A message from the DU admins: Please stop posting baseless conspiracy stuff about Senator Johnson.

[Skinner]

I have instructed the mods to lock or delete any threads that engage in baseless conspiracy speculation about Senator Johnson.

In anticipation of the most likely complaint, here is my reply: If at any point in the future some reliable evidence of foul play were to come to light, then you of course would be permitted to discuss it. But unless that happens, you're just making stuff up, and looking silly in the process. And making the rest of us look silly.

Thank you for your understanding.

Skinner
DU Admin

[trumad]

1. Amen

[rodeodance]

132. I second that emotion.

[cali]

2. Thank you very, very much

for introducing some sanity this morning.

[SoFlaJet]

3. good policy Skinner

even though there IS a lack of trust issues when it comes to this cabal

[BeyondGeography]

4. Thank you

[aquart]

5. Thank you!

[xultar]

6. THANK GOD!!! WHEW!! THANK YOU! & THANK GOD!!!!

[rucky]

160. Why are you thanking God when he's behind the whole conspiracy?

eom

[hlthe2b]

7. THANK YOU!!!!

I could not agree more.

[madokie]

8. I'll gladly recommend this one.

[spanone]

9. Thanks we can get enough speculation from CNN

[deepthought42]

10. Merci!

What's important is his well-being. :grouphug:

[meegbear]

11. THANK YOU!!!

[TayTay]

12. I agree.

This is offensive. Sen. Johnson was listed in critical condition this morning. Perhaps we could at least see how the man progresses over the next 24 hours and hope that he recovers quickly. I think he deserves that much.

Sen. Johnson is one of the very few members of Congress to have a relative serving, their son Brook has been in the US Army and has served all over the world, including a tour in Iraq. I think the Senator has wearned a little bit of respect for his time and his family is due some respect while they wait for word on how he is doing.

[RB TexLa]

13. Good, thank you

The silliness was getting sickening

[Junkdrawer]

14. While I still think Wellstone's death was suspicious, I DON'T suspect Johnson...

is anything other than a normal health issue.

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. Thank you. If I want make-believe, I'll watch Fox News.

[asthmaticeog]

16. Thank you.

[aikoaiko]

17. thank you. nt

[peekaloo]

18. Thank you. n/t

[AlinPA]

19. Thank you, I agree Skinner. nt

[RoyGBiv]

20. Another thank you ...

I had to log-off DU last night out of fear I couldn't hold my virtual tongue any longer. It was getting pretty weird.

[SharonRB]

21. Absolutely, Skinner

Thanks. It's ridiculous to think this was any kind of conspiracy.

[bananas]

22. Can we post them in the 911 forum? nt

[mirandapriestly]

67. Please don't.eom

[John Q. Citizen]

108. Amen n/t

[RebelOne]

23. Another thank you!!!

[catabryna]

24. Thank you!

K & R!

[johnnie]

25. Ha!

"They" got to you too!


:)

[independentpiney]

26. Another Thank You! nt

[seabeyond]

27. was telling two boys what happened on the way to school. what

a death would do to the power in the senate and why it is important we dont lose im because of committee appt. my 9 yr old... first thing out of his mouth. sounds to me like the republicans did something to him

bowled me down. was a wow.... they are saying that on du. isnt that a funny. awfully tin foil son.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. Yes, the magical thinking children are known for sometimes manifests as tinfoilhattery.

But, given the fact he's 9yo, I wouldn't worry too much. Hell, some children believe in Santa at this age.

[seabeyond]

33. ah, he is strugglin with the santa things, loyalty and all

but then the reality, he wakes to presents, so surely there is some sort of santa.... validating the illusion, wink

it is all good

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Are you suggesting that the conspiracy theorists have a mental age of 9?

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

42. that is not what i am suggesting at all. though this post kinda looks like

a conspiracy theorist... lol lol. seeing i said nothing of the sort. teasing at the funny. taking both the word conspiracy and theory..... and the bush administration the last 6 years... i have seen a lot of evidence that makes me inquire why people call so much tinfoil. having never been much into conspiracy theory, the last handful of years i have had to adopt exactly that attitude and with good reason.

then again, both my boys are beyond a lot of adults in world affair, so wouldnt be a real insult to the conspiracy theorists.

[G Hawes]

171. Assigning a mental age of 9 years to most conspiracy theorists

would be overly generous.

[otherlander]

196. If you believe the official story about 9/11,

you are, by definition, a conspiracy theorist.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

52. Is that what was going on?

Before people knew his condition they were guessing as to how it happened?

I'm just trying to catch up so I don't stick my foot in my mouth later.

[seabeyond]

there were threads on it. not sure what was in the threads. i

didnt go into them so i dont know how serious or how many people. but ya... i guess enough for skinner to put this post up

[Lone_Star_Dem]

60. Thanks

I appreciate the answer. :)

[seabeyond]

59. dupe

[The Straight Story]

28. So I see 'They' Have gotten to you....

So you really are skinner from the X-files!

:rofl:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

29. I see. You're one of "them", aren't you.

....Just kidding. Excellent call, sir. All those tin foil conversations do get a bit wearisome after a while, and are counterproductive too.

