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H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 02:40 PM Monday

Think for Yourself

"Learn to see, listen, and think for yourself.” – Malcolm X

I've read with interest and respect what a number of people are convinced happened at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday night. Many are certain it was 100% real, while many others think it was a staged event. Both sides include people that I respect, and I can appreciate points they raise.

At this point, I do not have an opinion one way or the other. I do not need to have one, despite my interest in what actually took place. By this late date, we all know that gun violence is a problem, and that there are people who shoot people, both in public and private settings. That the suspect is one of these human gadflies, which can be viewed as evidence the event was real, makes sense. Yet, at the same time, there is a history of others – including some who are not very nice -- using gadflies who are unaware they are being used.

Most everyone can agree that the events appeared a tad surreal. At least to me. That hints that the whole thing was real, in my book, based upon the numerous assassinations and attempted assassinations in my lifetime. Very few these days are choreographed as well as those in the 1960s. Probably just the Charlie Kirk one might not be by an insane amateur like that Squeaky Fromme, who now resides in Utica, N.Y. There are times it's better to hire a professional.

Not everything reported in the media turns out to be true. Like, I heard the gunman was dead. Since a lot of shots were fired, that would make sense to one with as pure and thus gullible a mind as my own. Hence, when the words “he is dead” were uttered by a CNN reliable source, I took it seriously. I hope this explains why on someone's post here, I said he was killed by Officer Jack Ruby. That was unpure speculation on my part, the type I might include on my resume for a CNN job application.

For that matter, it wasn't true when I said that Eric Trump was on a grassy knoll near the event. Or that the FBI found Jared's phone number and five sequential hundred dollars from a Mexican bank in the gadfly's hotel room. Looking back, I grapple with why I think of such things, much less say them. In my defense, however, I should note that neither has been proven to be lies in a courtroom. Release the gadfly files!

It did strike me as odd that at the press conference shortly after the events, everyone on stage was grinning like a Cheshire cat. The president spouted words from his mouth that darned near sounded rehearsed. And the maga response in the hours between then and now sound almost coordinated. Having been a student of math in high school, I can understand why those who are convinced it was fake would say it doesn't add up. But we must keep in mind that the video of said event and the Gadfly Manifesto were released in record time.
I've said all this to show that I don't know if it was real or a set-up. I'm curious how the gadfly was taken down, since he did not appear to bullet riddled, getting emergency medical attention, in the photo of him laying on the floor. I'd like to know how many shots were actually fired, by whom, and what they hit. But that's just me, sitting here listening to Elvis sing “Suspicious Minds.”

So I'm not going to engage in speculation on that event. I might, however, insist it was as fake as a twenty dollar bill to confuse and frustrate republicans. I know my rights. And the lyrics to “Strawberry Fields Forever.” But I do know one thing for certain, and that is no matter what transpired, the president is using it to communicate his “I am the Chosen One” message to his brain-dead followers. And that this is part of his campaign to excite them in the months before the mid-terms, and convince them that God is on their side.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Think for Yourself (Original Post) H2O Man Monday OP
Yes...I've been hearing the "back & forth" for quite a while now and the rehearsed nature hlthe2b Monday #1
Right! H2O Man Monday #12
You're aware that I think it was fake Saoirse9 Monday #2
As you know, H2O Man Monday #13
Thanks for the birthday wishes Saoirse9 Tuesday #17
Do what you want to do, and go where you want to go. Think for yourself NBachers Monday #3
Very good! H2O Man Monday #14
Confusion for the sake of confusion. Eyes on the Prize. usonian Monday #4
Yes. H2O Man Tuesday #18
Ask Pirro about the Jan6 insurrectionists malaise Monday #5
Wait! H2O Man Tuesday #19
Simple answer malaise Tuesday #21
Simple H2O Man Tuesday #33
The truth bro malaise Tuesday #34
These are strange times leftstreet Monday #6
"Make it plain." H2O Man Tuesday #20
My takeaway from it? He's lied so often that no one believes him. Maybe it happened and maybe not. Scrivener7 Monday #7
I agree. H2O Man Tuesday #22
I suspect he'll get the Luigi Mangione treatment (the guy who shot the USHealthcare CEO who Scrivener7 Tuesday #24
I'm going to simply repost what I said yesterday. It was mostly a series of questions. flashman13 Monday #8
Thank you! H2O Man Tuesday #23
I have no certainty about CT's, but tend to doubt them. ONE THING I'm certain is NOT TRUE: Martin Eden Monday #9
Thank you for a wonderful post and so well written. Good stuff. n/t SheilaAnn Monday #11
I think I can prove H2O Man Tuesday #25
Proven beyond belief Martin Eden Tuesday #27
It can be risky H2O Man Tuesday #32
To put this in boxing terms, you punch way above his class Martin Eden Tuesday #35
K&R spanone Monday #10
Thank you! H2O Man Tuesday #28
I don't find it "surreal" at all, nor do I think it was "faked"---- Jack Valentino Monday #15
It's a strange thing ...... H2O Man Tuesday #29
The fact that there so much speculation, and that whether or not this was staged became an almost immediate topic lees1975 Monday #16
Exactly! H2O Man Tuesday #30
Most folks are just reflecting Trump's own "fake news" accusation back to him. jmbar2 Tuesday #26
My late grandfather H2O Man Tuesday #31

