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Title: Coulter, Limbaugh and others stick with conspiracy theories after mail-bomb suspectÂ’s arrest
Source:
Washington Post
URL Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli ... -didnt/?utm_term=.b9be8470460a
Published: Oct 27, 2018
Author: Eli Rosenberg
Post Date: 2018-10-27 08:56:42 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 3862
Comments: 26
The sending of package bombs to prominent Democrats and other high-profile figures this week was accompanied by a disturbing phenomenon. Baseless conspiracy theories, once confined to the fringes in the wake of violent acts, leaped with shocking speed into the mainstream discussion of the attacks. A surprisingly large number of figures from the conservative establishment — commentators, radio hosts, a Trump family member, and other pro-Trump figures — shared, liked, hinted at, raised questions about or otherwise endorsed an evidence-less theory that this was a “false-flag” attack — one that was staged to advance the political goals of the very people it seemed intended to hurt (in this case, Democrats). But the FBI’s arrest of a suspect Friday pointed to the hollowness of these claims, raising questions about why they were voiced on such a fraught issue in the absence of evidence. The bombs were not “hoax devices,” FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Friday. The suspect, 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, “appears to be a partisan,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. And images circulating of the suspect’s van, which was plastered with pro-Trump and anti-Democrat imagery, and what was believed to be his social media feed, painted a portrait of a distinctly right-wing ideology. The devices were addressed to former president Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), former attorney general Eric. H Holder Jr., and liberal philanthropist George Soros, among others. Most of the packages had the office of Rep. Debbie Wausserman Schultz (D-Fla.) as the return address. [‘False flag’ hoaxes about bombing suspect persist, despite evidence — and a Trump shrine on wheels] In the fever swamps of misinformation and hoaxes on the Internet, the evidence presented on Friday did little to quell the conspiracy mongering. But would the more-established conservative figures who had spread these conspiracy theories admit they made mistakes? Actually, most continued to dig in. Conspiracy theorizing: “From the Haymarket riot to the Unibomber, bombs are a liberal tactic,” she tweeted on Wednesday after CNN offices in Manhattan were evacuated when one of the bombs was found there. Friday: Coulter did not back down from her statement, appearing to pivot instead to what appeared to be racially charged barbs about her belief that people of “immigrant stock” are more likely to engage in political violence. “I don’t make predictions, I cite history,” Coulter wrote in an email Friday to The Washington Post. “Sorry, not all immigrants are going to be Democrats.” Conspiracy theorizing: On Wednesday, Rush Limbaugh suggested that a “Democratic operative” was more likely to have sent the devices than a Republican. “Republicans just don’t do this kind of thing,” Limbaugh said. “You’ve got people trying to harm CNN and Obama and Hillary and Bill Clinton and [Florida Rep.] Debbie ‘Blabbermouth’ Schultz and, you know, just, it might serve a purpose here.” Friday: Limbaugh, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to his radio station, appeared to continue this line on Friday. “Two weeks out, a bunch of bombs start showing up in places that the media can then say that they are being received by ‘Trump targets?’ ” he said on his show. “I’m sorry. I didn’t fall off the turnip truck ever, and certainly not yesterday, and the world of October Surprises coupled with all the other realities I just exposed, and I think it only makes sense to be suspicious and demanding of proof for whatever we’re gonna be told.” Conspiracy theorizing: Savage had said of the bombs Wednesday that there was a “high probability that the whole thing had been set up as a false flag to gain sympathy for the Democrats,” and as a way to distract from the migrant situation in southern Mexico, according to the Guardian. Friday: Savage, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to the administrators of his website, continued to sow doubt about the line of information coming from the authorities about the bombs. “Michael, your description yesterday of the guy they’d pin (maga hat, confed flag,etc) sounds right on the money💰 Only thing you didn’t envision was a van slathered in pro-Trump images. Once again you were correct!,” he tweeted. And a follow up: “MAN AND VAN LOOK LIKE CREATED BY HOLLYWOOD,” he wrote. Conspiracy theorizing: On Thursday, Dobbs wrote: “Fake News — Fake Bombs. Who could possibly benefit by so much fakery?” Dobbs later deleted the tweet. Friday: Requests for comment sent to Fox News and Fox Business representatives were not immediately answered. Conspiracy theorizing: “Investigators need to take a serious look at far left groups like #Antifa when investigating the bombs sent to [liberal philanthropist George] Soros, Obama, and the Clintons,” Cardillo wrote on Twitter this week. “These smell like the false flag tactics of unhinged leftists who know they’re losing.” He later deleted the tweet. Friday: Cardillo continued Friday to find ways to blame Democrats and absolve conservatives of responsibility for the package bombs. He tweeted that “far left” officials in Broward County, Fla., were to blame for Sayoc’s actions, given his prior criminal record. He said that Sayoc registered as a Republican only in 2016. And he said the “MSM” — mainstream media — ignored the story of how Donald Trump Jr.'s wife, Vanessa, was taken to the hospital after opening an envelope full of suspicious white powder. [Trump Jr. says his wife is ‘safe and unharmed’ after opening letter containing unknown substance] Conspiracy theorizing: Rivera said Thursday that he believed “that this whole thing was an elaborate hoax.” “I believe that those bombs were never intended to explode. I think those bombs were intended to further divide the American people,” he said. “Maybe it was a wretchedly incompetent bomber who didn’t know how to make a bomb, that never studied the Internet . . . someone who wanted to embarrass President Trump, somebody who wanted to affect American political life. It could have been a Russian invention." Friday: Rivera is notable for being the only conservative out of this group to admit he was wrong. He said that the reason he had previously conjured up the theory that the bombs were a false-flag operation was that he “outsmarted” himself. “Actual alleged perp 56-year old #CesarSayoc,” he wrote, “a middle-aged, rabid, extreme right winger w a troubled past & long criminal record.” Conspiracy theorizing: “These ‘explosive packages’ being sent to the #Media and high profile Democrats has Soros astro-turfing written all over it so the media can paint the #GOP as ‘the dangerous mob,' Mitchell wrote on Wednesday. “Pure BS.” Friday: Mitchell, who did not respond to a request for comment sent via Twitter, continued to sow doubt about Sayoc’s political motivations, hinting about a conspiracy afoot but providing no evidence. “So many things about this Cesar guy do not add up,” he wrote on Twitter. “If he is #MAGA, why would he send these fake ‘bombs’ to Democrat Congressional Leaders 2 weeks before the midterms and disrupt our winning momentum? It makes no sense. That means there is something else here.” Conspiracy theorizing: “I’m going to go ahead and state that there is a 0% chance that these ‘suspicious packages,’ were sent out by conservatives,” she wrote on Wednesday. “The only thing ‘suspicious’ about these packages, is their timing. Caravans, fake bomb threats — these leftists are going ALL OUT for midterms.” The tweet has since been deleted, but was screengrabbed by other users. Friday: Owens did not respond to a request for comment sent to the conservative advocacy group for which she works, but she did not appear to have tweeted further about the issue. Conspiracy theorizing: On Thursday, Trump Jr. reportedly liked a blatantly erroneous all-caps tweet that claimed that the bombs were fake and “MADE TO SCARE AND PICK UP BLUE SYMPATHY VOTE.” Friday: Trump Jr. continued engaging with partisan tweets. He retweeted Rivera, who had noted that Sayoc’s criminal history predated Trump’s political career and liked a post that railed about the “Left’s violence, intimidation, & mob tactics.” Abby Ohlheiser and Avi Selk contributed to this report.
