In a text-book case of everything that the MSM might appropriately use to illustrate everything that can be wrong and dangerous about bloggers and blogging, a report filed just before Christmas on the Clint Curtis/Tom Feeney/Yang Enterprises Inc. (YEI) vote-rigging software scandal was published by a blogger.
The report included demonstrably false information passed on by the blogger on behalf of both Feeney and an unnamed attorney from YEI. The report was so poorly researched, so scurrilously irresponsible and so inappropriately damaging to a single American citizen, that if all blogs articles were like this one, we’d be the first in line calling for the immediate abolition of all such Internet web logs.
Unfortunately, that reprehensible report was filed on the “Bloggerman” blog of the mainstream media’s (or MSM’s) own Keith Olbermann of MSNBC’s prime-time Countdown program.
As we reported back in late December of last year, Olbermann gave a wonderful Christmas gift to Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) and his longtime friends and clients at YEI by filing a one-sided, unconfirmed and unverified report on his blog, sourced only by Feeney himself and YEI’s unnamed attorney.
The victim was, of course, Clint Curtis, who Olbermann didn’t even bother to reach for comment before giving Feeney a national platform to say that Curtis had “slandered and defamed a lot of people.” Neither did Olbermann give any examples of who Feeney was claiming to have been slandered nor how they were defamed.
(Attempts to reach Olbermann for comment after he posted his blog item went unanswered, but his producer, who asked to remain unnamed, distanced themselves from the “reporting” by telling The BRAD BLOG that “this was Keith Olbermann’s writing. He didn’t work with me or anyone else on this.”)
There was a fair amount of other inaccuracies in his report, but it was this following chestnut, apparently not fact-checked in any way, from an unnamed YEI attorney (believed to be Tom Feeney’s old law-partner and current contributor, Michael O’Quinn) that has really ticked us off over the last two months:
…And what might have been, for actual reporters, a promising lead or break to look into in order to advance the story and perhaps add a new dimension to it, was dumped wholly unfact-checked on an eager public from Mr. Olbermann’s high-profile perch.
The BRAD BLOG has spent the last two months attempting to track down this anonymously claimed threat to “the firm and its top officers”. A threat, mind you, that was described as being “in writing” and apparently so threatening that it required a police report be filed.
Olbermann, apparently, thought it perfectly proper to pass that information on to the nation without asking the unnamed attorney if he might be allowed to review the alleged “in writing” threat, or to even contact the police to find out if, in fact, any such report had ever been filed.
Well, The BRAD BLOG did both.
After nearly two months trying to track down the unchecked Olbermann report, we’ve finally located the supposed threatening writing as well as the police report which was indeed filed. Though it was not filed at YEI’s local police precinct in Oviedo, FL. Nor by “the firm” or its “top officers”.
It was filed in Winter Springs, FL, the next town over, at the local police precinct of Mike Cohen, Curtis’ co-worker and the executive secretary, at the time, to YEI’s CEO, Mrs. Li-Waon Yang. The letter “sufficiently concern[ing] to file a police report” as Olbermann described it, seems very clearly meant as an attempt by Curtis to help his former friend and co-worker, Cohen, not to threaten him…
Cohen, for those who may not remember, was a friend of Curtis’ while at YEI and was said in his affidavit [PDF] to have been one of only four people, along with Curtis, Mrs. Yang and Feeney to have been present at the October 2000 meeting where Curtis alleges that Feeney asked the firm to create a “vote-rigging software prototype.” Feeney, at the time, was YEI’s corporate counsel, their registered lobbyist, and also, the powerful incoming Speaker of the Florida House. He was also Jeb Bush’s one-time running mate for Florida governor.
The police report was filed by Cohen on August 7, 2002 and is variously described in the report as being “(Information Only)” and “for documentation purposes only.”
It was filed a week and a half after Cohen received what he describes in the police report as “a threatening e-mail” from Curtis on Saturday, July 27, 2002.
That email was then forwarded by Cohen to Mrs. Yang on Monday, July 29, 2002 under the subject line “Fwd: a note from Clint”.
Mrs. Yang then changed the subject line and forwarded that forward about 50 minutes later on the same Monday to Cliff Steele (an attorney at the now-defunct Steele & Hanson, P.A., a law firm in Coral Gables, FL), with CC’s to Steele’s home email address, Hanson & Steele’s John Hanson, Dr. Tim Yang (her husband and YEI owner) as well as to Cohen.
Mrs. Yang’s forward included the original note from Curtis and the following text added above it [emphasis, and typos in original email]:
Cliff, I am forwarding an e-mail to you regarding the pressure that Clint Curtis conveyed to Mike Cohen. Also Mike accidentally replied to Clint instead of forwarding a message to me, which stated:
“I do not consider Clint’s threat of going to jail seriously, however I take it as a veiled threat against me and my family. Clint has told me in the past that he owns a lot of guns and that he can become violent if someone does something against him. I know he is very desperate right now and do not want to become a victim.”
I will call you later to discuss this matter.
Thanks.
LY
You’ll note that, so far, we have found no record of the email which Mrs. Yang claims was sent by Cohen — errantly to Curtis? — in which, she says, he felt that Curtis’ note was a “veiled threat against me and my family” or that “he can become violent if somone does something against him.” etc.
That email, if it exists, was not included in the police report. Only Mrs. Yang’s reference to it, in the email as you see it above, was included in the report.
