W.J. Astore
An Update
Last night, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed. He was apparently a registered Republican. He was armed with an AR-15 and fired eight times. He was 20 years old.
It’s unclear whether Trump’s ear was bloodied by a bullet or from shrapnel.
The shooting produced an indelible image of Trump bloodied yet standing defiant with his fist raised.
Reactions reflect the polarization of our times. With no evidence, people suggested the event was staged, basically a photo op for Trump. Tell that to the one bystander who was killed and another two who were critically wounded.
The usual cry of “violence has no place in America” was nonsensical, given America’s violent history and its ongoing facilitation of violence across the globe.
Some commentators have opined that Trump, in his defiant stance, won the 2024 election last night. Though I wouldn’t go that far, Trump’s supporters will certainly be even more highly motivated to vote for him in November, whereas motivation within the Democratic Party is on the wane.
“We’re off our rockers,” my wife said this morning, and as usual she’s right.
Here’s hoping that this will be the last violent event of this highly polarized election season.
Bracing Views 
“The usual cry of ‘violence has no place in America’ was nonsensical, given America’s violent history and its ongoing facilitation of violence across the globe.”
Thank you! I’m glad that you said that out loud.
All the best,
Mikjall
LikeLike
I happen to agree with your wife — we are off our rockers.
My wife’s reaction was to wonder if a manifesto will be found and would we, the public, be allowed to see it. I could be wrong but I think we’re still waiting to see the unaltered manifesto of that transgender girl who shot up a Christian school she used to attend.
LikeLike
For anyone to suggest that this was basically a photo op for Trump only goes to show the utter moral and intellectual decline of the country thanks to ugly partisanship. Culture of violence to settle differences domestically and otherwise ( sometimes promoted by msmedia, politicians, social media ) is destroying the country….this is a CRISIS. Hope everyone recognises it.
LikeLike
“Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed. He was apparently a registered Republican.”
Why was it immediately reported as relevant information that Crooks was “apparently a registered Republican” when almost nothing else had as yet been reported? Who is covering whose ass? Virtually NOTHING is known about Crooks, or, if it is, it hasn’t been made public. Was his dead body found wearing a placard reading “registered Republican”? How was this found out—if it was—within minutes of the shooting? What is the source of this supposed information? Crooks was a 20 year old kid who had never voted in a national election. I smell a rat.
Mikjall
LikeLike