Guest blogged by Steve Huff, with additional updates by Brad Friedman.
NOTE: The original version of this blog entry was published here. This version has been updated several times, specifically for The BRAD BLOG. See updates at end of article…
Police are investigating a possible double murder and suicide in an Orlando, Florida, residence owned by the former Executive Director of the Georgia Republican Party.
The Orange County Sheriff was called to 2420 Hickory Oak Blvd. in Orlando early Thursday. There they found three dead white men and two live dogs. The men may have been dead since Tuesday.
The home where they were found dead was owned by a political consultant/strategist of Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), the one who worked on the Congressman’s smear campaign against vote-rigging whistleblower Clint Curtis last year. More details on that campaign below.
Feeney describes Gonzalez as “a born political consultant.” On commenting on the news, Feeney said of Gonzalez, “He was an adviser and strategist for me and became a very good friend.”
Detectives haven’t revealed exactly how the three were killed, save that it was through foul play.
At least two of the men lived at the residence. Investigators told local media that they found firearms and signs of a struggle inside the home. Detectives also indicated that they felt they might be looking at a murder-suicide.
The address where this crime took place was also the Florida address for The Strategum Group, a political consulting outfit run by Ralph Gonzalez. A portion of Gonzalez’s bio from The Strategum Group’s website:
Ralph Gonzalez’s national and international political experience, his experience and understanding of the political and legislative process, in conjunction with his unique political instincts, has made him a first class asset to political candidates and organizations.
Ralph was born in Miami, speaks fluent Spanish, and currently resides in Orlando.
Records filed with the Florida Division of Corporations indicated that Gonzalez founded Strategum in 2003 as a domestic profit corporation.
Gonzalez maintained Georgia ties. Republican Congressman Tom Price from Roswell, GA, was one of several politicos who gave testimonials for Strategum published on the Group’s website.
Another testimonial for Strategum was given by controversial Florida Republican Tom Feeney, who represents Florida House District 24. Feeney’s quote on the Group’s site read:
Feeney’s bio on Wikipedia points out that he was once called one of the “20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress” by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Brad Friedman has doggedly tracked many of the alleged instances of corruption connected with Feeney.
The Orlando Sentinel indicated that Feeney was not Strategum’s only controversial client:
Whatever they did for their clients, Strategum was expensive. The Sentinel reported in July of 2005 that one failed candidate for Orlando mayor had paid the consultants $115,000 for “three weeks of work.”
This story is still developing.
Updates will be posted below.
UPDATE 1, 7:15 p.m. ET
Ralph Gonzalez’s career seems to have always put him one degree of separation away from infamous former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
When Ralph Reed was elected chairman of the Georgia Republican Party in 2001 [link], two of the party’s executive directors were Todd Schnick and Ralph Gonzalez. When Gonzalez filed an annual report for Strategum with the State of Florida Division of Corporations in January, 2007, Schnick was listed as one of his business partners.
(Note: Todd Schnick is a name that you might remember if you believe the 2000 presidential election was stolen, and that said theft occurred in Florida.)
Ralph Reed has been associated with Abramoff since at least 1981.
Tom Feeney’s connections with Abramoff have been well-documented by Brad Friedman. This link goes to just one example.
Updates will continue as needed.
UPDATE 2, 7:44 p.m. ET
The Orlando Sentinel has confirmed that one of the men found dead in the home in Orlando was indeed the former Executive Director of the Georgia Republican Party, Ralph Gonzalez.
NOTE FOR BRAD BLOG READERS
If you recall the incredibly contentious campaign between Clint Curtis and Tom Feeney, you may recall this smear website launched by Team Feeney: CrazyClintCurtis.com.
The amateurish site was expressly designed to make Curtis look like a tinfoil-hat wearing loon. The assumption at the time was that Feeney’s consultants were behind it. It should be no surprise then that they probably were (following info found via the fantastic robtex.com):
domains sharing mailservers
accudatatech.com
aerobatic.ws
alitel.net
aznedge.net
begovich.com
bioquem.com
brightwaterstech.com
bryantech.net
cougarcorp.net
craftylounge.com
crazyclintcurtis.com
Plenty of unrelated websites share mailservers. These particular URLs sharing the exact same first 10 URLs just seems a bit too telling.
However, it doesn’t tell us why Ralph Gonzalez and two other men were found dead in a room in Gonzalez’s Orlando home today.
That story, when it comes out, may be much stranger than anything Feeney accused Clint Curtis of concocting.
UPDATE 3, 11:36 p.m. ET
The Orlando Sentinel has reported the names of the other two men found dead in the home at 2420 Hickory Oak Blvd.: Gonzalez’s roommate David Abrami and a friend named Robert Drake.
