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On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation

Location: Blogs Bob O'Brien's Sanity Check Blog    
Posted by:   bobo 3/3/2006 11:11 AM

 

Yesterday, amidst all the other activity, accusations were leveled at TheSanityCheck.com that we are racists, or bigots, or religious hate-mongers.

Specifically, that we are anti-Semites.

This is not a new tact for our adversaries – they went down that fruitless road with Dr. Byrne a while ago, on Jeff Mathews’ blog, where it was shot down pretty quickly. Of note was that Jeff censored the dozens and dozens of posts condemning his attempts to paint Byrne with that brush. Because the agenda wouldn’t tolerate dissention.

The event that caused the tempest in a teacup yesterday was the email to ‘lil GW by a person unaffiliated with TheSanityCheck, who apparently emailed him some remarks which were anti-“Zionist” – actually an incorrect use of the term for what the emailer was trying to convey, but the point was clear. This person felt that there was a religious/quai-racial element to the manipulation attempts, and foolishly articulated that sentiment in an email.

Which we condemn.

Just as we disagree with it.

Folks, stock manipulation and criminality are not racial, religious, or nationalistic issues. No one group or faction has a patent on thievery. Whether the Israeli mafia, or Italian mob, or Russian Mafyia, or Columbian mob, or Mexican mafia cuts your throat, it is all about cutting your throat, and not about their race or religion or national affiliation. The victim doesn’t particularly care whether there is a cross, or a Star of David, or a pentagram around the neck of the killer.

It’s about the crime.

A quick and easy way to demonstrate the absurdity of the idea of one racial or religious or nationalistic group having a lock on larceny is to look at Anthony Elgindy. Case closed.

Thieves are equal opportunity – they will steal from anyone, regardless of affiliation, or demographic, or ideology. Because they are thieves. Crooks. And that’s what crooks do.

As to the unfortunate exchange with ‘lil GW, that those comments were made by the person in question is despicable.

That they are being twisted to attack an entire movement, over someone that is not even a part of this site (he has never contributed any content, has no input, does not write blogs, is not an advisor or financial supporter) is equally despicable, if not more so.

Then again, if you Google TheSanityCheck you will find that the first paid link is one featuring the same person who is propagating this ad hominem attack on this site – ‘lil GW.

Think about that.

Someone is willing to pay to defame and attack the site. A lot, apparently, to land that in number 1 position. That same group went onto Alexa and wrote a negative rating. They hijacked Wikepedia for a while.

This site is such a menace to their agenda, that they are willing to cough up hard dollars to libel it. That’s a lot of effort over a Bunny armed with words and an old version of MS Paint.

So is it any wonder that they would stoop to taking the comments of one person, unaffiliated with the site, and attempt to make us all out as racists, or bigots, or whatnot?

Hardly.

Expected, actually. Predicted, even. Go see the Funny Bunny blog “Easter Bunny Confessions” for a prescient prediction of exactly this tact.

Folks, it’s pretty simple. Any time you have a group with many thousands of supporters, there are going to be some that express views you find loathsome. Can’t be helped. It happens, and when it does, we try to be proactive in addressing it – as I did yesterday in my blog comments.

This is a feeble slam at the site, and it attempts to demonize us, and denigrate our efforts. For two reasons: First, we are making progress, and that harms the financial interests of the criminals engaging in the manipulative practices. Second, our adversaries can’t rebut or argue factually – they lose every time, thus seek to sidetrack the discussion into something they can argue. Instead of arguing the issues and the facts, they go off on tangents, hoping to convince readers that we are a bunch of loons, or crazies, or hate mongers – anything but address the meat of it. I don’t blame them. I’d do the same thing, if I had billions hanging in the balance. Make it about Jews, or Muslims, or Christians, or just about anything but market manipulation and illegal actions by powerful Wall Street cartels.

I’ve found that those that usually employ those tactics are as despicable, or worse, than those they attempt to deprecate.

So gain, for the record, we are not anti-Semites, or anti- Muslims, or anti-Christians, or Anti-Buddhists, or anti-Zoroastrians, or anti-Mormons, or anti-Hindus, or anti-Wikkens. We aren’t anti-white, or anti-black, or anti-yellow, or anti-brown, or anti-mocha. We aren’t anti-America, or anti-Israel, or anti-Argentina, or anti-Austria, or anti-Australia, or anti-Russia, or anti-Italy, or any other country.

We are anti-stock manipulation.

Simple.

Deal with it.

This site has a number of valuable contributors and webmasters, of varying ethnicities. Some are Jewish, some are Christian, some are of unknown affiliation. All share the same vision and mission – work to expose, and end, stock manipulation and naked short selling. It is a unifying vision, not a divisive one. Bias and ugliness are not welcome here, nor is intolerance of any sort.

Clear?

