Originally Posted by redietz View Post
I think debating this is somewhat silly as it's impossible to define "political." You can backfit arguments that make the act political.
9-11 was a terrorist act: the participants acted in furtherance of a political / religious belief: Islamic jihad.

Oklahoma city was political: the perpetrators were anti-U.S. government.

So far Paddock is not believed to have acted in furtherance of any stated political, ideological or religious cause.

Collateral, "political" effects such as you mention are not necessarily determinative in characterizing such a heinous act: it is the intent to attack individuals whom the terrorist considers perceived enemies / adversaries / non-believers that matters.

One thing cannot be overlooked: Paddock had a plan and he executed it masterfully, with no advance warning.

He succeeded in gaining infamy, if nothing else.