mean it will be upheld by an appeals court -- that the appointment of Jack Smith as Special Counsel was illegal.
Her ruling: gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.672.0_2.pdf (courtlistener.com)
From the ruling: "In the end, it seems the Executive’s growing comfort in appointing ‘regulatory’ special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny."
In his concurrence in the Trump immunity case, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggested this path for Cannon. See the 52nd page of the PDF: 23-939 Trump v. United States (07/01/2024) (supremecourt.gov)
Turning Down the Temperature
Joe Biden called for unity on Sunday, just as he did in his inaugural speech. Unfortunately, every day between his first day as president and yesterday, he's done everything he can to divide this nation. (See stuff just below.)
My take: The temperature needs to come down from high broil, but that doesn't mean we can or should take our political conversation out of the oven. American has always had robust, vibrant, even quarrelsome politics. (Learn a little about the presidential election of 1800!) It's not going to change and it need not change. After all, we have a wide range of views on policy and many people honestly believe that policies of "the other side" are harmful. We just can't cross certain lines, like calling candidates "literally Hitler" and other things that are reasonably understood to significantly increase the chances of causing violence.
First, a tweet from loudmouth leftist jackass Stephen Woodrow, a Democratic state representative from south Denver, who has since deleted his account. Next he needs to delete himself from elected office.
A story about liberal mega-donor, LinkedIn billionaire Reid Hoffman:
Now the Biden stuff. First, his inauguration. Second, what he said Saturday. Then two example of basically every day in between.
Some actual unity, from Nikki Haley: Nikki Haley, Trump's former primary rival, will now speak Tuesday at the Republican convention | AP News
Today's Guests
So, guests today are a rather fluid situation. I will update this as I can based on who is available and when, but might not know until literally minutes before they're on the show.
Other Stuff
A few non-assassination and non-US-politics stories:
Still waiting to see if Deif is dead: IDF waited weeks to strike Salameh's compound in hope Deif would visit -- report | The Times of Israel
Richard Simmons, RIP...he was a little odd but entertaining in his own way: Fitness guru Richard Simmons dead at 76 - ABC News (go.com)
Dr Ruth Westheimer, one of the first and most famous "sex therapists" passed away on Friday: Dr. Ruth Westheimer, sex therapist and talk show host, dies at 96 - ABC News (go.com)
Postage stamps cost more now. First Class letter now 73 cents...5th increase in two years: Postage stamp cost 2024: USPS rates, Forever stamps price go up July 14 (axios.com)
The Republican National Convention starts today. Trump rewrites Republican convention speech to focus on unity not Biden - Washington Examiner
Most of today's other stuff is, obviously, about what happened in Butler, PA, on Saturday when a would-be assassin came within maybe half an inch of killing former President Donald Trump.
I'm probably going to keep this blog fairly short so I can spend more time thinking and preparing than typing.
It's being reported that the building the shooter got on top of to shoot at Trump was under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement: Secret Service identified rooftop security risk before Trump rally shooting (nbcnews.com)
This video shows the layout of the area and how ridiculous it is that the roof where the shooter set up was not already manned by the police or Secret Service.
An officer with a lot of explaining to do, though I do understand backing down when someone points a rifle at you: Local officers encountered gunman just before shooting at Trump rally | AP News
Political implications: Trump Shooting Spurs GOP Unity, Scrambles Biden Campaign Strategy - WSJ
Wonder what evil he had planned with these: Explosive devices found in Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks' car after failed assassination attempt at rally: report (nypost.com)
He knew it was history:
This will clearly be part of any investigation into how the shooter was able to get in position and take multiple shots at Donald Trump:
PA Governor Josh Shapiro (D) did a commendable job with his remarks on Sunday
Salena Zito was there: ‘I Was Four Feet Away When I Heard the Bullets’ | The Free Press (thefp.com)
I think this is right: What Doesn’t Kill Presidents, Strengthens | RealClearPolitics
Offered without comment:
Former President Trump's first statement after the shooting:
There was a fair bit of this left-wing media nonsense, this from CNN's Jamie Gangel:
Rep Bennie Thompson is the ranking member (senior member of the minority party) of the House Homeland Security Committee. Seems to spread a lot of poison:
Trump Secret Service protection could be removed under Bennie Thompson bill (clarionledger.com)
Oh, ya think? Secret Service director: Current polarization 'plays into' threat environment - ABC News (go.com)
I do wonder whether she keeps her job when this is done. I think if she makes it 2 weeks then she probably makes it for the rest of the Biden presidency. But this is such a massive failure that in almost any non-governmental situation, the person at the top would apologize and resign.
The Biden team is pausing campaign ads and taking anti-Trump attack ad "wraps" off of Milwaukee buses:
Bus Ads Will Blast Trump, Promote Biden During Republican Convention » Urban Milwaukee
Democrats Halt Campaign Attacks, Express Sympathy After Trump Shooting (thedailybeast.com)
This didn't age well...I mean it was bad the moment he said it but much worse now:
Finally: Many folks are talking about Saturday's near-disaster as the beginning of a cycle of doom for the nation. I disagree. That said, I don't think things will get much better either unless Trump changes his style and personality quite a bit. I realize that seems close to impossible but I also notice that since the debate, and even during the debate, he seems to be somewhat corralled by adult supervision around him. The reason I'm not saying it matters if Biden changes is style is that I think Trump will win the election.
Today's Videos
This, in future hindsight, may well have sealed the presidential election for Donald Trump
Doctor tried to save Mr. Comperatore
Doesn't matter whether you love or hate Donald Trump, this is instantly iconic (even more as a still picture than as a video) and Trump is already using it.