Finally, Mrs. Yang’s husband, Dr. Yang, then forwarded her forward on Friday, August 2, 2002 to another address with the email name of “MauoLaw”. (UPDATE: Shortly after publication of this article, we were informed that the “MauoLaw” address — we’re leaving off the domain as a privacy courtesy — belongs to YEI attorney Michael O’Quinn who signs his documents as “Michael A. U. O’Quinn”)
And then, on the following Wednesday, August 7, 2002 — a week and a half after Curtis had sent his original note — Cohen went to the Winter Springs Police Station to file a police report “for documentation purposes only.”
Here is the text of Cohen’s full, hand-written, sworn statement to the Winter Springs Police:
At this time I do not wish to prosecute.
At the bottom of the complaint form is the question: DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THIS STATEMENT IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?
Cohen filled in “Yes” and signed the complaint.
The officer who took the complaint, Cpl H. Sims, filed the following text in his section of the report:
So what was that “threatening e-mail” as Cohen described it in his statement? The one which he received from Curtis a week and a half before he decided was so “threatening” that he needed to file a police report for “documentation purposes only” after it had been seen by and discussed with at least three different attorneys associated with YEI?
Here’s the the text of the email, in full, as included in the police report typos and all (we have removed the phone number given in the email):
The tide is turning and I am afraid that you might be swept away in it. Both Mavis [Georgalis, the other Florida Dept. of Transportion whistleblower] and I have been reinstated. Two separate Circuit Court cases, two separate judges, same decision. DOT has claimed full ownership of the importer/exporter program (like that wasn’t obvious) and Yang’s civil case is just about dead. Counter suits are ready to be filed, and other affected parties are preparing suits also. Feeney is under investigation by the States ethics commitee, the House ethics committee, and the Bar Association. Several legal authorities are starting to give his involvement a good look. By now it should be obvious to you that money won’t buy justice. Remember on the phone when Dr. Yang had you tell me that “it is not always who is right, but who has the most money”. Sometimes it is just who is right. State newspapers as well as a couple of national media are contacting me on a regular basis. There are three criminal investigations underway looking into Yang.
That brings me to your problem. People I have spoken with seem to be more interested in you and Ralph’s [ed note: Ralph Thompson was a VP at YEI] involvement than is healthy. I don’t know if you are being thrown to the wolves or if there is just a feeling that you are an easier target.
We both know that Feeney is a crook and will probably wiggle his way out of this mess without any jail time. If the poo-poo really hits the fan the Yang’s can hop back to China and still live like kings. That will leave you and Ralph to be held responsible for all this fraud and other illegal deeds. Ralph has signed his name to multiple lies against Mavis. If he spends the rest of his life in ail, justice may well be served. You on the other hand don’t want to miss you daughter growing up. If the sentences are anything like I’m being told, you could well be an old man by the time it is done. It could be even worse since they may attempt to use this as an example type of case. The offenses are both lengthy and highly publicized. At this point it is more than just justice, the public trust must be restored.
I think I can still save you from this. You need to talk it over with Joanna. She will be affected greatly by your decision. If they pursue you as I think they are considering, you life with your family may well be over. Especially if the Yang’s skip out and leave you holding the bag. Talk it over with your family. Go to a lawyer, not one that Yang has assiged you but an independent. Tell him exactly what they have done and how much you are involved. Tell him that the government has a witness that used to be an employee and is spilling his guts. Be completely honest with him. You will have attorney client privilege so nothing you say to him will be used against you.
If you decide to save yourself, DO NOTHING. Don’t quit Yang. Don’t talk to anyone until we can broker a deal with both State and Federal authorities. We will also need to broker a deal with all the affected parties to remove your civil liability.
Just give me a call so we can get the ball rolling. Time is vital. Once indictments are in place, I doubt that I will be able to help you.
Clint
Perhaps the “threat” that Cohen was concerned about in the above email was in fact so well-“veiled” that we missed it. It would seem to us that Curtis was attempting to help Cohen with this email, hardly threatening him.
It was sent not long after Curtis had won both his whistleblower suit and it’s first appeal in Circuit Court after having been fired, without being given cause, from his new job at the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) not long after he — and fellow FDOT employee, Georgalis — blew the whistle on YEI’s overbilling on their contracts with FDOT.
He also reported to the Inspector General at FDOT, about the spies he alleged were working at YEI, and the various chicanery concerning Tom Feeney.
(More on what became of that Inspector General, the whistleblower complaint filed by Curtis and Mavallis at FDOT and several other related issues next week!)
About the email, Curtis told The BRAD BLOG:
“I tried to get Mike Cohen to ‘come over to the good side’ before people started getting in trouble after I had talked to the Attorney General [of Florida] about all of this. That wasn’t much of a threat…I felt that they were looking to pin it on Mike. They said, ‘Mike knows this and that.’ And I told him ‘you might want to come clean when you can'”
Curtis explained, “They were asking alot of questions about how much does Mike Cohen know rather than what did the Yangs know…you know, this was Top Secret Clearance stuff — and I figured they might be willing to pin it on him, and I wanted to let him know…I can’t believe they would have filed a police report based on what I said, because it would be more damaging to them.”
