LTTE blames Clinton for Hurricane Andrew!

[City Lights]

Check out this LTTE I found on the Chicago Tribune's website:

What about Andrew?
August 24 has come and gone. Not a word about that historical date in the news. August 24, 1992. The 14th anniversary of this tragic event. Head scratcher, huh?

HURRICANE ANDREW. 164 Miles per hour winds destroyed Homestead Fla.

$25 billion in damages of which $16 billion were insured.

Devastation so startling that major insurance companies teetered on the brink of financial ruin. Insurance companies such as Allstate (I worked for them at the time) suspended insurance premiums because there was no place to send the billings.

No street was recognizable.

No houses, no mailboxes, no street signs, no nothing.

A neighbor of mine was an Allstate claims adjuster. He took a temporary six-month job assignment in Homestead.

Where was the media in all of this tragedy? Where were the recurring and staged pictures of the crying people yelling for help? Where was the mayor of Homestead accusing the President of racial and social bigotry because it was the political thing to do? I don't recall the press ever interviewing the mayor of Homestead. Where did all the people go? Scattered to the four winds like half the population of New Orleans? Hardly. Just "google" Homestead to see what happened to that city. Why didn't the press indict the President for incompetence immediately before Andrew hit? OK, then. How about immediately afterward? Could it be that the President was that media darling, the do-nothing right, the do-nothing at all, Mr. Clinton? It took Clinton until the following year to upgrade Federal Emergency Management Agency to a cabinet level position.

So what happened in the aftermath? We didn't see the mobilization of the National Guard from all over the U.S. to protect the citizenry of the area. People had the good sense to act like decent citizens in a civilized country. Crime didn't shoot through the roof. Federal funds trickled in as they always do in a disaster situation. However, it was the insurance industry and their re-insurers that rebuilt the area. The press beat up the large insurers because they attempted to cancel every homeowner policy in he entire state. The Florida insurance commissioner informed those companies that if they carried out their plan, they would be prevented from renewing their profitable auto line. Allstate created a separate homeowner insurance company specifically for Florida with its own rate structure.

Can we conclude that the press loved Clinton even in times of extreme internal incompetence? Not one word of comparison between Katrina and Andrew. To call the press fair-handed and objective is an insulting joke.

Michael Kurman

Buffalo Grove, Ill.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_opinion_letters/2006/08/what_about_andr.html#comments

What a jackass!

[Cathyclysmic]

1. Oh geez. Could it be that Clinton wasn't president yet?

:eyes: :rofl:

Amazing ignorance in that letter. Thanks.

[Bassic]

14. I sent them a comment to that effect.

I encourage all of us to do the same.

[tuvor]

37. More ignorant for the paper to publish it.

[LynneSin]

46. Actually I think it's great to publish it

Because that's the vile hatred of these ANti-Clinton people. We lived in a time of prosperity, peace and a budget surplus under Clinton. WE were respected by our neighboring countries.

Perhaps by publishing this letter it shows the stupidity of the clinton-haters.

I mean, I don't like that idiot in the White House now, but I would also take 2 minutes to research my facts before posting them in a letter.

[Ilsa]

93. Did the editor respond by mentioning that BC wasn't in yet? Our

local paper will comment on letters when the writer gets the facts wrong.

[LostinVA]

48. I thought that very thing!

Not ONE person in the op/ed department didn't know that???

[LynneSin]

53. Perhaps they did

:shrug:

[Cathyclysmic]

65. Or the most wise.

I firmly believe that most editorial boards pick only the most idiotic letters to publish sometimes. :D

[ComerPerro]

47. According to Republicans, the party of personal responsiblity,

Clinton can be blamed for:

Things that happened one month into his presidency (first WTC bombing),
Things that happened after he left office (9/11),

and, now, apparently,

Things that happened before he became president (Andrew).



But Bushes can't be blamed for anything.

[KamaAina]

115. Behold! The mighty Clenis has the power to turn back time!

:sarcasm: Morans. All of them.

[Ishoutandscream2]

Bwaaaaa! Now that's hilarious!!!

LOL!!!!:rofl:

[Cobalt-60]

148. Flash: Andrew negligence a Bushco production!

Old Poppy was too busy trying to hang on to the White House to be bothered by the discomfort of the livestock.

[bluestateguy]

2. That article never should have been published

Not because it was critical of Clinton, but because it's ignorant nonsense.

