You've probably heard by now that there was an attempt to assassinate former President and current candidate Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13th. This is the first time in my life such an attempt has been made. As is often the case with breaking news, some details remain unclear, and conflicting reports about an ongoing incident at the time were even more confusing.
This is also complicated by constant rumors of conspiracy. The previous similar incidents are the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981, which includes allegations of intimidation by associates of the Bush family; the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, which also may be connected to the Bush clan in some tellings of the event; and the attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt way back in 1912. This last incident has no rumors of ties to political rivals, but I mention it because I predict comparisons will be drawn between Trump and his Bull Moose blowhard predecessor.
The Democrats are already in disarray as Joe Biden's deterioration and incapability can no longer be covered up. They've tied themselves so tightly to identity politics that Kamela Harris is the most likely candidate simply because she's a "woman of color," and as Vice President, it's her turn. Never mind the complete absence of charisma, leadership, or evidence of talent she exudes. If identity as a female minority was the DNC concern, they shouldn't have undermined Tulsi Gabbard. She has charisma, considerably deeper knowledge, a military background, experience as both state and federal representative, plus a much better pro-peace foreign affairs stance. But she left the DNC in 2022. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might have been another effective candidate, but the Democrats are opposed to anyone who dares question the COVID regime in spite of his potential to effectively challenge Trump's hawkishness on "Operation Warp Speed," lockdowns, and federal spending.
However, all of that drama pales in comparison to Trump's status now as a survivor of an assassination attempt. This is an opportunity for Trump to move from "convicted felon" to "survivor" in the most public way possible. And I have already heard the rumor mills of conspiracy theory swirling away. I doubt HIVE's resident marksman extraordinaire @galenkp would have taken an ear-clipping warning shot at 140-ish meters, yet the folks who want a Hollywood drama are already saying it was that based on... nothing. No one is reporting any ties between the shooter and any political movement as of this post, but it's already a Deep State or Democrat plot in some circles I'm sure.
As a wider picture, is assassination ever really a good policy? I don't think so. I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not approve of vigilante justice or assassination attempts against any current or former elected official. Do we need Nuremberg trials for drug warriors and COVID Karens? Maybe. Do we leap to rooftop snipers? No. The perverse nature of politics feeds on violence, whether government inflicts it directly, or people use violence in an effort to alter government to better suit their own agendas. I'm no Trump fan, but that doesn't mean I endorse giving him sudden acute lead poisoning, either. But I'll also say I can hit a pie plate at 150 yards, so what's this dead loser's excuse?
Don't plan to overthrow government with violence. Undermine it until it is so impotent that the power-hungry want to end themselves.