While it is true, as Cohen mentioned to the police, that Curtis owns several firearms, given the circumstances and events he has found himself in over the last several years since blowing the whistle on YEI, Feeney and the various Chinese spies that Curtis alleges to have worked at YEI — and, indeed, at least one, Hai Lin “Henry” Nee has been confirmed and convicted of being a spy as recently as October of 2004 – one might conclude that being well-armed in Curtis’ position only makes very good sense.
On the other hand, despite Cohen’s statement to the police, no restraining order was ever filed against Curtis by Cohen, or anyone else to our knowledge.
Neither have we been able to find anyone who corroborates Cohen’s claims — seemingly first mentioned by Mrs. Yang in her forwarded email — that Curtis has a “violent past and nature” when threatened or otherwise. In fact, before we were able to track down the police report, several sources who have known Curtis for many years described the idea that he would threaten anyone as “completely out of character for Clint.”
The BRAD BLOG welcomes, however, anyone who may wish to contact us who is willing to share any information they may have about Curtis having a “violent past” or “nature”.
And as to Mike Cohen’s thoughts on all of the above?
Well, we have attempted over the past two weeks to contact him by phone so that he might give his side of the story here. We’d have been more than willing to share any information he may have had about Curtis’ alleged “violent past” or “nature”, or to allow him to tell us what ever became of the restraining order which he told the Winter Springs police he had intended to file against Curtis.
We had also hoped he’d be willing to share with us what it was in Curtis’ email that he viewed as “a veiled threat of violence against [him] & [his] family.”
And maybe he would have explained to us his opinion on why YEI, their spokesmen, attorneys and vice-president, Lowell Weaver, still claim to this day that convicted Chinese spy, Hai Lin “Henry” Nee, has never worked at the company as either employee or consultant despite public records published by The BRAD BLOG, which show quite definitively that Nee did, in fact, work there.
The fact that Nee worked at YEI is confirmed by several emails sent to Curtis by Cohen and other YEI employees. And to make matters worse, Cohen indicates in at least one of those emails that he believed Nee to be an illegal alien, which would be a strict no-no for a company with the type of Top Secret security clearances that YEI has in order to keep its contracts with NASA and others. But perhaps that’s just one of the reasons he didn’t feel like chatting with us.
By the way, Cohen no longer works at the YEI Headquarters in Oviedo as Mrs. Yang’s executive secretary. He now works for YEI, about an hour’s drive from his home at the Kennedy Space Center where YEI continues to have a multi-million dollar contract to develop software.
We held this story for over a week in an attempt to get Cohen’s side of the story on all of these matters. It seemed only fair. And after several unreturned calls and emails to him, we finally got lucky when Cohen picked up the phone at his home earlier this week. The call didn’t last long.
In short, it went almost exactly like this:
BRAD BLOG: Hi…Is this Mike Cohen?
MC: Yes.
BB: Hi, Mike. This is Brad Friedman from The BRAD BLOG. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about…
MC: Please do not call me or email me anymore. I have nothing to say to you.
BB: Well, I’m about to run a story concerning you, and I’d like to give you an opportunity to give your side of…
MC: Brad, Brad, BRAD!… I don’t want to be rude, but I’m gonna hang up now. Good night. [click]
Oh, well. We tried.
We would still be more than happy to speak to him at anytime and share his side of the story. He has our phone number and email address. That offer goes for anyone else at YEI who may wish to chat. We respect our sources and keep them confidential unless otherwise discussed.
That same offer to chat, of course, is also open to Congressman Feeney, by the way. We’ll be happy to speak with you too. Even print an unedited interview if you wish. You also know how to get in touch with us.
Several calls to YEI’s attorney O’Quinn of Fowler & O’Quinn, P.A. (formerly Fowler, Barice, Feeney & O’Quinn, P.A.) have so far gone unreturned. We will update, as always, if we are able to get any further information from him on any of the above.
We do our best to treat everyone fairly and allow them to air their point of view if they would like.
We only wish that Keith Olbermann — who, unlike most bloggers in the world, gets paid extremely well to do his job — would consider doing the same thing. It seems only fair.
…CONTACT…
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC’s Countdown
KOlbermann@MSNBC.com
Hey Brad,
You’re my hero, but so Keith. I find it disturbing that you are ignoring the fact that Keith merely reported what he knew. He specifically stated that this was a "claim" and did not report it as "fact". This is a big difference. Arguably, Keith should have (or should now) go further in his investigation. But the point is who is making the "claim", not who is reporting the "claim". Don’t shoot the messenger.
Thanks, David
General Electric is Keith’s commanding officer. Let’s be honest, he used to do sports, and although he went to a fine school, Cornell, he is just supposed to provide balance and lend an appearance of objectivity and credibilty to MSNBC. He is just barely a Second Lt. Electric. We will never get much from the corporate media, Brad. I don’t think we should take the stale crumbs they offer. Good work.
Good reporting, Brad. Granted, Keith should not have mentioned the letter at all if he hadn’t seen it personally – hearsay is not news. But he does a good job, in fits and starts, of adding SOME balance to the overly CON-larded media mix. He should have contacted Curtis, or you, before making any public statement. It was poor judgement; but I still prefer his hour to any other in the MSM day. Which is why our TV, except for Link broadcasts, has gone dark and silent since early November.
The internet is a lifeline. And you’re one of the guys hurling the truth our way!