[City Lights]

10. It's not in today's print edition,

but I don't get the paper everyday, so I have no idea whether they published this nonsense in their print edition. I can't believe everyone working in the opinion section of the Trib is stupid, so maybe they published this to show just how far Queen George supporters will go to protect their "gal." :shrug:

I can't wait to read the comments that will be posted back to this morAn.

[LostinVA]

51. Where will the comments be posted at?

[City Lights]

55. There's a clickable "Comments" link at the bottom of each letter.

Right now it shows (0). Once they post comments, the counter will update and if you click on the word "comments," you'll be able to read them. They usually update them a couple of times a day.

[LostinVA]

56. Ah! Thanks!

[zbdent]

3. Clinton wasn't even elected at that point ...

:rofl:

Someone should put a LTTE in there expressing that this guy showed the intellectual capacity of the Bush cultists ...

[madinmaryland]

4. Did the Moran check the date the Andrew hit Florida?

August 24, 1992. Wasn't it actually a Bush that was president at the time, and the media did give some attention to it!

What a HUGH MORAN!!

Clinton had only been nominated to run for president!!

:rofl:

[eyesroll]

5. Oh dear lord, I think I know that jackass!

I went to school with his son.
I thought he was smarter than that.

I bet he blames Clinton for Ruby Ridge, too.

[City Lights]

11. Really?

IIRC, you used to live in the area.

[eyesroll]

23. Yep...spent 7th grade through 12th (plus college summers) in B.G.

If this is the same person whose son I grew up with, we used to live on the same street.

[City Lights]

24. Wow, a former neighbor.

Did you know the dad?

[eyesroll]

33. Not well...my parents probably do, though.

I had no idea re: his political leanings, but I'd hope even the staunchest Republicans would at least get the date right.

[City Lights]

57. The level they'll sink to to support the chimp is astonishing!

Do your parents still live there?

[eyesroll]

64. Nearby, but not on that street anymore.

I know my mom knows Mrs. Kurman -- I'll ask what's up with them.

[Name removed]

99. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[City Lights]

103. Is the calendar challenged person still outraged, or did that fade

when the :dunce: discovered that Andrew hit during big bush's reign?

[Subdivisions]

108. I think his enthusiasm for blaming the Big Dawg had

waned considerably by the time I got him on the phone. LOL!

He hung up on me while I was lecturing him about the perception this leaves in the minds of people who don't bother to fact-check and accept false information as factual.

[Richardo]

118. Really? He hung up on an stranger hurling invective from out of nowhere?

What an impolite scalawag!

[Subdivisions]

127. I didn't "hurl invectives" at anyone...

I was professional and polite and the man spoke with me up until I began to explain to him that by writing such false statements leads people to false perceptions.

He said: "Thanks for calling, but I'm very busy this morning." and I politely said "good-bye and have a nice day".

[Richardo]

129. That's not how you described it.

He hung up on me while I was lecturing him ...

Who needs THAT shit?

[Cathyclysmic]

131. Yeah, and I'm sure that, by you calling him at home,

made him see the error of his ways. :eyes:

[Cathyclysmic]

114. And here I thought only Freeps resorted to such tactics.

Mind you, there was a time a couple years ago when a fellow DUer lost his job after a couple freeps got ahold of his personal info. Public domain or not, right-wing or left, intruding into someone's personal life is inexcusable.

[Richardo]

116. I'm alerting on you, too

Out of line.

[Subdivisions]

124. I haven't been "alerted on" before on DU...So, now what?

Do I have to go away for a few days or what?

Also, if I am a blogger trying to get information for a story, I am not allowed to contact the source of that story?

[Richardo]

126. Nothing - the mods decide whether or not to pull your post.

I don't care if you contact him, I object to spreading his contact information to 60,000 total strangers and inciting them to harrass the guy.

[Subdivisions]

130. I admit, saying "Call him, I did" was impulsive and not well

thought out. The man's phone number had already been posted elsewhere and I have NEVER shied away from calling someone to get the "rest of the story".

I will check myself next time.

[eyesroll]

123. I'm not sure we should be doing that...

...and I'm sorry if anything I said encouraged you to do so.

All I will say is that none of those list the person at/near the address I remember, which doesn't necessarily mean anything either way.

[Subdivisions]

125. The man I spoke to said the person who wrote the article

(and I think it was the very person I was speaking to) told him that he was "calendar challenged".

So, apparently the number I called was the right number. I was just getting a comment from him just as any real "journalist" should be doing.

[Coexist]

6. "Crime didn't shoot throught the roof"??! This man is an idiot.

