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The American economy is being assessed as "sluggish"' by some partisan writers on the left but reports are reaching the national desk at the World's Laziest Journalist's headquarters that indicate that the Amalgamated Conspiracy Theory Factory is operating this summer at full capacity with three shifts working seven days a week. In the middle of the summer of 2011, here are some of the most preposterous examples of what is being peddled to the gullible.
In the era of pat-downs and scans at the airports, is it really that easy for a comedian with a plate of shaving cream to get onto the floor of Parliament?
Was the pie incident planned in advance by Murdoch's spin doctors to generate sympathy and divert attention away from the testimony? Did his wife's defense move come so fast because it had been rehearsed? What previous body guard experience has she had? Are we supposed to believe that it was a reflex reaction on the part of a hausfrau?
Have the Employees of Rupert Murdoch been exposed to some germs from the Bush Administration and will they soon be experiencing the manifestations of an epidemic of "witness amnesia?" What? You can't recall what "witness amnesia" is? Well, then, there's no use elaborating on this new conspiracy theory. We'll let the matter drop.
Many of the new attempts at producing news worthy examples of conspiracy theories are a variation on the possibility that the nice kindly old gentleman (think of him as the Australian Geppetto?) in charge would have instigated some instances of extortion and political blackmail. (Didn't Donald Rumsfeld often cite an old Al Capone quote: "A kind word and a gun, will get you a lot further than the kind word alone."?)
Various refurbished classic old theories are being souped up (a la the hot rodders and pre-war dry lake racing scene) and being offered as "new and improved." Conspiracy theorists contend that a second look is required now to explain some past sudden shifts in American politics.
Does the fact that a cousin of George W. Bush, who worked for Fox News in 2000 and changed the election night projection, in the middle of the night, for a Florida win for Gore to a win for Bush and thus flipped the outcome, indicate that there is need for a closer look?
Does the fact that a fellow called "Knute" was having an extra marital affair at the same time he was condemning Bill Clinton saying that the President should be impeached because of some funny business with an intern mean that "Knute" could have been coerced into backing some rule-bending which granted crucial exemptions to Murdoch?
Was the sudden epidemic of news stories alleging a mental break down by Howard Dean during a victory speech an example of a journalistic example of morphic resonance or was it part of a concerted coordinated conspiracy to bestow the "frontrunner" mantle on a Democrat for whom an extensive and far reaching attack on his strong point had been painstakingly assembled? Did the unexpected Dean surge catch the Murdoch smear machine off guard?
Did some bit of clandestine extortion and/or political blackmail occur during the twelve hours between the time Sen. Kerry told a nation wide TV audience that he would contest the 2004 election results in Ohio and the next morning when he suddenly switched to the "no worries, mate" attitude?
We've heard that one of MSNBC's talking heads has raised questions about some high profile unexplained political resignations and the possibility of some stealth extortion and political blackmail.
One of the more interesting but almost completely ignored new conspiracy theories postulates a similarity between the crowded field of contenders for the Republican Party's 2012 Presidential nomination and Agatha Christie's classic mystery "Ten Little Indians." The premise is that when the only Republican candidate left un-sullied is JEB, he will win the coveted prize by default. (Oh! Don't say that word this summer.)
Doesn't Fox wash away all doubts about the reliability of the unverifiable voting results from the electronic voting machines by reciting the ancient sorcerer's incantation: "Conspiracy theory!"?
Some members of the conspiracy theory cult worshippers are asserting that the Wall Street Journal has done the Jekyll and Hide act with its (former) sterling reputation for untarnished quality news reporting. (What do ya bet that conspiracy theory is being espoused by an insignificant blogger with the journalism equivalent of penis envy?)
Is "integrity" at the WSJ as dead as the old nine column three deck headline reserved by the New York Times for use on the days that meant that the course of history had changed overnight?
Once upon a time there was a blogger who noticed that when the Bush Administration suggested that folks in America should construct an airtight panic room as a precaution to protect them from chemical or biological terrorisms attacks, it ignored the very strong potential for death from asphyxiation. He wrote a letter to the New York Times pointing out the grievous window of opportunity for tragedy.
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