BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....

Subject: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:22 PM

Well, danged, if this ain't a heck of a sitiation. Here in the Wsahington, D.C. area we got a nut with a gun who has shot about 8 or 9 folks in the last 4 days and killed 5. I mean, nothin' like the guy a few years back who killed so many in the McDonald's or the guy on the tower in Austin, Texas but a certified nut non the less...

Problem is that between Bush trying to get everyone terrorized of Saddam and what has now been about 10 hours of endless coverage of the gun nut by the media, now we have schools being cancelled and folks be warned to stay off the streets and hide under their beds.

My prediction is if the gun nut shoots just one more person that he will surpass the amount of media coverage that was Given to the assasination of John Kennedy. Hey, he's allready pushed Bobby down one positon.

And some of you all wonder why this ol' hillbilly is so sick and tired of a media that wants nothin' more than a terrorized citizenry.

Beam me up...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:25 PM

Hi, Bobert: Truth is, I've been nervous about some of our friends down there in the D.C. area. When shootings are so random, it makes everyone seem vulnerable. I dunno though, Bobert, ole buddy... it least it is a diversion from Range Rider Bush and his vigilantes. I find it too difficult to watch him on television, so I came upstairs to see who was kicking around. I'm a great fan of diversions...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 09:03 PM

Me too, Jerry, I refuse to turn on the TV tonight for fear of Bush or the "shooter". Hmmmmmmmmmm?

I might catch a little Monday night football though. I have a feeling that both Bush and the "shooter" will also be watching...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 09:17 PM

Bobert! You didn't watch your president's speech! You might have learned something if you had (not that you would have believed him of course :>))

Dougr

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 09:25 PM

Doug, if it comes out of his mouth, it is a mis-truth of some sort. Not necessarily a lie, but a warped distortion of the truth. This shooter is seriously scary. I sort of hope he/she/it attempts to "evade capture".........somebody has declared "Open Season" on humans, looks like.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 09:57 PM

Yeah, Sorch, this is one toughie, fir sure. The only thing that bothers mne is that we had 10 hours of non-stop media about htis morning's shooting. I happen to think with that kind of attention, he (or she) will just get more jollies and more motivation.

And another aspect of hte entire thing is that I watch Channel 5 news at 10:00 at night and the first 20 minutes *very* night are about the day's shootings. They never make the front pages. Heck, they might not even make the newspapers but they happen every day. Now, we have one guy (presumably) who gets to pre-empt an entire days woth of scheduled programs, including the news.

Something wrong with the media's priorities...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Amos
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:15 PM

Something wrong with the media's priorities...


I'll say -- let's try a dedication to low-grade electrification and stirring up the basest feelings in their audience they possibly can, for starters, the idea being that it will form a habituation of chronic fear, resentment, and mindless acceptance of how bad the world is.

It is not about truth; it is about what they do with their stories.

I always feel better when I completely ignore the media for a week. I highly recommend it.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:29 PM

I won't belabor the point about Bobert avoiding listening to the president's speech because the subject of this thread is the awful things happening in the Maryland/D.C. area. I hope it does not prove to be the work of terrorists in that area. An insane serial shooter is bad enough.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: NicoleC
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:37 PM

Doug,

I won't watch the President on TV, either. (Or radio.) It's awful. The man has the speaking skills, grammar and diction of a 4 year old. I'll catch the transcipt in the AP wire in the morning.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 11:09 PM

Maybe they can claim that the shootist in D.C. is a terrorist, and find another reason for starting war with Iraq...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: NicoleC
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 11:15 PM

God help us if the shooter happens to have a grandfather from Iran. The war-monger's'll consider that reason to bomb another country.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 11:22 PM

I still think it's just an insane crazy; not necessarily a terrorist, except in the very broad definiton of the word. It is definitely "terrorizing" the DC area, isn't It? And yes, media exposure just escalates it.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 12:05 AM

The possible scenarios behind this one are mind boggling to me. What seems likely, and/or insane may or may not be the same here. People have gone "postal" before in the states, and we've never really considered it to be foriegn sponsored terrorism... but now we wonder about it... and then again there is the spector of a notion that conspiracy theorists often are drawn to about JFK... The only similarity here is the acuracy of the gunman, and potentially the timing... Naw... I just don't want to go there...