Oh, yes it did. People guarded the remnants of their homes with shotguns against roving bands of looters. It was quite ugly down there. I lived in Ft. Lauderdale at the time and the crime and violence issues down there played out nightly at 6:00 on the news.

It was nothing like the Illinois gentleman recalls. Of course - he was in Illinois, getting details from his friend who came down after the storm left, so I am sure he knows all about it.


And the National Guard WAS dispatched to the area. http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/9200/


http://www.bariumblues.com/deadly_silences.htm
<snip>
"Don't get me wrong, United States military forces were indeed present in the roped-off areas within hours of Andrew ending. But they were not there to help survivors. The National Guard, along with the Coast Guard, the Army, F.E.M.A., Metro-Dade Police, State Police and local police, removed dead bodies and body-parts as quickly as possible, during those first ten days of the aftermath."

[Jo March]

34. I was at Homestead 36 hours after Andrew hit

We were met with guns by the neighbors. My sis was stationed there with her husband and we went down to get what remained of their stuff.

Crime was everywhere - looting was very, very bad after Andrew.

[Solly Mack]

7. Andrew Card headed the Andrew disaster relief under President GHW Bush

Yes, that Andrew Card

"In August 1992, at the request of President Bush, Secretary Card coordinated the Administration's disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Andrew"

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/card-bio.html

[City Lights]

13. I did not know that!

Good ol' Andrew Card! Thanks. :hi:

[Solly Mack]

18. He served under Reagan as well....Card is another revolving

door thug

Welcome! :)

[City Lights]

25. Recycling garbage that should have been added to the landfill

years ago is the GOP way! ;-)

[peekaloo]

8. Sweet Jebus.

what an igno arsewipe.

[Brewman_Jax]

9. Example of the corporate-controlled media

an independent and competent editor would never have printed such false garbage. It seems that anything that blames Clinton and the Clenis gets a free pass these days.

[ComerPerro]

36. This is exactly what is wrong with today's media, though

they are so interested in supposedly "giving both sides" that they treat any conservative lie or factual error as a legitimate argument.

And you're absolutely right. No decent editor would publish something like this.

That would be like blaming the American Civil War on Ronald Reagan.

[Sydnie]

12. I just couldn't take it, I had to respond

Michael, Michael, Michael. Seems you have your history a bit jumbled here. Clinton wasn't President when Andrew blew through Florida. It was the current President's father that was President then. If you have a problem with how that event was handled, both before an after, you must place the blame for it, just as the blame for the response to Katrina, with the Bush's. Perhaps you missed the photo-ops that Bush 41 had, so here's a reminder for you. http://www.gpo.gov/nara/pubpaps/1992portv2.html If you scroll down to the middle of that page, you will see the picture of Bush 41, surveying the damage in LA after Andrew. Imagine, he didn't even need a jacket with his number on it to remind people (or himself) that he was President either.

Nice try Michael, but Clinton wasn't even elected President until AFTER Andrew. Perhaps the response to Andrew even helped to get him elected. Oh, the irony.

Here is the picture that I refer to in this response.

[Clark2008]

16. Did you send that to the editor?

eom

[Sydnie]

20. I posted it as a comment

to the orginal post on that blog. Yes, I did.

[Atman]

15. Can one respond to this blog entry?

I think the best course for this clown is a couple well-written rebuttals detailing what an utter and total moranik Bushista nutcase he is! I doubt he's reading DU!

[Sydnie]

21. Yes you can. I did just that. n/t

[City Lights]

22. Yes, use the link I provided.

There's a section at the bottom of the page for posting comments. The more, the merrier! ;-)

[sarge43]

27. I posted one

Much as the rest of you have written, such as it would be unlikely that the governor of Arkansas would have had much to do with the conduct of the federal government. I also pointed out in answer to his whine about the population of Homestead FL "Where did all the people go?" that most of them were zoomies assigned to Homestead AFB (a monster base in its day). Once Andrew blew it away, they just left for other plane patches, an option the people of NOLA didn't have.

All in all a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent

I think that sometimes the blogmasters post these idiocies just to jack up their hit numbers.:eyes:

[Selatius]

17. Michael Kurman, get this fact into your head:

Bush Jr.'s father was president of the US at the time...not Bill Clinton. You're barking up the wrong tree, and you've forgotten fundamental facts of history.

[johnnie]

19. That's funny

What a moran.

Btw. recommended.

[Wickerman]

26. I smell a top 10 idiot here! n/t

[Jo March]

39. Someone needs to nominate him for the Top 10

The "blame Clinton first" crowd won't let something like facts stop them, will they? :eyes:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

40. I just nominated him. -nt

[Jo March]

43. His mother will be so proud!

I'm series!

