Lemme see if I've got this straight---- a 42 year old white man whose social media is filled with

[Atticus]

Last edited Sun Oct 30, 2022, 06:28 PM - Edit history (1)

extreme right-wing memes, conspiracy theories and anti-Democrat posts breaks into Speaker Pelosi's personal residence just after 2:00 a.m. carrying a hammer and a bag containing duct tape and zip ties. He confronts the Speaker's 82 year old husband demanding "WHERE'S NANCY? WHERE'S NANCY?" and attempts to tie up Paul Pelosi. Mr. Pelosi somehow called 911 without being noticed and when police arrived, the attacker told them they were "waiting for Nancy" and then savagely struck Mr. Pelosi numerous times with the hammer, fracturing his skull and doing "serious injury" to his right hand and arm. He was in brain surgery for 5 hours.

And, now, after all the above has been widely reported, WHY do I still have to be sickened by highly paid TV "journalists" wondering aloud about "what could have been this disturbed man's motive?"

Gee, ya don't think the stochastic terrorists spreading the Big Lie and profoundly stupid MAGA-Q conspiracy theories might be just a little bit responsible for "motivating" this violent thug, do ya?

This was an attempt to assassinate Speaker Nancy Pelosi who, fortunately, was in Washington D.C. at the time. Does anyone seriously doubt that the hammer-wielding punk who tried to kill her husband thought he was doing what "President Trump" wanted?

[SheltieLover]

1. Definitely assassination attempt!

They are setting up insanity plea...

[G2theD]

29. No doubt in my mind.

[Bluethroughu]

55. 100%

This is ridiculous, these people should be locked the f-#$ up!
They are emboldened by the lack of real prison time from the f-$%ing insurrection.

This will become redundant like mass shootings. There is zero accountability for the MASON minded directors of domestic terrorism. This is subversion, sedition and more than likely treason.

[calimary]

65. How could it possibly be otherwise?

Sure looks, feels, sounds, and smells like one.

Any word on whether the attacker was a line wolf or part of a larger “support group”?

[joshcryer]

2. It's absolutely tiring.

Just beyond tiring.

[CentralMass]

3. Seriously. They are all corporate stooges.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

4. Yes. It is a job of news agencies to report the facts so rational people

can draw their own inferences until the point that law enforcement establishes the attackers motives conclusively.

That's good journalism.

[Demsrule86]

5. You can't be serious?

[Demsrule86]

6. It is sucky journalism...

And a big fat lie. personally, I think liars make bad journalists.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

7. Quite to the contrary, reporting "conclusions" such as motives that have not been firmly established

is bad journalism.

That the difference between respected media sources that vet their stories and Twitter (or DU).

[Atticus]

12. 1.) Law enforcement does not "establish motive". Ultimately, that may be a jury's task.

2.) Journalists are surely capable of explaining what the "apparent" motive was while cautioning that no "official"determination has been announced.

3.) Finally, if it is "bad" or "irresponsible" journalism to report what I suppose you would term "speculation" about motive, why are so many talking heads asking what their guests "think" it might have been?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

15. That's not so.

Law enforcement investigates crimes and when they feel confident they've established the motives of crimes, they report such.

In the meantime, it is the job of the press to report the facts.

Talking heads are speculating as to motive because many people suck it up.

Based on the reporting, I have my own suppositions as to what happen. But I would not publish them as if they'd been confirmed by a through investigation.

There is a difference. Responsible news agencies understand the difference.

[Atticus]

16. Have a wonderful evening. nt

[GreenWave]

18. Why did the police wait SEVERAL FULL DAYS to report they did not know each other?

How long did we have to wait until they proved JFK and Oswald did not know each other?

Cunctation in these matters favors the RWNJ as the fervor dies down.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

20. Huh?

Paul Pelosi was attacked two days ago.

When Elon Musk's conspiracy theory went viral, the SFPD squashed the lies the very same day.

I dunno man.

[GreenWave]

26. OK I counted work days. All Friday and Saturday and a chunk of Sunday

Here is how they solve the "mystery" if they know each other.

-Hello Nancy! ...did they by chance know each other?
No!

[Disaffected]

17. 1). Means, motive and opportunity

are what prosecutors need to establish b/f proceeding with criminal charges (Law 101).

2). So, now we have moved to "apparent" motive?

3). Because that's the way they roll the ratings??

BTW, he wasn't in "brain surgery" either.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

21. Exactly.

[Atticus]

28. Both MSNBC and CNN used the term "brain surgery" and reported the surgery lasted

5 hours. It is not difficult to imagine that surgery to repair a fractured skull would involve the brain. Should they have said it was "skull surgery"?

I am not aware that any prosecutor is required to prove motive. They may want to because it may make their case stronger, but they are not "required" to prove motive.

[Disaffected]

32. I expect sloppy media reporting here.

Brain surgery involves opening the lining around the brain (the meninges) followed by performing a procedure on the brain tissue itself (usually to remove destroyed tissue and/or stop hemorrhaging in cases of severe head trauma). AFAIK, this didn't happen and it was in fact more accurately described as fractured skull surgery.

