Per USCP, shelter in place has been lifted and the Capitol is open for official business only. Capitol Visitor Center remains closed. #alert
— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) March 28, 2016
Per the local paper, the Washington Post:
A man with a gun was shot by police Monday afternoon at the Capitol Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol Complex, according to two D.C. police officials. He was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The report of gunfire in a city on heightened alert because of terrorist attacks in Europe sent dozens of emergency vehicles to the Capitol building and forced staff and visitors into lockdown. Road barricades went up, and police officers with automatic rifles were stationed on street corners.
The shooting occurred about 2:40 p.m. at the entrance to the visitors’ center, an underground complex east of the Capitol building. All visitors are screened through metal detectors as they enter the facility…
[U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew R.] Verderosa said the man is known to Capitol police from prior contacts, but he declined to elaborate. He said police “believe this is an act of a single person who has frequented the Capitol grounds before. There is no reason to believe this is anything more than a criminal act.”…The Capitol will be open on Tuesday, the chief said.
Trevor Kussman, a textile executive visiting with his wife and children from Chicago, said his family was inside the visitors’ center watching an educational movie when an announcement was made about “shots being fired.” The movie continued to play, but some people got up to leave…
On the plus side, as the Post points out, the “Capitol Hill shooting today happened in a building built to protect the Capitol from shooters”.
And in tangentially related news, the Secret Service responds to that Change.org petition by announcing that, Second Amendment lulz or not, the only guns at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland will be in the hands of “law enforcement personnel”. Of course, there’ll be lots of LEP in attendance…
***********
Apart from the predictable consequences of America’s national religion, what’s on the agenda for the evening?
raven
Damn!
Yutsano
And stomp!
But blog tradition and such.
dedc79
Not-so-much-friend-of-the-blog Charles Cooke wants everyone armed always, except the trump fanatics at the Republican convention:
Keith G
Agenda? Wash the dinner dishes, finish the wine, continue reading a fun cotton candy treat of a book (fantasy genre, two gay magical types who are lovers set in a world with wizards and dragons).
And all the while, staying the hell away from the name-calling circus that is our political campaign. Even the campaign threads here have become so dishearteningly monotonous (see below).
AkaDad
That guy was showing his patriotism by shooting projectiles of freedom.
America, fuck yeah!
Gin & Tonic
@Yutsano: Look up. It’s double-stomp.
redshirt
@AkaDad: Every bullet is an American job. Good manufacturing jobs.
Tom Levenson
In case anyone wondered about the brief appearance of a post above this one, I pulled it so as not to bigfoot. It will return in an hour or so.
redshirt
@Tom Levenson: Alas, you broke up the mythic “Triple Stomp”.
satby
Seems to be a bad day for moms. Mine has taken a serious turn for the worse and next weekend may be too late to see her. But she’s in hospice and getting strong pain management, so slipping away rather than hanging on in excruciating pain would be a blessing I think. But damn.
Gin & Tonic
@Gin & Tonic: Well, it *was* double-stomp for a second there, I swear. I thought it was Cole getting even with AL. And now it’s gone.
Baud
@redshirt: I called it a triple stomp too, but I guess it’s technically a double stomp
Gin & Tonic
@satby: Sorry to hear that, but there comes a point where death is a relief for everyone. I don’t presume to speak for you, and don’t know how your Mom is, but when my father passed it was a huge weight off of everyone’s shoulders. That can sound callous, but it’s true.
JPL
@Tom Levenson: It’s all a game of leap frog.
Baud
@satby: I’m so sorry to hear that. Best wishes to you.
LAO
Agenda for tonight, dinner than making chocolate peanut butter cups for a colleague’s birthday. And avoiding politics on the Internet. If I had the ingredients, I’d make ice cream. But I only have one fire extinguisher. ☹️
JPL
@Gin & Tonic: Cole’s post is still there, it’s just down below. We live in interesting times. Some of us can still multi-task but whatever the higher ups want to do with the blog is okay with me.
Keith G
@Baud:
Like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu15Ou-jKM0
jl
I hope the people who were injured were not hurt too bad. I read a news report that the nutcase with the gun is in surgery.
He is some unbalanced person who has caused disturbances at the Capitol before, yelling that he was the ‘voice of God’. The news report said the ID was not certain. I guess it could be the random nut who caused problems at the visitor center before. Or, it could be Ted Cruz. Anyone seen him today?
Baud
@Keith G: Exactly like that.
redshirt
@Baud: You could argue Cole stomped Adam, though that’s debatable. Like he checked anyways.
Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA
@satby: Very sorry for your family’s ordeal. I’m glad your mom is getting good care in the hospice.
Baud
@redshirt: Over an hour difference in time? That seems like a stretch.
satby
@Gin & Tonic: no, my sisters and I agree with you. Knowing that a nursing home is what my mother tried so hard to avoid and that she never wanted to become a burden just makes us feel worse for her, because on some level this is emotional anguish for her too. My middle sister and I and our kids would like to see her again, but not at the cost of such suffering.
Edited to add, it’s just so upsetting because I will be there next Sunday. But probably too late.
Ultraviolet Thunder
I’m in Canada again. Actually I entered twice today, having forgotten my wallet the first time.
2 hours wasted.
They give you that stern “Any weapons in the vehicle?” “Firearms?” “Mace?” “Other defensive weapons?”
I feel like I’m disappointing them coming from the Detroit side without so much as a gat in my sock.
JPL
@satby: I’m so sorry. Although I won’t be available the 8th and 9th of April,
if you need a stopping place after that, email me.
redshirt
@Baud: Probably. I’m just eager to see the glories of an actual triple stomp. I assume it would go Cole – Anne – Cole – Mistermix
eemom
oh, what do they know. C’mon fucktards……yer not gonna let some stupid COPS take away your gunz, are ya? P*ssies.
Gin & Tonic
@JPL: There was briefly a Tom L. post above this one which for some reason I assumed was Cole re-bigfooting AL.
satby
@Gin & Tonic: @Baud: @Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA: and thanks much all
satby
@JPL: thanks JPL! Enjoy your family wedding! We were due to be back home by the 9th, so way past your digs. But huge appreciation!
Iowa Old Lady
The Secret Service are party poopers.
hovercraft
Mister this is good news for John McCain just said( on his shitty msnbc show) that Trump doesn’t get enough credit for some of his more thoughtful foreign policy positions like shutting down NATO or repurposing it, and for rethinking our bases around the world, Trump has an instinct for what Americas foreign policy needs are. Al Hunt had a simple response ” I would dissent”.
? Martin
@eemom:
Given that the Secret Service and Capitol Police are not county sheriffs, I assume they can be ignored.
Cermet
@satby: So very sorry; I too have gone through that experience – life goes on but we don’t.
smith
@satby: I wasn’t able to be there at the end for either parent, but my sister was, and both times she arranged for me and my other siblings to speak to them on the phone during their final hours for a last goodbye. My mother could no longer speak , but she responded enough to show she heard me. It was a great comfort to me to be able to tell each of them one last time that I loved them and to thank them for everything they’d done. If this is possibility for you, I would urge you to consider doing it.
NotMax
See? See?
Obama’s Secret Service plans to confiscate guns!
WereBear
@satby: What a sudden reversal. I’m so sorry.
bago
Weird to see news about a shooter on Capitol hill ten years after this. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_massacre
WereBear
@Gin & Tonic: It was the same for me with my father.
redshirt
@NotMax: Odumbo’s jackbooted thugs are taking away our god given rights to protect ourselves! Make America great again! Vote Rand Paul!
debbie
@satby:
I’m sorry to read your post. It’s very tough not to be there, but what a blessing that your mom won’t be in much pain. It’s amazing how that can be managed now. My parents died 31 years apart and the difference in the quality of their deaths is like day and night.
Is there no one your girls could stay with so you could fly down and back real quick?
Central Planning
Oldest passed his driving test today… “Did you bring my DMV form?” “No. Why would I?” Much speedy driving ensued, along with a meetup with Mrs. CP to minimize the travel time. For some reason, most road tests in western NY have a lead time of 2-3 MONTHS. NYS is not interested in funding more people to certify drivers.
I’m not sure we would let him take the car for anything besides a trip to Wegmans for us, but I think he’s going to need a car for a summer job.
And, “Thanks, Obama” for not allowing guns at the GOP convention.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@satby: I’m so sorry. While slipping away with aggressive pain management may be easier for her, I know you’d prefer to see her prior to that.
@eemom: I can’t recall if I thanked you for the Pascha is always after Pesach explanation. Thank you.
raven
@satby: Aw damn, I’m sorry to hear this.
Iowa Old Lady
@Central Planning: Driving to his part time job was the way my kid got used to driving so he automated those things like when to brake for a stop sign etc that free your attention up for the unexpected. It’s a good thing.
The other good thing about them driving is that it’s better than some kid who looks about 14 knocking on your door and then they all get in that kid’s car and drive away.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@raven: Who is this GA governor in the news today and what have the aliens done with Nathan Deal? He seemed far too committed a RWNJ to cave to commercial threats to avoid the state.
