Good lord: Four arrested in assassination plot against Obama?
posted at 10:10 pm on August 25, 2008 by Allahpundit
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An early report quoted cops as saying they were skeptical there was any actual plan involved. Really? They had rifles with scopes, white supremacist tattoos and jewelry, and one of them said something to police about targeting Obama. And just as I’m typing that, Drudge red-fonts this update describing their intent to shoot him from a “high vantage point” from 750 yards away. Sounds plan-ish to me.
Sources told CBS4 police found two high-powered, scoped rifles in the car along with camouflage clothing, walkie-talkies, a bulletproof vest, a spotting scope, licenses in the names of other people and methamphetamine. One of the rifles is listed as stolen from Kansas.
Subsequently authorities went to the Cherry Creek Hotel to contact an associate of Gartrell’s. But that man, who was wanted on numerous warrants, jumped out of a sixth floor hotel window. Law enforcement sources say the man broke an ankle in the fall and was captured moments later. Sources say he was wearing a ring with a swastika, and is thought to have ties to white supremacist organizations.
A third man — an associate of Gartrell and the hotel jumper was also arrested. He told authorities that the two men “planned to kill Barack Obama at his acceptance speech.”
That man, along with a woman, are also under arrest.
Seriously, the guy should have his own National Guard detail just to be on the safe side.
Update: ABC quotes other cops as saying he was in no immediate danger and notes this:
After pulling over two men for allegedly driving erratically early Sunday morning, Aurora Police said they discovered two rifles, a bulletproof vest and the drug methamphetamine in the car. When authorities questioned the men about the findings, they pointed to another member of their alleged drug ring whom they say made a threat against Obama.
Update: “It could also turn out that these were nothing but a bunch of knuckleheads, meth heads.”
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Cherry Creek’s pretty snazzy digs. I’m sure skinheads wearing swastika rings didn’t exactly blend in with the locals.
Glad they caught the scum. How do you jump from a 6th story window and only break an ankle?
funky chicken on August 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Insanity on just day one !
And the GOP convention will be next and probably worse
William Amos on August 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM
As much as I would give anything for Obama to not be President, I could never get behind anything such as this.
I hope chaos abounds in Denver, but nothing so serious as anyone dying or being grievously injured.
Grafted on August 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Four? I heard there were five. Hillary must have gotten away on her broom.
MB4 on August 25, 2008 at 10:14 PM
MB4 on August 25, 2008 at 10:14 PM
LOL!
elduende on August 25, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Freakin’ racist meth-heads…..oh wait, just disadvantaged young men I’m sure.
ex-Democrat on August 25, 2008 at 10:15 PM
National Guard?
MB4 on August 25, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Whew, important if true, as the saying goes.
As we know, it only takes one nut.
Glad there was four of them. Made it easier to catch them since it increases the chances of them fouling things up.
Whatever the size of his Secret Service detail, triple it.
SteveMG on August 25, 2008 at 10:16 PM
I loathe Obama but I DON’T want him to get killed or hurt. These idiots are stuck in the 1960’s.
carbon_footprint on August 25, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Y’know, the meth finding makes it scarier. People will do things while on meth they would not do otherwise. This sounds deadly serious.
mikeyboss on August 25, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I’m not surprised at all.
Idiots.
bridgetown on August 25, 2008 at 10:19 PM
As a conservative Obama supporter, I’m pissed but I can’t say I’m surprised.
God, please keep Senator Obama and his family (and the McCains) safe.
philnewkirk on August 25, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Were these cops from Keystone, Colorado?
drjohn on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Good thing they stopped this. I would hate to have the DNC gripe-fest interfered with by a murder of their candidate.
I like watching liberals eat their own without violence on anyone else’s part.
Oh yes, one last thing….let’s legalize drugs. They don’t harm anyone else but the person who uses…..
Ok, glad I cleared that up…..
