American Assassins.

[Hyena Dandy]

I read an interesting article recently. I can't remember where, but it raised an interesting point, and that point was that assassins in the US are not like most assassins. I can't say anything about Assassins in the rest of the first world, but I can in the US. And it seems that in the US, with very few exceptions, most assassinations are not political. Most of the time the assassin has either a personal problem with the target, or is crazy. The first one I can think of that's not just crazy is (debatably) the guy who tried to assassinate Nixon, and maybe the second one who tried to assassinate Ford. Other than that, most assassinations have been crazy people. Or the guy who killed JFK, who as we all know was a fascist communist Russian spy from the Italian mafia working on the orders of LBJ. He was probably also a martian.

But my point is that that's just something that seems to be the case here. That most assassins aren't doing it politically, but because they're sorta nuts.


Anyway, just food for thought. I don't know what conlcusion to draw from that, its just sorta a thing, I guess.

[AdminAssistant]

Charles Guiteau (he killed President Garfield) was most certainly a loon. Leon Czolgosz (he killed McKinley) refused to submit himself to be tested for insanity, and he claimed he was inspired by famous anarchists. It's not hard to imagine an immigrant feeling pushed to the brink by a newly industrial society, and taking it out on the figurehead. (Actually, Giuseppe Zangara was another disgruntled immigrant; he tried to kill FDR.)

John Wilkes Booth was most certainly politically motivated. He (along with several others) saw Lincoln as a tyrant and a war criminal. Remember, Lincoln's assassination was part of a larger plot to eliminate the top leaders of the government. That's why the government wanted so badly to bring Booth in alive, so that they could figure out exactly who was involved and how far up it went. Of course, John Wilkes also had extreme jealousy issues* and could have done it partly for the glory. He was, after all, going to save his nation from a terrible tyrant - at least in his mind.

I highly recommend Stephen Sondheim's Assassins for an interesting take on those who tried to kill a President. It's largely accurate; the biggest difference is that Booth commits suicide, when in reality he was shot by one of the soldiers who captured him, against orders (see above). The musical has a very interesting message that the same country that created these great men, these Presidents, also created the people that were so desperate and so full of hate that they felt the need to kill the President and therefore, the country.

*Booth's brother, Edwin Booth, was the most famous and celebrated actor of the 19th century. John Wilkes couldn't walk in his shoes and took to heavy drinking. Edwin became a recluse for several years after the assassination because he was so ashamed of what his brother had done.

[lordlundar]

John Wilkes Booth was most certainly politically motivated. He (along with several others) saw Lincoln as a tyrant and a war criminal.

That would be because Lincoln ordered assassinations on high ranking officers, which up until that point was considered against the rules of engagement.

[Gravekeeper]

That would be because Lincoln ordered assassinations on high ranking officers, which up until that point was considered against the rules of engagement.

And that sort of thing is why I'm sure we don't hear about the non-crazy/non-domestic political activist assassins. Because they've got orders from somewhere higher up. >.>

[Andara Bledin]

There's another possibility that hasn't been broached: It could be that the non-crazy type American assassins are just really good at hiding their activities.

If you want to go with certain conspiracy theorists, there are an awful lot of political types that die of unspecified heart problems in a few government-controlled hospitals. I've never looked into it myself, but I've heard that one brought up quite often.

^-.-^

[lordlundar]

True, the amateur looney nut jobs are the ones who get tackled, shot by, or otherwise stopped by security. The calculating professionals you never see coming or going, that's why they're pros.

[Fire_on_High]

If you want to go with certain conspiracy theorists, there are an awful lot of political types that die of unspecified heart problems in a few government-controlled hospitals. I've never looked into it myself, but I've heard that one brought up quite often.

Political sorts are usually men over 45 who like to eat generously, carry a bit of extra weight, frequently smoke and drink.

Some years ago I went to a local church (forced by my mother) that was also attended by most of the local pols and businessmen. Almost to a one, they worked with their hands for a living but were a bit pudgy, lit up in the parking lot, and as I saw from various unofficial but open invited events, liked beer. Not to excess, *never* to drunkenness that I saw, but they'd sip on a can of Bud while grilling or somesuch.

Nothing that by itself was terribly "sinful", the United Methodists being rather liberal even 20 years ago, and nothing that in a single instance was terribly unhealthy.

Over time, every single one of these gentlemen ended up either diagnosed with heart problems or having a heart attack. Most lived and are still around, if on a few medications, one or two fell over stone cold dead with little more than a word.

TL;DR version: Men of a certain social class and the lifestyle that comes with it seem to have a strong tendency towards heart issues.

[Ipecac Drano]

True, the amateur looney nut jobs are the ones who get tackled, shot by, or otherwise stopped by security. The calculating professionals you never see coming or going, that's why they're pros.

Or non-existent.

[crashhelmet]

There is also a new trend in political assassinations. Assassinating their image and their careers.

Why kill them if you can catch them with a hooker or tapping their foot in a public restroom? Plant someone on their staff to seduce them and get impregnated by them.

Assassins are craftier nowadays. Make the people hate them instead of mourn them.

[lordlundar]

Or non-existent.

But how would you know?

[Ipecac Drano]

But how would you know?

We wouldn't know if they existed or not. As usual, I'm holding the neutral position.