The Ten AlterNet Stories from 2008 That Outraged Readers the Most January 1, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/116394/
"From our coverage on Sarah Palin's gaffes to Matt Taibbi's battles with the 9/11 Truth movement."
The Ten AlterNet Stories from 2008 That Outraged Readers the Most
By AlterNet
Posted on December 31, 2008, Printed on January 1, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/116394/
Immigration, gender, LGBT rights, race in America, equality, fair drug laws, the dangers of corporate power in America ... these are just a few of the subjects we feature every day here at AlterNet.
Below, we've assembled the 10 stories that most enraged commenters this year -- the articles that were linked to by conservative sites, ranted about on conspiracy blogs, and inspired people to send some downright nasty notes to AlterNet. They cover topics ranging from the facts about Sarah Palin, to the truth behind America's Marijuana laws, to the backwards thinking behind various conspiracy theories.
Here are the top ten AlterNet stories that outraged readers this year:
10. Over the Top Fed Actions Feed Conspiracy Thinking
By Scott Thill, AlterNet
By rewarding the criminals and screwing the victims, the Federal Reserve's behavior feeds into rumors and conspiracy about its true function.
9. Busting Paranoid Right-Wing Fantasies of Dissolving the Mexico-U.S.-Canada Borders
By Manuel Pérez Rocha and Sarah Anderson, AlterNet
It's time to call BS on the idea of a mythical North American Union.
8. America's Democratic Collapse
By Chris Hedges, Truthdig
In a dramatic speech, Chris Hedges warns that the nation is on the verge of becoming a full-blown corporate state.
7. Racial Extremists Are Infiltrating the Military for the Chance to 'Kill a Brown'
By David Holthouse, Intelligence Report
New evidence suggests that white supremacists are taking advantage of lowered recruiting standards to enter the armed services.
6. Why Harsh Immigration Crackdowns Will Never Work
By Joshua Holland, AlterNet
Tough-minded immigration policies keep backfiring, and the debate over them obscures the question of what really works and what doesn't.
5. White Supremacists Fantasize That Obama Will Help Them Recruit
By Max Blumenthal, The Daily Beast
David Duke and white supremacists are grappling with arrests for an Obama murder plot, while hoping an Obama presidency will be good for them.
4. Talk Radio and the Conspiracy to Kill
By Rory O'Connor, AlterNet
Would Jim Adkisson have killed without prompting from extreme right-wing talkers?
3. Debunking the Hemp Conspiracy Theory
By Steven Wishnia, AlterNet
Pot isn't illegal because the paper industry is afraid of competing with hemp -- it's because of racism and the culture wars.
2. Top Ten Most Disturbing Facts and Impressions of Sarah Palin
By AlterNet Staff, AlterNet
It's not hard to stir up negative publicity when you advocate gunning down wolves from airplanes and deny the human causes of climate change.
1. The Ultimate 9/11 'Truth' Showdown: David Ray Griffin vs. Matt Taibbi
By Matt Taibbi and David Ray Griffin, AlterNet
The two writers lock horns over the accuracy of Griffin's recent book, 9/11 Contradictions.
© 2009 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/116394/
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He shoots, he scores.
Response to #1; Matt Taibi, David Ray Griffin debate.
To use a hockey analogy, it reminds me of an amateur trying to score on a professional goalie and not only does the goaltender stop every shot but he deftly stick handles around the amateur shooter and scores on every attempt. (I guess I've been watching too much of the World Juniors Tournament.)
DRG intelligently refutes every assertion and accusation made by Taibbi and leaves him looking like the angry frustrated denialist that he is. Griffin's research is meticulous and accurate and easy to follow for the unscientific layperson.
Edit. To be fair. So far I've only read Griffin's response to Taibbi's questions. There's a whole 'nuther section of Taibbi's response to Griffin's response and that will take more time.
DRG's Schellacking of Matt Taibbi
That’s what you call intellectual controlled demolition.
