Timothy McVeigh: an American Tragedy

[chrisrobin]

Timothy McVeigh was the perfect Republican:
* Had that “all-American boy” look: blonde hair, blue eyes, crew-cut
* Served in the Armed Forces
* Honorably discharged
* Earned a Bronze Star in the first Gulf War

Timmy also would have been the perfect Republican candidate for president in 2012:
* Registered Republican
* Hated the Federal government
* Active in the “Patriot Movement” (see “Teabaggers”)
* Against raising taxes
* For pro gun rights - defended practice of owning multiple firearms
* Anti-United Nations – feared for loss of American sovereignty

Unfortunately, he had a major character flaw: lack of patience - unfamiliar with the saying, “all things come to those who wait.” He was born in 1968, would have made him 44 at the time of his inauguration – the ideal age to be president.

He should have waited:
* No 168 dead or 637 survivors in Oklahoma City.
* Uniter of the Republican Party.
* Leader of the Free World!

“He coulda had class. He coulda been a contender. He coulda been somebody.” (with apologies to Bud Schulberg).

We could have heard it next year: Tampa Bay - August 2012 - St. Pete. Times Forum - by acclamation - Timothy James McVeigh - next President of the United States!

That which might have been…

 

[Spiff]

Republican voters (theoretically) hate the federal government. But Republican politicians love the federal government. It is their dream job. Get elected, do nothing, and get paid handsomely.

 

[justapixel]

Republican voters (theoretically) hate the federal government. But Republican politicians love the federal government. It is their dream job. Get elected, do nothing, and get paid handsomely.

You just described Obama.

Get elected, do nothing, and get paid handsomely.

 

[chrisrobin]

[Quoted Post: Removed by Moderator]

I misspoke. Please see first line: Timothy McVeigh was the perfect Republican

The truth hurts, doesn't it? One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.

 

[kallipolis]

You just described Obama.

Get elected, do nothing, and get paid handsomely.

Presented for your review, here is just a fraction of items from the list at Politifact.com of campaign promises kept by Pres. Obama. I recommend visiting their site to review the complete 7 page list, it is impressive http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/rulings/promise-kept/ :
A SAMPLE OF CAMPAIGN PROMISES KEPT BY PRESIDENT OBAMA:

No. 4: Extend child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixes
No. 16: Increase minority access to capital
No. 33: Establish a credit card bill of rights
No. 36: Expand loan programs for small businesses
No. 37: Extend the Bush tax cuts for lower incomes
No. 38: Extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 (couples) or $200,000 (single)
No. 48: Close the “doughnut hole” in Medicare prescription drug plan
No. 51: Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
No. 53: Give tax credits to those who need help to pay health premiums
No. 55: Require large employers to contribute to a national health plan
No. 56: Require children to have health insurance coverage
No. 57: Expand eligibility for Medicaid
No. 58: Expand eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
No. 63: Require health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care
No. 65: Establish an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information
No. 69: In non-competitive markets, force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care
No. 70: Eliminate the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans
No. 93: Reinstate executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.
No. 105: Increase the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health
No. 109: Fully fund the Veterans Administration
No. 113: Expand the Veterans Administration’s number of “centers of excellence” in specialty care
No. 121: Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act
No. 125: Direct military leaders to end war in Iraq
No. 126: Begin removing combat brigades from Iraq
No. 132: No permanent bases in Iraq
No. 161: End the abuse of supplemental budgets for war
No. 167: Make U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror efforts
No. 172: Open “America Houses” in Islamic cities around the globe
No. 182: Allocate Homeland Security funding according to risk
No. 195: Seek verifiable reductions in nuclear stockpiles
No. 196: Extend monitoring and verification provisions of the START I Treaty
No. 197: Stand down nuclear forces to be reduced under the Moscow Treaty
No. 215: Create a rapid response fund for emerging democracies
No. 222: Grant Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba
No. 225: Establish an Energy Partnership for the Americas
No. 229: Expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers
No. 239: Release presidential records
No. 241: Require new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
No. 244: Provide affordable, high-quality child care
No. 247: Recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession
No. 259: Reduce subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowers
No. 269: Increase funding for national parks and forests
No. 275: Expand Pell grants for low-income students
No. 290: Push for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors
No. 293: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
No. 315: Establish ‘Promise Neighborhoods’ for areas of concentrated poverty
No. 359: Rebuild schools in New Orleans
No. 371: Fund a major expansion of AmeriCorps
No. 411: Work to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
No. 422: Create new financial regulations
No. 427: Ban lobbyist gifts to executive employees
No. 433: Sign a “universal” health care bill
No. 435: Create new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud
No. 449: Raise fuel economy standards
No. 458: Invest in all types of alternative energy
No. 483: Invest in public transportation
No. 495: Double federal spending for research on clean fuels
No. 500: Increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency
No. 507: Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
No. 513: Reverse restrictions on stem cell research




I am certain that I have overlooked a few items. I beg forgiveness.

