"I like a good story, well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself." - Mark Twain
Monday, July 7, 2025
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...
"The greatest vexation with communism was not the intricate cleverness of the lies, but rather their ham-fisted clumsiness, which would insult the intelligence of a child or a simpleton, and their endless repetition coerced by those in charge."
there's he problem...we're not asking the right questions. maxwell was the one keeping the records. no one asks about HER records.
it's like when people blame the CIA for things, and they deny it...because the DIA (or NSA. or whatever) was the one actually doing it, but no one ever asks them.
This may be an unpopular opinion around here, but I think they are probably telling the truth.
I'm kind of curious as to how blackmail is supposed to have worked in the case of Epstein - it seems to me that any release of information would have served to implicate not only the man being blackmailed but also Epstein himself, plus probably lots of other powerful men who would have a vested interest in making sure that everyone's secrets were kept. Mutually assured destruction doesn't lend itself to blackmail as a business.
Personally I don't find it all that implausible that Epstein ran a brothel but not a blackmail operation, and that he kept any client list in his head. Influence peddling, casual information gathering, and brokering "gentlemen's" agreements don't leave evidence to be found by prosecutors, and are a lot safer for a pimp than high-stakes blackmail.
Eric Erickson has been on something of a tear about this, since he has been saying for awhile that there isn't and wasn't ever a list. He points out that both investigative journalists and the girls' lawyers have repeatedly said for years that there was no list. As far as I can tell, it boils down to everyone with access to actual evidence saying one thing, and internet rumors and "common knowledge" saying another - simple logic suggests that it is more likely that common knowledge is mistaken than it is that the conspiracy is so vast that even Patel and Bogino have become ensnared.
If it makes you any happier, Pam Bondi may not destined to remain long in her position.
The problem with that theory is multiple FBI spokesholes, including the current one, admitting that the Director of the FBI "had the client list" in the case file.
They've tried handwaving to liesplain how they misspoke, but it's a tough lie to walk back, esp. given previous assertions.
Starting with Epstein having pandered girls to no one, and thus being arrested and federally charged for doing nothing.
Well either they are lying now, or they were lying then. I think it more probable that they were lying then, particularly since Patel and Bogino changed their tune once they were in a position to see the actual evidence, which just so happens to coincide with what a number of other people who also had access to actual evidence have been saying. Pam Bondi was the one saying that she had the file on her desk, but she is the publicity hound and I'm inclined to side with those who think she was just making stuff up and casting the blame elsewhere to cover for her own lies.
I don't think that anyone is saying that Epstein never pandered girls to other men - they are saying that he never BLACKMAILED them, which means he didn't keep evidence as to who was doing what. Add to the fact that most of these girls have been subsequently paid off, signed NDAs, and settled overseas, there just isn't evidence to pursue them for rape charges. And there is apparently no evidence that there was any conspiracy beyond what you'd find in any other brothel.
I don't blame you for being suspicious. A couple years ago I probably would have agreed with you. However, the COVIDiots on the right, the Russophiles, and some of the developments since the election have kind of opened my eyes to just how much supposition there is masquerading as fact among the Right, and how many of the loudest MAGA voices are just mercenaries and grifters telling people what they want to hear (see: Tucker Carlson's history) or outright kooks (See: Steve Bannon). I really do think it would behoove everyone to ask themselves from time to time how much of what they "know" is based on something that those folks told us back when we still had reason to trust them. Re-examining one's presuppositions isn't a pleasant experience, but healthier in the long run, or at least so I hope.
And Ms. Maxwell in prison for doing nothing.
ReplyDeletethere's he problem...we're not asking the right questions. maxwell was the one keeping the records. no one asks about HER records.
Deleteit's like when people blame the CIA for things, and they deny it...because the DIA (or NSA. or whatever) was the one actually doing it, but no one ever asks them.
Why was Epstein even arrested then? He must be a Saint like George Floyd.
ReplyDeleteThis may be an unpopular opinion around here, but I think they are probably telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of curious as to how blackmail is supposed to have worked in the case of Epstein - it seems to me that any release of information would have served to implicate not only the man being blackmailed but also Epstein himself, plus probably lots of other powerful men who would have a vested interest in making sure that everyone's secrets were kept. Mutually assured destruction doesn't lend itself to blackmail as a business.
Personally I don't find it all that implausible that Epstein ran a brothel but not a blackmail operation, and that he kept any client list in his head. Influence peddling, casual information gathering, and brokering "gentlemen's" agreements don't leave evidence to be found by prosecutors, and are a lot safer for a pimp than high-stakes blackmail.
Eric Erickson has been on something of a tear about this, since he has been saying for awhile that there isn't and wasn't ever a list. He points out that both investigative journalists and the girls' lawyers have repeatedly said for years that there was no list. As far as I can tell, it boils down to everyone with access to actual evidence saying one thing, and internet rumors and "common knowledge" saying another - simple logic suggests that it is more likely that common knowledge is mistaken than it is that the conspiracy is so vast that even Patel and Bogino have become ensnared.
If it makes you any happier, Pam Bondi may not destined to remain long in her position.
Grey-Fox-With-An-E
The problem with that theory is multiple FBI spokesholes, including the current one, admitting that the Director of the FBI "had the client list" in the case file.
DeleteThey've tried handwaving to liesplain how they misspoke, but it's a tough lie to walk back, esp. given previous assertions.
Starting with Epstein having pandered girls to no one, and thus being arrested and federally charged for doing nothing.
Well either they are lying now, or they were lying then. I think it more probable that they were lying then, particularly since Patel and Bogino changed their tune once they were in a position to see the actual evidence, which just so happens to coincide with what a number of other people who also had access to actual evidence have been saying. Pam Bondi was the one saying that she had the file on her desk, but she is the publicity hound and I'm inclined to side with those who think she was just making stuff up and casting the blame elsewhere to cover for her own lies.
DeleteI don't think that anyone is saying that Epstein never pandered girls to other men - they are saying that he never BLACKMAILED them, which means he didn't keep evidence as to who was doing what. Add to the fact that most of these girls have been subsequently paid off, signed NDAs, and settled overseas, there just isn't evidence to pursue them for rape charges. And there is apparently no evidence that there was any conspiracy beyond what you'd find in any other brothel.
I don't blame you for being suspicious. A couple years ago I probably would have agreed with you. However, the COVIDiots on the right, the Russophiles, and some of the developments since the election have kind of opened my eyes to just how much supposition there is masquerading as fact among the Right, and how many of the loudest MAGA voices are just mercenaries and grifters telling people what they want to hear (see: Tucker Carlson's history) or outright kooks (See: Steve Bannon). I really do think it would behoove everyone to ask themselves from time to time how much of what they "know" is based on something that those folks told us back when we still had reason to trust them. Re-examining one's presuppositions isn't a pleasant experience, but healthier in the long run, or at least so I hope.
Believe whatever helps you sleep at night.
DeleteThey said they had a client list.
Suddenly, they "don't".
Cui bono?
Truth isn't one of the options.
"Falsus in uno, falsus in omnbibus" is the standard, since the Roman republic.
Hence, assume they're all lying, all the time, and you'll rarely be disappointed.
And Epstein didn't kill himself.
Yet again, cui bono?