I’d strongly suspect the possibility that Cohen refuses to talk because (a) he’s been bought and paid for and believes he will be taken care of as long as he keeps his mouth shut, or (b) he or his family have been threatened or blackmailed.
These are very bad and very dangerous people, and I suspect there are deep criminal ties that won’t come out until right before or maybe even some time after the last domino falls.
As far as Clint Curtis owning a lot of guns – I don’t blame him one bit, I think if I were in his position I’d be armed to the TEETH (and wearing kevlar underwear)! The best defense is an offense – and if someone knows or even THINKS you have a gun and are willing to use it to defend yourself, you become a more difficult target.
BTW, I checked Olberman’s site today – nothing about Clint Curtis (didn’t really expect it), and he’s covering Guckert today.
Way to go Brad, it’s refreshing to have a source we know we can trust.
Threat? What an utterly false claim.
BTW it is illegal in most states to give a false police report.
Maybe that is why the recent hush, hush, and the "information only" nature of the report.
In my opinion the report Cohen filed is false and was done for ulterior motives.
The fact that YEI is still in business-as-usual, and the Yangs not in jail, suggests that the entire judicial apparatus in this country, including Justice and FBI, is corrupted beyond what even most cynics have believed. Obviously Curtis was wrong in anticipating the fall of the axe, and Yang was right in believing she’d be safe. We had best forget about formal justice in this country. We’re not going to get it. Thanks, Brad, and watch your back.
Wow there is corruption EVERYWHERE. This was an amazing read Brad. Thanks.
As a follow up to #5, I did a quick little search of Florida law, and it is illegal to give a false police report:
837.05 False reports to law enforcement authorities.–
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), whoever knowingly gives false information to any law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of any crime, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) Whoever knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of a capital felony, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
nite all … gotta go party now …
Hi Everyone!
Yes I’m back! The Real Terminator! TWEET! LOL
I’m glad to see Brad and all still rebelling! Had a little computer malfunction that cut me off from the world. Used the down time to write over 500 pages for my books and think strategy. Otherwise, sorry I gave you all such a start and no, I wasn’t hauled off to Guantanamo Bay.
Enjoyed catching up on the site. Speaking of computers, does anyone know who provided and operated the Iraqi computers all their election ballots were fed into? Ha! Yes, it’s true…all that paper balloting was fed into computers for tallying and probably tilted just enough to prevent an anti-American Shiite theocratic state. So how many software patches and radio frequency manipulators did those computers have? Go figure!
Viva la Revolucion! 🙂
Freebird…and this bird you cannot chain/change!!
FREEBIRD!!! Welcome home my friend!
YAAAAAAAY FREEBIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s just what you is…. a ‘free’ bird. Glad you flew back in.
You put the MSM, including MSNBC’S Bloggermann, to shame, Brad. Wish Keith would stop by the BradBlog and see how it should be done. No, he’s not the worst of the bunch by far, but I sometimes think he’s more interested in dazzling us with a clever turn of phrase than he is in doing real investigative reporting. I, for one, am much more dazzled by the latter any ol’ day. (And you can cleverly turn a phrase with the best of them, too!)
The Clint Curtis story deserves better than Mr. Olbermann was willing to give. Thank you for giving it your all., Brad.
FREEBIRD!!! Hi!!! Look what Dredd taught me to do while you were away.
Hi there, Freebird!!! It’s wonderful to have you back with us. We missed you!
Huh??? What a confusing mess…..
Torqued, Teresa, Cheryl…thanks friends. I hope you are all well! That is very coooool Cheryl 🙂 I’ll be keeping in touch…chat soon! Freebird
Thanks Peg C…you came in late…lol…glad to be back!!! 🙂
Freebird
I’m comin in later…..glad you’re back,
missed your eloquence.
Re #9
Don’t know the mechanics of the Iraqi vote count, but definetily noticed the delay announcing the final count and the charges of fraud, and the coincidental ;>) Shiite majority shortfall.
Welcome back freebird. The more the merrier. I’ve mentioned it before on comments in the wampun site. Being a journalist in this day and age means compromising your pursuit for truth and justice for a secure job. (Fear and favor in the Newsroom) at fearandfavor.com
Emma #15 –
Freebird, a beloved member of this bloggang, went suddenly and inexplicably "missing" for some time. We have been concerned. Forgive our wild and joyous crosstalk (sometimes issued with the warning XTXTXTXT). It’s just a little friendship showing through.
DKazz – Journalism 101, check your sources. Particular when they are making easily verifiable claims, like "Curtis threatened the company in WRITING and filed a POLICE REPORT". Very easy to ask your source to show you that info.
Secondly, if you interview a U.S. Congressman who says a U.S. citizen has "slandered and defamed a lot of people", it’s quite easy to ask who has he slandered and how.
Then it’s easy to contact that citizen, and get a comment from them. It’s only fair, and it’s proper journalism. As I say, journalism 101.
Do you think for a second that some blogger (particularly a lefty blogger) wouldn’t have gotten his ass put into a sling had he done something like that? Or even a journalist who the Right *perceived* as being a lefty if they had allowed, say, John Conyers to that charge of some private U.S. citizen without allowing that citizen to respond in some way to the charge???
Though we appreciate much of what KO has done in reporting on the bad guys, he still needs to do due dilligence. Especially when dealing with a story of this magnitude.
Period.