As far as the 'coverage' is concerned, I'm all for it! Could be the best way to get down on this cold blooded murderer, and fast... If we are addicted to the news, and I for one certainly am, we can just go 'cold turkey' when we must... But really now... this is a precedent, and we all should be tuned in a bit to it.

Do I think that all this 'terrorism' is completely and totally unrelated to our 'choice' of a president? Well now... What next? ttr

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 01:41 AM

I did watch Bush's speech and you didn't miss much. He didn't say anything that he hasn't said before. Same old assertions; still no proof.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: GUEST,George W
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 07:32 AM

I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!I WANT TO CONFLICTERIZE WITH I,RAQ !!!!

OR I'LL SKWEEM AND SKWEEM AND SKWEEM TILL I'M SICK

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 10:08 AM

Patience, George. Just let you PR folks spend a few more million of tax payers bucks and you and daddy will get it....

Guar-enn-teeed...

Meanwhile, back at the east coast ranch, the media is still kidnapped by a nut with a gun...

This mornings Washington Post headlines in letters the size usually saved for announcing the results of a Presidental election read, "Boy, 13, Shot by Sniper at School" and all of the morning programing has been pushed aisde for endless chatter by psychologists, community leaders and parents relating how they're gonna keep their kids home from school...

Nevermind...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 10:20 AM

Just as an interesting and bizarre aside, the first group of shootings occurred in the same area as the Royal Mile--

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 12:29 PM

Hmmmmmm? You know somthing here that you'd like to tell us, M.Ted? Just funnin' with ya...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 03:37 PM

I may have something to do with the haggis--

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: jimmyt
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 03:54 PM

God help us if they find the shooter and he/she turns out to be a traveller! probably would be more discrimination, huh?

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DonD
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 04:44 PM

So Cheney says: "We're going to kill four million Iraqis and shoot a dozen or so random victims in the DC suburbs."
"Why are you going to shoot a dozen or so random victims in the DC suburbs?"
And Bush says: "See, I told you nobody would care about four million Iraqis!"

Or have I messed up the story somehow? I think it's the economy and the environment and the corruption we're not supposed to care about.

Christopher Hitchins, in a review in the current Atlantic Monthly notes that Mathhew Scully, author of a new book on the suffering of animals is a former Bush speech-writer: "He left his job in the executive mansion to forward this piece of advocacy. Who can speak for the dumb? A man who has had to answer this question on behalf of the President himself is now stepping forward on behalf of the truly voiceless."

But isn't it strange that the protester at the UN, firing off shots to draw attention to North Korean tyrranies, turns out to be a postal worker?!?

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 05:34 PM

(quote)
"Bobert! You didn't watch your president's speech! You might have learned something if you had "

Sorry , but anyone in the Wash.D.C. PBS broadcasting area would've leraned something of far more worth watching instead the Ken Bruns Episode 1 on "Frank Lloyd Wright".

Bush's speech before the U.N. made its point already .
If he feels so strongly about it let him make his case before the a full Congressional audience. Anything less is a campaign speech in some "friendly" Republican district like any run-of-the-barnyard variety chickenhawk.

I want to see how his plans to rebuild Iraq while trying to still rebuild Afghanistan complete with pictures with all of the cirlces and arrows and the cost estimates written on back.

Till he makes *that* case he's an empty suit offering a half-baked plan.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 11:18 PM

strange thread...I can't quite figure out what the topic is. Shootings? Terrorism? The Bushlet? Or just whatever folks have in their heads?
Most of those shootings took place within 5-10 minutes drive of my house, yet I never felt threatened or in 'danger'...Yes there is someone crazy out there, but randomness means I could get hit by a car as easily as I could be shot.

   All I know is, the media are sure hypeing this all out of proportion, with rampant speculation and interviews with people trying to evoke 'emotion'...there is a police investigation to be done, leads to follow, victims to help, and at the same time, life to be led.

