Beltway Insider: AMERICA UNDER SIEGE, Two Shootings, 15 hours, 29 Dead, Dayton, El Paso, Trump’s Culpability, Boeing, Harvey Milk, Saoirse Kennedy Hill

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Americans woke to the horrific news of another Mass Shooting, in Dayton, Ohio, just thirteen hours after the El Paso shooting, killing nine and injuring 20, bringing the one-day total to 29 dead and 46 injured.

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval rating, which was tracked for the two week time period ending July 12, 2019, increased three percentage points to 44% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased four percentage points to 51%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated bi-monthly.

America Under Siege, Two Shootings, 15 hours, 29 Dead

August 3rd began like any other Saturday, with 29 strangers, casual acquaintances, or possibly neighbors who would end the day members of a growing number of innocent victims of America plague of violence.

Before the day would be over two cities, more than 1500 miles apart would share a common tragedy, each police commissioner suddenly faced with the glare of news cameras, banks of microphones, peppered with questions, each having to recite statistics, speaking in past tense as fun-loving, friendly, friends and families in seconds were senselessly gunned down.


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As families waited in reunification centers set up so the devastating news would be delivered in private, the one lone survivor in yesterday's darkest hour, was the National Rifle Association, the NRA, a deep pocketed, a modernized Second Amendment supporter, and Washington lobbyist machine, that floods senators and politicians with financial support, virtually ensuring the Second Amendment will remain intact.

Remember the NRA motto folks, "Guns don't kill." What's the punchline; "Bullets do?" Tell that to the families of 29 of the newest members of the VMS Club, Victims of Mass Shootings. I'm sure they'll agree.

El Paso Cielo Vista Mall

From all accounts the Walmart at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, was near capacity at 10:00am Saturday, August 3rd. The advertised Back to school sales had drawn many who were happy to begin back-to-school shopping, as it signaled most parents favorite day.

The surreal scene began to play out in the parking lot as witnesses looking for a parking space said they heard what sounded like firecrackers exploding, and saw a man dressed in cargo pants and black shirt and carrying a "long" gun.

They also witnessed an elderly woman pushing a cart full of groceries to her car drop to the ground. It was the beginning of another massacre.


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"Texas grieves with the people of El Paso today," said Gov. Greg Abbott at an evening news conference following one of the deadliest mass shootings in America. The casualties were the highest number since 2017, when gunmen killed 58 and 26 people, respectively, in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, Fox News reported.

Walmart Corporate also used its social media to respond to the horrific event, "We're in shock over the tragic events at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, where store 2201 & club 6502 are located. We're praying for the victims, the community & our associates, as well as the first responders. We're working closely with law enforcement & will update as appropriate." @walmart.

The first calls came in about 10:39AM. Reports indicate first responders were on the scene within six minutes. It is not clear the length of time before police engaged the shooter. He was subdued and taken into custody.

The scene, which has been described as horrific. Shoppers and employees who took cover or ushered many to safety also provided video footage as the scene went from causal shopping to war zone in a matter of seconds.

The Cielo Vista gunman, 21, will not be named by this media and will not receive fanfare or 15 minutes of fame, has written a manifesto indicating he received inspiration from the recent New Zealand Mosque Shootings. That shooter indicated he was inspired by the violence in America and Germany.

The gunman who reportedly lived in a Dallas, Texas, suburb drove nearly nine hours from the location of the shooting.

President Trump posted two messages yesterday, the first in his usual cold, staccato delivery, "Terrible shootings in El Paso, Texas. Reports are very bad, many killed. Working with State and Local authorities, and Law Enforcement. Spoke to Governor to pledge total support of Federal Government. God be with you all!"

Hours later, he posted a second message indicating the El Paso shooting "was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice. I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today's hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people. [First lady] Melania and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the great people of Texas."

Dayton, Ohio "Oregon" Section

The shock of the Cielo Vista massacre, the stories of heroism and heartbreak, of strength in the midst of sorrow, hadn't even paused before news of another mass shooting, another nine dead, another 26 injured, broke into programming.

Dayton Police indicated a lone gunman, 24, appeared in the "Oregon" section of the city which he indicated not only one of the safest areas, it is a popular tourist and local destination spot with outdoor cafes and bars lining the street.

At about 1:00AM, from all account a man dressed in full body armor, appeared on the street and began randomly shooting into the crowds. He carried an AK-47, with additional magazine clips, his carnage was also well planned.

The shooter failed to realize with the large crowds which he expected to systematically take out, the area was well patrolled by local police. The sounds of the shooting brought local authorities to the scene within one minute and officers engaged the shooter and less than five minutes after the shooting began he was dead.

The quick response of the police has been credited with stopping the carnage from escalating into numbers which could have easily reached triple digits.

Among the dead, the Dayton shooter killed his sister who was among those enjoying the night with friends.