On another note, I’ve noticed a larger number of posts that seek to sidetrack or hijack threads, creating an environment of clogging and unpleasantness. I despise censorship of speech as much as I despise racism and bigotry and religious intolerance, but I also don’t want a blog that has hundreds of nuisance posts per thousand. So here is the new ground rule: Anyone that is warned that they are over the line and continues down that path, or that posts obvious Doggerel, once, will be relegated to Doggerel for a month. No exceptions. There, you can spray venom or go off-topic to your heart’s content. Knock yourself out. Or go to ‘lil GW’s blog, where any sentiment that is anti-TheSanityCheck is celebrated and given a position of prominence.

But don’t do it here.

This movement is getting radically larger and more influential. The number of hits on the site set a new record this week, and traffic is likely to continue to grow. We can fully expect more attacks, and should consider them a tribute to the impact we are having in exposing the seamy side of Wall Street.

But we should also be vigilant for demagoguery and intolerance in our ranks.

Except for me, of course. I can be a demagogue. It’s my site. What’s the point of having it if I can’t be a demagogue?

But nobody else, ‘hmmm ‘kay?

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Copyright ©2006 Bob O'Brien
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Comments (32)
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By troydian on 3/3/2006 11:27 AM
EB, this attack by obvious miscreants,when observerd by folks that can think for themselves, only strengthens the case and resolve..peace
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By zipperhead on 3/3/2006 11:44 AM
well said.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By InTheKnow on 3/3/2006 4:13 PM
If look at the list of the participants at the NASAA Forum, who are supporting our cause, you will see that they are a culturally diverse group of varying religions that all believe in the same goal!

SETTLE THE TRADES OR SETTLE IN JAIL!
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By S. Clause on 3/3/2006 7:33 PM
I give this issue 2 days before the talking heads start tossing it at the veiwers.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By Andreas on 3/3/2006 11:18 PM
re bburrell's diatribe.....
Right on man! I am with you all the way; I'll be the one next to you in the shooting squad, pity I am such a poor shot, always end up low...
Seriously, The tone is the right one: outrage, if we can get a couple of million people to share in our outrage the tables will be turned.
IK
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By Mark on 3/3/2006 11:12 PM
Bobo- get Rashomon in doggerel, he seems to be charged on the yahoo board with stirring anti semitism, it is obvious that is their last ditch attempt. Nothing he says is worthy of routine viewing.

Amazing how low these scumbags will tey to sink, eh?
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By Guardian Angel on 3/4/2006 1:58 AM
Bud
Great comment! Thanks. One correction. Sliwa is not dead......yet.

Sliwa Recounts 1992 Shooting in Testimony
Radio Host Curtis Sliwa Relives 1992 Shooting in Testimony at 'Junior' Gotti Trial

Radio talk show personality and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa enters Manhattan federal court, Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in New York. Sliwa is scheduled to testify Monday regarding the attempt on his life in the retrial of John Gotti Jr. who faces racketeering and other charges.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK Feb 27, 2006 (AP)— A radio talk show host recounted Monday how he squirmed out of a moving taxi during a bloody kidnapping that prosecutors blame on John A. "Junior" Gotti, son of the late mob boss.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=1669004
(full article)
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By stormchaser on 3/4/2006 4:22 AM
Isn't it totally amazing just how crooked our Government really is....billions and billions of dollars ripped off from the American people by the very regulatory organizations ( SEC DTC ) that have been sworn to protect us...ever wonder why the head of a large brokerage firm would step down to assume the directorship of the SEC....theres alot more money to be made protecting the cash cow....ITS THE GOOD OLD AMERICAN WAY.....................
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By snoozern on 3/4/2006 7:52 PM
Nice try, Bob.

It is hard to defuse when they play the race card in any suit. Most of us didn't need the statement but I guess it had to be made for the record.

If I'm anti-anything, it is anti-fanatic.

As for demagoguery, I have always found it unpalatable. Since I tend to find your stuff palatable, I'm afraid you don't qualify.

This has been the most amazing couple of months. I can't wait to see the next rabbit you'll pull out of the hat.

Thanks and best regards,
Rick
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By Joanie on 3/3/2006 11:45 AM
This sort of thing only happens when you matter.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By rashomon on 3/3/2006 11:47 AM
so are you anti-Zionist or not? Dont see that on the disclaimer. Pls address.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By smuopr8r on 3/3/2006 11:52 AM
The very sad thing about this tactic is that there are actualy people who give it any credence what-so-ever. I sincerely pity them. They have absolutely no way to understand that from which their ignorance blinds them. Those that attempt to use this tactic to promote their agenda should seek guidance, for they are as warped as the drug dealer waiting behind the fence by the local high-school.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By clearthinker on 3/3/2006 11:59 AM
settle the trades, stop manipulation....it's that simple
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By hwh on 3/3/2006 12:04 PM
It appears criminal that someone would try to hide their crime behind someone else's sufferings...hwh
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By bobo on 3/3/2006 12:22 PM
Rash: Stupid, insulting question. Final warning on being relegated to Doggerel.

Which part of I am not anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, anti-any-other group did you find the most oblique or unclear?

For the record, I am not anti-Zionist, either, although not anti-Israel covers that. Nor am I pro-Israel or pro-Zionist. I don't much care, frankly, either way - doesn't come up, and isn't on my radar - as in not an issue.

And that is the last of this sort of instulting tone I will accept from you. Clear? Crystal?
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By semitus rex on 3/3/2006 12:12 PM
but how do you feel about the hyksos? I'll bet you think 'good riddance'.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By x. trapnell on 3/3/2006 12:16 PM
Speaking as a member of an "oppressed minority", I say right on, EB! We're all equal here in our efforts to gain a fair and transparent market.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By bburrell on 3/3/2006 12:24 PM
I happen to be virulently opposed to criminals of any ilk, and screw their religion or race. I feel moderate Muslims should be held responsible for policing their own Extremist Muslims. I have a comparable feeling about journalists of any ilk who don't police their own.

Profiling helps identify terrorists and criminals. Why do people think that the FBI has such a huge unit dedicated to that? Let's profile the hedge fund and stock manipulator criminals both foreign and domestic. If it helps authorities to find and shut these scum down, I could care less what their ethnicity or religion is, they are still counterfeiters committing treason in time of war. I don't care what their race or religion is, off with all their heads.

The criminality here hasn't been specific to one group over another, maybe other than the noted disproportionate number of Drexel alumni involved. The Badians are Austrians, of indeterminate faith. Rabbi Sholam Weiss, the Orthodox answer in the last half of the twentieth Century to Meyer Lansky, is of a faith he dishonors, and was busted by a very Jewish head of his Audit Committee, a close friend of mine of impeccable integrity. The criminality here is not religiously based, it is sociopathic based.

I could care less about these PC issues, they are a diversion from the facts, and they are an attempt to mis-direct the focus of interested parties away from the real issues here, which are really quite simple, involving basic 5th Amendment property rights, and wholesale criminal misconduct.

There is plenty of prejudice here to go around. What does anyone think the personal attacks on the players are about? Are the attackers, like the 9/11 hijackers, at all concerned with PC (political correctness) BS? I'll bet anyone their life on this one. They could care less. As much as I respect the intention of this post, does anyone think this makes any real difference to the Gary Weiss' of this world. It is like all US politics, it is an opportunity to take the eye of the public OFF the BALL.

No Country profiles more aggressively than Israel. They have to, and they make it work. The last EL AL flight hijacked was in 1969. Maybe we could learn something from that. God Bless Them.

In fact, no doubt about it, we should demographically profile all the criminals, and let the chips fall where they may. I have a very close friend of many years who was one of the youngest OSS/CIC officers of WWII, who happens to be Jewish. If it were left to him, he would be tapping phones, intercepting mail, and worse, particularly if it involved the National Security, which this most certainly does. If these bastards cause a financial system meltdown, they should be tried for conspiracy and treason, and pay the proper price for it. They want to roll these dice, they should be ready to pay up. People have been whacked for less. Ask the widow of Curtis Sliwa, or the widows of the CEO of Saf-T-Lok, and the CEO of Nuclear Solutions, both major Elgindy shorts, the Sliwa and Saf-T-Lok cases both involving Sholam Weiss according to credible sources.

This is a non-topic, and nothing more needs to be said about it. Bobo has properly touched every base here, and he actually may be going overboard. Like I said, let the dice fall where the fall. I will personally volunteer for the firing squads, which I can hope will be revived for these vermin.

To the Scum out there,

With Warmest Personal Regards, I remain, As Always, Your Friend, Sincerely.

Have a preppy tell you what that means. It can be reduced to two words with seven letters in total.



Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By robelita on 3/3/2006 12:26 PM
bobo,

It's apparent diaper-Rash needs powdering-I suggest bituminous coal dust-then exile to Doggerel. As you say-it's your site-don't let the miscreants hi-jack it.

HASENPFEFFER anyone?
Re: On Market Manipulation By rvac106 on 3/3/2006 12:42 PM
Bob,

Could you please refresh our collective memory as to the status of the Byrne Family's attempt to buy shares of their own company. Did the trades ever settle? Were the certificates ever produced? In all the hubbub, this simple arrow at the heart of the matter seems to have been put aside. A recap should put us right about back on target, eh?

RVAC
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By andruw jones on 3/3/2006 12:43 PM
I feel moderate Muslims should be held responsible for policing their own Extremist Muslims.

Bud,

This is about the dumbest thing I've read all day.
GOOGLE IS A POWERFUL PROPAGANDA TOOL By anon on 3/3/2006 12:49 PM
I Ghewgled "TheSanityCheck" (that's a Cramer tone of type) and saw a paid link on the right side of the screen leading to some other blogger guy, trying to sell a book, looking all Johnny Cash and ish.

He says the Sanity Check website is " run anonymously by a buddy of Overstock's CEO who carefully conceals his identity. Its principal purpose is to intimidate journalists, particularly critics of Byrne, and to advance the cause of stock fraud by spinning nutty "naked shorting" conspiracy theories."

He also throws in the A-S card and uses words like cabal and Blitzkrieg. Hmmm...

Bobo, are you fraudin' us?

Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By bobo on 3/3/2006 12:55 PM
I believe that the shares were finally delivered, on average, 60-75 days after the trades were cleared. During which time the price had dropped $12-$15. Nice. Buy the shares once you've made millions on the difference.

There should be a law against that. Oh, wait, there is.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By rtway1 on 3/3/2006 1:24 PM
Could have been any better said Bud, I would be honored to cover your back, to many cowards, to few proud Americans.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By long_ostk on 3/3/2006 2:01 PM
bobo, I was wondering your thoughts on John Brynes negative comments to his sons cause? Why would he say damaging things just when we had the momentum in our favor? I swear evertime our cause has something going good, someone comes along and screws it up and takes attention away.

I am sick about what Jack Byrne said.

Unless of course they are playing with the shorts and Jack is going to become CEO and Patrick is going to become Chairman.... Wishfull thinking??
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By bobo on 3/3/2006 2:04 PM
Anon: very funny, no? This guy is paying to defame the site, making wild claims about anti-Semitism, tossing around loaded words like Blitzkrieg, and yet he lies like a rug, and censors any dissenting views.

He, fortunately, has amongst the lowest Alexa and Amazon ratings on the planet. Thus, his hate-mongering agenda doesn't reach many.

If you aren't joking, then you clearly didn't read any of this blog describing these tactics, in which case you are merely a really sort of low-end shill.

I figure you are joking, as nobody reading THIS blog is that stupid.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By mfairview on 3/3/2006 2:50 PM
Well, considering the torch was handed from Matthews to GW, I'm guessing he also said "Work the anti-semite angle. Something was definitely there last time I tested the waters"
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By Takeyoureyeofftheball on 3/3/2006 3:04 PM
Blame it on the Jews. Blame it on the Irish. Blame it on the Russians. OR call your opposition Jew-haters, or racists, or persecutors, or terrorists. Anything but deal with the real issues. I read the garbage on GW's blog and it is so low, so obviously biased, I really feel dumber after reading it. They seem to believe that by calling you names they can hurt your cause. That is so misguided. I think anyone with a brain knows when they are being misled, and they are misleading people. Or trying to. Not me.
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By Wonder Boy on 3/3/2006 4:10 PM
I must admit, I have never been to this 'GW blog', but, if it is what you all say, he is doing us a favor and taking all the 'dumb ones'! Not me, but MOST here are fairly intelligent and that is what it takes to get your arms around the fail to deliver situation!
Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By dave on 3/3/2006 4:10 PM
Google only knows of 49 sites linking to this site. We need thousands. The number of incoming links determines how close to the top this site appears in a search.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=link%3Awww.thesanitycheck.com&meta=

Install the toolbar and post a comment to help this site's rankings. You might even want to give Gary Weiss's comment a negative rating.

http://download.alexa.com/index.cgi

I don't like toolbars either, but you can run it for a couple weeks to get the ranking up, then uninstall later.

Alexa has no idea what sites people are visiting without having the toolbar installed. In other words, each person that uses Alexa could represent 10,000 people when they calculate their stats and ranking.

Re: On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation By dave on 3/3/2006 4:11 PM
They are going to run out of coverup techniques.

Cover up technique #5. See "racists" below.

5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule. This is also known as the primary attack the messenger ploy, though other methods qualify as variants of that approach. Associate opponents with unpopular titles such as "kooks", "right-wing", "liberal", "left-wing", "terrorists", "conspiracy buffs", "radicals", "militia", "racists", "religious fanatics", "sexual deviates", and so forth. This makes others shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label, and you avoid dealing with issues.
week's review. By mhelburn on 3/3/2006 4:12 PM
I think that the reality of the situation is hitting home and the miscreants had no homeruns this week. Media bombed, courtcase bombed.. it is not looking good for them and they are down to using Weiss..and some bashers to try and play the prejudice thing that they tried before. They are so pathetic.

I think it would be a good idea to put anything that Rash ever said in doggerel. He is being so disruptive and rude on other message boards, it would be a shame for someone to have to read him here.. Reminds me of TR. Have Rash go to GW's blog and stay there. It is embarassing to have his posts in here.

It is hard for me to understand that they think they will accomplish something by disrupting the conversation here.

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