If this idiot keeps trying this, he WILL be caught, but in the meantime, why psychoanalyze him when we have no idea who he is or why he is doing this? And WHY are so many people refusing to go to school or a restaurant? You can't shut down life when there is little pattern to the shootings.......

I think whoever it is will NOT come back and do it again in the same place, so I will go about my business as usual....

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 12:36 AM

(quote)
"Yes there is someone crazy out there, but randomness means I could get hit by a car as easily as I could be shot."

And obviously you've survived both....today......so far.
Yeah thgis is a tough one for local news whom have nothing but the usual suspects of local deviations from the norm to feed of off : ie: Storm damage, car accidents , robberies, fires, and, yes, sadly shootings.

Maryland is an ironic case because it has tougher gun laws than neighboring Virginia or Pennasylvania. This is also going to be a tough one for the N.R.A. to take a position on because their mantra is the more armmed law-biding citizenry the less we would have to fear from unlawful gun-abusers.

Would love to see ol' Charleton "Moses" Heston offer the NRA evangel from the mount as a defense against an apparent practiced sniper....and potential NRA member in good standing.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 12:45 AM

Or Al Quida member.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 11:49 PM

Or (ex-?)Army sniper ...

I seem to remember hearing that they quietly shredded Lee Harvey Oswald's Marine records.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: M.Ted
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 11:56 PM

Another shooting tonite, this in a service station in Manassas--too early to tell, but the circumstances are the same--a single person, shot once, no one in the immediate area--I can't believe that you don't feel a slight twinge of apprehension while you're pumping gas, BillD--

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Peg
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 12:01 AM

This whole thing reminds me of when the "sniper" thing first started heppening in the 1970s. In recent years people just up and fire away at point blank range (call it an anger management problem) and so this is kinda new and different; someone who gets off on random anonymous killing.

No reason to hide inside though. The media's constant coverage of this is ridiculous. Yes, it's scary for those who live in the area and it may well spawn copycats, but the more fear we instill into the public the more likely they will feel a need to have their own guns and these newly-armed self-styled militants will be so trigger-happy at looking over their shoulders for snipers that they'll end up shooting more innocent people.

Al Queda? Extremely doubtful. Those guys have no interest in taking people out in this slow, methodical manner. Too risky. This guy enjoys the chase and I think secertly wants to be caught. This is a disgruntled and probably sociopathic (or psychopathic) killer, most likely a relatively young unemployed white guy: 30s, loner, all swept up in the fear-fest that passes for news these days, he's pulling a Travis Bickle and enjoying being the center of attention. He will either get caught soon, or kill himself in some fiery conflagration. There won't be a trial, I feel pretty sure of that (there never is anymore; the gunmen always either commit suicide or get blown away by the SWAT team).

Then what horrific bloodfest will dominate the nightly news, when this is all over?

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 01:01 AM

I ALWAYS feel a twinge of aprehension while pumping gas but that's because of the price we will ultimately pay for it...(cryptic).

The shootings in the DC area ARE terrorist actions since people are terrorized. They seem to be solo actions. The shooter is a damn good shot. He has hit all but his first target. It makes me wonder if he wasn't trained to shoot people. All his shots have been at distances well over one hundred yards. That is farther than typical deer hunter skill (although antelope and coyotes are considered 'good' long distance targets). I don't think this shooter is an amateur by any means.

The Tarot card with the "Dear Mr. Policeman, I am God" message is probably a taunt since one of the media's "experts" stated that the shooter was acting out being "God", and that was a strong motivating factor in his actions.

CB

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 01:42 AM

CB: I agree. If he is not a terrorist, he/she certainly is accomplishing what the terrorists aim to do. If this keeps up and the shooter is not arrested soon, the whole population of that area is going to be mighty nervous.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 03:27 AM

Hey, Doug, it's been a long time since we've had something to disagree on! I did listen to part of Mr. Bush's speech. I heard him say, "Why should we be so concerned about Iraq, when there are other countries who have such terrible weapons?" A good question...and how did he answer it? "Because these weapons are all in one place." Now, am I missing something, or is that a stupid, mindless, non-answer? I also heard him say, "Why do we have to act right now?" Another good question, since we've known about Saddam Hussein's monomania and weapons of mass destruction for better than a decade. Why does it have to be now, before the United Nations has a chance to act, before we figure out just what the hell we're going to do with a post-Saddam Iraq, before--gee, whiz--the elections? And the answer, "Because the situation is getting worse and not better." Well, that answers the old urgency question for me, for sure.

