# My bullshit meter is pinging **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203 "2005-10-07T15:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/41 "2005-10-09T00:13:08Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > Possibly lying dead following the earthquake that hit that region of the world today. One hopes “let’s wait for a natural disaster to kill him!” isn’t actually President Bush’s plan. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/42 "2005-10-09T00:31:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _Egotist te absolvo_\*. Go, and sin no more. (sniff) Thank you, exalted one. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/43 "2005-10-09T01:02:07Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > His grade from me, overall, has slipped from a B to a C-. Do you grade on the Yale curve, or the Harvard curve? ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/44 "2005-10-09T03:07:09Z")
**Clothahump** _Those of us who think Bush has done okay in office simply snicker at threads like these._ Oh, so I guess some SDMB members would _have_ to be Laura, Jeb, Bush Sr, Barbara and Michael Brown? Yes, “Dubya’s” years in the Oval Office have been a spectacular showpiece of presidential productivity. Less than a year in office and we had the worst terrorist attack on US soil. But he was so decisive and authoritative when he did ??? or how about when he said ??? Or how about his pledge that Osama Bin Laden can run but cannot hide? Hey, have a little patience - it’s only been _four_ fucking years. Have a little patience. Stay the course. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/45 "2005-10-09T11:25:00Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > Nope, you guys have nailed it. There isn’t any actual terror threat at all. It’s all a cynical attempt by the Bush administration to scare us into compliance and complacency. Thank heavens that we have ideological warriors such as yourself to show us the way. Agreed. I’m glad to see the lightbulb has now come on for you. Though given that we also nailed it that there wasn’t any actual WMD threat at all, and that they were a cynical attempt by the Bush administration to scare us into a war, frankly you could have caught on a little quicker. But anyhow, better late than never. Welcome aboard. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/46 "2005-10-09T13:34:03Z")
My bullshit meter pegged a while ago too. But where is Osama - Pakistan. Why don’t we go in there and get them. Because Pakistan has a nuclear bomb and really, really wants to see how it works against India. And India doesn’t have a lot of qualms against firing one into Pakistan either. Throw Pakistan into a war, and it isn’t going to be Afganistan. It will make Iraq look like a game of Chutes and Ladders. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/47 "2005-10-09T17:04:21Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I predict it won’t. Shall we place a little wager on it? Wasn’t this \*\*Bricker’\*\*s schtick? I got five bucks says we won’t have to wait until _next_ month for the 2,000th U.S. soldier death. But I’d hope you’d win it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/48 "2005-10-09T17:54:29Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > One hopes “let’s wait for a natural disaster to kill him!” isn’t actually President Bush’s plan. Well, if he doesn’t really care where he is. 😉 > [@Dangerosa](#): > > But where is Osama - Pakistan. Why don’t we go in there and get them. Because Pakistan has a nuclear bomb and really, really wants to see how it works against India. I don’t see the connection between Pakistan’s nukes and our not sending soldiers into the large region where we think Bin Laden is hiding. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/49 "2005-10-09T21:38:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t see the connection between Pakistan’s nukes and our not sending soldiers into the large region where we think Bin Laden is hiding. You don’t? Basically, its taken a hell of a lot of diplomacy over the past decade or two (or three) to keep Pakistan and India from blowing each other up. We’ve been able to do that by playing middleman and greasing both sides. We go into Pakistan, they won’t be happy. We lose our ability to keep them out of India. Possibly more importantly, we lose the ability to keep India out of Pakistan. Basically, if we go in, we go in against their wishes, we have another war. And if the government of Pakistan doesn’t go to war against us for going in, they won’t be the government of Pakistan very long - the whole country is a powder keg being held together with duct tape and twine. If India goes into Pakistan, the big risk is the Muslim world will come to Pakistan’s defense…A lot of people think that might be the start of WWIII. Besides the whole, civilians getting nuked isn’t nice thing, nor is kicking off a World War… When Pakistan goes into India (or India into Pakistan), the billions of dollars U.S. international companies have tied up in India at places like Wipro, in call centers, in engineering centers becomes at risk. Billions, probably trillions of dollars of capital goes up in smoke. Making the stock market tank, the U.S. economy weaker, and U.S. companies unhappy. So Osama sits, isolated as we and Pakistan can make him, in a village on the Afgan/Pakistan boarder while we wait for an old man to die. Because the cost-benefit for going after one guy isn’t worth the risk. The Bush administration may not be the best at foreign relations, but I think they’ve called this one right. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/50 "2005-10-10T19:56:17Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I predict it won’t. Shall we place a little wager on it? I find it hard to be sporting on things I’d hope to be wrong about. Why don’t I change “predict” to “I wouldn’t be surprised”. What worries me is that we don’t really have a choice but to believe those in power (Bush, Bloomberg, anyone LEFT or RIGHT) when they announce a terror warning or thwarting. First off, they don’t have to tell us specifics because they can claim classification, so we simply have to take their word. I don’t like this at all. Second, they can take any crazy plot, one off the napkin of a dude in a nuthouse and claim we’re at risk. This essentially gives them an unlimited amount of plots that they can “warn” us against at anytime. Something bad going on we need to deflect publicity from? Let’s tell them plot#1056, the guy that does… Now I’m not getting into tinfoil hat territory, but I believe the truth to lie somewhere between what is being whispered in each ear. I don’t think there is an outright conspiracy, but I’m quite concerned that realities are being subtly manipulated in order to exert some type of control. The track record of those in charge doesn’t really help. Imagine all the shit going on that _we don’t know about_. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/51 "2005-10-11T01:55:23Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **Clothahump** > _Those of us who think Bush has done okay in office simply snicker at threads like these._ > > Oh, so I guess some SDMB members would _have_ to be Laura, Jeb, Bush Sr, Barbara and Michael Brown? > > Yes, “Dubya’s” years in the Oval Office have been a spectacular showpiece of presidential productivity. > > Less than a year in office and we had the worst terrorist attack on US soil. Correct. And please don’t tell me that you are trying to lay the blame for 9/11 on him. If you are, then send me your address and I’ll mail you $20 so you can get the word STUPID tattooed on your forehead. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/52 "2005-10-11T02:02:40Z")
Er, as far as I know, nobody sane imagines that Bush was in any way **directly** responsible for the 9/11 attacks. But they certainly don’t constitute any kind of tribute to his ability to protect the country. Especially since his Administration took some actions in the previous months that neglected or downplayed federal scrutiny of terrorism threats. I don’t blame Bush for the fact that a hurricane hit New Orleans, either, but I think he’s certainly partly responsible for the lack of preparedness that made its consequences worse. Same goes for 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/53 "2005-10-11T02:06:43Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > …I’ll mail you $20 so you can get the word STUPID tattooed on your forehead. Doesn’t sound like enough money. Can you show us the receipt from yours? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/54 "2005-10-11T02:08:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Doesn’t sound like enough money. Can you show us the receipt from yours? He says it’s a birthmark. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/55 "2005-10-11T02:17:35Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > He says it’s a birthmark. Well, we know it’s not the mark of McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/56 "2005-10-11T02:42:50Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Doesn’t sound like enough money. Can you show us the receipt from yours? Considering **Clothahump** ’s terminal lack of foresight and intelligence I’m guessing it says something like ‘STUP-’ because he ran out of room. Or he believed some huckster standing there on the Midway at the County Fair who assured him it was only $20 even though the sign next to the door said ‘$30’. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/57 "2005-10-11T05:53:14Z")
I saw a plug for one of the _Wednesday_ night MSNBC programs that will be about the coincidence of terror alerts with news that is unfavorable to the political party in power. (I hope I am interpreting what I saw correctly.) I assume that the program will cover more than one Presidency. I may be mistaken, but I think perhaps it may be Keith Olbermann’s program that is doing this. Something was mentioned about 13 incidents. **Clothahump** , thanks for your very civil and honest response to my teasing. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/58 "2005-10-11T16:30:28Z")
[The terrorist put one over on ole Bloomie but ya can’t fool our very own Cheffie!](http://www.turnto10.com/news/5083949/detail.html) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/59 "2005-10-12T03:58:08Z")
More bullshit. > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (CNN) – Senior U.S. intelligence officials call a letter from al Qaeda’s No. 2 man to its leader in Iraq “chilling” because of how “calm, clear and well argued” it is in urging preparation for a U.S. departure from Iraq. > > According to a translation of the 6,300-word letter provided by the U.S. government, Ayman al-Zawahiri predicts **“the Americans will exit soon”** from Iraq and says “things may develop faster than we imagine.” [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/11/alqaeda.letter/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/11/alqaeda.letter/index.html) Shit, looks like we better stay the course or the terrorists will win! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203/60 "2005-10-12T11:54:08Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [The terrorist put one over on ole Bloomie but ya can’t fool our very own Cheffie!](http://www.turnto10.com/news/5083949/detail.html) > [@](#): > > [Hoax Probable in New York Subway Threat](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-subway12oct12,0,7146113.story?coll=la-home-nation) > An Iraqi tipster ‘made something up that he thought we wanted to hear,’ a U.S. official says. > > By Josh Meyer, Josh Getlin and Nicole Gaouette, Times Staff Writers > > WASHINGTON — The information from an Iraqi tipster that prompted New York City to go on high alert for a possible terrorist bombing of its subway system was not true — and was probably a hoax, federal officials said Tuesday. > > Several law enforcement sources said the informant came to U.S. officials with a detailed story about a terrorist plot involving men who would travel from Iraq to Syria and to New York, where they would detonate bombs in the subway, using strollers and other devices to hide them. … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-bullshit-meter-is-pinging/325203.md?page=4)