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Cheatle out … but questions remain

Cheatle out … but questions remain

The attempted assassination of President Trump has resulted in an unusual bipartisan agreement.  It was a result of a monumental screw up by the Secret Service – compounded by unimaginable incompetency by the head of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle.

Cheatle’s incompetency was so obviously profound that the calls for her resignation were so loud and across party lines that her departure was inevitable and swift.  She floundered from the start.  Instead of taking charge and holding periodic public briefings with pertinent updates, Cheatle offered almost no information to the public, the press and Congress –despite daily requests.  And when she did offer a response, it was prima facia …  stupid – such as her claim the agents were not on the roof the shooter fired from because it was too steep or that that building was outside the Secret Service’s protective rim.

The capstone of incompetency was her appearance before Congress.  As a person who has testified before Congress and briefed dozens of people who testified, I was as shocked by her performance as much as I was shocked by President Biden’s debate performance.

Cheatle appeared contemptuous for being asked simple questions to which she should have known the answers.  Worse yet, she ducked, dodged and lied.   She could not name who was in charge on the ground – or who reviewed and approved the plans. 

In my own experience, people to appear before Congress spend hours being briefed.  Aides provide likely questions.  One even discusses demeanor.  They prepare a strong opening statement.  None of that appears to have happened with Cheatle.  After nine days, Cheatle appeared to be clueless about any of the events of July 13th.  She seemed to have been less informed of details than the press.  That is beyond gross incompetence.

In the absence of factual information, Cheatle’s incompetence promoted all kinds of conspiracy theories.  In one poll, one-third of Democrats believe Trump staged the shooting.

Cheatle’s performance was so bad that members on both sides called for her to resign … or be fired.  If Biden had not been back in his domestic bunker trying to get well and reconnect with reality, she probably would have been testifying as the FORMER director of the Secret Service.

Better late than never.  So, what is next?

Sometime in the near future Biden will nominate a new director.  In the meantime, Biden has named Ronald Rowe as acting director.  He will take over … get on top of the situation … and provide information to the public in a more competent and traditional manner. He could not do worse than Cheatle.

There is no doubt that there was a monumental screwup at many levels.  The most critical questions that remain unanswered include:

  1. Who was in charge of the planning of the operation?
  2. Were there sufficient resources?
  3. Why was the Secret Service’s responsibility limited to the enclosed venue?
  4. Who was supposedly in charge of the outer area?
  5. Why was no one posted on the roof from which the shooter fired?
  6. Why did the police not see the shooter on the roof like so many others?
  7. Why was the shooter not found by police when so many reported his whereabouts?
  8. Why was Trump allowed on stage after reports of a suspicious person with a gun?

The answers to this question will give us a good indication of the various individuals who fell short – and who were responsible for a serious failure that led to the assassination attempt.   They may include Secret Service personnel or local police.  In any case, there should be a round of dismissals and reassignments.

As was the interrogation of Cheatle, finding the facts and holding those accountable should not be a partisan issue.  It should not take too long to get the facts out and take any actions necessary to avoid a future incident,

As a footnote, there is a lot of talk about Trump’s close call – and the ramifications of a more successful attempt on the former President.  But let us not forget that one person in that audience was not so lucky.  That is a much greater tragedy than speculation over a near miss – even of a president of the United States. Make no mistake.  Wounding a former and potentially future President is a very big deal, but not as big of a deal as it is for the family of Corey Comperatore

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

10 Comments

  1. frank stetson

    Not a bad view of the facts IMO although your proclivity to beat dead horses, kick the dog when it’s down, seems to resound throughout your party. Surprised you don’t want to exhume Lincoln to prove that Biden poisoned him……

    All true, I am sure the investigations and house cleaning will continue, and IMO —- perfect example of the Peter principle in action. The buck stops with her but I am sure there are many problems in the Secret Service adding to this incredible error. She is gone, the House has it’s trophy, let’s move on and fix problems including how she got there in the first place. There’s a bill to make this position a Congressional approval —– might be a good idea for example.

    And yes, I was watching live as the shots range out. I typed my thoughts but PBP restricted my free speech although Joe says no and does not want to investigate further. Wonder if his lack of curiosity is an example of some of the things gone wrong at the Secret Service. I know when someone says “broken,” I investigate. But, first I thought that it looked like a hornet sting, then he went down as more shots rang out and my thoughts immediately went to the audience where I figured there were a number of dead and wounded. It seemed pretty obvious he would recover. It was a tragedy but should have been worse. The shooter must have pulled many of the later shots off target. Meanwhile the people in the stands seemed to be mostly unmoving deer in the headlights. I would have been flat out on the nearest surface.

    You are right to remember the innocent victim that is the real horror of this all. But it’s three victims, one death. Of the other two, one of the wounded just got released, the other is serious but stable. One of the things I note with mass shootings is the damage to the wounded, both in mind and spirit, makes many a strong person wish for the finality of death. I know it takes me years to recover from a good auto accident, can’t imagine the time it takes to get back to form after you are shot good enough to be in the hospital for days, weeks, or months. I still twitch at intersections until I see the whites o thy eyes. I do not ride with others, I always drive. These shocks change you forever. I am guessing Trump is changed as well.