JP1986UM on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
This is very scary. God bless the police who stopped the potential would-be murderers before any harm came to Obama.
aengus on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
anyone checked Stormfront yet?
jp on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
No such thing.
drjohn on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
This is all completely made-up BS!!
I don’t believe it.
grtflmark on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Good thing they nabbed the crazies.
Elizabetty on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
You know who benefits from this?
Barack Obama..
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Thank goodness the authorities caught these b@stards. Having a candidate assassinated at the convention is the worst case scenario, like something out of a pulp novel or a B-movie. Stories like this only reinforce my already strong faith in the layers of security around our candidates.
I agree with many commenters, increase Obama’s security and throw a few extra guys around McCain while we’re at it. This is intolerable. If those punks are convicted I hope they grow very old in federal prison.
Vote Sauron 08 on August 25, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Can we get Ayers to give some expert analysis on this plan of theirs?
Metro on August 25, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Ugh.
I’m leaning towards the “not a plan” thought. A rifle sighted to 750 yards, but the stadium he’ll be in would allow for a shot of…what…300 yards, max. Second, how would they get two rifles inside and up to a “high vantage point”? It would have to be inside, after all, since there are no hills anywhere near the stadium.
So, no, doesn’t exactly sound like they thought it out.
Ironically, these absolute dirt-bags probably gave Obama a huge sympathy bounce once the media covers this breathlessly, as we all know they will.
Nessuno on August 25, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Much better politically just to defeat him – unless you’re looking forward to the end of the Republic.
CK MacLeod on August 25, 2008 at 10:21 PM
And I’m sure it won’t get much play in the MSM either–like the Muslim hoser with the cyanide didn’t.
andycanuck on August 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
You either misunderstand what it means to be Conservative or you are uninformed on Obama’s positions.
Barack Obama is the Anti-Conservative.
Elizabetty on August 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Doesn’t sound like it was made-up. The death threat against McCain got scant coverage. Watch this one get blown up huge.
Connie on August 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
All a bit too convenient for my tastes. We’ll see.
SouthernGent on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
We will be seeing all kinds of this stuff before the end of the election, and also racial things being slung at Obama made to make him look like a victim.
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
I wonder who paid for the expensive hotel room? I’m sure the folks at the check in counter were freaked out….meth-head skinheads with large, suspicious looking luggage?
Probably called the cops as soon as the elevator doors shut. They probably didn’t really get to a true “planning” stage, in other words.
funky chicken on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Allah there is alot going on outside the convention you need a thread on that
William Amos on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
And a news presenter at the BBC adds that the media reports don’t reflect the “humanity” of the 4 involved, just like the Taliban….
silverfox on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Zombie from LGF is trapped in the mob in Denver right now everyone say a prayer that they make it out of the mess all right without going to jail with the scum
tee866 on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
This is bad news!
esnap on August 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
This is just horrible. Tandem to this, I see the MSM playing this up and obama getting a poll bounce from this, not from anything he has achieved on his own. AUGH
karenhasfreedom on August 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Last Update Text From Zombie:
Tried to talk my way through police lines. No dice. Likely will be here all night or be arrested. Healthy except for a little pepper spray in eye.
carbon_footprint on August 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Will PUMA and the Clintons stop at nothing?
roninacreage on August 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
At least on the bright side, if there is one, these guys sound like such tards that I doubt they could hit anything at 750 yards.
Still the scary thing is that these guys are probably not the only nuts with this idea. I hope Obama is taking every precaution. Like him or not, I certainly don’t wish any violence on him.
This convention is just one degree short of all out insanity breaking loose.
darclon on August 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
This is just sad. I was at the grocery store and the person in front of me pointed to a picture of Obama on the cover of a magazine and said, “somebody should shoot him.” I obviously replied, “No they shouldn’t,” and that was the end of our conversation.
It’s scary that people like this are out there. It’s one thing to be against someone’s politics, and believe me, I think he would be horrible for our country from a policy perspective, but damn, I’d rather see someone take this yahoo at the grocery store out instead.
IrishMcPundit on August 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Law enforcement sources say the man broke an ankle in the fall and was captured moments later.
