Ricin Follies

The case against the Elvis impersonator turned alleged ricin poisoner is laughably weak [and the charges have been dropped]:

Investigators have not found ricin or ingredients for it in the house or vehicle of a Corinth man accused of mailing poisoned letters to President Obama, a senator and a local judge, an F.B.I. agent testified Monday. A search of a computer belonging to the man, Paul K. Curtis, found no evidence that he researched making ricin, Agent Brandon Grant said. Through his lawyer, Mr. Curtis has denied involvement, and his lawyer said he may have been framed.

Mr. Curtis is out on bail. His attorney says he was framed, which prompts us to hark back to the case of Barbara Joan March:

Barbara (Bonnie) Joan March (b. 1945/6) is an American criminal from Connecticut, United States of America who is currently imprisoned for 'Mailing Injurious Articles' to fourteen United States government officials.

In April 2005, she sent several food items, including baked goods and candy, to the fourteen officials. Each item was laced with a lethal dose of warfarin (rat poison). Each package included a typewritten note that threatened the recipient with being poisoned, and had the return address of people she had a grudge against, such as former co-workers and classmates.

The items were sent to the:

• Nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert Mueller
• Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Chief of Naval Operations of the United States
• Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
• Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Yes, we had our fun back in the day. In any case, the idea of attempting to get someone else in hot water by mailing poison in their name is not new, so the possibility that Mr. Curtis is a victim here should be taken seriously. It's sort of as if SWATTING went postal.

We are encouraged to see the Feds investigating other possibilities. They did not exactly set the gold standard for these investigations with their Hatfill/Ivins anthrax imbroglio.

Comments

[Sue]

For once I agree with Shepard Smith. They don't think Elvis-lite is responsible for sending ricin to the president. He wouldn't get bail if they thought he tried to kill the president. Those words typed together probably get Tom''s blog visited by SS.

[DoT on iPad]

"the idea of attempting to get someone else in hot water by mailing something in their name is not even new"

Even the FBI is rumored to have heard of it.

[Clarice]

This is a less angeous thread than the diet one which impelled me to finally follow frau's advice and get a proper German pickling crock.

[Clarice]

*Dangerous* thread

[Cecil Turner]

I'll still be very surprised if the "ricin" was pure enough to worthy of the name. Castor bean mash, maybe.

If it is, this case becomes a completely different animal than it now appears.

[matt]

was it ricin, or did the lab misidentify it? Where was the postmark from and what connected the suspect to the envelope?

And why did the DoJ drop the case like a hunka hunka burnin' love?

[centralcal]

Shannon Bream via Twitter...

FOX confirms charges against ricin accused - dropped

Court document dismissing charges - "investigation has revealed new information."

[Threadkiller]

Would Hannity have tortured Ricin-Phony given the chance?

The way he is talking about Susan Sarandon*, I would assume he would.

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/2013/04/23/republican-defends-tweet-advocating-torture-boston-bombing-suspect

*in an effort to not give anymore notoriety to Chetz and Chong I am now referring to Jihad Major as Robert Redford and Jihad Minor as Susan Sarandon.

[narciso]

I know you're shocked as well;

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/23/world/europe/spain-terror-arrests/index.html

[Sue]

We have our very own Elvis impersonator in town. The thought crossed my mind that he was getting rid of his competition. Crazier things have happened lately.

[Dave (in MA)]

Maybe he was set up by a Jerry Lee Lewis impersonator.

[Jane on Ipad]

Why is it "fairness" always accrues to the benefit of the federal government?

[Sue]

Dave,

That's funny.

[Gus]

I feel oh so safe with Butch Napolitano and Eric the Chinless Holder protecting this nation.

[centralcal]

LOL! Per a report from Twitter (NBC):

Paul Kevin Curtis: "I have contempt for rice, anything that sounds like rice. Even mice."

--------

The guy detests "rice." LOL!