Central Florida News 13 suggested in this article that Drake may have murdered Abrami and Gonzalez before committing suicide.
Abrami, in 1992, was vice president of the Central Florida Young Republican Club. That group made the news in November that year because they’d planned a weekend turkey shoot [link — you’ll need to scroll down to the middle of the page].
In and of itself this wasn’t news. The fact that they wanted to use enlarged photos of then incoming president Bill Clinton as targets was news. The Secret Service, naturally, vetoed the idea.
Abrami also had a MySpace page he’d been maintaining since 2006. His last login was two weeks ago. There wasn’t much there, and only one friend. Had he taken the page down? Does it matter? For all we know, it might.
Another interesting note about David Abrami: according to this article published 10 years ago in the Orlando Business Journal, Abrami at one time was an employee of another Orlando-area politcal consultant/publicist, Doug Guetzloe.
Things must have changed quite a bit in the decade since. Guetzloe made comments here about Strategum and Gonzalez (if they were indeed made by him) in 2006. His attitude seemed to indicate he was no fan of Ralph Gonzalez or The Strategum Group.
UPDATE 4, 8:02 a.m. ET, 8/24/07
Florida Today published an article this morning titled, “Lovers’ fight may have sparked 3 deaths.”
Who the “lovers” were is not clear. Quote:
If said lovers were among the three dead men, no one will miss the irony of Abrami and Gonzalez having ties to conservative Republican campaigns for the last 15 years or more.
UPDATE 5, 1:24pm ET, 8/24/07
Towleroad is now reporting that “All language about a ‘lovers’ fight’ has since mysteriously disappeared from the report.” at Florida Today. They have grabbed a screen shot of the original headline and story, however.
UPDATE 6, 2:23pm ET, 8/24/07 by Brad Friedman
Gonzalez’ Strategum Group was apparently behind all of Feeney’s 2006 mailings as part of his smear campaign against Clint Curtis. One such mailing which included doctored photos of Curtis and referenced an article I had written for Hustler concerning the still-unexplained mysterious death — in Georgia — of Ray Lemme of the Florida Inspector General’s office. Lemme had been investigating Curtis’ complaints about Feeney and Yang Enterprises Inc. where both men worked in 2000, and where Feeney alleged asked Curtis to create vote rigging software.
Local residents complained to the media about receiving “pornography” in their mailbox from the Feeney campaign, as reported by local TV outlets at the time. We originally reported on the matter here, including a link to the video report. A portion of that mailing is seen at right.
Feeney is quoted discussing his friend in an AP report today as follows:
– A Quick Summary of the story so far.
– An Index of all the Key Articles & Evidence in the series so far.
– Curtis eventually ended up running for U.S. Congress against Feeney in 2006.
For more info, see: www.ClintCurtis.com
Sick disturbed people. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m glad they could at the least rescue the dogs.
Republicans, please take a hard look at the members of your party and yourselves.
Democrats aren’t angels, but we’ll keep an eye on what they do. We don’t have the blind ignorant faith in our party that you seem to have in yours.
– Tom
Another dead man that had a close connection to the slime bucket feeney. Last time it was one who was investigating him, Raymond Lemme— https://bradblog.com/?page_id=3980
Gee, how come I’m not surprised. The only way that bastard beat Clint Curtis is by stealing the election with his democracy shredding DRE’s! I hope for this democracy’s sake they fucking nail him this time, this country can’t take one more second of these complicit and insane criminals running it.
Clint Curtis would be a Rep. if we lived in a democracy.
Anybody know what Gonzalez was doing in 2000?
Would recent Rather revelations about bad paper ballots in 2000 worry him?
How about voter caging in 2004?
My heart goes out to the dogs — hope they find kind caretakers.
It seems to be dangerous to have knowledge of Tom Feeney. Ray Lemme, these 3 guys. Pay attention, folks… It could keep getting nastier. Do you think somebody with knowledge will wanna talk now?
hmmmmmm…
shw
maybe the three dead guys wanted their piece of the feeney pie and feeney had them “suicided” , wonder if they have two one inch cuts on the inside of their elbows ?
mick
Funny how all these suicides keep happening, in Florida’s political circles.
Almost as if there were a pattern to them.
#2:
“The only way that bastard beat Clint Curtis is by stealing the election with his democracy shredding DRE’s!â€
WRONG!