Good, I hope it hurt, prick. I bet he cried like a little biotch, too. He prolly screamed “Police brutality!” Or like that azzhole wannabe terrorist in London “I have my rights!”
Thank God they were snagged before anybody got hurt. What the phuq is wrong with these animals?
Tony737 on August 25, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Reading the updates this doesn’t sound quite as serious. Could it just be some brain damaged skinhead meth junkies with a “plan”? Could these a$sclowns really target Obama from 750 yards? After all, the guy was driving erratically?! It’s a lot easier to keep a steady hand on a steering wheel than a high powered rifle.
Hopefully this is a one-off freak show of losers meth-heads.
Vote Sauron 08 on August 25, 2008 at 10:25 PM
The meth will be traced back to Mina Arkansas.
esnap on August 25, 2008 at 10:26 PM
They may have had the intent and the means, but no way is a tweaker going to hit anything smaller than an a bus at 750 yards. I’ve been shooting and hunting since the age of 7, and even with a good rifle and a steady platform I’d not be able to do it in one shot without many hours of practice beforehand. Too much coffee and I’d not have a chance, much less meth.
These racist idiots have been watching too many movies. Thanks to the law enforcement folks who caught them- there’s no place in this country for political assassination. I’d rather not hear people even joke about it.
Hollowpoint on August 25, 2008 at 10:27 PM
FISA should have picked up on this bunch before this past weekend.
RushBaby on August 25, 2008 at 10:27 PM
please.. don’t pin the blame one anyone, it’s a few nutjobs(it could even be part of the Obama campaign itself who knows).
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Target way below shooter beyond 400m. Perhaps the hardest shot to make.
No speed freak gonna’ do that. Wind, range, elevation, differing air temps in path, load, heartbeat, trigger pull. Hit something within 60 feet circle. Maybe.
Tony Soprano on August 25, 2008 at 10:28 PM
color me skeptical as well… I say it’s a good time to remember the 48 hour rule.
We have too many people involved whose word we can’t trust:
Let’s review, we have a bunch of druggies talking to local yokel cops who are then talking to the media.
Which one of the 3 along the information chain do you trust to get the story right?
Diogenes of Sinope on August 25, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Were these cops from Keystone, Colorado? – Doc John
Southpark?
As a conservative Obama supporter … – Phil
Catchin’ any fish with that line on this page?
Tony737 on August 25, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Give me a break. How credible could they be? Four or five people makes a conspiracy, I guess – but if they are crazy and incompetent how does it rise to the level of a “statement” about Obama, America, etc. The MSM will find a way.
Swastika rings?! Come on! They would have at least left those at home, and put makeup on their tattoos. How about staying in their hotel room for the THREE days before the hit.
I can’t wait to see how the press handles this.
Agrippa2k on August 25, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Were they from Arkansas, by chance?
MadisonConservative on August 25, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Camo? They had camo? What for all the ‘brush’ inside the convention center? They would blend in better if they were wearing “Bush lied” shirts, carrying 9/11 Truth pamphlets.
Weight of Glory on August 25, 2008 at 10:29 PM
This is hardly the first time a plot has been loosely considered to assassinate someone… it’s news, but it’s not new. The guy should have the best protection, no ifs ands or buts.
D2Boston on August 25, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Then again, this could be a ploy “Hey, look at the right-wing nazis (oxymoron, I know, but just play along) trying to kill Obama! RAAAAACIST!”
Tony737 on August 25, 2008 at 10:31 PM
It is just a set up to garner solidarity to Obama.
esnap on August 25, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I’m glad they caught the cretins.
aikidoka on August 25, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Not as many as should be; I’d think my statement would be far more surprising than this news article. :)
philnewkirk on August 25, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Yikes. Security cannot be tight enough.
AbaddonsReign on August 25, 2008 at 10:32 PM
To Philnewkirk…ROFLMAO…a conservative Obama supporter. When you say that, do you really mean you’re to his right but still left of center? Conservative and Obama should never be used in the same sentence…except for this one. LOL.
