(swiped from Blondesense)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
One of the greats goes down
What did Karl Rove say after he had an orgasm?
"Oh Bob -- you really DO know the secret of Deep Throat!"
"Oh Bob -- you really DO know the secret of Deep Throat!"
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The Bank of America conspiracy. AIIEE!
Those of you interested in news reports from other universes may want to check out the PH Craftlove page, which argues that "Every Building in US hit by a plane has a B of A Branch in it." (Does that include the time a jet rammed into South Central L.A. in the 1980s?) Craftlove's investigations and scryings lead him to conclude that the Sears Tower, which is in the 60606 zip code, will be hit on 06-06-06.
Dare ye scoff? What if it happens?
Dare ye scoff? What if it happens?
The Jordan bombings
Juan Cole today has a rather interesting piece on Moustapha Akkad, the Syrian-born Hollywood producer -- best known for the Halloween films -- who died in the Jordan bombings. Cole does not mention one aspect of Akkad's career that some might find relevant to his sad fate.
In 1976, Akkad released the religious biopic Mohammed: Messenger of God. Although the Prophet is not directly depicted in the film (which is reverent to the point of dullness), some Muslims took offense. In Washington D.C., the Hanafi sect took hostages in an attempt to prevent further screenings. (I seem to recall that the incident gave rise to a popular conspiracy theory, the details of which escape me at the moment.)
I doubt, though, that today's Islamic radicals still care very much about that film. Thus, I doubt that Akkad was targeted.
If you're in the market for a good conspiracy theory, check out these photos, which seem to indicate that (contrary to the official story) the bombs were planted in the ceiling. Of course, I'm no expert on explosives -- but I would very much like to hear what such an expert might say about the blast patterns.
The Jordanians have in custody a woman who claims that she and her husband came into the hotel wearing explosive-laden belts. She says that hers did not go off, although her husband's did. Yesterday, Democracy Now broadcast part of her statement in the original, overlaid with a translation. She sounded robotic, calm, unemotional -- which I found downright odd for someone in her position.
A few news stories on the incident note the close relationship between Jordan and the CIA. What these stories don't tell you is that, way back in the early 1970s, American spooks used a hidden camera to photograph a Jordanian royal in bed with Xaveria Hollander, who is Jewish. Jordanian/U.S. cooperation was thus born of blackmail. If Xaveria similarly entertained a Saudi prince (as I suspect she did), much history is explained.
In 1976, Akkad released the religious biopic Mohammed: Messenger of God. Although the Prophet is not directly depicted in the film (which is reverent to the point of dullness), some Muslims took offense. In Washington D.C., the Hanafi sect took hostages in an attempt to prevent further screenings. (I seem to recall that the incident gave rise to a popular conspiracy theory, the details of which escape me at the moment.)
I doubt, though, that today's Islamic radicals still care very much about that film. Thus, I doubt that Akkad was targeted.
If you're in the market for a good conspiracy theory, check out these photos, which seem to indicate that (contrary to the official story) the bombs were planted in the ceiling. Of course, I'm no expert on explosives -- but I would very much like to hear what such an expert might say about the blast patterns.
The Jordanians have in custody a woman who claims that she and her husband came into the hotel wearing explosive-laden belts. She says that hers did not go off, although her husband's did. Yesterday, Democracy Now broadcast part of her statement in the original, overlaid with a translation. She sounded robotic, calm, unemotional -- which I found downright odd for someone in her position.
A few news stories on the incident note the close relationship between Jordan and the CIA. What these stories don't tell you is that, way back in the early 1970s, American spooks used a hidden camera to photograph a Jordanian royal in bed with Xaveria Hollander, who is Jewish. Jordanian/U.S. cooperation was thus born of blackmail. If Xaveria similarly entertained a Saudi prince (as I suspect she did), much history is explained.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Vote fraud: Unbelievable!
A few days, I joked about the "clean elections" measure in Ohio which failed at the ballot box. Now, Bob Fritakis has demonstrated beyond the point of intelligent debate that vote fraud occurred in Ohio in 2005 -- on a scale that must startle even the most jaded observer.