Presidential Politics: Hate Rhetoric Gives the Fringe The Go Ahead

President Donald Trump expressed his thoughts and prayers to the families and communities of El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, without pausing to think his divisive hate messaging has inspired this undercurrent of rightwing extreme violence.


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The divisive hate rhetoric propagated by President trump has he stumps for a second term has fueled and triggered in his constituents and others who claim no political affiliation but are drawn to the White Supremacy style statements spoken by the president.

Make America Great Again, for many could have been reference to America's Greatest Generation, men who fought against the tyranny of Nazi Germany and women who became America's manufacturing strength, ensuring the economy didn't falter and the flyers on the front line had the planes. Not once did these men bring home the message of tyranny, hatred, supremacy and weave it, with modified language into the very fabric of America.

Charlottesville, Virginia, is simply one of the many rallies in which violence broke out. Granted, it wasn't a MAGA Trump rally, and as we have seen recently his inflammatory speech causes his supporters to act out. Fights, spitting, aggressive behaviors, pushing, shoving, tripping, body checking members of the media, and others who many be filming the rallies to show the world the tactics employed by this president to incite supporters into a belief that violence is acceptable and with your vote he has your back.

Harvey Milk Remembered

Former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, who was gunned down in what was called the City Hall Murders, November 27, 1978, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, has been honored posthumously with the dedication of the Harvey Milk Terminal 1

Nine days before he died, Milk recorded an  audio will  to be 'played only in the event of his death by assassination': "My election gave somebody else – one more person – hope. After all, that's what it's about. It's not about personal gain. It's not about ego. It's not about power. It's about giving those young people out there…hope. You gotta give them hope." – Harvey Milk

Airport Director Ivar C. Satero stated: "Harvey Milk Terminal 1 sets a new benchmark for the airport experience and serves as a tribute to the life and legacy of a pioneering civil rights leader. For millions of people around the world, SFO is the first impression of the San  Francisco Bay Area, and Harvey Milk Terminal 1 showcases what makes our region great: a spirit of innovation, a focus on the environment, and most importantly, a commitment to   diversity, equality, and inclusion. I hope travelers around the world are inspired by the story of Harvey Milk in the terminal at SFO that bears his name."

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected public official in California. He served on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors for 11 months before he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978.

2020 Democratic Candidate React

From Joe Biden: "Heartbroken to hear the news from El Paso. Our thoughts are with those impacted by yet another senseless act of gun violence in America. How many lives must be cut short? How many communities must be torn apart? It's past time we take action and end our gun violence epidemic." @Joe Biden

From Bernie Sanders: Everyone in America, myself included, is devasted by the news of this latest attack in El Paso. Sadly, after each of these tragedies the Senate does nothing. That has got to change." @BernieSanders


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From Kamala Harris: "Last week it was Gilroy. Today it's El Paso. How can our country tolerate this? My prayers are yet again with families who are grieving, and my thanks are with the first responders, but that is not enough. We must act." @KamalaHarris

From Cory Booker: "Enough. We need to end this national nightmare. Praying from everyone affected by this unspeakable tragedy, and for our country to find the moral courage to take action to end this carnage." @CoryBooker

From Amy Klobuchar: My heart breaks for El Paso and those killed and injured by another mass shooting. This can't keep happening. It just can't. Every day Congress refuses to act and pass gun laws is a horrible omission of responsibility. This is a tragedy." @amyklobuchar

From Julian Castro: My heart is with the people El Paso today as they cope with a devastating mass shooting – the scope of which we are still learning. This attack is a tragic reminder of our government's failure to do its most basic duty: to protect Americans lives. We need gun reform now." @JulianCastro

Boeing Reports Worst Quarter in History

The Boeing Company posted 2nd Quarter losses of nearly $3billion dollars, in what has become the worst quarter on record for the struggling aviation company.

Official the loss stood at $2.9billion after the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX in March 2019, which left the once giant struggling to explain the mechanical problems which resulted in two horrific crashes and every nation in the world grounding the planes until a solution can be found and subsequent training made available to all pilots.

All 737 MAX fleets will remain grounded in the United States. To date no nation has lifted the ban.

Saoirse Kennedy Hill

Saoirse Kennedy Hill, 22, the daughter of Courtney Kennedy, 62, and Paul Michael Hill, 65, and granddaughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, 91, took her own life this week unable to conquer the depression that she so often wrote plagued her.

Kennedy-Hill, a student at Boston University, was found at the family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, unresponsive. Lifesaving measure were performed however she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Dedicated to service, in her short life she gave a face to depression and wrote honestly about her struggles. She indicated she had been the victim of sexual violence which left her in shock. Her deeply vulnerable writings presented a picture of a real human suffering with depression, that would pull her under and as she said, would "sit like a boulder on her chest."

Her family has called her a champion for admitting and speaking freely about her struggles and now as the insidious enemy of the soul has taken her we wish her peace, rest and Godspeed.

 

For more information on President Donald Trump www.whitehouse.gov.

Sources: whitehouse.gov.