[Cecil Turner]

Court document dismissing charges - "investigation has revealed new information."

Yeah, now they're after this guy.

[Steve]

Benghazi Gate - New Details Of Benghazi Attack Revealed In Gop Report

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2013/04/benghazi-gate-new-details-of-benghazi.html

[Captain Hate]

Maybe he was set up by a Jerry Lee Lewis impersonator.

The Killer would've set up a Chuck Berry impersonator; once he ended a manic set by torching the piano and saying "Follow that, N-bomb" as he strode offstage.

Maybe Carl Perkins would've set up Elvis...

[henry]

CT, Mensa aint what it used to be.

[centralcal]

Oh well, Cecil - the new accused ricin guy is a Republican and, perhaps, a child molester. oy vey.

[Ignatz]

There was a mention at hotair that there may have been just some guy in the Elvis dude's neighborhood who may have a had a motive to frame him.

No mention of whether Billy Ayers has a second home in Mississippi.

I'd try to link the story but why disturb my placid afternoon trying?

[Ignatz]

Never mind.

[narciso]

Let me try again;

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/23/was-ricin-letter-suspect-framed/

[Cecil Turner]

Mensa aint what it used to be.

My thoughts, exactly.

[narciso]

Seeing as they never got the first bomber of that type, in part due to Nick Kristof who demonized Hatfill on Meryl Nass's say so.

[Rocco]

Can't believe there hasn't been a Return to Sender joke yet.

[Gus]

Not ALL MENSA MEMBERS are ricin senders. MENSA is the organization of PEACE.
The future does not belong to those who make fun of MENSA.
Let's not jump to any conclusions about MENSA.
I will stand with MENSA should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.

Quotes you will never hear Obama say!

[boatbuilder]

Hah, Rocco. TM is off his game, apparently.

[Danube of Thought]

Then there's this Mensa guy.

[narciso]

well could you be a little more specific;

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/chambliss-law-enforcement-agency-may-have-known-ab/nXT7x/

[centralcal]

Some guy on twitter:

Only fools ricin

[Janet]

Look at this - David Brooks: Ted Cruz 'Has a Face That Looks a Little Like Joe McCarthy'

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/04/23/david-brooks-ted-cruz-has-face-looks-little-joe-mccarthy#ixzz2RKX2G6lw

[James D.]

David Brooks can - no, I don't even want to say what he can go do with himself. I just wish he'd go do it and stop inflicting himself on the rest of us.

[narciso]

That's much too silly, this is less so;

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2013/04/23/washpost-suggests-its-not-tsarnaevs-are-sick-islamophobic-americans

[narciso]

He can go Frum himself, James D.

[Extraneus]

David Brooks is a highly respected conservative. Why I sat next to a guy at a meeting a few months ago and watched him read a piece by Paul Krugman with rapt attention, and then a David Brooks piece with the same level of consideration. David Brooks allows liberals to think they're getting both sides.

Leave David Brooks alone!

[Melinda Romanoff on Kindle]

Ex-

I followed your advice and have immediately given up my subscription years ago.

And somewhere in there lies the truth.

[Janet]

The people on 'The Stage' - politicians & media- are just beyond sickening. I can't stand it anymore.

I think I've already decided I'm gonna vote for Ted Cruz for President in 2016...even if he doesn't run. He's about the only one I can stand.

narciso's link to the WaPo story is uber sickening.

[Jane on Ipad]

Someone just called my cell and asked to speak with Ussama.

What is this world coming to?

[Extraneus]

I'm with you, Janet. Ted Cruz is the real deal, and he won't be as easy to take down as a woman. Why? Because woman can't hate him with the murderous rage that they can feel against another woman, and then cow their men into going along.

[centralcal]

Ditto, what Janet said!

Sometimes liberal (but never insane) Kirsten Powers amazes me that she has converted to conservatism.