 

[TheFireGod]

You forgot to include idolizing The Turner Diaries and his ties to the radical right wing racist groups as his flaws.

 

[justapixel]

Presented for your review, here is just a fraction of items from the list at Politifact.com of campaign promises kept by Pres. Obama. I recommend visiting their site to review the complete 7 page list, it is impressive http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/rulings/promise-kept/ :
A SAMPLE OF CAMPAIGN PROMISES KEPT BY PRESIDENT OBAMA:

No. 4: Extend child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixes
No. 16: Increase minority access to capital
No. 33: Establish a credit card bill of rights
No. 36: Expand loan programs for small businesses
No. 37: Extend the Bush tax cuts for lower incomes
No. 38: Extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 (couples) or $200,000 (single)
No. 39: Extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich.
No. 48: Close the “doughnut hole” in Medicare prescription drug plan
No. 51: Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
No. 53: Give tax credits to those who need help to pay health premiums
No. 55: Require large employers to contribute to a national health plan
No. 56: Require children to have health insurance coverage
No. 57: Expand eligibility for Medicaid
No. 58: Expand eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
No. 63: Require health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care
No. 65: Establish an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information
No. 69: In non-competitive markets, force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care
No. 70: Eliminate the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans
No. 93: Reinstate executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.
No. 105: Increase the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health
No. 109: Fully fund the Veterans Administration
No. 113: Expand the Veterans Administration’s number of “centers of excellence” in specialty care
No. 121: Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act
No. 125: Direct military leaders to end war in Iraq
No. 126: Begin removing combat brigades from Iraq
No. 132: No permanent bases in Iraq
No. 161: End the abuse of supplemental budgets for war
No. 167: Make U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror efforts
No. 172: Open “America Houses” in Islamic cities around the globe
No. 182: Allocate Homeland Security funding according to risk
No. 195: Seek verifiable reductions in nuclear stockpiles
No. 196: Extend monitoring and verification provisions of the START I Treaty
No. 197: Stand down nuclear forces to be reduced under the Moscow Treaty
No. 215: Create a rapid response fund for emerging democracies
No. 222: Grant Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba
No. 225: Establish an Energy Partnership for the Americas
No. 229: Expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers
No. 239: Release presidential records
No. 241: Require new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
No. 244: Provide affordable, high-quality child care
No. 247: Recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession
No. 259: Reduce subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowers
No. 269: Increase funding for national parks and forests
No. 275: Expand Pell grants for low-income students
No. 290: Push for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors
No. 293: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
No. 315: Establish ‘Promise Neighborhoods’ for areas of concentrated poverty
No. 359: Rebuild schools in New Orleans
No. 371: Fund a major expansion of AmeriCorps
No. 411: Work to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
No. 422: Create new financial regulations
No. 427: Ban lobbyist gifts to executive employees
No. 433: Sign a “universal” health care bill
No. 435: Create new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud
No. 449: Raise fuel economy standards
No. 458: Invest in all types of alternative energy
No. 483: Invest in public transportation
No. 495: Double federal spending for research on clean fuels
No. 500: Increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency
No. 507: Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
No. 513: Reverse restrictions on stem cell research




I am certain that I have overlooked a few items. I beg forgiveness.

How many times are you going to publish this list. We have discussed it many, many times.

We have all agreed the list is a joke when you include things like

No. 37: Extend the Bush tax cuts for lower incomes
No. 38: Extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 (couples) or $200,000 (single)
No. 39: Extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

 

[T-Rexx]

McVeigh had quite a lot of characteristics that would have made him an ideal Republican presidential candidate.

But he had one flaw that probably would have destroyed his candidacy - he was highly intelligent.

 

[chrisrobin]

You forgot to include idolizing The Turner Diaries and his ties to the radical right wing racist groups as his flaws.

You're right, but I was only trying to emphasize Timmy's positive attributes.
Optional homework assignment: See how many of these attributes are part of the RNC platform.

 

[chrisrobin]

McVeigh had quite a lot a characteristics that would have made him an ideal Republican presidential candidate.
But he had one flaw that probably would have destroyed his candidacy - he was highly intelligent.

................
DAMN!

 

[jackoroe]

McVeigh's notions about the federal government weren't without foundation. Remember the government had just recently murdered innocent people at Ruby Ridge and killed women and children at Waco. So he was angry that no one had been brought to justice on those scores.

