Public morals

Nobot

Nobot

You might be shocked if I gave full voice to the disdain I feel towards anyone who would intentionally mislead another person. (One hint, though, is the hundreds of hours I have put forth on this blog)

Of late, I have been reading material by Cotton Mather taken from The Witchcraft Delusion in New England [1866]. Mather wrote:

At such a time as this ought Magistrates to do something extraordinary in promoting of what is laudable, and in restraining and chastising of Evil Doers.

For Mather, the extraordinary time was the infestation of witches. In truth the misery that Mather saw was mostly the result of frightened people looking for a scapegoat stirred up by the likes of himself. However appropriate, it is not the purpose of this essay to associate the hysteria of the nobots with the hysteria of the Salem witch hunters. My purpose here is to talk about the punishment due to those who offend the public morals by practicing public deception.

I cannot judge who it is that intentionally fabricates lies (like fake travel bans, edited grandmother tapes, fake Kenyan birth certificates and historical and legal citations out of context), who knowingly passes them on or who unknowingly but negligently passed them on. Nevertheless I believe that such judgments should be made and to the extent that existing laws cannot punish them, perhaps they might be pilloried in effigy as a means of the expression of public disapproval.

And so (you know who you are) this pillory is for you.

About Dr. Conspiracy

I'm not a real doctor, but I have a master's degree.
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36 Responses to Public morals

  1. It has been commented that the measure of the quality of a discussion is related to how soon “Hitler” is invoked by one side of the other. I think the same might be said for “witch hunt”.

  2. Bob says:

    And so (you know who you are) this pillory is for you.

    Would naming a few names be entirely out of line?

  3. Names are OK. Social Security Numbers are out of bounds.

  4. Mary Brown says:

    The people I would call out are the Cotton Mather equivalents. These are the politicians like Senator Inhofe, the whispering Representative from Ohio and others who play with this notion to please their base. If they really believe that a President may be serving illegally, they have the option of opening an investigation with competent invesitgators or arrange to offer Articles of Impeachment based on sound evidence. Failure to do either speaks of political cowardice and a moral cynicism that defies the spiritual values they claim to possess. These are the people who need to be called out publically.

  5. Welsh Dragon says:

    Irony of irony.Senator Inhofe co-sponsored a bill in 2004 that if passed would have clarified as NBC anyone:
    1)Born in the US
    2)Born abroad to a US citizen or
    3)Born abroad but adopted by a US citizen

    To many birthers that should make him part of the ‘conspiracy’.

    Still to the pillory with him!

  6. Sally Hill says:

    “However appropriate, it is not the purpose of this essay to associate the hysteria of the nobots with the hysteria of the Salem witch hunters.”…I’m going to have to call BS on that.
    That’s like saying Joe Wilson didn’t intend on calling Obama a liar when he called out those very words. You can try and appear as though you are taking the high road, but I’m not buying it.

    “(like legal citations out of context), who knowingly passes them on or who unknowingly but negligently passed them on”….I thought that was what courts of law were for. When 2 people disagree on an issue – the courts are there to interpret the law and settle the disagreement. So – no tolerance whatsoever for disagreement?

    You make it sound as though you would like to see anyone who disagrees with you on legal points and who happens to ‘pass his/her interpretation along’ punished by law?

    If you truely believe we are as much lunatics as the Salem witch hunters, don’t you lefties want to heal and rehabilitate us? If we are lunatics, we wouldn’t know we were being punished, so really, what would be the point? Self-gratification on your part?

    I try to stay up to date on both sides of the issue, because usually, the truth lays somewhere in the middle. This was my ‘go-to’ blog for the pro-Obama side – but this post is a bit over the top and sounds a bit desparate.

  7. Mary Brown says:

    No Sandy, what is being said is that people who play with this issue are to be called out on that. I agree with that notion. The point being made, I think, has nothing to do with wichcraft at all, but rather with leaders who choose to bolster their career with innuendo, whispers and broad accusations. And I particuarly call out elected officials who mention their suspicions and then fail to do the honorable and invesitgate or charge. I would call it political gossip. It is cowardly.

  8. kimba says:

    In this case, as in most, the truth is not “somewhere in the middle”. The truth is very clearly that Barack Obama is perfectly eligible to be President of the United States. The people arguing he isn’t are using made-up scenarios and speculation to deceive others and try to disrupt, dismiss, and distract from everything this President is trying to do. Those people should be called out.

  9. SFJeff says:

    Sandy,
    I heard an author talking about the opposition to President Obama recently- he said(roughly) that they try to make a pastiche of conservative bogeyman out of President Obama- they call him a Nazi, a Muslim, a Communist, a drug addict, a homosexual, a baby killer, and of course, a foreigner. Basically the point is to associate his name with every fear possible and hope that one of them rings true with someone.