Kirsten Powers

The judge in #Gosnell trial throws out 3 murder charges b/c apparently breathing isn't scientific proof of life

[centralcal]

has s/b has not

[matt]

you should have answered "John has a long moustache" Jane. that would have confused the hell out of them.

[Janet]

WZ links this story from Feb. 2013 - U.S. Imam Calls On Muslims In America To Wage Jihad…

from wiki - "Shaker Elsayed (born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1951) is a dual citizen of Egypt and the US, and has been the Imam of the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, ..."

We are such fools...

[Cecil Turner]

(to the tune of "Bad Moon Rising")

I see the bad man wit' ricin,
I see trouble on the way,
I see letters he's a writin'
I had a bad time today.

Don't plead out tonight,
The FBI might get it right,
Hell, I don't even like rice.

[centralcal]

I see reports that the DOJ has filed charges against Lance Armstrong. (and someone immediately commented - and not, John Corzine?)

[narciso]

That was Al Awlaki's mosque, really their vetting procedures 'leave something to be desired' as with here;

http://weaselzippers.us/2013/04/23/obama-vows-to-ramp-up-support-for-islamist-rebels-in-syria/

[Porchlight]

David Brooks allows liberals to think they're getting both sides.

My liberal friends think NPR provides "both sides"! No joke.

centralcal, I think Kirsten is less than one Presidential election cycle away from the dark side. I would be amazed if she votes for the Democrat in 2016.

[narciso]

the Moloch antechamber;

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100213545/obama-will-address-a-planned-parenthood-gala-this-is-the-group-that-knew-about-the-gosnell-abortion-horror-and-didnt-go-to-the-police/

[Porchlight]

Heh, good one Cecil.

I actually used to not like rice (too boring), but I've kind of seen the light in recent years.

[Janet]

So the political world is arming islamic rebels while trying to take law abiding American's guns away.
The political world is working to help citizens of other countries while their own country is rotting.
The political world...having wasted trillions of dollars, is working to take in MORE of our money through internet taxes.

[Dave (in MA)]

CH, I recall a time in my yoot when The Killer was arrested for brandishing a Roscoe outside "Graceland".

[narciso]

More mensa jenyus, 'Dr. Evil' is apparently advising McCain on the immigration bill.

[Rick Ballard]

Janet,

BOzo needs more dough for the Arab Spring Jihadi Resettlement Program. Those guys have short fuses and have to be handled very gently as we put them on the path to citizenship.

[cathyf_in_the_typepad_naughty_chair]

If you cook your rice in a pressure cooker, do the terrorists win?

(Yes, Clarice, I'm yanking your chain!)

[narciso]

Depends what kind of bean goes with it, cathyf.

[Clarice]

I'm now cooking my risotto in my thermomix --even easier than using the pressure cooker, cathy.

[Janet]

BOzo needs more dough for the Arab Spring Jihadi Resettlement Program. Those guys have short fuses and have to be handled very gently as we put them on the path to citizenship.

Seriously...how many have been coming over? How many different programs are there? Northern VA has tons more Muslims...how are they all coming over? Hardship visas? Do the 4 wives & 18 kids ALL get to come?

[cathyf_in_the_typepad_naughty_chair]

Ok, that's better -- at least you are getting that stirring that way!

(Have you tried making polenta with the thermomix yet? When you first told us about it, I immediately thought of the hand-cranked stirrer that my nonno rigged up for my nonna to make polenta -- or "poenta" in dialect.)

[jimmyk]

OT, but with all the claims that we can't possibly deport the millions of Mexican illegals, and the slower rate of increase of spending means furloughs of air traffic controllers, but the Obama administration is going all out to deport these people, who seem to represent all that America stood for in its first 200 years.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/apr/23/appeals-court-weighs-home-schoolers-asylum-bid/

[narciso]

Just like it was an imperative to 'render' a 6 year old boy, 13 years ago, jimmy;

How could this possibly go wrong;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313622/The-radicalization-Tamerlan-Tsarnaev-Older-bomber-studied-Koran-days-time-amid-bombings-shootings-increasingly-Islamic-Dagestan-capital.html

[Janet]

Yeah, jimmyk. Aunt Zeituni living off the people of Massachusetts is okay...but we can't have this family.

