# Thread for Discussion of Political Ramifications of Trump Injury from Shooting at the Butler, PA Rally **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 14, 2024, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185 "2024-07-14T01:25:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/241 "2024-07-14T20:58:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m curious and interested in watching him fall apart in real time. How will we tell? ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/242 "2024-07-14T22:56:05Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > This is a man who dodged military service and considers those who put their lives at risk as chumps after all. let’s cut the man some slack! he’s got his ear shot off **AND** has bonespurs! ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/243 "2024-07-14T23:35:19Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > How will we tell? As in how do we distinguish new crazy from old crazy? I don’t know but I am certain it will be evident. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/244 "2024-07-14T23:41:36Z")
I like this proposal; > ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/245 "2024-07-14T23:42:48Z")
Let’s not feed more “Deep State” conspiranoia, please. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/246 "2024-07-14T23:42:55Z")
That is brilliant, but I suspect wouldn’t make a difference except a good laugh. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/247 "2024-07-14T23:50:41Z")
The image of Trump glaring and raising a fist after being shot is powerful. It’s certainly going to be used at the Convention to rally the crowd. This couldn’t be a calculated reaction. Trump was irritated and defiant at a moment of extreme stress. It doesn’t change his political views. He’s still not suitable to serve as President again. But a lot of voters will disagree. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/248 "2024-07-14T23:55:36Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That is brilliant, but I suspect wouldn’t make a difference except a good laugh. If you’re going to name it after a guy who can look right into the camera and say _“I’m one hundred percent against this,”_ it might be difficult to get momentum. ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/249 "2024-07-15T00:01:01Z")
If you really want to troll the ‘pubs, introduce a bill supporting the right for anyone to buy a high powered rifle and call it something like the DT EAR Act (Defying Tyranny and Ending Armament Restrictions) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/250 "2024-07-15T00:01:56Z")
> **[Democrats fret about the political fallout from the Trump rally shooting](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democrats-fret-political-fallout-trump-rally-shooting-rcna161789)** > > “The presidential contest ended last night,” said a veteran Democratic consultant. > “We’re so beyond f—ed,” one longtime Democratic insider said, noting that the image of Trump thrusting his fist in the air, with blood dramatically smeared across his face, will be indelible. > > “The presidential contest ended last night,” said a veteran Democratic consultant, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to give a candid assessment of his own party’s standing less than four months before the election. > > “Now it’s time to focus on keeping the Senate and trying to pick up the House,” he said. “The only positive thing to come out of last night for Democrats is we are no longer talking about Joe Biden’s age today.” Anonymous insiders, etc. Make of it what you will. Still–if there’s the _feeling_ that the race is well and truly lost, that might turn into the certainty if all resources are turned toward downticket races. The Senate/House becomes all the more important if the presidency is lost. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/251 "2024-07-15T00:04:41Z")
I’ve lost track of how many times Democrats have conceded elections months ahead of time. I’m also learning that the pundit class has an utter disdain for the average voter, since they seem to think our thought process goes like “I hate everything he stands for, but that picture of him doing a fist bump looks cool, so he’s got my vote!” ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/252 "2024-07-15T00:04:46Z")
It did cross my mind (as a red-state Democrat who is thoroughly agnostic on guns, and has no particular dog in this fight) that Trump almost certainly has no particular attachment to guns himself and has just been going along with his followers’ opinions on this, as on a whole range of other culture war issues. It would be hilarious if he suddenly DID form an opinion, now that it’s personal, and it was the opposite of the one most of his supporters have. I have no idea what consequences would follow if that happened – I THINK the gun nuts would freak out and he would probably cave as soon as he started missing that sweet rush of adulation, but there’s just an outside chance that he’d end up changing the politics around guns for good. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/253 "2024-07-15T00:04:52Z")
Let me guess… David Axelrod and James Carville. Neither would say anything good about Biden if their lives depended on it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/254 "2024-07-15T00:06:54Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > That’s why I’m curious about the ammunition and the angles. Did the kid have a real chance of hitting Trump with deadly force? Most definitely yes. At 400-500 feet, a rifle shot at a person’s head, with a scope, is as real a chance of hitting as can be. > [@Sherrerd](#): > > Do I think that people around Trump would set up a plan that would leave him only slightly hurt, but with a new narrative, complete with heroic images, sufficient to inspire less-dedicated voters to get out there and sweep Trump into the White House with the biggest landslide in American history? Well…yes. How would such a plan account for the fact that Trump was turning his head at the last moment when the shot was fired? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/255 "2024-07-15T00:08:57Z")
Much as I hate the fucker, the picture of Trump with his fist raised is probably the most remarkable political photo of my adult lifetime… and I’m 50. I wonder if it will be right up there with Dewey Defeats Truman in the future. Hopefully not, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/256 "2024-07-15T00:08:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve lost track of how many times Democrats have conceded elections months ahead of time They’re usually right, though. Good prediction or self-fulfilling prophesy? It almost doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/257 "2024-07-15T00:09:18Z")
Is this the fourth or fifth final nail in the coffin? I’ve lost count. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/258 "2024-07-15T00:13:20Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > They’re usually right, though. The 2020 election was over in January because covid was gonna make everyone rally around Trump, although it was already over before that because of the economy. And 2022 was over that summer because all the pollsters agreed there’d be a “red wave”. And 2012 was over after Romney outperformed at the first debate. And 2008 was over when Hillary lost the nomination to this inexperienced black guy nobody ever heard of. 2006 ended before it began because everyone loved the GOP congressional majority. I barely remember 1992, but I’m pretty sure that one was over once Bush Sr. kicked butt in Iraq… ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/259 "2024-07-15T00:17:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > How would such a plan account for the fact that Trump was turning his head at the last moment when the shot was fired? I’m rather baffled how “recruit a barely-out-of-high-school loser with no formal firearms training to assume a sniper position outside a heavily guarded event and shoot the president in the head but not kill or significantly injure him” is supposed to be at all plausible. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185/260 "2024-07-15T00:18:30Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The latter: no. That’s why I’m curious about the ammunition and the angles. Did the kid have a real chance of hitting Trump with deadly force? He got close enough to draw blood, which I’d say is a pretty clear “yes”. Others have already said that, for a reasonably competent marksman, under calm conditions, it would have been an easy shot. On the other hand, this guy apparently wasn’t a very competent marksman, and it wasn’t calm conditions. And while killing Trump might be an easy shot for a competent marksman, deliberately hitting his ear (or superficially wounding him in any other way) without killing him would be a fantasy-level difficult shot: Maybe the best snipers in the world could do that, but even they wouldn’t be confident about it. For this to have been deliberate, you pretty much need things like blanks in the gun and a pre-planted blood squib, and there’s no way Trump’s team would be able to keep that a secret if it’s what they did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-discussion-of-political-ramifications-of-trump-injury-from-shooting-at-the-butler-pa-rally/1004185.md?page=14)