hlthe2b

(114,376 posts)
1. Yes...I've been hearing the "back & forth" for quite a while now and the rehearsed nature
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 02:52 PM
Monday

of Trump and the admin was troublesome to me as well. On the other side, though, the fact that there was no betting on this whole incident (per the Kalshi and Polymarket reporting).. seemed a pretty good argument for it all being "real" plus a lot of aspects of the suspect assailant--including that he was not killed--just saying...

I suppose jumping in on the opportunity of pushing the Golden Ballroom might have been near instantaneous, so perhaps the speech was quickly written as well. Trump always adlibs anyway and perhaps a bit of adrenaline for "Sleepy Don" was enough to help him through it.

It is understandable that many are skeptical, given the unprecedented amount of lying coming out of this administration. But, all in all, I guess I'm going to conclude "real," yet one providing quite opportunity for the WH to seize on. And if this ends up giving these a'holes the justification for that damned ballroom (ignoring what lies beneath as that appears to be a "done deal," well, I will be beyond furious. Dems need to join the Preservationists' lawsuit, IMO).

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
12. Right!
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 09:15 PM
Monday

I remember that Malcolm X had a system for rating how much he thought he could trust others, from one to a hundred. Perhaps the combination of people not tusting the media, and this president rating "zero" on the trust scale, play a role in people doubting it was real.

And I agree 100% about joining the Preservationists' lawsuit.

Saoirse9

(3,962 posts)
2. You're aware that I think it was fake
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 03:01 PM
Monday

People were predicting early in this month that there would be another "assassination attempt." His polls are in the toilet. He has no way out of the war he started.

But what I think is not important. What is important in my view is that everyone knows he *would* fake an assassination attempt. Of course he would. He would tell any lie to stay in power.

Hell he lied and said he didn't fall when we all saw the video of him falling. He also said in the same interview that he was not a pedophile or rapist, and we all know he is. He is not capable of telling the truth, not even for a moment.

We can't trust anything he says or does.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
13. As you know,
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 09:23 PM
Monday

from reading my nonsense on FB, I have no interest in politics. Never have. I refuse to listen to, or read, any news. Then I go on one of my political discussions. (My sister, who I stated was a radical, contacted me within five minutes of my posting it to question if people would know I was joking. I told her I don't like jokes, and refuse to listen to them.)

I notice that you seem somehow older and wiser today. Happy birthday!

Saoirse9

(3,962 posts)
17. Thanks for the birthday wishes
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 12:22 PM
Tuesday

I agree that you're never joking, and have absolutely no interest in politics. Clearly.

But your (non-political) posts sure are wise.

NBachers

(19,535 posts)
3. Do what you want to do, and go where you want to go. Think for yourself
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 03:04 PM
Monday
?si=g6MVNPEushZTCBGS

usonian

(26,204 posts)
4. Confusion for the sake of confusion. Eyes on the Prize.
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 03:23 PM
Monday

Lasers work because they concentrate energy in a coherent (literally) and narrow linear beam.

I can’t say focused because this works better than focus.

It’s quite the achievement, and I met the laser’s founder, Charles Townes (it started with the MASER).

Rough analogy for non-physicists:
Coherent … waves waving together
Linear, all pointing at one target.
Narrow, energy going to one spot, regardless of distance,

Confusion is turbulence. On purpose.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
19. Wait!
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 02:21 PM
Tuesday

First, can anyone identify when Pirro might be sober? I've heard that has actually happened.

Ah, and here with May just around the corner, I anticipate an increase of leaks from the administration and more. It will be enough to sink the administration and the mid-term republicans attempting to escape in life boats.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
33. Simple
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 05:01 PM
Tuesday

and accurate.