I’ve seen reports that indicate that many of the votes, that Clint Curtis proved were stolen from the Democrats his survey represented, were stolen By Optimum Scam machines. Don’t go giving all of the credit to the evil DRE’s. The just as evil Optimum Scams were in on those heists too! If the paper records for Optimum Scammed “elections†can not be checked, even when you have proof positive that the votes could not possibly have been counted correctly like Clint Curtis had, then what is the point of even having a paper trail. They could just as well have saved some trees and used nothing but evil DRE’s, as depend on the totally protected paper records in the state of Florida to protect the intentions of the voters from the just as evil Optimum Scams ! Either machine steals the votes. Florida’s Optimum Scams just insure that any vote shifting can not be seen. They in no way prevent any vote shifting from happening. Under the conditions of use the Optimum Scam machines have in the state of Florida they only furnish an illusion of fairness that only the very naïve will ever be satisfied with. Florida is still far from being a functioning part of anything that could be honestly labeled a democracy.
Everyone, whether or not these people were “crooked” or led unconventional private lives, we should at least respect the fact that they are human beings and they have families that will miss them. We all do things in our jobs that we don’t like, but we do them because we must. Let’s keep that in mind, please.
Hey y’all, I may catch grief for this but ya know, we might ought to wait until the investigation is complete before we just assume Feeney’s tied to it. I know, I know, he runs with a slimy crowd in general – but this may have been a crime of passion that had absolutely nothing to do with their association with one of the most corrupt men in Congress.
I have to agree with Dee Trench in #10. These men were someone’s sons. Whatever the circumstances surrounding their deaths, my heart breaks for their mothers and fathers. I hope the press leaves the family alone and lets them grieve in private – but in all likelihood, that won’t happen.
And if Feeney IS tied to this…I hope he gets everything he deserves.
It is not healthy to be acquainted with Tom Feeney. Can’t wait to hear the results of the investigation. Wonder what secrets the deceased were about to reveal?
To be continued…
Sorry Dee, these sorry excuses for human beings have not earned my respect. I am pleased they are no longer sharing the same air as I am.
Anyone who would compromise themselves, their nation, and their fellow human beings in favor of power greed and corruption has lost that privilege.
I am not even troubled by the lover’s triangle that brought this about.
I DO find it ironic, though, that homosexual scandal continues to plague the rank and file of hypocritical republican operations nationwide.
Farewll and good riddance to 3 pieces of trash.
@mick#7
what are you referencing here?
“wonder if they have two one inch cuts on the inside of their elbows ?”
Weird things happen in the universe and this is just a coincidence. 3 men dead, 3 families grieve. Nothing to see here. Yet. Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.
Elbow #14…
read up on the death of Ray Lemme, he was investigating corruption between Feeney’s company and the Florida DOT while Feeney was representing Yang Enterprises.
1 day after Fl DOT investigator Ray Lemme advised a coworker that he had found documented evidence that the corruption went “all the way to the top” he was found dead in a Georgia hotel room with 2 inch cuts in the crooks of his elbows.
His death was quickly ruled a suicide, GA law does not require autopsy in suicide cases, the corruption investigation was quickly dropped, and Feeney went on to become a congressman representing FL district 24.
Seriously, you need to educate yourself on Feeney. he’s up to his neck in serious corruption, quite possibly including murder and some of the 1st indications of Electronic voting vote tally manipulation.
Seems to me, 4 total deaths can be dot-connected to Feeney. Who’s campaign consultant were they at one time? 4 is a lot.
DAN –
I’m sorry you feel that way. The hateful way that you refer to them just makes you sound like one of those people that you hate so much. I wish you good luck regardless. I think everyone deserves a chance to be people. You didn’t know them personally and jumping to conclusions makes you a fool. The political arena is a sad place full of very hateful people – regardless of their affiliations. I wish you all well.
Here’s Tom Feeney’s testimonial for Ralph Gonzalez and Stratagum, take a look at it before it disappears:
http://www.strategumusa.com/tes...eney_full.html
Dee: What “conclusions”?
What “hatefulness”?
This article says it could have been a “lover’s quarrel”:
“A prominent Republican Party consultant is one of three men found dead in a Central Florida home Thursday in an apparent double murder-suicide possibly sparked by a lovers’ quarrel, according to detectives. ”
http://www.local6.com/news/1395...l?eref=time_us
Dee: Talk about hateful! Did you read THIS part of Brad’s article?”
“Abrami, in 1992, was vice president of the Central Florida Young Republican Club. That group made the news in November that year because they’d planned a weekend turkey shoot…they wanted to use enlarged photos of then incoming president Bill Clinton as targets was news.”
WOW! That’s HATEFUL!
Big Dan, Brad didn’t write this article. I did.
Steve Huff
Looks as though Dee and Dan and Big Dan are all confused with each other here. Dan is one guy and Big Dan is another guy, Dee. And Big Dan, Dee was talking to Dan. And Brad didn’t post the piece, Steve Huff did. Now if Dandelion Huff would just post, we could all be thoroughly confused….
Brad did add the last update, I should note.
Oh, good, then, well, he’s not totally useless. 😛
Dee, not hate, I don’t hate anyone.
I just have a complete lack of respect for these 3.