Poster Comment:
Ann Coulter, conservative author and commentator
Rush Limbaugh, conservative radio host
Michael Savage, conservative radio host
Lou Dobbs at CPAC in 2017. (Alex Brandon/AP)Lou Dobbs, Fox Business television host
John Cardillo, right-wing media personality
Geraldo Rivera participates in "The Celebrity Apprentice" panel in 2015. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)Geraldo Rivera, Fox News correspondent
Bill Mitchell, conservative radio host
Conservative commentator Candace Owens, center, at the White House. (Andrew Harnik/AP)Candace Owens, right-wing activist
Donald Trump Jr., President Trump’s eldest son
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#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
We have the original kooks, right here. Dicktard, Hondope, Ba ba Bucky... Fred’s Ass Hurtz and all the sites kook scum that have since died off, got banned or just quit because they know Stone won’t allow this site to be a pro drug addict, kook soundboard for JUST Paultards.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Really? Well, they weren't "real devices" so what's left? Hoax #1. All the packages were identical, meaning that after the first was discovered, future recipients would be alerted. Hoax #2 Pipe bombs are made of steel with a steel cap screwed on each end. These were made of plastic (PVC) with plastic caps glued on each end. A cherry bomb would have more destructive power. Hoax #3 A digital timer was used as the trigger. The ultimate giveaway. Someone watched too many suspense movies where the hero races to disarm the device before it explodes. Clock Boy built a more realistic device. Possible Hoax #4 The pipe bombs were packed with powder and shards of glass. The FBI has not said what the powder was. I suspect it was harmless.
I'd be more concerned about the Trump cultist LFers who are MIA. Admit it GI, you have certainly thought about doing something like this.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. I haven't seen tpaine in quite a while...
Words ouT Somebody ThaT knows The creep Said he was an obombo voTer Figures AnarchisT - lib - sTorm Trooper Makes me sick If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons - question marks are for girlie boys !
Negative, dumb shit. This conduct is illegal in all 50 states. Unlike you, I respect the rule of law. However, if this conduct was legal, I’d have mailed a few thousand tons of my shit, sealed in boxes, to every snowflake, Paultard and anarchist, that I have addresses for. lol
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
I’ll assume he’s worm food, if he doesn’t have the fucking courtesy to at least post once every 6 months that he’s still alive.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
You're a CT freak, k0oK. Lyin' Ted & Donnell's bomb scares have shifted the MSM focus away from their Fake News spew, but losers gonna lose. Never forget, Republicans & Democrats lie a lot, especially Fire Island canaries. Officer gayblade, aka GI
I am? Go fuck yourself. I was the FIRST person to accuse the bomber of being an unhinged idiotic stupid Trump supporter... the day of the first few bombings. I laughed watching Fox News as Brian Kilmead SQUASHED and stopped every idiot that tried to blame the bombings on a conspiracy theory of the LEFT, trying to make the right look bad. Take two lithium, call me in the morning.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Anyone seen VXH? This is the crazy shit he does!
Thanks for illustrating the intellectual retardation at the root of the MAGA Cult's inability to distinguish between the players Putin described. Too bad (D)onaldo the magnificent is colluding with the Zio-Chabadnik cult's organized criminal synagogue of Satan instead of actual Russians like Putin.
Turn yourself in - it's not too late
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. FireIsland - the drug pusher.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Deckard, that is beyond just "not right"; Frankly, you owe GI an apology. A SINCERE ONE. Have you lost any ability to filter your initial thoughts?
EXACTLY my opinion the day of. OBVIOUS. Comrade Willie, you will be mentioned in my opus.
This is the crazy shit he does! The dude is Exhibit 'A' of, "And tell us -- when did the hallucinations begin?"
YOU were right; We know the truth.
Between you and VxH, it's difficult to discern which of you is more in desperate need of a double straight-jacket. You've done more to destroy this site than just about anyone.
Excellent post. One that's made LF worth reading over the years.
Boris, while you and your style have been eccentric to say the least, you are often very perceptive, parsing subtle spot on observations.
Remind me NOT to choose you to eulogize me.