:evilgrin:

[gaspee]

28. Bush 1

Isn't Andrew one of the reasons Bush's daddy lost the 1992 election.

Why in the world did the Trib even print that moronic letter?

[borlis]

29. LOL, What an idiot.

What do these two hurricanes have in common? Someone named Bush. I sure hope this guy knows what an ass he is.

:rofl::rofl:

[tabasco]

30. Does not have his facts straight. (Lying).

I was active duty military at the time. We deployed an entire brigade from Fort Drum, NY and we were on the ground two days after Andrew hit. We were distributing supplies andfood and water and clearing debris. The FL National Guard was there as well. So the letter writer has his facts a bit mixed up.

[ET Awful]

31. Mr. Kurman is almost laughably moronic. . .

Okay, he IS laughably moronic. I sent the following reply:


In regard to Michael Kurman's letter to the editor regarding Hurricane Andrew, I would like to point out that when Hurricane Andrew hit Florida, Bill Clinton was merely a candidate for the Presidency, he was not elected until November of 1992, and was not sworn in until January of 1993.

Any issue Mr. Kurman might have with the administration that presided over the handling of the Hurricane Andrew aid and relief effort should be taken up with the prior administration, that of George H. W. Bush, and with the person who he appointed to head up the relief effort, none other than Andrew Card, who also served as Chief of Staff to George W. Bush until April of this year.

It's also worthy of note that crime did increase, to the point where people guarded their property with shotguns, and the National Guard was indeed activated.

Mr. Kurman would do well to focus less on attempts to distract from the failures of this administration and more on reality.

[Ghost in the Machine]

32. As a survivor of Hurricane Andrew, let me just say....

:rofl: WHAT A MORAN!!11!!!1!! :rofl:

George Herbert Walker Bush, aka Bush41, was President when Andrew struck. Presidential candidate Bill Clinton was the first to show up in Homestead / Florida City a full TWO DAYS (if my memory serves correctly, it was a traumatic time) before Poppy showed his face. The National Guard was there within 24 hours... in full force. I remember in the weeks following that I got so tired of hearing the helicopters going day and night that wondered how many Vietnam Vets were having flashbacks.

I have to give praises to the Guards, FEMA & The Red Cross during that time. Also to the Florida Highway Patrol, who was there before the Guards keeping order.

[Jo March]

42. I remember the stench

It smelled so bad that I thought I was going to barf. The dying animals and the rotting - ugh. Just nasty.

We came down from Ft. Campbell to get what was left of my sister's stuff. She was stationed at Homestead Air Force base at the time. We passed so many Guard troops on the way down that we felt pretty safe. We went through many checkpoints to get in and we would not have been allowed in at all if it wasn't for our being military. They kept a tight reign on the area.

Of course, the Guard troops weren't off fighting a futile war based on lies, either, so that tends to make a difference. :eyes:

[SmokingJacket]

35. Scary, though... some people will buy it.

It freaks me out that they published something so out-of-touch with reality. Maybe they should have called the guy, said, Look, Clinton wasn't even president, maybe reconsider??

[ComerPerro]

38. Tell the Trib that wasting even a speck of bandwidth on this moron

and his obvious lies and omissions is the real insulting joke.

[LynneSin]

41. You know that Clinton was also responsible for the Chicago Fires of 1871?

It's true

I wrote this reply:

Dear Michael Kurman - Clinton officially took the office of President in January of 1993. President during Andrew was George H. W. Bush.

So that's pretty spectacular that you can actually blame Clinton for stuff that happened before he became president. Perhaps the Tribute posted this letter to show the vile hatred of some people who can't get over the fact that under 8 years of President Clinton we enjoy economic properity, peace and budget surplus.

I'm guessing next thing you'll blame Clinton for is the Chicago Fires of 1871.

[City Lights]

44. Clinton took office in January of 1993. eom

[LynneSin]

52. Yeah I knew that

Damn typo

:grr:

[City Lights]

59. I knew you knew.

;-)

And yes, typos suck, especially when they're dates. :-(

[LynneSin]

62. Yeah but it's not like I was blaming Clinton on something that happened ..

...in 2003

:shrug:

[City Lights]

70. I'm sure they knew what you meant. eom

[Jo March]

45. He also killed Hoffa and buried him under Giants stadium

Also, it's not "Typhoid Mary." It was really Bill spreading his germs around.