Jarhead68 on August 25, 2008 at 10:32 PM
“You never know what may happen” – Hillary Clinton
She is trying the lawsuit to have him disqualified for citizenship requirements?
Hillary is one fat lady that has not sung the Aria yet.
iam7545 on August 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM
*eyeroll*
My guess is the first part. People can’t be that stupid.
Let me revise that. People aren’t usually that stupid.
wise_man on August 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM
You ever shoot a .50BMG? 750yards aint jack.
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:34 PM
750 yards, did they even know how far that is? I would say crack pots … Probably liberals dressed up like
tarpon on August 25, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Rule #1 when plotting assassinations: leave the meth at home.
Alden Pyle on August 25, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Wow, Vanilla Ice has fallen on hard times, seriously it sounds like the two or three in the car were trying to rat out the “patsy” in the hotel, in order to possibly reduce their charges.
War69DotCom on August 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Whether or not these people knew anything about shooting or how to hit a target from a certain distance the fact is they were involved in an attempt at a political assassination and that is very serious.
The jihadis behind the Fort Dix plot were also very incompetent and Keith Olbermann downplayed their failed terrorist attack for that very reason. I, and others on this blog, were outraged at him at the time and for good reason.
aengus on August 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I’m very informed on his positions. He is very inspiring to me in such a way that he transcends the left-right paradigm. For me at least; I know it is a different story for many hardliners on the right and left.
philnewkirk on August 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Not to sound like George Carlin, but is anyone really surprised at this? It’s more suprising there have been so few credible threats against Obama thus far. This won’t be the last time someone plots to kill the man. I sure as hell don’t want him as President, but neither do I want him to fall victim to racist s**theads.
This is probably going to net him about 7-12 points in the polls, ghoulish as that is to say.
fiatboomer on August 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I’m going to withhold comment on the story because the old media has a habit of getting every thing wrong.
But I did notice this:
Didn’t Bloomberg say that the police needed more power to trace guns? (yes he did.)
This story exposes one of the big lies of gun control.
mad saint jack on August 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
cue the leftist outrage lumping these guys in with everyone else who hasn’t drunk their kool-aid in 3… 2…
sorry if someone else already said it.
homesickamerican on August 25, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Subersive Troll Alert!! Sound the alarm!!!
fiatboomer on August 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Indeed. Sounded fishy to me too.
ronsfi on August 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Must be the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy Kabal in action!
Question,then why does Obama,want to do his acceptance
speech,away from the DNConvention,out in the open?
canopfor on August 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
How long before Kos, Matthews and Olberdouche blame Rush?
Anyone for pool?
drjohn on August 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
andycanuck on August 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I think Andy is right, cyanide or sniper rifle, what is the difference…oh yeah, these guys had swastikas and rings and they were WHITE.
rgranger on August 25, 2008 at 10:39 PM
I am genuinely surprised at this. Today at work a co-worker said that he thought that Obama would be assassinated because he was black and I scoffed at him.
aengus on August 25, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Now that would realistically put it out of probability of hitting.
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:39 PM
I support him but I’d rather he lose the election than get a White House-winning “sympathy bounce” from a threat that may not even have been a feasible one to begin with. The last thing this country needs is another controversial/disputed election…
philnewkirk on August 25, 2008 at 10:41 PM
The press conference with the police is live on 9news.com. The moron that broke his ankle was Shawn Robert Adolf, who was a “Most Wanted” criminal in Weld County it appears:
Weld County
UncleBubba on August 25, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Bus? I could nail a 10″ group at 750 prone with a 7.62, no prob.
Alden Pyle on August 25, 2008 at 10:41 PM
OK, very serious situation, but a funny comment.
funky chicken on August 25, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Even if they couldn’t hit their intended target, it’d still be pretty dangerous for others in the area.
mikeyboss on August 25, 2008 at 10:42 PM
I love how I can skip the line indicating the author and yet know who wrote the post within a paragraph or two.
