Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 294

Suspect Number 2, Rounding Corner After Blast

Someone at Reddit found this photo below, suggesting White Cap Guy is rounding corner AFTER the blast.   This fellow does seem to have hint of a smile, but who knows.  Adding credibility:  various media reports tonight have FBI saying the two men stuck around site to watch their handiwork.  Other suspect may also be in this photo next to woman in pink, also toward the left...Meanwhile, "experts" at Reddit determining how legit this is.  

UPDATE:  Now confirmed as real--folks have found it was first posted online on Monday.  UPDATE #2:  NYT story tonight--talked to photog David Green who says FBI requested photo after it went viral tonight.  So in this case the crowd-sourcing really paid off big-time.  Also, see below, new high-res closeup.  UPDATE #3  Piers Morgan just interviewed Green.  He had contacted FBI about having several photos on Monday (via cell phone)  but didn't know then about white cap guy.  Contacted the FBI again tonight at 7:00 and then they requested specific photo.  He adds that the guy behind him is not suspect #2 due to different color on cap.  Of course, he points out suspect no longer has backpack.  BTW, I believe I was first to post the photo,  beyond Reddit, before 8 p.m.

Props to Reddit for This, Anyway

Folks there apparently already IDed cap worn by one of Boston suspects.  Labeled on side, "Bridgestone Golf," I believe. See my report on video, and see it here.  Suspects no doubt have ditched caps by now.  Could have left country, of course, by now.  If not, might be found rather easily due to tips. UPDATE:  Reddit folks now crowdsourcing the white cap--narrowed it down a bit, at least.  Question of what number (if it is a number) on side of his cap:  a 7? a 3?  maybe a Z?

FBI Presser (Finally) on Boston Bombings: See Video

I'm live-blogging below.  It was canceled twice yesterday amid rumors that suspects they were about to finger turned out bogus.

Starts 5:20 p.m.   Opens with revelation that they did develop "single person of interest" yesterday.  Then developed second--and show several photos.  Including guy with white baseball cap turned around.  And other young guy with black backpack that was set down.  And show bit of video.  Ask public for help but ask that people stay away, as these two may be "armed and dangerous."  Both men appear pretty young and not "dark-skinned."  CNN then says FBI site already crashing.   Guy's dark cap has distinctive markings--and Reddit seems to have IDed it--but easy to ditch.  Possibly white cap, too.  Someone on Twitter says they have been "bro-filed."  Here is video.

Number One Hits: Seconds in Paradise

Is this the greatest audio file ever?  Go to UbuWeb and see two tiny arrows at top.  They will deliver the first 3 or 4 seconds of EVERY #1 Billboard single since 1956--starting almost with Elvis's "Heartbeak Hotel" --going to 1991. Yes, I was alive and listening all the way back.  Old enough to remember "The Wayward Wind."   Lot of whipsawing early on, with Elvis mixed in with Perry Como and Debbie Reynolds.  Then Pat Boone.  The Chipmunks.  Sam Cooke--then Bobby Vinton ruling the charts until, wham, The Beatles arrive--and on (eventually) to David Bowie.   One thing it does NOT capture is that most of these hits ruled for only one week, while others held the top spot for five weeks or longer. (h/t Chris Bowers) 

One of the all-time greats:

Our Undemocratic Senate

If you've followed my many posts about our fundamentally "undemocratic" Congress--with very large and very small states getting the same power in the Senate (hence yesterday's votes on guns)--you will understand why this is my favorite story of the day.  It's by a colleague of Ezra Klein at the Wash Post, and Ezra in tweet says it "shocks" him-- though God knows why, it's an old issue. 

Dylan Matthews, with stats and graphs, shows exactly HOW undemocratic the Senate has become, with population trends.  The gap between the smallest and largest states was not so great when the Founders met, but now, for example, folks in Wyoming enjoy 66 times the influence in the Senate compared with their friends in California.  Yesterday the Senators who scuttled the gun measures represented 30% of U.S. population.  But Matthews writes that any measure could pass with properly aligned Senators representing just 17% of the public.

Then there's this:  to block legislation via filibuster you just need 40 Senators.  You could now get that with the Senators from the 20 smallest states--representing 11% of public.

R.I.P, Lumpy Rutherford

Lost in the, ahem, somewhat bigger and worse news of this week, was the death of the actor who played the great Lumpy Rutherford, hapless bully,  on the original (and updates) of "Leave It to Beaver."  Amazed to see he got his start playing the young Will Rogers in bio-pic.

Jackie Robinson: Who's That?

