The occasional open thread: some things are just plain wrong!

Share your two cents on Obama conspiracy topics that don’t relate to the current articles here. This thread will close in two weeks.

But try to avoid things that are just plain wrong!

About Dr. Conspiracy

I'm not a real doctor, but I have a master's degree.
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103 Responses to The occasional open thread: some things are just plain wrong!

  1. Lupin says:

    As some of you know I brought up the Louisiana purchase a few times here in the past in connection with the notion of citizenship.

    I read with interest (on THE GUARDIAN) that Gaving long, the Baron Rouge killer,m was a follower of the so-called “Emperess” Verdiacee Turner (who died in 2014) who claimed to be a “Sovereign Citizen” because in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, France didn’t have the right to transfer citizenship to the US. (Presumably she could trace her ancestors to French citizens pre-1803.)

    Truly amazing.

  2. justlw says:

    Earlier today, former Hawaii Governor and Obama co-conspirator Linda Lingle spoke at the Trumpapalooza in Cleveland. I hear it was “absolutely unbelievable!”

  3. justlw says:

    You may have already seen a quote from the new article in The New Yorker, where Tony Schwartz, Trump’s ghostwriter for The Art of The Deal, profusely apologizes for putting Trump’s short, stubby fingers anywhere near The Button.

    But here’s the “Donald Trump, Birther” money tidbit:

    [Reporter/author Wayne] Barrett notes that in “The Art of the Deal” Trump describes his father as having been born in New Jersey to Swedish parents; in fact, he was born in the Bronx to German parents.

    Yes: Donald Trump explicitly lied about his parents and birthplace.

  4. gorefan says:

    justlw:
    Earlier today, former Hawaii Governor and Obama co-conspirator Linda Lingle spoke at the Trumpapalooza in Cleveland.I hear it was “absolutely unbelievable!”

    This one?

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/hawaiian-governor-gops-unity-supporting-israel-40672734

  5. justlw says:

    gorefan: This one?

    Hmm, she actually lives in Illinois now? What a giveaway!

  6. Can someone help me out on this. There is a famous photo of Mike Zullo and Brian Mackiewicz at a restaurant in the Seattle area. I seem to recall that somebody identified the place. Does anyone remember where it was?

    This is the photo.

    http://images1.phoenixnewtimes.com/imager/u/745xauto/7544401/lemons1-1.jpg

  7. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    So Tom Vilsack is being mentioned now as a possible Clinton VP pick. I would expect birthers to start throwing a fit soon.

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/vilsack-stock-rises-as-clinton-nears-vp-pick-225789

  8. Keith says:

    When is Obama and Clinton going to explain why Michelle plagiarized Melania’s speech?

    The Trumpsters have fully explained how it wasn’t Melania’s didn’t do it, so it must be that Mrs. Obama is the one that did the plagiarizing.

  9. BobJ says:

    Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:
    So Tom Vilsack is being mentioned now as a possible Clinton VP pick.I would expect birthers to start throwing a fit soon.

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/vilsack-stock-rises-as-clinton-nears-vp-pick-225789

    I have never seen an answer to the eligibility of Tom Vilsack from any birther. I have seen a lot of name calling and avoidance when the question has been posed, but never an actual answer.

  10. Scientist says:

    Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:
    So Tom Vilsack is being mentioned now as a possible Clinton VP pick.I would expect birthers to start throwing a fit soon.

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/vilsack-stock-rises-as-clinton-nears-vp-pick-225789

    Why would Vilsack not be eligible?

  11. He’s adopted.

    Scientist: Why would Vilsack not be eligible?

  12. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    Scientist: Why would Vilsack not be eligible?

    He’s a foundling no one knows who his birth parents are.

  13. Scientist says:

    Dr. Kenneth Noisewater: He’s a foundling no one knows who his birth parents are.

    The vast majority of people don’t know with certainty who their birth father was. Unless there was a court case and DNA testing was done, which is probably well under 1% of the population, it’s simply the mother’s word. Was Fred Trump Donnie’s bio father? Probably, but it isn’t an established fact in any rigorous sense,

  14. Crustacean says:

    Oh no. Just think of what a birther’s imagination could do with THAT blank canvas.

    Vilsack was created by East German scientists! Or, he’s the spawn of extraterrestrials! No, the love child of Dalton Trumbo and Noam Chomsky (transgender, obviously)! The possibilities are endless.

    Dr. Kenneth Noisewater: He’s a foundling no one knows who his birth parents are.

  15. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    Crustacean:
    Oh no.Just think of what a birther’s imagination could do with THAT blank canvas.

    Vilsack was created by East German scientists! Or, he’s the spawn of extraterrestrials! No, the love child of Dalton Trumbo and Noam Chomsky (transgender, obviously)!The possibilities are endless.

    Yep it’s one of the three questions I’ve asked birthers. Not even Mario could give me an answer.

  16. justlw says:

    More news from the convention:

    A Donald Trump supporter with a primetime speaking slot at the Republican national convention, who is billed as a small business owner employing more than 100,000 people, is actually a “multi-level marketer” who does not employ anyone.

    Michelle Van Etten was personally invited by the Trump campaign to address the Republican party gathering in Cleveland, Ohio, during a pro-business session on Wednesday evening titled Make America First Again.

    The official schedule for the convention states: “Michelle employs over 100,000 people and is a strong supporter of Donald Trump, knowing his policies will support businesses all across America.”

    In an interview on Monday, however, Van Etten said the billing was incorrect. “I don’t employ,” she said, adding that she did not know who wrote the text.

    Waitaminnit: I thought it was an immutable law of nature that author/speaker bios are always transmitted directly from the brain of the subject to the publishing medium, with no editorial intervention possible?

    By the way, her company is “Youngevity”, a very sketchy-sounding diet-supplement MLM setup.

    EDIT: as near as I can tell, she’s not even an exec with the company; she’s just one of their victim/enablers a distributor, or whatever word this particular pyramid scheme uses.