I chose my words carefully.
These people sold their souls in order to corrupt the world you and I live in.
Feel free to be all touchy fealy about this, that is your prerogative, and I’m not criticizing it.
However, I do not share your sentiments.
This is my prerogative.
Sheri McInvale.
She’s indicted, and then a week later, somebody who was known for dirty tricks (and hence, likely to know what kind of dirty work Sheri was involved in) is found dead.
Strikes me as a case of somebody indicating they were going to make a deal, and the cops not doing a very good job of keeping them safe. Of course, having screwed up, the cops are NOT about to admit it.
As for “feeling sorry for the families” and all that other crap. I’m sick of it. The Rethuglicans and other criminals don’t have any concern for ANY families. They perform evil and despicable acts that they COULD EASILY CHOOSE NOT TO COMMIT. They are not deserving of any pity, and their families lost them from the human race a long time ago. Should we have felt bad for the families of Hitler and his gang? I don’t think so.
When people stop being a part of the human race, they lose the right for sympathy. It’s not HATEFUL, it’s LOVE — love of INNOCENT PEOPLE DESTROYED BY RETHUGLICANS; love of the CONSTITUTION; love of the Bill of Rights; love of AMERICA; love of THE ENVIRONMENT and PLANET EARTH being ingored by these sick bastards; love of the POOR without HEALTH INSURANCE; love of all the hungry and sick people who could have been helped with the ONE TRILLION DOLLARS this illegal government has squandered in Iraq; love of the prosecuted and persecuted OPENLY GAY who are destroyed by closeted gay Rethuglicans; and so on — and a total lack of compassion for those who fight with every ounce of their energy and no moral compass to DESTROY all those things we love.
Do I hate every Rethuglican who has sold out their very souls to further thier careers or line their pockets or who believes that by destroying Democracy they are fighting “evil liberals” and will go to heaven? Yes, absolutely, with ALL MY HEART! Do I laugh inside when their evil and sick ways create an evil and sick disease inside their bodies and they announce they have some form of cancer? YOU FRIGGEN BET I DO! It’s called KARMA! Do evil, and (if the rest of us are lucky) evil will come to you, and hopefully sooner, rather than later.
Take your “we should remember they are people” lines and peddle them to a local church where they collect money and then work against the very people their religions are supposedly there to protect. Anybody who misses a war criminal needs to wake up and smell the PERSONAL CULPABILITY OF THOSE WHO GIVE CRIMINALS MORAL SUPPORT AND IN SO DOING, ADVANCE THEIR CRIMINAL GOALS.
OOPS! Steve Huff!
Can I throw something on the table here? Thirty-something male Republican “roomates”???
Let’s face it. The world is better off without the likes of Ralph Gonzales… One could say the same about Carl Rove… Let the diabolical people be swept from the earth. It’s not surprising that someone as steeped in SMEARS and DECEIT and BACKSTABBING and VILENESS wound up dead on his living room floor. Who cares? I couldn’t care less… in fact, I do believe the world is better off for it.
That’s BIG Dan to YOU…Agent 99!!! I love the way people pull the heartstrings, with “you should be ashamed”…but say nothing of all the people the GOP got killed in the Iraq War…I’m SURE that person is a regular Brad Blog reader…
Dee Troche, you have no idea what you’re talking about. First, I GUARANTEE YOU that these three men had no family relations the way you think of family relations. They are despicable evil people. They would just as soon sell their parents bodies as dog food if they could make $10.00 for it. Evil, smearing, lies, deceitfulness, backstabbing, vileness etc. is what these guys are about. They are strongly motivated toward destruction of society and of people. Evil makes them feel alive. They would call you a moron and a pansy for having respect for any other human beings on the face of the earth. THey are VERY VERY dark and their deaths are a VERY GOOD THING for the world and for decent people everywhere. Period.
Dee Troche just might be a shill. There’s always ONE post like that under every article on every progressive website uncovering news that makes the GOP look bad. There was (of course) ONE comment like that on the Raw Story article on the same subject. They just stopped calling themselves “Justice For All”, “Patriotic American”, etc…now it’s just “Dave” or “Dee”…
C’mon folks, let us not “feed on our own” if we can avoid it.
I don’t assume that Dee is a troll, I would urge others to avoid the trap of making that assumption as well.
Only thing for sure at this point is that the official story is BS. Somebody had these guys offed, but the question is who and why? Did Abramoff rat them out, and they were prepared to sing? They died to cover something up, of that there can be no doubt.
While I admit the murder and election thread looks interesting, I am having trouble understanding why death and elections or election campaigns are worth dying over be they by murder or suicide. Ray Lemme was different; he was a professional investigator and people knew what he was he was up to. I just don’t see Feeny connected with this, schmuck that he is.