Patricia Kayden
@satby: So sorry to hear about your Mother. ((satby)).
@jl: Apparently, he has disrupted the House before while shouting that he’s not under the law. Sigh.
Linda Featheringill
@satby:
I’m so sorry. Times like this are painful and there is no way around the pain. You might get some comfort from the idea that your pain honors the person you are losing.
[hugs]
And keep us informed.
WereBear
Since this is an Open Thread, I am running a fund drive for the kitties:
Way of Cats Fundraiser
To help me pay for bandwidth, security, and all the overhead that has been thrust upon me by popularity.
The popularity part is great. I’m just at the fame and not fortune stage :)
Thanks so much!
LAO
@satby: Very sorry to hear about your mom. Although not really the same, my uncle passed away 2 weeks ago after a very long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. It was a blessing but my dad is having a tough time with it.
Central Planning
@Iowa Old Lady:
That’s true. However, we know all the kids that are coming over to our house, and usually our house is the one for late night movies and games. If they do go it, it is always to get food, and then they are back. We also buy them plenty of pizza, limeade, and snacks.
Linda Featheringill
Actually, I was looking forward to a Republican convention filled with armed delegates. How disappointing.
Iowa Old Lady
@Central Planning: Feeding them is always a good strategy.
Mnemosyne
@satby:
Don’t feel too bad if you can’t get there in time. You can only do the best you can and you’re responsible for two teenagers right now, so you can’t just drop everything and leave them alone. I know it’s frustrating, though.
Troublesome Carp fka Geeno
@eemom: Armed Trump partisans and armed Cruz partisans on the convention floor! Man, oh, Manischewitz, THAT would be some must-see TV.
I’d skip out of work to watch that.
schrodinger's cat
@satby: {{{ }}}. I hope you are able to see your mother. Also, take care of yourself.
SiubhanDuinne
@satby:
Oh, Satby. Hugs to you. That’s so hard.
If in fact she is near the end of this life, I hope she has an easy and peaceful transition into whatever may come next.
WereBear
@Linda Featheringill: Yes. That would be a problem in danger of solving itself.
Troublesome Carp fka Geeno
@satby:When my father’s mother died, he had gotten there to be with her to the end, but after two and half days at her side, one of the doctors said “sometimes they prefer to be alone”. Dad decided to go to his uncle John’s to sleep that night. By the time he got there (about a half hour drive), the phone call had come.
People are funny, they die in their own way. Some feel the need to cling on through horrible pain to see their loved ones that one last time; others would rather slip away quietly with as little fuss or bother to themselves or anyone else.
Whatever happens, it’s as it should be.
chopper
@satby:
try as hard as you can to get out there now. my dad went south really fast and i wasn’t there when he died and i’m still troubled by it.
chopper
@chopper:
mind you this was before i had kids.
redshirt
If you want to be realistic about it, you should operate on the assumption that the last time you see someone might be the last time ever, since anyone can die at any time. So, treat everyone you love like it’s the last time you’ll see them.
Certainly changes perspective.
Mnemosyne
@Troublesome Carp fka Geeno:
I heard SO many stories of people wanting to be alone when they died when we were dealing with terminally ill family members. My father-in-law hung on until the family left the room so the nurse could do something pretty basic (like check his vitals) and he chose that time.
With my dad, I leaned over and told him that I was taking my mom home even though he’d been unconscious since we arrived, and he died after I got her safely home. I still think he knew it would be too hard on her for her to be there when he died, so he waited until we left.
Lee Rudolph
@eemom: As to “the only guns at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland will be in the hands of “law enforcement personnel”, I see no reason to doubt that SOMEWHERE in (the wild western states of) America, some sovereign sheriff is fully prepared to deputize a posse of HUNDREDS of right-minded citizen-delegates!
satby
Thanks everyone for all the support. It does help so much.
She’s had a long and generally healthy life up to this year, so my mom would be the first to say she was a very lucky woman. My sister just reported that she’s on the way to pick up another medication, and that if my mom she gets past this crisis she may have a few more months. We’ll know more in the morning if she responds better to this drug. But I know she wouldn’t want to pull through to sit in a nursing home.
I appreciate all the kind words, I guess I’m just reeling from the sudden turn of events. But we spoke frequently, she knew I was on the way, and we ended every conversation with “I love you”. So we’re good, whatever happens.
@Troublesome Carp fka Geeno: What the doctor told you is true, we saw it happen fairly often when I worked in hospitals. And that would be my mom, honestly, fiercely private and independent to the end. Thanks
WereBear
@satby: It sounds like you did great. Do what you can.