Half the counties in Ohio installed voting machines that did not pass muster here in California.
Now, as many people have said many times, the only indicator of vote fraud we can ever hope to have are discrepancies between polls and the actual tallies. What else is there?
There were no exit polls in Ohio in 2005 -- at least, not to my knowledge -- but the predictive polls conducted by the Columbus Dispatch have proven remarkably accurate in the past. Keep in mind, too, that this election belonged to the Dems elsewhere in the country. Bush's poll numbers have tanked, and Ohio's governor Bob Taft is caught up in scandal.
On five issues of key importance to Republicans in the state, the poll numbers had varied from the actuals to such a degree that we must toss aside all argument based on inaccuracy. I derive (well, actually, I swipe) these tables from Brad Friedman:
No. No they are not.
Don't even try to mount an argument about people lying to pollsters. I won't listen to such nonsense, and neither will anyone with any common sense.
Remember, these polls have been highly predictive in the past. Why would the pollsters go haywire only when the vote goes electronic?
My first reaction was: "Someone should tell Kenny to steal only the votes he needs. These numbers are not just crooked, they are inelegant."
After reflection, I understood that Blackwell and his puppetmasters must have wanted to see outrageous results. They're sending a message to people like you and me: Yeah, we're stealing elections. What are YOU going to do about it, chump?
Very likely, the numbers were simply flipped by the "mother machines."
On other fronts: Not long ago, we discussed VoterAction's important suit against New Mexico's election officials.
I've said it before and I'll say it again -- this time in capital letters:
COVER-UP OBVIATES CONSPIRACY!
(English majors, please note the discussion of "obviate" in the comments section.)
The refusal to allow discovery provides all the proof of vote fraud any reasonable person needs.
I know something about New Mexico, having spent a good deal of time there. Thus, I was stunned to discover that downtown Santa Fe supposedly went for Bush in 2004. The very idea is ridiculous; I suppose next we will hear that David Duke carried Encino, California. The only thing less popular than George W. Bush in downtown Santa Fe is an enchilada smothered in sour cream.
(In case you're not up on regional cuisine: Sour cream is California style, not New Mexico style.)
Bottom line: We need international observers!
Half the counties in Ohio installed voting machines that did not pass muster here in California.
Now, as many people have said many times, the only indicator of vote fraud we can ever hope to have are discrepancies between polls and the actual tallies. What else is there?
There were no exit polls in Ohio in 2005 -- at least, not to my knowledge -- but the predictive polls conducted by the Columbus Dispatch have proven remarkably accurate in the past. Keep in mind, too, that this election belonged to the Dems elsewhere in the country. Bush's poll numbers have tanked, and Ohio's governor Bob Taft is caught up in scandal.
On five issues of key importance to Republicans in the state, the poll numbers had varied from the actuals to such a degree that we must toss aside all argument based on inaccuracy. I derive (well, actually, I swipe) these tables from Brad Friedman:
ISSUE 1 ($2 Billion State Bond initiative)Are these numbers possible?
PRE-POLLING: 53% Yes, 27% No, 20% Undecided
FINAL RESULT: 54% Yes, 45% No
ISSUE 2 (Allow easier absentee balloting)
PRE-POLLING: 59% Yes, 33% No, 9% Undecided
FINAL RESULT: 36% Yes, 63% No
ISSUE 3 (Revise campaign contribution limits)
PRE-POLLING: 61% Yes, 25% No, 14% Undecided
FINAL RESULT: 33% Yes, 66% No
ISSUE 4 (Ind. Comm. to draw Congressional Districts)
PRE-POLLING: 31% Yes, 45% No, 25% Undecided
FINAL RESULT: 30% Yes, 69% No
ISSUE 5 (Ind. Board instead of Sec. of State to oversee elections)
PRE-POLLING: 41% Yes, 43% No, 16% Undecided
FINAL RESULT: 29% Yes, 70% No
No. No they are not.
Don't even try to mount an argument about people lying to pollsters. I won't listen to such nonsense, and neither will anyone with any common sense.