[Rick Ballard]

"Seriously...how many have been coming over?"

Janet,

Immigration statistics don't give breakouts by religion. When I run their numbers, I get 116K out of 1.03 million (11%) from Mahometan countries. It was 8% in 2003 and has averaged 12% under the BOzo regime.

The answer to your other question is "Yes" to all plus certain camels and goats who the Supremes may come to grant spousal status.

[Second try]

[narciso]

Apparently, there's a little more to the story, then the lad who wanted to change schools, back east, in the LUN

[daddy]

OT for JiB and other fans of Cricket.

Last night in Bangalore, India, a Cricket Batsman for the Bangalore Royal Challengers did something no other Baysman in history has done. In just 30 swings at the cricket ball he scored 100 runs.
IPL 6: Chris Gayle blazes to 30-ball century, rewrites record books

"Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Chris Gayle scores fastest century in cricket history during IPL tie against Pune Warriors India...Rarer has the cricket ball been bludgeoned with such precision, authority and panache."

The huge Jamaican "tore the cover of the ball" as he pounded out 17 huge sixes (knocking it out of the park like Babe Ruth) and 13 fours (basically ground rule doubles) in just 30 pitches, and finished the event with a whopping 175 runs off just 66 balls.

The waiters and patrons at the Dublin Pub in my hotel went bananas, as did the fans at the stadium and the Royal Challenger Cheerleaders, know affectionally in the papers as "The Mischief Girls."

[Danube of Thought]

Maybe now would be the time for someone in congress to float the old Anduril proposal: prohibit Muslims from entering the country.

It would be worth it just to hear the howls from our moral superiors.

[centralcal]

Ah, Anduril. I think of him every spring when my roses (of a light or white color) burst into bloom and the beetles arise from the soil to attack them.

If I recall correctly, and I probably do not at my advanced age, he was rather fond of pliers or some such to crunch them. I am more of a Janet person - I maim them with a burning cigarette and the torture gives me much pleasure.

[Threadkiller]

Nobody of importance has complained about this, Danube:

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/04/23/bob-beckel-we-should-stop-giving-visas-to-muslim-students-n1576323

[Ralph L]

The early complaints against the M-16 jamming were before the bolt assist and lined barrels
IIRC, they had to thicken the barrel very early on. GIs were using them to pry open ammo boxes, etc. and bending the barrels.

I once saw the storeroom of the Smithsonian's rifle collection--the hundreds of fancy guns they don't have room to display.

[Ignatz]

Good ol Anduril.
Can't remember his real name.
Mark Wauk or something?
Narc would know.
Wonder if he's still posting that turgid, whacko religious stuff at his blog, whatever it was called.

[cathyf]

I'm having lots of trouble posting, except real short stuff.

[Ignatz]

CC, I have developed an ingenious method of dealing with rose pests of all sorts.
I let my neighbor grow the roses and I just look at them.
Immensely satisfying.

[Threadkiller]

That was three times...

[DrJ]

Waugh, I think.

Linux, anyone?

[cathyf]

a few words at a time seem to work

[narciso]

Yes,Wauck, he was Hansen's brother in law, he was a talented classicist, but he had a way of being too byzantine, (I know, I should talk) and
rarely displayed a sense of humor,

[cathyf]

typepad sucks

[cathyf]

cathyf having D.T.s

[AliceH]

For your roses, cc, try Milky Spore

Stops beetles and grubs, won't harm beneficial insects or birds.

[DrJ]

Quoting Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by *that* much."

[cathyf]

burma shave

[daddy]

I wanna' see the pictures of this new Ricin Tae Kwon Do suspect teaching Mike Huckabee to karate chop.

