Patterico's Pontifications

7/17/2008

Man Solicits Assassination of President, Pleads for Less Than 5 Years

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 6:48 am



Bush Derangement Syndrome is truly out of hand in some cases. Here is a link to a 2-page order from the Fifth Circuit which says:

Because Bolton solicited another person to assassinate the President and because he attempted to travel to the President’s ranch for reconnaissance purposes, the district court did not clearly err in applying the § 2A6.1(b)(1) enhancement.

Wow, I thought. I think I’ll look up some more on this, to see what he got. I pulled the minute order off PACER, which says he got 57 months — under 5 years. (For some reason, this .pdf can’t be saved properly, so I took screenshots from it here and here.)

Wow again, I thought. It sure sounds like he is soliciting the murder of the President. Wouldn’t that be worth more time than 5 years? I pulled some more documents.

In a superseding indictment, the Government alleges that the defendant, with a co-defendant, made “oral statements to the effect that one of them, or both of them working together, would shoot the President with a rifle at the President’s ranch near Crawford, Texas.” His co-defendant is alleged to have specifically talked about shooting the President “with a modified military .30-06 caliber rifle” at the Crawford ranch, and made “statements about specific locations from which he could fire the rifle.”

I looked for documents with more meat on their bones. There is a short motion for downward departure filed by counsel for the defendant, which claims he has an IQ of 64. Heck, that just means he’s a liberal — but we already knew that!

What I found interesting was this passage from the Government’s 22-page response, which gives a little more detail to flesh out the statements contained in the appellate order:

[T]he facts and the evidence are at odds with the Defendant’s allegation that he probably would not have tried to kill the President. The evidence shows that the Defendant and his co-defendant met with a potential accomplice, and that they attempted to recruit that person to participate in the assassination of the President. The evidence further shows that the Defendant and his co-defendant, at the time of their arrest, were en route to Crawford, Texas to conduct reconnaissance at the President’s ranch. In light of those facts, the Court should not credit the Defendant’s assertion that he probably would not have attempted the assassination.

(My emphasis.)

The Government goes on to “concede” that the defendant had little chance of success, but doesn’t clearly explain why.

I called WLS, who told me that there are cases of threats to the President all over the country — to the tune of dozens or perhaps hundreds. I suppose that people across the country are constantly sending e-mails and letters threatening to kill the President, and a lot of these people are just popping off because they’re angry. They deserve to be punished, but not necessarily to be treated as though they were serious.

I wonder whether this is different. In how many of those cases does someone speak to a confederate about plans to actually kill the President? In how many of those cases do the two confederates actually attempt to recruit a third person to kill the President? In how many of those cases does one of the confederates discuss the specific weapon to be used, and locations from which it could be fired? In how many cases do the confederates actually head out towards the proposed location of the assassination to carry out a reconnaissance mission?

WLS conceded that cases like that are certainly less common.

I stress that I don’t know all the facts here, but the Government argued to a court that this man really did intend to carry out an assassination, and took the above steps towards that goal.

Yet I can’t find a single news story about it anywhere, and he’s going to prison for less than 5 years.

What do you think? Does this sound like a harmless guy who got an appropriate sentence? Or like someone who solicited the assassination of the President, who should go away for the rest of his life?

45 Responses to “Man Solicits Assassination of President, Pleads for Less Than 5 Years”

  1. I hear he’s going to star in Michael Moore’s next movie.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  2. I predict that the first nutbar who takes a run at the next Dem President gets 50 to life.

    If that Pres is Obama the poor schmuck gets life to infinity. They won’t bury his dried out carcass until the sun goes dark.