:spank:

[LostinVA]

54. And don't forget "Bill the Ripper" -- the scourge of Whitechapel

[LynneSin]

58. I was caught cheating on a 2nd grade spelling test - I blame Clinton

:shrug:

[LostinVA]

60. It's also Bill's fault I'm gay

[LynneSin]

61. Damnit, it's Bill's fault I'm straight

Go figure

[LostinVA]

87. That sicko

[LynneSin]

95. To think I could have been in a loving lesbian relationship right now and

you could be married with 3 squawling brats around you and a husband who stays too late at work at nights to avoid the entire mess

[LostinVA]

98. OH GOD -- THANK GOD FOR BILL CLINTON!!!

THNAK GOD FOR BILL CLINTON!!!

[sarge43]

104. The perv

[NewJeffCT]

132. He was also in charge of security at Pearl Harbor in Dec. '41

[Ravenseye]

49. Here was my response

Mr. Kurman,

Hurricane Andrew formed on Formed August 16, 1992 and dissipated August 28, 1992. President Clinton was not elected until later that year and did not take office until January 20, 1993. How was Clinton, as Governor of Arkansas and Democratic nominee for President at the time, responsible for the incompetence that surrounded the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew?

Perhaps your anger should be directed at a different member of the Bush family, President George H.W. Bush, who was too busy running for re-election at the time to help the people of Florida, much like his son was too busy enjoying his 5 week vacation to do anything to help the people of the Gulf Coast.

[ck4829]

50. Clinton's term started on January 20, 1993

Blame Poppy for that one.

[Julius Civitatus]

63. Clinton took office SIX MONTHS after Hurricane Andrew

in January 1993. This was under the watch of Poppy Bush.

His mismanagement of Andrew was almost as bad as his son's mismanagement of Katrina. That's why Clinton spent so much time, money and efforts on making FEMA a strong government department.

Chimpy blew all those efforts away in his tenure, resulting in lapses like Katrina.

But I guess things like "facts" or "reality" are no impediments for a dumb freepoid to send an error-filled anti-Clinton letter to a newspaper, and for the editor of said newspaper to PUBLISH IT!

:wtf:

[Rainbowreflect]

66. What a moron!

[City Lights]

67. They pulled the letter.

We must have overloaded them. :evilgrin:

Stupid assholes.

[Wickerman]

68. It appears the article has now been removed

Good work.

[LynneSin]

69. NO NONONONONONO

I wanted the letter to stay

It showed the stupidity of Clinton Haters - they should be exposed as the mind-numbing assholes that they are

[trumad]

71. Yep....

The cowards pulled the damn letter...and I was so eager to read my comment and all the others.

Damn...they messed up my fun.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

80. HERE it is. Preserved for posterity.

Edit: D'oh. the OP preserved it too. :dunce:

------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted: August 29, 2006
What about Andrew?

August 24 has come and gone. Not a word about that historical date in the news. August 24, 1992. The 14th anniversary of this tragic event. Head scratcher, huh?

HURRICANE ANDREW. 164 Miles per hour winds destroyed Homestead Fla.

$25 billion in damages of which $16 billion were insured.

Devastation so startling that major insurance companies teetered on the brink of financial ruin. Insurance companies such as Allstate (I worked for them at the time) suspended insurance premiums because there was no place to send the billings.

No street was recognizable.

No houses, no mailboxes, no street signs, no nothing.

A neighbor of mine was an Allstate claims adjuster. He took a temporary six-month job assignment in Homestead.

Where was the media in all of this tragedy? Where were the recurring and staged pictures of the crying people yelling for help? Where was the mayor of Homestead accusing the President of racial and social bigotry because it was the political thing to do? I don't recall the press ever interviewing the mayor of Homestead. Where did all the people go? Scattered to the four winds like half the population of New Orleans? Hardly. Just "google" Homestead to see what happened to that city. Why didn't the press indict the President for incompetence immediately before Andrew hit? OK, then. How about immediately afterward? Could it be that the President was that media darling, the do-nothing right, the do-nothing at all, Mr. Clinton? It took Clinton until the following year to upgrade Federal Emergency Management Agency to a cabinet level position.

So what happened in the aftermath? We didn't see the mobilization of the National Guard from all over the U.S. to protect the citizenry of the area. People had the good sense to act like decent citizens in a civilized country. Crime didn't shoot through the roof. Federal funds trickled in as they always do in a disaster situation. However, it was the insurance industry and their re-insurers that rebuilt the area. The press beat up the large insurers because they attempted to cancel every homeowner policy in he entire state. The Florida insurance commissioner informed those companies that if they carried out their plan, they would be prevented from renewing their profitable auto line. Allstate created a separate homeowner insurance company specifically for Florida with its own rate structure.