  17. Lupin says:

    I have to tell you honestly, since the images of NOLA after Katrina, I haven’t seen a bigger disaster for the US in the foreign arena than broadcasting images of the RNC “Trumpcon” overseas (through CNN, Fox, etc). I can hardly find the words to describe how bad it’s making your country look. It’s like visiting a sausage factory. And not a modern one either.

  18. Keith says:

    justlw: a small business owner employing more than 100,000 people

    100,000 people is a ‘small business owner’?

    That would put her in the same ‘class’ as Koch Industries, Whirlpool, and Dell! Tied for the 67th largest employer in the country (by my rough count).

    What does it take to be classified as a ‘big business’ fer cryin’ out loud.

    Sheesh!

  19. Keith says:

    Lupin:
    I have to tell you honestly, since the images of NOLA after Katrina, I haven’t seen a bigger disaster for the US in the foreign arena than broadcasting images of the RNC “Trumpcon” overseas (through CNN, Fox, etc). I can hardly find the words to describe how bad it’s making your country look. It’s like visiting a sausage factory. And not a modern one either.

    Yeah, sorry for the trauma.

    Joe Biden told Australians yesterday, “Don’t worry about our election – the better angels of America will make it right” (or words to that effect).

  20. Lupin says:

    Keith: Yeah, sorry for the trauma.

    Joe Biden told Australians yesterday, “Don’t worry about our election – the better angels of America will make it right” (or words to that effect).

    What are these “angels of America”? Never heard of them before.

    And in case anyone wonders, it’s not just the circus freakiness of it — the pro-Putin and radical isolationism agenda came across loud and clear and is causing real concern.

  21. Lupin says:

    And by “concern”, I mean thoughts of world war III.

  22. Scientist says:

    Lupin:
    And by “concern”, I mean thoughts of world war III.

    I recommend the article in this week’s “New Yorker”, about Tony Schwartz, the man who ghost writ “The Art of the Deal” and essentially made Trump (for which he offers the most profuse apologies). It presents the portrait of a person whose every trait renders him totally unfit to be President.

  23. Keith says:

    Lupin: What are these “angels of America”? Never heard of them before.

    My wording was sloppy, but the term ‘better Angels of our nature’ has a history in the the American idiom, most famously from the ending to Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address when the US was almost 😎 as divided (seven States had seceded) and rancorous as it is now:

    I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature

    I found a reference to Biden’s remarks: Better angels in US will prevail: Biden

    Addressing the issue of racism during a speech at a Lowy Institute-US Studies Centre function in Sydney, Mr Biden said both Australia and America have been strengthened by generations of courageous immigrants.

    “Because of the commitment of our citizens to our most fundamental value, because of you we move inexorably forward,” he said.

    “So don’t worry about our election … the better angels in America will prevail.

    “At a time like this, in the force of xenophobia and demagoguery and what is being trumpeted around the world, we have to remember who we are as Australians and Americans and reflect our best selves back to the world.”

  24. J.D. Sue says:

    Scientist: recommend the article in this week’s “New Yorker”, about Tony Schwartz, the man who ghost writ “The Art of the Deal” and essentially made Trump (for which he offers the most profuse apologies). It presents the portrait of a person whose every trait renders him totally unfit to be President.

    —-
    It’s a great article. FYI, Trump’s lawyer has sent a “cease and desist” letter to Schwartz, and Schwartz’s lawyer has sent a letter in response.

    http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2996700-Greenblatt-Letter-to-Schwartz-Redaction.html#document/p1

    http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2996137-McNamara-Letter-to-Greenblatt.html#document/p1

  25. Rickey says:

    Lupin:
    I have to tell you honestly, since the images of NOLA after Katrina, I haven’t seen a bigger disaster for the US in the foreign arena than broadcasting images of the RNC “Trumpcon” overseas (through CNN, Fox, etc). I can hardly find the words to describe how bad it’s making your country look. It’s like visiting a sausage factory. And not a modern one either.

    Yes, it has been a disaster, but next week’s convention will paint a very different picture.

  26. Lupin says:

    Rickey: Yes, it has been a disaster, but next week’s convention will paint a very different picture.

    Undoubtedly, but Michael Moore is saying on Bill Maher that Trump is going to win and those, perhaps faint-hearted, people here who worry about Putin trying to reclaim Eastern Europe while Trump does everything he can to undermine NATO and the EU aren’t going to breathe easier until after November.

    Assuming a happy result, of course.

  27. Dave B. says:

    Rick Hyatt, Nancy Ruth Owens and Linda Joy Adams are probably related to HIM, too.

    Crustacean:
    Oh no.Just think of what a birther’s imagination could do with THAT blank canvas.

    Vilsack was created by East German scientists! Or, he’s the spawn of extraterrestrials! No, the love child of Dalton Trumbo and Noam Chomsky (transgender, obviously)!The possibilities are endless.

  28. Thrifty says:

    My country has done a lot of stupid things, but I never really felt ashamed of it until early this year when Trump got so close to the presidency. I can’t believe they nominated a BIRTHER to be their candidate.

    Lupin:
    I have to tell you honestly, since the images of NOLA after Katrina, I haven’t seen a bigger disaster for the US in the foreign arena than broadcasting images of the RNC “Trumpcon” overseas (through CNN, Fox, etc). I can hardly find the words to describe how bad it’s making your country look. It’s like visiting a sausage factory. And not a modern one either.

  29. Thrifty says:

    I’ve been wondering about the convention. What are the attendance rules anyway? Do you have to be on some guest list? Can you walk right in?

    I mostly forgot about the location of the Democratic Convention until last week, when I noticed the electronic signs on I-95 announcing that heavy vehicle traffic would be prohibited for a 9 mile stretch around Philadelphia. The city is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from me (it took me about an hour to drive there on Sunday when I went to the IKEA). Might be fun to check it out since it’s close. I’d probably take one of the SEPTA trains….. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to try and get a car within 3 miles of the convention center next week.

    Rickey: Yes, it has been a disaster, but next week’s convention will paint a very different picture.