I agree with CharlieL. Dee (#10) wrote:
“We all do things in our jobs that we don’t like, but we do them because we must.”
That simply isn’t true. What sort of person wouldn’t know that? The excuse of many Nazi war criminals was that they were just doing their jobs. It was not found to be a valid defense at the Nuremberg trials, and it is not a valid defense here.
Okay. Yes, BIG Dan is HUGE!!! 😛
For those who want to read up on the Raymond Lemme “suicide”…
WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTO’S
First question, Specifically which “detectives” cited in the article stating “according to detectives” said specifically what to precisely whom?
Second question, How many “detectives” cited in the article stating “according to detectives” spoke to precisely whom?
Third question presuming there are answers to the first two, What did each of the several “detectives” cited in the article stating “according to detectives” say to precisely whom?
Third question presuming there are no answers to the first two, Is this another case of non-existent “detectives” speaking to non-identified reporters regarding an apparent suicide/assassination?
Fourth question presuming there are answers to the first two, Will the detectives who released this information stay in their jobs?
Fourth question presuming there are no answers to the first two, How will the reporter who released this information explain this story’s source?
Fifth question, How many times was the presumed suicide victim shot?
Let’s demand an autopsy!
Well yeah Bob, because Florida has that insane law ——- thay’re not allowed to do recounts——BY LAW!!!!!!!!!!!
But I get what your saying and I think its stupid there isn’t a standard price on recounting ballots.
Seats for sale! Seats for sale! Strategum Group gives new meaning to seats for sale!
Anyone/anything associated with Tom Feeney is shady and filthy.
And hey Anon, does richard mellon scaife writte/or lack there of writing in your paper too? Your good at asking the NEVER asked question! Specific sources please, in writing/quote if your an actual news journalist and not just an opinion pusher.
TOTALLY OT
Its been bugging on me for a while, speaking of sources, so I’ll just say it…
One editorial in 40 years of subtle propaganda (the weakly/weekly sourced kind) does not make nicey nicey, off the hook, mr. heritage foundation guy, dickey scaife. Ya know blow-your-face-off is his buddy. As idiotboy bites his nails.
Sure they don’t read books, they just contribute money to make legislation in their myopic bubbles.
OH YEAH CHARLIEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check out at least the recent front group called:
Safety and Prosperity Coalition
xxxx Senoia Rd Ste A Tyrone, GA 30290
Which took in $1.3M (laundering campaign money from DC based American Justice Partnership and various insurance companies) and paid it out to TenCapitol, Inc and Strategum Group ($186,000) for a Georgia Special election 2006.
Google cache of campaign expenditures
Prescrubbed Local6 story: Google cache
http://www.local6.com/news/13957884/detail.html
. . . here we go again with bloodthirsty republican savages . . . . . draft them !
Okay, I may regret asking this, but here goes anyway:
Why are you all irritated at Dee, and not at me? I’m just curious.
I know where she’s coming from, because I’m a MOM, and first thing I think about is how I would feel if it was MY child who died. Circumstances and reasons don’t matter when it’s your child. And yes, we have sympathy for the families because, in case you need to be reminded, WE ARE NOT LIKE THE ONES WE ARE FIGHTING HERE.
Y’all, I can’t speak for Dee, but what I was saying is, let’s just not rush to ASSUME it’s all connected – it might be, but then again, it might NOT.
Brad and his team are hellacious investigators, and the truth WILL come out. But, maybe it’s just KARMA, ya know? Negative behavior attracts negative. And Lord knows these idiots have shown some attrocious behavior towards Clint – and he’s handled it like a gentleman, I might add.
I have to believe that sometimes people do actually get what they deserve.
But that doesn’t mean that the moms (or dads) deserve the pain they feel when they lose a loved one. Trust me, it IS possible to love your child and to absolutely hate what they stand for and what they are doing to everyone around them.
Sorry, not in a position to be very objective right now. So sue me.
Just don’t let yourself become so jaded with this bunch that you lose your compassion – please?
Steve and Brad, thanks for keeping us informed. I’m curious to see if the dots you’re providing can all be connected.
I’ll be shutting up now.
Let’s put it this way, KBE, a bunch of Bush-backers called “Freedom’s Way” are running a $15 million ad campaign exploiting the tragedy of 9/11 with maimed vets and people who lost loved ones in Iraq. They begin their ads with the vet etc…saying, “I lost my legs” or someone saying, “I lost a loved one on 9/11”, and they end their ad by saying, “Call your congressman and tell them to keep the Iraq War going…or I lost my legs for nothing”…etc…
It turns out this is a GOP shill group…LIKE ACVR…exploiting tragedy and pulling the “patriotism” SHIT, to twist it into more war. So they can say, “Are you questioning this maimed vet? You are against the troops!”
