Elizabeth Smart Thread, 9/26/02 to ???

[stlnative]

NEW THREAD - PING WHOM EVER YOU LIKE - I DON'T PING ANYMORE - SORRY

[Jolly Green]

as far as the disappearance of any mention of this business? it's been taken care of quietly, if you haven't noticed.

Or, like it never existed in the first place.

[Jolly Green]

Do you mean that all these people - several hundred, I would imagine - are participating in a cover up?

Don't confuse this ditz with facts.

[Jolly Green]

If they are telling the truth...It will be consistent.

Unless of course, they are repeating second hand information that they have no personal knowledge of.

Unless of course, they are speculating just as we are. In spite of the lame-brained theories on these threads to the contrary, Ed has repeatedly speculated on the abduction and his words/phrasing have changed over time to match changing events - such as his learning of Ricci's extensive criminal record AND Ricci's refusal to cooperate with authorities.

Be sure to factor this into your TIMELINE.

[Devil_Anse]

I'm still troubled by Tom, a little. I note that Tom is not going to DC with the others, though his wife Heidi is.

But then I've got to say this: what if Ed had never gone to the hospital? As I recall, Tom became a sort of temporary spokesman for Ed while Ed was in the hospital. (And we all know about how he dealt with Klaas, Fox, Boylan, etc.)
BUT if Tom had never stepped in for that fairly short time, WOULD WE EVEN BE PAYING ATTENTION TO TOM? When he had stepped in, this led to his being on LKL, etc. He had a weird way of expressing himself. But if he had never had occasion to get in the middle of it, due to his stepping in for Ed, I don't think he'd have come to our notice any more than the other Smart brothers, who are mentioned less.

I heard that the reason Ed was hospitalized back in June was for chest pains, or high blood pressure or something? I guess I'll go back and look at early articles. If he was hospitalized for one of those reasons, I guess I can forget about my question of which ward he was placed on in the hospital.

[varina davis]

Someone with connections to DC arranged this?

Probably. And just in the nick of time. Expect our tax dollars are paying for it, too. Yuk.

[varina davis]

or something?

That's it! You got one right.

[varina davis]

Congratulations!!! You win. That is one of the most moronic posts on FR in several months.

Nope. You're the grand champ of moronic posts, JG. Congrats.

[Devil_Anse]

You think our tax dollars are paying for parents of kidnapped children to meet in DC to discuss legislation?

Beats the heck out of tax dollars being used to send two jackasses to Baghdad so they can bray on camera. (Or were those Iraqi "tax dollars?")

[Devil_Anse]

Feel the need to pat someone on the back?

[varina davis]

You think our tax dollars are paying for parents of kidnapped children to meet in DC to discuss legislation?Beats the heck out of tax dollars being used to send two jackasses to Baghdad so they can bray on camera. (Or were those Iraqi "tax dollars?")

Of course. Do you think the bureaucrats are wining and dining these people on their dime?!

I agree completely with the second part of your post -- though both trips are photo ops and political haymaking.

[Devil_Anse]

champ of moronic posts

Varina, being the most regular of regulars, is the authority on moronic posts, you see.

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, but in the case of the parents of the missing children, someone else besides a congressthing actually gets to go someplace.

[varina davis]

You and JG and sherlock and Home Educate should have accompanied the extended family on their D.C. junket.

[varina davis]

Yes, but in the case of the parents of the missing children, someone else besides a congressthing actually gets to go someplace.

This is good? Why, were they being deprived of travel?

[Devil_Anse]

How on earth would I know?

[Jolly Green]

Who are these supposed "Smart haters," sandude? Do you include anyone who has questions about the Smart family's behavior during this widely publicized saga? Anyone who has voiced the feeling that the Smarts are not telling all that they know? Since when does that constitute "hate"? Many of us on this thread do have questions, but not many of us see things in exactly the same way. Why the need to lump everyone together under such a nasty term as "Smart haters"? It's not only inaccurate......it's offensive.

Since you are asking a fair question I'll try to give you an equally fair answer - at least from my perspective. Certainly there are Smart haters on these threads, just as there are Mormon haters and even Catholic haters on these threads. We could speculate as to why some FReepers hate the Smarts. There have been some indications in recent days that at least some of it stems from the Smart's percieved wealth and their "huge" home. Never mind that their home is laughably small to someone who is really wealthy. There have been other indications that it stems from their Mormon faith. Some of the attacks on the Smarts and the LDS church have been venomous. Maybe you missed them. The moderators have pulled some of the more blatant threads and posts. Some users have been banned. Other Smart or Mormon haters now couch their criticism in cleverly worded phrases or post threads from other boards in attempts to say things that would draw the ire of other posters if they posted them directly.

Suffice it to say that the Smart family has been thrown into a whirlwind and have often flailed around trying to get their bearings. I have daughters near ES and MK's ages and my heart goes out to them every day. They are not perfect - individually or collectively - and by all accounts of people who know them well, are very decent, God-fearing, Christians.

I take it personally, as do many other FReepers on these threads, when the Smarts are smeared day after day without a single shred of evidence of their involvement in the abduction. Many of us are open minded and have often asked for such a shred of evidence and have never received one. I doubt that we will since it appears not to exist.

What I am describing are very insensitive people - a very sick side of society. They make me want to throw up.

[bonfire]

Well said, JG.

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks for saying it so well, Jolly Green.

I forget sometimes that some of the people here have mutual acquaintances with the Smarts. That does make a difference in one's perspective. It would certainly make a difference in mine--a big difference.

I do wonder at times about Elizabeth's family. I have never found anything, however, that allows this wondering to go farther than that. I am removed from this story just as I was removed from, say, the Chandra Levy story. This tends to make one forget that there are REAL PEOPLE involved.

I have never found anything that has allowed me to go the extra mile and conclude that one of the family had to do with this--and not for lack of trying, b/c my curiosity extends to all the persons connected with Elizabeth. OTOH, I have found precious little to turn me away from considering Richard Ricci.

And then there's the possibility that this was done by someone we've never heard of.

Above all, the Smarts should not be blamed for having whatever property they own. And it is not only offensive, but ludicrous, to blame this on the Smarts' religion, since there has never been the slightest connection shown.

[jandji]

as opposed to posting "fbi agents stayed in the smart house for a week", then not being able to find your source for that little gem?

[Jolly Green]

as opposed to posting "fbi agents stayed in the smart house for a week", then not being able to find your source for that little gem?

That is a fact. You can make fun of it if you choose, but you will only be showing your stupidity.