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A Sept. 11 Photo Brings Out the Conspiracy Theorists
New York Times ^ | September 11, 2007 | SEAN D. HAMILL

Posted on 09/11/2007 5:52:21 AM PDT by indcons

Valencia M. McClatchey thought she was doing the right thing when she gave the F.B.I. a copy of her photo of the mushroom-shaped cloud that rose over the hill outside her home after United Flight 93 crashed in a field here on Sept. 11, 2001.

And, after it became apparent that hers was the only known picture of that ominous gray cloud — and the first taken after Flight 93 crashed — Mrs. McClatchey thought she was still doing the right thing when she gave copies to people who asked for them, and let newspapers and television stations use it.

But fame for the photo has had an unexpected cost for the photographer.

“Every time I’ve done any stories it goes online and all these conspiracy theorists start up and they call me and harass me,” said Mrs. McClatchey, 51, who runs her own real estate company.

In online postings, critics have ripped apart every element of the photo and Mrs. McClatchey’s life. They accuse her of faking the photo, of profiteering from it and of being part of a conspiracy to cover up that the government shot down Flight 93.

They claim the mushroom cloud is from an ordnance blast, not a jet crashing; the cloud is the wrong color for burning jet fuel; the cloud is too small and in the wrong position.

They have posted her personal e-mail address, phone numbers and street address online. One Canadian “9/11 debunker” surreptitiously taped a phone conversation with her, questioning her about the photo, and then uploaded it to his Web site.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 911; 911conspiracy; conspiracytheorists; paulestinians; sixthanniversary
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To: savedbygrace
That's not a mushroom cloud. THIS is a mushroom cloud:


21 posted on 09/11/2007 6:28:12 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: RWB Patriot
"You just add whatever proves you wrong to the conspiracy."

Ego protection. Few can admit they've been suckered.

22 posted on 09/11/2007 6:31:15 AM PDT by Eastbound
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To: indcons
WAYR?

They claim the mushroom cloud is from an ordnance blast, not a jet crashing; the cloud is the wrong color for burning jet fuel; the cloud is too small and in the wrong position.

..and these 'experts' in their mom's basement are experts on this because?????

23 posted on 09/11/2007 6:33:17 AM PDT by mnehring (Thompson/Hunter '08- Time to have the real men in charge!)
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy
Amen. We have our share of folks that think every photo on the web is a Photoshop in front of a conspiracy.

However, our "nuts" focus 99.9% of the time on MSM photos, some of which have proven to be Photoshopped.

The Left chooses to pick on a normal, everyday American woman who simply took a picture.

24 posted on 09/11/2007 6:37:02 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (No buy China!!)
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To: DJ MacWoW

Makes me sick. I swear, these idiots have watched movies and think it’ll look just like that always in real life. Or act like that, or do this or that.

The truther movement is really one of mental illness. There’s such a desire to deny that it’s really a real islamic threat that they will go to any lengths to deceive themselves that it’s something they know isn’t a real threat, the Bush admin.


25 posted on 09/11/2007 6:39:44 AM PDT by Tolsti
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To: Tolsti

Tolsti: You’ve summed it up nicely. They’re unable to face the reality. So they make up comic book theories that their minds can handle comfortably.


26 posted on 09/11/2007 6:44:40 AM PDT by popdonnelly (Our first responsibility is to keep the power of the Presidency out of the hands of the Clintons.)
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To: Tolsti

They are delusional. The first and biggest delusion is that all the people necessary for there to be a conspiracy would be able to keep it secret. Common sense shows their delusions a lie.


27 posted on 09/11/2007 6:45:48 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (Jesus loves you, Allah wants you dead)
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To: indcons

Figures this is the New York Slimes. Here we are on a day of rememberance to honor the 3000 who died and all these scumbags can do is think about how this is Bush’s fault.

Sickening.


28 posted on 09/11/2007 7:00:07 AM PDT by G8 Diplomat (It's campaign season. Let's rumble!)
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To: RexBeach
Fire can't bend steel?

Somevbody should have told Sherman's boys that...


29 posted on 09/11/2007 7:07:43 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: DJ MacWoW

These 9/11 conspiracy people have got be be some of the biggest bunch of morons on the planet. They have worked themselves into such an hysterical frenzy they will never be normal again. I used to laugh at when I heard the term “Bush Derangement Syndrome” but I have met several people with it.

I think I understand their theory... Bush so dumb and weak he needs Cheney and Rove to pull his strings. Bush is also so smart and powerful that he can manipulate the world into thinking we were attacked on 9/11 by Islamic terrorists when he himself planted the explosives in the Towers. They airliners were only a mass illusion. Then he uses his special mind powers to convince Congress to give him permission and funding to do what he wants to do, invade Iraq right under their noses. It was so sneaky that when Congress debated about it for months they didn’t even know about it.

Then he sets up a puppet government in Iraq to drive the price of oil so Haliburton can get rich off the backs of the poor. If any Republican looks like they might be against him, he commands Rove to use his special mind powers to make them gay or potential 2008 presidential candidates. Both resulting in eventually driving them from office.

He then sneaks into the back hills of Pakistan and forces Bin Laden to dye his beard darker and read Democrat talking points. This was not part of Bush’s master plan. He only did it because he could.....

I may not be exactly correct but I think am close.....


31 posted on 09/11/2007 7:15:37 AM PDT by Dutch Boy
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To: BenLurkin

Yes! A “Sherman Bow Tie”!


32 posted on 09/11/2007 7:16:05 AM PDT by RexBeach ("Americans never quit." Douglas MacArthur)
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: Dutch Boy
they will never be normal again.

Yes, but what do we do with a million potentially violent moonbats?

34 posted on 09/11/2007 7:19:57 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: indcons

most all explosions “mushroom” as they go up...


35 posted on 09/11/2007 7:20:15 AM PDT by The Wizard (DemonRATS: enemies of America)
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To: indcons

most all explosions “mushroom” in some way as they go up...


36 posted on 09/11/2007 7:20:39 AM PDT by The Wizard (DemonRATS: enemies of America)
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To: DJ MacWoW

You forget that the conspiracy theories themselves are really a conspiracy by Bush to make people believe that he is all-powerful and could successfully execute such a plan and it’s coverup. At least that was the South Park angle.


37 posted on 09/11/2007 7:21:32 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: indcons

The History Channel has put together an excellent documentation and rebuttel to just about every wild theory out there. The only one they were really weak on was the testimony of Norman Mineta. Other than that, they had cold, hard evidence to dispute every thing out there.


38 posted on 09/11/2007 7:22:49 AM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: Dutch Boy
I think you're close too.

I just shake my head at some of the crap. I read one truthers site that no unions lost guys that day because they were warned. Hubbys union lost 8 or 9. These truther people are crazy and will ignore any facts in order to push their delusions.

39 posted on 09/11/2007 7:23:17 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (Jesus loves you, Allah wants you dead)
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To: indcons
This article demonstrates why al Qaeda never considered for one moment, crashing one of those hijacked airliners into the New York Times building.

WHY would they attack their ALLIES?!?
40 posted on 09/11/2007 7:30:58 AM PDT by mkjessup (Jan 20, 2009 - "We Don't Know. Where Rudy Went. Just Glad He's Not. The President. Burma Shave.")
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