That’s all that should ever be asked of us.
Ruckus
I’ve been debating with myself to post this or not. If I made the wrong decision I’m sorry.
I hope this doesn’t sound belittling or crass, it certainly isn’t intended that way.
I’ve been in the room while they passed in my arms, I’ve left after talking to them in hospital and seeing them go sleep and 20 minutes later they passed, I’ve been the last person to speak to someone and then watched them get killed, and I’ve been thousands of miles away while people I know passed. To me it all feels the same. Even for the ones I was expecting to go. One second you are here and then you aren’t. Doesn’t make my feelings for the people any different. And as most of us don’t control when or even how we go, I see no reason to feel guilt about not being some place you aren’t/can’t be.
Ruckus
@WereBear:
Very good advice.
redshirt
@Ruckus: Guilt after a death always comes from a “I should have” perspective. I should have said this, I should have done that, etc. If you don’t have any guilt over actions that you should or shouldn’t have done, then death is fairly straightforward.
Ruckus
@redshirt:
As long as I didn’t cause the death and I do what @WereBear: said, all I can, then there is nothing to feel guilty about. And I disagree, death is not fairly straightforward for caring humans. The physical act, yes but that’s not what we were all discussing.
redshirt
@Ruckus: When it’s someone you know and care about, it’s totally different than anonymous person X who died today.
The difference is because you can evaluate your own actions with someone you know and find them lacking easily enough, and then guilt fills in.
Peter VE
@eemom: Only law enforcement personnel….. Can the Cleveland cops assign Timothy Loehmann to Convention duty?
satby
@Ruckus: I know where you’re coming from. I’m only a bit worried at the moment that my trip will come too late, but I don’t feel guilty that I’m not there this minute. And on some level, I feel like it’s a bit selfish wishing she hangs on until I can get there when she’s in such pain. We almost always want them to hang on for us, not themselves.
satby
@LAO: and LAO, condolences on the loss of your uncle. Sorry too your father is taking it hard.
satby
Also, Bob in Portland also mentioned yesterday his mom is also near death. Healing thoughts to him and his family.
Edited, not yesterday, earlier today.
Citizen Scientist
@satby: My thoughts are with you and your family. probably my oldest friend passed from brain cancer last week. She had been getting treatment for over five years, had a couple surgeries, chemo, radiation, remission and back, etc. And then finally, there was nothing more to do except hospice care at home. It was a bit of a relief that she finally passed, knowing that she was in pain and couldn’t eat or drink anymore, could barely speak, etc. I really hope things go as well as they can for you and your mom.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Citizen Scientist: I’m very sorry for your loss. My friend who died that way had a couple of very good years, and then went downhill very quickly. I was saddened that his pain was so difficult to manage, and while the end was a relief, the sorrow remained.
You’re in my thoughts.
rikyrah
@satby:
So sorry for your family. I have been there.
satby
@Citizen Scientist: I’m so sorry about your friend. It’s so hard to watch lived ones suffer like that. Fuck cancer.
@rikyrah: thanks rikyrah.
ruemara
@satby: Very sorry to hear that. Hospice care workers are some of the very best and will be working to keep her comfortable. I hope you’re able to see her soon.
Paul in KY
@satby: So sorry to hear that, but am glad she is not in pain.
Paul in KY
@Gin & Tonic: Understand what you mean.
Joy in FL
@satby: I’m so sorry.
laura
I, too, like many posters am watching and waiting as my mother takes her own time to pass. She’s in hospice in Petaluma at the end stage of dementia. I see her every other week and have prepared for “the call.”
Helpful advice was to get a narrow lounge chair, to fit between the beds in her room. I have assembled some towels, a dish basin, rosewater and sweet almond oil and a beautiful pajama set on order the bathe her body and honor her corporeal self before transport to the funeral home.
It has become too painful for my dad to visit her other than on an infrequent basis. He and I talk about her and don’t understand what lesson we’re suppose to learn in her suffering besides acceptance.
Hugs to all in similar circumstances -especially Satby. Where there’s love, there’s loss and remembrance.
Paul in KY
@laura: I don’t know if there is any ‘lesson’. You can make one, but your mother is most likely only alive now due only to our advanced medical care (as opposed to 400 years ago, say).
Very sorry for her & you & your family. My dad has senile dementia. Still physically ‘healthy’ (for 92), but mentally fading and fading…
Citizen Scientist
@a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q) @satby: Thank you both. Namaste.