  30. Scientist says:

    Lupin: Undoubtedly, but Michael Moore is saying on Bill Maher that Trump is going to win

    I don’t think much of Michael Moore’s prognosticating ability, nor Bill Maher’s either. But yes, it’s possible Trump could win. The odds give him a 25% chance, which is not 0 and far too high for comfort.

    I do think the convention has been a complete fiasco for the Republicans. You’d have to go back to 1968 and the riots at Democratic Convention in Chicago to find anything even close. It won’t win over anyone who is on the fence.

  31. Thrifty says:

    Michael Moore is pretty informed on the political issues, but when it comes to the science and statistics and stuff, he’s about as qualified as an average joe.

  32. Rickey says:

    Lupin: Undoubtedly, but Michael Moore is saying on Bill Maher that Trump is going to win and those, perhaps faint-hearted, people here who worry about Putin trying to reclaim Eastern Europe while Trump does everything he can to undermine NATO and the EU aren’t going to breathe easier until after November.

    Assuming a happy result, of course.

    Michael Moore and Bill Maher are justifiably concerned about complacency among Democrats.

    No one should be complacent about this election.

  33. Thrifty says:

    I get nervous that this race is closer than it should be against a maniac like Trump, but I run a lot of simulations over at the website 270towin.com

    Because of the electoral college system, you just look at it in terms of which states each candidate can win. Both Clinton and Trump have a number of safe states they will likely win, so really the election comes down to 10 toss up states that aren’t really certain for either of them: Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and that perpetually unpredictable pain in the ass known as Florida.

    Polling seems to go strongest toward these states. So I look at the RealClearPolitics.com polling average for these states. I give Trump Any state that has Clinton leading by 2 points or fewer. So that’s Nevada, Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida. Still gives Clinton the election with 279 votes. And that’s being pessimistic, and before voters have really engaged or the candidates have really started fighting.

    Florida seems like it could go to Clinton though, once the election gets close. IIRC, they have a heavy Hispanic population and Hispanics really hate Trump.

  34. Dave B. says:

    So apparently nobody has, even at this stage, explained to Trump what the president actually does.

  35. Scientist says:

    Dave B.:
    So apparently nobody has, even at this stage, explained to Trump what the president actually does.

    Dave B.:
    So apparently nobody has, even at this stage, explained to Trump what the president actually does.

    Dave B.:
    So apparently nobody has, even at this stage, explained to Trump what the president actually does.

    According to Trump he fixes everything and makes America Great. I believe it says that right in the Constitution.

  36. Thrifty says:

    Make America Great Again. Duh.

    Dave B.:
    So apparently nobody has, even at this stage, explained to Trump what the president actually does.

  37. Janny E Grice says:

    Is anyone having trouble accessing the Fogbow? I get a message saying it’s been suspended.

  38. Me too.

    Janny E Grice:
    Is anyone having trouble accessing the Fogbow?I get a message saying it’s been suspended.

  39. mimi says:

    Fogbow is down. I’m getting a “this account is suspended” message. Others see the same.

  40. Arthur B. says:

    Yep, me too.

    Reality Check: Me too.

  41. Lupin says:

    I really liked this:

    What a non-American has learned about the USA in the last four days
    By Northwatch

    The United States of America is a decrepit post-apocalyptic wasteland where roving gangs of marauders target innocent white civilians.
    Crime is out of control, people are being mowed down in the streets, the police are outgunned by ravening hordes, but it’s important you don’t take guns away from the hordes.
    America welcomes all immigrants as long as they are white Eastern European models who marry rich guys.
    The world outside the borders of the United States is a deathworld.
    Gay people are okay as long as they are white billionaires.
    Americans stand up against oppressive government.
    Americans must do everything the police say.
    Local sheriffs have more elaborate Bling of War uniforms than a banana republic generalissimo.
    Trial are conducted onstage during political events.
    Scott Baio does, in fact, still exist.

    http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/7/21/1550800/-What-a-non-American-has-learned-about-the-USA-in-the-last-four-days

  42. Thr Fogbow is back. It was apparently a screwup by the hosting company.

  43. Crustacean says:

    Isn’t it a well established fact that the only thing that can stop a bad ravening horde with guns is a good ravening horde with guns? Why would the NRA lie to me?

    Lupin: Crime is out of control, people are being mowed down in the streets, the police are outgunned by ravening hordes, but it’s important you don’t take guns away from the hordes.

  44. JPotter says:

    Thrifty: I get nervous that this race is closer than it should be against a maniac like Trump, but I run a lot of simulations over at the website 270towin.com

    Unfortunately, voters in Americans vote against candidates, not for candidates. There is a brainwashed mob out there that won’t vote for Hillary no matter what. They’ve been conditioned. They would vote for anyone other than Hillary.

    And I am no better. Vote for Hillary? No, but I will vote against Trump.

    My Presidential voting record:

    FOR Clinton in ’96
    AGAINST Bush in ’00 (Gore was NOT compelling LOL)
    AGAINST bush in ’04 (Kerry was even less compelling)
    FOR Obama in ’08
    FOR Obama in ’12
    AGAINST Trump in ’16 (well, OK, I haven’t cast this one … yet)

    The ’00 and ’04 votes were a bit silly I guess. Both were perfectly capable and not espousing any policy I opposed, they were just dull. But I guess I expect more than just competence, I also want inspiration. Competence is not enough, it takes charisma and communication to get the country and the legislature to follow a vision.

    OTOH, Charisma and communication without competence are a disaster. Been there done that.

  45. justlw says:

    Two headlines from today:

    WND, 7 hours ago: “Trump speech wins over wary Cruz, Kasich delegates”

    Bloomberg, 45 minutes ago: “Trump Would Fund Super-PACs Aimed at Taking Down Cruz, Kasich”

  46. Hillary’s Confidence is Amaz-za-ing
    COMEY/ CLINTON FOUNDATION CONNECTION

    Rickey: casting aspersions on the Clinton Foundation, which is rated “A” by Charity Watch. Only 12% of the foundation’s income goes to pay for overhead, and its fundraising expenses are minimal, spending only 2 cents for every dollar raised. You might want to spend some of your ample free time by educating yourself.