    I think Doc was being too kind in his analogy. I think that the only difference between this and witch hunt, is that the New England witch hunts had some broad public appeal- the birthers are just as radical in what they call for, but there are no big numbers behind them.

  10. Sally, I think that some Obama denialists and the witch hunters have something in common: they believe fantastic stories because they want to believe them, and they act largely out of fear (or out of spite). But if that were the purpose of my essay, then I would have dwealt on and developed that topic. I may write such an article, but this isn’t it.

    I would sincerely be happy if I could relieve the nObama tribe of their delusions (heal). I’ve spent enough time and effort trying. But this has no effect. It is the very fact that the victims cannot be healed that makes me angry towards the victimizers: the political operatives, the interest groups and the racists. You call me desperate: it’s not desperation, but anger.

    My punishment is reserved not for the victims, but for those who fabricate and those who purvey falsehood. I think the law should punish those who break the law, and particular those who commit perjury and fraud. I also believe that judicial sanctions should be applied to those attorneys who sign their names to false statements in their filings, saying things that they have a responsibility to know whether are true or not or that they can reasonably expect to prove–like the fake travel ban to Pakistan.

    I have no problem with an attorney arguing a theory vigorously and as one-lopsidedly as possible for his client. However, when an attorney deliberately misrepresents facts in a public forum, then I think they should be castigated for it in a public forum.

    It’s call accountability.

  11. Bible verse of the day:

    (James 3:1-2 NRSV) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. {2} For all of us make many mistakes…. {6} And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. {7} For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, {8} but no one can tame the tongue–a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

  12. Heavy says:

    Desparation is EXACTLY what it is. Notice how Doc voices his disdain for those who knowingly mislead, yet he still supports Obummer who has been proven to lie just about every time he opens his live lips?

    Libs feign their rage. Ours is REAL!

  13. SFJeff says:

    “Libs feign their rage. Ours is REAL!”

    I don’t think anyone has ever doubted that your rage is real Heavy. Thats the only thing that you manage to convey, rage.

  14. Heavy says:

    That’s right. Take a good look around. The hoax your messiah has played upon this country is crumbling.

  15. nbc says:

    Seems the joke is on you Heavy…

  16. Greg says:

    CPAC rejected a panel discussion of whether Obama is a citizen. So, it sort of seems like your arguments are crumbling!

  17. BlackLion says:

    All day we have been hearing that there were 2 million people at the so called 9/12 protests until they had to walk back that number. It is funny if you listened to Rush or read some of the blogs like tROSL are still pushing that number. I guess it is like the birthers, how the seriously overinflate their numbers. For instance they believe there are millions that are obsessing about the so called birth certificate issue. When we all know it is more like at best tens of thousands…

    http://mediamatters.org/columns/200909140039

    However at the protests there was a true brave soul. You have to see this guy…

    http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/teabaggers-decry-public-option

  18. kimba says:

    Wow. Guy needed 6 National Park police to walk through a public park. ( This is what I’m talkin’ about Mario. )

  19. Lupin says:

    Rage AND STUPIDITY. Let’s not forget teh stupid. It burns.

  20. AdrianInFlorida says:

    They sure believe in free speech, don’t they?

  21. Black Lion says:

    Only when you agree with them…

  22. Bob says:

    Taitz has her own pillory: Names some names (and possible violates attorney-client privilege).

    Popcorn time!

  23. AdrianInFlorida says:

    Yep.

    The first amendment is a God given right*

    (*Given by the God I belive in, not the cultish paganism of any other religion, to say what I want to say but not for you to spew what you think)

  24. AdrianInFlorida says:

    Yep, she seems to have a little war brewing with some RWNJ blogger

    From Orly’s Site:
    “I removed Arlene Williams from the group of my friends on Facebook. with friends like these, who needs enemies?”

    Who is Arelene Williams?

    She runs the “Investigating Obama” blog:
    http://investigatingobama.blogspot.com/

    And posted this little gem:
    “Monday, September 14, 2009
    Alert/Update – Have You Been Asked to do Something Wrong, by Orly Taitz?

    Alert/Update 9/14/2009 ~ Compatriot, if everything goes right, tomorrow, I will be able to give you more, about why I am asking you this question. Do look in. It will be very important. But if you or someone you know of has been asked by Orly Taitz to do something illegal or significantly unethical, about matters pertinent to her work on (or against) the Obama eligibility challenges, please let me know: arlenwilliams@yahoo.com.
    <<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>
    .

    Original posting, as of 9/11/2009 ~ Orly Taitz Watch: Saboteur?

    On Friday, August 14, I.O. called for help by those who would like to investigate and report the apparent “mistakes” in the eligibility challenges, of Orly Taitz. Also, her media-grabbing… buffoonery, would you say? And what of her other tricks, such as releasing private information over the Internet? Also in light of these, what of her instances of apparently shunning professional, volunteer help, from others? Some relevant comments and attestations were posted. You may read them:

    Call for Citizen Investigators of Orly Taitz

    Also, some emails were sent me. I confess, I have not afforded the time to do a professional job of collating the stories and of investigating and reporting. An entire book could be written, after all. So, at this point, I have felt inadequate to prepare a journalistic essay on The Mysteries of Orly. What I suggest at this point, is to peruse the “comments” entries to that article.