I mean, I can think of a dozen places in the world where there are bad leaders who have threatened their neighbors, and things aren't getting any better with them. Let's go get 'em!   Oh, and some of them have "weapons of mass destruction", too. Did you listen to some of the rhetoric coming out of Pakistan and India? They already have nukes. How about Colombia, whose leaders have been getting fat off the drug trade for years? They've killed a whole lot more Americans than the number who died on 9/11. Why don't we invade them?

Doug, I would just ask you one thing: consider -- just consider -- the possibility that President Bush may not be telling the American people the whole truth. Presidents have been known to lie to the American people. Look at LBJ, who managed to get Congress to give him war powers after telling everybody that the ARVN attacked us in the Gulf of Tonkin, when they didn't. Look at Nixon...or your friend Clinton, for that matter. It happens. And it might be happening now. In which case, a whole lot of people are going to die, for no reason at all. So what else is new?

And by the way, I'm NOT suggesting that Saddam Hussein is not a rapacious dictator, or that he doesn't have chemical and biological weapons. I'm suggesting that the reason the President is asking Congress to abdicate their constitutional responsibility may have very little to do with those particular facts, and may have very much to do with a very different agenda that has much more to do with oil and power and GHWB and his friends than it does with patriotism and "keeping America safe."

(Just didn't want you to think that because I've been so quiet I suddenly became a Republican, Doug!)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 06:36 AM

By the way, take a look at this recent speech of Senator Robert Byrd. I know, he's a Democrat. But as a Senator, at least he has more credibility than I do when it comes to the Constitution. And he quotes Lincoln--a Republican!--to describe the utter folly of Congress giving any President the power to wage war on any nation he perceives to be a threat. That kinglike power is exactly what the framers of the Constitution were trying to avoid--so said President Lincoln. Seems kind of ironic, doesn't it? All those American soldiers who are going to be dying to make the world safe for autocracy...

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 08:49 AM

Jimmyt.... a zinger...:-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Fortunato
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 11:56 AM

They better be damned sure they're right if they're going to ask our sons and daughters to die. And we better not find out if it's oil and greed and not imminent danger. Do the Bushes have any children who will go to war? Any Cheney's? Rumsfeld's? Or will there be only the children of the masses, cannon fodder as they have always been? No. Not only no, but hell no.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 12:13 PM

Hey, Mark! Never would I believe you had "converted!" :>)

Sure, Bush could be lying. I don't know what his motive would be but I'm sure you or others can suggest some. I don't think he anticipates relocating from his ranch in Crawford, Texas to Baghad, so he's not looking for a new home (I don't believe). He needs the oil fields! Well, his dad didn't take over the oil fields in Kuwait at the close of Desert Storm, and one might suspect that since Dad was also a president, the penchant for presidents not to tell the truth should have run strong through his veins too right?

The House and the Senate, after a bunch of wrangling, weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth is going to give the president the Resolution he needs to convince the U. N. to act it appears. They probably will do so today after a lot of posturing by Senators who are putting on a great show for their constituents on C-Span2.

I have been watching off and on myself, and I enjoy Senator Byrd's dramatic speeches very much. Note I didn't say I agreed with him, but he sure puts on a good show.

I do not think, once the President has the resolution he will immediately order troops to attack Iraq. I do think it will be used to encourage the U. N. Security Council to get off the dime, and get tough with Saddam.

Thread creep, I know, but since you directed your remarks to me, I felt it appropriate to comment in this thread.

After watching CSpan2 for the last couple of days, I wonder how the Senate EVER gets anything done.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Wolfgang
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 12:20 PM

I don't agree (yet) with those who call this person a terrorist. In very broad definitions (see Sorcha), inflicting terror is the only defining feature for 'terrorism'. If you follow such a definition, he (I know it would be correct to add 'or she' but somehow I can't picture Peg's predictive description being far off the mark here) surely is a terrorist.