For some reason the alleged new perp

has me thinking he resembles Rex Kwan Do from the movie "Napoleon Dynamite."

[daddy]

Kirsten Powers

The judge in #Gosnell trial throws out 3 murder charges b/c apparently breathing isn't scientific proof of life

I would have thought that according to Lefty logic breathing would be the reason Gosnell could kill them, because they were producing Carbon with their exhalations.

[DrJ]

WITHIN THIS VALE
OF TOIL
AND SIN
YOUR HEAD GROWS BALD
BUT NOT YOUR CHIN

Burma-Shave

[Old Lurker]

Burma Shave...

Cathy it is scary how many people, even at JOM, might be too young to get that!

[DoT on iPad]

Somebody please help me out: how does one "misspell" a transliterated name that has its origin in another language with another alphabet? Could Q'ad'aff'i have walked across the border if he showed up on his travel documents as Qaddafi? Would Qa'daffi make it? How, really, does one spell Qadaffi? (D-E-A-D would be a starter, I suppose.)

[Janet]

Thanks SO much Rick.
I bookmarked the link & saved your post.

[narciso]

Napolitano's admission, brings back the line from 'Hunt for Red October' when Ramius is trying to signal the Americans 'one ping, Vassili,

the characters would be the same, in cyrillic, backwards and forwards right, did you have any DLI training, Danube, anyone else here.

[jimmyk]

File this under things I didn't know were federal government responsibilities.

http://weather.yahoo.com/photos/starving-sea-lions-wash-up-calif-shores-slideshow/

Officials have declared an "unusual mortality event" for the California sea lion, a designation that prompts immediate federal response.

Nothing against sea lions, they are cute and all, but we are furloughing air traffic controllers, and yet some malnourished sea lions trigger automatic spending.

[Threadkiller]

Just a guy with a funny name...

[cathyf_in_the_typepad_naughty_chair]

Khadaffi? Khadafi? Gadaffi?

[Sue]

C,

You made me laugh.

[cathyf_in_the_typepad_naughty_chair]

Assault weapons not covered by 2nd,

[cathyf_in_the_typepad_naughty_chair]

Muslims not covered by 1st?

[cathyf_in_the_typepad_naughty_chair]

Where is the diff?

[narciso]

Hey Sue, how have you been, looks like NCIS is doing their usual season ending twist, a little early,

[pagar]

Think Sea Lions are bad?

http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2013/04/feds-give-city-that-killed-400-trees-1-5-mil-to-plant-more/

Can't make this stuff up.

[Captain Hate]

CH, I recall a time in my yoot when The Killer was arrested for brandishing a Roscoe outside "Graceland".

I saw the Killer once at a small club in Waldorf, Maryland in the early 70s. He was drunk on his ass and playing tributes to Stephen Collins Foster (zzzzzzzzzz) with absolutely no energy to them. He was trying to score with some of the women at tables by the piano and accusing them of being lesbians when they rebuffed him. After that evening, I'm kind of surprised he's still going strong. About the only thing I got out of that evening was the ability to tell people I saw him in person.

Don't get me started on Chuck Berry.

[Janet]

Tamerlan Tsarnaev got Mass. welfare benefits

Massachusetts is very generous. Aunt Zeituni, Obama's Uncle, Tamerlan Tsarnaev & extended family.

[Jim Miller]

"Somebody please help me out: how does one "misspell" a transliterated name that has its origin in another language with another alphabet?"

DoT - There are two ways I can think of that can happen. If you are working for an organization that has a stylebook that specifies the spelling of those names, then if you don't follow the stylebook, you are misspelling the name.

(I've chosen to follow the NYT examples on those names, because I want to be consistent, and they are still the closest we have to a newspaper of record.)

Sometimes the nation involved will specify how names should be spelled in English. I believe that's why we now say "Beijing", rather than "Peking", for example.