Can we conclude that the press loved Clinton even in times of extreme internal incompetence? Not one word of comparison between Katrina and Andrew. To call the press fair-handed and objective is an insulting joke.

Michael Kurman

Buffalo Grove, Ill.
------------------------------------------------------------

[dogday]

72. I did get to send a comment before they

pulled the letter and said shame on the Tribune for not even fact checking this piece....

[sinkingfeeling]

73. I think the Chicago Trib has removed it. I get 'page not found' from the

link.

[Rainbowreflect]

74. Someone realized how stupid it was & pulled it!

[flyarm]

94. i used this link..see here!! n/t

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/chi-lettert...

[Ganja Ninja]

75. A perfect example of how conservative outrage is manufactured.

[NewJeffCT]

136. He probably heard it on RW radio somewhere

Probably more than a few times, so that makes it "sure" in his mind.

[Subdivisions]

76. I've made six attempts to get them on the phone...

and so far nothing.

I actually got through to the Editorial desk and when I began to explain the reason for my call, I was told I would need to be transferred to another extension and was hung up on.

Left two voice messages. So far no call back. I'll keep trying.

[Subdivisions]

84. They're squashing it...

acting like they don't know what I'm talking about.

[johnnie]

77. Anyone get a screen shot?

That was too classic.

[nadinbrzezinski]

78. I have fuzzy memory these dayus

but wasn't senior in charge?

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Subdivisions]

83. I think I just spoke to Mr. Kurman

who claimed he wasn't himself.

A man answered the phone and when I asked to speak to Mr. Kurman, he asked who I was. I identified myself as being from DU and wanted comment on why Mr. Kurman would blame President Clinton for Andrew.

"I spoke with him (meaning Mr. Kurman) and he explained that he was "calendar challenged".

Then I began to explain the perception this type of thing could lead to and he hung up on me.

[Catherine Vincent]

89. He's probably unplugged his phone by now.

LOL!

[Subdivisions]

90. I'm 100% positive it was him despite pretending not to be...

We've all done the "OH! No, he/she's not here at the moment. Can I take a message?" because we don't want to - or are not ready to - speak to the person calling.

That's how it went with this call.

[ronnykmarshall]

121. Can you blame him?

Jeeeze!

[City Lights]

100. OMFG, that is hilarious!

:yourock: totally! :loveya:

[frylock]

110. lol!! well played!

:applause::headbang:

[Cathyclysmic]

111. Is this really necessary?

No, I am not defending Mr. Kurman. I don't agree with what he wrote, and yes, his listed number is public domain, but is it really necessary to harrass the guy?

[frylock]

120. mr. kurman is a disinformation agent..

if you don't want to be rebutted, then don't submit an LTTE.

[Cathyclysmic]

122. Rebuttal is one thing. Calling someone at home is another.

I posted this before- that is a common Freeper tactic. There are Duers here that have been harrassed at home, and some who lost their jobs because Freeps looked up their personal info. It's never right, no matter what side you're on.

[Jacobin]

134. How about writing a letter to a newspaper making

outrageous false allegations that RWers can use against the democratic party?

What's not public about that?

[Cathyclysmic]

140. This guy, as far as we know, is not some party agent.

He's more than likely just an ignorant rube with his head in his ass.

What do you think would be accomplished by calling him in his own home? Do honestly you think he'd change his ways? Of course not. More than likely, he'd be a bit ticked off that a total stranger went throught the trouble to bother him after he posted a silly LTTE. It would only reinforce his already skewed view on Democratic leadership. Don't even try to assume that the poster of this guy's phone # was tying to do a public service.

[City Lights]

142. He's a GOP Committeeman.

Vernon Township Republican News and Events

First Vernon Township Republican Picnic A Big Success

The 2006 Vernon Township Republican Picnic was held on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the Vernon Township - Prairie View Park Picnic Shelter. More than 150 people attended, including elected officials, state-wide and county-wide candidates, party officials, and many Vernon Township citizens.

The picnic event was sponsored and organized by the Vernon Township Republican Central Committee.

<snip>

Republican Party Officials

Michael Kurman – Vernon 279 Committeeman

https://www.vernongop.org/News_and_Events.html

[Cathyclysmic]

143. Sorry. Still doesn't make it right to call someone at their residence.

If it were party headquarters, then that's fair game.