:yourock:

[Tin Man]

31. Amen, brother!

:puke::tinfoilhat:

[shaniqua6392]

32. Let's just all pray for him to recover.

I am sure this is a very difficult time for his family. In the scheme of things, who cares about the Senate. He is a fellow human being who is very ill and deserves our best wishes, not conspiracy theories. He could use a Christmas miracle right now.

[melissinha]

55. Amen

well said. I agree 100%.

[Chorophyll]

Another "thank you."

:kick:

[William769]

34. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[WoodrowFan]

35. THANK YOU!!!!! (NT)

[ruggerson]

36. Right on

n/t

[Midlodemocrat]

37. The voice of reason. Thank you, Skinner.

:thumbsup:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

39. Cspan just showed a medical release - intracranial bleeder

corrected by surgery.

now it is wait and see if the surgery took, and if there was any damage.

Right now, this is great news. and for those conspiracy theorists, ahem. get a medical text.

[Jacobin]

40. Thank you

Reality is strange enough without the fiction.

[newyawker99]

41. kick

[Bucky]

43. Are you saying it's "just a coincidence" that they let Kevorkian out this morning?

:)

[rodeodance]

134. that will not be till next spring from what I have read.

but point made.

[katsy]

44. Can you also lock threads about...

stopping threads about conspiracy theories?

You're already locking conspiracy threads anyway.

Thanks Skinner!

[puerco-bellies]

45. But I have proof, PROOF!!!!!!

OMG those were tic-tacs, here's my meds.. Never mind.

[Bluerthanblue]

46. just because we're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get us-

:evilgrin:

but I do think it's unproductive to wonder 'aloud'-
It only breeds panic and fear-
And we have enough of that, with factual back-up.

peace,
blu

[Lone_Star_Dem]

47. I'm confused, he had a arteriovenous malformation, are we ok to talk about that?

Or do you mean something else, Skinner?

Sorry, if I sound dense, it's been a long morning.

Edit: Ack! I'm sorry, I get it now and agree. I'll drink more coffee next time before I post.

[BushOut06]

48. If they find any polonium in his system, then we can start worrying

Or we could just blame Al Qaeda.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

49. Somebody's gotten to Skinner!!!

:tinfoilhat:

[EFerrari]

50. LOL

:rofl:

[Stinky The Clown]

51. Sanity! Thank You!

[terrya]

53. Thank you, Skinner.

That's very much appreciated.

[skipos]

54. kick

[tammywammy]

56. Thank you. n/t

[NoPasaran]

57. Thank you!

Sometimes people just get sick.

[InvisibleTouch]

58. However....

...I just don't see the connection in the "Warm December in the Midwest" thread. I didn't see any mention of Tim Johnson in that thread at all. Normally I agree with your decisions on these things, Skinner, but on that one I think you were way off base. You were reading a motivation into the OP that just wasn't there in the text. While it may or may not have been in the poster's mind, it wasn't apparent in the thread itself. Doesn't make sense to lock a completely valid topic because of what might be the poster's motivation. Just my 2 cents.

[Skinner]

62. You are correct that my interpretation may have been incorrect.

If so, I apologize.

[InvisibleTouch]

64. Well, having browsed GD a little more this morning...

...and seeing that the same poster started numerous true "conspiracy theory" threads, I can see why your view of that one might have been skewed. I still think he had a valid topic that was unrelated to the rest of it (it is unseasonably warm here in the Midwest right now), but perhaps we can discuss it at a less volatile time. Thanks....

[Radio_Lady]

71. Skinner rules this site with an iron hand in a velvet glove.

That's a big compliment. Other sites (especially the movie and radio forums I visit frequently) dissolve in personal attack and conspiracy theories on MANY subjects. I don't have the time to become a DU moderator because of other family and volunteer commitments, but I have to add that this site is one of the best.

Reminds me -- I have to donate by the end of the month. Peace, everyone.

[Pithlet]

82. It really is.

It's the only message board I've stayed at, let alone was willing to donate my time and money to. It's truly an artform to keep such a large board with such a diverse group from turning into a cesspit. The mods and admins do a brilliant job. DU is really the only place like it on the internet.

[LittleClarkie]

97. I wish other websites would use the same method of deleting the post without

hanging the poster. I was so shocked over at Television without Pity when I got warnings and suspensions followed by two, count them, two final warnings. Shock to my system, it was. Wander a tad off topic, mutter something under your breath re: another poster, and whamo.

Made me appreciate it here so much more.

[Pithlet]

104. I'll never post at TwoP.

I love reading the recaps and the boards, but it is way too moderated for my taste. I signed up three years ago, but have never posted.

[slackmaster]

61. I've been off for most of the last 24 hours

Did I miss something about the Rovian Stroke Generator?

[jasmeel]

63. Some of the recent stuff with Plutonium and the Russians made

me a bit paranoid. I try to keep that to myself though.

[wryter2000]

68. I thought that was a joke

It was pretty funny as a joke.

[yurbud]

65. my thread looked for historical evidence. Would it be conspiracy theory if any other country?