SO…I wouldn’t put it past these creeps to go onto a site about these murders, and say, “Oh, I’m a mom, and you should be ashamed”…etc…to divert attention from it.
(see Freedom’s Watch, ACVR…see exploiting emotions to distract from the issue)
KBE: The difference between YOU and Dee, is that YOU are a regular, we all know it. Dee appears to be a hit-and-run emotion shill who isn’t defending herself…another flag. Not saying she definitely IS a shill, but it has the hallmarks.
THAT’S why we’re not irritated at YOU!
🙂
We know you!
There’s hit-and-run trollsters who say things like, “WE liberals should be ashamed…”, etc…to stop discussion of a subject that makes them look bad.
“I’m a progressive like you, but this isn’t right”…etc…
Hey KBE, I love your comments, but this is spin machine and don’t doubt it!
Now, everybody knows I meant what Ms. Dee was spinning, reich?
Remember when
I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.
Kurt Vonnegut
If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you’re a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind.
Kurt Vonnegut
Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.
Kurt Vonnegut
Life happens too fast for you ever to think about it. If you could just persuade people of this, but they insist on amassing information.
Kurt Vonnegut
Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile!
Kurt Vonnegut
Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand
Kurt Vonnegut
Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before… He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way.
Kurt Vonnegut, “Cat’s Cradle”
One of the few good things about modern times: If you die horribly on television, you will not have died in vain. You will have entertained us.
Kurt Vonnegut, “Cold Turkey”, In These Times, May 10, 2004
– More quotations on: [Television]
Thanks to TV and for the convenience of TV, you can only be one of two kinds of human beings, either a liberal or a conservative.
Kurt Vonnegut, “Cold Turkey”, In These Times, May 10, 2004
– More quotations on: [Television]
There is a tragic flaw in our precious Constitution, and I don’t know what can be done to fix it. This is it: Only nut cases want to be president.
Kurt Vonnegut, “Cold Turkey”, In These Times, May 10, 2004
Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.
Kurt Vonnegut, A Man without a Country
Humor is an almost physiological response to fear.
Kurt Vonnegut, A Man without a Country
I think that novels that leave out technology misrepresent life as badly as Victorians misrepresented life by leaving out sex.
Kurt Vonnegut, A Man without a Country
1492. As children we were taught to memorize this year with pride and joy as the year people began living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America. Actually, people had been living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America for hundreds of years before that. 1492 was simply the year sea pirates began to rob, cheat, and kill them.
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
The chief weapon of sea pirates, however, was their capacity to astonish. Nobody else could believe, until it was too late, how heartless and greedy they were.
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
Aaron Russo has died, and I am crestfallen.
If you want to watch a good documentary, here’s his America: Freedom to Fascism.
HERE’S THE UNPUBLISHED STORY ON THE 3 DEATHS:
Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble butt, this has nothing to do with Feeney–scumbag though he may be.
My solid, but unconfirmed, sources say the Robert Drake was trying to hit Gonzalez up for cash to raise money to defend a kid who is on trial for murder up in Pennsylvania. The 26 year old “kid” ran a gay escort and porn business in Virginia Beach and may have had several Republican clients–Robert Drake being one. (See http://www.norfolkmaleescorts.com and http://www.boybatter.com)
Hang on, it gets seedier and a bit complicated….the “kid”, Harlow Cuadra, and his lover/business partner, Joe Kerekes, are charged with killing a rival gay porn producer Bryan Kocis in a very brutal death. It is alleged that Robert Drake, a former client of the escort business, took a strong liking (fell in love) with Cuadra long before the murder of Kocis, but went nutso when Cuadra was arrested; desperately doing anything he could to raise $$$ for his defense.
My sources say Drake may have approached Gonzalez for funds for Cuadra’s defense, threatening to blow the lid off everthing by MAKING THE REPUBLICAN CLIENT LIST OF THE GAY ESCORT BUSINESS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.
What happened in that house earlier this week in Orlando, we may never know. However, Drake, knowing that his gay lover, Harlow Cuadra, is more than likely going to fry for the murder of Kocis, may have gone off the deep end and killed Gonzalez and Abrami in desperation. It is conceivable that the first murder in Gonzalez’s house may have been accidental in a struggle. Then Drake, knowing that there no way to get out of this and knowing he would probably never see Cuadra again, shot Abrami and then killed himself.
There is a whole other story when it comes to the Bryan Kocis murder that deserves a movie in itself and it involves a whole different set of interesting characters. All of this, if ever documented and linked could make for one helluva blockbuster.
Who really knows or cares if Gonzalez and Abrami were gay lovers. I do not think Drake was a lover to either of them. I actually believe he was friends to one or both, but tried to abuse that friendship for his own lustful intent (again I site Harlow Cuadro).