Thanks for the reminder, Betsy
Griffin just annihilates Taibbi... good reminder to start the new year.
The truth will out.
THE WISDOM
THE WISDOM FUND
http://www.twf.org (Enver Masud lives near the Pentagon and went to the site when it happened)
January 1, 2009
Pentagon 9/11: No plane, no hole, no raging fire AFTER reported crash of Flight 77 at 9:37 A.M.
by Enver Masud
When did Fort Meyer Fire Department (FMFD) Foam Unit 161, and Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) Foam Unit 331, arrive at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and why does it matter?
(picture: http://www.twf.org/News/Y2009/0101-FMFD161.html)
National Airport's aircraft rescue firefighters (ARFF) foam units "knocked down the bulk of the fire in the first seven minutes after their arrival," said Captain Michael Defina, who was the shift commander that day at Reagon National Airport (National Fire Protection Association Journal, November 1, 2001 - original removed, but available elsewhere).
Captain Defina, who had been at the site of a motor vehicle accident, arrived at the Pentagon "two to three minutes" after he "saw a smoke plume arise" from the Pentagon.
"Captain Defina drove onto the heliport and directed Foam Unit 331 to set up there, where Fort Myer Rescue Engine 161 had established a hydrant water supply. The only other firefighting apparatus he saw on the west side was Arlington County's Engine and Truck 105 on the far north end. Their crews went into the building to conduct search and rescue."
"While Foam Unit 331 hit the fire with foam from its roof and bumper turrets, Rescue Engine 335's four-person crew used hand lines in an attempt to control the fires".
Why does this matter?
Let's contruct a timeline of events at the Pentagon, and see if it tells us anything.
9:29 - Flight 77 is at 7000 feet, 38 miles west of the Pentagon (9/11 Commission Report, p9).
9:37 - Flight 77 traveling at 530 mph hits the Pentagon (9/11 Commission Report, p10).
9:38 - FMFD Foam Unit 161 is on fire at the Pentagon (Arlington County After-Action Report, Annex pages A-4 and A-5).
9:xx - Captain Defina arrives at Pentagon "two to three minutes" after seeing a plume of smoke.
9:xx - Captain Defina's Engine 331 "knocked down the bulk of the fire in the first seven minutes after their arrival".
9:40 - FAA grounds all flights at U.S. airports (FOX Facts, May 3, 2006).
9:41 - ACFD fire Truck 105 arrives at the Pentagon Arlington County After-Action Report, Appendix 1).
9:41 - ACFD Battalion Chief Cornwell arrives and assumes Incident Command (Arlington County After-Action Report, Appendix 1).
9:41 - Command established (9/11 Commission Report, p314).
9:48 - ACFD Assistant Chief Schwartz arrives and assumes Incident Command (Arlington County After-Action Report, Appendix 1).
9:55 - Incident commander orders evacuation of impacted areas (9/11 Commission Report, p315).
9:57 - A partial collapse occurs (9/11 Commission Report, p314).
10:15 - Incident commander orders full evacuation (9/11 Commission Report, p315).
Foam Unit 331 is not mentioned in the ACFD report. Captain Michael Defina and the Foam Units 161 and 331, and Rescue Engine 335, are not mentioned in The 9/11 Commission Report.
Was the "plume of smoke" that Captain Defina saw from the crash of Flight 77, or the bomb reported at the Pentagon at 9:32 by Barbara Honegger?
If we knew when Foam Units 161 and 331, and Rescue Engine 335, arrived at the Pentagon, it may support the bomb(s) reported by Honegger.
Most importantly, however, the picture of FMFD Foam Unit 161, which was at the Pentagon at 9:38, shows no plane, no hole, and no raging fire, AFTER the reported crash of Flight 77 at 9:37 A.M. on September 11, 2001.
PICTURE and LINKS at http://www.twf.org/News/Y2009/0101-FMFD161.html
911 Truth Ends 911 Wars