Not sure if any one else has noticed this, but YEI’s website no longer has the statement denying Curtis’ allegations. I checked it not even a week or so ago and it was still on there. I wonder if they’re starting to get worried? Sure seems like it especially given your conversation with Cohen…
F R E E B I R D (see what Cheryl taught me to do)
Amazing work (as usual), Brad!!!
Around the same time that K.O. was debunking the Curtis story, he was also sloppily reporting details about the whitewash in Ohio with regards to the possible vote-rigging in Hocking county. On a follow-up post, he had to embarrassigly qualify his assessment by mentioning that the chief prosecutor looking into this case was also the legal representative of the Hocking County Board of Elections during the recount.
Details about K.O.’s sloppy reporting for this story can be found here:
Newsclip Autopsy
BIG HALF-TRUTH: No Evidence of Election Tampering from Computer Repair
Amazing work (as usual), Brad!!!
Around the same time that K.O. was debunking the Curtis story, he was also sloppily reporting details about the whitewash in Ohio with regards to the possible vote-rigging in Hocking county. On a follow-up post, he had to embarrassigly qualify his assessment by mentioning that the chief prosecutor looking into this case was also the legal representative of the Hocking County Board of Elections during the recount.
Details about K.O.’s sloppy reporting for this story can be found here:
Newsclip Autopsy
BIG HALF-TRUTH: No Evidence of Election Tampering from Computer Repair
Excellent work, Brad! Wish we could move this faster – give it some wings.
Removing Feeney from politics by exposing him as the fraudulent whacko that he is would be a Godsend, even for those of us not living in FL.
If information sufficiently strong enough to remove Feeney was found, I think it would open the door to bringing down the whole election fraud criminal cabal, whoever is involved. What is the threshold that needs to be met in order to get real investigations going?
I never thought much of Olbermann during his fraud reporting time because I felt like he was only looking after his own bottom line, and used that time as an opportunity to boost his ratings which is what the RWCM is all about afterall. When it came time for him to really make a stand and hold Feeney accountable, he showed where his true allegience lay.
Brad’s efforts to hold Olbemann’s feet to the fire are what is needed a thousand fold. Brad is continually pointing out to them how far they’ve fallen from real journalism. The only thing the are good at is regurgitating the right wing propaganda.
If you want the straight story, stick with Brad.
True, Olberman totally missed the Curtis/Feeney story, but he did better on the Jeff/Jim Gannon/Guckert story. Link here … and hey Olbermann, never to late to revisit the Curtis case and get it right in an update … giving credit to Brad Blog …
Hi again Brad,
I agree wholeheartedly with your points and that journalists (including Keith) have a robust responsibility — a responsibility that hasn’t been fulfilled in recent times. And fundamentally, that is was has fed the new popularity and importance of blogs.
By default, it seems the blogworld has now taken on the role of "building on" stories and vetting them. This great and is an incredible service to the country as the MSM has really lost its way. So we can accurately rail on those journalists that don’t complete their job. But we do have recourse: people like Brad, John, Markos, etc. are doing a great job pulling this all together.
However, I just think that the biggest and scariest issue we face is when the MSM doesn’t pick up a story whatsoever. This is even more insidious than not following the tenants of "Journalism 101", this shows a striking lack of respect for the content of their class in "Free and Impartial Press 101". That’s an even bigger issue in my mind. So I question the lack of other journalists swarming over the story.
Brad, you’re doing a fantastic job keeping everyone honest.
Thanks, David
As Brad always says, "be the media, someone has to.
Thanks for the update and all the hard work you’ve put into this story. I hope this can finally start to break in other media.
Who knows, with this Gannon/Guckert scandal brewing this very well may get the ball rolling.
The Gannon/Guckert story will move forward because Sen. Lautenberg and Reps. Slaughter and Conyers have taken specific action in the direction of full disclosure.
But where does the Curtis/Feeney matter stand on Capitol Hill? Clint Curtis’ affidavit was in Conyers’ hands at one point; is there an investigation now underway? Is the F.B.I. actively pursuing this?
Brad is doing a terrific job on the story. But I think it’s time to move the action beyond the blogosphere. Either this is a component part of the greatest scandal in American history, or it isn’t.
Feeney isn’t talking, and Cohen hangs up the phone. But Curtis has sworn an affidavit indicating criminal conduct on the part of a Congressman. Am I missing something here? Has this matter possibly gone as far as it’s going to go?
DKazz re Comment #1:
Can you please explain how Olbermann’s transgression is any different than that of Rather, Mapes, et al, or of Eason Jordan or any other journalist America has allowed the right-wing conspiracy to crucify?
Rather and staff were merely reporting claims brought to them by another (Burkett, was it?). By the standard you cite for Olbermann, Rather’s staff didn’t misrepresent anything either.
Neither journalist checked it out thoroughly enough — although several million dollars of investigation was unable to disprove the Rather memo, either — and for that many heads rolled.
Why should Olbermann be different?
I’m not sanctioning such brutal career attacks, mind you. All I’m saying is that people on left and right are certainly applying double standards to suit their biased, subjective opinions of a reporting source.
Back in the day, when I began my career in journalism and later taught it, it was Brad who would get the "A-" in my reporting class (bad lead, fantastic reporting and interviewing skills); Rather et al and Olbermann, a "C" (good writing, OK sourcing, barely adequate development and failure to follow through); and the Talon, Sinclair and (yipes!) Fox reporters, unqualified "F"s in every journalistic value. I say this based solely on qualitative and quantitative standards of journalism and NOT on any ideology or content of what they are reporting.