[Jacobin]

145. Idiots like this are destroying this country

I'm not saying his phone number should be publicized. I'm saying that if he signs his name to a LTTE and someone wants to look it up and call him up to let him know what an idiot douchebag he is, then he damn well deserves it.

[frylock]

146. thank you..

evidently six years of this shit isn't enough for some people. They think we need to play nice-nice. Look where playing nice has gotten us. Flip that. It's dog eat cat as far as I'm concerned. Kurman is a repub shill, and HE KNEW EXACTLY what he was doing when he wrote this crap.

[City Lights]

137. I sent my rebuttal this morning, but the Trib pulled the letter down

before posting any rebuttals. :-(

The Trib needs to raise their standards for publishing letters.

Shame on them for publishing this crap in the first place.

[ronnykmarshall]

128. Oh I see ..

I had a LTTE printed in the LA Times and some RW asshole called me at 1am ...... so that's ok???

BULLSHIT!

[frylock]

147. see post 142..

this guy knew he was submitting BS, and it was nothing short of low-level psyops. He deserves all the calls he received because of my link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2010646#2014201

Sorry you were harrassed, Ronny.

[Richardo]

112. I alerted on this post.

Inciting the abuse of personal information is out of bounds in my book. I don't care WHO it is.

[frylock]

119. those are the risks associated with posting an ltte..

that's why the name and address is posted.

[Catherine Vincent]

81. Good thing you copied the Clinton-hating letter here.

Since the page is not found. All of DU knows this guy is a Clinton-hating idiot. :)

[flyarm]

82. my response to this "jackass!"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/chi-lettertotheeditor,0,3281875.customform


In response to a letter to the editor by Michael Kurman Buffalo Grove, Ill. titled:

What about Andrew?
August 24

In 1994 I had the misfortune of going through the Northridge Earthquake in Sherman Oaks,California.
As someone who lost their home,and everything my family owned,in the Earthquake,in 1994 under the Presidency of Bill Clinton ,I would like to inform your ltte writer, that President Bill Clinton was not President during Hurricane Andrew.

I would further like to inform your letter writer,after the devastation of the Northridge earthquake of 1994, President Clinton got aid into devistated areas in Los Angeles before the ground stopped shaking the same day, and FEMA was on the ground walking our streets within hours of that devastating earthquake.

We had mobile homes placed in front of our homes,where needed, within 24 hours. At most, 1 week. That was under James Lee Witt FEMA director.

A man who knew his responsibilities were to those who underwent a disaster.And who were suffering, and took his responsibility to American Citizens seriously, and professionally.

Mr.Witt had a most efficient,kind and professional FEMA. An incredibly run agency.

We were not left without food or water, or housing. We were not left to die. FEMA had tent cities built within 24 hours. And buses to take people there, who had their homes and cars destroyed.
Detoured roadways were set up almost immediately since our freeways were destroyed. Many left homeless were helped immediately.

No one went without food or water, or health care or the basics of life.
All Seniors and the sick were checked on immediately.

FEMA and the state had set up a plan for block monitors to turn gas off and checked
on the sick and elderly, under Clinton's watch!

I do not understand anyone at this point in time, making excuses for Bush's failure of Katrina and the failure of 9/11 by this administration and still trying to lie and cover up for the inept,Pathetic little
incompetent man in our White House today.

Please,Bush supporters ( a nicer name, than
what I call you in person) stop making fools out of yourselves with your ignorance, and thereby making the rest of us Americans look like fools
and ignorants by association!

Furthermore,
August 24, 1992. It was actually a Bush that was president at the time.( ehhh hem,yes it was a Bush!)

Clinton had only been nominated to run for president!! President Clinton took office 6 months after Hurricane Andrew!

xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx NJ

[XOKCowboy]

86. Excellent Reply..

Nice comparison between Northridge and Homestead. I like the polite little dig at the end too!

[genieroze]

85. link doesn't work

[flyarm]

92. see my reply #82 i found another link!! and posted. there n/t

[City Lights]

101. The Trib pulled the letter.

They either realized how :dunce: it made them look to print such idiocy, or their servers couldn't keep up with all the comments being posted in response to it. :-)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

88. Linkee no workee...

[LynneSin]

96. We know - the tribune pulled the letter

I guess no one fact checked from the Chicago Tribune either

[flyarm]

97. i found another link to email the trib..here>>( edit)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/chi-lettert...

on edit...they now blocked this one too!!

geezzzzzzzz..fly

on edit again..try this one...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/chi-lettertotheeditor,0,3281875.customform

[wicket]

91. What a freakin' moron!

:nopity:

[noonwitch]

102. I think Clinton was too busy with Ruby Ridge at that time (sarcasm)

People really can be stupid.