Recently, when a friend posted the reports of Kasket Petal's history of alcohol-related arrests, a maga reacted with, "He was just a kid. We all were stupid as teens." I pointed out that he was in his twenties. More, I "agreed" that it is a good thing this administration highlights the disease of alcoholism. Every other disease has advocates and special days, but not alcoholism. There is so much discrimination in the workplace against those people who come to work shit-faced. And police don't arrest sober drivers, courts take away drivers' licences, and insurance companies refuse to insure them. That doesn't happen with any other disease. So it's great this administration has faith that Pirro, Petal, and Hegseth can do their jobs despite being raging alcoholics.

leftstreet

(41,160 posts)
6. These are strange times
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 03:29 PM
Monday

Two things appear to be true:

1) Trump is so hated and unpopular he wouldn't hesitate to stage assassinations

2) Trump is so hated and unpopular that people might want to actually assassinate him


DURec

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
20. "Make it plain."
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 02:25 PM
Tuesday

That's a quote from Malcolm X that he would say to those introducing him to an audience. You have done a perfect job of summing this up, in an accurate and easy way to understand. Much appreciated!

Scrivener7

(59,949 posts)
7. My takeaway from it? He's lied so often that no one believes him. Maybe it happened and maybe not.
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 04:09 PM
Monday

But it's just one more in the string of disasters surrounding him.

If he DOES try to stage something before the election, as Putin urged Orban to do, these things are completely ho-hum now. Another one won't dominate the news cycle for more than a day. It won't be the Reichstag event he would wish it to be.

FAFO.

Full disclosure: I think this was a real attempt, though no closer than attempts that happened to Obama 15 times. I think Butler, PA was a hoax.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
22. I agree.
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 03:24 PM
Tuesday

The funny thing is that even if that fellow goes to trial and is convicted, people will still have doubts.

No single human being comes close to being as responsible for the high levels of threats or violence as the president.

Scrivener7

(59,949 posts)
24. I suspect he'll get the Luigi Mangione treatment (the guy who shot the USHealthcare CEO who
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 03:30 PM
Tuesday

many thought was justified.)

There was a great editorial here yesterday. As usual I can't remember who wrote it, but the author said there were two violent men at the WHCD and the one they knocked to the ground wasn't the worst one. He never got a shot off. The other violent man at the WHCD has a body count in the tens or hundreds of thousands.

flashman13

(2,516 posts)
8. I'm going to simply repost what I said yesterday. It was mostly a series of questions.
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 04:24 PM
Monday

I still haven't seen any reasonable answers.

Knowing what I know now, I think it was a fake. To my mind, the question is, who fired the eight shots.

If it was the alleged assassin, how is it he is still alive? If he was doing the shooting, therefore endangering those around him, law enforcement would have been 100% justified in shooting him.

If law enforcement was shooting, that raises multiple questions. Why were they shooting? Who or what were they shooting at? Did law enforcement fire eight times and fail to hit the guy with the gun? That's a real WTF in itself. Where did those eight rounds go? Who fired the shot that hit the Secret Service agent? My bet would be on friendly fire. How did Allen end up on the floor seemingly unhurt and unconcerned? And lastly, why did he go to the hospital and not jail? That's an easy way to make him disappear from sight.

That seems to add up to just one more noisy distraction from Trump's many problems. Being able to pitch the ballroom nonsense was just a bonus.

Me thinks something, other than Trump, stinks in D.C.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
23. Thank you!
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 03:28 PM
Tuesday

These and other related questions are why people do not believe media reports are accurate. And at this late date, we know that everything the president says is a lie. He reminds me of Groucho's saying, "I deny everything I say. Everything I say is a lie. And everything I deny is a lie, too."

Martin Eden

(15,785 posts)
9. I have no certainty about CT's, but tend to doubt them. ONE THING I'm certain is NOT TRUE:
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 05:29 PM
Monday

Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2026, 06:32 PM - Edit history (1)

The notion that H2O Man has a "pure" and "gullible" mind.

Although I cannot see directly into the mind of our most esteemed fellow DUer, I'm pretty sure I can make out that his tongue was planted firmly in his cheek when he typed that.

The wisdom gleaned from Rubin which has poured into this forum, combined with the life experiences of H2O Man, renders our online friend among the least gullible of us all.

As for having a "pure" mind, rendering a verdict on that term could lead us down a deep rabbit hole of semantics and philosophy. Do age and worldly experience destroy purity? I won't even TRY to answer that question here.