Most definitions I recollect require an aim (like overthrow of a government, induce the USA to stop supporting Israel,...) in the sense of making someone else change their ways in addition to an act inflicting terror to call the act terrorism. An aim I don't see yet in this series of murder.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: YOR
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 12:54 PM

I live in the Maryland burbs, two children attending two different Prince Georges County Schools. My sons high school has a policeman at the school all the time, even before the sniper. My daughters elementary school of course has police at opening and closing times for now. The high school I drive by every morning has a police car sitting right up by the main road where he can see the entire parking lot, and probably more important be seen.

Both my kids are going to school everyday and riding the buses. The schools have been in 'code blue' (lockdown and no outside activities). I think thats a good move on thier part, just playing it safe. This sitiation can not change your daily life. I deter talking about it in length with my daughter. I think that will only increase her worry. She's had the 'street smart training/talks' thats all that can be done for now.

The sniper is on everyones mind. Traffic seems lighter, gas stations, convience stores, shopping centers and malls all seem less crowded.

My parents called me from NC the other night. Just making sure I'm ok right. I had to keep it light and kid with them. "Millions of people in the area and a random shooter" and "My work was at least 8 miles from the Bowie shooting".

I don't think the sniper is a terrorist! I think he/she is a out of the ordinary mindless demented psycho.

Roy

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 01:17 PM

Well, perhaps Roy, and Wolfgang, you are right. I certainly see your point, Wolfgang. Perhaps he/she (I think it is not likely that it is a woman but in the interest of not inciting the Women's Rights crowd I don't want to slight them)is just a sicko serial killer.

I can certainly understand the anxiety of those living in the area.

There was a similar bunch of murders in Texarkana, Texas, back in about 1947-48. People would be sitting in their living rooms listening to the radio and the killer would shoot them through the window. As far as I know, those murders were never solved.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 01:28 PM

responding to "-I can't believe that you don't feel a slight twinge of apprehension while you're pumping gas, BillD--"

it's interesting...I feel a lot more apprehension when crossing the street, or driving on the Washington beltway, or walking durnig a thunderstorm...I know there is one additional 'problem' out there right now, but since this idiot is shooting from a distance and evidently using different vehicles, I can't see anything I can do to avoid him, except stay home. There is nothing in particular to watch for, and the odds of him picking ME is tremendous!...as in millions to one!

I really AM in more danger from red-light runners, who I see every day!.....This person IS sick and needs to be caught and dealt with soon, but changing my habits will make NO difference. (I watch for 'white box trucks', but so do a million other people, and I doubt very much THAT truck is still out there)

I don't mind taking precautions when I can see why, but this is not as bad as suicide bombers in Israel where 'not riding the bus' can help keep you slightly safer.

The sniper will make a mistake, or he will just stop.....and how long will we keep schools on alert and refuse to eat in outdoor cafes if he does NOT do anything more for awhile?...The leaving of that taunting card tells me that he craves attention and will brag, try again, or something that will get his sorry ass busted!....I do hope his aim is bad next time...too many good people have been hirt....

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 05:40 PM

If you shopped at any of the shopping plazas, or used any of the service stations, the odds were considerably less than a million to one--Of course, "odds" implies chance, and chance relates to random events, these events only seemed random--

Personally, I'm not buying gas near an expressway, or shopping at Michael's, and I' avoiding Target completely----

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: NicoleC
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 07:11 PM

Well, Doug, I agree that Congress will give the Shrub what he wants, because the Repubs have been winning the PR war that if you disagree with the President, you're unpatriotic -- and it makes elections risky if your opponent can accuse of being "unpatriotic" for the crime of thinking for yourself.

However, I disagree that the Shrub needs the resolution to negotiate with the UN. The resolution has nothing to do with *negotiation.* It amounts to "If you don't give me what I want, I now have the power to attack any of you if I arbitrarily decide you're a threat." That's not negotiation, it's bullying and it's blackmail.