Remember, these polls have been highly predictive in the past. Why would the pollsters go haywire only when the vote goes electronic?
My first reaction was: "Someone should tell Kenny to steal only the votes he needs. These numbers are not just crooked, they are inelegant."
After reflection, I understood that Blackwell and his puppetmasters must have wanted to see outrageous results. They're sending a message to people like you and me: Yeah, we're stealing elections. What are YOU going to do about it, chump?
Very likely, the numbers were simply flipped by the "mother machines."
On other fronts: Not long ago, we discussed VoterAction's important suit against New Mexico's election officials.
Vote count data analysis conducted at the precinct level in New Mexico has shown some statistically disturbing patterns that are difficult to write off or explain with anecdotal reasoning. Accredited statistical analysts and elections specialists from around the country have documented an alarmingly high undervote rate in predominately Native American, Hispanic, and Democratic precincts across the state. An “undervote” is when a ballot was cast but no vote was counted. In New Mexico the “undervote” rate is not limited to presidential votes but is consistent down ticket as well. Accepting this high undervote rate at face value would require us to believe that many voters in these communities went to the polls on Election Day to cast a ballot for no one.Now, the county clerks in Bernalillo county have completely refused to allow the controversial machines to be inspected by experts hired by the plaintiffs.
What makes this particularly disturbing is that the undervote rate in problem precincts increases dramatically when ballots were cast on Election Day on paperless, electronic voting machines. The data also reveals a pattern of votes cast on electronic voting machines on Election Day being consistently 15% points lower for John Kerry and 18% points higher for George W. Bush in comparison to absentee and early voting.
The problems do not end there. With minimal effort, additional evidence has come to our attention including:
¨ A high number of incident reports of switched votes on touch screen machines.
¨ Data manipulation by a third party vendor after the canvass report had been filed.
¨ An official voting machine tally that recorded only one vote after a poll worker had watched approx. 141 people voting on the machine throughout election day.
¨ A disturbing review by a certified public accountant hired by the Secretary of State regarding the official results.
I've said it before and I'll say it again -- this time in capital letters:
COVER-UP OBVIATES CONSPIRACY!
(English majors, please note the discussion of "obviate" in the comments section.)
The refusal to allow discovery provides all the proof of vote fraud any reasonable person needs.
I know something about New Mexico, having spent a good deal of time there. Thus, I was stunned to discover that downtown Santa Fe supposedly went for Bush in 2004. The very idea is ridiculous; I suppose next we will hear that David Duke carried Encino, California. The only thing less popular than George W. Bush in downtown Santa Fe is an enchilada smothered in sour cream.
(In case you're not up on regional cuisine: Sour cream is California style, not New Mexico style.)
Bottom line: We need international observers!
Like father, like son
Today, a reader chided me for my memory lapses -- lapses which seem to target those brain cells which store data about Italy. I was delighted to discover that someone else was having an even worse day.
I received a mailing from someone named Karl W B Schwartz, who says that he is the candidate for the American Patriot Party. The first paragraph:
I received a mailing from someone named Karl W B Schwartz, who says that he is the candidate for the American Patriot Party. The first paragraph:
As I watch the October 28 news conferences regarding the indictment handed down against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, I am reminded of long ago when his father G. Gordon Libby attempted to fall on the sword to save Richard Nixon, and failed.Let me add that I'm glad Condi Rice was able to get work in government even though she had that fling with Gary Hart. I like her new look.
"Straight" to hell -- by way of Italy (Plus: A vote fraud connection...?)
Some of you may recall my earlier post about Republican child abusers. Specifically, I spoke about Mel Sembler, a long-time Bush family crony and heavy donor, who was until quite recently the ambassador to Italy. Sembler has a sick secret: He used to run a nationwide network of abusive concentration camps -- brainwashing centers, in effect -- which masqueraded as drug rehab clinics for young people.
The Sembler program was called Straight. The program modeled itself after the notorious "Seed" program of the Nixon era, which was shut down after a congressional investigation. Most Straight clinics were closed during the Clinton years, due to lawsuits and media exposure.