Of course murdering innocent people in return makes you just as bad. I'm sure McVeigh is in a very special area of hell right about now.

 

[kallipolis]

McVeigh's notions about the federal government weren't without foundation. Remember the government had just recently murdered innocent people at Ruby Ridge and killed women and children at Waco. So he was angry that no one had been brought to justice on those scores.

Of course murdering innocent people in return makes you just as bad. I'm sure McVeigh is in a very special area of hell right about now.

Let's distil this to its roots.

Federal agents kill people in the line of duty. The methodology of the Federal officers is questioned. Federal agency procedures have been changed to better address future similar incidents that occurred at Ruby Ridge, and Waco.

McVeigh kills innocent people as a deliberate act of murder.

No relationship between the two that I can identify.

 

[chrisrobin]

Let's distil this to its roots.

Let's... Mr. McVeigh's antipathy toward the Federal government was festering long before either Waco or Ruby Ridge.

With this in mind, it must be said that none of the current crop of Republican presidential candidates would take exception to any of Mr. McVeigh's attributes. I can just hear him on the campaign trail, "we're taking our country back!"

 

[jackoroe]

Let's distil this to its roots.

Federal agents kill people in the line of duty. The methodology of the Federal officers is questioned. Federal agency procedures have been changed to better address future similar incidents that occurred at Ruby Ridge, and Waco.

McVeigh kills innocent people as a deliberate act of murder.

No relationship between the two that I can identify.

Let's distill using facts this time. Federal agents murder and unarmed woman at Ruby Ridge, Vicki Weaver. They also shot an unarmed 13 year old boy in the back, murdering him, as well as a presumably unarmed golden retriever.

The federal government investigates itself and surprisingly determines there was no problem with any of this. In fact, it promotes the sniper, Horiuchi, for having killed the unarmed Vicki Weaver. Nice touch!

Weaver, is found guilty of failing to appear in court and nothing more. His wife and son have been murdered by the federal government. No one is made accountable for that.

McVeigh is rightly outraged by the murderous act of the federal government and acts just like them in murdering innocent people in return.

Clear things up for you?

 

[kallipolis]

Let's distill using facts this time. Federal agents murder and unarmed woman at Ruby Ridge, Vicki Weaver. They also shot an unarmed 13 year old boy in the back, murdering him, as well as a presumably unarmed golden retriever.

The federal government investigates itself and surprisingly determines there was no problem with any of this. In fact, it promotes the sniper, Horiuchi, for having killed the unarmed Vicki Weaver. Nice touch!

Weaver, is found guilty of failing to appear in court and nothing more. His wife and son have been murdered by the federal government. No one is made accountable for that.

McVeigh is rightly outraged by the murderous act of the federal government and acts just like them in murdering innocent people in return.

Clear things up for you?

Your understandings are duly noted.

The Federal Government does not share your interpretation of the events.

 

[kallipolis]

Let's... Mr. McVeigh's antipathy toward the Federal government was festering long before either Waco or Ruby Ridge.

Duly noted.

 

[Kulindahr]

Let's distil this to its roots.

Federal agents kill people in the line of duty. The methodology of the Federal officers is questioned. Federal agency procedures have been changed to better address future similar incidents that occurred at Ruby Ridge, and Waco.

McVeigh kills innocent people as a deliberate act of murder.

Let's distill using facts this time. Federal agents murder and unarmed woman at Ruby Ridge, Vicki Weaver. They also shot an unarmed 13 year old boy in the back, murdering him, as well as a presumably unarmed golden retriever.

The federal government investigates itself and surprisingly determines there was no problem with any of this. In fact, it promotes the sniper, Horiuchi, for having killed the unarmed Vicki Weaver. Nice touch!

Weaver, is found guilty of failing to appear in court and nothing more. His wife and son have been murdered by the federal government. No one is made accountable for that.

McVeigh is rightly outraged by the murderous act of the federal government and acts just like them in murdering innocent people in return.

Clear things up for you?

Your understandings are duly noted.

The Federal Government does not share your interpretation of the events.

And Moamar Gaddafi believes Libyans are actually still loyal to him.

 

[chrisrobin]

Not only would Timothy McVeigh have been the perfect Republican, he would have been the perfect Teabagger!

Can't you just picture a bunch of tea bags dangling from Timmy's pork pie hat! Camouflage uniform for the army of hate. Great American hero! President McVeigh - it even sounds good.

 

[laikaNYC]

Tim McVeigh: militant atheist.

"Science is my religion."

Yeah, sounds like a typical Republican!

 

[T-Rexx]

^ You're right, laika.

Republicans hate science.