    Circumstances call for a question to be asked. Is Orly Taitz involved in sabotage?

    One ponders how an agent saboteur could do just what Orly Taitz has done, to be there “first with the worst” — to become the straw man “challenger,” for Barack Obama.

    Who would like to document the problems of Orly Taitz with me, since I do not have the time, by myself? (”Investigating Obama” is not easy on the schedule, after all.) If I find someone who could do this, I could help you, significantly.

    Meanwhile, to paraphrase the ol’ Hollies…

    Hey Orly Taitz,
    What’s your game now?
    Can anybody play?

    And has she really been granted expedited discovery in California, this week? Would Gary Kreep not also be reporting this, if so? And was Taitz really granted the opportunity to present before the court today, in Georgia? If so, why her?

    And if Orly Taitz makes “mistakes” which cause discoveries or presentments to be dismissed, nullified, or otherwise decided against, what does that do, to the cause of constitutional justice?

    UPDATE 9/12 – Reading even the first comment below leads me to apologize for not making this clear enough. So, let me try again. Orly Taitz has a track record of getting in front of other lawyers in her rush to get to court, whether the action is civil, or military, and the same rush to be there before others appears to me to have been exhibited in the case of citizens’ grand juries. That gives her a key role. She apparently tries to get there first. She sets precedent. Therefore, when she makes a “mistake” which affects a court decision, that tends to create obstacles for the entire movement which seeks constitutional justice in America, especially in the case of Barack Obama’s apparent failure to demonstrate eligibility for the office of Commander in Chief as per Article 2.

    Likewise, when Orly Taitz gains media attention which invites ridicule, especially by the Alinsky-types on the Obama side of the political tracks, effectively for what is she an agent?

    Whether for filing in the wrong state, drafting her papers incorrectly, issuing phony subpoenas, presenting phony evidence, failing to abide by court procedures, releasing people’s social security numbers, “tipping the hand” of potential lines of investigation, discrediting other attorneys, etc., the excuse of zeal and inexperience has worn way too thin. What is really going on — and for what purpose?”

    The birthers begin to eat their own, big time.

  25. Heavy says:

    In your mind, it always is! Liberalism is a mental disorder and you are living proof!

  26. NBC says:

    Ah, the ‘your are crazy’ approach. Well with no real arguments, I am not surprised that this is the extent of your response.

    Keep up the good work my friend.

  27. Heavy says:

    Did I say crazy? Hmmm…I don’t see that anywhere. Mentally ill, yes!

  28. kimba says:

    Gosh, for some reason I don’t that screed was what Judge Carter had in mind when he told Orly she had to work with Kreep. That’s really bad form to diss a fellow attorney publicly like that. Phil will enjoy being called an obot in patriot’s clothing though. He can say “see, I’m fair and balanced! The obots say I’m a shameless birther and Orly thinks I’m a smelly obot.”

  29. richCares says:

    Right wing trolls often show up here and claim “libs are stupid”, that is pure irony, it is well established that right wingers are ignorant. Want proof, check out Conservapedia.com, a conservative educational site. Ignorance overflows there. One example is their view on “Second Hand Smoke”, They finally gave up on “smoking is not harmful” but still claim second hand smoke is bad science. As is evolution “I didn’t come from no monkey” , the bear story is really funny (and ignorant). If we acted on right wing science, we would still be in the dark ages. The poor kid that uses Conservapedia as an educational source has to retake biology to graduate. If you go visit this convervative site don’t have a cup of coffee near your computer.

  30. Heavy says:

    Yes, trolls. Anyone whose opinion differs from yours is a troll.

    Your messiah is a fraud and the evidence is mounting fast. Keep up the good work!

  31. SFJeff says:

    But it is amusing to read Heavy rant.

    Libs, Messiah, show it, fraud- just mix and match- oh and the ever popular for the last 6 months “the (evidence,truth) is about to come out”.

  32. guy says:

    The phenomena you describe here have elsewhere been described as “rumor bombs”: http://flowtv.org/?p=2259
    This says a lot about the political culture we inhabit today, and you’re right that there must be some way of holding these rumor bombers accountable.

  33. Heavy says:

    I like how those who start “Rumors” only need to be held accountable if they are on the right.

    How about if we start by holding our elected officials accountable?

  34. richCares says:

    “…accountable if they are on the right”

    this is called projection and it is a common sign of ignorance on the right.

  35. nbc says:

    We do hold them accountable but we also accept when they have been duly elected. Seems the courts similarly respect out Constitution

  36. Bob says:

    New Hampshire Secretary of State not investigating Obama.

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