    DITO
    CLINTON FOUNDATION: WHISTLEBLOWER CHARLES ORTEL CLAIMS IT IS ‘THE LARGEST UNPROSECUTED CHARITY FRAUD EVER ATTEMPTED’

    https://youtu.be/c_Ts6mhpWJY

    Don’t you think there’s a good reason FBI Director James Comey replied to Congress under oath he could not elaborate upon the Question of the FBI conducting any other investigations on-going

    CHAFFETZ: Did you look at the Clinton Foundation?

    COMEY: I’m not going to comment on the existence or nonexistence of any other investigations.

    CHAFFETZ: Was the Clinton Foundation tied into this investigation?

    COMEY: Yeah I’m not going to answer that.

    CHAFFETZ: The server that was set up in her home was originally set up by, you said, former President Bill Clinton.

    COMEY: Correct.

    COMEY/ CLINTON FOUNDATION CONNECTION

    http://www.hsbc.com/news-and-insight/2013/former-us-deputy-attorney-general-joins-hsbc-board
    “Mr. Comey’s appointment will be for an initial three-year term which, subject to re-election by shareholders, will expire at the conclusion of the 2016 Annual General Meeting.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/10/hillary-clinton-foundation-donors-hsbc-swiss-bank
    “Clinton foundation received up to $81m from clients of controversial HSBC bank”

    https://www.clintonfoundation.org/search/node/HSBC
    It’s like a revolving door of money and special projects that the bank and the CF are involved in.

    This is the same HSBC that was accused of laundering drug cartel money, was heavily involved in the LIBOR scandal, all while our FBI Director James “she didn’t intend it” Comey was part of the senior leadership of the Bank handling quite a bit of Clinton Cash for the Charity Foundation.

  47. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    Cody Robert Judy: Unrelated drivel from CRJ

    Try to stay on topic Cody.

  48. Roadscholar says:

    “Whistleblower” is a German word meaning “liar with a grudge.”

  49. I moved this to the open thread. Next time you post something on a totally different topic, you go into moderation,

    Cody Robert Judy: Hillary’s Confidence is Amaz-za-ing
    COMEY/ CLINTON FOUNDATION CONNECTION

  50. Rickey says:

    Cody Robert Judy:

    COMEY/ CLINTON FOUNDATION CONNECTION

    You really like to smear people, don’t you?

    Comey was hired by HSBC to ensure that the company cleaned up its act AFTER it reached a settlement regarding the money laundering allegations.

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-30/hsbc-names-tax-police-and-anti-terror-chiefs-to-controls-team

    Comey is a Republican who donated to John McCain’s campaign in 2008 and Mitt Romney’s campaign in 2012.

    You should be ashamed of yourself.

  51. I am reading a fascinating book called “1920” and the parallels between that year in the present are shocking. For example, they tortured suspected terrorists in 1920. “The third degree” meant a beating.

    There are close parallels between then and now in the effect of special interest lobbying, media sensationalizing crime, control of politicians by business and the huge gap between rich and poor, never so big again until now,

    People are really hurting and the propaganda blitz is telling them that Democrats are the problem. The fools want to elect a rich business tycoon to save them from rich business tycoons,

    Thrifty: I get nervous that this race is closer than it should be against a maniac like Trump,

  52. Lupin says:

    Dr. Conspiracy: I am reading a fascinating book called “1920” and the parallels between that year in the present are shocking. For example, they tortured suspected terrorists in 1920. “The third degree” meant a beating.

    If you liked the 1920s, you’ll LOVE the 1930s. 🙂

    Shirer’s FALL OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC (already mentioned here) is a spookily disturbing story.

    Those who don’t learn from history, etc.

  53. RanTalbott says:

    Dr. Conspiracy: There is a famous photo of Mike Zullo and Brian Mackiewicz at a restaurant in the Seattle area.

    I recognized the photo, and found two stories it was part of:
    http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/10-damning-revelations-from-arpaios-contempt-trial-so-far-7696597
    http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/joe-arpaios-posse-pal-mike-zullo-lashes-out-at-judge-lawyers-7793774

    No mention of the name in either.

    I tried a google search for “zullo seattle Mackiewicz travel expenses site:phoenixnewtimes.com” because the “10 Damning Revelations” story seemed to be a recap of previous articles, but that didn’t turn up anything new.

    Maybe an email to Lemons would get some help?

  54. RanTalbott says:

    Dr. Conspiracy: For example, they tortured suspected terrorists in 1920.

    The French did it during the Algerian rebellion, too. Lupin might be able to confirm/rebut my suspicion that that’s still a (minor?) factor motivating the resentment among the French Muslims who are radicalizing.

    Trump seems to want to bring that strategy back for another deadly failure.

  55. Thrifty says:

    The Onion has been doing some great satire on the RNC this past week. Some stuff they shoot their own footage and cut in some shots of the attendees. Some stuff they use actual speeches and caption them.

    My favorite from the former category is we’re really just letting this f**ing happen?, featuring a fake Republican Congressman panicking on stage at Trump’s ascendancy and the GOP’s capitulation to it. Granted I was a little distracted that the fake Congressman’s name is “Republican Sam Climson of Delaware”, when my home state has only one Congressional district, represented by Democrat John Carney. But I guess they take artistic license.

    My favorite from the latter category has Mike Pence saying some awful thing about Hilary Clinton and the whole Benghazi thing. Beneath him is a fake Tweet saying “The events of Benghazi as I imagine them are intolerably shameful! Either #JailHilary or #RemoveMyImagination”

  56. I had a memory of someone commenting somewhere that they thought the recognized the place and my feeling was that it was identified as “Famous Dave’s.” I asked because I was going to be in Everett, Washington, and thought I’d investigate. However, that trip has passed, and the photo is definitely not Famous Dave’s.