    BlacquesJacquesShellacques (7058ae)

  3. I dunno- maybe he’s just exercising free speech and attempting to decompress from his BDS? Lock him up and throw away the key. Set an example for the other deranged asshats. Plenty of people around my neighborhood hate Bush and Cheney with a passion and call for their painful deaths. Most would be happy to see Bush hanged on inauguration day. I gather the same atmosphere was prevalent in Dallas when JFK was about to visit.
    One recalls when a lower level FBI operative was reamed out in Minnesota I believe for the idea of looking at one of the future 911 terrorists’ computers. Gotta protect those privacy rights. I guess everyone deserves full protection of our bill of rights and idiot darwin award potential assassins a slap on the wrist and forgiveness.
    An Imus can talk about black women basketball players in a derogatory fashion and get perhaps rightfully excoriated for it, but a no talent skanky ‘ho Randi Rhodes can call for Bush’s assassination on air and pays no legal price?

    madmax333 (5ee1ba)

  4. Ugh, the last thing we would need is for George Bush to be martyred for the Republican party.

    Like I said the other day, we should spare no expense in lengthening that asshole’s life for as long as possible, so that he realizes his hoped-for Trumanesque redemption will never come.

    Levi (74ca1f)

  5. Double latte, man. No foam. ‘Kay?

    Truth to power, bro. Word.

    Eric Blair (e8a68b)

  6. Oh, and I forgot: peace out.

    Eric Blair (e8a68b)

  7. This nut IS a liberal. Liberals don’t want to get their hands dirty. They always try to farm out the work for plausible deniablity.

    PCD (5c49b0)

  8. WASHINGTON – Democrat Barack Obama raised $52 million last month for his presidential campaign, more than twice as much as Republican rival John McCain in a significant boost to his financial cache for the fall contest.
    Where is WLS? I want him to comment on this post. I read a post from him where he was predicting that Obama could be having problems with his decision not to take public funding. He was making a point that Obama must have over estimated his money raising abilities. That his base may not be as enthusiastic about supporting his campaign as they did during the primaries. WLS was basing his analysis on the fact that the Obama campaign was delaying to release their June financial detail. He was reading that to mean they were having problems raisning and were afraid to admit people were not giving as befor. I was telling him it was too early to say that obama was having problems with money just because he was delaying to release it. I told him it was dangerous to underestimate Barack Obama. You never know what they have up their sleeves. I was right. They have just released their june income and it is more than double McCain’s. This with all the talk about Obama’s flip flopping habits and all the rest. WLS. WLS….WLS…..Where are you?……..

    love2008 (1b037c)

  9. well we know where a certain obamabot must be and what his agenda is since he apparently has to post the same comment on every thread. Maybe he can ask wls if it is ok to smell his toilet seat when is done with his daily constitutional or ask to see the skid marks on his shorts?

    Wonder how many in the fever swamps would be ecstatic if one of their own deranged creeps emulated a Pali homicide bomber in Crawford? I suppose Cindy Shehag would be delirious with joy. Since my own boy genius Congressman Wexler apparently can’t impeach Bush and Cheney, perhaps there are other ways to break the glass ceiling and lift Pelosi into the WH??

    madmax333 (cb3d2e)

  10. #9
    Hi Maddyx? Why do you think obama is still raising so much money from his base inspite of his recent inconsistencies? Cant they see he is no longer electable and stop sending money to a flip flopping, empty suit, hot air, teleprompted no achievement, half black, half white opportunist? Why cant they see this and stop the foolish and senseless support?

    love2008 (1b037c)

  11. the state of security technology and remote sensors being what they are today, a baby rabbit couldn’t get into rifle range at crawford without the secret service knowing. this guy was gonna give us president cheney? put him away for life.

    assistant devil's advocate (693030)

  12. Regardless of what the BDS sufferer’s like Levi think the planned assassination of any president should result in a life sentence in a mental facility with no possibility of release. Then the democrats don’t want to fill up the mental facilities, they will need them as soon as they figure out that GWB isn’t really a dictator with plans to stay in the white house forever.

    Interesting news about the House of Rep’s, ‘Terrorist assistance committee’ (aka Judiciary) today. They are grilling former AG Ashcroft about (questioning their friends the terrorists) GITMO. Are there still enough terroirst at GITMO to release at least one in each democrat congress critters home town? If so hold them until Christmas and give each of the terrorists lovers hometown a gift.

    Scrapiron (d671ab)

  13. love2008, the only base Hussein O is raising million from are located in the middle east. Even the NYSlimes (Dowd) have woke up to the fact that Hussein O is set to become the president bought and paid for by terrorists and terrorists nations. Hussein O even stated, keep the donations below a set amount and I don’t have to identify the donors. The web sites he set up throughout the terrorist nations had instruction on ‘how much’ and ‘how’ to get the money to him.