Today, mysterious Sembler-esque figures are quietly reconstituting the abusive program under other names. As we shall see, Jeb Bush has been directly linked to one "neo-Straight" operation.
Youngsters in the Sembler program were starved, beaten, tortured, humiliated, sexually abused, raped, kept under surveillance even when gong to the bathroom, and forced to participate in non-stop group "thought control" sessions. Teens were forced to defecate on themselves and to "confess" to crimes they never committed. The program destroyed all sense of individuality or self-worth; victims often ended up torturing themselves.
In short and in sum, the Straight program was a hyperbolized version of the "brainwashing" techniques that Americans of an earlier generation commonly ascribed to the Communist Chinese. Straight victims often had no drug problems whatsoever. High-pressure salesmen, using the argot of recovery, would convince parents that children with no history of drug abuse were "dry druggies" living "in denial."
Over the past year, Jeff Gorenfeld has done incredibly good work on this story. And now Mark Levine's Inside Scoop radio program offers a long expose on Sembler and Straight. This show is an absolute must-listen. (You can skip past the commercials.) You'll hear plenty of Straight victims tell astonishing, infuriating tales of abuse. At the end of the broadcast, you'll be screaming one question:
Why the hell was Sembler ambassador to Italy?
I cannot say for sure, but we have every reason to suspect that the story here is far stranger than we can guess. There are indications that Sembler is connected to the shadowy, endlessly-intertwining group of "rogue" intelligence agents that Joseph Trento exposes in his book Prelude to Terror.
Sembler has long been on intimate terms with "Poppy" Bush, a key figure within this "old boy" gang long before he came to head the CIA. According to Joshua Marshall, Sembler also has a long-standing relationship with another notorious figure associated with the Agency (even if we cannot technically call him an operative): Michael Ledeen.
Sembler played a still-mysterious role in the 2002 interactions between Ledeen and the notorious Iran-contra figure Manucher Ghorbanifar. He played an even odder role in the tale of the alleged terrorist kidnapped in Milan by CIA personnel. Sembler denied that American intelligence personnel were involved in the kidnapping, even though both an Italian judge and former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer identified the operation was a joint CIA/SISMI venture. Sembler also may have helped to obfuscate the strange circumstances surrounding the "friendly fire" attack on Guiliana Sgrena in Iraq (which some believe was other than accidental).
While we do not yet possess all the facts, those we do have indicate that Sembler may function as a trusted asset of the rogue clandestine operatives who set this country onto its current disastrous course.
All of which makes his history as a "drug counselor" even more distubring.
What the hell was Straight? Did Sembler have intelligence connections when he ran the program? If so, what was the real purpose of his abusive approach? Yes, Straight was clearly a money-making venture -- but did it also have a deeper agenda? (Seed, the predecessor program of the early 1970s, was widely rumored to have links to the Agency's MKULTRA program. I've never seen any proof backing that suspicion.)
In this morass, one thing is clear: Straight did not help teens. The victims' stories conjure up an image of institutionalised sadism -- cruelty for the sake of cruelty.
So what was Mel Sembler really up to?
We may further ask: What the hell is the Bush family really up to? Poppy's Rolodex contained contact info for both "drug counselor" Mel Sembler and drug-smuggler Don Aronow. The elder Bush also put Manuel Noriega on the CIA payroll when Noreiga was involved with drug smuggling.
Definitely an interesting group of associates.
If you think this story could not possibly get stranger, we also have allegations that a Straight off-shoot -- the Drug Free America Foundation -- was involved with hacking the vote in Florida. Jeb Bush is a listed "advisor" to this foundation.
The allegations of DFAF involvement with vote fraud come to us by way of the Jeff Fisher imbroglio, which was one of the more frustrating aspects of the 2004 election controversy. Some have argued that Fisher was fed disinformation, as perhaps he was. Still, I would encourage others to do some follow up research into the allegation; the Fisher story never did reach a satisfactory conclusion.
The Sembler program was called Straight. The program modeled itself after the notorious "Seed" program of the Nixon era, which was shut down after a congressional investigation. Most Straight clinics were closed during the Clinton years, due to lawsuits and media exposure.