Prosecutors aren't "required" i.e. compelled to prove anything in particular but, if they wish to win the case, having evidence of motive is highly beneficial in reaching a just verdict.

[Atticus]

33. Have a nice evening. nt

[Cha]

22. Yeah, Gee Whiz, "geniuses" what could

Possibly have been Depape's Motive when he shouted out .. "Where's Nancy" with a Hammer and Duct Tape and Zip ties in his bag?!!

Does J6 ring any Bells when the Domestic Terrorists Stormed the Capitol Building Looking for Speaker Nancy Pelosi so they could kill her?

[GoCubsGo]

36. ABC just brought up the similarities with J6 on tonight's Nightly News broadcast.

They didn't play the "both sides do it" game, but they only danced along the line of pointing out who actually does it, without saying so. Progress, I guess. They did somewhat insinuate the motive, I'll give them that. Hopefully, they'll grow a spine, and come out and say it.

[Cha]

41. TY.. Good to know, GoCubsGo!

I don't have a tv and came up with it being the same only instead of a Mob incited by DT.. it was one Idiot incited by DT & the previous Terrorism at the Capitol Building.

Both of them were Stopped by Quck thinking people.. Nancy for one.. and Paul Pelosi!

[spooky3]

14. Please see Jon Stewart's interview comment on

“People can draw their own conclusions.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/10/jon-stewart-grills-arizona-attorney-general-who-cant-let-go-of-trumps-fake-election-conspiracy/amp

I’m not a lawyer but psychologists have studied “motives” extensively. And many would say we can often infer “motives” from people’s behavior. In this case certainly the behavior suggests strongly that at least one “motive” was what OP suggested.

[Cha]

23. Mahalo, Spooky! Yeah, ya

think?

Please see my post #22..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17302285

[spooky3]

46. Thanks! Good post.

[Cha]

49. Mahalo, Spooky!

[malaise]

38. Nailed it

[spooky3]

47. Hi there!

[Scrivener7]

66. Wow. You mentioned this in the other thread, and then I went to Greatest and found this.

You weren't kidding.

Maga carrying zip ties and a hammer breaks in, screams for Nancy then brains her husband with the hammer.

But we shouldn't jump to conclusions about the motive??

That is the most bat-shit thing I've seen in a bat-shit week of bat-shittery.

[spooky3]

67. And some in that hole just keep diggin'.

[Scrivener7]

68. They always do.

[Walleye]

8. One of these would-be assassins is going to succeed before too long

[GreenWave]

19. As Peter Gabriel aptly crooned

The outside world is black and white with only one color dead.

[viva la]

9. Even worse, Musk has weighed in as "Chief Twit"

to speculate that there's a slight chance that this was actually Mr. Pelosi's fault-- that he invited the man to come hit him with a hammer or something.

"Why was he in his underwear??"
Oh, maybe it was because it was 2 am and he had been sleeping?

[TexasBushwhacker]

37. Dinesh DeDumbass speculated on that as well.

What is Musk's thing with gay men. Remember when he said the man in Thailand that helped save the boys trapped in a cave was a "pedo guy"? WTF! Most people's minds don't "go there". It's odd. He says he has Asperger's though.

[Mopar151]

44. So do I!

Being wired to industrial standards, is a poor excuse for being a wood chipper of a person.

[sarcasmo]

10. The assassin took zip ties, a plan was in place.

[Jack the Greater]

11. But what about the gay bar angle?

That has to be good for a few episodes of Fox and Friends.

[egduj]

30. What does it matter if he was?

There is absolutely no justification for what happened.

[NewHendoLib]

13. Just turn. It. Off

[Hekate]

24. I'm pretty much done with "news" myself. I have a good newspaper, & appropriate things...

… make the front page. Kevin McCarthy has a big spread today called “McCarthy’s Trumpian bargain.” It does not look flattering. When the assassination attempt on the Speaker almost mortally wounded her husband instead, it was all over several pages in 2 sections.

I keep recommending the Los Angeles Times to people — they have pretty good national coverage and a slew of excellent columnists.

I don’t need the continual aggravation from the TV-machine or the Intertubes.

[OMGWTF]

34. We love the LA Times

They have/had subscription special for $1 a week.

[Boomerproud]

25. Their corporate masters will not allow it to be said.

[Upthevibe]

27. Kick. N/T

[Captain Zero]

31. If he testifies, I want the question asked.

Also, any chance the defense could mount an insanity defense based on he was doing what Donald Trump told him to do?

[Lunabell]

35. They are not journalists.

Corporate hacks.

[malaise]

39. ABC had great coverage on their nightly news a few minutes ago

Rec

[pansypoo53219]

42. butbutbut the gnewz have to fair + balanced. sure, it looks like spade, but is it?

