I must say, if the Atlantic is “for it”, I am “agin it”.
Let’s see how this plays out. The data on who shot who will eventually come out. There may have been some innocents biker wannabees that got swept up in this. For the most part, it looks like a very unsavory bunch did a circular firing squad on themselves.
Most of the latest “Cops are the bad guys” stories have ended up being just that: stories. All fiction.
And in this case, I hope you're right.
Interesting point.
There is so much questioning of government reports around here, it is interesting to see some willing to accept the government’s stories when it supports their view of the world. Yet, anything else that comes out of government is looked at with a cynical eye.
I am not defending 1% motorcycle gangs and their crimes. And I am always for waiting for the entire story to come out before passing judgement.
My comment, not directly specifically at you, is how people will cherry-pick when they want to believe the authority figures, and when they question them.
“it looks like a very unsavory bunch did a circular firing squad on themselves.”
If that were the case, the DA et al would have been quick to hold a news conference touting that line and trotting out supporting evidence - that’s what usually happens in most cases in most places.
That the DA et al have, instead, clammed up and are saying as little as possible - and what they are saying is profoundly stupid - is putting this story squarely in the implied “other” category opposing your “most of the latest” comment. Isn’t helping that their behavior strongly resembles notable police/legal behaviors in the same city some 22 years ago - an event which was hardly “fiction”.
On the surface I would agree but I think we need to recognize one thing we can agree on when we can. If there is still a libtard left that is actually rational we need to reach out where possible. I don’t want my children suffering under tyranny imposed by the likes of Lindsey Graham any more than Hillary Clinton. If The Atlantic is becoming alarmed at what we are seeing in Twin Peaks, that is a good thing, IMHO. This story is begging for a Woodward and Bernstein. If the ATF was actually anywhere near this it is much bigger than Watergate. I don’t care if it is The Atlantic or The Wall Street Journal. This story is crying out for the last real ethical journalist in America to go to work, if there still is one.
Even more, where is Abbott in all this? After all it is HIS state! Seems to me he is the one guy who could start calling people on the carpet with one question. “WTF?”
While you're waiting for more information to come out, consider FACTS (not opinions, not speculation, but FACTS) already known:
TWO THIRDS of the people arrested and still being held on million-dollar bail have ZERO criminal record in Texas.
So -- either this meeting was heavily dominated by out-of-state criminal bikers ....
-- or only one in three "unsavory" bikers, whether they are wannabees or "patched," have criminal records.
Critical thinking here, from real-life experience right here on the ground with real people: even a wannabee "bad" biker, let alone a REAL one, who is intent on meth pushing, racketeering, murder, and robbery, HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD.
If there's zero criminal record, then it's a pretty sure bet that it's just a regular ol' Harley dude or dudette who may or may not belong to a motorcycle buddy club. America is blessed with hundreds of thousands of such Harley patriots, and I am very proud to say that there are several in my own immediate family and a whole lot more among my personal friends going back more than 50 years.
Here's another FACT for you guys to consider while you wait (and it will be a long time) to "see how this plays out." One of the guys killed, J.D. Rodriguez, was a decorated Marine (Purple Heart), a lifelong Harley rider, a Texan, with ZERO criminal record and ZERO affiliation with any club, let alone any criminal club.
It isn't rocket science, guys.
The problem is that after seeing the pictures showing where the bullets came from and where the bodies dropped it does not make this a circular firing squad, it looks like an execution squad.... if the pictures are true. The other problem I now have is the authorities actions to date. I thought the conspiracy theories a joke the first couple of days, now they are becoming a lot more interesting because of pictures and actions of the authorities.
Something is very rotten here because if this was all good for the authorities this would be playing out differently.
The 1% bikers do not come to open meetings at public places. The 1% are hard core criminals, most have records and the last thing they want is to commit a crime in a place where police are present or cameras are in place. They a criminal, but they are not stupid. Few if any of those at the meeting were hardcore criminals. 1/3 of arrested had criminal record, of any type. That is pretty broad statement.
Even a blind hog can find a nut, and even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
The Atlantic has this much right: this was a massacre, and a railroad of mostly innocent people, and the police are trying to hush it up.
Even a blind hog can find a nut, and even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
The Atlantic has this much right: this was a massacre, and a railroad of mostly innocent people, and the police are trying to hush it up.