Recently, there has been a conspiracy theory in the news about a former KGB agent being poisoned, and the mainstream press loved the one about that guy with the unfortunate skin condition in the Ukraine being poisoned, and there is historical record of even our CIA taking out people through subtle and not so subtle means overseas.

A few years ago, the mainstream press would have called someone a mental patient who said that Bush had enough evidence to prevent 9/11 or that his case for war with Iraq was 100% bullshit and that the country was no threat to us.

Judging from the resumes from some of the people Bush appointed to his cabinet and other positions, someone could have wondered before 9/11 if those guys would respect the Geneva Convention in the event of a war or do to Americans what they have done to Latin Americans for decades. Would that have made them conspiracy theorists?

I don't believe every question of evil intent and hidden motive about the Bushies has the most malevolent possible answer.

When Bush said he saw the the first plane hit the World Trade Center, it was more likely his poor command of the English language that made him leave out the word "had" as in "had hit." And when people asked questions about whether cellphones would work on airliners, even if they didn't, they have those sky phones within hand's reach of every seat.

On the other hand, I had an email exchange with LA Times editors after the 2004 election about electronic voting that they wanted to dismiss as a conspiracy theory out of hand, but but more and more studies have found to be true. And these same guys had no explanation for why Greg Palast ran a story on the felon voter purge while the 2000 election was up in the air, but they didn't run it until the following summer. You would think the story would draw a bigger audience when it could affect the outcome.

There are mundane answers to a lot of questions, but I will not be embarrassed or consider a matter closed because someone calls the question a conspiracy theory.

[derby378]

66. I'll admit that a "Wag the Dog" suspicion crossed my mind...

...but I'm nowhere near ready to claim that there's an actual conspiracy brewing.

I'll keep my eyes open, however. In the meantime, this was the best call for the DU admins to take. We can't go looking for MIBs behind every door, or we'll soon go crazy.

[Radio_Lady]

69. Skinner, thanks for jumping on this.

I wanted to vomit last night when people started talking about Russian poisonings and other baseless stuff.

[hunter]

70. I knew it all along... You guys created this site to collect names.

To my fellow Du'ers, I'll be seeing you all soon in the secret Alaskan coal mines, refineries, and rendering plants. (Well, at least those of you who are not paid informants, propagandists, agent provocateurs, reptilian alien overlords, or pod people...)

But so long as the last true man or woman is still standing, there will be liberty on this Earth!

Carry on....

[stevietheman]

72. Curtailing of free speech is more offensive to me than the...

rampant paranoid thoughts that are being suppressed, but from an administrative POV, I guess I understand.

[Kelly Rupert]

123. This is a private board. Free speech doesn't apply here.

Not remotely. Conservatives are banned. Crazies are banned. Disrupters are banned. And rightly so. Because this is a private board run by a private citizen with no federal funding, and Skinner can have whatever type of message board he wants. If you want to cook up paranoid theories about birth defects being planned by the Machine, then you have every right to make your own message board inhabited by like-minded people.

[bobbie]

145. Oh spare us the love it or leave it mentality

This board is paid for by members and we do have a right to debate what's said here.

[LittleClarkie]

151. This is not a democracy. It's a benevolent dictatorship.

You have the right to post whatever. They have the right to delete you, or ban you.

[bobbie]

163. And neither has happened.

EOM

[Kelly Rupert]

170. Neither has happened to you.

There are many who have been banned for posting viewpoints which violate DU's terms of usage, and many more who have had non-approved posts deleted. This is not a bad thing; it keeps this board civil and agreeable.

[bobbie]

174. Well I am on some forums that have a policy of not interferring

And troll can pretty much ruin them.

[Kelly Rupert]

177. Absolutely.

I'm rather glad that Skinner et al. exercise their rights so judiciously.

[Radio_Lady]

180. Well said. These men are the owners of their site, which is like a retail idea store.

You can come in for free, look around, do a little business if you wish, even get promoted if you're a good and dependable writer.

But, ultimately, they make the rules about their "customers" and they can reserve the right to deny service to anyone.

Amen, brother...

PS. I just sent Skinner $35 bucks for the fourth quarter. I wish it could be more. I know it's going to a great cause. Maybe a coupla beers on a rough day? You know what? I think of them as our DU Supreme Court -- and although they may not be as "learned" in the law, they mete out justice very patiently and thoughtfully.

Thanks for listening.

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

(PS. Our power was out for five hours here in Portland this evening. We tried unsuccessfully to rope up a 12 foot photinia bush, but the wind took it. Big and small trees are down on local streets, many accidents, and some of the damage will not be known until daylight. The coast has had heavy winds, and rain and that's supposed to continue throughout the night. Seattle is getting hit hard, too.)

[Kelly Rupert]

168. You have no such rights.

I'm not stating any mentality. I'm simply stating facts. Free speech does not apply to private message boards, and our right to debate on this board is fully alienable.

[Telly Savalas]

191. Great.

So if I donate $5 a year I can post a bunch of white supremicist literature here?

[stevietheman]

175. What a silly response. Geez. n/t

n/t

[AbbyR]

73. Thank you SO much (nft)

[DinahMoeHum]

74. Agreed, Skinner: Conspiracy theorizing is for losers.

n/t

[me b zola]

159. Oh Damn it!!!!

I really wanted to be on the winners side, hmph! :cry: If only I could be a winner like you!!