Now for my commentary:
I know a lot of people. There are men (mostly) but women too, who decide for reasons of their own to live duplicitous lives–who are trying to live straight but have an attraction to the same sex is just one example. They are Republican and Democrat, young and old, honorable and scandalous.
I do not believe they set out to live that way, but due to pressures from society, family, friends, etc, they end up stuck in that conundrum of sexuality. I just wish we all had more compassion for each other as we all know confusion, despair, anger, sadness, joy, hope, and love.
Allow me to philosophize and say that I believe we are in a transition in American history where we are leaving behind the ideals of the 20th century where being gay was condemned–an illness–was sacrilegious, and moving into a place of discovery and acceptance for who we are whether we are homosexual or heterosexual or somewhere in between. It is a painful journey and one that will no doubt take generations to transcend–just like racism is ever, ever so slowly filtering itself out of society. Of course, we all should know that the ills of humanity will never completely go away.
All I am saying is we need to study ourselves, idividually, and understand our true motivations that are rooted in our past. This is so that we can approach our future in a positive way and not end up as the poor souls connected to this story. For the record, I am not necessarily an advocate for or against “gay rights”, but for the rights of all.
“Faith, hope, and love…the greatest of these being love.” I believe that. And until we begin to see each ourselves for who we are, the lack of love for ourselves may be warped into the motivation for our own destruction…and those around us.
Last thoughts: It is interesting that Robert Drake may have did what he did out of love for Harlow Cuadra. Joe Kerekes may have also did what he did out of love for Harlow Cuadra. Harlow Cuadra may have did what he did out of love for Sean Lockhart (do your research if you want more on this one). This all leads me to conclude that given that FOUR MURDERS and countless lives have been destroyed from all this, I am convinced, despite my philosophizing, of only one thing….
Sean Lockhart is the antichrist.
And in the words of my good friend Paul Harvey….. “and now you know the rest of the story.”
The big white elephant in the room is the “republican violence” and intimidation . . .
I would like to know much the republican bloodthirsty savagery influences the dems ?
JoJ
It’s obviously influenced the entire population because sane people would have stopped them long ago… by any means it took.
visual aid
Huh.. This could be a crazy deep cover narative they have invented involving Cuadra, Drake, Kocis, etc.
In my opinion, this is the GOP machine cleaning house of all the gay marines, etc. that are now all State Chairpersons. I think you’ll see more “accidental deaths” as Foley and stuff returns to the front pages.
Full details of the murder:
http://www.edgephiladelhia.com/...&id=22411
Nothing on this detailed defense blog:
http://www.harlowcuadraonline.com/blog/
Agent 99, Indeed.
Unfortunately most sane people are law bidding and nonviolent in their equation . . .
on google news results, there are 171 results for this intriguing crime. click on 171 results and u actually get only 12 articles, almost entirely local newspapers. new york times has yet to mention it. i’ve never heard it mentioned on cnn, bbc. faux news loves this kind of ‘scandal’ but has never mentioned it as far as i can tell. how total the control of corporate media is!
Well, JoJ, I have always maintained that if you completely remove violence from your equation, you are not “nonviolent”, you’re just a coward with a self-righteous excuse. It is beyond refutation that there are some times where only violence will defend life. The vast majority of criminals will not go peacefully to justice. This is maybe especially so of criminals who are this powerful, and the price of our cowardice has serious, serious, serious global ramifications… already outstripping the 1930s German shame. I’d really like to know if our filthy excuses will ever run out….
Quick! Send in Ken Mehlman and Jeff Gannon to investigate!
Agent 99 #65
Pacifists say that there is no axiomatic principle for violence. For one thing superior power will do. Sometimes it will manifest as superior physical power and sometimes as superior intellectual power.
But violence is in fact the absence of both of those.
There are many examples in nature, camouflage, speed, ability to fly, dive deep, exude poison, swell up to a large size, look scary, talk scary, etc. etc.
I suppose it also depends on the definition of violence, i.e. whether the definition includes harming, hurting, or killing the target of the proposed “violence”.
I am a pacifist.
I’ve known many, many pacifists.
Not a one of us ever said that.
A pacifist will not shrink from doing whatever it takes in defense of life. A coward will resort to any kind of sophistry to avoid acknowledging that duty.
Zenoble@#59 – ain’t buying it – Drake may have killed them accidently, but that wouldn’t in and of itself make him suicidal. Most murders are murders, the killer tries to get away with it. Murder/suicide is different, different emotional foundation, live isn’t worth living without the dead, etc.
KBE@#11, “We might ought to wait until the investigation is complete before we just assume Feeney’s tied to it.” How adorably naive of you to think there will be a full and complete investigation in the face of overwhelming evidence that the media is already scrubbing the story for the GOP.