Today, mysterious Sembler-esque figures are quietly reconstituting the abusive program under other names. As we shall see, Jeb Bush has been directly linked to one "neo-Straight" operation.
Youngsters in the Sembler program were starved, beaten, tortured, humiliated, sexually abused, raped, kept under surveillance even when gong to the bathroom, and forced to participate in non-stop group "thought control" sessions. Teens were forced to defecate on themselves and to "confess" to crimes they never committed. The program destroyed all sense of individuality or self-worth; victims often ended up torturing themselves.
In short and in sum, the Straight program was a hyperbolized version of the "brainwashing" techniques that Americans of an earlier generation commonly ascribed to the Communist Chinese. Straight victims often had no drug problems whatsoever. High-pressure salesmen, using the argot of recovery, would convince parents that children with no history of drug abuse were "dry druggies" living "in denial."
Over the past year, Jeff Gorenfeld has done incredibly good work on this story. And now Mark Levine's Inside Scoop radio program offers a long expose on Sembler and Straight. This show is an absolute must-listen. (You can skip past the commercials.) You'll hear plenty of Straight victims tell astonishing, infuriating tales of abuse. At the end of the broadcast, you'll be screaming one question:
Why the hell was Sembler ambassador to Italy?
I cannot say for sure, but we have every reason to suspect that the story here is far stranger than we can guess. There are indications that Sembler is connected to the shadowy, endlessly-intertwining group of "rogue" intelligence agents that Joseph Trento exposes in his book Prelude to Terror.
Sembler has long been on intimate terms with "Poppy" Bush, a key figure within this "old boy" gang long before he came to head the CIA. According to Joshua Marshall, Sembler also has a long-standing relationship with another notorious figure associated with the Agency (even if we cannot technically call him an operative): Michael Ledeen.
Sembler played a still-mysterious role in the 2002 interactions between Ledeen and the notorious Iran-contra figure Manucher Ghorbanifar. He played an even odder role in the tale of the alleged terrorist kidnapped in Milan by CIA personnel. Sembler denied that American intelligence personnel were involved in the kidnapping, even though both an Italian judge and former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer identified the operation was a joint CIA/SISMI venture. Sembler also may have helped to obfuscate the strange circumstances surrounding the "friendly fire" attack on Guiliana Sgrena in Iraq (which some believe was other than accidental).
While we do not yet possess all the facts, those we do have indicate that Sembler may function as a trusted asset of the rogue clandestine operatives who set this country onto its current disastrous course.
All of which makes his history as a "drug counselor" even more distubring.
What the hell was Straight? Did Sembler have intelligence connections when he ran the program? If so, what was the real purpose of his abusive approach? Yes, Straight was clearly a money-making venture -- but did it also have a deeper agenda? (Seed, the predecessor program of the early 1970s, was widely rumored to have links to the Agency's MKULTRA program. I've never seen any proof backing that suspicion.)
In this morass, one thing is clear: Straight did not help teens. The victims' stories conjure up an image of institutionalised sadism -- cruelty for the sake of cruelty.
So what was Mel Sembler really up to?
We may further ask: What the hell is the Bush family really up to? Poppy's Rolodex contained contact info for both "drug counselor" Mel Sembler and drug-smuggler Don Aronow. The elder Bush also put Manuel Noriega on the CIA payroll when Noreiga was involved with drug smuggling.
Definitely an interesting group of associates.
If you think this story could not possibly get stranger, we also have allegations that a Straight off-shoot -- the Drug Free America Foundation -- was involved with hacking the vote in Florida. Jeb Bush is a listed "advisor" to this foundation.
The allegations of DFAF involvement with vote fraud come to us by way of the Jeff Fisher imbroglio, which was one of the more frustrating aspects of the 2004 election controversy. Some have argued that Fisher was fed disinformation, as perhaps he was. Still, I would encourage others to do some follow up research into the allegation; the Fisher story never did reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
For those who remain, this question...