[autorank]

176. So that would make Patrick Fitzgerald a....loser? n/t

There's a big difference between wacked out conspiracy theories with little or no basis (other than the lack of proof shows how good the conspiracy is;) and the association of like minded people in the process of commiting a crime. Talk to any prosecutor in a medium to large city or any state or federal prosecutor. That's the business they're in, punishing those who work together to break our laws..
==================
http://www.answers.com/topic/conspiracy

con·spir·a·cy (kən-spîr'ə-sē) pronunciation
n., pl. -cies.

1. An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.
2. A group of conspirators.
3. Law. An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action.
4. A joining or acting together, as if by sinister design: a conspiracy of wind and tide that devastated coastal areas.
==================
It exists and it's part of the struggle to maintain a civil society. To deny conspiracies and ridicule the idea does not comport with the realities we face. What was the plot against America on 911, for example, a solo action by a bunch of murderers who just happened to come together or a plan constituting a conspiracy to break our laws and do harm to our citizens and country.
==================
Encyclopedia of American History

The general federal conspiracy statute, Title 18 U.S. Code Section 371, originally enacted in 1867, made it a crime to conspire to commit an offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States in any manner. The prototypical political conspiracy, Watergate, was a conspiracy to commit an offense (obstruct justice) by "covering up" the burglary of the Democratic Party's 1972 presidential campaign headquarters. Conspiracy "to defraud" has been interpreted broadly to include any conduct that "impaired or obstructed the lawful function of any government agency." In United States v. Dennis (1966), the Supreme Court found sufficient an indictment that charged labor leaders with conspiracy to defraud the National Labor Relations Board by falsely claiming to have resigned from the Communist Party, even though requiring noncommunist affidavits was unconstitutional. In addition to the general conspiracy statute, there are more than twenty specific prohibitions against conspiracy attached to substantive offenses in the United States Code.

Conspiracy cases have substantial procedural advantages for prosecutors and are among the most frequently charged federal crimes. Conspiracy is a separate offense from the substantive crime that it intends, enabling multiple prosecutions for the same conduct without double jeopardy attaching. Conspiracy can exist where the substantive crime cannot be proved, and even where its commission is impossible. All coconspirators can be charged together in one indictment, and crimes pertaining solely to individual conspirators are often included in the indictment despite prejudice to codefendants. All coconspirators are responsible for all conduct engaged in by any coconspirator during the course of the conspiracy, and the statute of limitations on the conspiracy runs from the last act of any of the coconspirators. The statements of coconspirators during the course of the conspiracy are not "hearsay" and may be admitted into evidence against all coconspirators.
==================

The application of the term and nature of the proof of conspiracies is the issue, not the term itself. Corporate Media is fond of using "conspiracy theorist" as a dismissive of anything they're to lazy to look into. Watergate was ridiculed as a fishing expedition by many earlyi on only to turn into one of the great criminal conspiracies in our history. On a more sinsiter level, an evenet that is still hard to belive, Operation Northwoods, was a conspiracy to attack the American people to further a political aim.
==================

From Wikipedia's excellent article on Operation Northwoods:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods

James Bamford (journalist, author) summarized Operation Northwoods in his Body of Secrets thus:

Operation Northwoods
Operation Northwoods, which had the written approval of the Chairman and every member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for innocent people to be shot on American streets; for boats carrying refugees fleeing Cuba to be sunk on the high seas; for a wave of violent terrorism to be launched in Washington, D.C., Miami, and elsewhere. People would be framed for bombings they did not commit; planes would be hijacked. Using phony evidence, all of it would be blamed on Castro, thus giving Lemnitzer and his cabal the excuse, as well as the public and international backing, they needed to launch their war.
==================

This little gem in our history, a disgrace, was a conspiracy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assault the American public for their own political ends. They wanted a reason to attack Cuba.

This conspiracy was never prosecuted. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was removed from his position however. His punishment: Supreme Commander, NATO.

This was not uncovered until Bamford, as solid an investigative journalist as you'll find, dug it up in 1998.

[DinahMoeHum]

186. WTF does Fitzgerald prosecuting a case have to do with Tim Johnson ???

We're not discussing anything here except Tim Johnson's situation, and all the unsubstantiated rumors circulating around it.

Did I just burst your ego here?
You just talked a lot, but you didn't say anything.
Please discuss your full-blown shit about conspiracies and Fitzgerald in another thread.

Sheeesh. This is why I don't bother with conspiracy theories re 9/11 or Wellstone, etc. I don't have time for this shit.

:evilfrown:

[autorank]

187. I was responding to the previous post, the one just above mine.

There's a distinction between wild speculation about a situation that warrants no speculation, e.g., Johnsons illness, and the statement to which I responded which describes anyone people who talks about conspiracies as a loser. I'm not suggesting at all that you bother yourself with anything to do with 911 or Wellstone. I'm making a point that "conspiracy theory" is not a pejorative term.

As for what I posted as "full blown shit" you obviously didn't read it. It describes conspiracy statutes as a federal law enforcement tool used against criminals.