    Eventually someone (the NYSlimes started the ball rolling) will track the IP’s the money came from and out him for what he is, may be too late though.

    I’m old enough to survive another ‘Hitler’ imitator and laugh my a** off at what the young BDS sufferers did to themselves.

    Scrapiron (d671ab)

  14. #13 I strongly denounce you! Just shut up already. Don’t me messing with lovetodanglefrom barry’shineyhole’s mind. Idiot has been trying to goad by posting same paen to obama on every thread.

    Visualize the typical thoughtful “reformed life-long conservativ” driven to Barry’s loins with the symbol of the three monkeys. They are just blind androids. Money talks and Mideast money is as good as American money or better. How much money is self-loathing Joo Soros willing to funnel into Urkel’s campaign. Just think some of our petro dollars will come back recycled to make Obambi bought and paid for by the mullahs. naturally he won’t consider the source and will work against their interests?? Yes, so right.

    madmax333 (cb3d2e)

  15. #14
    Do you frequently have nightmares of the absurd kind, madmax?

    love2008 (1b037c)

  16. Sondheim said it best– in song:

    “Hey pal — feelin’ blue?
    Don’t know what to do?
    Hey pal —
    I mean you–
    Yeah you.
    C’mere and kill a president.
    No job? Cupboard bare?
    One room, no one there?
    Hey pal, don’t despair–
    You wanna shoot a president?
    C’mon and shoot a president

    Some guys
    Think they can’t be winners
    First prize
    Often goes to rank beginners
    Hey kid, failed you test?
    Dream girl unimpressed?
    Show her you’re the best
    If you can shoot a president–
    You can get the prize
    With the big blue eyes
    Skinny little thighs
    And those big blue eyes

    Everybody’s
    Got the right
    To be happy
    Don’t stay mad
    Life’s not as bad
    As it seems
    If you keep your
    goal insight
    You can climb to
    Any height
    Everybody’s
    Got the right
    To their dreams…”

    David Ehrenstein (85f463)

  17. Let me be the first to say it, Levi (#4) is an ass.

    clark smith (5e5107)

  18. I’m not surprised at anything these days, given the vast amount of BDS out there, but 57 months is a slap on the wrist for conspiracy to assassinate a sitting President. I’d like to read the minute order, superseding indictment, government response, etc., but I’m having trouble with the links. Can you fix them when you have time, Patterico?

    DRJ (92ca6f)

  19. Clark Smith, in reference to your comment #16.

    It’s just BDS: Barista Derangement Syndrome.

    Eric Blair (2708f4)

  20. Any one gloating over the prospects of a Bush assassination is just plain nuts! And that goes to every thoughtless and stupid comment made on this blog. This is a very serious matter. Five years does not begin to set the kind of example worthy of such crimes. Even the thought of it should be viewed as a capital offence. Talk more of actually planning it and determining the weapon to use and actually getting caught on the way to case the joint. Five years?!?!

    love2008 (0c8c2c)

  21. Huh, I didn’t check the links. It’s the first time I ever uploaded .pdfs with the new WordPress software and I just assumed it would work.

    Patterico (664c9d)

  22. Even the thought of it should be viewed as a capital offence.

    That seems like an over-reaction to me.

    Yes, people who plot to kill the President should be punished; and yes, plotting to kill the President is worse than plotting to kill a random stranger.

    But making thinking bad thoughts a capital crime?

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  23. Aphrael,

    He acted on his thoughts which makes it more than mere thoughts.

    Patterico,

    The new software is definitely different and don’t worry with the links. I trust your report of what they say.

    DRJ (92ca6f)

  24. U.S. Code

    “(a) Whoever kills (1) any individual who is the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President, or, if there is no Vice President, the officer next in the order of succession to the Office of the President of the United States, the Vice President-elect, or any person who is acting as President under the Constitution and laws of the United States…”

    “…(d) If two or more persons conspire to kill or kidnap any individual designated in subsection (a) of this section and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be punished”

    “(1) by imprisonment for any term of years or for life…”

    I think that the law should be enforced and the maximum allowable sentence imposed.

