This at least gives me pause about the LN narrative

[John Corbett]

Factors that seem to me to be relevant to this discussion:

The time that LHO spent in the brig while in the USMC would have been very difficult for anyone to bear. Especially someone with LHO’s inflated ego. I believe that experience probably hardened LHO and turned him against the USA even more than he already was. It also probably taught him how to behave while under custody in order to minimize any harsh treatment from his captors. All of that combined to help him appear as a “cool customer” while under custody in Dallas, TX.

The JFK motorcade came to LHO’s place of work, LHO did not need to go elsewhere in order to make an assassination attempt. I believe that when LHO, after reading the news papers and seeing photos of the motorcade, realized what a golden opportunity had been laid in his lap. It was simply too tempting of an opportunity to resist. After quickly planning a military-style ambush from behind and above, he formulated a “reason” (curtain rods) to go to retrieve his rifle and ammo. Perhaps LHO realized that if it turned out that conditions didn’t permit him to get a clear shot, he could have simply not pulled the trigger and might have even been able to sneak the “curtain rods” out of the TSBD with no one even suspecting anything.

The points that Lance brings up are interesting. But if one reads the book that Robert Oswald wrote, he will see that Robert indicates that LHO enjoyed trying to mystify and trick the authorities, etc (or something to that affect). That’s part of how Robert explains much of LHO’s bizarre behavior. Remember that Marina said that LHO laughed and got a kick out of the police assuming the Walker shooter got away via an automobile (while LHO “tricked them” by getting away via public transportation).

Whenever we try to figure out what was going on inside Oswald's head, we are guessing but they can be educated guesses. I think Oswald enjoyed his newfound notoriety. He enjoyed being the center of attention. I think he was just toying with the cops, even though he knew they had him dead to right. He wasn't going to make it easy for them by confessing. I think he knew he would be convicted and sentenced to death, but he was going to have fun with the authorities in the meantime. I think he was looking forward to his trial and his status as an evil celebrity. Jack Ruby robbed him of that. Good for Jack.

[Charles Collins]

This is an excellent point and one I hadn't thought of before. If LHO was innocently hanging out in the lunchroom, unaware of what had just happened, his reaction to having a cop point a gun at him would unlikely to be cool and calm. I imagine if I were in such a spot, I would throw up my hands and ask what the hell was going on. To me this seems to be Oswald pretending to be innocent by acting calm despite a cop pointing a gun at him.

Yes, LHO probably realized that he would need to blend-in with others in order to increase his chances of escaping the TSBD and Dealey Plaza. Acting calm was part of that idea. Remember that LHO reportedly enjoyed watching a new TV show called “The Fugitive”. LHO had just become a fugitive. In the TV show, the fugitive changed his clothes, dyed his hair, etc to try to loose his pursuers. LHO’s behavior was similar to what was portrayed in the TV show.

[Charles Collins]

Whenever we try to figure out what was going on inside Oswald's head, we are guessing but they can be educated guesses. I think Oswald enjoyed his newfound notoriety. He enjoyed being the center of attention. I think he was just toying with the cops, even though he knew they had him dead to right. He wasn't going to make it easy for them by confessing. I think he knew he would be convicted and sentenced to death, but he was going to have fun with the authorities in the meantime. I think he was looking forward to his trial and his status as an evil celebrity. Jack Ruby robbed him of that. Good for Jack.

Yep, Jack was wrong to take justice into his own hands. But I do remember watching it live on TV and my first reaction was being glad LHO got shot. Same for when the news of his death was broadcast.

[Tom Graves]

Why would he need to pre-purchase a Coke. He didn't have one when Baker encountered him. He bought the Coke after Baker left and was seen with it by Mrs. Reid as he headed toward the front of the building.

Do you think he bought it because he was thirsty?

[Michael Capasse]

Why would he need to pre-purchase a Coke. He didn't have one when Baker encountered him. He bought the Coke after Baker left and was seen with it by Mrs. Reid as he headed toward the front of the building.

  Once again, cherry picking 

[John Corbett]

Yep, Jack was wrong to take justice into his own hands. But I do remember watching it live on TV and my first reaction was being glad LHO got shot. Same for when the news of his death was broadcast.

I wasn't lucky enough to see it live but I was delighted when they announced he had died. I still am.

Yes, Jack Ruby was wrong to do what he did but I'm still glad he did it.

I've heard it said facetiously that in Texas, "He needed killing" is a legal defense. Maybe Ruby's lawyers should have taken that route.

[Lance Payette]

Once again, to be clear: Nothing in my posts suggests Oswald was an innocent patsy. My posts are predicated on him doing what the LN scenario says he did. In that context, his behavior seems distinctly odd to me, beginning the day before the assassination. I simply noted that if he were an innocent patsy, his behavior would be (somewhat) more understandable.

Ben just posted a thread where, when things didn't go smoothly in MC, Oswald supposedly "became violent and screamed 'I'm going to kill that damn Kennedy!'' This is not the Oswald of November 21-24. There is an odd disconnect.

I see the discussion of the Baker encounter. You have just blown off the head of the President. You rush down the stairs, hoping to escape. You hear Baker and Truly coming up. You duck into the lunchroom, apparently seconds before the encounter. Baker sticks his gun in your stomach and asks Truly if you work there. And you are cool as a cumcumber, like a deer in the headlights, not even breathing hard. If you had 5 minutes to compose yourself, perhaps. Under the circumstances, I find it almost unbelievable. The encounter does not sound like it lasted long enough for Oswald to ask, "What is this all about, gentlemen?" After the encounter, I suppose he would now feel a sense of near-euphoria: "I just survived an encounter with the police! I'm actually going to walk out of this building!" He might have had the presence of mind to think "It will look even better if I'm casually carrying a Coke" - but I'm not convinced he even was carrying a Coke, and this too seems like a very odd detail under the circumstances. All just ... very odd. At least to me.