[spooky3]

48. That duck is quacking loudly Nt

[BigmanPigman]

43. This was an assassination attempt

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=Osm4OTIi4QVsTuTxuABZBw

[Evolve Dammit]

45. He knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish. There is no insanity. Fucking violent Magat, yes. nt

[COL Mustard]

50. Well, if she'd been there....

She'd have had protection. The USCP provides it for her but not for her hubs.

I flew across the country next to her several years ago...DCA-SFO. We chatted a little and she seemed very nice. But I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side.

[maxsolomon]

51. Where did you see this?

ABC? NBC? MSNBC? CNN? PBS? BBC? CBS?

Who said it? What show?

[republianmushroom]

52. Copied from another post. Sure does nail it.

If David DePape is mentally ill, then that means that every Magat is mentally ill. They all believe the same unbelievable bullshit.

[Kid Berwyn]

53. Assassination and Terror are NAZI tactics.

The country is in seriously crooked cross stuff and needs to be straightened the hell out.

[DFW]

59. Not just tactics of the National Socialists

They are the tactics of all extremists, especially ones who manage to gain power. They get sadists with managerial skills to hire other sadists who love having official sanction for their perversions.

[DemocraticPatriot]

54. Tell it, Atticus!!!

However, there are far too many elected Republicans who are fomenting hate and even advocating violence against Democrats to presume that it was only the fault of TFG.... they can all share the responsibility.

[dalton99a]

56. Kick

[soldierant]

57. This is one of those cases where

"the streets know" what happened, you and I being "The Streets" and having two eyes and two brain cells to rub together.

I's a phrase used by Glenn Kirschner recently, though not original to him. The point was that "What the streets know" is not the same as court evidence.

And what journalists have to do is somewhere in between.

They should not tell any untruths. They should tell the truth if they can back it up. Like what the police say about the incestigation.

At this point enough has been published to establish
a. He broke in through a window, using a hammer which he brought.
b. He had a bag of Zip ties and sme duct tape.
c. He repeatedly asked where Nancy was and then when she was ecpected home.
d. This is deduction on my part, but it doesn'e appear he had attacked Paul when the police came in. They came in and saw them struggling for the hammer, they yelled at both to drop it, and THEN DePape hit Pelosi on the head with the hammer - the police saw him do it. It's not clear when his arm and hand were hit. Based on the description of the arm-hand injuries, he could not have struggled very effectively with that arm after being hit. However, he has two.

It's possible - far from certain, but possible - that he intended only to tie Paul up, since he was looking for Nancy. But when the police arrived, he decided Paul had somehow called them, and that pissed him off, so he attacked Paul.

I do think it's clear he was looking for Nancy.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

58. Republicans demonized Nancy Pelosi long before the attack on her husband

The attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband is the culmination of longtime GOP hate-mongering

Friday’s brutal attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, at their San Francisco home was overtly political — and a logical endpoint to the decades of deeply personal villainization House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has weathered from her political opponents.

It’s now clear the speaker was the target of Friday’s attack. The assailant broke into the home looking for her, reportedly shouting, “Where is Nancy?” — echoing the chant insurrectionists called out when they breached the US Capitol on January 6 — and saying that he would wait “until Nancy got home” as he tried to tie up Paul Pelosi. The speaker’s husband suffered a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands that required surgery after the assailant bludgeoned him with a hammer. (A spokesperson for the speaker said in a statement that Paul Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery.)

Even before Pelosi became speaker, Republicans in the party and those adjacent to it have demonized her regularly, featuring her in attack ads and lambasting her on Fox News. At least one of her colleagues in the House, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), has directly indicated support for violence against her. And members of right wing militia groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters have sought her assassination.

[ Links in the original have been omitted here ]

[msfiddlestix]

60. Wait. The attacker assaulted Paul Pelosi with a hammer IN FRONT OF THE POLICE?

Or in the presence of the police?

After they arrive, the attacker explains the reasons why he is there, and then attacks Pelosi?

and when police arrived, the attacker told them they were "waiting for Nancy" and then savagely struck Mr. Pelosi numerous times with the hammer, fracturing his skull and doing "serious injury" to his right hand and arm.

[Scrivener7]

69. It sounds like it. And it sounds like he got a lot of blows in. Which is disturbing.

[msfiddlestix]

70. I read in another article, it happened swiftly and simultaneously (my words)

If true, I can easily see it as we have seen things happen so quickly, unable to prevent them from occurring.

[Heather MC]

61. Also don't forget MarginTaylorGreen having the nerve to prepare threats to

And actually what's going to be murder of the human being..
Also please don't correct my spelling I called her that for a reason.

[sop]

62. Perhaps when DePape blurts out he was acting on Trump's behalf, like all the January 6 Capitol

insurrectionists did during their own trials, these fair and balanced journalists will report the real motive.

[underpants]

63. Can I ask this? A 42 year old man couldn't overpower an 82 year old man?

Paul looks like he’s pretty tall and not frail by any means but still. This 42 year old was actually having a hard time with an 82 year old guy?

[JustAnotherGen]

64. It was an assassination

Attempt.