Shuttle Cover-up? (kook alert)

NewsMax ^ | 02/03/03 | John LeBoutillier

[Pokey78]

There was one odd item in the Washington Post story Sunday about the shuttle crash. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card was up at Camp David with the president. They had originally planned to have British Prime Minister Tony Blair up there, but the foggy conditions prevented helicopter flights. So Friday afternoon the two leaders had their meeting in the White House residence instead. Then the Bush party went up to Camp David for the weekend.

Saturday morning, according to this story, Card was "watching NASA TV at Camp David when the accident occurred." He then immediately went over to Bush's cabin, Aspen, and told the president what happened.

The fact that the White House chief of staff is even watching the landing of a space shuttle on a Saturday morning - while at Camp David in the middle of the Iraq crisis - raises a big red flag.

Was he previously informed that NASA was worried about tile damage from the launch?

How much internal chatter about a risky landing was there?

Did NASA expect trouble on an otherwise routine landing?

How many other officials suspected trouble Saturday morning?

Did NASA tell the astronauts and their families of the extra risk with this landing?

These and many other questions are hanging in the air as NASA tries to figure out what happened.

It seems possible that right after the launch NASA officials grew worried that there may have been serious damage. Perhaps they then had high-level meetings about their worries and, as a potential CYA measure, informed Andy Card.

It is odd that the White House chief of staff would watch a shuttle landing. Such a routine event - early on a Saturday morning, in the midst of Blair, U.N. inspections, Colin Powell's upcoming intelligence revelations to the Security Council - seems to be something that a White House big shot would pay no attention to.

If he had a heads-up that something might have been amiss, then we need to be told. And it will come out - eventually.

Haven't we all learned that cover-ups are huge mistakes? It is always better just to square with the people.

NASA has a wonderful safety record over 40 years of manned space flight. They now need to also have a wonderful candor record.

[Pokey78]

[Poohbah]

Has John LeBoutillier been right about anything lately?

[Catspaw]

Les Nessman doing his black helicopter routine comes to mind....

[norraad]

That much extra foil on the 20 year old flying bread trucks wing might have avoided all this.

[Corin Stormhands]

The fact that the White House chief of staff is even watching the landing of a space shuttle on a Saturday morning - while at Camp David in the middle of the Iraq crisis - raises a big red flag.

Obviously this author does not understand the concept of "500 channels, and nothing on..."

[dirtboy]

The fact that the White House chief of staff is even watching the landing of a space shuttle on a Saturday morning - while at Camp David in the middle of the Iraq crisis - raises a big red flag.

I was wondering what a**hole would be the first to make a conspiracy theory out of this. I should have figured it would be LeButtHead.

[TomB]

The fact that the White House chief of staff is even watching the landing of a space shuttle on a Saturday morning - while at Camp David in the middle of the Iraq crisis - raises a big red flag.

No John, you blithering idiot, all it means is that there are some people (present company included) that are fascinated by spaceflight and doesn't miss a chance to watch it.

And NewsMax continues on it's decline into obscurity.

[r9etb]

John LeBoutillier and NewsMax -- doesn't get any better than that unless Pat Buchanan and Hackworth chime in, too.

Perhaps Mr. Card is simply interested in Shuttle missions? Or maybe, just maybe, he was working on some sort of congratulatory call to the crew, and perhaps a message of congratulations to Ariel Sharon on the successful mission of the first Israeli astronaut.

Crap like this is why NewsMax filed as a swear word in my dictionary.

[Poohbah]

If idiocy were money, he could retire the National Debt with the petty cash...

[VRWCmember]

This idiot probably thought "Capricorn One" was a documentary rather than a poorly made movie.

[OldFriend]

Consider the source and hope he gets treatment soon.

[philosofy123]

Where do you get such handy picture? Very funny.

[TomServo]

Les Nessman doing his black helicopter routine comes to mind....

LOL!!! Oh - the humanities!!!

[Mr. Mojo]

Newsmax and WorldNetDaily are both complete embarrassments. The National Enquirer is a more respected source.

[Fred Mertz]

I heard that the president was driven back to the White House from Camp David on Saturday for his brief address to the nation on the Columbia tragedy. They blamed it on weather, but I heard the weather wasn't that bad in the AO.

How was the weather on Saturday noontime?

[Quilla]

His stories about Condit in the S&M threesomes sure turned out to be true too. Shoot they helped solved the Chandra Levy mystery. /sarcasm

[ImphClinton]

Big Kook alert.

He most likely has a number of sets on at once. One to NASA the others to news sources. All these news sourcew would refer to the accident.

On a more serious note though. the last mission (night launch) had more tile damage than normal. They were looking forward to the better pictures this time.

Enviro-whackos forced NASA to stop using freon to make the foam that fell off. Guess seven lives are less important than the enviroment. Hopefully they will go back to freon and avoid problems in the future.

[Pokey78]

My buddy BamaChris, who frequents FR.

Yes Chris, I stole it. hehe

[dirtboy]

They blamed it on weather, but I heard the weather wasn't that bad in the AO.

I live in the same mountain range as Camp David, about 100 miles to the north in Pennsylvania. We were pretty socked in with overcast, drizzle and fog that morning.

[Poohbah]

Foggy.