And yet, if you were a government official and laughed it off, that denial would be "proof" for the conspiracy theorists.
But Kevin, you're proving my point.? Because they don't laugh it off.? Let me give you an example.
A paranoid wacko named David Ickes accused Senator McCain of being a Reptilian space alien.? When McCain was informed, he did the only thing you can do when faced with such nonsense:? He laughed at it.? He didn't target Mr. Ickes for some government probe or try to destroy his career.? Mr Ickes still flies worldwide promoting these theories, and as far as I can tell, Mr. McCain hasn't done anything at all to try to stop it because he's not threatened by it in the least.?
But the administration doesn't laugh when accused.? Early after 9-11, Mr. Bush informed us somberly that we shouldn't even consider any sort of conspiracy theories regarding 9-11.? Why even mention it?
Then there's Senator Charles Shumer, who wants to criminalize such speculations.? He introduced a bill (HR 2580) in response to conspiracy theories regarding the Oklahoma City bombing.? His bill would seek to punish someone with five years in prison for engaging in "unseemly speculation" or publishing "baseless conspiracy theories regarding the Federal government of the United States".
Does it seem to you that these gentlemen are laughing it off like McCain did the reptilian space alient comments?
So in conclusion, let me throw a wild conspiracy theory at you ...
In 1933, the German Reichstag parliament building was burned.? Officially, no one really knows who burnt it, as I was informed at this website:?
http://www.aviewoncities.com/berlin/reichstag.htm? A brief quote from the website:
It is to date still unclear who started the fire, but the Communists were blamed. It gave a boost to Hitler's Party, the NSDAP, who would soon come to power.Now, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say ... If it looks like a skunk and smells like a skunk, it's probably a skunk.? So ... if Hitler's party benefitted from it, I'm going to say Hitler probably arranged for the Reichstag to be burned.? I know, I know.? Ridiculous.
If it looks like a skunk, and smells like a skunk ...
Has the fruit of 9-11 singed your nosehairs yet?? Patriot Act.? War on Terrorism (which Cheney says will last "our lifetime").? American citizens are arrested on American soil and held without without being charged as "enemy combatants", and denied the writ of Habeus Corpus, as guaranteed by the Constitution.? We have a war in Iraq.? A War in Afganistan.? Promis software patrols emails.? All in the name of security.?
If it looks like a skunk, and smells like a skunk ...
Caleb
PS: I have a little running signature, but I think it bears repeating here: "Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day;
but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers,
too plainly prove a deliberate and systematical plan of reducing us to slavery."