If you can't make a case without threats, there's no case to be made. Period.

Back to on topic discussion -- the "terrorist" label gets thrown around a lot lately. Semantically, it's null, because it's a political term that refers to whomever you disagree with if they choose to fight and kill some of your people. At least terrorists have motives.

This is not a terrorist in DC, it's a cold-blooded murderer who doesn't even have the shallow kind of justification of a political cause. Using pop-culture terms like "terrorist" and "collateral damage" and "suicide bombers" when you refer to killing minimizes the very real fact that people are DEAD, their families shattered, their children orphaned and spouses widowed and parents grieving.

Let's say it together, folks, "Murderer." Not terror-ist, murder-ist.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 07:57 PM

I agree, Nicole, this guy is a nut. He (or she) is a murderer. Nothing more. Nothing less. Where the terror comes in is when the media pre-empts a days worth of programing and rams this murderer down the troats of everyone within 100 miles of Washington, D.C.

Now who are the terrorists? The shooter or the media? Hmmmmmmm?

I just think that it is very strange to live around D.C. and have this really evil thing going on in Congress at the same time that the media seems to have half the people pinned down in fear of a nut...

Nevermind...

This may make no sense to any one but me...

Like I said, nevermind...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 11:40 PM

Your distinguished Senator, Mr. Byrd, mentioned the very thing in his discussions in the Senate yesterday--He is very entertaining, which is a rare quality in a politician--

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Peg
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 12:33 AM

there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that this sniper is a woman and I find your "Women's Rights crowd" comment to be downright offensive, Doug.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Troll
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:35 AM

The aim of the terrorist is to cause the general populance to lose faith in the ability of the Government to protect them from random acts of violence.
By this standard, the DC Sniper is certainly a terrorist. And I hate to disagree, Peg, but women cannot be ruled out. The Weathermen, the Symbionese Liberation Army, and the Bader-Meinhoff Gang all had female members and some of them did in fact kill people.
I wish I had your certainty, but I don't. I have seen too much evil perpetrated by both sexes to automatically write one off.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 07:06 AM

How many of you noticed the celebration of the events of 9-11 in Riyadh? Wasn't given much publicity, was it?

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:11 AM

Ted: Yeah, Byrd is a real bird, that's fir sure. But we like him 'cause he's a purdy smart feller for a hillbilly. Plus, he is considered by many in Congress as the leading authority in the Senate on Constitutional matters, not to mention rounding up a little pork on the side fir us,

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Teribus
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:37 AM

Hi Peg,

"This is a disgruntled and probably sociopathic (or psychopathic) killer, most likely a relatively young unemployed white guy: 30s, loner, all swept up in the fear-fest that passes for news these days, he's pulling a Travis Bickle and enjoying being the center of attention. He will either get caught soon, or kill himself in some fiery conflagration. There won't be a trial, I feel pretty sure of that (there never is anymore; the gunmen always either commit suicide or get blown away by the SWAT team)."

Sure hope to hell that if this guy (and his/her accomplice, if the white van theory is correct) is caught, he/she doesn't turn out to be an Irish Traveller.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: Peg
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:14 AM

I think it pretty unlikely it's a traveller; seems an imperinent comment, actually. Belongs in another thread perhaps? My knowledge of the travelling communiuty does not support an image of one of them as a gun-toting sociopath...

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorists Declare Victory in D.C....
From: DougR
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:45 AM

Peg: will you lighten up, for Christ's sake? Why couldn't it be a woman? You are so confident a woman couldn't be the shooter. I'd like to know why. Women are not capable of being a sharpshooter? Wrong. Women are more compassionate than men? Give me a break.

Nicole: and then there is also the possibility that the congress and Bush are right, and you and Bobert are wrong! :>)

Bobert: your guy certainly went down swinging. I've got to say that. His arguments were simply overcome by senators who are more attuned to the 21st century, rather than the 19th century. Note that I did not say by senators who are more knowledgable about the Constitution though. Senator Byrd reminds me of the old-style evangelical preacher who preaches that the Holy Bible should be taken literally.

DougR   

DougR