    RanTalbott: I recognized the photo,

  57. Lupin says:

    RanTalbott: The French did it during the Algerian rebellion, too. Lupin might be able to confirm/rebut my suspicion that that’s still a (minor?) factor motivating the resentment among the French Muslims who are radicalizing.

    Trump seems to want to bring that strategy back for another deadly failure.

    Oh we sure tortured a lot during the Algerian war. We also threw people off helicopters, etc. French General Massu, more candid and less politically sophisticated than most, plainly admitted it on public TV in the 70s, causing quite a stir.

    Bizarrely — I can’t quite explain why — there doesn’t seem to be a groundswell of Muslim anger over it, and certainly not outside of Algeria. (We also had much better relations with Morocco and Tunisia — still do.)

    It’s sort of like the relationship between the Brits and the India. They did horrible things there during the Raj, but perhaps because they contributed so much & shaped the country to the extent they did, the Indians don’t seem to harbor violent grudges towards the Brits.

    Same with the Algerians and the French. I’m not saying some individuals might not have felt it, but collectively as soon as the Evian Accords (Peace Treaty) were signed in 1963, it was all handshakes & mutual business deals.

    The festering resentment, today, still, comes from the Harkis, the pro-French Algerians who had to leave Algeria after the peace treaty (or risk being killed by their brethren) and still today harbor a somewhat justified grudge towards our Government, despite the financial largesses that were extended to them.

    Currently, it is France’s recent and ongoing military intervention in Mali that got the Jihadists upset in the first place.

  58. Thrifty says:

    Above post reminds me of some more nonsense on Orly’s site. She talks about how Japan doesn’t have Muslims so they don’t have terrorists. But France and America do so they have tons of terrorist attacks. I just shake my head and think “the reason Japan doesn’t get attacked by Muslim extremists is because the Muslims don’t hate the Japanese. Their anger is directed towards Western countries!”

    Incidentially, there are something around 10,000 Muslims in Japan. Not really all that many (Japan seems to be really culturally homogenous, which is kinda weird). Still, if there were something intrinsically dangerous about Islam, you’d think there would have been a jihadist attack at some point.

    I’d tell her this, but you can’t actually post anything on Orly’s blog that she disagrees with.

  59. gorefan says:

    I was at Red State and saw this comment:

    John Woodman • 9 minutes ago
    From where I’m sitting, Clinton is a) equally corrupt, b) clearly more competent (she would never do some of the stupid stuff Trump is doing just on the campaign trail, for example, and she knows a HELL of a lot more about policy, the operation of government, and what a President actually does), and c) at least an order of magnitude saner than Trump.

    I hope that doesn’t put me in the dog house with the powers that be around here. It’s just my honest and considered opinion.

    In fact, as I think about it, it seems difficult to me to make a good case otherwise.

    http://www.redstate.com/sweetie15/2016/07/23/clinton-vp-tim-kaine-shocks-world-focusing-attacks-democrats/

    :Note the author.

  60. justlw says:

    gorefan: John Woodman • 9 minutes ago
    From where I’m sitting, Clinton is a) equally corrupt

    I understand that John’s actually taking a much more reasoned stance than a lot of people (“equally corrupt” rather rather than “oh so very much more corrupt”), but it looks a lot like the right comparative might be “not even close to as scarily, existential threat to our nation, corrupt”:

    Trump & Putin. Yes, It’s Really a Thing

  61. Thrifty says:

    I dunno a lot about the validity of the complaints that Hillary Clinton is crooked. She’s definitely got more scandal and baggage than Barack Obama. But… I mean we TRIED it with a squeaky clean guy and the Republicans hated him just as much. They hated him in a pretty different way. My mother was talking about how she thought Hillary Clinton was a crook, and I just said “well yeah, but as a president, that seems like a good thing”.

    I’ve been looking at the state-by-state polls, and Clinton seems to be doing so well in so many higher population states that she’s got 253 out of 270 already. If she wins Florida, Pennsylvania, or Ohio, she wins outright. That was being somewhat charitable and giving her Colorado and New Hampshire. Take those away and she’s at 240 of 270. Florida puts her at 269, Pennsylvania at 260, Ohio at 258. Winning Florida would require any of PA, OH, NV, CO, NC, NH, or IA. Winning PA or OH (but losing Florida) would require any 3 of those aforementioned states.

  62. That’s a question I’ve been thinking about lately. What does moral character have to do with being a good president? You can take probably the most moral president in recent times, Jimmy Carter, as example. But while he wasn’t a particularly well-regarded president, he did put human rights firmly in the national conversation,

    As for Hillary being a crook, that’s never been proven. It’s possible that she engaged in insider trading, although that wasn’t proven. There are some crimes that “everybody is doing” within their own circle. I rate insider trading as less of a moral failing than political smears. In everything, I’ve never seen Clinton intentionally working against the interests of the United States. These recent revelations about Trump being bought and paid for by the Russians, however, troubles me deeply.

    Thrifty: My mother was talking about how she thought Hillary Clinton was a crook, and I just said “well yeah, but as a president, that seems like a good thing”.

  63. I don’t know what’s going on at Birther Report. They still as of today have not fixed their DNS, even after I made it utterly plain to them what is wrong. It’s been 4 months. In addition, there has been no new article since July 1.

  64. J.D. Sue says:

    Dr. Conspiracy: That’s a question I’ve been thinking about lately. What does moral character have to do with being a good president? You can take probably the most moral president in recent times, Jimmy Carter, as example. But while he wasn’t a particularly well-regarded president, he did put human rights firmly in the national conversation,

    As for Hillary being a crook, that’s never been proven. It’s possible that she engaged in insider trading, although that wasn’t proven. There are some crimes that “everybody is doing” within their own circle. I rate insider trading as less of a moral failing than political smears. In everything, I’ve never seen Clinton intentionally working against the interests of the United States. These recent revelations about Trump being bought and paid for by the Russians, however, troubles me deeply.