    Life in prison.

    Dave Surls (666b48)

  25. If he had kept his mouth shut, made a video game about killing the president and called it art, he wouldn’t be facing the 57 month sentence.

    http://www.knbc.com/news/16898140/detail.html

    “The video game is part of a “confrontational art” exhibit by Chicago-based artist Wafaa Bilal.

    In the 3-D game, “The Night of Bush Capturing; A Virtual Jihadi,” players are sent on a mission to kill President George W. Bush.”

    Dana (f3e2a8)

  26. “Grand Theft Auto: Bush” ?

    David Ehrenstein (85f463)

  27. “Wafaa Bilal”

    He’s an Iraqi, not an American, and that little stunt ought to get him deported as an undesirable alien…which he most definitely is.

    Send his ass back to Iraq.

    Dave Surls (666b48)

  28. DRJ: yes, he acted on it, and he should be punished for acting on it.

    That said, absent repeated evidence that I shouldn’t do this, I take love2008 as having chosen his words “Even the thought of it should be viewed as a capital offense” deliberately.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  29. Aphrael,

    For some reason I missed the italicized portion at the beginning of your comment and I thought you were commenting on the original post, not on love2008’s reaction to it. I apologize.

    DRJ (8b9d41)

  30. No need to apologize! This format for conversation makes it easy to miss things like that. 🙂

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  31. If I believe that a particular politician is a danger to the country, and should be “terminated with extreme prejudice”, and then go out and buy some ammo; have I acted upon my thoughts?

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  32. AD- if you had a buddy similarly planning, and you tried to get another guy while you were buying the ammo, and you cased da joint….

    Yep. Kinda like I’d view a guy coming around a shadowy corner with a knife as acting on his intent to do me dire harm, and would do my d*mndest to kill him.

    Foxfier (15ac79)

  33. Well, I guess it’s a good thing I never said anything to anyone before buying that case of 30-06, “sniper” ammo.
    Now, if I could only figure out a way to get the three anchors on the same airplane, in the ME, with all those CIA-supplied shoulder-launched missiles that the Libs are always screeching about?

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  34. Anothew Drew,

    Apart from criminal penalties for threatening to ‘terminate’ a President, I suspect you would get a lot more of the feds attention if you simultaneously bought ammunition.

    DRJ (92ca6f)

  35. If this guy had solicited the murder of his wife, and done the same steps, he’d have gotten at least this much time.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  36. … not to mention a divorce.

    DRJ (92ca6f)

  37. Who thinks that if W dies that Congress would act on the VP nomination in the time remaining in W’s term?

    Cheney’s health had better hold, folks.

    President Pelosi.

    Ed (da1228)

  38. Bush aint dying. He will live to finish his term and hand over to a democratically elected President come January ’09. Long live the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of the united states of America. Long live the Republic! God save the President.

    love2008 (1b037c)

  39. love2008, Bush will relinquish power in 2009? How could that be? He’s trashed the Constitution! He’ll use the claim of the Unitary Executive to keep power!

    SPQR (26be8b)

  40. a democratically elected President

    That has never happened in our nation’s history. What makes you think it would start this cycle? And why should it be changed?

    (Hint: the US is not a democracy.)

    Drumwaster (5ccf59)

  41. #39
    Ha Ha Ha ha Ha Ha ha …..very funny. Yeah, he is going to Mugabe right? Thats a good idea you know. Atleast he gets to finish this Iraq mess and put finishing touches on his legacy.

    love2008 (1b037c)

  42. love2008, I guess Bush just isn’t much of a fascist after all.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  43. #42
    No. He’s okay.

    love2008 (1b037c)

  44. such hatred…

    TLove (b8e7b4)

  45. Catching up…

    DRJ #34…
    I never posited threatening anyone, only THINKING.
    I take seriously the safety of the President of the United States of America, as I have stood, with right-hand raised, affirming my support – and defense for – the Constitution of the United States – from ALL enemies, foreign and domestic!

    Just asking a hypothetical, isn’t that what you’re taught to do in Law School?

    Another Drew (8018ee)


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