Normally, I'm not the sort of blogger who shows much concern for readership figures. If a hundred people show up on any given day, great. If a million, great. But something odd has happened, and it points to an issue that goes far beyond my personal situation.
For quite a few months, this blog has had a core audience. I won't discuss exact figures; suffice it to say, the numbers fluctuated within certain predictable limits. Last Thursday, however, the readership dropped dramatically -- nearly by half.
No, folks didn't go away because I said harsh things about red-staters and fundamentalists. Usually, the numbers tick up after a posting of that sort.
So what happened on Thursday? I published horrifying photos of Iraqi civilians who had died from white phosphorus attacks by Americans.
I gave the photos "in your face" placement because without them, the arguments over WP had become far too abstract. Over on the conservative blogs, people who reacted with deep outrage over the charred American bodies hanging on that bridge seemed unconcerned about children and housewives in that city who died in an unquenchable fire.
White phosphorus isn't really a chemical weapon, the folks at (say) Wizbang pronounced in dry and nerdish tones. It's really an incendiary. Unfortunate, but not a treaty violation...
This pseudo-academic nonsense even infected much of the writing on Daily Kos.
I thought: 'They wouldn't dare make such arguments if their words adjoined photographs of the victims. Let's see them try to explain away the visual evidence that flesh and bone had burned while clothing didn't.'
I'd sure hate to be the one defending that stance while readers looked at those images.
So the pictures went up on the site, even though I could barely look at them. And the next day, this blog received only half its usual load of Friday visitors.
I'm not worried on a personal level. Folks will come back once word gets out that I've written something particularly juicy, as I soon will. And even if they don't come back, I still have far more than enough readers to make this project worthwhile.
The larger issue is this: Are people -- even progressive people -- willing to face an unpleasant reality?
Many years ago, I spoke to a high school "Health" teacher. She described the major difficulty of trying to get across an anti-smoking message: If you show hard-hitting evidence of what smoking can do -- photos of blackened lungs, interviews in cancer wards -- the audience stops listening. The message gets through to fewer people.
The same difficulty confronts anyone attempting to send an anti-war message. Casual readers don't want to view stomach-turning horror while munching on their morning corn flakes. Yet if we don't force the audience to see just what happened in Fallujah, the argument will remain abstract and right-wing casuistry will win the day.
People believe what they prefer, not what is.
And that's a genuine problem, a problem confronting our whole damn culture -- a problem that goes far beyond my petty concerns over the Statcounter report.
So today, instead of subjecting you to pics of what our noble lads in uniform have accomplished, I've decided to upload a photograph of my dog. Cute, isn't she? Enjoy your corn flakes!
Frist Blair, then Bush?
Just a few days ago, British papers reported that all talk of impeaching Tony Blair had been pushed to one side. But now they're revving up plans again.
If Blair wants to save himself, he should follow Berlusconi's example and place as much distance as possible between himself and Dubya. And he had better do it quick.
Here, W is unpopular. Elsewhere, he is radioactive.
The impeachment process effectively stalled last year when just 23 MPs signed a Commons motion. But the scale of the government’s defeat on its anti-terror legislation last week – where 49 Labour MPs rebelled – has galvanised the momentum for proceedings to be invoked.I think this news should be considered alongside the recent RAI (Italian state TV) reports which broke the story of American troops using illegal chemical weaponry on civilians in Iraq. Italian PM Berlusconi was, after Blair, Bush's closest partner. But things have changed. Berlusconi has considerable influence over RAI; either in spite of that influence or (more likely) because of it, the network broadcast horrifying material highly embarrassing to the White House -- material which could, if properly pursued, lead to war crime convictions. I took this disclosure as one sign (hardly the only one) of a Berlusconi/Bush split.
Organisers say they are expecting 200 cross-party signatures, including those of former government ministers, to force the Commons to set up a Privy Council investigation that would examine in detail the case for impeachment against Blair.
The size of the Labour revolt, allied to unified opposition benches, is said to have changed the climate inside the Commons.
If Blair wants to save himself, he should follow Berlusconi's example and place as much distance as possible between himself and Dubya. And he had better do it quick.