    I really like this comment, Doc–it is essentially how I’ve been thinking about things. Some other thoughts:

    Jimmy Carter was a much better President than people give him credit for. As a supporter of Israel, I think he was a much better ally than people say. Yes, he and Israel disagreed on stuff, but the truth is there has never been an American President when that wasn’t so. Ever. (e.g., I remember when we were stunned and freaked when Reagan sold AWACs to the Saudis; W Bush (43) forced elections in Gaza resulting in Hamas taking power and exiling the more moderate Palestinian opposition and that is still the case/problem today)

    I like to remind people that Jimmy Carter did the absolute impossible–he brokered a treaty between Egypt and Israel. Egypt was the most powerful nation in the middle east, and Sadat was Israel’s greatest political/military hardline enemy. Israel’s prime minister, Menachem Begin, was a right wing militaristic hardline leader (1st Likud prime minister) who was essentially a terrorist back in the day before nationhood. Yet, Jimmy Carter did what no one even dreamed could ever happen — He got Begin and Sadat to shake hands, and enter into a treaty that still holds today. (Of course, inevitably, Sadat was assassinated for recognizing Israel. Yet the treaty holds.)

    As for economics under Carter, well as I remember it, it was BEFORE Carter that we had price controls (Nixon?), and had to wait on long lines on odd or even days, to buy one’s ration of gasoline. The economic situation was awful, and we were still reeling from Watergate, Agnew’s resignation/indictment, Nixon’s resignation/pardon, President Ford who wasn’t even elected, and of course Viet Nam. After all that, realistically, how much could Carter accomplish in 4 years? Good men are often underappreciated….

    I was shocked/depressed when the country elected Reagan. Then came 8 awful years, plus 4 years of Bush I (staying the course), and then 8 years of blue dog Bill Clinton, and then 8 years of W. So, my reaction to Obama-haters is — take your turn! After all those destructive “conservative” decades, we are very fortunate to have scandal-free Barack and Michelle in the White House, and if “conservatives” don’t like it, they can lump it.

    So many allegations and investigations against Hillary, and yet no evidence to support charges and no evidence to persuade me she’s been corrupt. IMO, she’s been relentlessly harassed. Yes, she pisses me off here and there; I’d rather have Bernie But she is a remarkably strong woman who has endured all the crap she’s had to endure, showing all of us women how to keep moving onward no matter what they throw at you along the way. An attorney, a First Lady, a Senator, a Secretary of State, and relatively clean when compared to most politicians.

    As for Trump’s relationship with Putin et al–it is mortifying. Trump is a depraved racketeer who has absolutely no conception of what “public interest” is.

  65. Arthur says:

    Dr. Conspiracy: . In addition, there has been no new article since July 1.

    No new article in weeks, but people are still posting comments, links, and videos like mad. Birthers have a seemingly inexhaustible need to broadcast. What the neck did these people do before the internet? Were they all shouting from street corners?

  66. Notorial Dissent says:

    It’s the only attention and recognition they get, or ever will get, so no real surprise, and the VERY limited audience they have speaks volumes about what they have to say.

    Arthur: No new article in weeks, but people are still posting comments, links, and videos like mad. Birthers have a seemingly inexhaustible need to broadcast. What the neck did these people do before the internet? Were they all shouting from street corners?

  67. Scientist says:

    If, as it appears, Putin is providing aid and comfort to Trump, that would be a conspiracy that would dwarf the worst that the birthers have accused Obama of. And, moreover, given the documented support of Russia for European far-right parties and the blatant support of Trump by Putin-controlled media, it has the great virtue, unlike the birther conspiracies, of being true.

  68. RanTalbott says:

    Scientist: If, as it appears, Putin is providing aid and comfort to Trump, that would be a conspiracy that would dwarf the worst that the birthers have accused Obama of.

    Not necessarily: it’s possible that Putin is doing this without Trump’s knowledge.

    He could be aiding Trump because he thinks Trump will be better for Russia (with or without the anticipation of creating a “marker” he can call in later). Or he could just be (bleep)ing with us. 😉

    Although there are some dots that could be connected (correctly or incorrectly). Manafort was a long-time consultant for the deposed, very pro-Russian, president of Ukraine. The Trump campaign gutted a GOP platform plank that would have given military aid to a now-non-Russian-friendly Ukraine. And there’s the matter of Trump refusing to release his taxes: I joked a while back that maybe the reason for his bromance with Putin was that they’re in business together. George Will is suggesting now that maybe the real reason is that Trump doesn’t want it widely known that he’s been doing business with some rather shady (ex-)Russians (not Putin, but people who are/were pals of his)
    .

  69. RanTalbott says:

    Dr. Conspiracy: What does moral character have to do with being a good president?

    Presidents have a lot of power, and the ability, even without violating the law, to do Really Bad Things. Like “enhanced interrogation”, rendition, and setting rules of engagement that do needless harm to innocents who have the misfortune to be in our way. Or setting policies that produce immediate benefits, but cause long-term harm (like unwise tax cuts, or not enforcing environmental restrictions).

    A good president needs moral character to resist temptations and pressures to do popular or expedient things that are bad for the country in the long term.

    It’s also beneficial if he/she can provide a good example for the public.

  70. Scientist says:

    RanTalbott: Not necessarily: it’s possible that Putin is doing this without Trump’s knowledge.

    Trump’s non-knowledge is almost infinite

    I find the idea of Russia blatantly interfering in US elections quite disturbing, whether the US candidate actively accepts it, passively accepts it or rejects it (which Trump has pointedly NOT done).

    In fact, this is the modern day equivalent of Watergate. Today, you don’t physically break into the opposing party’s offices, you hack their emails.

    It points out what I have said to the birthers many times here. The real threat of foreign influence on the US Executive has nothing whatsoever to do with parental citizenship. It has to do with money and other means of valuable support.

