General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMeet the Journalist Spreading Michael Hastings Conspiracy Theories
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/08/michael-hastings-conspiracy-theories-kim-dvorakDvorak, whom the station touts as an "investigative journalist," is a "National Homeland Security Correspondent" for Examiner.com, a blog network owned by Republican billionaire Philip Anschutz that has minimal editorial oversight. Since Hastings' death, San Diego 6 has repeatedly given Dvorak airtime to float conspiracy theoriesthat the crash was not consistent with a car accident, that Hastings was cremated to cover up foul play, that federal officials may have ordered him killed. None of these theories, which often come from unnamed sources, are backed up by convincing evidence, but reputable media outlets keep falling for Dvorak's reporting anyway.
Last month, for example, the Independent, a major British newspaper, picked up Dvorak's report claiming that Hastings' body "was cremated and it wasn't the request of the family in fact, the family wanted Michael's body to go home." But on Tuesday, veteran journalist Russ Baker dispelled the myth on his news site WhoWhatWhy by talking to a family member who confirmed that the cremation was done at the family's request. Dvorak later removed the passage saying Hastings' family wanted his body to "go home," but her story still hints at a cover-up, calling the cremation a "macabre twist."
Dvorak's other theories are just as questionable. She claimed on air that the engine of Hastings' Mercedes C250 coupe had been found behind the crash site, which would have been impossible with the forward velocity of an ordinary accident. The engine was found in front of the crash site. Her suggestion that a grainy video of the crash showed evidence of a "pre-explosion" sabotage has been dismissed by car experts. She has also reported that the intensity of the resulting fire might suggest the use of thermite accelerantsa popular theory among 9/11 truthers who believe thermite was used to melt the World Trade Center towers' steel columns. She's written credulously about the theory that President Barack Obama may not have been born in the United States. And Dvorak has repeated speculation by Richard Clarke, the former Bush- and Clinton-era counterterrorism czar, that Hastings' car's computer system may have been remotely hackedsomething that's technically possible but highly unlikely.
Previous thread about Dvorak:
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3409274
Sid
snooper2
(30,151 posts)She is on a quest for the Truth!
How long has motherjones.com been working for the man anyway?
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Even though there is no evidence to suggest that:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023508815
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)does not automatically make that belief untrue or invalid.
just sayin'
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)But I doubt if any of the anti-CT posse will alert on you. They only alert on CT that goes counter to their agenda.
There has been a rash of alerts re. CT. CT is the new "Meta" for attempting to lock threads. But I dont suppose you know anything about that.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Then you should send an SOP alert, and we'll see what GD Hosts think.
Sorry if your 'Hastings was murdered by evil Obama' opinion is horseshit.
Sid
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)"Sorry if your 'Hastings was murdered by evil Obama' opinion is horseshit. " Please! You are misrepresenting my "opinion". I dont know if Hastings was murdered, but I try to keep an open mind and be skeptical of authoritarian power as I would hope all Democrats would do.
I feel bad that we have Democrats that will stick their heads in the sand just because an authoritarian figure tells them to.
I see you are again using the signature emoticon.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Seems to me like it's debunking a known conspiracy theorist who is also a right winger (Dvorak).
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)It's like we're entered bizarro DU.
Sid
Cha
(297,503 posts)Hype, Bad is good, and good is not really. "Putin is good/Obama bad"
zappaman
(20,606 posts)Cha
(297,503 posts)for the article, zappaman.
I use to live in San Diego(all over) for 15 years in the '70s and 80s,
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)What if someone objects to the debunking and provides a pro-CT rebuttal? Would the rebuttal be hidden?
Discussion of CT whether in favor or against should be in CS.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)of one or more of the following:
- Boston brakes
- Remote hijacking
- Planted explosives
None of those threads were locked. At least, none that I can recall. There are also threads which aren't specific in terms of the means of assassination, but they do theorize the government was involved in his killing and subsequent cover up. Those haven't been locked.
Creating a thread debunking those theories is only fair IMO and it shouldn't be locked either.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)alerting on CT in the last few days. It almost looks coordinated, maybe even a conspiracy. Wouldnt that be ironic.
I would rather error on the side of letting post stay unlike those that get off on getting people PPR'd, or getting threads locked, or hiding posts.
Looks to me like there are a number of posters in DU that dont ever discuss issues but spend all their time ridiculing others and trying to get posts locked. These posters were devastated when Meta was shut down. Meta was bully heaven.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)bet it was shiney.
Are you dissappointed that Obama wasn't at the scene with his foot stuck out to cause the crash?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Using ridicule to close down discussion is not a Democratic trait.
Not that you are interested, my side is that I believe in being skeptical of authoritarian power.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)keep talking.
some democrats don't have a mind so open that everything falls out.
Like most stories, it is best to wait instead of jump on things that fit your scheme of the world and the evils in it. And if one is wrong you either apologize or just fade away from the topic instead of making extra big arrows of sillness pointed at oneself.
but for You to say, stop the ridiculing, whahahaaaaaa! is quite interesting.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)caused by remote, by drone, or by poison (or a combination of all three) I find your critique without substance.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)but hilarious.
Sid
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)connections would be conveniently hid from a majority of the board.
zappaman
(20,606 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)my favorite bird.
otherwise, I agree with you. Now stop slandering those lovely birds.
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)from the shoreline of one of Maine's many gorgeous lakes. Two weeks ago I was falling asleep while listening to the call of the loons. They are truly lovely birds. (Sadly, the mate of one of our lake's loon population passed away last winter. Knowing that they mate for life, the cries of the surviving bird seemed a bit more plaintive this year.)
Rex
(65,616 posts)Response to SidDithers (Original post)
Whisp This message was self-deleted by its author.
zappaman
(20,606 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid