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Faulking Opinions - Jun 19, 2004 - Printable Version
- And The Hits Just Keep On Coming
by Mark Faulk
Editorial Policy: At The Faulking Truth, we welcome all editorials, and will print as many as space allows (did anyone get the irony of that, since the internet is, like, totally infinite?). However, please be aware that all editorials become the property of The Faulking Truth, and as such, are subject to dirisement and ridicule. So go ahead, send us your worthless opinion at faulkingtruth.com. We dare you. This month marked the passing of a true hero, and one of the greatest Americans of the past century. That's right, I'm talking about Ray Charles, who passed away last week at the age of 73. He was truly one of of our national treasures, and will be greatly missed.
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, Ronald Reagan died too.
On that note, let's get right to the letters:
Speaking of Ronald Reagan (see how I segued into this next section? Smooth, huh?):
An "Average American" thought we went too far with our dueling Reagan commentaries ("I Wanted Ronald Reagan To Live Forever" by Ken Shade, and "Remembering Reagan" by Robin Buckallew):
Wow, two Reagan bashing articles at once. I guess it wasn't enough to kick the dead body once, you guys had to beat it senseless. Now I know why they call the liberal media the "elite". You think your better than the rest of us. Guess again.
Average American - America
Dear Average American,
My God, people, haven't you figured it out yet! It's "you're", not "your", are you totally illiterate? Am I going to have to install an idiot block to filter out the messages that butcher the English language? My father was an English teacher, and he used to hitch us to the back of a horse and drag us through the fields when we used improper grammar. Sure, we went to school in a full body cast, but we got an "A' in English. Uh, sorry, what was your point again?
And to think they want to put his name on a dollar bill or coin. I think a $1 million bill would be appropriate, that way all hs friends can see him. And how about putting Nixon on a two-headed coin while we're at it?
Joe Sned - Oklahoma
God bless you, It's nice to see someone who wants to properly honor our dead Presidents. We should all be as patriotic as you are.
I just read "I wanted Ronald Reagan to live forever" and "How extinct is extinct?" I guess I'm going to have to read the rest now. It was refreshing to hear the truth, cogently expressed. Except for the Nation, Mother Jones and a few others, not much truth telling going on. For many folks, patriotism means sticking an American flag on your lifted Excursion... and watching Fox News.
Chris - San Diego
Chris,
Thanks, Ken Shade and Robin Buckallew provide the insightful, intelligent commentaries for The Faulking Truth, while I handle the Village Idiot chores. It provides a nice balance, don't you think?
Just stumbled onto your site. I haven't laughed so hard in over a week, since the Gipper passed. In spite of all the despicable things Reagan and George II have perpetrated you have to give them credit for the masterful way they have hoodwinked most Americans (well somewhat less than most when it comes to Dubya). They have gotten the support of poor and middle class Christians by championing their "moral" positions while they decimate the programs that support these same people. They have convinced many that it's OK to give the big tax breaks to the rich since they pay the most taxes. After all we "all" aspire to be rich and when we get there (fat chance) we don't want to pay high taxes either.
It's interesting that Dubya often denigrates well thought out positions that oppose his as being "from the intellectual elite". It seems he's all in favor of the dumbing down of America since the dumb, but "righteous", position is the one he usually takes. In a perverse sort of way I almost hope Dubya beats Kerry (who I've liked since he came out against the Viet
Nam war). Dubya deserves to be around to deal with the mess he's made when it hits the fan. Then again maybe he'll only make it worse!
Rico from Rockingham
Dear Rico from Rockingham,
Uh, I really don't have anything to add here, I just wanted the chance to say "Rico from Rockingham". Actually, that's a well-written letter, Rico from Rockingham. We need more readers like yourself, Rico from Rockingham.
Now that I've caught my breath...
...after laughing so hard, reading your lunatic fringe guestbook, on a more serious note (oh how boring), what do proud Americans expect?
Follow the money. The really big money. You'll always find some crooks.
Imo the percentage of ethically disciplined humans is exactly the same everywhere you go. In other words, the percentage of takers and earners or, put another way, the percentage of energy suckers and bleeders (need I go on) is exactly, (yes I said EXACTLY) the same in any country you go to. Because a conscience is not taught, it is felt. It doesn't come from religion or upbringing or culture. It is perceived, it is intuited. Everyone has it if they welcome it and it grows if it is responded to. To quote the leader of the Christian based society I now live in - "...the body is the temple of the spirit, keep the temple clean and it will reside within." I don't think this was a reference to external personal hygiene.
I feel awful for the deception of people everywhere, including in America. They have a long way to fall. Even the ones who feel they earned and paid for their status as a proud, righteous nation fall with them. I hope something in them (could it be 'spirit'?) enables them to bounce. After all, it's not the fall that hurts is it? Chin up.
I am delighted to find some relief amongst the dross. Thank you for writing the faulking truth. I have a friend. He is a stress management specialist. In a nutshell his therapy can be summed up in the title of his book..."Fog 'em all." Faulk 'em all too then I say! Well, just the faulking liars anyway.
Andrea
Can't say where I'm from because I'm not. The last 4 generations behind me on both sides, including me, emigrated, each to a different continent - a brood of gypsies I suppose. No, gypsies have cultural roots. Right now I'm in Canada.
Andrea,
Thanks, we need all the encouragement we can get, because deep down, we're all incredibly insecure. Your points are all valid ones, but I do believe in the resiliency of the American Spirit. I hope I'm right, because we will be sorely tested in the coming years. By the way, I dated a girl named Andrea in high school. Do you know her?
Hey Mark,
Just had to post to your guest book! Why? Cause, all the bad news these days, and the real tendency I have to just be pissed-off at all the incompetence ... yada, yada, yada! Then I read your "WHAT THE FAULK WERE THEY THINKING?!", made me laugh to tears! Hey - I appreciate that much needed release ... I'm still laughing while I write this !!! I'll be back ....
Thanks Again ...
J.G. Hilsman
Northern Idaho
www.UMoveOut.org
J.G.,
Thanks, it's always nice to know someone finds humor in my deepest emotions. I guess my high school Biology teacher was right, I'll never amount to anything. I should have followed my original dream and become a Gangsta' rap artist. Yo, you want some o' dis, beeotch? I didn't think so. Actually, J.G., sometimes I have to laugh to keep from crying, it's therapeutic, ya know?
And one for Ken Shade:
Ken Shade sucks! Ok not really - but he needed hate mail, I was just
trying to make him feel better! I think I will start the Ken Shade Fan
Club and be the creepy-hokey President.....
Tracy Sherman
Attempter at Mind Shaping
Tracy,
I'm assuming you know Ken, if not, your restaining order is in the mail.
Mark,
I became aware of Ally's House through Toby's fan club. I set up a page
a couple of weeks ago for Ally's House and St. Jude's.
http://home.comcast.net/~zimzip/special.html
I will add a link to your article and I'd like to include part of
your message on my page (that last paragraph where you issue the challenge).
I might paraphrase what you wrote, something to the effect of:
"Want to be part of something remarkable AND show your appreciation to
Toby?"
Thanks again for sharing the information/link about your article. Gotta
keep getting the word of mouth out there.
Karen Zimmerman
Toby Keith: Heart2Heart
http://toby.keith.tripod.com/index.html
Karen,
Thanks, Ally's House is an amazing cause, and Linda and Scott Webb are equally amazing for putting their time and efforts into it. As I said, this is more than just a tax writeoff for Toby and Tricia, they have put tons of effort into making it a reality. Thanks for helping.
G'day there from Perth Australia. I was sent an article today headed -- - "Is Dateline Losing Credibility Over StockGate Story Delays?" This is indeed a scandal of epic proportions & I will personally help by sending E/mails etc. I am an investor in a Co that is listed in the US & that does get short sold in a major way.
One thing I must give you feed back on is that I found your web page to be in unbelievably small print. I have a 19" screen & good eyesight (with specs) but the print size definitely takes away from your excellent work!
It is also not adjustable from the view button on the tool bar on I/Net Explorer. You will most definitely go into my favourites if you fix the print size. Regards
Cliff Anderson
Perth
And here's a bit of give and take with a guy who may or may not be Sean Hannity in disguise:
Some of your articles are interesting...but why are you selling so faulking hard? Do you think your readers are too stupid to see truth and make up their own minds? The "faulking truth" appears to be simply a take that supports your agenda. You report, let us decide. (heard that one before?) You underestimate your audience. Or maybe not. Pat (Texas)
And here's my reply:
Patrick,
Thanks, I appreciate your comments, but there are thousands of so-called "news" sources out there, and the majority of them are "supporting an agenda" as well, one that we believe is slanted and dangerous. We never claimed to be anything other than opinionated and outspoken. I believe there are too many people out there who remain neutral, which is why we have taken on the role of activists. We don't underestimate our readers, indeed, we hope to motivate our readers to speak their own minds, even if their opinions differ from ours. Our traffic has doubled every week since our inception, from a few hundred hits a month to several thousand per day in only three months, so it looks like we're striking a chord of some type. Thanks for reading, and I hope you give us a chance.
And here's his reply to my reply:
Mark,
You hope I give you a chance! That's silly. Hope is not a strategy. Chances are taken or earned. Plus, you hold all the marbles. You publish whatever fits your agenda. You often select the comments of the common man with some misspelled words to try to create the image that conservatives are uneducated rednecks. Dirty pool, but not surprising. The freaking truth means nothing to you. And you reference the "thousands of so-called 'news' sources... 'supporting an agenda'...slanted and dangerous". The major newspapers in the major cities across the nation, and all three network TV stations plus CNN are all owned by liberals supporting an agenda slanted and dangerous. Stop beating your chest. You are no better. One must go to Fox news to hear anything close to a fair and balanced discussion of the world's news. Objectivity is nowhere to be found in the column you write. But that's ok, too. Your column is what it is... just more of the same. A freaking shame!
Pat King (Houston, TX)
And here's my reply to his reply to my reply:
Patrick,
When I said that "there are thousands of so-called 'news' sources out there, and the majority of them are 'supporting an agenda' that is slanted and dangerous", I didn't say that that they were all conservative. I believe that they are slanted, some to the far right, and some to the far left. Neither side represents mainstream America, in my opinion. Read my article, "The Radical Middle" www.faulkingtruth.com/Articles/Commentary/1003.html , and you might actually see what I'm talking about. I for one don't think the problem is republicans or democrats, the real problem is politics as usual. Can we at least agree on that point?
I'll keep everyone posted on where that one leads.
And now, a few letters about the ongoing stock market scam. We nailed Dateline on the delays of the StockGate Expose', and received dozens of emails supporting our efforts to bring this issue to the American public (Sadly, not one of the emails was from Dateline, the cowards). Here are a few comments:
I have been spreading the word on Naked Shorting for a long time now back when nobody believed me and thougth it was preposterous.
We know for a fact that it HAS spread outside the realm of the OTC and has spread like a virus throughout the Nasdaq and some NYSE.
My group fully believes that CNBC has been short the market for some time. In fact, we have reason to believe that reporters and executives at CNBC are receiving moneys deposited into offshore accounts by offshore interests to talk negatively on specific stocks.
This gives every evidence to why Dateline is sitting on the story as CNBC is part of NBC and GE. They have to get every one of those involved protected in every way possible.
In addition, we believe the Bush people got to NBC with some major $$$$ to lure O'Quinn into a bear trap. A national scandal now of this magnitude would crush the Bush re-election hopes. They put him on a gag order and then sit on the story.
Best of Luck..we're with ya' all the way!!!
BP
Really enjoyed the article about the market scam.
Seems like everything is a ripoff these days. Last
two days news on Enron is tapes of them laughing about
stealing grandmas money out in Cali and then Enron
suing the west coast energy cos. to make them pay the
for the ripoff.
It's a strange, strange world.
Kick their ass!
Arnaz
Mark,
I read your articles on Berlin. Nice job. I too called and spoke to Berlin four weeks ago. Your conclusions are just about right, but there is one thing to add. I don't think the actual shorting is transacted on the Freiverkehr. I think they do an arbitrage deal with the US brokers. How? Well there is a loophole in the SHO and SEC regs which allows for "arbitrage" between countries. That means that the transaction could be conducted using desk accounts between MM's and dealers across the ocean, keeping the phony shorts floating. You need to look into it. It would not show up as trading to the Berlin Exchange, and everybody looks clean. But this is no coincidence. Follow the money. Ask some questions about how their "specialists" might arbitrage with US desks. Think of these naked shorts as hot potatos. They have to keep them moving. The DTC is one place they can land for a while (in the stock pools) but eventually they have to be moved again or settled. They can't settle, so they keep them moving. Over time the numbers of shares grows and its like hiding an elephant under the carpet. "Arbitrage" is the key word. Follow it, and you will find the real truth. Good luck.
Robert Martin, Honolulu
And here's one from a guy who keeps sending me hostile emails he is bombarding Dateline and the SEC with. I believe that he has the best of intentions, but a little anger management might be in order here:
Mr Stone Phillips,
I think you all should be ashamed of yourself for keeping this story "covered-up" since January.Faulking truth says the story will be out in Aug now.
You should all consider yourselves anti-american because this counterfeiting is a money-laundering scam that is putting money in terrorists hands and you hold back the story.What are you waiting for the terrorists to hit another building and kill more innocent Americans before you get off your fat asses and help the American public.
I myself have been e-mailing this problem to you and you have yet to even contact me so what makes me think you will tell the public the truth about what is going on on Wall street and how American homes are being robbed and NO ONE in the media uncovers the truth that American investment banks are funding "terrorism" and we keep our citizens in the dark.
WHY DO YOU GET PAID ANYWAY ,YOU DONT DO YOUR JOB.
MARK FAULK SHOULD TAKE YOUR PLACE MR PHILLIPS AT LEAST HE HAS "BALLS" ENOUGH TO TELL THE TRUTH.GET THE STORY OUT NOW YOU CRIMINAL.Your job is to report the news not "sit-on-it" you weakling punk.
Darren
And a couple of random comments from my legion of "fans":
Faulk YOU, asshole!!!
Keith Farnham
borderhorizon@hotmail.com
Keith,
Was it something I said? You'll have to be a little more specific.
Dude, I just found your site…hysterical – I’m in!
Joe Butler
Most excellent.
Bravo Mark Faulk!
I don't always agree with you but you've got the right spirit, man. Its called THINKING FOR YOURSELF folks. IT USED TO BE a cherished American value before many of you became brainwashed and had too much ass-fattening a la mode with your apple pie. This apparently made it impossible for many folks to understand what "thinking for oneself" even means or feels like. A quick, brilliant read on this subject that even a Generation X-er could put his Playstation on pause for and consider without too much trouble is "Dumbing Us Down" by John Taylor Gatto.
Too bad for the knuckle-dragging hicks who think that going to Iraq with a gun on (bullets strapped across one's manly, tanned, sweaty chest) is the way to find out what it means to be an American - much less a man. God Bless our Troops! Now bring 'em the hell home and lets de-throne King George. We are, in too many ways, the British of 1776 over there. The irony for America is incredible. The consequences, however, will become far worse than anything the British ever endured.
All this on account of a dozen and a half guys FROM SAUDI ARABIA with forty dollars worth of BOX CUTTERS??? Think about it folks. We wont even go into who they really might have been! Put your Playstations on pause again and read "The War on Freedom".
So over there we go with 140 thousand troops and 87 billion dollars worth of high-tech, heat-seeking, night-vision, laser-guided, shock-and-awe, US economic-recovery stimulating lethal toys and we bomb the be-Jesus out of the wrong danged goat-herding, oil-pumping, woman-hating country because of one tin horned, CIA-installed, palace-obsessed, blond hooker-humping, psycho-dictator wimp!?
Do we have to live through TWO Vietnams in one lifetime? Are we this lame? Err, apparently the answer is yes. And where's Colin Powell in all this? As I recall, he was going around teaching "the lessons of Vietnam" for 50 grand a pop for the last five or six years before signing on with W. Now he's a shill who should be thrown out on his sorry military backside for saying NOTHING about the great dishonor this inept, lying president has brought down upon this country and its military. And for letting W drag in the totally false comparison of World War II to our
present debacle during recent ceremonial events. Whew.
I'd better wrap it up on Iraq or you'll limit my cyber-space.
Mark, I enjoy your pointed commentaries and your ironic asides very much. Anybody who appreciates Menken always has something to say. And keep up the excellent investigative work on naked short selling!
John, San Rafael, CA
Wow, that one blew me away so much, I don't even have an ironic aside to add here. Well put. One point, though: I didn't write the article that quoted Menken, but I am doing a Google search on him as we speak. That was our paranoid mystery writers, "Down the Middle" and "To the Left". I have many personalities, but those two guys are actually real people.
And here's my favorite post of the month (hey, wait, that could be a new feature):
Oh and in case you ladies didn't know...Mark Faulk is a hottie! I'm convinced he's my soulmate.
Signed: I'll Never Tell
That's right, guys, I've got my first groupie. Since that was my only real goal here (and a lifelong fantasy as well), I'm officially shutting this website down as of right now. So long, suckers!
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