Here, W is unpopular. Elsewhere, he is radioactive.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Not so intelligent design
Today I ran into this photo of Bush giving a Veteran's Day speech. Others (including the Washington Post) have done a fine job of pointing out the lies and omissions of W's latest propaganda blitz. Suffice it to say, fewer people are drinking the kool-aide.
But there was something about this photo that caught my attention. Y'see, I've done some package design work in my time, so my eye went directly to that "Strategy for Victory" poster in the background. The graphics looked awfully familiar.
The type style. The very close view of a waving American flag. The muted reds. The blue that leans toward a faded lavender...
Where had I see this before?
Oh yeah. Right. That's where. George, don't you think it's time for a new look?
Hoaxworld: The next terror attack.
Capitol Hill Blue -- not everyone's first idea of a trustworthy source -- says that the G.O.P. is circulating a memo offering W advice on how to reverse his political fortunes.
Of course, many will also presume that Capitol Hill Blue has perpetrated a hoax.
Welcome to Hoaxworld. We have a wide variety of realities on display. If you don't see the reality of your choice, please contact a sales associate. We may have that reality in our stockroom. Or we can order a custom reality tailored to your specifications.
The closely-guarded memo lays out a list of scenarios to bring the Republican party back from the political brink, including a devastating attack by terrorists that could "validate" the President's war on terror and allow Bush to "unite the country" in a "time of national shock and sorrow."Most readers of this column will presume that any such attack would be a hoax perpetrated by pro-Bush forces.
The memo says such a reversal in the President's fortunes could keep the party from losing control of Congress in the 2006 midterm elections.
Of course, many will also presume that Capitol Hill Blue has perpetrated a hoax.
Welcome to Hoaxworld. We have a wide variety of realities on display. If you don't see the reality of your choice, please contact a sales associate. We may have that reality in our stockroom. Or we can order a custom reality tailored to your specifications.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Another hoax? An intriguing mystery...
A couple of posts down, I excoriate the new online book "Samson Blinded," purportedly written by an anonymous Israeli hardliner. The text advocates that Israel follow an explicitly fascistic and imperialist course. Naturally, I condemned the author -- who has now taken on a new pen name: Obadiah Shoher.
Over the past few hours, I've come across a few indicators that the whole thing may be one of the most massive hoaxes ever foisted on the public. For one thing, advertisements for the book have started popping up all over usenet. Although the writing style of the ads resembles that of "Shoher," these posts are attributed to a previously unknown gentleman named Daniel Simkin -- who has a Russian mailing address.
Does that sound right to you? Why would a hard-line "Israel-ueber-alles" type be spreading the word from Russia?
I know something of the history of political hoaxes, and I've never seen something as elaborate as this. If this thing is a fake designed to make Israel look bad (as if Ariel Sharon weren't doing a sufficient job on his own!), then we may not be dealing with the work of a lone crank. Garden variety anti-Semites aren't this clever; when they create a bogus document, the "tells" are usually pretty obvious. Anyone else sense the presence of spooks...?
Over the past few hours, I've come across a few indicators that the whole thing may be one of the most massive hoaxes ever foisted on the public. For one thing, advertisements for the book have started popping up all over usenet. Although the writing style of the ads resembles that of "Shoher," these posts are attributed to a previously unknown gentleman named Daniel Simkin -- who has a Russian mailing address.
Does that sound right to you? Why would a hard-line "Israel-ueber-alles" type be spreading the word from Russia?
I know something of the history of political hoaxes, and I've never seen something as elaborate as this. If this thing is a fake designed to make Israel look bad (as if Ariel Sharon weren't doing a sufficient job on his own!), then we may not be dealing with the work of a lone crank. Garden variety anti-Semites aren't this clever; when they create a bogus document, the "tells" are usually pretty obvious. Anyone else sense the presence of spooks...?
Boycott the Los Angeles Times
The increasingly conservative Los Angeles Times just fired (for no stated reason) powerhouse liberal columnist Robert Scheer. Outrageous! They also canned the one conservative worth keeping around: Cartoonist Michael Ramirez. I despise his politics, but he's a great craftsman.