  71. Notorial Dissent says:

    I can’t say it is beyond the pale for Putin. I suspect he fears Hillary far more than he does Trump the chump. LaRump always talks a good game but never follows through at least that I can determine. The fact that he is involved with the Russians at all disturbs me as I don’t see him having any ethics as far as business is concerned. I am sure he is trying to screw the Russians in some fashion, just as I’m equally sure they are trying to return the favor. The current Russian business climate gives a whole new meaning to the term Russian Roulette in my mind. They also don’t react well to the likes of LaRump’s usual business practices.

  72. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    Birther telling me that because CNN panned to Bill Clinton during Michelle Obama’s speech and her mention of the birther nonsense that this somehow means the Clintons started the birther rumor.

  73. That’s stupid. They were panning to President Clinton all throughout her speech. After he was the ranking VIP in the hall last night Of course they were going to show his reaction to her speech and others.

    Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:
    Birther telling me that because CNN panned to Bill Clinton during Michelle Obama’s speech and her mention of the birther nonsense that this somehow means the Clintons started the birther rumor.

  74. MSNBC panned to Clinton all evening. The man’s got charisma.

    Reality Check:
    That’s stupid. They were panning to President Clinton all throughout her speech. After he was the ranking VIP in the hall last night Of course they were going to show his reaction to her speech and others.

  75. I emailed Mike Volin and told him I would take over BR. Three hours later there’s a new article. I take that as a, “No.” You can view my email on my facebook page.

    https://www.facebook.com/nancy.ruth.owens.62

    Paul: the smell of obstruction of justice in the morning

  76. Supposedly, the owner is MIA and never to appear again. Why? I don’t know. That info came from Mark McDaniel a few days ago. As per your suggestion, I offered to take over. Who better than the forger, right?

    Dr. Conspiracy:
    I don’t know what’s going on at Birther Report. They still as of today have not fixed their DNS, even after I made it utterly plain to them what is wrong. It’s been 4 months. In addition, there has been no new article since July 1.

  77. Joey says:

    Dr. Conspiracy:
    The man’s got charisma.

    There’s an ointment that he can apply for that!

    More folks watched the first night of the DNC than the RNC
    CNN: 6.29 million viewers
    MSNBC: 4.64 million
    NBC: 4.29 million
    ABC: 4.11 million
    Fox News: 3.33 million
    CBS: 3.11 million

    The opening night of the Democratic National Convention drew ratings above the first night of the Republican convention last week and from the 2012 DNC opener, though comparisons to the latter aren’t entirely apples to apples.

    About 25.9 million people — 25.87 million, to be more precise — tuned into the 10 p.m. ET coverage on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. That’s up from 22.53 million on those channels for the RNC last Monday.

    Combined ratings in the key news demo of adults 25-54 (8.5 vs. 6.2) and adults 18-49 (6.5 vs. 4.4) were also up.

    CNN had the biggest audience of the night with 6.29 million viewers, a 2.4 in adults 25-54 and a 2.0 in adults 18-49. MSNBC (4.64 million, 1.6, 1.2) edged out its broadcast counterpart NBC (4.29 million, 1.5, 1.1) for second.

    Compared to the 2012 convention, Monday’s numbers were also up — 21.93 million watched the opening night then. However, the Democrats staged a three-day convention four years ago with the first night airing on a Tuesday.

    http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/07/26/d
    Reply »Report AbuseJudge it!

  78. Janny says:

    Looks like BR is back in the saddle of slime.

  79. I watched Bill Clinton’s speech (WOW!) on C-SPAN live on the web.

    Joey: More folks watched the first night of the DNC than the RNC

  80. Clarification For McDaniel: Never to appear again on BirtherReport. Who is this McDaniel clown?

    Nancy Ruth Owens Jones:
    Supposedly, the owner is MIA and never to appear again. Why? I don’t know. That info came from Mark McDaniel a few days ago. As per your suggestion, I offered to take over. Who better than the forger, right?

  81. Curious George says:

    “This website is temporarily unavailable, please try again later.”

    Idiots.

    (As of July 27, 2016, 11:07 A.M., Eastern Time.)

  82. Scientist says:

    So Drumpf is actually calling on Russia or other foreign countries to hack the emails of a US citizen and presidential candidate,

    Yet, the birthers are worried about “foreign influence” due to someone’s parent’s citizenship, but cheering on allowing a foreign government to hack Americans’ emails.

    Absolutely unbelievable!!!

  83. Thrifty says:

    Trump’s whole angle for his campaign is national security. Keeping America safe from threats both domestic and foreign. So of course the best way to do that is by openly asking a foreign country to hack us and steal national security secrets????

    Yeah that makes sense. He’s got my vote!

    Actually, I think this guy makes a good case for electing Trump.

    Scientist:
    So Drumpf is actually calling on Russia or other foreign countries to hack the emails of a US citizen and presidential candidate,

    Yet, the birthers are worried about “foreign influence” due to someone’s parent’s citizenship, but cheering on allowing a foreign government to hack Americans’ emails.

    Absolutely unbelievable!!!

  84. Scientist says:

    It’s time to reactivate my $100 challenge. Here it is: Explain why having a President whose father played no role in his life, but was a citizen of a friendly, though globally insignificant country, is a grave threat to the US, but having a President who urges an unfriendly country with several thousand nuclear warheads, a great many aimed at the US, to hack the emails of US citizens is not.

  85. I was reading Apuzzo’s stupid petition in Elliott v Cruz the other day and he makes the argument of how important it is to use his incorrect definition of natural born citizen to prevent a foreign influence on the commander in chief. He provides no proof for that claim at all.

    We have had natural born citizens who were traitors and criminals and immigrants who were excellent citizens and heroes. There is just no correlation between place of birth and loyalty as a citizen. Birthers keep stating over and over that place of birth and having two citizen parents makes a difference but never back it up with facts.

    Scientist:
    So Drumpf is actually calling on Russia or other foreign countries to hack the emails of a US citizen and presidential candidate,

    Yet, the birthers are worried about “foreign influence” due to someone’s parent’s citizenship, but cheering on allowing a foreign government to hack Americans’ emails.