Tpaine...Robert.... Do you read? /OVER
Do you? "You must understand. The leading Bolsheviks who took over Russia were not Russians. They hated Russians. They hated Christians. Driven by ethnic hatred they tortured and slaughtered millions of Russians without a shred of human remorse. The October Revolution was not what you call in America the "Russian Revolution." It was an invasion and conquest over the Russian people. More of my countrymen suffered horrific crimes at their bloodstained hands than any people or nation ever suffered in the entirety of human history. It cannot be understated. Bolshevism was the greatest human slaughter of all time. The fact that most of the world is ignorant of this reality is proof that the global media itself is in the hands of the perpetrators."
Hmmmm... "Liberator bought the farm & met the grim reaper..." or maybe "Liberator croaked & is pushing up daisies..." worm food... Gimme time... I'll keep working on it.....
Deckard, that is beyond just "not right" The psycho-cop has stated in the past that he would love to shoot anyone with a Ron Paul sticker on their bumper. Frankly - I think the guy is capable of anything. Frankly, you owe GI an apology. Seriously? GI is a foul-tempered inconsiderate little worm - his juvenile posts constantly display his hatred of freedom-loving individuals.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Cut & Paste where I’ve stated such. lol I wouldn’t even issue a ticket to a motorist, just based on the fact they’re a paultard or driving a Paultardmobile... and I’ve had a few opportunities. What I probably said was, during a REVOLT, and it’s kill or be killed... libtards, leftist, criminals, anarchist, ANTIFA, Black Lies Matters, welfare, the drug addicted and Paultards would be open season for me. You fit many on the list.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
conspiracy theorist
#2. To: Willie Green (#0)
The bombs were not “hoax devices,” FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Friday.
#3. To: GrandIsland (#1)
We have the original kooks, right here. Dicktard, Hondope, Ba ba Bucky... Fred’s Ass Hurtz
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#4. To: GrandIsland (#1)
Dicktard, Hondope, Ba ba Bucky... Fred’s Ass Hurtz and all the sites kook scum that have since died off, got banned or just quit because
If I recall correctly, he was getting up in years...
Does anybody know if he's still in the land of the living? Or did he go belly-up?
#5. To: Willie Green (#4)
(Edited)
boris
#6. To: Deckard (#3)
(Edited)
Admit it GI, you have certainly thought about doing something like this.
#7. To: Willie Green (#4)
I haven't seen tpaine in quite a while... If I recall correctly, he was getting up in years... Does anybody know if he's still in the land of the living? Or did he go belly-up?
#8. To: GrandIsland, Fire Island Canaries, Fred Mertz, buckeroo, Deckard (#1)
kooks, right here. Dicktard, Hondope, Ba ba Bucky... Fred’s Ass Hurtz
#9. To: hondo68 (#8)
You're a CT freak, k0oK.
#10. To: All, VXH (#0)
#11. To: Justified (#10)
(Edited)
#12. To: GrandIsland, hondo68 (#9)
...an unhinged idiotic stupid Trump supporter..
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#13. To: GrandIsland, hondo68 (#9)
Take two lithium, call me in the morning.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#14. To: Deckard, GrandIsland (#3)
Admit it GI, you have certainly thought about doing something like this.
#15. To: Willie Green (#0)
“MADE TO SCARE AND PICK UP BLUE SYMPATHY VOTE.”
#16. To: Justified (#10)
Anyone seen VXH?
#17. To: GrandIsland (#9)
#18. To: hondo68, VxH (#8)
#19. To: misterwhite (#2)
#20. To: BorisY (#5)
#21. To: Willie Green (#4)
Does anybody know if he's still in the land of the living? Or did he go belly-up?
#22. To: Willie Green, tpaine, rlk (#4)
#23. To: Liberator (#22)
Do you read?
--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
#24. To: Liberator (#21)
Remind me NOT to choose you to eulogize me.
#25. To: Liberator (#14)
Admit it GI, you have certainly thought about doing something like this.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#26. To: Deckard (#25)
The psycho-cop has stated in the past that he would love to shoot anyone with a Ron Paul sticker on their bumper.
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