When you’re done studying the Lemme “suicide”, do some research on how the media, the police and Jeb Bush’s state medical examiner lied and covered up evidence and buried the mysterious death of Lori Klausutis, aide to then Florida Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough.
After you take a good look at how the media covered up the death of Lori Klausutis, do a quick recap on the media coverage of Gary Condit and Chandra Levy, just for comparison. One was national news for months, the other might as well as never happened.
Her college picture was even removed from the internet within days of her death – who does that? Who thinks like that?
Also take a quick gander at the Congressman Foley scandal again, especially the part of the scandal relating to the closted gay mafia that comprises so much of the staff and support for the GOP, and how the staffs of the House’s GOP leaders knew about Foley. The thing to look at is how quickly that part of the story disappeared…..as quickly as Jeff Guckert/Gannon slipping into the back door of the West Wing – another story the press never really covered.
Then come back and tell us to wait for a full and fair investigation – like I said, you’re naivete is adorable.
usa m$m media r.i.
p.Zenoble’s post makes a lot of sense. I had met Gonzalez on many occassions and he was extremely closeted and terrified about the implications of being found out by the Republicans he worked for. However, he vehemently believed in the doctrines his clients supported. Few in the Orlando community knew of his homosexuality outside of some Log Republicans. His fear of being outed would make excellent blackmail material for someone desperate for money and Mr. Gonzalez was not always very discreet so there were likely many opportunities to find “dirt.”
Boy, hasn’t gonzo’s resignation totally swept this bombshell aside! As a good friend tells me all the time, “Its all about timing.”
I believe Zenoble is marketing for the gay boy porn sites. Very clever.
These operatives were the real dirty trick gay mafia squad. They’ve been around a long time and had just worked on the Alabama caper. The FBI needs to be called in. There is a wrongly incarcerated former Dem governor who Rove had disappeared into the Fed prison system. Seems these dandies knew all about that.
Yeah, I’ll tell you what Jackson, the more I read on that the more I can’t believe this is happening in AMERICA, Holy Crap!
#73
We are talking Don Siegelman. right?
it’s funny how quickly people are to judge people based on their political affiliation. Ralph Gonzalez wasn’t this evil person you like to think he was. he always believed we live in the best country on earth.
having known him for 24 years i can tell you that he cared greatly about his friends. every friday night he would meet with some of his closest friends. his home was always a place where anyone close to him could unwind after a long week at work. he was the kind of person who never locked his doors & his friends were welcome there at any time. he loved his dog Jasmine. he left behind a mother & father who now has to live with the painful reminder that they have outlived their child. that is something i don’t wish on anyone.
and no. the world isn’t a better place with Ralph gone. it was a much better place when he was still with us.
#75 Yes. Don Siegelman. It is the most frightening story to come out of Rovian politics until……Orlando.
#76 I’m thrilled Reform Republican had you all over for Fridays but the absolute destruction of his fellow man and the earth that this man and his cronies have caused makes his death a blessing to those of us still alive. Starting with the election rigging he was involved with in 2000, electing a scumbag like Feeney working for a human trafficker like Ralph Reed….I could go on and on. Maybe you didn’t realize what he did for a living? Just party Ralphie? Best country on earth????He did nothing but work for it’s destruction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#76 i knew him back when he was national debate champion in high school. yes, i know what he did for a living. there are plenty of people (yourself might be included) that have to do things in life they may not be proud of. i think that we can agree that politics is a very sticky & dirty business.
whether he actually had a hand in an election almost 8 years ago that people are still crying about, i have no idea. does it matter at this point? the fact remains that there is no proof of a rigged election. so at this point you’re blowing hot air. get over it.
i find it amusing that even though Feeney & others are indeed scumbags, they exist on both sides & it is easy for people here to see anyone associated with these hooligans & say they were just as bad. the only thing you have on Ralph is that he was good as a campaign manager & that he was gay. if there is a problem with him being good at what he did for his job, then please tell me. if there is a problem with him being gay, then tell me.
if you think that Ralph “did nothing but work for it’s (our country’s) destruction” you are sadly mistaken. if you think that any other politician on either side has your interest at hand, you are a fool. do you think that anyone in DC cares about you? everyone has an agenda & no one is innocent.
this has less to do with politics & more to do with a murder. a murder done by someone that he had invited into his home. if that is something you’re truly interested in, then there is truth that can be known.
“his home was always a place where anyone close to him could unwind after a long week….of using lies and a complete lack of morals to ruin the lives of others for money and power“.
Yes, Moloko, after looking at his gay-bashing, dishonest “Adam and Steve” campaign smear attack, I can see where you would believe him to be a real prince.
He made a living being a professional liar, why is that ok with you?