[Subdivisions]

105. I got a reply to my inquiry from the Tribune...

The first part is the response. My inquiry is at the bottom.

Hello Ron,

I posted the letter you are referring to and yes, I did retract it from the site.

So you are aware, in our letters department, we edit the letters for style and clarity but try to not to tamper with what the letter writer is intending to say. Therefore, I did not change what the letter stated. However, after receiving complaints about the inaccuracy of the letter, I deleted it from the blog board. Unfortunately, we do not have a "retraction" section to explain such actions. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Kristin

-----Original Message-----
From: [e-mail]

Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 10:56 AM
To: CTC-TRIBLETTER
Cc: CTC-TRIBLETTER
Subject: Voice of the People


name: Ron ******
phone: ***.***.***
e_mail: *****@***********.com
city: Cleburne
state: TX
zip: 76033
comments: A LTTE was posted to your website written by one Michael Kurman of Buffalo Grove, Il which stated that President Clinton's reaction to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was less than stellar.

Clinton did not become President until 6 months later. How do you explain how this letter was published and why, instead of printing a retractions, was it killed from the site with no explanations?

Ron ******

[sarge43]

106. Well, that's a tap dance worthy of Gene Kelly

So if someone writes a letter accusing Smirky of doing dead girls and live boys, it'll be published so long as it's clear and stylish?

Truth? We don't need no stinkin' truth.

[City Lights]

107. The best part of this whole episode is that you called the guy

and set him straight! :loveya: I was so bummed thinking that the Trib pulled the letter before the moran got to read our replies. Lemme guess - the idiot's anger faded when he learned a Bush was in charge of the mess he described. :eyes: Did he give you his best Emily Litella, nevermind?

The Trib needs to up their standards for what they publish website or print edition.

[Subdivisions]

109. Thanks! It's so much fun knocking idiots like this off their

high-horse.

[NewJeffCT]

135. My newspaper - the Hartford Courant - does do basic fact-checking

Just about a year ago, I had submitted 2 LTTEs to the Hartford Courant. One was in response to an op-ed blaming Hollywood's liberal elitism for the poor movie sales; the other was on the evidence that explosives from the unguarded Al-Qaqaa facility were used in the London train bombings.

The LTTE section editor from the Courant called me up to verify the letter was mine, and I asked him which one, and he said he was going to publish the Hollywood one, and he made it sounded like he agreed with my sentiments. I asked him about my other one, and he said with some of his staff on vacation, he did not have the time to research & verify the information.

Maybe it's a standard response, but he could have just said, "oh, we prefer your other one," or something similar.

[Cha]

113. michael kurman you ignorant

whiner. Go check your history books, dude..Clinton came in Jan 1993 to preside over some of the best years of our Country until fuckhead bush and his cronies power grabbed the office to destroy it with the help of ignoramuses like yourself.

[Ioo]

117. Looks like they may have taken this story down

[karlrschneider]

133. Website for Mr. Michael Kurman

I am not suggesting anyone use the mailto link there to send nastygrams to the asshole. Nope, not me.

http://www.mkurman.illinoisproperty.com/RemaxIL/index.asp?acc=89077

[Reverend_Smitty]

138. Did anyone take a screen capture of this?

I would love to save that for posterity. It sort of loses its legitimacy when you read it second hand on DU. But still...what a dumbass!!!

[Subdivisions]

139. Tribune just called me...

It was the editor of the website and she apologized for it being posted. The excuse:

They've got ten people posting to their website and it's difficult to check facts and to research each and every letter. They only edit for style and do not edit the actual content of letters, leaving any disinformation contained therein the resposibility of the letter-writer.

They had received a flood of complaints and when they checked on the issue, the letter was taken down based on the compliants. The letter was not published in the print edition.

I was politely given the time to express how this effects people's perceptions and how it could help form false opinions and spur people into making uninformed decisions based on false information.

[City Lights]

144. Thanks for sharing that, Texas Explorer.

Wonder if the Trib knows that Michael Kurman is a GOP Committeeman.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2010646&mesg_id=2014201

[KayLaw]

141. Weird thing . . .

This nutcase took the time to research Andre and had the dates and numbers to throw about, did Google searches, etcetera, but never learned Bush was president at the time? Is this fool that obsessed with Bill Clinton, or what? Strange!

(Also, he never read about Tent City, or Kate Hale?)