Neveretheless, I'm sticking with my certainty because "pure" was in the same sentence as "gullible," which places them both firmly in cheek.

And I will also state, unequivocally, that Sir H2O Man (whom I have just apparently knighted without any authority to do so) has earned the right to be a bit cheeky now and then.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
25. I think I can prove
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 03:43 PM
Tuesday

the pure and gullible part. Yesterday, on facebook, a friend's husband was blaming Democrats for the price of gas in Florida. He meant to say it was $4.19 a gallon, but not being very smart, he posted that it was $419.00 per gallon. Immediately, with a sense of outrage rarely found in the real world, I started cussing the Florida Democrats who attacked Iran and caused all these darned problems! I said that four hundred dollars a gallon was terrible, and we should all refuse to pay more than $100 per gallon.

He attempted to correct my, acting as if I actually knew he meant $4.19, I suspect because even his maga friends were laughing. I made it clear that even that was a terrible thing, and definitely the fault of those Florida Democrats attacking Iran. I pointed out that due to their foolishness, we were now losing the war with Iran. None of them laughed at that, though!

(Thank you for your kind words.)

Martin Eden

(15,785 posts)
27. Proven beyond belief
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 04:16 PM
Tuesday

That MAGAloons are gullible enough to spout pure BS, too dumb to realize when they've stepped in a pile of it.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
32. It can be risky
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 04:52 PM
Tuesday

being kind to them, I have learned.

Reading King and Gandhi, I find myself wanting to be polite, even kind, to everyone. Recognizing that I am incapable of reaching the level those two achieved, I decided to only be impolite and downright rude to one maga that attacks others from our high school group of friends. I never liked him, so he seemed the perfect choice.

The local maga leader mistakes us for being friends, and despite his profound and intensely aggressive nonsense 99.9999% of the time he is conscious -- note I did not say sober -- I assisted him in doing research in Irish history. My mistake -- a week later, he said without proof that he was convinced that circa 800 ad, we shared a common ancestor.

Immediately, I contacted relatives, urging them to give blood to get any potential connection out of their systems. That I don't think antibiotics are enough.


(I have re-connected with old friends from high school, who thoroughly enjoy my "debates" with the maga guy. And I have a half-dozen people who contact me and say, "Did you see what that asshole wrote on Bill's (and/or others') page today? You need to go after him!&quot

Martin Eden

(15,785 posts)
35. To put this in boxing terms, you punch way above his class
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 06:48 PM
Tuesday

He's an unworthy opponent, yet very worthy of those metaphorical punches. If the mismatch entertains those with ringside seats, it's definitely worth the price of admission.

Giving blood is very worthy, as it can greatly benefit others. However, that gift has significant downsides if you selectively pass on the genetic material of your maga acquaintance.

Fortunately, it's likely that shared ancenstor goes much further back than 800ad, all the way to Olduvai Gorge.

Jack Valentino

(5,191 posts)
15. I don't find it "surreal" at all, nor do I think it was "faked"----
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 10:18 PM
Monday

What I find "surreal" is that there have not been A LOT MORE ATTEMPTS
on Trump's life, considering all the shit he has been doing.....


He is the rapist-pedophile-murderer-in-chief,
and if anyone eventually succeeds in ending his murderous reign,
I will be among the first to say "the bastard had it coming!"

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
29. It's a strange thing ......
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 04:29 PM
Tuesday

I do not like political violence. And I try very hard not to wish anyone dead. Thus, I compromise, and would favor the president having a stroke like old Joe Kennedy, Sr., reduced to a wheel chair, unable to speak or write. And I am opposed, in theory, to having people use him as a urinal while he is in his wheelchair. Be patient, and hold it until he is in his grave.

lees1975

(7,139 posts)
16. The fact that there so much speculation, and that whether or not this was staged became an almost immediate topic
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 10:35 PM
Monday

of discussion is a monumental indictment of the whole nature and character of Trump. There is probably not another human being on the face of the planet now whose lack of credibility is as poor and as bad off as Trump. It's so bad that something that is really not all that plausible can immediately become a whopping liabiity.

jmbar2

(8,083 posts)
26. Most folks are just reflecting Trump's own "fake news" accusation back to him.
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 03:48 PM
Tuesday

It's a way to say "We believe nothing from this administration", even when true, which is rare.

H2O Man

(79,185 posts)
31. My late grandfather
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 04:33 PM
Tuesday

would say of Nixon that he lacked the moral capacity to tell the truth twice consecutively. I'm confident he would agree this president can't tell the truth even once a month.

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