We can just put each other on ignore and this will never happen again. Enjoy.

[otherlander]

197. So...

Do you think that the planes were just blown into the twin towers by high winds? I mean, it's ridiculous to say that Osama bin Laden and Al Quaida conspired to attack us, right? Because that would be a conspiracy theory.

[dave29]

75. Everyone knows Skinner is Karl Rove

Doing Patrick Fitzgerald's bidding
to cover up his involvement in Jimmy Hoffas death
due to his knowledge of the whereabouts of the lost Ark of the Covenant
which contains the forbidden truth of our alien heritage.

duh

[Mad_Dem_X]

76. Thank you, mods!!!!! n/t

[WI_DEM]

77. Thank you for the sanity

[karlrschneider]

78. kick

:kick:

[Rainscents]

79. THANKS!!!

:kick:

[Javaman]

80. Many thanks!!! nt

[onenote]

81. thank you thank you thank you.

[Pithlet]

83. Thank you!

:applause:

[rman]

84. It is not baseless to say faul play is within the realm of possibilities.

[longship]

85. I bow to your common sense, Skinner.

Thanks for this.

[Cameron27]

86. k&r k&r k&r k&r k&r

a thousand times if I could.:applause:

[Hidden Stillness]

87. Thank God for This Thread

It debases the important and fearful subject matter, and, if it comes to that--pray to God it doesn't--it disgraces the memory of the one who suffered the medical attack. Sen. Harry Reid suffered a mild stroke a couple of years ago and is now fine, so there is a great deal of hope. These are human beings and this is the fate we all share--they are not soap opera fodder for advertisers and Republican filth. From "conspiracy, Rove did it" on the one side, to "does this mean we Republicans take over again?" on the other, it is all some pretty disrespectful "coverage." I am really worried about this--for Sen. Johnson, the family, South Dakota, and our whole country and world.

[bobbie]

88. Skinner, I would like to know why such discussion is "flamebait"

Why the heck can't we dicuss a very suspicious, alarming, suspicious episode.

You're afraid of looking "silly" to who? You are allowing them to muzzle us? Allowing them to control the discourse?

I don't understand, so don't thank me. I think this is outrageous and request that we continue discussing it.

"Baseless speculation" is also called thinking.

[mistertrickster]

92. Just because something happens that works to the benefit of the

opposition doesn't mean they DID it.

Did "liberal operatives" torture and brainwash Jeffords to throw the Senate to the Dems in 2001 or whenever it was? Did liberals expose Mark Foley's pedophilia right before the last election?

No and no.

Thinking also means refraining from making statements which cannot be supported by even a scintella of evidence.

If you want to talk about a conspiracy, start your own blog.

Everybody else has . . .

[bobbie]

94. I was asking Skinner a question, not you

And you can start your own blog too. I give you permission. I invite you. Not that it's my place to say that. Not that it was your place to say that.

[bobbie]

95. I'm still asking Skinner a question: Who are you afraid of looking silly in front of?

Who is dictating policy to DU as a result?

[Skinner]

99. I am afraid of looking silly in front of...

...sensible people who might want to be members of this community.

[bobbie]

102. Meaning you consider any suggestion of nefarious gov't deeds senseless?

So, if you had this forum in 1963 when President Kennedy was shot, you wouldn't permit discussion of it?

What about when Malcolm X was shot in '65? Or Dr King in '68, or RFK in '68, or John Lennon or Paul Wellstone or Mel Carnahan or... any suspicous death?

Off limits?

[WilliamPitt]

106. Does your back hurt?

It must be a real strain carrying all those strawmen around.

Ye shrieking gods.

:eyes:

[bobbie]

111. Well Will, I suppose I should be grateful that you were succinct for once

Instead of your usual 10,000 word stupifying essay beating a subject to death whilst heaping on the sacherine.

By the way, still trying to force Kerry down everyone's throat just because you were so star struck in the presence of big name like Al Franken and they like you they really really like you?! Or more likely they used you, they really really used you.

[Skinner]

112. I'm going to nip this sub-thread in the bud right now.

Thanks.

[Name removed]

114. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

141. Skinner, you missed your calling.

Given what you've done with this place since I've been here, I suspect you've missed your calling as a career diplomat. This is the best moderated forum I've ever been on. Hell, you guys even keep *me* under control.

[bobbie]

143. Actually I agree

Very professional

[JacksonWest]

125. Actually, during those horrible events, there was no internet discussion of them!

Makes you think.....

[bobbie]

130. :) Good one

...

[Radio_Lady]

194. Bobbie, I was at NBC when President Kennedy was shot. The conspiracy

theorists wanted at this subject almost from the moment of impact. It has continued to this day (saw it on MYTHBUSTERS just a few weeks ago). So far, there has never been any conspiracy theory that has held up. I think it was a guy named Mark ??? who did all of the talk shows in the 1970s. Nothing ever came of it.

Same is true of the other assassinations. You want to believe this stuff? No problem. By the way, I have a bridge near Brooklyn, NY that's up for sale!

Sane and sagacious,

Radio Lady in Oregon

PS. This is Skinner's territory. He bought it. He owns it, and he can run it just like any other owner runs his business. Take it or leave it.