My old art teacher Nancy Ohanian, the finest pen-and-ink specialist this country has ever produced, is syndicated by the Times. She's too ladylike to tell those censoring bastards to go to hell, but I wish she would.
My old art teacher Nancy Ohanian, the finest pen-and-ink specialist this country has ever produced, is syndicated by the Times. She's too ladylike to tell those censoring bastards to go to hell, but I wish she would.
The devil's book
I just banned my first ad site. My "terms of service" agreement may forbid open discussion of such matters -- but frankly, I don't care. The farthings are so few that I probably should eliminate ads from this site altogether.
Paradoxically, I'm going to recommend that those with a sufficently strong stomach visit the site whose advertising pennies I won't take. The site promotes a remarkable online book by an ultra-conservative Israeli. The title is Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict.
Now, you'd think that the Holocaust would have taught the author of this work that Machiavelli's recommended course of unapologetic ruthlessness and deceit must inevitably result in atrocity. You'd think that the oft-seen 1945 aerial footage of Berlin in ruins would have taught the world that actions have consequences. Alas, racism often triumphs over the lessons of history.
If you still maintain the quaint belief that all Jews remain immune to the fascist pathogen which has touched nearly every other group on this planet, just scan these sub-heads from the volume in question:
Paradoxically, I'm going to recommend that those with a sufficently strong stomach visit the site whose advertising pennies I won't take. The site promotes a remarkable online book by an ultra-conservative Israeli. The title is Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict.
Now, you'd think that the Holocaust would have taught the author of this work that Machiavelli's recommended course of unapologetic ruthlessness and deceit must inevitably result in atrocity. You'd think that the oft-seen 1945 aerial footage of Berlin in ruins would have taught the world that actions have consequences. Alas, racism often triumphs over the lessons of history.
If you still maintain the quaint belief that all Jews remain immune to the fascist pathogen which has touched nearly every other group on this planet, just scan these sub-heads from the volume in question:
Machiavelli: goodness and crueltyNo author is listed for this work. He (presuming we are dealing with a "he") uses the catchy pen name ID 338295. He does provide some biographical information:
Israel should restrict democracy
No inherent right to a state, no inviolable state
No historical right
The feasibility of conquering the Arab states
Israel does not need peace
Why does Israel need the territories?
Annexation will not necessarily impede peace
A culturally attractive Israel could annex the territories more easily
Israel as regional empire
Conquer only militarily weak, economically viable states
Annexing foreign land
Winning tolerance of foreigners to annexation
Annexation tactics, expansion from a security belt
Hiring foreign infantry
Harsh measures, not limited victory
Abandon the pretense of humane war
Use large forces for conquest
Force Arab disarmament and turn Arab states into protectorates
Cruelty to prisoners
Terrorism is a war like any other
Terrorists justifiably target civilians
Jews have historically engaged in terrorism
Terrorists should be respected as warriors
Destroy oil infrastructure in retaliation
Abandon formalities; rely on suspicion and preemption
Collective liability
Act by stealth
Sabotage oil exports
Only cruelty can instill fear in poor people
No concern with secular ethics
I have written dozens of articles on economics, politics, and asymmetrical warfare; essays on ethics and political philosophy; and a book on religion. I served in various public offices, have managed election campaigns, and lead a political party.His real name should be obvious by now: Adolf Hitler.
Fundies and southerners are so dumb they think the "W" stands for "Honest"
According to a recent AP-Ipsos poll, the nation is starting to awaken to Bush's basic dishonesty. Guess who the hold-outs are?
Almost six in 10 — 57 percent — said they do not think the Bush administration has high ethical standards and the same portion says President Bush is not honest, an AP-Ipsos poll found. Just over four in 10 say the administration has high ethical standards and that Bush is honest. Whites, Southerners and white evangelicals were most likely to believe Bush is honest.Can anything awaken the Jesusmaniac Borg? Fundamentalism isn't a religion -- it's the most dangerous form of hypnosis ever devised. The south is populated by millions of Trilbys with twangs. How did that happen?
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