Posted on 10/10/2002 2:15:12 AM PDT by Peach
To avoid multiple vanity threads regarding any news that comes from press conferences, let's keep a live commentary thread going again today.
Michaels craft stores are indeed run by the Wyly family of Texas; their management and presence on the board of directors have come under much criticism the last several years. The Wylys also are involved with Green Mountain Energy company. Although marketing itself as friendly to the environment, apparently, it really isn't and there is a boycott campaign among enviros. So apparently, the Wyly family, also into oil investments, represent all that the enviros hate about America.
Of the killings, three have taken place at or near gas stations and one at a auto dealership, two at a Michaels and another, I think, near a Michaels. One was in front of a Crisp and Juicy restaurant (PETA and enviros share anger and anti-capitalistic leanings). Another was in front of the Post Office, symbol of our government, another target of their vitriol.
The group boycotting Green Mountain Energy seems to use legal means of protest. They have done a lot of background research on this company, linking it to the Wylys and what they stand for. Not all enviro groups use legitimate means. Browardchad posted a link to Earth Liberation Front and their MO bears a careful look. They operate in small cells to maintain security of group members. Like Al Queda terrorist cells, they easily fit the "sleeper cell" profile": they are anonymous and decentralized, allowing individuals to control own activities.It seems to me that a lot of the reasons why many of us, me included, have believed this series of murders to be a Muslim terrorist activity applies equally well to enviros, who hate America as much as foreign terrorists. A crazy group of enviros could decide to act on an issue presented by a legitimate group and do it "their way."
Enviro activists are also far more likely to use tarot cards than Muslims. The whole New Age movement has at its base the belief that we can be our own gods.
The only two shootings that do not fit in with this theme is the little boy and the older man from DC. And the only thing that I can see tying the two of them together is race (we presume the boy to be black), other than the fact that they are the youngest and oldest victims. The only thing I could find that could possible tie race into enviros is the upcoming environmental conference dealing exclusively with "people of color." The Second National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit is going to be held in DC October 23-27, 2002. Not sure what to think about that.
The last concern of mine here is that the Wylys donate heavily to Republican politicians and, not surprisingly, donated a lot to the Bush campaign, a fact that raised a lot of ire at the time. If there is any grounds at all to this line of thinking, I would think that the president could be linked by association to this umbrella of concerns held by enviros.
Don't forget to add, "Move along now, nothing to see here," and "Religion of Peace." Then you'll have the complete set of Ostrich Phrases.
It was appear that the earliest in the morning was the third shooting, 7:41 AM, in Montgomery County, MD (Oct 3, lawnmower). The latest in the morning was the sixth, 9:58 AM, also Montgomery County (Oct 3, gas station).
The earliest in the afternoon was the eighth, 2:30 PM, in Fredericksburg, VA (Oct 4, parking lot), next earliest was the first shooting, 5:20 PM, in Montgomery County (Oct 2, windows of art supply store, nobody hurt), and the latest in the evening was the seventh, 9:15 PM, in DC (Oct 3, sidewalk).
Apparently the sniper keeps regular hours and might work part-time (or full-time but in a job that allows him to travel) but is occupied in the middle of the day (is the 2:20 shooting a fluke, a day he called in sick, etc.?).
Seem like the van could be a White Chrysler Caravan Cargo Mini-Van or a White GMC Safari Cargo Minivan. Both vans don't have side windows. Don't know about the panels.
I don't want to alarm Freepers in the area since I am just speculating on the location but I agree with you.
I hope I am wrong, too. However, on Tuesday I posted that I hoped I was wrong about them going West down 66. I wasn't. As others have said, it may be prudent to stay away from shopping centers and gas stations around Interstates until this guy is caught. If I was in your shoes, I would call my family and give them that advice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.