[mistertrickster]

101. Skinner's a busy man. I wonder how many questions the guy gets

in a day?

Like how many hundreds . . .

Everybody from Bill O'Reilly to the New York Times trolls through here looking for posts that they can use to paint us as idiots.

Some innocent post-er a while back asked if global warming caused the tsunami in South East Asia. This was reported in The Times IIRC. Actually, it's a good question in the sense that higher ocean levels, caused by global warming, would intensify the destructive effect of a tsunami, but never mind that, we were just a bunch of fruitcakes.

I say, let's not give the opposition what they're looking for.

[bobbie]

115. And therefore they are allowed to control the discourse

Because people here are terrified of their ridicule.

Well guess what. They'll find things to ridicule no matter what.

[Skinner]

116. And I'm going to nip this sub-thread in the bud, too. (nt)

[jus_the_facts]

126. Well....

...what's stoppin' ya BIG BOSS MAN?!

[bobbie]

131. Yeah, that was anticlimactic...

Oh dear, speculation can now run rampant and we'll be the laughingstock of freeperville.

The horror!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

142. It Seems You May Have A Misunderstanding Of Who We Prefer To Look Silly Towards.

This isn't about freepers, though lord knows they can and will use any possible words we've said against us at the slightest whim.

But no. That's not our concern (those who agree with me, anyway). Many of us feel that this is the best progressive site on all of the web; and with good reason. It is a big tent community and lord knows there is no shortage of topics and viewpoints to discuss here. But there are certain topics or viewpoints which or so blatantly fanatical or filled with lunacy that it brings down the legitimacy of this entire site.

You are not going to find a place anywhere on the web filled with more resources and factual information than can be found right here. Many of us thrive on that. Sure, we have our share of silly nilly topics that aren't really meant to be overly serious or factual, but they are for the most part at least harmless in their context. But when we let topics float around that are attempting to discuss something in a serious manner as if there is factual or legitimate basis to it, when it is in fact something that carries no legitimacy and is borderline delusional, then we compromise the integrity of all the other threads that are in fact serious and factual, or that real wisdom or information can be acquired from.

Many of us here constantly recommend this site to our friends, family, acquaintances, co-workers. We really don't want them to come here for the first time, and find thread after thread of completely insane conceptual discussions on Sen. Johnson being made ill intentionally etcetera etcetera. Now you may not care about that and some others may not as well, but those of us who take pride in this site and its content want to be able to remain proud of the information that can be found here, rather than embarrassed by ramblings of lunacy that make it appear as if our community as a whole shares the ideal presented.

So it is not the freepers who concern us, it is our future members who we want to show-off this site to and not have scared away by lunacy.

Now I don't speak for Skinner or anyone else in this opinion, but this is at least my take on why I'm quite appreciative of Skinner's declaration.

[bobbie]

144. Thanks OPERATIONMINDCRIME, totally understood

I appreciate the thoughtful post.

[SharonRB]

153. Bravo!

Very well spoken.

It's one thing to theorize about what really happened on 9/11 and quite another to theorize that a man who had a congenital defect, according to his doctors, was somehow poisoned or otherwise made to fall ill by the opposition. That's a bunch of hogwash. Sometimes people just fall ill for totally normal reasons and there's nothing nefarious about it. The timing may not be convenient, but it happens.

[mistertrickster]

138. Remember, I'm on your side of the political aisle.

You have made some worthwhile observations. But further bickering is not worthy of our cause, our larger goals.

It's a judgment call, granted, and I think in this instance the mods have made the right judgment.

I'm "nipping myself in the bud" from discussing it any further.

[Lilith Velkor]

120. Plate tectonics caused the tsunami

Global warming melts glaciers and causes ice shelves to break off, which takes weight off the Antarctic plate, causing it to shift upwards. Other plates move around due to the change, resulting in earthquakes.

That's my scientific wild guess.

[LynneSin]

127. Only only needs to google my screen name to see how I got 'outed'

But to this day I'm still proud that columnist suggested that I "must not watch much cable news"

[SharonRB]

154. You're famous!

You were quoted in USA Today....

:hi:

[LynneSin]

185. Hey, I still believe the airlines are trying to rip us off with expensive foods

:grr:

I stand by my statement!

[Shakespeare]

139. Perhaps you've forgotten that you're on a public message board...

...and people can respond to any post they choose. It always cracks me up when someone feigns outrage and announces that nobody else may respond to their thread/post except a certain person.

Seriously, remember where you are.

[Shakespeare]

137. In a way, he's protecting the idiots from themselves.

And saving them from looking profoundly stupid, as suggesting that a congenital defect is in any way suspicious is about the absolute dumbest thing I've ever read. In which case, I thank Skinner on behalf of all of those lacking the common sense to know how stupid conspiracy speculation is regarding Johnson's illness.

I suppose I should be wondering if Karl Rove is responsible for my heart murmur!! :tinfoil:

[creeksneakers2]

157. I care how it looks

Outsiders including journalists and other important people look at this site. This site has great information and analysis that isn't available elsewhere. I'd like outsiders, especially those with some pull, to take what is here seriously. I'd especially like spontaneous mass complaints that arise here against the powerful to have some influence. Who listens to complaints from a bunch of kooks?

