O/T - This snapshot was taken...

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

No national support?

Johnson won by a landslide in '64. And as far as "not being Presidential material," Johnson's domestic policy far outshone Kennedy's. It's too bad he didn't get us out of Vietnam, rather than escalating. Had he done so, he'd be regarded today as one of the great Presidents.

(At the time, of course, I hated LBJ. I was one of the kids in the streets of D.C., chanting "Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did ya kill today?")

In 1963, nobody, except perhaps Johnson himself, thought he would ever be president. His 1964 landslide, of course, was almost entirely the product of sympathy for JFK and a desire for continuation of his policies. I agree that without the tarnish of Vietnam, Johnson's presidency would have been regarded as a great one. As Buck Turgeson reminded HIS president, "You can't condemn the whole program because of one little slipup!"

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

In 1963, nobody, except perhaps Johnson himself, thought he would ever be president. His 1964 landslide, of course, was almost entirely the product of sympathy for JFK and a desire for continuation of his policies. I agree that without the tarnish of Vietnam, Johnson's presidency would have been regarded as a great one. As Buck Turgeson reminded HIS president, "You can't condemn the whole program because of one little slipup!"

The landslide was also a result of the country's fear of a man with an itchy trigger finger sitting in the White House. Of course this fear was played upon by Johnson in his campaign. The anti Goldwater sentiment in the country was very strong.

[David Atkatz]

Johnson would have certainly been Kennedy's running-mate in '64--for the same reason he was in 1960. (And for the same reason Kennedy went to Texas in November '63.) The Vice President would be just about sure to get the nomination over the Attorney General.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Johnson would have certainly been Kennedy's running-mate in '64--for the same reason he was in 1960. (And for the same reason Kennedy went to Texas in November '63.) The Vice President would be just about sure to get the nomination over the Attorney General.

I don't think so.

[David Atkatz]

Well, we'll never know.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Well, we'll never know.

Good place to leave it.

As for who was behind it, I vote for the Mob. With Bobby seriously trying to put them out of business (Valachi was singing), JFK eliminating their Cuban gambling by agreeing never to invade, JFK screwing Giancana's mistress (AFTER Sam brought in Illinois for him), Marcella and Traficante everywhere you turn in the story, the CIA-Mafia plot to kill Castro, etc., etc. Then you have the amazing coincidence that Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby, just happened to be a lifelong mob guy. To me, Ruby's involvement is the key that unlocks the whole thing. I also cannot look at the head shot and believe for a second that shot didn't come from the Grassy Knoll. I don't care what anybody says, my eyes tell me all I need to know about that. I believe the Mob actually succeeded in rubbing out a president and getting away with it. Incredible.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Good place to leave it.

As for who was behind it, I vote for the Mob. With Bobby seriously trying to put them out of business (Valachi was singing), JFK eliminating their Cuban gambling by agreeing never to invade, JFK screwing Giancana's mistress (AFTER Sam brought in Illinois for him), Marcella and Traficante everywhere you turn in the story, the CIA-Mafia plot to kill Castro, etc., etc. Then you have the amazing coincidence that Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby, just happened to be a lifelong mob guy. To me, Ruby's involvement is the key that unlocks the whole thing. I also cannot look at the head shot and believe for a second that shot didn't come from the Grassy Knoll. I don't care what anybody says, my eyes tell me all I need to know about that. I believe the Mob actually succeeded in rubbing out a president and getting away with it. Incredible.

Watching and re-watching the film, I just don't understand why no one pushed him down after the first contact shot. Everyone sure got down after the final one. You would think it would be standard protocol: someone shoots the big guy, everyone nearby knows to shove him down in case more is on the way.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Good place to leave it.

I also cannot look at the head shot and believe for a second that shot didn't come from the Grassy Knoll. I don't care what anybody says, my eyes tell me all I need to know about that. I believe the Mob actually succeeded in rubbing out a president and getting away with it. Incredible.

You are absolutely right. There is no question in my mind, either, that the head shot came from the front. It is so blatantly evident in the films from that day. Also, if you read many of the witnesses' testimony given the FBI or directly to the Warren Commission, a large number of people in Dealey Plaza said they heard shots coming from the front as well as behind. Of course, the Warren Commission just dismissed them all as being mistaken. Many, many people described hearing either 3 or 4 shots with 2 of them coming almost instantaneously. Since the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle requires a minimum of a second or two to chamber a round, re-aim, etc., this meant that it couldn't be a single person shooting. The Warren Commission just dismissed them all as being mistaken. Governor Connally said without reservation that he and Kennedy were hit by separate bullets. This would effectively eliminate the 'magic bullet theory.' He was sure of this point. But, again, he was deemed to be mistaken by the geniuses on the Warren Commission.

Sure, sure. WC apologists simply state that eyewitness testimony is so unreliable. I get that. But every single one of these people is wrong? Give me a break.

This stuff drives me absolutely insane!!!!!!!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

The landslide was also a result of the country's fear of a man with an itchy trigger finger sitting in the White House. Of course this fear was played upon by Johnson in his campaign. The anti Goldwater sentiment in the country was very strong.

Yes, that, too. Major factor in the size of the victory.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

As Buck Turgeson reminded HIS president, "You can't condemn the whole program because of one little slipup!"

My favorite movie and one of the all time greats.