The Assassination and Mrs. Paine

[Steve M. Galbraith]

A critique of Edward Curtin's review:

http://wtracyparnell.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-assassination-and-mrs-paine-behind.html

"Curtin believes that "all" of the mainstream media—CBS, ABC, The Washington Post, etc.—"speak for the Central Intelligence Agency."

I've had this exchange with conspiracists numerous times over the years with them squawking in unison "Operation Mockingbird, Operation Mockingbird, Operation Mockingbird..." and claiming that "the CIA" and their assets - people like Priscilla Johnson and Max Holland - and the mainstream media have covered up what really happened. Yes, multiple generations of reporters and editors and others for these news organizations, for the Post, the NY Times, for the networks, for some inexplicable reason have covered up for the CIA's murder of JFK. The bizarre Jim DiEugenio claims Walter Cronkite is/was among these journalistic conspirators. Yes, Cronkite.

This is, of course, the same set of news organizations that exposed the CIA's abuses, the "Family Jewels." And the FBI's abuses. Watergate, the lies of Vietnam and assorted other abuses all revealed by this same media that "speaks" for the CIA. If they "speak for the CIA" then why did the CIA allow them to reveal these abuses? Does the CIA control them or not?

As to this point: "[Good's] search for JFK knowledge gives him the perfect excuse for a sequel (or a series of them) just as it has provided Morley with a reason to pen five books related to the subject. Because conspiracies, which are really just historical mysteries, sell."

I was thinking of Morley when I came across this passage by Thomas Mallon in "Mrs. Paine's Garage."

"Most posters [on internet sites] do not want the case 'solved.' Their goal is to sustain the imagined mystery's eternal life....They light, not a prairie fire [that clears everything away] but a sort of burning circus hoop through which the same gaudy villains and dupes are coaxed to jump again and again."

"Sustain the imagined mystery's eternal life..." That is the perfect description of what Morley is doing. And others.

[W. Tracy Parnell]

Excellent post Steve.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Why would the news media cover up all of these years - we're not talking about their coverage of the WC; we're talking about generations of reporters and editors over multiple decades - for the CIA's murder of JFK? For what purpose? Walter Cronkite gained what by doing so? The NY Times "spoke" for the CIA for what reason?

The same media that exposed the abuses of the agency - the "Family Jewel's" revelations - has covered up for their treasonous murder of JFK? Again, for what benefit? If they speak for the CIA then why did they talk about those crimes, crimes that the conspiracists point to when they say the CIA did this crime?

It's another example in a long list of the contradictions in the conspiracy argument. This whole conspiracy idea that "the government" killed JFK is illogical and at odds with itself.

[Richard Smith]

Why would the news media cover up all of these years - we're not talking about their coverage of the WC; we're talking about generations of reporters and editors over multiple decades - for the CIA's murder of JFK? For what purpose? Walter Cronkite gained what by doing so? The NY Times "spoke" for the CIA for what reason?

The same media that exposed the abuses of the agency - the "Family Jewel's" revelations - has covered up for their treasonous murder of JFK? Again, for what benefit? If they speak for the CIA then why did they talk about those crimes, crimes that the conspiracists point to when they say the CIA did this crime?

It's another example in a long list of the contradictions in the conspiracy argument. This whole conspiracy idea that "the government" killed JFK is illogical and at odds with itself.

JFK is a leftist icon.  The leftist media would be overjoyed to have uncovered some evidence of a right-wing conspiracy to kill him.   The CTers need a cover up to explain why they can't ever prove a conspiracy.  Someone is always precluding them from doing so.  Either the government or someone else.  The UFO believers have the same problem.  The cover up is the only way to explain why they have no actual evidence to support their conclusion.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

JFK is a leftist icon.  The leftist media would be overjoyed to have uncovered some evidence of a right-wing conspiracy to kill him.   The CTers need a cover up to explain why they can't ever prove a conspiracy.  Someone is always precluding them from doing so.  Either the government or someone else.  The UFO believers have the same problem.  The cover up is the only way to explain why they have no actual evidence to support their conclusion.

The idea that liberal outlets like the NY Times and Washington Post would coverup for the murder of the sainted JFK is absurd. And coverup for Hoover? And for LBJ? Liberals loathe those two men. And the CIA? And multiple generations of reporters and editors? Who thinks like this?

I don't know which is more illogical: that they would cover up for the murder of JFK or that JFK had to be murdered. He was a remarkably charistmatic president but he was, politically, ordinary. He was moderate on domestic issues and a believer in the Cold War policies of his predecessors. Yes, he wanted to avoid a direct US/USSR conflict but he recognized that the Soviet Union and communism were existential threats to the West. Finding a way to prevent a nuclear war was one thing; but surrendering to them - which is what Oliver Stone and his likes believe - was another.

This is from his speech he was to give in Dallas that day (from his closing remarks):

"We in this country, in this generation, are – by destiny rather than choice – the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of "peace on earth, good will toward men." That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: "except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.""

That's not just amazing rhetoric; he believed in those ideas.