(Too bad MSM decided to take down its own in Jordan rather than to re-report the ugly truth that Jordan’s comments, off public record even, was previously reported and substantiated by privileged-source officers on the ground at the time. Deliberate U.S. targets HAVE killed journalists, journalists who happen to be brown and Muslim. How quickly even the left is led down the road of assessing information differently for casualty journalists long forgotten because they aren’t white male Christians.)
ATTENTION BRAD:
Greg Kordick is the Senior Producer for Keith Olbermann
Check out
Of Coffins, comp days, conspiracies and Christmas (Greg Kordick, Countdown Senior Producer)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6667405/#041223a
And one of my friends wrote to him about his MORE that stupid entry above, when Olbermann was out at a secret, undisclosed location and all the awfulness in Ohio was going on.
So Greg Kordick does the above stupid post, my friend writes to him about not continuing the report on Bloggerman on Ohio and Greg sends her a letter, from Olbermann’s email address and tells her to "lighten up" in those exact two words.
I wonder sometimes if Kordick writes for Olbermann. he definitely has no interest in real news or reporting on "real" news that might hurt his precious president’s administration.
Oh and if anyone wishes to get in touch with the ass senior producer Greg Kordik his email is
GKordick@msnbc.com
For Sale:
blameitonbush.com
gannonguckert.com
Email me at newsom101@yahoo.com
Brad, good report on Mr. Cohen and YEI. Keep up the great work.
Say, I have a theory on the press…
Everyone knows that in eight short months’ Internet readership of Blogs has increased by tens of millions and continues to increase. Americans are leaving newspapers in droves seeking "Freedom of the Press" and unbiased truth. They have found it on the Internet and do not need local newspapers with a Neocon Republican slant or one supporting Fascism for anything other then Wednesday or Sunday ads.
It appears the mainline press and its editors have forgot who really pays the bills, salaries, raises and who supplies the needed demographic strength to sell ads. Lose your readership base and you have nothing, absolutely nothing to sell advertisers. Eventually, you lose your newspaper.
I’ve theorized that most mainline newspapers are either scared of the White House, the Neoconservative Republicans, have grown lazy or grossly incompetent in the selection of news services and news stories.
Proof …… the mainline newspapers didn’t cover or care that Neoconservative Republicans stole an election or tampered with election programs and vote machines in Florida, New Mexico and Ohio. They diidn’t even cover Clint Curtis or Gannon stories.
However, 51% of this country did care about those stories and reads them daily on the Internet. Tens of thousands of individuals canceling newspapers and leaving the TV turned off …. now "switching to Internet Blogs"!!!
Yet the mindless mainline newspapers editors continue to support baseless Republican propaganda, help create the Iraq and Iran wars, destroy a balanced budget, provide tax breaks for the super rich and help support the destruction of Social Security. The White House requests the mainline newspapers to withhold news or war news/photographs and they respond in a New York minute.
It appears the mainline newspapers and their editors have forgot who really pays the bills, salaries, raises and who supplies the needed demographic strength to sell ads. If they continue to lose their readership base the newspapers have nothing, absolutely nothing to sell advertisers. Eventually, the newspaper is closed or sold.
Mainline newspapers are more then willing to help our Neoconservative Republican leadership destroy Democracy and create Fascism. Both their America and your America are the same country… I think?? Please correct if I’m wrong. So, it’s their civil liberties, their retirements, their economy, their "Democracy", their children’s future, their jobs and their newspaper readership base at stake in this lopsided bet there making ….. and all are in a constant state of decline.
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" … the mainline press is selling out "their" America and "their" Democracy.
It all reads, to me, like Cohen came to a crossroads, and made a guess that choosing YEI over Clint-the-whistleblower would put him on the safer side of the issue (and his choice could have been aided along by bribery. We’re not liable to find that out).
To call that e-mail a bodily threat is pathetically absurd. Cohen was just engaging in a little Yang/Feeney butt-kissing by deliberately misinterpreting that letter.
The worst thing that letter is attempting is to cajole Cohen, to prompt him to doubt the side he chose to take, enough to join Clint in blowing the whistle on this bunch of criminals.
It’s possible Clint was overstating the danger that Cohen was putting himself into (by choosing to keep mum on what he’d witnessed) to get him also to tell the truth. Strength in numbers, after all!
Maybe Curtis didn’t think it was overstating at all. Whichever, Feeney and YEI have done a good job of dodging this bullet. And Cohen intends to remain silent, it would appear.
Olbermann’s slanted-towards-Feeney report on the issue (the last Olbermann Blog entry I ever read – I wrote him off after that) caused me to write to Olbermann and express my disappointment in his sudden "backpedal" on an issue where he had appeared to be the only mainstream media personality willing to confront the voter fraud issue.
Something tangible appeared (Clint Curtis) and he acted like it would be grabbing a hot coal, and backed off. Disappointing.
NOW THAT is f*cking journalism!!!!!!