Love this new Rasmussen poll, which found only 59% of Americans with "favorable" view of baseball pathfinder Jackie Robinson.  Now, you might think that's an awful low number, since Jackie did nothing but good.  But then we learn that 36% "do not know enough" about him to offer a view!  So better than one in three don't really know him--despite all of the publicity just this week and a new film that is #1 at the box office.

Roster of States Whose Senators Opposed Gun Measure

As I've written previously, you can blame the NRA all you want for today's vote but it was practically a foregone conclusion--given the fact that the U.S. gives equal power to every state, no matter the size.  To underscore this, here is breakdown  of the 45 who opposed the measure, with their (generally small or very small and sometimes medium-sized) states.  ALSO, Gabby Giffords op-ed in Thursday NYT, don't miss.
Mark Begich (D-AK)    Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)    Mark Pryor (D-AR)   Max Baucus (D-MT) Lamar Alexander (R-TN)Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)John Barrasso (R-WY)Roy Blunt (R-MO)John Boozman (R-AR)Richard Burr (R-NC)Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)Dan Coats (R-IN)Tom Coburn (R-OK)Thad Cochran (R-MS)Bob Corker (R-TN)John Cornyn (R-TX)Mike Crapo (R-ID)Ted Cruz (R-TX)Michael Enzi (R-WY)Deb Fischer (R-NE)Jeff Flake (R-AZ)Lindsey Graham (R-SC)Chuck Grassley (R-IA)Orrin Hatch (R-UT)Dean Heller (R-NV)John Hoeven (R-ND)Jim Inhofe (R-OK)Johnny Isakson (R-GA)Mike Johanns (R-NE)Ron Johnson (R-WI)Mike Lee (R-UT)Mitch McConnell (R-KY)Jerry Moran (R-KS)Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)Rand Paul (R-KY)Rob Portman (R-OH)James Risch (R-ID)Pat Roberts (R-KS)Marco Rubio (R-FL)Timothy Scott (R-SC)Jeff Sessions (R-AL)Richard Shelby (R-AL)John Thune (R-SD)David Vitter (R-LA)Roger Wicker (R-MS)

Suspect Arrested in Sending 'Ricin' Letters to Obama, Senator

UPDATE:  Daily paper in Mississippi, the Clarion-Ledger, claims Curtis is local Elvis (and other celebrity) impersonator in Tupelo, Presley's home town.  (Also, letters were mailed from Memphis, site of Graceland.)  Here's one of his online sites.  Been arrested four times at least and other odd behavior.  Business Insider with this wild detail.  Not confirmed but this guy did sign this screed same way as guy who sent "ricin" letters.

If Elvis part is true the headlines write themselve: "Jailhouse Rock." "Return to Sender."  "Suspicious Minds."  And so on.  See video below.

Earlier:  With so much going on today, you may miss this breaking story.  Guy arrested from Mississippi.  Genius signed his initials.

"The arrest, two days after the letters were intercepted in mail-sorting facilities for the White House and the Capitol, was based on information collected 'very early on' about who had sent the letters, said one of the officials. The letters contained a postmark from Memphis but no return address, Senate officials said.
"Tupelo is the hometown of Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican senator to whom one of the letters was addressed. The letters were signed: 'I am KC, and I approve this message.'”

Obama Responds to Gun Control Failure: "Shameful Day"

The president now speaking in Rose Garden after gun measures voted down.  Biden fighting back tears.  Introduced by Sandy Hook father.  Refers to "a minority in the Senate decides not worth it, even as these families looked on from the Senate galleries."  Cites 90% support for measure--and 90% of Republicans opposing it.  Obama says he will speak frankly about why, given co-sponsored by pro-NRA Manchin and Toomey.  Gabby Giffords standing behind him.

Accuses NRA and allies of "lieing" and "spreading untruths" about legislation.  This "upset" many gun owners and "intimidated" Senators, who are "good people."  But "the fact is, none of these Senators could offer a single argument on why" this measure not a good idea.  Instead came down to "politics." They "caved to the pressure" and "looked for any excuse."  We had "obligation to try."  This legislation "met the test."  Some of these Senators "did not meet theirs."  Biden frowning angrily. 

Raises question of "who do we represent." Then slams those who say he used shooting victims as "props."  Asks, "Are they serious?"   All in all, "This is a shameful day."   Vows to keep fighting "if the American people won't give up on this." If Congress won't act, pressure will "have to come from the voters."  Asks people to let reps know you are disappointed and let them know you will remember "at election time." Need to maintain strength "and send different people" to Washington.  "I see this as just Round One."

After Sandy Hook and Aurora and Tucson "everyone talked about need to do something."  Our response must not be empty words.  "Sooner or later we are going to get this right." Obama then deeply hugging some of the family members watching.