prayers for a hedge of protection
around barack obama.
may he be encircled
by mighty angels.

I would like to know more about this and why it's being reported just days before the election.

Why now?
Why 102?
What organization was involved?
How was it detected?

I am suspicious it may be 'angled' for maximum sympathy even if true.

Yeah, El V, because the ATF is in the tank for Obama.

Can't you at least try to make sense?

may he be encircled by mighty angels.

Uh, yeah ... might want to throw a few Secret Service agents in front of him. You know, just for insurance.

El V, check the full article http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jsCEnrVzDQoU5tg63njLNy0UTDNAD94330J00 it says 88 and 14 are important numbers in white supremacy for some reason.

88+14=102

88: HH (H is the 8th letter of the alphabet); Heil Hitler
14: Reference to a neo-Nazi slogan that's fourteen words long. Nazis just love their numerology. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words

p.s. El V, you know, sometimes it's acceptable just not to say anything at all.

They probably wouldn't have been able to get anywhere near Obama, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't have managed to take out at least a few innocent people on the way, which is bad enough. When they've gotten to the point of committing actual crimes like burglary to try and put their plans into effect, I think that's a pretty good indicator that they were serious about trying to kill people.

The question now is whether he has it in him to condemn these ads and demand their removal from the air, or whether they'll just be added to the list of things McCain needs to apologize for after the election.

Is that really a question?

They probably wouldn't have been able to get anywhere near Obama...

Yeah, sounds like a couple of goobers from Arkansas with no chance in hell.

On the other hand, the story is just what those who view everything through the lens of racism need to justify their constant vigil.

> On the other hand, the story is just
> what those who view everything
> through the lens of racism need to
> justify their constant vigil.

Yes, it's fortunate that McCain's campaign is too high-minded to stoke racial stereotypes and fears in order to win votes.

(just for El Viagra: the above paragraph is "sarcasm".)

As far as the Neo-Nazis themselves are concerned, good riddance to bad rubbish. Even if they were only punk kids just talking tough together.

But if you read the reports, the two punks had been corresponding on the Intertubes for only a month before they were caught. I'm not even sure they had met each other. How do you think the ATF twigged on at this very early stage in their conspiracy?

I don't like our surveillance society, even if sometimes they get somebody. The somebodies they get will only be the stupid. I don't feel particularly protected here.

From a quick read of an affadavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, these guys sound like a pair of complete idiots.

"Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and top hats during the assassination attempt."

"Later that evening they purchased window chalk and wrote numerous racially motivated words and symbols on the exterior of Cowart's vehicle."

Dangerous idiots in possession of a sawed-off shotgun, but idiots nevertheless.

Somebody bring some new pants and undies in for the lefties--a couple of meth addled dumbasses, with--gasp--shaven heads that are white--white I tell you--have been doing some target practice and spinning crazy hate fantasies about one of the candidates who just happens to be part black. Thank your Obamassiah that at least most of the white racists in the country are powerless and idiotic.

"Thank your Obamassiah that at least most of the white racists in the country are powerless and idiotic."

Straight from the horse's mouth, eh?

Part of being the president is that people will try to assassinate you. Usually they will fail, but sometimes they will not. People have tried to assassinate George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and, of course, Ronald Reagan.

Out of 43 presidents, we've had 4 fatalities (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy), and three non-fatal casualties (Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Reagan), a fatality rate (9.3%) and total casualty rate (16.3%) that compares with the front lines of a rather bloody war.

However, not all presidents are equal in the intensity of people's attempts to assassinate them. It is worrisome. Remember back in the mid-90s, when Posse Comitatus, the Aryan Nations, the National Alliance, the militias, and Christian Identity nuts all seemed like they were going to overthrow the government? (Okay -- maybe not, but I was, like, twelve at the time, so my perceptions might have been exaggerated.) Those movements went into decline, perhaps thanks to the economic boom of the late 90s. I think the 2000s have also seen them weakened by the fact that we've had a right wing president. Now, no true Posse Comitatus type is satisfied with Bush, but a somewhat more marginal far-right figure might be inclined to grumble about Bush being too much of a big-government socialist, but not as angry as during a Democratic presidency.

Now, though, we're heading into a time that looks like it will combine hard economic times with a figure that seems likely to be far more infuriating to the militia sorts than a centrist southern governor of Arkansas.

Not comforting indeed.

Geez, spare no thought for the other black people they were planning to kill ...

The ones without Secret Service patrol?

They are idiots, yes, but even idiots can cause damage in a public square ...