Didn’t Keith Olberman do exactly what Dan Rather did: bring a story to press, without fact-checking it??? I guess when that happens with a pro-GOP story, it’s not investigated!!! It’s "OK", in that case…
MSM doesn’t get anymore chances from me, anyway. Keith Olberman stinks! He was "out-journaled" by a blogger, as the MSM always is. Keith, you need to go back to journalism school, or at least back to ESPN, where you belong. Let’s not forget, Keith Olberman was a "sports journalist". What makes us think he’s a "real journalist"??? Nothing happened between ESPN & MSNBC to make us think otherwise…Good work, Brad, YOU CRANK, BABY!!!
I was reading some commente above, on how we should be "thankful" at least that Keith Olberman reported on it. That’s not good enough! He reported a one-sided story not fact-checked. Sorry, just reporting on it isn’t good enough. And it’s especially not good enough to get back the internet news fans, in light of the example you just saw, on how BRAD BLOG took Keith Olberman to journalism school on this story, and most importantly, continues to do so. So, is this story dead, as far as Keith Olberman is concerned??? BRAD BLOG doesn’t think it is, and neither do I…Voter fraud on computerized voting machines is the biggest story of our time, because we are approaching totalitarianism, if our votes don’t count. Statistics prove it’s obvious that votes were maniputlated. The key statistic of all, is that all the "irregularities" on computerized voting machines and computerized optical scanners went in favor of one party. "Irregularities" should be evenly split, like randomly flipping a coin. "Irregularities" showing a pattern aren’t "irregularities" at all!!! That’s what renouned college professors of statistics around the country are saying, and it’s falling on deaf ears. Irregularities patterning in one direction are not irregularities at all. It’s proven statistically. Then we have Clint Curtis come forward as an "insider" on this whole thing, the biggest story of our time, and the MSM ignores it!
Keith Olbermann took off January 6th after covering the voter fraud story all that time and as far as I saw NEVER followed up or said what happened that day in the House and Senate. He just dropped the story.
Some journalist, good follow up Keith . .NOT!
DKazz followed up with:
"However, I just think that the biggest and scariest issue we face is when the MSM doesn’t pick up a story whatsoever."
Yes, when they don’t pick it up that’s terrible. When they do pick it up, but botch it and set it back, as KO did, I can hardly accept the argument that that is any better. It may, in fact, be worse!
To MG – I’ll take that "A-"! Thanks! 🙂 Considering we never took a journalism class in college (or even a sports journalism class!) we couldn’t be prouder!
As to burying the lead…Guilty as charged! Though in some cases, as with this particular story, it was no accident.
The MSM could pick up the story, manipulate it, and kill it. Better that it waits until the case is built. If all the facts are gathered ready to go to the legal system, then the big story hitting will make it complete. You don’t want to blow the wad. Patience will pay off. And by that time the media lockdown might be ready to blow.
I can’t say any more. It’s all been said and said and said before. The truth needs to come out about a lot of things, ESPECIALLY the voting fraud and the hood that is being quietly lowered over the public’s eyes in this country. Talk about sensory deprivation! It IS torture, especially for those who had valued their gift of sight before the hooding.
Keep at this, Brad and everyone. We CANNOT go down without a real fight to the death.
I will not defend Keith Olbermann. I’m as disgruntled as anyone that he wimped out on this story (those were my exact words when I wrote to him). The way I look at it, if you "swing and hit the ball", you’ve got to "run the bases".
……But "walk a mile in his shoes". You have to consider the pressure he probably was under to lay off this story. He’s under contract, and was very possibly under heavy threat to shut up about it. The appearance of Clint Curtis and Bev Harris (he screwed that all up, too) made to too real, so he back-pedaled!
He was dabbling in exposing some pretty ugly, treacherous people. I doubt he "turned" on this story without some serious threat to, at least, his livelihood. Safer not to get too close. Sort of like Cohen, he certainly chose the safer, more lucrative path.
That’s great! I have been so disillusioned with MSM I cancelled by subscription with the Orlando Sentinel Pravda after 24 years. Coupons just weren’t worth it!! When they truly start reporting news instead of Republican propaganda and Michael Jackson’s flu, I will renew my subscription. Others may want to follow suit. Can you imagine what would happen nationwide if thousands cancelled their subscription!!
In the meantime Mugzi, how about sending some of that subscription money Brad’s way? He’s truly earned it!!
Brad, I began e-mailing Keith when he started talking about the voting irregularities when NO ONE in MSM was touching it. I said some flattering things so we had an e-mail exchange a couple of times. When I suggested he might interview Clint Curtin his return e-mail was quite sarcastic, calling into question the reliability of this person and why he waited until the election to pursue it, etc. I finally e-mailed him that yes, he was probably right. All my investigators were on vacation so I had contacted Karl Rove who said the story had no validity….all done with tongue in cheek of course. Needless to say our correspondence ceased. I think the chickens are coming home to roost on the MSM—being ridiculed from many directions now. Elisabeth Ham, Tulsa, OK
Elisabeth Ham, Re: your correspondence with Olbermann. It’s interesting that he would state that Curtis has no credibility (Olbermann’s a fine one to talk). Where could he have possibly learned that Curtis has no credibility? It damn sure wouldn’t have been from his own investigation, because he did none!!!
And if he’d researched Clint Curtis at all, he would see that Clint didn’t just suddenly appear, that he’s been trying to get an "ear" for his "voice" ever since this thing with Feeney happened.