[Clarkie1]

165. no, "baseless speculation" is called not thinking. nt

[Libby2]

89. Thank you!! n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

90. Oh God Bless You Skinner. That's All I Have To Say.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[mistertrickster]

91. So moved, I and thousands of others second it. nt

[Old Smokey]

93. Right on

thank you

[Daphne08]

96. Thank you. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

98. Yup. We're better than that

And while I find the official 9/11 story about as credible as the Warren Report, we shouldn't make stuff up out of whole cloth.

This is stuff for Freepers and ditto-pinheads.

[Tom Joad]

100. Thanks Skinner. I know this will upset a few who see the Johnson

medical condition, the Princess Di "whitewash", the death of James Kim in the snow of Oregon, the sighting of UFOs and the subsequent cover-ups, the drugging of Barry Bonds, and their own baldness as part of one vast conspiracy will be disappointed.

Suggestion: Deal with reality.

[sniffa]

103. quit hiding the truth from us!!

it was professor pLum, in the kitchen, with the candLestick.

[4theheart]

105. Thank you

it will help to raise the logical and analytical bar for discussions here.

[Hippo_Tron]

109. I say Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the gun

Now I'm going to go home and have sex with my wife!

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

190. Cheney, in the den, with a shotgun. n/t

[LynneSin]

128. Damnit, I had Miss Scarlett in the Library with the pipe

I never win at Clue

:cry:

[Kelly Rupert]

107. His problem is congenital.

Thank you for your prudence.

[StrictlyRockers]

110. IT'S ROVE! Even if it is congenital, the Republicans MUST have done it SOMEHOW!

Rove planted a secret spy in his mom's uterus! Or something equally conspiratorial and insane.

(9/11 was planned from the inside, btw.)

[Kelly Rupert]

121. 9/11 was planned from the inside of OSAMA'S MOTHER'S UTERUS!

Someone make a YouTube video!

[nadinbrzezinski]

113. But, but, but, I was taking notes for my next

murder mystery... Death in the Capitol, or how the Republcian party took out all inconvenient Dems.

;-)

Trust me, some of these theories were too bizarre even for fiction, but so have the last six years

[anitar1]

117. Thank you, Skinner n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

118. Oh I see now ..

YOU'RE part of the conspiracy!!!!

:sarcasm:

[Rex]

119. That was my second thought when I heard the news - foulplay.

But like you said Skinner, there is no evidence of that so let us stick with what we got.

I hope above everything else that he is okay and will recover in time.

[Deja Q]

122. Can this be pinned up top?

[jus_the_facts]

124. "I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men...

....whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent."

-Thomas Jefferson-

...I guess since RUSH mentioned DU today as bat shit crazy once again...this is the result...NO DISSENT ALLOWED NOW! :eyes: :nopity:

P.S...there should be a MORATORIUM on this smiley then :tinfoilhat:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

129. Well, there goes my Polonium thread.

:cry:

;)

[blondeatlast]

133. Thank you, thank you, thank you. nt

[endarkenment]

135. Good idea. nt.

[Carni]

136. The real mystery CAN OUR LUCK BE ANY WORSE?

This is not conspiracy theory I am referring to nor do I think the repukes did anything to the Senator...

BUT CHRIST CAN'T WE CATCH A BREAK????

I woke up this AM with no knowledge of what had happened to Johnson and I wanted to crawl under the bed when I heard the news...all this time, work, blood, sweat and tears and *poof!* It could all be gone just like that due to a random twist of fate!

I pray that the Senator recovers for both decency and political reasons but I have to tell you speaking of conspiracies I am starting to wonder if Chavez wasn't right about the smell of sulphur and herr bush.

The bush as devil comment is strictly a joke but man these set backs that are beyond anyone's control are getting old!

[Kelly Rupert]

173. Sure it could.

A few thousand more Republicans might have decided to swallow their pride and vote in MT and VA. Mark Foley might not have been caught. Allen might have had the sense not to throw slurs at a man with a videocamera. Rush might not have played mock-the-cripple. DeLay and Abramoff's ring might not have been busted open.

Everything broke our way so far in '06. We came into January with plenty of people still predicting Republican gains, and walked out with both houses. We've had fantastic luck this year. This is a blow, but God willing he'll recover.

[Frank Cannon]

189. It could be A LOT worse

For one thing, Senator Johnson could be dead or completely incapacitated. I thank God he's doing as well as he is, and the doctors are saying the neurological problems he was having BEFORE this episode should resolve as well.

I learned a long time ago never to ask, "Could my luck be any worse?" It's almost always followed by a lesson in how it easily could.

[Major Hogwash]

140. Thanks Skinner

A man's life is at stake here.

And the rest of this crap is just fodder for the mill.

Thanks for keeping it on track.

[BlackVelvet04]

146. Thank you, thank you,

THANK YOU!

[Tarc]

147. Very happy to see this message

If I had to read one more nutball "OMG we have to include POISON in the list of possibilities!" post, I was gonna vomit.