    As an aside, the other thing I was struck by is as he is put into the SUV, camera right is some snaggle-tooted, trucker hat, old guy giving the finger to the camera and screaming F you, F you, over and over. I wondered if he knew I was there because this was not MSM even, this was newsmax……. Have to say he lightened a horrible moment. Priceless was his rage in picking out the culprit(s). And I felt decidedly ill as I remembered these occurrences in the past.

    Slow down, take a breadth, and let’s get a full reckoning from a comprehensive assessment which should not stall any immediate actions to avoid this in the future.

    And told you this would be a hot summer. Not over yet.

  2. Tom

    This article earns an Stop The Spin (STS) rating of STS-2. Essential facts seem to be correct, just biased and other facts conveniently omitted.

    1) True, some Dems did hatch a notion that Trump staged this shooting. What Larry did not mention was that some Republicans also hatched equal in kind notions that Biden had something to do with it. Wonder why Larry would not mention this?

    2) Biden being at home attempting to reconnect to reality? There has never been any medical evidence that Biden is not connected to reality (otherwise called delusional) – this is pure Horist hate. Biden called Trump within hours of the shooting to express his regrets and well wishes. Trump has since that phone call ramped up the hatred against Biden and now Harris.

    However, there is a candidate that has exhibited mental illness and delusional behavior. Donald Trump has a “dangerous mental illness” and is not fit to lead the US, a group of psychiatrists has warned during a conference at Yale University. Mental health experts claimed the President was “paranoid and delusional”, and said it was their “ethical responsibility” to warn the American public about the “dangers” Mr Trump’s psychological state poses to the country. Read more at the article “donald-trump-dangerous-mental-illness-yale-psychiatrist-conference-us-president-unfit-james-gartner-duty-to-warn-a7694316 and listen to the experts!!! A total of 350 psychiatrists have signed a letter to the RNC stating dire concerns about Trump’s behavior – and delusional behavior (not connected to reality) was center stage with narcissism.

    3) Kimberly Cheatle was the assistant director when Reagan was shot. But nobody was ever fired over the Reagan shootings! Could this whole thing be more political? Fake outrage? Kimberly Cheatle, the now-former director of the U.S. Secret Service, has resigned from her post, following the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. She is the first director in the agency’s history to leave office in the immediate aftermath of an assassination attempt on an incoming or current president or major presidential candidate, according to historians. Read more at the Miami Herald article 290336769.

    I guess its ok not to fire the Secret Service Director when a Republican President is shot since the directorship is a presidential appointment.

    What’s next? Simple. Biden will get together with Harris and appoint another director. No big deals. And as for Trump, this incident of being shot by one of his own did not change him. He will continue the lies and delusional behavior – but will add a healthy dose of panic because now the felon faces the prosecutor.

  3. Darren

    If this was an assassination attempt gone wrong, all fingers would be sooner or later be pointing
    to the Big Guy!
    One day he says I am in it for the long haul!
    Next day he is out?
    When people start talking years from now, will the information they reveal tell if the White House
    new about the attempt on Trumps life?
    Yes, leave while the leaving is good!

    • Tom

      So you are saying “the big guy” found a 20 year old registered Republican who lived 20 miles away from the shooting sight and “the big guy” recruited this deranged and bullied 20 year old to shoot his opponent when according to the Supreme Court case on Trump immunity, he could have just hired Seal Team 6 to get the job done right and claim he did it to save our country and get away with it???

      Years from now, the information will most likely reveal that Biden and his staff knew zero about it. But just as with the election 2020 results, I am sure we can count on MAGA minions to keep the lie alive! 🙂

  4. Tom

    Hey Larry, want to talk about being attached to reality??? Trump at the Charlotte rally a couple days ago said he wants to use race car drivers and football coaches to guide our military because these people win a lot!!! How detached from reality is that when you want to take football coaches to guide military battle tactitioners and officers!!!! THIS IS THE HEIGHT OF DELUSIONAL!!!!

    Perhaps you could write an article about how detached from reality Trump can be? That is, if you can attach yourself long enough! LOL

  5. Darren

    Yes, and Oswald was a lone gunman.
    Right?
    I suppose Ruby was doing his civic duty!

  6. Frank stetson

    Darren, it was Trump with a blood bulb, a 20 year old loser Oswald-like dupe who told his boss, see you Monday, who fired blanks while Trump’s hand picked Secret Service put a coupke in the crowd and crowd and the chump.

    Has anyone proved Trump hit by bullet? Wray was not sure and Trump has gagged the attending doctors.

    Has anyone tied Crooks gun to the shooting or any of the fired bullets?

    Why no letter, no motive, and a clever recent search on Oswald, Biden, and Trump.

    Yup, conspiracy is easy. Truth takes time sometimes.

    • Tom

      Yeah, I wondered why Trump gagged his doctors! It will come out sooner or later. For now, it has the appearance of shifty.

  7. IRISH

    the hoax tale goes on. you WILL believe it ,see? we got the SS lady fired. its real, believe it. lol

  8. RJ O'Guillory

    ….more theater, lies and malarkey. You notice that almost everyone in power always steers the conversation around to incompetence…when we all know it was a Deep State / Biden / Clinton / Obama / Bush / Globalist attempt to murder Trump. It might have been incompetence that caused the assassination attempt to fail, but there were no “mistakes” in the planning of the event. The “mistakes” were purposeful and designed to provide the chance to murder.

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