Olbermann’s a wimp. He bailed on this issue when it got too hot. This is just another person who’s afraid the NeoCon machine will plow him under if he pursues the truth. There is one thing to be said in his defense: He’s probably right.
Olbermann never responded to my e-mail, calling him a coward and a wimp for buying Tom Feeney’s story outright, and not even lending an ear to Clint, or researching his story. A ‘credible’ journalist doesn’t interview the accusee, and ignore the accuser. NEVER! That’s like a trial with no defense lawyer.
Good God! He called Karl Rove for the truth about Clint Curtis? That’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. Karl Rove tops the list on people NOT to call for the truth on ANYTHING!
T’would be like calling Adolf Hitler for the truth on The Holocaust.
Big Dan. Good point in #40!!!
I guess Keith Olberman isn’t going to have a show on how Brad did further investigation on this. Nothing? Not even a snicker? I was being funny, sorry…
MSM: RIP! Up until Black Tuesday I read the NYT, the Boston Globe, and the IHT regularly. Since then I’ve just checked in on them periodically to see if by some miracle they’ve awakened from their trance. No such luck. Thank the hypothetical omniscient, omnipotent, etc. one, whatever, for the Bradosphere! If I weren’t hemorrhaging away my life savings here in Absurdistan I’d pitch in a few bucks, but as it is I can only throw in my encouragement. We’re behind you all the way, Brad! The bad guys have pit bulls on their side – I’m just glad we have such a fine one on ours!
Once again Olbermann is being hailed far and wide for "daring" to report the Gannon story.
Olbermann "dared" to to report on the sElection fraud, then stabbed Bev Harris in the back.
He "dared" to report the Feeney story, then stabbed Clinton Curtis in the back.
Now he’s reporting on Gannon, and before it’s all over he will stab us in the back again.
Olbermans "daddy" is NBC/GE. Don’t ever forget that! He’s the worst kind of shill and about as qualified to be a journalist as Gannon himself.
Yeah, Terri. Olbermann’s m.o. is to "dare", then "bail" if the story gets too real, and he gets too close to exposing neocons. Keith is, essentially, a waste of space. Just another compromised gasbag.
Remember Roone Arledge’s plane crash which killed one of his sons. Very convenient timing when Keith was the only one breaking the media lockdown.
If you want to know how ugly these people can be read about the Franklin Coverup and the child sex slave ring and snuff films at the Bohemian Grove and the fact that one of the witnesses small plane exploded in mid-air and 15 to 30 people died mysteriously including the children who were to testify who either died, disappeared or were jailed for perjury. One girl still in prison got 15 years after she was approached by law enforcement to tell her story.
http://www.the7thfire.com/Polit...ohn_decamp.htm
http://www.skolnicksreport.com "The Chandra Levy Affair".]
"Hell Ranch" by Clifford Linedecker
Programmed to Kill
This book will explain a thing or two about why the world seems a very dark place at the moment. If you require further convincing of the pure heart of darkness, or if you thought you understood real politics this book is for you.
It is also a book for those who want the truth, and can take it. Who are willing to expose themselves to the real evils of this world, and hopefully be better equipped to deal with them?
But I digress, on the authours website http://www.davesweb.cnchost.com/nwsltr65.html
you can find some more information on the book.
People should visit Rep. Conyer’s site regularly, he has the letter to FBI, Dept. of Justice where they don’t reply to him – Rep. Conyer has a link to his new blog with news and petitions on things like voter fraud and solicits opinions. He is a very brave man and was one of the Watergate Lawyers in Congress who saved us from Nixon and may save us from this if people remember the ones who have really stood up and keep visiting their sites and signing their petitions and sending supportive emails.
Senators were actively soliciting emails and letters from people not in their state not to vote for Gonzales and the change from one Senator – Boxer – standing up to refuse to ratify the stolen election to the 30 who voted against Gonzales shows that support from the American people gives them more power when they go up against this evil regime.
Don’t forget the Green Party Recount site which is defending it’s lawyers from the corrupt Ohio AG Jim Petro who is suing them personally so they could lose their homes but at the same time they have been able to enter evidence in their countersuit which may be why Kerry and Edwards are back in Ohio.
Rep. Conyers wrote 2 letters reprinted on the Greens site defending the lawyers to Petro.
Boxer also communicates petitions and information at: JOIN THE REAL BOXER REBELLION AT:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BoxerRebellion/
We need everyone to hit all their personal favorite websites and blogs to recruit fellow Boxer supporters to this group and the group blog. Talk about all the good work Sen Boxer is doing right now, and leave the links to both the group and the blog.
Sen. Boxer is carrying the majority of the burden of putting up resistance to Dubya and the neo-con. Point that fact out, and rally support for Sen. Boxer.
The neocons have been trying to have her recalled like the voter fraud in getting rid of Davis and installing Arnold. The brave Californian AG investigated Diebold and gave a very good speech about the vital need to have honest elections but was only able to fine Diebold.
Be sure to write to those who follow their conscience because it takes unimaginable courage to do it with the bush family – See Here In Reality.com for some of their crimes.
They are truly as Maureen Dowd of the NYT, only one I still read, the WASP’s answer to the Corleone family. And there were white reporters targeted, InforWars.com and the Propaganda Matrix had a New Zealand photojournalist shot in the midst of other journalists with cameras and the soldier said after circle the block threateningly and then taking aim at this particular journalist that he did not know they were journalists.