    Absolutely unbelievable!!!

  86. euphgeek says:

    Easy. Obama is both black and a Democrat. That makes him a double traitor! Trump, being white and Republican, poses no threat to the country no matter what he does.

    $100, please!

    Scientist:
    It’s time to reactivate my $100 challenge.Here it is:Explain why having a President whose father played no role in his life, but was a citizen of a friendly, though globally insignificant country, is a grave threat to the US, but having a President who urges an unfriendly country with several thousand nuclear warheads, a great many aimed at the US, to hack the emails of US citizens is not.

  87. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    Are we sure that Bob Nelson didn’t do the whole OBYR Kenya/Hawaii trip again? You know the one that we never heard about ever again. Sorta like Lucas’ extradition order.

  88. Thrifty says:

    I hate to re-quote a previous comment and belabor a point, but I’m just flabbergasted at how stupid this is.

    “We think Hillary Clinton kept classified information on her E-Mail servers. We think some of this was insecure and could have been exposed to foreign hackers. Because of this, we should put Hilary Clinton in jail. But also, you should elect me president so I can hire foreign hackers to break in and steal the sensitive national security secrets that are probably there.”

    Really boggling is that Trump has done so poorly on so many issues that the one niche he’s trying to fill — national security — he’s ALSO failing at. It’s like a restaurant where most of the menu is terrible food, so they decide to specialize in home made soups. But then they just start using terrible store bought pre-made Campbells.

    Scientist:
    So Drumpf is actually calling on Russia or other foreign countries to hack the emails of a US citizen and presidential candidate,

  89. Arthur B. says:

    OK, here’s what I want to know.

    Let’s just assume that one of the angles the FBI’s looking into is links among the DNC hacks, Russian interest in the election, and Trump’s interest in Russia.

    How is this handled in the intelligence briefings?

  90. Northland10 says:

    Scientist:
    It’s time to reactivate my $100 challenge.Here it is:Explain why having a President whose father played no role in his life, but was a citizen of a friendly, though globally insignificant country, is a grave threat to the US, but having a President who urges an unfriendly country with several thousand nuclear warheads, a great many aimed at the US, to hack the emails of US citizens is not.

    Funny how the citizenship of a barely known father should be a grave concern but a candidate/President marrying non-citizens is just peachy.

  91. justlw says:

    And, to also belabor a point, never forget that in Art of the Deal, Trump gratuitously lied about his place of birth and parentage. How do we know his current version of the truth is indeed the real version? Perhaps we’re seeing that his version of reality is like nesting dolls.

    And we all know where nesting dolls come from.

  92. You probably know as much or more than I do about McDaniel. At least you’ve been willing to talk to him on the phone.

    I do not know what his game is and I do not know why he has injected himself in your business, and that of Shoesmith, Zullo, BSE, Birther Report and Falcon, and in mine at one time, offering to intervene on my behalf when I was called before Congress to testify, Well, Congress has shown no interest in birthers or anti-birthers that I can see, and no hearings have taken place. And anyway, I would be happy to speak to Congress about the madness that is the birther movement. I don’t need anyone to shield me from that.

    Nancy Ruth Owens Jones: Who is this McDaniel clown?

  93. Did he not post on this site that he was my legal rep? I posted back then that I have no clue who he is and don’t understand why he believes there’s some sort of business relationship.

    According to him, whoever he is, I owe him 30% of my book profits and I am not allowed to post on your site. That wasn’t the limit of what he said I was and was not allowed to do, mind you.

    Dr. Conspiracy:
    You probably know as much or more than I do about McDaniel. At least you’ve been willing to talk to him on the phone.

    I do not know what his game is and I do not know why he has injected himself in your business, and that of Shoesmith, Zullo, BSE, Birther Report and Falcon, and in mine at one time, offering to intervene on my behalf when I was called before Congress to testify, Well,Congress has shown no interest in birthers or anti-birthers that I can see, and no hearings have taken place. And anyway, I would be happy to speak to Congress about the madness that is the birther movement. I don’t need anyone to shield me from that.

  94. If things pan out as it appears they will, I will be able to announce some really cool news as soon as two weeks, news that I think everybody will find interesting, How’s that for vague? But since this is serious stuff, I really can’t give any hints, except to say that Hillary has not contacted me about being in her cabinet.

  95. McDaniel posted here under his own name and as “Fake RC,” “RC” and “OPERATION 815 EXPOSED.”

    I do not find a comment where he said he was your legal rep, but I deleted some his comments back when they were made. Looking back, he said some pretty bizarre things.

    Nancy Ruth Owens Jones: Did he not post on this site that he was my legal rep?

  96. Yeah, something’s not right. Very bizarre behavior.

    Dr. Conspiracy:
    McDaniel posted here under his own name and as “Fake RC,” “RC” and “OPERATION 815 EXPOSED.”

    I do not find a comment where he said he was your legal rep,but I deleted some his comments back when they were made. Looking back, he said some pretty bizarre things.

  97. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater says:

    Thrifty:
    I hate to re-quote a previous comment and belabor a point, but I’m just flabbergasted at how stupid this is.

    “We think Hillary Clinton kept classified information on her E-Mail servers.We think some of this was insecure and could have been exposed to foreign hackers.Because of this, we should put Hilary Clinton in jail.But also, you should elect me president so I can hire foreign hackers to break in and steal the sensitive national security secrets that are probably there.”

    Really boggling is that Trump has done so poorly on so many issues that the one niche he’s trying to fill — national security — he’s ALSO failing at.It’s like a restaurant where most of the menu is terrible food, so they decide to specialize in home made soups.But then they just start using terrible store bought pre-made Campbells.

    You should have seen his ask me anything on redditt. He didn’t answer a single question but just threw out nonsense buzzwords.

  98. He’s throwing a hissy fit now.

    Nancy Ruth Owens Jones: Yeah, something’s not right. Very bizarre behavior.

  99. I see that. Lesson learned.

    Dr. Conspiracy:
    He’s throwing a hissy fit now.

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