Andrew D on August 25, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Now that would realistically put it out of probability of hitting. even IF it was a .50BMG which we don’t know..
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Glad they stopped it. But it’s too bad we have to worry about something like this.
Bob's Kid on August 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Sounds like someone ratting out another guy to get out of trouble.
tomas on August 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM
I thought Vanilla Ice’s real name was different. Who would have figured him to turn out bats**t crazy as well…?
Juxtaposed with the gear that was found, it is deadly serious.
anuts on August 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Freaks. In a country of 300-odd million people, even 5 sigmas from the norm represents quite a few people, sounds like some of them from the loser end of the curve made it to Denver.
Kudos to Denver Police for stopping these degenerates. I hope the treat them to a long, long “rehabilitation”.
mr.blacksheep on August 25, 2008 at 10:47 PM
As if a meth-head could hit a 1′ target at 100 yards, let alone 750.
dead bowie on August 25, 2008 at 10:47 PM
And I notice that at the CBS site that Drudge links, the sidebars have all sorts of Denver convention story links and the McCain office getting the white powder letter, but no mention of the cyanide guy.
andycanuck on August 25, 2008 at 10:48 PM
“It looks like one guy just made a remark trying to act important,” one federal official told NBC News.
Act important? Got self-esteem issues?
Does this idiot think the Secret Service guys detailed to Obama have a sense of humor? “Ahhh, just kids havin’ fun, let ‘em go.”
Man, I HOPE they jacked him up so hard it makes him CHANGE his attitude!
Tony737 on August 25, 2008 at 10:48 PM
O/T: Mrs. Obama just said “I love this country!” Uh huh. This mean ‘ole country, huh?
Tony737 on August 25, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Wouldn’t 750 yards put you outside of Mile High Stadium? Maybe they were planning on taking the shot from a helicopter.
Alden Pyle on August 25, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Sounds like a, er, lovely fellow.
Hey, they stopped the guys for “erratic driving?” I think they are profiling for skinheads!!111!!!!1
/fine by me…profile away
funky chicken on August 25, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Agreed, but fate is an amazing thing. Machine gun, short range, into a group an nobody hit. Guy standing in a secure area, wild shot over the trees and DRT.
Tony Soprano on August 25, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Michelle Obamarosa just said Barry would give every American a world class education from grade 1 to college….don’t we already have that?
Alden Pyle on August 25, 2008 at 10:51 PM
http://demigodllc.com/articles/military-338-lapua-rifles-trg42-awsm/
Chakra Hammer on August 25, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Ah, Tony, I’d guess that “Federal Official” is ATF. We had a neighbor in CO who was an ATF agent who infiltrated biker gangs. REALLY REALLY scary looking dude…nicest guy around, and what a great neighbor to have :-). But I’d bet he could definitely jack somebody up so hard it would make him/her change. Oh yeah.
funky chicken on August 25, 2008 at 10:53 PM
How long before Kos, Matthews and Olberdouche blame Rush? – Doc John (heh, Dr. J.)
How ’bout, ummmm, YESTERDAY?
Speakin’ of Rush, did anybody hear him read from Ed’s HotAir work today?
Tony737 on August 25, 2008 at 10:53 PM
This sounds more distraction crap,start the assassination
talk,and blame the Republicans!
If somebody is crazy and that determined,it would
of happened!
And I’m getting tired of hearing how America isn’t
ready for an African American president by the biased
Liberal media!
The DNC is about to go thermal nuclear in Denver over
HilRod being screwed over by Obama and Biden!
The Republicans didn’t start this!
Bill Clinton’s,”Fairy Tale” disrespected Team Obama,and
thats where the seeds of “DISUNITY” and strife within the
Democratic Liberal Party started from!!!
canopfor on August 25, 2008 at 10:53 PM
BTW, LGF reports that Zombie got out of the riot zone alright.
andycanuck on August 25, 2008 at 10:54 PM
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