[davepc]

148. DU is a reality based community! :)

[connecticut yankee]

149. Thanks, Skinner

I guess even (some) Dems can look foolish at times.

[LittleClarkie]

150. I don't care what you say, I *STILL* think Cheney has a weather machine.

;)

I could do without most conspiracy theories myself. The Skull and Bones ones get my goat.

[Blue-Jay]

152. Can we also lock threads made by people who have never read the constitution?

Or have never had a civics class?

Or were stoned during civics class?

Or failed civics class?

[creeksneakers2]

155. Great idea!

One of the things I like least about all the conspiracy theories is that they drag attention away from the evil that is right before our eyes. Its not like the righties hide what they do that much. PNAC even published their plots on the web.

[Art_from_Ark]

178. OK, there is evil that is right in front of people's eyes, but

there is NO conspiracy, because evil people always work independently of one another, and when they do happen to connect to achieve some common goal, it's all just coincidence, right?

So where does "independent evil working in tandem but solely by coincidence" end and "wacky conspiracy theory" begin?

[creeksneakers2]

183. Wacky conspiracy theories begin

where the evidence ends and move from there into far fetched speculation.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

156. Very good. I hate it when people post stuff that makes DUers seem silly. nt

[Danger Mouse]

158. Are you kidding?

...on DU, Dick Cheney could fart and someone would make a conspiracy out of it.
I just KNEW some people would start that horse shit when this stuff with Tim Johnson happened. I did think to myself 'we have the devil's luck, eh?'
But come on.
Thanks for this, Skinner. The nonstop conspiracy theories can be quite exhausting =)

[Generator]

161. Well Joy Behar on the View-ABC morning TV today

wondered aloud if there was a way to induce the Senator's illness and said she knows "just what evil" those people are capable of and puts nothing past them.

I CRACKED UP! National TV-see DU'ers we are not alone!!!!!!!!!

HA.

[Generator]

162. Those people being Republicans, doncha know

Double ha. I think it's crazy but it was on TEEVEE!

[tom_paine]

164. OK

[Perky]

166. Hallelujah

Skinner rescues us from the lunatic fringe once again

[Mythsaje]

167. I agree...

While it may be possible that something exists that could do that kind of damage, I think the probability is most likely extremely low. If they DID have something like this on hand, they have much better targets to point it at.

It seems FAR more probable, by any measurement, that it is a natural health issue and one we can most definitely hope he improves dramatically.

[RadiDem]

169. Thank you. The 'Tsunami Weapon' posts made it into the MSM, we don't need more moonbattery

[oasis]

172. Here's to a speedy recovery for the good senator.

:toast::thumbsup:

[BigBearJohn]

179. Oh... silly me. I thought there might be lots of people on this board who

couldn't help but wonder about the "coincidence" of it all.
But I guess what you're saying is, it's far better to keep
our curiosity to ourselves, lest we be thought of as "silly".... or worse

Come on, people, let's try to keep up APPEARANCES... we wouldn't want
anyone to think we were (gasp) weird or anything...

But consider this, there just MIGHT be more people on this
board who are thinking the SAME thing as these outspoken conspiracists.
Recently Josh Brolin (Barbra Streisand's husband) suggested on national t.v.
-- on the "View" -- that we should all checkout a website popular
for the truth about 911... and most would scoff at would some might consider
"conspiracy" website. But I guess Josh and Barbra are just another
couple of tinfoil loonies who think we are (shhhhh) being maniupulated by the government...

Oh well, I'll shut up, but ONLY because I trust Skinner and there must
be some underlying legitimate reason why he wants to cut off discussion on this.
But still, for the record, it pisses me off.

[chrisau214]

188. James Brolin

Barbara Steisand is, of course, married to James Brolin. Josh Brolin is James Brolin's son and is the stepson of Barbara Streisand.




Chris

[BigBearJohn]

192. Sorry, I got the names mixed up. You're right. It is James I was talking about.

[Hekate]

181. Thank you, dear Skinner. DU is a reality-based community after all. nt

[donheld]

182. Indeed

As it should be

[greyl]

184. Thank you!

:thumbsup:

[Zorra]

193. OMG! They even got to Skinner!

;)

[Radio_Lady]

195. UPDATE: Skinner, I hope you're having a beer on me somewhere Saturday night.

I sent you $35.00 + $1.00 processing fee last week ... wish it could be more.

This site is important to me and others. We're almost at 100,000 members. Some of them may have noticed that you and the moderators keep a tight lid on the conspiracy controversies. I even got tied up with one of the 9/11 conspiracy people who wanted to sell a CD via radio and TV interviews.

My history takes me back to the many people I interviewed on radio who believed they were abducted by aliens, reincarnated from earlier people, astrologists, psychics, and religious zealots of every stripe. I gave them air time because they were 1)curiosities and 2) it was a middle of the night show in Miami and I could rest while my guest and my audience talked and 3)even in daytime, particularly hot summer Saturdays in Boston -- you or your guest had to say something outrageous about ever 20 minutes to get noticed at all -- but controversy lit up the call-in board.

It's all being reproduced in text and pictures and sometimes music, here at the DU.

Have yourself a happy holiday season.

In peace,

Radio Lady